From the personal diary of Martha Sherman
Entry for July 31, 1942
["H" is Harold Sherman and "M" is his wife, Martha]
This A.M., H & M went with Ruth and Mrs. Kellogg to hear the Doc lecture to a group of ministers at the theological seminary. The doctor kept everyone highly entertained with stories of the difficulties ministers have with their women parishioners. One statement he made created great hilarity among his listeners but considerable embarrassment to himself as he made a mental "slip." He mentioned that women always fall for Doctors and ministers and that men liked "sinners" -- he meant to say "singers!" In retrospect we have decided that he was truly speaking his own mind!
On Wednesday, June 24, 1942, Harold left on business for New York. Learning that M was alone, Christy phoned and asked her to come to 6 PM dinner, Thursday night, and then go to a movie; and, of course, M accepted. During the day M. did some review reading of the papers and was just finishing up on one of the Thought Adjuster papers a little after 5 when Dr. S. came into the Forum room and said, "I've come to get you. We're waiting for you upstairs." M said, "Oh -- I expected to have time to run oacross and change my dress first." To which Doc. replied, "Oh, you're all right."
So M followed the Doc up to the 3rd floor living room. As she looked about the room expecting to see Christy, the Doc suddenly put both arms about her and kissed her squarely on the mouth saying, "You can't help it if I love you, can you?" M drew away and sat in a chair too stunned to make any coherent answer but finally said, "Where's Christy? I thought she was here?"
"Oh, she'll be here in a few minutes." Doc said. And just then Christy did come in, her arms filled with packages looking a little surprised to find M ahead of her. It was the maid's night off and all three helped prepare the cold picnic supper -- the doctor saying barely a word but hurrying about like any bad little boy anxious to be of assistance to cover up his guilty deeds. There was a sort of self-consciousness about the whole supper.
Immediately afterwards we all went to a neighborhood movie which we did not see all the way through having missed the beginning so were out before 9 PM when M excused herself and went directly to her own apartment. It might be noted that Christy acted forced also -- as though she suspected something was amiss. She took the Dr. by the hand and led him like a child to his seat in the movie because of his bad eyesight.
The following day H. phoned for M to meet him in New York so Saturday M left for the East where she reported to him what had happened. In the interim she did not see the Dr. again and upon her return on July 12th kept him at arm's length with a short handshake.