Class of 1884
Edwards D. Emerson was recently reelected president of the Council of Churches of Buffalo and Erie County, N. Y. For ten years Emerson has held this office The executive secretary in his annual report to the Council on May 22, 1933, had this to say of our classmate: "It so happensthat this anniversary coincides with thetenth anniversary of the presidency of Mr.Emerson, our esteemed and honoredleader. He has been a most gracious friendand counselor. He has brought to this important work all the wisdom and experience of years. He is a genial leader. Manyhours are spent in carrying out the manymeetings and conferences necessary tocarry on the diversified work of the Council. He is and has been most generous withhis thought and interest in following upthe increasing demands on the part of themember churches in co-operative efforts.More than this, he has been generous withhis financial support, for which there seemsto be continuous demand. The churchesof Buffalo owe him a great debt of gratitude for his steady and distinguished service in the cause of a strong, vital and continuous co-operation."
Emerson had expected to retire from the leadership of this work but the Council could not find the satisfactory man to fill his place and impressed him into service for another year, during which he is to find his successor as president. The work of the Council is extensive, covering every phase of the activities of the Protestant churches of Buffalo and Erie county. Almost daily meetings of someone or another of the departments and committees of the organization are held over which Emerson presides, directing their work and seeing to it that the organization is running smoothly and effectively. A few years ago Emerson was president of the Buffalo Board of Education, and during his term of office the whole school system was reorganized under a new superintendent, appointed by his board. Here too he was of great service to the city and its schools.
Two other of Emerson's activities came to light in the fact that at the last annual meeting of the Memorial Center and Urban League as vice-president he presided over that meeting. He is also vicepresident of the New York State Council of Churches. For a man who has retired from his vocation of helping the Standard Oil Company run its business in Buffalo, he seems to have enough avocations to keep almost any man busy. Much of this extra work he has been carrying for these many years, and has grown so accustomed to the demands on his time and energy that it is a mere matter of fact with him and he gets much pleasure in the service. Emerson has long been well known as a business man in Buffalo, but he is probably more widely known through this valuable service to the social, intellectual, and religious welfare of the city. He bears his honors with becoming modesty.
Secretary, Gleason Health Resort, Elmira, N. Y.
