"REARRANGING DECK CHAIRS ON THE TITANIC"

[Mullins, Bill AMRDEC]

Slightly earlier:
 
"Future Role of Church Weighed" by James A Haught, _Charleston [WV] Gazette_, 12-29-1969, p. 11 col 1.
"One clergyman has been quoted as saying the numerous reforms taking place today are only "shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic." "

________________________________

From: American Dialect Society on behalf of Fred Shapiro
Sent: Sun 5/20/2007 10:46 AM
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: "REARRANGING DECK CHAIRS ON THE TITANIC"





Here's earlier evidence than what is in The Yale Book of Quotations and
other sources:

Unless this gap is narrowed, all of the liberal reforms of recent years could
be, as one Protestant official put it recently, "like switching deck chairs on
the Titanic."
        Edward B. Fiske, "Secular Issues Split Churches," Fresno Bee, Apr. 5,
1970, p. 5-C

Fred Shapiro

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