The embossed first page of 'Silence'. Photo: Courtesy of Friends House Library, with thanks of the author.
A memorable mystery: Neil Turner’s Thought for the Week
‘Why was Southall coy about Silence’s origin?’
by Neil Turner
17th October 2025
Many Friends will recall Silence, a leaflet that captured well our experience in Meeting. Memorable despite its age, and with more Godly language than we are recently used to, it describes struggling to listen for an inner voice, and the importance of making space to do that. ‘We cannot go through life strong and fresh on constant express trains, with ten minutes for lunch… we must have quiet hours.’
