The Proof Produced
Sometime ago I preached on the "Difference Between the Church of Christ and the Christian Church" at the University Place Christian Church in Oklahoma City, Okla. This sermon was taken down in shorthand and published by the Christian Worker Publishing Company, 205 Mathewson Avenue, Wichita, Kansas. In this sermon I read and commented on the following words taken from the Christian Evangelist, the official publication of the Christian Board of Publication. Someone challenged the statement and wanted proof that such an article ever appeared in their paper. I did not have the number of the issue and could not give it. It looked as if I were on the spot. I then wrote the Christian Board of Publication asking for the date and number of the paper in which the article appeared. I received a reply saying that such was not published by them. Too, they said they would not likely print such an article. But read the article and then their letter to me.
"Before a blue silk backdrop, solemn-faced and nervous, fifteen bare-footed girls of Christian College, Columbia, Missouri, presented dancing interpretations of familiar hymns like "My Faith Looks Up to Thee," and "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing," at the regular Christian Students congregation meeting in the educational hall of First Church in Columbia, C. E. Lemmon, pastor, on Sunday, March 10. Asked not to applaud were 300 people who attended.
"Garbed in draped gray silk and plain silk tunics and trousers, the church dancers, under the direction of Mrs. Eleanor Minton Rhynsburger, went through ensemble formations symbolizing supplication, humility and prayer.
"A renaissance of religious dancing and accepted form of Christian worship centuries ago, the interpretation sent the audience away apparently pleased. President of the College Board of Trustees, Lieutenant-Governor Frank G. Harris 'thought it was wonderful.'
"Predicted Mrs. Rhynsburger: 'Later we plan to attempt a dancing interpretation of a Biblical story as a regular part of the church service.'
"Prior to the dancing, Pastor Lemmon chortled: 'We will not include dances as a regular part of services until I have had an opportunity to observe their character and the attitude of the girls who dance.'
In reply to my letter asking for the date and issue of the paper in which the above appeared I received the following:
"August 12, 1940. Mr. G. K. Wallace, 944 Perry, Wichita, Kansas. Dear Brother Wallace:
"In reply to your favor of the 7th inst., we would say that the clipping sent by you did not appear in The Christian-Evangelist or any other paper published by this house.
"If you had been familiar with The Christian-Evangelist, you would have seen that the type used in the paper is not the same as the type face on the clipping you sent. It is not likely that The Christian-Evangelist would have published an article of that kind.
"Sincerely yours, W. P. Shelton, General Manager."
Last year while I was preaching in Anderson, Indiana, I went to Indianapolis in company with Brother J. T. Marlin and we went to the Butler University, a Christian Church school, and asked to look through their copies of the Christian-Evangelist. On page 355, Volume LXXII, No. 11, the March issue of the Christian-Evangelist in 1935, the above article appears just as I represented it.
Surely the general manager, Mr. Shelton, did not know what appeared in his paper, or was trying to embarrass me and lessen the force of the sermon delivered.
The above article, brethren, shows the extent to which these brethren have gone and yet there are some among us who desire that we have Unity Meetings with them. Such actions as the above article describes have never been condemned by the Christian Church. To fellowship the Christian Church is to fellowship such dancing shows as mentioned above.
But the point here is: The above article in spite of their denial was published and endorsed by the Christian Board of Publication. If anyone questions it just get the March 14th issue, 1935, and turn to page 355 and read for yourself.