The Daily Messenger from Canandaigua, New York • Page 9

Confemporory Living Two Events Jar Ecumenical Move Music Is Key to Tempo of Past Times By DAVID E. ANDERSON UP I Religion Writer In recent weeks, two widely separated, events occurred together, might bear out the now widely held belief that the ecumenical movement Is in deep trouble. Those two events were the joint statement by the American Lutheran Church and Lutheran Church In America, that while there were no theological barriers to the union of the two churches, merger was not a real topic for the two denominations' immediate agenda; and, secondly, the warning from Orthodox theologians that Episcopal approval of ordaining womeji to the priesthood would seriously disrupt ecumenical relations between those two bodies. In lighl of those events--and others of which are representative--it would seem that those attending the annual three-day Na tional Workshop on Christian Unity would have link: to cheer about. Dr.

Robert T. Handy of Union Theological Seminary, and one of the nation's most eminent' church historians, may not have roused participants to cheers but he did provide them with the most cogent analyses of the ecumenical movement in this country and the tensions within which it moves. And it was not a despairing portrait. In two major presentations, Handy as appropriate for a bicentennial year traced the development in America both of religious pluralism and religious freedom. Both of these developments, he said, are positive and a central issue for, the Christian unity movement.

Is "to sefefc ways in which ccn be shown that moves toward Christian unity will not eliminate or destroy the actual diversities we have but will endeavor to engage them all in growth toward one another." diversity'at every level of Christian life is one of the reasons why there are no shortcuts to unity," he said. At the same time, he said. one reason the ecumenical movement has appealed to many' Christians Is that It has placed great emphasis on the principle of religious freedom. That principle, however, conflicts with some in the ecumenical movement who seek a "fully united "There will always be those who will not or cannot accept a certain trend or decision of a united church and who will use their freedom to depart," he said However, in Handy's view, that does not mean unity is an impossible goal not to be pursued, as some would argue. "Between the vast diversity we have now and a more coherent thought in no way uniformltarian or authoritarian ordering of the- faithful in Christ, there is a vast amount of ecumenical territory to be covered," he said.

That territory includes the increase of theological dialogue, cooperation in mission in the world and even union "as soon as groups are freely drawn" to that idea. Perhaps, then, such developments as occurred between the Orthodox and Episcbpals and the inter-Lutheran statement, should not be taken as totally negative steps. The Orthodox warning came in the form of a theological dialogue a dialogue not ended by the disruption in the Episcopal' Church over the ordination issue. The Lutheran 'statement urges increased cooperation at all levels while giving priority to examination of the structural and administrative differences between the two denominations. There are other issues, too, such as the.

abortion debate that touch on the question of pluralism and religious freedom, including legislative and public policy issues which may line denominations up on opposite sides of the fence in public debate. "My own conviction." Handy said, "is that neither our commitment to religious dom or to Christian unity is so fragile that it cannot stand up under the public debates that must go on." CAN you remember the last time a 'song with a political theme was No. 1 on the hit It's because the electronic age offers more instantaneous ways to propagandize. During the early years of the United.States, it was different. Newspapers the music publishers of that day printed the lyrics and in surprisingly short order new songs would spread throughout the Colonies.

Way back then, messages not only were hummable "but had catchy lyrics. As any Broadway producer will tell you, that combination spells box office. Modernlay lyricists might find the versifiers of 1776 lacking In imagination but, as musical historian Vera Brodsky Lawrence points out, they made up for It with talents that could incite, provoke, ridicule, decry, arouse and scandalize. ID Tune with the Times "The songs were sung in the home, in the street, at meetings and rallies," Ms. Lawrence said.

"That's another reason the era of the political song Is over. Now we don't do the singing, rather we're sung to." Ms. Lawrence became expert on political music while researching a book on presidential campaign songs. One cross-reference led to another until the original theme was expanded into a musical history of the United States as told by "Music for Patriots, Politicians and Presidents" (Macmillan). Scholarly but Scandalous the title sounds formidable, look for the fun and the historical footnotes suggested in the subtitle, "Harmonies and Discords of the First Hundred Years." This is a scholarly work that won't gather dust because, surprisingly, it's threaded with delicious tidbits of gossip a song about Jefferson's dalliance with his purported mistress, a slave girl), broadside hints of scandal, purple prose, humor and scurrilous attacks.

