Elmer Gantry Was Drunk

From the gantry of a bar are reflected many-hued liquids in bottles. There are mirrors and lights and even sometimes still, smoke and snake oil.

The Florence Scovel Shinn texts from yesterday led me to more related matters such as various charismatic evangelicals. I was looking for a pertinent good photo from the 1920s and instead came across -- on the same page (7) in the Springfield [Massachusetts] Republican, January 16, 1926 -- box ads for both Shinn and the premiere showing of a film adaptation of Bruce Barton's The Man Nobody Knows: A Discovery of the Real Jesus (1925). How perfect! On January 17, Florence Scovel Shinn "of New York . . . Will Lecture at Unity Center of New Thought 21 Besse Place . . . 8 o'clock . . ." The Bruce Barton film was to be hosted by Trinity Church, "The Forest Park Seven-Day-A-Week Church." In case of confusion: "This is Thank-Offering Day, when it is proposed to put $5000 on the plate. No solicitation." The Man Nobody Knows presents Jesus as an Advertisement Business Man (big in the 1920s, and ever since) -- in Barton's conception, Jesus and the apostles operate far more like strong, competitive characters out of Mad Men then as "something for girls -- sissified" (Barton's exact words). 

Most satires about religious charismatics of centuries past and present pale against the real thing. This is why I'm drawn to the latter, over and over. They are interesting, absorbing, eccentric, bizarre and entertaining all at the same time. 

Just this past week, in fact, I've "checked in" with Lori and Jim Bakker, Joyce Meyer and Joel Olsteen. Apparently, I'm not alone in so doing.

While the Bakkers often drift into weird land with their alarming prophecies of End Times while drumming up "love gifts" of dried foods, they are harmless (unless you're crazy to begin with) and not a total wash. Besides, I lived in North Carolina for years. 

Joyce Meyer and Joel Olsteen focus on more pragmatic day-to-day issues as well as the big picture. I have yet to hear from them about End Times.  

Whatever any of these speakers come up with at any particular moment, you can usually "take it and run with it" -- whatever "it" is.

Now let us not forget Sister Aimee Semple McPherson and her International Church of the Foursquare Gospel. In case you're wondering about the Foursquare, it stands for Savior, Baptizer, Healer and Coming King -- and that was conceived of years before the birth of Elvis. 

   

At the top of this post, that's Sweet Daddy Grace, and here we have Father Divine. Sweet Daddy's legacy lives on through the United House of Prayer for All People of the Church on the Rock of the Apostolic Faith; Father Divine's through the the International Peace Mission movement, of which vestiges remain in Philadelphia. To repeat, there is no need for satire here.

Today's Post: Gateway.