Lotan Harold DeWolf

Lotan Harold DeWolf (31 January 1905 - March 24, 1986) Usually cited as L. Harold Dewolf, he was an American Methodist minister and professor of systematic theology at Boston University where he was Martin Luther King's "primary teacher and mentor".[1]

Early life and education

DeWolf was born in Columbus, Nebraska. He obtained a BA degree from Nebraska Wesleyan University in 1924, then pursued theological studies at Boston University where, in 1926, he obtained a Bachelor of Sacred Theology. He received the Borden Parker Bowne Fellowship in Philosophy at Boston University in 1933-4, and received his PhD in philosophy in 1935 studying under Edgar Sheffield Brightman. His dissertation was titled Premises of the Arguments Concerning Immortality in Thirty Ingersoll Lectures (1896-1934).[2]

Academic career

After graduating, DeWolf served, from 1926 to 1936, as a Methodist minister in Nebraska and Massachusetts. He taught in the philosophy department at Boston University from 1934 to 1944, when he joined the faculty of Boston University School of Theology as professor of systematic theology. He also taught twice in Central and East Africa, in 1955-6 and 1962-3.[1] From 1965, until his retirement in 1972, DeWolf was Dean of Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C.[1][3] In the 1970s he moved to Lakeland, Florida; where he gave periodical lectures at Florida Southern College.

Martin Luther King

DeWolf became Martin Luther King Jr.'s dissertation adviser at Boston University following the death of Brightman. In his 1955 reader’s report, DeWolf concluded that King’s work promised to be “an excellent and useful scholarly achievement.”[4] In a 1955 letter to his former adviser King wrote: “Both your stimulating lectures and your profound ideas will remain with me so long as the cords of memory shall lengthen. I have discovered that both theologically and philosophically much of my thinking is DeWolfian”.[4]

In a 1956 letter to King during the Montgomery bus boycott, DeWolf wrote, “Your letter is a renewing inspiration to me as has been the marvelous leadership which you have given to our people in the south land during these last months.”[4] He concluded his letter by saying, “may He bring to you victory for all the people, for which you are making such great sacrifices.”[4] King remained in contact with DeWolf throughout his life and DeWolf supported King’s efforts in the civil rights movement. Dr. King invited DeWolf to help with his desegregation campaign in St. Augustine, Florida and, with three colleagues from Boston University, DeWolf was part of the tense civil rights discussions there. DeWolf spoke at King's funeral, on April 9, 1968; calling him “an exemplar of faith, hope, and love.”[5] DeWolf later testified in front of the United States Congress as part of the efforts to have a national holiday honoring Dr. King established.[3]

Select bibliography

References

  1. 1 2 3 The dictionary of modern American philosophers. Shook, John R., Hull, Richard T., 1939-. Bristol: Thoemmes Continuum. 2005. pp. 636–638. ISBN 1843710374. OCLC 276357640.
  2. ↑ Harold, DeWolf, Lotan (29 March 2018). "Premises of the Arguments Concerning Immortality in Thirty Ingersoll Lectures (1896-1934)". bu.edu. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  3. 1 2 Sarah D. and L. Kirk McKay, Jr. Archives Center, Florida Southern College, Lakeland, Florida. "A Guide to the L. Harold DeWolf Papers 1931-1981". Florida Southern College. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "DeWolf, L. (Lotan) Harold (1905-1986)". kingencyclopedia.stanford.edu. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
  5. ↑ "January 13, 2006 ~ Funeral Tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr. - January 13, 2006 - Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly - PBS". pbs.org. 13 January 2006. Retrieved 29 March 2018.


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