Julie Seton

Julie A. Seton, Ph.D. is the youngest granddaughter of Ernest Thompson Seton. She grew up in "Seton Castle" outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Her doctoral dissertation (1996) took Seton's story of "Lobo" to illustrate how nature writing can be analyzed for its capability to prompt social action. Now Dr. Seton lectures on her grandfather's contributions to society.

Answer to Q #25 – Where did ETS go for a hernia surgery in 1883?

by

Since 1876, Seton suffered from a hernia injury. In 1883, he learned that there was a physician in Chicago performing hernia operations.  He signed a release form stating that he understood the procedure was experimental and that there was great risk of him dying. Additionally, he agreed to allow medical students observe the procedure in a classroom setting. All went well, and he returned to Manitoba with new physical strength and confidence.

A Poem: CHURCHES by Loren Baum Hintz

by

 

Loren Hintz became woodcrafter as a teenager and spent three summers at the College of Indian Wisdom 1933 – 1935. He was a dancer, writer, actor, and loved life.  He was a pilot during WWII and on April 21, 1945, at age 27, his plane was shot down in Italy.

This poem, from Loren’s book of poems Youth Dreams (1937), is offered here to commemorate his short life on the anniversary of his death. The poem is published with permission from Gretchen Hintz Wronka, his daughter and in memory of memory of Martin Hintz, his son.  Thanks to Pam Percy for contacting the Institute and letting us know about Loren.

CHURCHESMt. Thompson-Seton, Czech Republic

Man has built mighty cathedrals, 
Cathedrals with painted windows, 
   marble pillars built with the costliest of stone–
Cathedrals decorated by master artists
   with paintings and with statuary,
And are very beautiful,
   these man made temples of worship to G_d.
And man has said, the only way to worship 
   is in a temple built with gold.

But G_d has built a mightier cathedral,
   a cathedral older than man,–
A temple such as man would not think of building,
Such as he could not build, if he would. 

G_d’s temple is the out-of-doors.
It is all nature:
The great forests, the mighty mountains,
   the rivers, lakes, the ocean,
           and all of life.

If G-D made all of this,
Would it not be better to worship in His temple
Than in the small, insignificant structures
   built by man?