Author: Read, David H.C. (1910-2001). Scottish Calvinist minister who served as pastor of the Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church and whose words were broadcast far afield through his weekly radio sermons.
Title: Typed Letter Signed by the Pastor of the Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church David H.C. Read.
Description: New York, April 7, 1986. 1986. - Approximately 120 words typed on 11 inch high by 8-1/2 inch wide "Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church" stationery. In his letter, Pastor Read writes to Jean Dalrymple (addressing her by her married name Mrs. Philip D. Ginder) expressing his pleasure at having seen her at Easter "We had a wonderful time over that season, and the Paschal Vigil on the Saturday night was a most thrilling production." Thanking her for her donation, he mentions that "We are going to be in Hong Kong greeting the Luce Fellows in whose selection I have had a part in recent years." Though he'll be in New York most of the Summer, "I am going over to Scotland for a couple of weeks in May." Signed "David". Jean Dalrymple has penned a line through the text to indicate she has read the letter and penned "file 'R'" at top left. The letter is folded for mailing with light creases to the edges. Very good.

The Scottish-born Calvinist theologian, the Rev. David H.C. Read (1910-2001) brought the verve of a showman to the pulpit. The pastor of New York City's Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church, Read's radio sermons were also broadcast weekly by the National Council of Churches. Proclaiming that "the worst sin is dullness", his sermons were high drama events fueled by the writings of the Swiss-German minister Karl Bath who advised preaching with "a Bible in one hand and a newspaper in the other." Read joined Britain's Highland Division as a chaplain at the outbreak of the second world war. He was captured by German troops at Dunkirk and shuffled from one POW camp to another. Sermons he delivered while captive were smuggled out and published leading to his fame once released. Before coming to America, Read was chaplain at the University of Edinburgh and was chaplain to the Queen when she was in Scotland. In New York, Read worked for human rights and supported a nuclear freeze.

Jean Dalrymple (1902-1998) was the dynamic producer and director of theater and light-opera at Manhattan's City Center. Dalrymple began her career in Vaudeville, appearing with James Cagney and Cary Grant in the early 1930s. She was a founding member of the American Theatre Wing, the theatre service organization. She worked over the years as a personal manager for the likes of Leopold Stokowski, Mary Martin, Jose Iturbi, Andre Kostalanetz, Nathan Milstein, and Lily Pons. She began her work at City Center with its founding in 1943, serving as a board member, producer, and publicist. Her productions there from the 1940s through the 1960s were a revitalizing influence on the whole New York theatre scene. In 1951, Jean Dalrymple married Major-General Philip deWitt Ginder, commander of the Thunderbirds in Korea. She was a friend to Presidents and entertainment personalities throughout the world. Very good .

Keywords: RELIGION; TYPED LETTER SIGNED DAVID H.C. READ; PASTOR; MINISTER; MADISON AVENUE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH; TYPED LETTER SIGNED; AUTOGRAPH; SIGNATURE; TWENTIETH CENTURY; 20TH CENTURY; RADIO SERMONS; BROADCASTS; HUMAN RIGHTS; EASTER; JEAN DALRYMPLE.

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