Con- sider, for example, the un- parallett venom aired against Martin Van Buren, the incumbent presidential candidate "Who would his friend his county sell, Do other deeds too base to tell, Deserves the lowest place In hell? Van Buren." Borrowing the Tune Despite the vast number of popular political songs written in the revolutionary 1770s, Ms. Lawrence observes that the Colonies lacked musicians. of the time penned only lyrics, setting them to well- known melodies If the pop hit of 1776 was a song with the refrain, "Shout, George Is King No More" sung to the tune of "God Save the King" why it served the king right. It also served Vcra'Brodsky Lawrence colonial versifiers for countless other Published In were 'even" many Minerva In 1795, Washington set to the regal stan suggests: Friday, March 12, 1976--Dally Messenger, Canandaigua, N.Y.--Page 9 If propaganda music flour- ished during the Revolution, it Sermoneffe Of me Week came into lull bloom during tht terrible yetrs of the Civil In the first year clone, mere A k. i than were published, Ms.

Lawrence points out No I event, no sXlrmlsh, no battlefield was left unsung. importance of war songs wu even the subject of an 1K2 Yankee editorial In the New York Herald which suggested that "Good martial national music Is one of the advantage! we hiwe over the rebels." Feminist Ode By REV. JAMES E. IIEWE5 Church REV, IIEWES There was a man named Oscar I met five years ago while working In a p'rpgram with heroine addicts. I have never forgotten his almost unbelievable life story.

Oscar was 12-ycars old when he went Into Ihc hospital for Feminists who browse possible brain damage from sniffing glue. He was thrown out of a versifiers for countess lrou wlu dell nt ta 1 home to hnng his own father and eventually versmers lor couniiess its time ended up on ski drew In Texas. He was an alcoholic at 15 years of Br 1 lnC ng caUed "RlSits of 1 Oscar moved to the midwest where he got Involved In gangs the Rights of S.MI.I-H IS SL Phii.SI.iSli. 1 andaHklndsotdrugs.ThcnhomovcdtoCollforniawhcrehcwas In and out of Jail.Oscar was by now heavily addicted to heroine. He tried lo break his habit and tried almost every known program, but failed.

He finally ended up for a stretch of time at San Quenlln, and even there, ended up In solitary confinement. Oscar got out of prison and went back to his former life on the streets. One day he ran Into his grandfather who told him, "Oscar, I know what you arc looking for and you haven't found It yet. Please come with me to church tonight." Oscnr snid that there was no way he would be caught dead In a church. He went to score some heroine thnl night, but couldn't get his grandfather's words out of his head, lie ran to church nearby nnd sat In the back.

Ho listened as tho.mlnlster read Ihc Bible that njght- It was the parable of the prodigal son. was like I hose words of Jesus, thai night, had been meant only for him. Ho was like that son who hod messed up Ws life and so much desired lo find the love of his Father, that had been missing for so long. Ho, too, wanted to start his life over. Oscar began to cry because he knew now the forgiveness of God wns real and a new life was possible even for him.

Al the lime I heard Oscar's story, he was nn ordained minister. He went back to those same prisons he nnd been In, but now with a message of freedom nnd hooc. I knew he musl hove been effective with those guys because his words were backed up by his life. ho could be clanged so much by God's lovo, why couldn't they? This story of Oscnr is very real to me at this time of Lent. It reminds me that no one or nothing is ever hopeless no matter how bad things seem.

It reminds me thnl we really can change our Brittanictune. Stanzas glorified Uie man who, Ms. Lawrence points out, most Americans viewed as second only to God in importance. For example: "Hail Godlike Washington! Fair Freedom's chosen son, Born to command," Think of the cruel chain Endure no more the pain Of slavery; Why should a tyrant bind A cultivated mind By Reason well delin'd Ordained free." A former concert pianist, the author Is insistent that her book isn't music as such. It's music a chronicled American history, she explains.

