Elmer Fred Eastman[1][2](July 11, 1886 – April 2, 1963) was an AmericanPresbyteriantheologian, professor, author, playwright, lecturer and journalist. He was the managing editor of the periodical,Christian Work,and a contributing editor toThe Christian Century.For the final 26 years of his career he was professor of Biography, Literature and Drama at theChicago Theological Seminary.[3][4]
Fred Eastman | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 11, 1886 |
| Died | April 2, 1963(aged 76) Claremont,California,U.S. |
| Education | Wooster College(BA) Columbia University Union Theological Seminary |
| Occupations |
|
| Spouse |
Lilla Frances Morse (m.1914) |
| Children | 2 |
Early life and career
editA native ofLima, Ohio,[5]Eastman was one of four children born to attorney Robert C. Eastman and Lealine Berry.[6] [7]He attended Lima High School,Wooster University,Union Theological SeminaryandColumbia University.[4]
On May 22, 1911, at Brooklyn's Central Presbyterian Church, in whatThe Brooklyn Eaglelater dubbed "one of the longest drawn-out meetings of the Presbytery ever held," Eastman, together with three similarly inclined candidates, became a fully ordained Presbyterian minister despite his avowedagnosticism.[8]From 1919 to 1924, he was director of education for the Presbyterian National Board of Home Missions.[9][10][11]In March 1926, Eastman was appointed chair ofChicago Theological Seminary's newly established department of religious literature and drama,[12]a post he held until his retirement in 1952.[4]
In May 1950, in the wake of polls expressing mass approval of U.S. bombing ofHiroshimaandNagasaki,Eastman, in a published statement endorsed and later disseminated by theClaremontWiderQuakerFellowship, likened threatened deployment of thehydrogen bombtoHerod'sSlaughter of the Innocents.[13][14][15]
Personal life and death
editOn August 4, 1914, inSt. Johnsbury, Vermont,Eastman, then Pastor of the Reformed Church ofLocust Valley,Long Island, married fellowUTSalumnus Lilla Frances Morse, in a ceremony held in his bride's home and conducted by her brother, the Rev. Charles Morse.[16]The marriage produced two sons.
On April 2, 1963, at age 76, Eastman died at Pilgrim Place, a retirement community inClaremont, California,survived by his wife and sons.[4]
Selected works
editUnless otherwise indicated, all information derived fromOpen Libraryand/orLog College Press.[17][18]
Books
edit- Fear God in Your Own Village.New York: Henry Holt and Company. 1918.
- Playing Square With Tomorrow.New York: Council of Women for Home Missions, Missionary Education Movement. 1921.
- Unfinished Business of the Presbyterian Church in America.Philadelphia: The Westminster Press. 1921.
- Modern Religious Dramas.New York: Henry Holt and Company. 1928. (compiled and edited).
- Religion and Drama: Friends or Enemies?: Being a brief account of their historical connection and their present relation.New York: The Century Company. 1930.
- Drama in the Church: A manual of religious drama production.New York: Samuel French. 1933
- Ten One-Act Plays.Chicago: Willett, Clark and Company. 1937.
- Books That Have Shaped the World.Chicago: American Library Association. 1937.
- Men of Power Vol. I..Nashvillle: Cokesbury Press. 1938.
- Men of Power Vol. II.Nashvillle: Cokesbury Press. 1938.
- Men of Power Vol. III.Nashvillle: Cokesbury Press. 1939.
- Men of Power Vol. IV.Nashvillle: Cokesbury Press. 1939.
- Men of Power Vol. V.Nashvillle: Cokesbury Press. 1940.
- Christ in the Drama.New York; MacMillan. 1947.[19]
- Writing the One-act Religious Play..1948.
Plays
edit- Bread: a play in one act.1925
- The Triumph of the Defeated.1929.
- The Tinker: a play in three acts.1930.[20]
- Courtship: a comedy in one act.1930.
- America on Trial: a pageant play in one act.1932.
