Image of Swarthmoor Hall. Photo: Published in the Friend 6 September 1912.
Eye - 06 September 2024
Q-Eye delves into the archive with an article from 1912, and the Fox Cubs share their puppet creation!
On this day
In 1912 the 6 September issue of the Friend featured big news about a property with Quaker connections.
On 29 August, Swarthmore Hall was sold for £5,250, and was once again in the hands of Friends!
The report begins: ‘Probably there is no place in the world except Jordans which can vie with Swarthmore Hall for interest to Friends, in view of its associations with the early history of the Society. Hence the announcement last week that, under the hammer, it was purchased by Friends has been hailed with much rejoicing…
‘At the commencement of the sale, it was announced that half a dozen offers had been made for the old oak panelling, doors, and furnishings, but that it was not the intention of the vendor to dismantle the hall. Hence it passes to the new owners substantially in the condition familiar to the many Friends who have visited its beautiful interior…
‘Friends who have visited this home of Judge Fell and his noble wife Margaret, who subsequently became Margaret Fox, will recall the fine mullioned windows, so conspicuous on approaching the house; and within, the capacious sitting-room in which Fox often preached to earnest seekers, while the friendly Judge out of sight but within hearing could listen in the adjoining ante-room; the handsome oak-panelled bedroom, and the door in the outer wall upstairs (seen in the accompanying sketch) from which Fox, raised above the people, used to preach to the crowds gathered in the courtyard.’
Fox Cub creations!
George Fox’s 400th birthday celebrations have got many Friends’ creative juices flowing, and Eye loves it!
Young Friends have been getting in on the action too, as Andy Beck, of Leeds Area Meeting, writes: ‘I thought readers might like to see the puppets that the Fox Cubs (four to six-year-olds) made, after visiting the library to look at some of Fox’s writing and a first edition of his Journal.’
As the summer comes to an end, have any other Meetings or groups got Foxy visages they want to share?
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