F. Alton Everest
Encyclopedia
F. Alton Everest was an American acoustical engineer
, a cofounder of the American Scientific Affiliation
, and its first president.
degrees from Oregon State and Stanford University
, where he conducted his early work with such prominent engineers as Lee DeForest (inventor of the triode
vacuum tube
) and Hewlett Packard founders William Hewlett
and David Packard
, then taught at Oregon State College at Corvallis
from 1936, specialising in radio and television.
During World War II
he headed a National Defense Research Committee
underwater sound research team.
His book Master Handbook of Acoustics was described by Stereophile
magazine as "the best-selling book on the subject of acoustics for more than 20 years."
After his work for the Moody Institute of Science, Everest worked as an acoustical consultant during the 1970s and 1980s.
He published two books affiliated with the MIS: Dust or Destiny (Moody Press, 1949) and Hidden Treasures (Moody Press, 1951).
, reading the works of Harry Rimmer
and George McCready Price
(although favouring physician Arthur I. Brown as an influence on the relationship between science and religion).
In 1941 he attended a meeting of five evangelical scientists, convened by Moody Bible Institute
president William H. Houghton, in Chicago, Illinois, which led to the founding of the American Scientific Affiliation
, of which he became the organizational leader and president.
Everest led the ASA through its first critical decision, that of how to relate to the pre-existing Deluge Geology Society (DGS). Everest was enthusiastic about the DGS's ability to draw "large crowds of non-scientific folk", its offer to allow the fledgling ASA to publish material in their Bulletin of Deluge Geology until it could start its own journal, and the "dignified but definite" tone of that journal, but questioned whether it was wise to become entangled with the DGS due to what he perceived as its "strong Seventh-Day Adventist flavor." After meeting with a group of people with close ties to the DGS, Everest wrote to the ASA executive council advising against "becoming affiliated with a deluge society right off" and that he thought "[w]e would never hope to gain even the Christian geologists if we espoused [Price's] cause." He wrote to the DGS, gently rebuffing affiliation, but expressing a desire for amicable cooperation. Everest had himself already joined the DGS, but thereafter specifically requested that he be listed as a "subscriber" rather than a "member". The influence of flood geology
on the ASA was finally exorcised when, in 1948, Everest approached J. Laurence Kulp
to explore the topic in the ASA's upcoming annual convention. Kulp presented a paper on the Antiquity of Hominoid Fossils at this convention and on Deluge Geology at the next convention, resulting in the discomfiture and isolation of Flood Geologists within the ASA.
In 1996 he was nominated him for the Templeton Prize
by a fellow member of the American Scientific Affiliation
.
Acoustical engineering
Acoustical engineering is the branch of engineering dealing with sound and vibration. It is the application of acoustics, the science of sound and vibration, in technology. Acoustical engineers are typically concerned with the manipulation and control of sound....
, a cofounder of the American Scientific Affiliation
American Scientific Affiliation
The American Scientific Affiliation is a Christian religious organization of scientists and people in science-related disciplines. The stated purpose is "to investigate any area relating Christian faith and science." The organization publishes a journal, Perspectives of Science and Christian Faith...
, and its first president.
Academic and acoustic research career
He held electrical engineeringElectrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
degrees from Oregon State and Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, where he conducted his early work with such prominent engineers as Lee DeForest (inventor of the triode
Triode
A triode is an electronic amplification device having three active electrodes. The term most commonly applies to a vacuum tube with three elements: the filament or cathode, the grid, and the plate or anode. The triode vacuum tube was the first electronic amplification device...
vacuum tube
Vacuum tube
In electronics, a vacuum tube, electron tube , or thermionic valve , reduced to simply "tube" or "valve" in everyday parlance, is a device that relies on the flow of electric current through a vacuum...
) and Hewlett Packard founders William Hewlett
William Reddington Hewlett
William Redington Hewlett was an engineer and the co-founder, with David Packard, of the Hewlett-Packard Company . He was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan where is father taught at the Univerisy of Michigan Medical School...
and David Packard
David Packard
David Packard was a co-founder of Hewlett-Packard , serving as president , CEO , and Chairman of the Board . He served as U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense from 1969–1971 during the Nixon administration...
, then taught at Oregon State College at Corvallis
Corvallis, Oregon
Corvallis is a city located in central western Oregon, United States. It is the county seat of Benton County and the principal city of the Corvallis, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Benton County. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 54,462....
from 1936, specialising in radio and television.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he headed a National Defense Research Committee
National Defense Research Committee
The National Defense Research Committee was an organization created "to coordinate, supervise, and conduct scientific research on the problems underlying the development, production, and use of mechanisms and devices of warfare" in the United States from June 27, 1940 until June 28, 1941...
underwater sound research team.
His book Master Handbook of Acoustics was described by Stereophile
Stereophile
Stereophile is a monthly magazine that focuses on high end audio equipment, such as loudspeakers and amplifiers, and audio-related news, such as online audio streaming. It was founded in 1962 by J. Gordon Holt....
magazine as "the best-selling book on the subject of acoustics for more than 20 years."
After his work for the Moody Institute of Science, Everest worked as an acoustical consultant during the 1970s and 1980s.
