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We feel your title "The Campbellites Are Coming" in the article on the Churches of Christ [Feb. 15] was most unfair. In explanation, I would like to quote from a letter published in the New Orleans Commercial Bulletin more than 100 years ago:
"You have done me, gentlemen, too much honor in saying that I am the 'founder' of the denomination, quite numerous and respectable in many portions of the West, technically known as 'Christians,' but commonly as 'Campbellites.'
"I have always repudiated all human heads and human names for the people of the Lord, and shall feel very thankful if you will correct the impression which your article may have made in thus representing me as the founder of a religious denomination. [Signed] Alexander Campbell."
Simple Christians today, we still repudiate this name that the bigoted have tried to fasten on us.
MARDELL LYNCH
Taylor Street Church of Christ
Hobbs, N. Mex.
Fitness in French & English
Sir:
Your story about New Frontier nip-ups, and President Roosevelt's requirements for unlucky foreign diplomats [Feb. 15], brought to mind William Roscoe Thayer's account of the dispatch that the new French Ambassador M. Jusserand sent to Paris soon after his arrival in this country during Roosevelt's term of office:
"President Roosevelt invited me to take a promenade with him this afternoon at three. I arrived at the White House punctually, in afternoon dress and silk hat, as if we were to stroll in the Tuileries Garden or in the Champs Elysées. To my surprise, the President soon joined me in a tramping suit, with knickerbockers and thick boots, and soft felt hat, much worn. Two or three other gentlemen came, and we started off at what seemed to me a breakneck pace, which soon brought us out of the city.
"On reaching the country, the President went pell-mell over the fields, following neither road nor path, always on, on, straight ahead! I was much winded, but I would not give in, nor ask him to slow up, because I had the honor of la belle France in my heart. At last we came to the bank of a stream, rather wide and too deep to be forded. I sighed relief, because I thought that now we had reached our goal and would rest a moment and catch our breath before turning homeward.
"But judge of my horror when I saw the President unbutton his clothes and heard him say, 'We had better strip, so as not to wet our things in the Creek.' Then I, too, for the honor of France, removed my apparel, everything except my lavender kid gloves. The President cast an inquiring look at these as if they, too, must come off, but I quickly forestalled any remark by saying, 'With your permission, Mr. President, I will keep these on; otherwise it would be embarrassing if we should meet ladies.' And so we jumped into the water and swam across."
(MRS.) HELENA V. WINTER
Holland, Mich.