In a Bicentennial year or any year the book's appeal li wide. Historians and musicians will delight in It. So will artists, for the sheet-music coven reproduced in the book Include work by Currier Ives and other famed artists. In themselves, they offer a history 'of popular art. Among the author's claims to fame Is her rediscovery of Scott Hints From Heloise REPIlREO 1 KEPUHO ConfabHere Engineer To Speak The Canandaigua Baptist I SHEET MUSIC cover for 1869 song satirizing suggested segregated voting booths for men and women.

lives, because weknow that "with God, all things are possible." Joplin. It was she who dug his 'This time of Lent we prepare lo make Ihnt message of Easier music out of libraries and real in each of our lives, helped popularlze.it again. Without her help, "The SUng" might have lacked the delightful ragtime score that added so much to its charm, and Broadway crowds might not be flocking to see Joplln's opera, "Treemonlsha." But Ms. Lawrence's concern for the moment Is "Music for Patriots, Politicians and Presidents." Someone has suggested it could be the basis for a musical ot Americana. More than that, Ms.

I.awrence is hoping that colleges will use It as a text one guaranteed to keep students Interested for teaching American hUtory. Dear Helolse: To keep cuffless trousers froiri slipping out of a clamp pants hanger, Just cut moleskin In strips and stick on both sides of the hanger grips. Really worksl Deb IIwritten I9f Ihc hovuwlFl ttomtmilir. II hlvl hkil or a ptoblim wrllt to HeloHt In 01 Ihil nwrlpaptf. Social Notebook Church will host the New York State Conservative Baptist Association annual convention here on April 19 and 20.

Special speakers during the convention will include Dr. Earl Radmacher, president of the Western Conservative Baptist Seminary of Portland, and the Rev. Harold Westing of Wheaton, 111., director of Christian education ministries of the Conservative Baptist Association of America. Delegates from all over New York State will attend the two- day event. Perform a death-defying act.

Give Heart Fund Auociatio Louis Abate of Schenectady will be guest, speaker at the March 20 meeting of Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship I a i a (FGBMFI) to be held at the Sheraton Inn here. Abate, an engineer employed at General Electric Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory, is" past treasurer and president of the Capitol Area chapter FFGBMFI. He is also field representative for the international director. A native of Pitts ton, Pa. he has resided in the Schcnectady area for the past 15 years with his wife and two daughters.

Reservations for the 8:30 a.m. breakfast meeting should be made by this weekend by sending a self-addressed envelope to Paul Danahy, Fresnour Road, Clifton Springs, N.Y. 14432. Or tickets may be purchased at the New Life Bookstore, Canandaigua; Miracle Bookstore, Holcomb; Mr. and Mrs.

Vannie Albanese, 14 Arlington and Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Brubaker, West Lake Road, have returned from, a week's vacation at Jekyll Island, Ga. Mr. and Mrs.

Albanese also visited his counsins, Mr. and Mrs. E. E'. Adkins, Rocky Mount, N.C.

Miss Beatrice M. Cllffe, 190 Parrish has returned after a month in Flamingo and the Everglades, Key West and Sanibel Island, Fla. Mrs. Robert H. Ljttle, 170 N.

Pearl St. entertained the Chatter Club Wednesday evening. Bridge prizes went to Miss Beatrice Palumbo, Mrs. William Holloway and Miss By CATHERINE WELCH Phone 1 3M-2289 Margaret Smith. Mrs.

Quentin M. McGuire, 37 Scotland will be hostess March-24. Mr. and Mrs. Byron II.

Delavan, 164 N. Main have returned from a cruise to St. Martin's, Leeward West Indies. Mrs. Jacob Hardentttne, 40 Wilcox Lane, is the weekend guest of her son-in-law and daughter, Mr.

and Mrs. Lewis Randall, Rochester. Saturday she will attend the wedding of her grandson, Vincent Shanky and Miss Mary Brooks, both of Rochester, in the home of the bride's parents. Mill Mary Jo Roderick, Keuka College, Keuka Park, is the semester break with her mother, Mrs. Joseph F.

Roderick. 27 St. Mrs. Roderick will be the weekend guest of Mr. and Mrs.

Milton Spence, Syracuse. Mlti Sunn Skawiki, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. John Skawski, 249 Buffalo recently took part In a tournament in New York City with the Buffalo State University fencing team. She Is a freshman at the university.

