Once we moved back to Clyde, we attended church services more regularly. Harry E. Johnson was the local preacher. He was of the old school. His son was named Foy E. Wallace Johnson. That tells you something about his manner and his loyalties. Foy E. Wallace, Jr. was a firebrand preacher during the thirties - perhaps even the most influential preacher in Texas at that time. He was issue oriented, and harsh in his approach, but a lot of people thought he was the greatest thing since sliced bread. Many young boys within the Churches of Christ, were named Foy.
Harry was out of the Foy E. Wallace, Jr. mold. I remember hearing him one Sunday when he was taking on the Roman Catholic Church. He told an apocryphal story about Teddy Roosevelt. According to Harry, Roosevelt visited Rome and the pope invited him to kiss his toe (more likely the ring on his finger). According to Harry’s report, Roosevelt said, “To Hell with it.” That woke up a Sunday morning audience. Then Harry added, “Of course I wouldn’t say that, but them’s my sentiments.” Harry struck fear in your heart, and I was never comfortable in his presence. His wife seemed even harder. She sang with a tremor in her voice. I suppose she had heard an opera diva somewhere and tried to emulate her. Being an irreverent, adolescent boy, I joined my friends in making fun of her.
Nevertheless, I believe I have to thank Harry for changing the direction of my life. Shortly after he moved to Clyde, he came by the house one day and visited with my mother. In passing he said, “We sure would like to get your boy started in Sunday School.” Mama said something to me about it. So the next Sunday I walked to town for the Sunday School class. Mama and Daddy drove in for the assembly and I rode home with them. One day, Daddy said, “It’s not right for Norman to walk to town for Sunday School, while we stay home.” The next Sunday, and from there on throughout their lives, they attended Sunday School classes. Daddy attended the “Old Men’s Bible Classes” until most of them died out and were merged with the auditorium class.
Once Harry cornered my friends and I just before the church services. He said, “I don’t know what you boys are doing during the sermon, but I want you to cut it out.” I don’t know exactly what infractions we have been guilty of committing, but I can guarantee you that I sat rigid throughout the sermon, but I have no idea what he might have talked about that day.
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