- The Great Choice: (an incident of the next war) a play in one act.1932.
- Our Lean Years:a play in one act. 1933.
- The Doctor Decides: a play in one act.1934.
- The Examination: a play in one act.1937.[20]
- American Saint of Democacy: a play in one act.1942.
- Prexy and Son: a play in three acts.1942.
- An American Family.1951.[3]
- Satan Walks Again.1961.[21]
References
edit- ^"Presbytery Argues Long Over Seven Candidates; Four of the Applicants for Ordination Had Agnostic Views; All Were Finally Passed".Brooklyn Eagle.May 23, 1911. p. 3.
- ^Annual Catalogue - Union Theological Seminary, 1910-1911.New York: Union Theological Seminary. December, 1910. p. 12.
- ^abMarquise-Who's Who, Inc. (1989).Who's Who in America With World Notables, Vol. IX 1985-1989.St. Louis: The Von Hoffman Press. p. 275.ISBN0837902177.
- ^abcd"Fred Eastman Services Set; Noted Teacher; Headed Department at Seminary".Chicago Tribune.April 6, 1963. Sec. 2A, p. 12.
- ^"Rev. Eastman, Lima Native".The Lima Citizen.April 10, 1963.
- ^"United States Census, 1900",, FamilySearch (https:// familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMCM-DPR:Thu Apr 11 19:30:23 UTC 2024), Entry for Robert E Eastman and Lealine B Eastman, 1900.
- ^"Vermont, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1732-2005",, FamilySearch (https:// familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPQK-CJPV:Fri Mar 08 06:21:44 UTC 2024), Entry for Elmer Fred Eastman and Lilla Frances Morse, 3 August 1914.
- ^"Presbytery Argues Long Over Seven Candidates; Four of the Applicants for Ordination Had Agnostic Views; All Were Finally Passed".The Brooklyn Eagle.May 23, 1911. p. 3.
- ^"Oppose Intervention; Attitude of Southwestern States Reported on Mexico".The Kansas City Sun.p. 7.
- ^"Our Frontiers Are Now in the Cities".The Hackensack Record.December 5, 1923. p. 2.
- ^"Attacks Methods of Church Finance".The Brooklyn Eagle.June 15, 1924. p. 35.
- ^"Lima-ite Gets Chicago U. Post".The Lima GazetteandThe Lima Republican.March 24, 1926. p. 3.
- ^Dujardin, Richard (August 19, 1995)."Religion: Peacemaker? Morality of using atomic bomb still triggers theological debate".Leader-Telegram.p. 4.
- ^Eastman, Fred (May 30, 1950)."Open Forum: The H-Bomb and the World's Children".The Eldora Herald Ledger.p. 2.
- ^"Dr. Eastman's H-Bomb Plea Pleases Quakers".The Los Angeles Times.July 18, 1954. pt. 1A, p. 3.
- ^"The Rev. Mr. Eastman to Wed; Pastor Will Wed Miss Lilla Morse of Vermont".Brooklyn Eagle.July 27, 1914. p. 4.
- ^"Fred Eastman: Works.Open Library.
- ^"FRED EASTMAN (1886-1963)".Log College Press.
- ^Lawson, Edna B. (August 10, 1947)."Dr. Fred Eastman Discusses Christ's Influence on Drama".Honolulu Star-Advertiser.Sec. II, p. 11.
- ^ab"First Baptist Dramatics Group Will Present Play".The Herald Sun.December 16, 1946. p. 12.
- ^"New Eastman Play Set at Pilgrim Place".Pomona Progress-Bulletin.April 24, 1961. p. 9.
Further reading
edit- Thrapp, Dan L. (September 4, 1955)."Return of Drama to Church Sighted; Dr. Eastman Declares Movement Is Particularly Evident in Southland".The Los Angeles Times.p. 19.
- "Statue Presented Eastman by Theater".Pomona Progress-Bulletin.November 7, 1961. p. 13.