March 7, 2021 (Sunday)
There is a wealth of daily holidays and special days. Some are steeped in tradition, while others may be wacky, bizarre, unique, or otherwise simply different holidays. Today’s one-of-a-kind day is “Namesake Day,” and is celebrated on the first Sunday in March.
Looking back at my father’s ancestry, I see that several generations followed the Palatinate German method of same first name for all the same sex kids, and an identification second name. My great great grandfather’s name was Peter, but his entire name was Johannes Peter Fake. His son, my great grandfather, had a first name of Charles and middle name of his mother’s maiden name, so his full name was Charles Prestiss (or Prentice) Fake, following another well-known method of naming children. He named his sons William, Frederick, Clinton and Harry. Clinton’s wife knew him as “Clint.” His middle name was that of his mother’s maiden name, “Stone.” Charles’ home town was Clinton, New York, so he named his third son (my grandfather) Clinton Stone Fake. My father was named “Charles” after his grandfather, and “Clinton” after his father. His fellow workers called him, ‘Chollie,” or “Chazz.” When I was in college, I became “Charlie” to everyone; when somebody calls me “Charlie,” today, it’s a sure sign we were in college together. But on the church fields at that time I was Brother Charles. When Wanda and I got to know each other, she said Charlie was my father’s name, so she called me “Charles.”
My mother’s family, as far as I know, did not follow any particular pattern for naming children, but, in all probability (my guess) my grandfather’s middle name, “Forest” (or “Forrest”) came from being named for a Confederate General and hero, Nathan Forrest. My grandfather was born in Arkansas 16 years after the Civil War. He gave both his sons the middle name, Forest, after himself, and, when I, the first grandchild, was born, I was named “Charles” after my father and he (my grandfather) gave me the middle name, “Forest.” He also named other grandsons the same way.
I may carry the name of a Confederate General, I don’t know for sure. But my Grandma Fake’s father was a Union soldier. His name was John Fisher. He was from Wisconsin but was a soldier in the Ohio Militia, wounded twice in separate battles of the Civil War. He lived with my grandparents in later life, and was very vocal about which side he was on.
When our children were born, I felt they each should have unique names of their own, but somehow we fell into the practice of their first names starting with a “D.” When Dwight was born, Wanda gave him the middle name of “Forest.” The initials of the five children were DGF, DJF, DLF, DDF, and DFF. We were going to call them, Gregg, Jeff, Deborah Lynn, DeeDee and Dwight, but they became David, Dan, Debbie, Dianna and Dwight.
My facebook name is “Charles Forest,” but that is only because facebook refused to accept my name, “Fake.” So “Charles Forest” is my first and middle name, but my entire name in facebook.
The Bible says that when we accept Christ as our Savior, our names are written down in the Lamb’s Book of Life. A grand old hymn lets us sing about it, “A New Name Written Down in Glory.”
A NEW NAME IN GLORY
Author: C. Austin Miles
1905
1 I was once a sinner, but I came
Pardon to receive from my Lord.
This was freely given, and I found
That He always kept His word.
Chorus:
There’s a new name Written down in glory,
And it’s mine, (And it’s mine,)
oh yes, it’s mine! (yes, it’s mine!)
And the white-robed Angels sing the story,
“A sinner has come home.” (home, has come home.”
For there’s a new name written down in glory,
And it’s mine, (And it’s mine,)
oh yes, it’s mine! (yes, it’s mine!)
With my sins forgiven I am bound for heaven,
Nevermore to roam.
2 I was humbly kneeling at the cross,
Fearing naught but God’s angry frown,
When the heavens opened and I saw
That my name was written down. [Chorus]
3 In the Book ’tis written, “Saved by grace.”
Oh, the joy that came to my soul!
Now I am forgiven, and I know
By the blood I am made whole. [Chorus]