The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-10-09
BY LAURA LOU BROOKMAN
NEA Service Writer
lConYright. 1881. BIZ NEl Service. Incl

Copyright. 1881. BIZ NEs Service. Incl
A S though written in letters of
IA flame across the sky, Aimee
Semple McPherson's name blazed
before the nation in May, 1925.
With it was coupled the name,
Kenneth Ormiston."
Whether these two were in love,
whether they did occupy a bunga-
low at Carmel by the-Sea for ten
days, during the time the evangel-
ist was believed to be kidnapped,
whether Aimee and Ormiston de-
serve place among the worlds
most daring lovers or were the per-
secuted and innocent victims Of cir
cumstantial evidence, never has
been proven.
The facts were presented in most
sensational court trial.
From such curiously harmless OBJ
iects as the following was the net
woven which enmeshed prosecution
and blacklist ridicule:
A penciled grocery list.
An unfinished sermon.
A strand of red hair caught in
boudoir cap.
A white silk tassel.
A green bathing cap.
A pair of woman's shoes.
0RMISTON was the radio engi-
" neer at Angelus temple, Mrs.
McPherson's tabernacle. containing
the largest auditorium in the world
for religious gatherings.
The temple radio broadcasts each
morning and concludes with a re-
cital If sacred music at midnight.
On the stage there is a concealed
telephone connecting with the radio
tower and during the singing Mrs.
Mcpherson usually calls up her radio
operator to learn how her voice is
being received. She often talks sew
eral minutes thus.
She and Ormiston met personally |
for the first time on the steps of !
the temple Aimee offered to drive |
the radio operator home in her car. |
She always had been interested in
the subject of radio and she discov-
cred the engineer was a man of
both charm and intelligence.
Their work threw the two to-
gether. Gossip was bound to follow |
In January, 1926, Aimee left Los
Angeles for tour of the Holy Land. |
1t was said she went to try to cure |
the heartache caused by her love for
the radio operator.
Her loyal followers at Angelus
temple denounce such suggestions /
as monstrous-in the same way they
have denounced every other deroga-
tory statements about Sister
Aimee"
NERS. MCPHERSON returned and
1V1 was welcomed with a gala
celebration. Thousands met her at
the railroad station. Her services in !
the Temple were more largely at
tended.
A few weeks after her return, the /
afternoon of May 10, Aimee and her
secretary, Emma Schaeffer, went to |
one of Los Angeles beaches. Mrs.
wearing bright green
bathing suit and cap, went in swim
ming while the secretary read a
book in their tent.
Presently Miss Schaeffer raced |
across the sand, screaming for help.
At one moment she had seen her
floating far out in the
water; at the next she had dis
Newspapers rushed extras that |
the woman preacher had drowned.
SkiffS, coast guard cutters, |
divers, airplanes and dynamite we're
used to find the body The faith |
full from the Temple took up the |
hunt en- maSSe.
Many brought cots and blankets
and camped overnight on the beach,
The most devout expected to see
Sister" triumphant over death,
marching to them across the waves.
Memorial services were held and
collections taken.
THEN, on June %, not only Los
Il Angeles but the entire coun-
try was electrified by the news