Through a Lens: Sharing a Meal Together

In 2023, PHS was awarded a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to digitize 22,500 photographs and supporting documents from the Religious News Service Photograph Collection. Learn more about the project.

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November—a month of golds and reds and browns; of crisp autumn winds; of gathering together in front of fires and feasts to share long, delicious moments with loved ones. A month of harvest, of reaping the benefits of hard work. This November, we're sharing images from the Religious News Service Photograph collection that spotlight the importance of moments—and meals—shared.

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How often do you get to be a guest at a President’s family dinner? The Johnsons welcomed guests—and a photographer—into their Texas home for a winter meal in the later months of 1964. As you can probably tell by the bowed heads around the table, this image was snapped as President Johnson himself said grace. This family dinner occurred during the Johnson’s Christmas break, in the days before they’d head back to the White House. What do you think was the main course?

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Our Lady of the Angels Monastery, a place where young men would come and prepare themselves for life within the Capuchin priesthood, was established at the St. Francis Parish in Staunton, VA, in September of 1945. There were twenty-six students in all, during that first year, ranging in age from 17 to 28. From the caption: “The rapid pace of the Twentieth Century gives way to study, mediation, prayer and work at Our Lady of Angels Capuchin monastery here. At this monastery young Americans of Italian ancestry spend the last years of their intensive preparation for ordination as Capuchin priests.”

The image on the left shows Brother Emanuel, the monastery’s cook, inspecting the spaghetti for a midday meal which includes steak, peas, cabbage, bread, milk and fruit. The caption shares that, “Although they eat well, the students’ fare is simple.” On the right, we see six members enjoying their meal. The caption explains that “The basis of living is reduced to its essentials, as shown in this photo of the plainly set table at meal time. Seating at long wooden tables is arranged by rank.” The monastery was closed in 1970.

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Supper time at Father Haye’s Astoria, NY parish looked a bit different from the meal shared by the Capuchin monks in Virginia. This image, taken in 1946—one year after the Capuchin monastery photos—shows Father Haye and his fellow assistants seated in an austere, wood-paneled dining room, about to dig in to their food. From the caption: “Supper time brings respite to Father Haye and his fellow assistants and gives them an opportunity for conversation and relaxation before resuming their duties. Among the regular clergy living in community, as distinct from secular priests in parishes, meals are eaten in silence while a member of the community reads selections from some pious work.” Soup with a side of Scripture—yum!

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Welcome to the kids’ table!

The aftermath of World War II saw many children orphaned and homeless. This was but one of many results and consequences of the war—and it was being tackled head-on by various religious groups in Germany. Assisted by occupation authorities, groups like the Motherhouse for Deaconesses in Frankfurt began to undertake the work of caring for the “needy youngsters.” The photograph above, snapped in 1946, shows a group of children gathered around a table, ready to chow down on their midday meal.

The Lutheran General Synod approved an order of deaconesses in 1895. Deaconesses are defined as unmarried women who vow to serve Christ and the Lutheran Church through teaching, spiritual care, and works of mercy.

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In February 1946, the Family Life Conference—sponsored by the Family Life Bureau of the National Catholic Welfare Conference—was held in Washington, D.C. From an article in the February 15, 1946, edition of The Catholic Standard and Times, we learn that “Several years ago, under the joint auspices of Catholic, Jewish and Protestant groups and the Office of Civilian Defense, ‘National Family Week’ was inaugurated. The main purpose of this week was the emphasize the need for stable family life in relation to national stability.” In 1946, National Family Week was to be observed from May 4 to May 11. It was quite an event—the New York Times released an article on the first day of National Family Week sharing about the various church programs that would be held during the celebration. The theme of that year’s commemorative week in May was “Religious Living Begins at Home.”

“The family above, about to enjoy a bounteous meal,” the caption reads, “takes time out to thank God for His blessings. Saying grace before and after meals is another way to practice ‘religious living.’ Family faith and family devotions add strength and joy to life.”

Do you say grace before each meal?

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Sitting along this long stretch of table—with no empty space in sight—are members of the PCUSA’s Korea Mission Station as well as visiting guests. The guest-of-honor was Dr. John Coventry Smith, who is sitting on the right, third from the bottom of the image. On his left is Dr. Edward Adams; on his right sits Mr. Kinsler. While on this trip, Dr. Smith also attended the dedication ceremony of the Taegu Nurses' School, as well as a seminary dedication.

John Coventry Smith began his career as a missionary in 1929, when he was appointed to Japan under the Board of Foreign Missions. In 1948, Smith joined the executive staff of the Board as Secretary for the Korean and Japanese mission fields. From 1952—the year the above feast photograph was taken—Dr. Smith was appointed Associate General Secretary of the Board. Then, when the Board of Foreign Missions was succeeded by the Commission on Ecumenical Mission and Relations (COEMAR), his title morphed into General Secretary. He remained in this position until his retirement in 1970.

Additionally, Dr. Smith served as Moderator of the UPCUSA (1968-69) and as one of the six presidents of the World Council of Churches (1968).

But on a June evening in 1952, John Smith was seated alongside friends and new acquaintances, sharing a bountiful Korean meal.

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Check out the Religious News Service Photograph Collection in Pearl

Learn more about the Digitization Project currently underway

Read the Presbyterian News Service article about the RNS 90th Anniversary Exhibit