Eye - 24 March 2023
From Another Quaker tale to Back to basics
Another Quaker tale
After reading a tale told by Beth Allen (10 February), Jonathan Silvey, of Beeston Meeting, wrote to share another ‘unQuakerly reaction’ with trusty Eye readers.
‘I am reminded, a good Quaker phrase, of a somewhat similar incident at a General Meeting of Friends from Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, and Lincolnshire Area Meetings.
‘We had gathered for the weekend in a large house previously owned by the Rowntree family in Scarborough.
‘Our evening entertainment included a playlet on the life of Margaret Fell, put on by the children.
‘When they got to the point at which George Fox married Margaret Fell, another child called out loudly, “It won’t last!”’
Friends of the Light
In February Friends tuned their instruments and shuffled their scores as the Quaker Music Network met at High Leigh Conference Centre for ‘a very enjoyable weekend of music-making, fellowship and worship’.
Andy Beck, of Leeds Area Meeting, got in touch with Eye to share one ticklish slice of the weekend: ‘Due to the nature of the rooms available, challenges of “playing in the Light” tended to be ones of a practical, rather than theological, nature. The four fiddling Friends pictured here lit up their string quartet with a handy standard lamp.’
The Quaker Music Network works to keep the tradition of choral and chamber music weekends alive after the laying down of The Leaveners. These events enable musicians and singers to play together in a Quaker atmosphere.
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