Melvin Blake - National Methodist Conference on Youth

Topic: CRS Version
The source for Lynn Rohrbough’s version of “Kumbaya” not only had to learn it directly or indirectly from an African American, but had to pass it on.  As mentioned in the post for 4 November 2011, we know May Titus learned the song from Claire Lovejoy Lennon, but have no evidence she taught it to others.

Melvin Blake was more likely than she to be a conduit because he was known to be a singer.  Although they were limited, there may have been opportunities for him to hear “Come by Here” when he was in Nashville during the 1951–1952 school year.

Blake was on furlough from his work as a missionary in Angola.  During those supposed rest periods, most missionaries made an effort to speak to churches about their work and, by the bye, raise money.  For instance, Blake appeared at a Greenfield, Indiana, church in August. [1]  It was about 60 miles from where he was staying in Eaton, Indiana.

Blake also fulfilled institutional obligations like a strategy meeting at DePauw University. [2]  In June, he was at Wittenberg College. [3]  He probably was attending a conference on Africa organized by the National Council of Churches.  The attendees included representatives from the United Nations and government representatives along with “missionaries, university professors and students, anthropologists and teachers.” [4]

These meetings, especially the three-day meeting in Ohio, no doubt offered ample opportunities for people to socialize.  However, singing may not have been part of the informal activities.

A more likely conclave was the Methodist national youth conference held at Purdue University in August.  While he was a Wittenberg, Ralph Dodge’s Mission Board office in New York told him:

“There is to be a Christian Youth Conference at Purdue in Lafayette, Indiana, August 25-30 which we are inviting you to attend as a guest of the Division.  You will be the only missionary from this Division, but we are asking several Crusade Scholars.” [5]

The meeting attracted five thousand young people. [6]   With that many people, the program had to be tightly scheduled to prevent problems arising from idleness.  Larry Eisenberg was the song leader for fifteen minutes every morning.  He remembered:

“I timed each song, and we sang without books or notes because if the ones in the back were looking down, they got off by a full beat.” [7]

I haven’t been able to find a schedule for the 1952 conference.  In fact the only one I found online was from 1940.  Each day began with 15 minutes of organ music, followed by a 15 minute worship service.  Recreation was slotted every afternoon, with a 15 minute community sing most evenings and a party the last night for those between 17 and 25 years of age. [8]

One assumes there were similar opportunities for informal singing in 1952.

Blake’s involvement in the program may have been a speech or workshop on Christian missions, or possibly a booth for dispensing information.  He certainly would have been attentive to the international ministerial students sponsored as Crusade Scholars.  Beyond that, it is impossible to know if he would have been asked to lead a song anywhere.

End Notes
Frances Lyons of The United Methodist Church (UMC) archives at Drew University sent me copies of letters to and from Blake written in the summer of 1952.

1.  “African Missionary To Give Account Of Methodist Work.”  The Daily Reporter, Greenfield, Indiana, 11 August 1952.  1.

2.  Ralph E. Dodge.  Letter to Rev. Melvin Blake, Scarritt College, 28 May 1952.  Typed original, UMC.

Charles Melvin Blake.  Letter to Dr. Ralph E. Dodge, 26 May 1952.  Typed original, UMC.

3.  Ralph Dodge’s administrative assistant.  Letter to Mr. Melvin Blake, Wittenberg College, 19 June 1952.  Typed original, UMC.

4.  Preston King Sheldon.  “Africa to Be Topic of Church Session.”  The New York Times, 7 June 1952.  15.  Quotation from “North American Assembly on African Affairs.”  Page 250 in unidentified source on Cambridge Core website.

5.  Dodge’s administrative assistant.

6.  Eisenberg, Larry.  1992.  “It’s Me, O Lord.”  Tulsa, Oklahoma: Fun Books.  59.  A local newspaper reported more than a thousand. [9]

7.  Eisenberg.  59.

8.  Thomas R. Pendell, executive secretary of The National Council of Methodist Youth.  Letter to all persons connected with the leadership of the 1940 National Conference of Methodist Youth, 27 June 1940.  Typed.  The on-line PDF file includes the schedule.

9.  “People To Meet At Purdue.”  The Daily Banner, Greencastle, Indiana, 21 August 1952.