Point Cedar News
My newsletter from the First United Methodist Church of Hot Springs stated that the sanctuary and another building would be open for 50 people at one time, wearing a mask, and keeping the required spacing. I expected the TV broadcast from the Pulaski Heights UMC in Little Rock to have some members in the sanctuary and the choir, but there were only the necessary few. The pastor spoke of the Ten Commandments and how each one pertains to each of us and must be followed. He also stated the use of the Lord’s name inappropriately was wrong. Many will say “Oh, my God,” and some “Jesus Christ,” if on the golf course the ball goes astray. This is inappropriate use. The names of our Lord are sacred.
This was the third Sunday of Lent, Boy Scout Sunday, and Holy Communion (which is on the first Sunday of each month.) A Scoutmaster was present, and movies were included of Scouts at meetings and words by an Eagle Scout. The minister also stated that someone said to wipe out Christianity, do away with the
Sabbath for one year!
A newspaper clipping by Laura Beil, Dallas Morning News, July 1, 2001, states that millions were stricken with a sudden, mysterious death, signaled by high fever, body aches, blood loss, and lymph nodes the grew swollen and black. The Black Death in 14th Century Europe wiped out 30-50 percent of the population and redefined life on the continent. The church lost influence in daily life, more science thinking started to appear, gentry women gained new social and financial status, and a new class of independent farmers emerged. Without the plague to shatter beliefs, the Renaissance as we know it might never have happened. In England during the years of 1348 and 1349 lower classes suffered heavily. Wealth lay in land ownership, and the upper class relied on inheritance and strategic marrying. Coveted estates were suddenly swallowed by another family, distantly related. History and disease are often shaped by the other. Some believed the plague was caused by Jewish people, creating persecution and murder. As with our present pandemic, is it creating good things or making civilization worse? How much have politics played in the present crisis? Have we created a Graven Image of a political figure, thereby breaking one of the Commandments, when we are to Love Our Neighbor as Ourself?
The Hot Springs newspaper, March 7th, included information about the Elks Lodge 380 presentation of an Outstanding Community Service Award to the Boy Scouts of America Troop 10 for involvement through Eagle Scout projects. The Scouts were invited to participate in the service on Sunday to raise the new American flag off the MLK by-pass to replace the one stolen from the Alliance Rubber Company.
Another Hot Springs newspaper article I clipped dated April 2, 2018, contained photos and info about an animated film based on the true story of Cpl J Robert Conroy of New Britain, and his famed war dog Stubby during WWI. Just last week I watched this on HBO and even the animated Stubby was a charmer. He was taught to offer his paw to shake hands and to salute officers. A homecoming parade for WWI veterans in Hartford, Conn, shows Stubby on a leash marching with troops. This small stray was adopted in 1917 by Conroy while he was in training and he was able to smuggle the dog aboard a ship taking soldiers to Europe. The Boston Terrier mix became the mascot of the 102nd Regiment and earned a medal that was presented by Gen John Pershing. The dog was in the trenches during 17 battles, was injured in a gas attack, and later used his keen nose to give troops early warning of chemical shellings. He even had his own custom-made gas mask. He would stand by injured soldiers on the battlefield and alert medics by barking. After the war, Stubby became famous and toured the country, and met three Presidents. He died in 1926, his hide was placed over a plaster cast and is on display at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC.
Judith Ann Runyan, 75, Amity, was preceded by parents, Ray Clifford and Daisy Langston Owens (of Denver CO), husband Cloys L. Runyan in 2016, a brother and a sister. Survivors include a daughter, Crystal Coon (Jon), granddaughter, Kayla Sutton (Pake), and others. Services were on March 2, Davis-Smith Funeral Home Chapel, Glenwood, burial followed in the Shiloh Cemetery. They owned Judy’s Affiliated Grocery for 12 years.
Bob L Carpenter, 79, Hot Springs died recently and was buried in Memorial Gardens Cemetery. I failed to notice that he was born in Bismarck to the late Lawrence Albert and Iva Mae Carpenter. He owned Bob Carpenter’s Carpet World in Hot Springs. Survivors were his wife, Judy, and children: Shane (Chris), Kimberly Freeman, Natalie Tanner (Brian) and Stephany Petersen (Jeremiah), grandchildren. http://www.grossfuneralhome.com.