‘Sitting in the sunshine in a leafy park area to consume my victuals, I was entertained by the infantry who had arrived in their pushchairs and buggies.'
Eye - 03 May 2024
From Monster on the path! to On this day
Monster on the path!
‘As we went I spied a great high hill called Pendle Hill, and I went on the top of it with much ado, it was so steep; but I was moved of the Lord to go atop of it; and when I came atop of it I saw Lancashire sea; and there atop of the hill I was moved to sound the day of the Lord; and the Lord let me see atop of the hill in what places he had a great people to be gathered’ (Quaker faith & practice 19.06).
Recent contributions from Friends who have scaled Pendle Hill (16 February and 12 April) have inspired David Hickok to tickle some ribs with a story from his past.
‘I was amused this week [12 April] by Eye – my Local Meeting used to organise trips to “1652 country”. We stayed in Swarthmoor Hall and visited old Meeting houses.
‘The peak of the week was Pendle Hill. Through a thick fog we engaged a narrow path. I was so excited I ran ahead.
‘And there in the middle of the path was a medieval monster with ferocious horns.
‘I ran back down and said: “Friends we can’t go further. There is a monster on the path.”
‘Friend Gary ventured up, came down and said: “David, it’s a sheep.”
‘When we got to the top I could barely see my shoes.
‘In Fox’s footsteps indeed – he saw a great people gathered… my crabby great-uncles.’
‘There’s a light that is shining’
As Rebecca Hardy reported (22 & 29 December 2023), the George Fox 400 programme was launched this year to mark the 400th birthday of the co-founder of Quakerism.
There are a wide variety of events taking place around the world, and we hope you will share yours with the Friend!
The Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC) will be publishing a World Quaker Songbook, and it has also acquired the copyright permissions to publish the words to the ‘Ballad of George Fox’ online, and to sing it at the World Plenary in August.
The song was written by folk musician Sydney Carter who, though not a Quaker himself, knew Friends through his service with the Friends Ambulance Unit in world war two.
The lyrics can be found at https://bit.ly/GeorgeFoxSong, along with a video of Quaker singer Jon Watts performing the piece.
Glimmers
Chris Hart, of Settle Meeting, reached out to share an encounter that warmed his heart during one Sufferings weekend.
He told Eye: ‘Threatened industrial action on the railway resulted in my arriving in the capital a day early for Sufferings. Prepared with a Tesco’s meal deal I took buses to Kensington thinking that a museum may be a comfortable distraction for the extra time.
‘Sitting in the sunshine in a leafy park area to consume my victuals, I was entertained by the infantry who had arrived in their pushchairs and buggies, attended by grownup carers and parents. As I enjoyed the escapades of these hopes of the nation exploring and playing, I clenched my small plastic flagon of fruit juice and, try as hard as I could, I was defeated… I was seriously challenged to remove the screw top.
‘A passerby saw my predicament and offered help. “No” said I, denying that I had a problem. But then I smiled first on the inside and then on the outside as I realised the arrogance of my demeanour… “Oh, oh, yes please” I said.
‘The top came off in a trice and there were mutual beams of gratitude as they went on their way, leaving a warm feeling in my heart along with the joy of the children around me, and the quenching of my thirst.’
What glimmers of light and love have warmed your heart Friends?
On this day
J Edmund Clark’s ‘Science Notes’ in the Friend of 3rd 5th month 1895 shed light on some cough sweets that should only ever be approached with caution!
‘EXPLOSIVE LOZENGES
The danger of chlorate of potash lozenges was lately exemplified by a gentleman whose experience was given in the British Medical Journal. He happened to put a box of them, and a loose one, into his waistcoat pocket, and, later, added a box of safety matches. Bending to pick up something, the friction of the lozenge on the red phosphorus paste outside the matchbox set the latter alight. Instantly the two boxes followed suit, inflicting fearful burns. Chlorate of potash is the substance commonly used in laboratories for preparing small supplies of oxygen.’
