What’s In A Name?

May 16, 2019 (Thursday)
Doris Day has died at age 97. She was born Doris Mary Ann von Kappelhoff on April 3, 1922. She recorded 650 songs and appeared in thirty-nine feature films, quite an accomplishment. She received many achievement awards for her career accomplishments from 1949 during her life. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

She established the Doris Day Animal Foundation. She had always loved animals and that love led to her to create the Doris Day Pet Foundation, the Doris Day Animal League, and the Doris Day Horse Rescue and Adoption Center.
Do you think she would have been as successful as Doris Mary Ann von Kappelhoff? “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet” is a popular reference to William Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet, in which Juliet seems to argue that it does not matter that Romeo is from her family’s rival house of Montague, that is, that he is named “Montague”.
I joined facebook because someone sent me some pictures and in order to see them I had to join. But facebook would not accept the name, “Fake.” So I chose to use my first and middle name instead. If you look for me on facebook you will find me as “Charles Forest.”
After their father died in 1904, my grandfather, Clinton Stone Fake, and his three brothers decided to change their last name. Their mother heard of it and scolded them in letters, telling them they were being dishonest. Many people with the name had become successful professional people with good reputations. And, as an incentive, she reminded them that “everyone in my will is named, “Fake.” She, on the other hand, moved back to her home town as a widow and in a few years remarried. Her name then became “Benedict.” Her son, Harry, may have changed his name, I don’t know, but his son, Leonard, went by the name, “Faike.” William, my grandfather’s brother, chose “Faith.” The brother named “Fred” moved to Chicago and died young. My grandfather kept the name, “Fake;” he was a professional photographer and a beloved Pentecostal minister. I remember his funeral, in 1944, in an old funeral home on Texas Avenue in Houston. The people joined in a regular Pentecostal service, celebrating with joy the life and ministry of “Brother Fake.”
One day in First Baptist Church, Rockport, a meeting was held and people came from other churches. One of the visiting ladies, after meeting me, said, “I would change my name if I were you.” “I don’t know,” I replied, “I looked it up and “Charles” means “strong and manly.”
I’m sure Doris Day would have done well with any name, and, as for me, I’ve had my name for more than 87 years. Changing it would surely be a waste of money.

---

There is a name above every name:

The Name of Jesus
Words, William C. Martin
Music, Edmund S. Lorenz
1902
The name of Jesus is so sweet,
I love its music to repeat;
It makes my joys full and complete,
The precious name of Jesus!
Refrain:
“Jesus,” oh, how sweet the name!
“Jesus,” every day the same;
“Jesus,” let all saints proclaim
Its worthy praise forever!
I love the name of Him whose heart
Knows all my griefs and bears a part;
Who bids all anxious fears depart,
I love the name of Jesus!
That name I fondly love to hear,
It never fails my heart to cheer;
Its music dries the falling tear,
Exalt the name of Jesus!
No word of man can ever tell
How sweet the name I love so well;
Oh, let its praises ever swell,
Oh, praise the name of Jesus!

Listen to this grand old hymn, sung by Jimmy McDonald