Eye - 22 September 2023
From Friendly factoids to The porridge peculiarity
Friendly factoids
The Friend is one of the longest continually-published magazines in the world, starting in January 1843. It was once published monthly – but has been weekly since 1892!
The Religious Society of Friends is so called because early Quakers called themselves ‘Friends of Truth’.
The name ‘Quaker’ began as a derisive nickname for George Fox and his followers, who ‘bid them tremble at the word of God’ – then Friends made it their own!
In 1947 the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Quakers, represented by the relief organisations Friends Service Council, in London, and the American Friends Service Committee, in Philadelphia. In his presentation speech, Gunnar Jahn, chair of the Nobel Committee said: ‘The Quakers have shown us that it is possible to carry into action something which is deeply rooted in the minds of many: sympathy with others; the desire to help others…without regard to nationality or race; feelings which, when carried into deeds, must provide the foundations of a lasting peace.’
A magical experience
Sand, sunshine and spirituality came together when Friends took to the beach in Exmouth on 2 September.
Local Friend Kerri Wright told Eye: ‘The event was a collaboration between Exmouth Quakers and local sand artist, Paul Burton. We were looking for a labyrinth to experience the spiritual practice of walking a labyrinth and Paul regularly creates art in the sand at Exmouth. So we teamed up!
‘We had local people from Exmouth and Friends from five Local Quaker Meetings attending. Over 100 people visited during the afternoon. We are so grateful to Paul for creating such a beautiful labyrinth.
‘It was a beautiful event. Very inspiring and heart-warming to hear the comments, and see the smiles and delight on people’s faces as they left the labyrinth.
‘Comments included how the practice allowed them to leave their concerns outside and have some protected space; that they didn’t know where the path was taking them and had to let go and trust; gave time to focus on the sand under their feet and listen to the waves; a magical experience and a real appreciation for the beauty and richness of nature.’
Ted and Bertha
Eye was delighted to receive a tale of a friendly feline, inspired by a recent edition of the magazine.
Felicity and Philip Bryers, of Perth Meeting, got in touch after seeing two familiar names mentioned in the 1 September issue of the Friend: Ted Milligan (who was librarian at Friends House for nearly thirty years and widely published on Quaker matters) and Bertha Bracey (a key player in the Kindertransport rescue effort in the second world war).
‘Those who visited Ted at his home in Reading may have seen a black china cat which Ted had named Bertha.
‘Her story was that whilst undertaking Quaker relief work in London during the second world war, Ted and Charles Carter were sorting clothing for despatch to France when they came across a black china cat. They realised that it would be impossible to send her to France with the clothes, so after due consideration they concluded that one of them should give her a home. They christened her Bertha in honour of Bertha Bracey, and Bertha lived with Ted in Reading for many years.
‘When Ted moved from his long-term house he looked for a suitable new home for her and offered her to Charles Carter’s daughter, Felicity, in Perth. So Bertha found her way to Scotland, via York, where she now enjoys a quiet retirement – with only a slight chip on one ear as a reminder of her colourful life with Quakers.’
