Photo by Mil, 1970
THE COMING OF GLORIETA….Part One
The first time I ever heard of Glorieta was at Inlow Youth
Camp, a very rustic camp located in the Manzano Mountains
several miles south of Fourth of July Springs. Dr. Harry P. Stagg,
then about 50 years old, was up front in the old open "tabernacle,"
that cool mountain night, wearing a WWII bomber jacket, and with
charts was explaining to the 150 or so kids, that one day, there
would be a magnificent Baptist Assembly in the mountains up north
Camp, a very rustic camp located in the Manzano Mountains
several miles south of Fourth of July Springs. Dr. Harry P. Stagg,
then about 50 years old, was up front in the old open "tabernacle,"
that cool mountain night, wearing a WWII bomber jacket, and with
charts was explaining to the 150 or so kids, that one day, there
would be a magnificent Baptist Assembly in the mountains up north
somewhere. (The kids didn't really care where.)
It would have nice "hotel" facilities, a lake with trout, eventually a
spectacular worship auditorium with a steeple pointing to God. It
would have a dining hall that would accommodate a thousand people.
It would have sports facilities for the youth, horseback riding, and a
beautiful prayer garden, with walkways.
spectacular worship auditorium with a steeple pointing to God. It
would have a dining hall that would accommodate a thousand people.
It would have sports facilities for the youth, horseback riding, and a
beautiful prayer garden, with walkways.
The year, I believe was 1949. I was fifteen. I was probably more
interested in the girls on my bench, but the whole thing that night
was etched on my mind. Looking around at the rawness of Inlow
Camp, I could not fathom such a thing as this marvelous facility.
Dr. Stagg, a man for whom I would one daywork, was Executive
Director of the Baptist Convention of New Mexico. He was a far-
sighted minister who played a big part in promoting Glorieta and
securing the land.
interested in the girls on my bench, but the whole thing that night
was etched on my mind. Looking around at the rawness of Inlow
Camp, I could not fathom such a thing as this marvelous facility.
Dr. Stagg, a man for whom I would one daywork, was Executive
Director of the Baptist Convention of New Mexico. He was a far-
sighted minister who played a big part in promoting Glorieta and
securing the land.
If my memory is correct, immediately at the end of our camp that
week in 1949, the Goodners and a number of others were headed
to "Glorieta," wherever it was, for a celebration or ground-breaking
of some sort.
week in 1949, the Goodners and a number of others were headed
to "Glorieta," wherever it was, for a celebration or ground-breaking
of some sort.
Twelve years later, when I came to work on Dr.Stagg's staff in church
music, we chuckled about his old WWII leather jacket, and that cool
night at Inlow. By then, all the predictions for Glorieta had come true.
music, we chuckled about his old WWII leather jacket, and that cool
night at Inlow. By then, all the predictions for Glorieta had come true.
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Glorieta sat there, beautifully and nicely nestled alongside the highway,
fifteen miles southeast of Santa Fe. When I drove by there in later years,
en route to some appointment in my work with the Baptist Convention,
there Glorieta lay, almost like a second home to me. As the poet Gibran
said: "Too many fragments of the spirit have I scattered in these streets…"
I always knew, if I got caught in one of those vicious NM snowstorms,
Mark, the manager, would find me a room somewhere...
fifteen miles southeast of Santa Fe. When I drove by there in later years,
en route to some appointment in my work with the Baptist Convention,
there Glorieta lay, almost like a second home to me. As the poet Gibran
said: "Too many fragments of the spirit have I scattered in these streets…"
I always knew, if I got caught in one of those vicious NM snowstorms,
Mark, the manager, would find me a room somewhere...
I stayed, over twenty years, at so many of the different "cabins" and "hotels"
that it is hard to remember then all. The first time I saw the place, in its
completion, was in the early fifties. As a broke college kid, I bummed
a bunk in the FBC, Lubbock cabin. A big nice cabin too...
completion, was in the early fifties. As a broke college kid, I bummed
a bunk in the FBC, Lubbock cabin. A big nice cabin too...
We stayed, my wife and I, and kids, at the FBC Albuquerque cabin countless
times; at the FBC Hobbs cabin once, in other hotels, rooms, and once
camped in a log cabin.
times; at the FBC Hobbs cabin once, in other hotels, rooms, and once
camped in a log cabin.
We were on the faculty every year for Church Music Week. There were
several Minister of Music retreats. I once attended Student Week there,
while I was still in college. What an experience that was! The Texas
Student Choir, auditioned from colleges across Texas, spent the week
there. Some of the singers were my friends from my own HSU A Cappella
Choir!
several Minister of Music retreats. I once attended Student Week there,
while I was still in college. What an experience that was! The Texas
Student Choir, auditioned from colleges across Texas, spent the week
there. Some of the singers were my friends from my own HSU A Cappella
Choir!
Once I was invited to be the narrator for a missions pageant there in the
big Glorieta worship auditorium. There were 1200 women or so there.
I declined this invitation profusely, on the grounds of my Texas drawl---
but was told: "You are the one we need!" (How can you refuse that?)
big Glorieta worship auditorium. There were 1200 women or so there.
I declined this invitation profusely, on the grounds of my Texas drawl---
but was told: "You are the one we need!" (How can you refuse that?)
In the summer of 1971, finding ourselves jobless, due to some down-
sizing, we were offered a job for the summer. I was to be the Choral
Conductor for the bigYouth Staff Choir of 165 and an auditioned special
a cappella group which would sing around in area churches; additionally
I was Chief of Photography and Darkroom.
sizing, we were offered a job for the summer. I was to be the Choral
Conductor for the bigYouth Staff Choir of 165 and an auditioned special
a cappella group which would sing around in area churches; additionally
I was Chief of Photography and Darkroom.
Donna was hired to work with music ensembles and produce a "yearbook"
and a newspaper for 545 staff personnel. I and my three young assistants
did all the portraits and scenes, and it was a fine annual.
and a newspaper for 545 staff personnel. I and my three young assistants
did all the portraits and scenes, and it was a fine annual.
I must mention---there was an air of peace, joy, and happiness among
the permanent residents there---those who leased land and built their
homes, many of them retirees. All summer long, these folks could sit on their
porches and hear the Gospel, in great music and singing, wafting across
those northern New Mexico mountains.
the permanent residents there---those who leased land and built their
homes, many of them retirees. All summer long, these folks could sit on their
porches and hear the Gospel, in great music and singing, wafting across
those northern New Mexico mountains.
The Spirit of God truly lived in that place.
I thought it would be there forever.
Auditorium Hallway
Photo by Mil, 1971
Photo by Mil, 1971
********30*******
BY MIL
12/03/13
(PART TWO TO FOLLOW.)
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