Beggars In Velvet

“A whirling phantasmagoria can be grasped only when arrested for contemplation”

Marshall McLuhan, The Mechanical Bride

I turn to the above quote sometimes when I feel overwhelmed by incoming transmissions. It’s a reminder that I usually have the option of stepping away from the screen or the conversation or the page or the oncoming traffic to slow the tape and think things through. I don’t have to react or even try to process. I can close my eyes and study what’s there. I can stop and contemplate a word or a figure or expression within the otherwise whirling phantasmagoria and calm down. I don’t have to believe everything that I breathe. I can take captive every thought.

The above image contains a card I found in an old discarded book, and it’s a delight to have and to hold. The book was published in 1957, so I’m guessing the card is about as old. “Will you criticize this book for us, please?” This is also my plea concerning all of my books, essays, posts, and tweets. Will you criticize them for me please?

And consider the Beggars In Velvet. What on earth is that supposed to mean? Is it a term of derision of the time? A preemptive expression of self-deprecation to avoid the scorn to come for having dared to speak of God? I like it. I’m prepared to mumble it angrily under my breath for obscure reasons.

I also like that there’s a plea to keep the whole situation anonymous.

I’m a 51-year-old Nashville lifer who’s watched Abingdon Press move their offices a couple of times. I wonder if the card would get there now. I don’t know what to make of “Nashville 2,” but I’m here for it.

The book itself is called Faith In Conflict With Science, Evil, Culture, Death. It’s written by Carlyle Marney who made a positive impression on Will Campbell which is good enough for me. Will once cited Carlyle Marney as his source for this saying: “Church is a verb.” Here’s a little something from page 20:

Everything belongs to science! But art and religion are joint proprietors. There is no fact of experience which the scientist will not claim as part of his data, but so does art, and so does religion. The difference is a thing of attitude. To this common field of fact the man of science comes to observe and measure, the man of art to admire and reproduce or express, the man of religion to have communion and worship.

After poking around a little, I’ve discovered Dr. Marney would eventually publish a book called Beggars In Velvet which can be acquired through Amazon for just under $600.

I feel less alone imagining Carlyle Marney jotting down words and arresting images for contemplation in his context.

[waves from within my context]