Eye - 21 September 2012

From Victorian discoveries to poetry at dawn

Victorian discoveries

Did Quakers make a splash in Victorian literature?  Rosalind Kaye, Colchester Meeting, consulted Valentine Cunningham’s Everywhere spoken against: dissent in the Victorian novel – to illuminate Eye.

She writes: ‘He mentions Quaker brothers who run a shop in Elizabeth Gaskell’s Sylvia’s Lovers. Otherwise he gives references to places where Quaker characteristics are given… George Eliot referring to Quaker-like dress, Mrs Gaskell referring to the lack of ornament in Quaker dress and Charlotte Bronte referring to music, which would make even a Quaker feel moved to dance.’

Unfortunately she found: ‘it seems that Baptists, Methodists and Congregationalists make more impact on the literary scene in Victorian times than Quakers – but perhaps your readers will have more success.’

Johnson in Lichfield

Lichfield Friend, Anthony Wilson, got in touch with Eye with a tantalising tidbit…

‘Lichfield Meeting has good reason to use the Quaker title. Samuel Johnson was born here, and the (Johnson) Society holds meetings in his name; while the Friends (of his Birthplace) are concerned for the museum.’

James Boswell was Samuel Johnson’s biographer and had a particular sympathy with Quakers; in his Life of Johnson he remarked: ‘I have always loved the simplicity of manners of Quakers; and I observed that many a man was a Quaker without knowing it.’

It seems that, in one case in particular, Boswell’s subject was not as sympathetic to all Quaker practices, as he reports: ‘I told him I had been that morning at a meeting of the people called Quakers, where I had heard a woman preach. Johnson: “Sir, a woman’s preaching is like a dog’s walking on his hind legs. It is not done well; but you are surprised to find it done at all.”’

Anthony writes: ‘We like to quote James Boswell… but don’t usually refer to Johnson’s remark.’

Alternatives

Sally Mason, Forest of Dean Meeting, has offered:

• Tabular statement: Authoritative and final statement from the clerk’s table in Meeting for Worship for Business, having the force of an ex cathedra pronouncement by the Pope.
• Travelling minute(s): Short bursts of intense inspiration and insight experienced by Friends on their way to/from Meeting for Worship.

Poetry at dawn

He, on waking –
‘Make me better;
Make me bright;
Make me beautiful, by tonight!’

She, ‘I can make you a cup of tea!’

by Leslie Fuhrmann

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