Ice-Cream Always Taste Better...

on the Mayfield's cow... especially on a hot summer day with a friend.

Inherit the Wind

I posted earlier about the Scopes Trial. But what about the famous play "Inherit the Wind?" The authors Jerome Lawerence and Robert E. Lee stated in the preface to the play ...

"Inherit the Wind is not history... Only a handful of phrases have been taken from the actual transcript of the famous Scopes Trial. Some of the characters of the play are related to the colorful figures in that battle of giants; but they have life and language of their own- and therefore, names of their own... So 'Inherit the Wind' does not pretend to be journalism. It is theatre. It is not 1925." Lawrence and Lee

Here are some of the instances where the play differs from historical facts:

1. The trial originated not in Dayton but in New York offices of the ACLU.
2. When a group of Dayton leaders decided to take advantage of the ACLU's offer, it was not in defense of religion, but to boost the economy of a small town that was suffering the coming Great Depression.
3. John T. Scopes was not a martyr for academic freedom. Primarily a coach of three sports, he taught math, physics, chemistry, and general science. He agreed to help test the law even though he could not remember ever teaching evolution, having only briefly substituted in biology.
4. William Jennings Bryan was not out to get Scopes. Bryan thought the law was a poor one because it involved fining an educator, and he offered to pay Scopes' fine if he needed the money.
5. Bryan was familiar with Darwin's works, and he was not against teaching evolution- if it was presented as a theory, and if other major options, such as creationism, were taught.
6. The topic of sex and sin did not come up in the trial. Neither did Bryan believe the world was created in 4004.
7. Bryan did not have a fit while delivering his last speech and die shortly afterward in the courtroom. Taken from R.M. Cornelius' writings on The Scopes Trial and official court transcripts

There's more... but that's enough for now. If you are interested in knowing the truth, check out http://www.bryan.edu/historical_materials.html

A Feast for the Eyes

Yesterday morning while out walking, I was amazed at the beauty of the apple trees this year. I don't think I have ever seen them so full and so pretty. Maybe loosing all the apples to a cold spell last year has made me more appreciative of them. But when my sweet friend came by later in the day, she too commented about how pretty the orchard is... she called it "a feast for the eyes." You couldn't have said it any better, Ms. T.

Inherit the Truth

"Did humans descend from a lower order of animals or are they a special creation of God, as the Bible says?

That was the central question when John Scopes was tried for violating a new Tennessee law that prohibited teaching any theory of human origins that violated the account of creation found in Genesis in the Bible. Statesman and orator William Jennings Bryan argued for the biblical account and prominent defense attorney Clarence Darrow argued for evolution in a hot, crowded Dayton courtroom July 10-21, 1925."

I got so excited about the arrival of my new nephew, that I forgot to tell you about our visit to The Scopes Trial Festival last weekend. Our Little Man became interested in the history of the trial after listening to an episode of Jonathan Park (http://www.visionforum.com/search/productlist.aspx?search=jonathan+park) ... especially when he realized where Dayton is located. So we marked the festival date on our calendar to attend. How little I knew about the trial that "captured the attention of the world". http://www.bryan.edu/historical.html

Background of the Scopes Trial:

"It was January 21, 1925. Rep. John Washington Butler introduced to the Tennessee House of Representatives House Bill No. 185 which would make it 'unlawful for any teacher in any of the ...public schools of the state... to teach any theory that denies the story of the Diving Creation of man as taught in the Bible, and to teach instead that man has descended from a lower order of animals.'

On Friday, March 13, 1925, the Tennessee Senate, by a vote of 24-6, concurred with the House. Governor Austin Peay signed the Butler Act into law March 21.

In 1924, William Jennings Bryan, former Secretary of State, Democratic party leader, and Chautauqua orator, had lectured in Nashville on the topic 'Is the Bible True?' During debate on the anti-evolution bill, that lecture was distributed to members of the General Assembly and was credited with helping win its passage.