Moody Institute of Science
After the war (from 1945 to 1971), he became the director of production for the Moody Institute of Science (MIS), a Christian evangelical ministry producing science films, described by American Cinematographer as "the biggest little studio in the world" in the 1960s.He published two books affiliated with the MIS: Dust or Destiny (Moody Press, 1949) and Hidden Treasures (Moody Press, 1951).
American Scientific Affiliation
Everest grew up a conservative BaptistBaptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
, reading the works of Harry Rimmer
Harry Rimmer
Harry Rimmer was an American creationist, evangelist and writer of anti-evolution pamphlets. He is most prominent as an early pioneer in the creationist movement in the United States.-Early life:...
and George McCready Price
George McCready Price
George McCready Price was a Canadian creationist. He produced several anti-evolution and creationist works, particularly on the subject of flood geology...
(although favouring physician Arthur I. Brown as an influence on the relationship between science and religion).
In 1941 he attended a meeting of five evangelical scientists, convened by Moody Bible Institute
Moody Bible Institute
Moody Bible Institute is a Christian institution of higher education and related ministries that was founded by evangelist and businessman Dwight Lyman Moody in 1886. Since its founding, MBI's main campus has been located in the Near North Side of Chicago. MBI's primary ministries are education,...
president William H. Houghton, in Chicago, Illinois, which led to the founding of the American Scientific Affiliation
American Scientific Affiliation
The American Scientific Affiliation is a Christian religious organization of scientists and people in science-related disciplines. The stated purpose is "to investigate any area relating Christian faith and science." The organization publishes a journal, Perspectives of Science and Christian Faith...
, of which he became the organizational leader and president.
Everest led the ASA through its first critical decision, that of how to relate to the pre-existing Deluge Geology Society (DGS). Everest was enthusiastic about the DGS's ability to draw "large crowds of non-scientific folk", its offer to allow the fledgling ASA to publish material in their Bulletin of Deluge Geology until it could start its own journal, and the "dignified but definite" tone of that journal, but questioned whether it was wise to become entangled with the DGS due to what he perceived as its "strong Seventh-Day Adventist flavor." After meeting with a group of people with close ties to the DGS, Everest wrote to the ASA executive council advising against "becoming affiliated with a deluge society right off" and that he thought "[w]e would never hope to gain even the Christian geologists if we espoused [Price's] cause." He wrote to the DGS, gently rebuffing affiliation, but expressing a desire for amicable cooperation. Everest had himself already joined the DGS, but thereafter specifically requested that he be listed as a "subscriber" rather than a "member". The influence of flood geology
Flood geology
Flood geology is the interpretation of the geological history of the Earth in terms of the global flood described in Genesis 6–9. Similar views played a part in the early development of the science of geology, even after the Biblical chronology had been rejected by geologists in favour of an...
on the ASA was finally exorcised when, in 1948, Everest approached J. Laurence Kulp
J. Laurence Kulp
John Laurence Kulp was a 20th century geochemist. He led major studies on the effects of nuclear fallout and acid rain. He was a prominent advocate in American Scientific Affiliation circles in favor of an Old Earth and against the pseudoscience of flood geology...
to explore the topic in the ASA's upcoming annual convention. Kulp presented a paper on the Antiquity of Hominoid Fossils at this convention and on Deluge Geology at the next convention, resulting in the discomfiture and isolation of Flood Geologists within the ASA.
In 1996 he was nominated him for the Templeton Prize
Templeton Prize
The Templeton Prize is an annual award presented by the Templeton Foundation. Established in 1972, it is awarded to a living person who, in the estimation of the judges, "has made an exceptional contribution to affirming life's spiritual dimension, whether through insight, discovery, or practical...
by a fellow member of the American Scientific Affiliation
American Scientific Affiliation
The American Scientific Affiliation is a Christian religious organization of scientists and people in science-related disciplines. The stated purpose is "to investigate any area relating Christian faith and science." The organization publishes a journal, Perspectives of Science and Christian Faith...
.
Further reading
- The Master Handbook of Acoustics. Frederick Alton Everest. Edition 4, McGraw-Hill, 2000. ISBN 0071360972.
- "Alton Everest (1909–2005): Founder and First President of ASA". PSCF. Hearn, Walter R. Volume 57 No.4. pp. 265–266. Dec. 2005.
- "Irwin A. Moon, F. Alton Everest and Will H. Houghton: Early Links Between the Moody Bible Institute and the American Scientific Affiliation". PSCF. J. W. HAAS, JR. Volume 43 No.4. pp. 249–258. Dec. 1993.
- "SEARCH: Scientists Who Serve God -- F. Alton Everest, For Half A Century, He’s Figured Out How". Hearn, Walter R., PSCF. Vol.40.No.2. p. 65-. June 1988.
- "We Looked up to Alton Everest". Newsletter of the American Scientific AffiliationAmerican Scientific AffiliationThe American Scientific Affiliation is a Christian religious organization of scientists and people in science-related disciplines. The stated purpose is "to investigate any area relating Christian faith and science." The organization publishes a journal, Perspectives of Science and Christian Faith...
. Vol.47 No.6. Nov/Dec 2005.