Page 9 - Alumni Horae: Vol. 94, No. 1 Fall 2013

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I value greatly the education that I re-
ceived at St. Paul’s, especially the religious
formation, so much so that I was ordained
in the Episcopal Church, and in the Old
Chapel itself. My name appears on the
plaque of alumni clergy (of which a picture
appears on the page preceding your article).
However, as I learned more scripture and
theology and history, I came to see how far
the Episcopal Church has departed from
the Christian tradition. Certainly, some of
that tradition remains, most visibly in the
Chapel of St. Peter and St. Paul itself. May
those who continue to gather there dis-
cover its clues and follow them.
Rev. Oliver R. Vietor
St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church
Phoenix, Ariz.
August 21, 2013
Roots of Change
In appreciation of Jana F. Brown’s article
“Finding Meaning” at St. Paul’s School
and in partial rebuttal of Zach Allen ’56,
I would like to call attention to two sig-
nificant changes in the approach of the
School to religion during the 20th century.
These changes occurred due to the
reform measures of the Form of 1968
and the measures of the 70s. The 1968
reforms were called upon the spring
before I came to St. Paul’s. The reforms
from 1970 to 1972 followed. In the spring
of 1970, artistic members of the Form
of 1970 constructed letters in the form of
“Love” upon the Chapel lawn. This began
the movement. Afterwards, the Form of
1971 and 1972 opened up academics to
include non-European studies such as
African and Chinese history. With them,
the approach of sacred studies to the
School opened up to include studies of
Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam.
So you see, diversity was well on its way
at the School before the 21st century. I
think offering and worshipping in many
faiths was well rooted in the School by
1972. I think the School can hold onto its
Episcopalian roots and traditions at the
same time as it honors and respects other
religious expressions. Indeed, it is in so
doing that it remains a Christian school,
open as Jesus was to the whole world.
Clint Van Dusen ’72
Pittsburgh, Pa.
June 17, 2013
A Soul-Searching Peace
I wish to tell you a story about the “new”
Chapel, related to your article in the Spring
2013 Alumni Horae. Your article did not
mention the acoustics of the building,
which are excellent. I played in the band
and would take my cornet to the Chapel
at night and play a few songs I heard from
the records I knew (Herb Alpert and Al
Hirt were my favorites). The door opened
one night, and it was the first security
guard hired by the School – Mr. C, I think.
He asked me what I was doing, and I said I
was practicing for Carnegie Hall. He said
it was fine, but that I should leave soon. I
often blasted my heart out and soon after
would hear a far door close. I think Mr. C
was there, but I never saw him again.
My Carnegie Hall was at SPS, alone in
that magnificent edifice, and it gave me
a soul-searching peace.
Stephen Gasperini ’74
Victoria, Texas
June 13, 2013
Important Questions
Thank you for your enlightening articles
and extensive study of athletics (Fall 2012)
and religion (Spring 2013) at St. Paul’s. I
have shared and discussed these with
friends and fellow coaches.
I am very thankful for the gift of my edu-
cation at St. Paul’s. The School changed
my life. I arrived with very little religious
instruction or practice. Rector Kelly Clark
confirmed me and several of my friends as
Third Formers. Ms. Kerr taught our year-
long religion class, which one of my form-
mates called “the spiritual bedrock of [his]
time at St. Paul’s.” The spark we read about
in The Chosen grew in me. Later in life, I
served as a missionary overseas, where I
met my wife. I have been blessed and trans-
formed by SPS and its spiritual instruction.
Thank you for examining the important
question of what it means to be St. Paul’s
School.
Bill Kessler ’87
Charlotte, N.C.
July 21, 2013
Brawn and Brains
Much of the article “Brawn and Brains”
(AH, Winter 2013) about farming alumni
was heartening, and the section on Oliver
Griswold in particular caught my eye. My
husband and I enjoy a group of Highland
cattle for neighbors (kept just for graz-
ing a national park field), and we share
Griswold’s affection for these gentle,
shaggy characters.
It’s encouraging to read of Griswold’s
children and their innate discomfort with
slaughter, (“cheerfully” and blithely trivial-
ized as just “one very bad day” earlier in
the article). May they indeed “question
conventional wisdom” that eating animal-
based foods is necessary and healthful,
and that choosing to kill for pleasure is
OK. May they un-“adjust” and revert to
their natural state, learn truly the value
of sentient life – not as dollars per pound
of market weight – and allow nonhuman
animals to live out their lives. May we all
follow suit, and embrace farming which is
genuinely sustainable, abundant, just for
all, and disease-fighting: with land devoted
to a rich variety of vegetables, grains,
legumes, fruits, and seeds.
Ellen Kennelly ’81
Lincoln, Mass.
May 2, 2013