Shortly after the bill became law, in the New York office of the American Civil Liberties Union, a decision was made to test the validity of the law, and a news release was issued announcing the ACLU's interest in finding a Tennessee teacher willing to participate in the case.

On May 4, The Chattanooga Times carried a story about the plan, a story read by George Rappleyea, a metallurgical engineer with the Cumberland Coal and Iron Co. Mr. Rappleyea took the paper to Robinson's Drug Store where he and the proprietor, F.E. Robinson discussed the matter at length.

The next day, during a 'chance' meeting at Robinson's Drug Store, Mr. Rappleyea, Rhea County School Supt. Walter White, city officials, and lawyers, made the decision to test the law. Rhea Central High School teacher John Scopes agreed to be the defendant and was served with a warrant charging him with violating the statue.

Mr. Bryan, in part because of his influence in securing passage of the anti-evolution bill and in part because of his national stature, was invited to assist the prosecution.

The day after Mr. Bryan announced that he would come to Dayton, Clarence Darrow, one of America's foremost defense attorneys, was urged by journalist H.L. Mencken to offer his services. By the end of that week, Mr. Darrow and New York divorce lawyer Dudley Field Malone volunteered to assist Dr. John R. Neal, an attorney from Spring City, Tenn., with the defense.

The confrontation between Bryan and Darrow was only one factor which caught the attention of the world in 1925; the modernist-fundamentalist religious controversy over the authority , even the relevance, of the Bible to 'modern' life was another. This debate within the protestant churches, particularly in the three years before the trial, has spilled over into the popular press and stayed there through the time of the Scopes Trial.

The religious aspect of the trial also raised the prospect in 1925 that a victory by the fundamentalists might coalesce into a political party and propel Mr. Bryan into a fourth run for the White House, a prospect frightening to his antagonists.

Of course, there was a scientific question: Did man evolve from a lower species or was he created by God? That question reflected 65 years of increasing conflict between the then-developing theory of evolution and the 'young earth' view of creation generally held by the non-academic element of the church.

Into this cauldron plunged John Scopes, William Jennings Bryan, Clarence Darrow, and the supporting cast of Friday, July 10, 1925, as Judge John T. Raulston gavelled his court to order."
taken from: "Inherit the Truth" published by Bryan College

Bikes, Trikes, Scooters and Water... Oh my!

Uncle K and Aunt D invited Little Man to visit last night. Little Man 2 was spending the night while his mom is still in the hospital with his new brother (Little Man 4...wonder what my daddy thinks of all these grandsons after having lived in a household of 4 females). Things can certainly get crazy (and loud!) when the cousins get together- especially when you add bikes, trikes, scooters, and water! Was this a birthday party for the baby?

Happy "Birth" Day

Welcome to "Little Man #4". Little Sis did a great job. He arrived around 6:30 this evening. And weighed in at 8 pounds and 1 ounce... much bigger than his brother. He's 21 inches long. We are thankful to have him here and that Sis is doing well. Hope they get a good night of rest.

Little Man 2 trying to see into his mother's room.

Me, Sis "S", and Sis "D" shortly after his arrival, Boy Sis S looks good!

My Little Man was excited about a new cousin.
He got really serious when Aunt S allowed him to hold his new cousin!
Thanks Aunt S. and congratulations!

Labor Day

Labor Day has arrived... for my baby sister that is. She went into labor early this morning. They are now at the hospital. Little Man 3 is with Nana. I'll be sure and post more info later... and maybe a photo or two.

FOL Used Book Sale

It's here.... The Friends of the Library Used Book Sale.

• Member's Only-Thursday July 24, from 5 to 8 p.m. in the cafeteria of McMinn County High School. You can join at the door for $15.00 .
• Friday, July 25- 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Hardbacks are $2.00 and paperbacks are $1.00.
• Saturday, July 26- Half-Price Day with the sale open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Sunday, July 27- Bag Say with books costing $3.00 per bag or two bags for $5.00. The sale is open from noon until 4 p.m.