'So, although Quakers might not use their geranium coloured book much, it’s certainly made good use of here.’
Eye - 12 April 2024
From Upholding the local community to Not quite a haiku
Upholding the local community
Joolz Saunders, of Wells-next-the-Sea Meeting, has shed light on how a Meeting house and our book of discipline have been used in unusual ways!
‘The oldest, and last, Men’s Discussion Group meets in Wells-next-the-Sea Meeting every Tuesday evening.
‘They were started in the 1920s by [John] Reith (BBC) to help men with literacy, and enthusiastic people organised them, including Quaker Sam Peel, whose sixtieth anniversary is coming up later in the year.
‘Of course, now women have been allowed in and the local group is flourishing with a wide range of illustrated talks given, from weather-forecasting, birds of prey (a number brought into the room in their cages and then allowed out!) and printing history.
‘However, the tripod on which sits the projector has a problem with one leg. So, although Quakers might not use their geranium coloured book much, it’s certainly made good use of here.’
Dippy eggs
The question of what to call the toast dunked into a runny yolk (8 March) inspired Marion McNaughton, of Sale Meeting, to get in touch: ‘Beth Allen’s query about what Quakers might call the slices of toast for dippy eggs brings back eggy memories for me. In the 1970s I worked briefly in the department of Peace Studies at Bradford University with brigadier Michael Harbottle, former chief of staff of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus. My two young children were very impressed by this, and from then on we always referred to our toasted soldiers as “peacekeepers”.’
A source of humour
Jenny Wistreich, of Lewes Meeting, reached out with a vignette she spied, to tickle Friends.
She writes: ‘Following John Lampen’s article on Quaker characters in fiction (8 March) may I introduce you to Mr Charles Fry Fox Guerdon, a minor character with a major name in Poor Caroline by Winifred Holtby (1931) who, in response to a patronising comment – “Are you a Quaker? How thrilling. We have some neighbours who are Quakers and awfully nice really. The girls are quite sporting, and one of them plays tennis for our club’s first six” – observes dryly, “I am glad the Society of Friends meets with your approval”. A source of humour for the readers then and now.’
Fox’s footsteps
Dilys Cluer’s tale of a traipse to the top of Pendle Hill (16 February) has inspired Jan Gentle, of Chesterfield Meeting, to share her expedition with Eye.
She writes: ‘Last year I climbed Pendle Hill and the wind was very strong.
‘I tried to read and record a passage from George Fox’s journal but the wind blew the words away and my dog Maisie seemed to put on a more interesting show!’
As you can see, Maisie made her feelings about such a big walk known!
Not quite a haiku
The noisy mind
Resists the quiet room.
Silence conquers it.
David Hitchin
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