John W. Carney Funeral Home Personal Service 2 East Bloomfleld Phone 657-7717 We'll maka your illvor look brand-new agalnl M. Campbell. Jeweler 163 Main St Caitandaiiliia Bridge Jay Becker JVt" LOUIS J. ABATE or New Creation Bookstore, Geneva.

The meeting is open to the public, according to Dr. Henry Fox, publicity chairman. Want Ads Pay Pregnant? Need a Friend? Call Birthright 394-8737 John C. Johnson Funeral Home Inc. 47 No.

Phone 394-4280 Bidding Quiz Von are South and the bidding has been: West North East South Dble Pass What would you bid now with each of the following five hands? 1.4QJ8753 9742 2.4JM VKJ5 4963 3.4Q92. VQJM 4AJ5 5.4QS53 V8 1. Two spades. The most common way of showing strength opposite a takeout double is by making a jump response. Partner's double indicate! at least an opening bid.

If you were to respond one spade with this hand and also one spade with 4 J8H 9642 partner could hardly guess which type of hand you actually held. Certainly this hand is game- oriented. While you have only 8 high-card points, the 6-card suit and the singleton club bring your values up to. at least 12 points, particularly when partner more or less guarantees spade support and probably short in hearts. Some players would go directly to four spades, which is also ac- ctptable.

I. One notrump. Here you' hive more high-card points, but less chance for game. It is better to bid one notrump than two 11 the notrump response indicates some high- card values, at least one heart stopper, and balanced distribution. The notrump response denotes 6 to 9 points, while two clubs could be based on no high-card points at all.

3. One spade. This is an unpleasant predicament, no doubt, but you're not responsible for holding-a bad hand when partner doubles. It would be wrong to pass, and equally wrong to bid one notrump. It's no pleasure U) respond in a three-card suit', but there's no better bid available.

4. Two notnimp. With 11 high- card points, hearts doubly stopped, and flat distribution, two notrump is the standout response. Change the spade seven to the queen and you'd respond three notnimp. 5.

Two hearts. This is clearly a game-going hand, as you have an opening bid facing an opening bid. But, under the circumstances, it is better not to make a jump-shift response In any of your suits, because you can't tell whether the hand will play best in spades, diamonds or clubs. Instead of trying to guess the right suit, you respond with a heart cuebtd and so force partner to pick the suit. You plan to raise North directly to game In the suit of his choice.

Arthur Schaifir Funtral 71 W. MAIN ST. 289-4099 SHORTSVILLE.N.Y. DAVID W. SAWSBURY LICENSEDOWNER PALMYRA SHOE SHOP 245 East Main Street, Palmyra Your CAFS PAW Headquarters for Soles and Heels 'SAVE MONEY have your SHOES 'CONVERTED FOR GOLF II Through Shoe Repair, you can save from on your Footwear Needsl MARAFIOTI'S Shoe Service HSB "The Capitol" DOWNTOWN NEWARK JL Jfttc.

Phone 394-4141 SALICETI'S Restaurant Lounge--Townline Plaza Dally 11 A.M. to 1 A.M. Legal Notice: It is the policy of the Ontario County Health Facility to admit and treat all patients without regards to race, creed, color, national origin, sex or sponsor. First Church of Christ Scientist 152-NorthMaln'St. SUNDAY-- 11:00 A.M.

Sundiy 11:00 ATM. TESTIMONIALMEETINO SUSJECT THIS SUNDAY Substance READING ROOM: 252 H. Mjln St. Dally from II i.m. to 4 p.m.

Exctpt Sundays ind Holidays Full Salad Bar Our Own Ovtn Bakid Butttr PRIME RIBS A New Experience In Dining ft 394-6130 394-9882 h- i Trenholm East Inn Beef Reef Special! 4i35 Per Person Prlmi Rib and Lototir Tall Dtnntr Rolls, Juicy Cut of Waittrn TuxJtr Fluffy Broikd Ubitir Tail, Potato, Valid Sun. thru Frl. NOWAPPEARING INCUR A LOUNGE THE FABULOUS BILL GRAHAM Thruway Exit 44, Victor, N.Y. Phone: 716-924-2131 Canandaigua Primary School Auditorium West Gibson Street March Curtain Time; 8:00 p.m. Admission $1.50 Department of Visual and Performing Arts Community College of the Finger Lakes.