From the archive: Farewells
Janet Scott continues her series on the Friend and the first world war and writes about some affecting tributes
At the end of June 1917 Isaac Sharp, the recording clerk of London Yearly Meeting, retired. He was one of the most remarkable and quietly influential Friends of his time. On 9 October he died. On both occasions the Friend published tributes to him and appreciations of his work. These extracts are a small selection.
In the 29 June edition the Friend marked his retirement:
Born at Croydon in 1847, Isaac Sharp was a son of John Sharp, then superintendent of Croydon Friends’ School (now Saffron Walden). He was a nephew of Isaac Sharp (1806-97), whose worldwide travels in Gospel labours are familiar to Friends everywhere. Educated at Bootham, he is remembered as a keen promoter of outdoor recreations and as the initiator of football and a botanical rambling club. Taking his B.A. degree at London University, he adopted the profession of teaching, and held several appointments at leading schools. Then, at the age of 43, came the appointment which may be regarded as his life’s work.
He was appointed recording clerk in 1890 and oversaw one of the most progressive periods in the history of Friends. An American Friend described his experiences of meeting Isaac Sharp in the 19 October edition of the Friend:
You love him at once… What a generous soul he has! It radiates through his eyes – it is detected in his words of sympathy and cheer. You are confident that you are in the presence of a Friend who knows how to deal with men and who keeps in touch with God. And so you are. When attending Yearly Meeting you discover that Isaac Sharp is the busiest of Friends. During the sessions he sits at a modest desk under the high desk of the Clerk. But it is in his office that the real labour is performed. Here at all seasons of the year he keeps in touch with Friendly activities. Committees seem to come and go and organise at his beck and call.
On 29 June the Friend reported what a writer in the Christian had said about Isaac Sharp:
…one needs to go behind the scenes at Devonshire House, and to realise how much a religious organisation which has influenced the spiritual life of England more profoundly than any other of equal size, owes to the faithful, unostentatious labour of one man.
Other Friends also commented on Isaac Sharp in the 29 June edition of the Friend:
Among the many good things associated in our minds with the Central Office during the last twenty-seven years was the sense of humour which we seldom missed in it…
His kindness in receiving all and sundry who called, sometimes for counsel and information on knotty points, and sometimes for less obvious reasons, was only equalled by his patience and indulgence towards Friends who send up imperfect returns and Tabular Statements which do not balance. He would always say of such that they were busy folk who were serving the Society in their leisure time, and voluntarily. I believe he took an especial pleasure in replying to questions concerning marriages out of the ordinary run, his knowledge, not only of our procedure but of the marriage laws of the land, being encyclopaedic…
His closing years of office have been marked by immense devotion to duty under the weight of the extra work involved by the world crisis through which we are living, and of illness which sometimes prostrates him for days at a time…
If the walls of his office could speak, they would tell of a joyful and unstinted service to individuals and to society, not only in special ways but also in the spirit in which routine duties have been done. Isaac Sharp has made sacramental even common tasks!
Food for reflection
Isaac Sharp was also a local Friend at Wanstead Meeting in London. After his death a member of the Meeting wrote about him in the Friend’s 23 November edition:
Isaac Sharp was known by all, and knew nearly every member and attender by name. He was rarely absent either from business meetings or meetings for worship. Ever ready to be of service, he found nothing too great or too small, too difficult or too unpleasant; and he was so tactful, so courteous, so dignified and had such a sense of humour withal, that everyone loved him. His spirit seems still to pervade the meeting, and we can hardly realise that he is gone. His unaffected sincerity was plain to all. He had a word of welcome for any stranger, either before or after meeting. His memory was so good that if a second visit was paid, even after a long interval, he had no difficulty in recalling the former visit…
His own vocal offerings, which were neither seldom nor frequent, but always acceptable, were characterised by much simplicity and clearness. They were rich in teaching, full of spiritual glow, and always afforded food for reflection…
He attached great importance to punctuality in attendance at meeting, and set an excellent example in this respect. “We gather,” he said, “at an agreed time, for the united worship of God. But unity is delayed and marred by inability to settle down, in consequence of interruptions; and ten minutes of the time nominally given to fellowship and worship is wasted. It would be disrespectful to a friend. Why show the disrespect to our Heavenly Father?”
…I must not forget to add that our Friend made a point of being present, whenever possible, at weddings and funerals, especially in the case of poorer members.
Many people appreciated the hospitality of Isaac Sharp and his wife Isabella:
Visitors were often taken home from meeting, and Sunday afternoon tea was a recognised occasion of preparedness for visits from members and attenders, who in this way, from being comparative strangers, became better acquainted with one another.
…he was one of the most active and valued members, though much too modest to be conscious of his continually growing influence.
FAU departure
In November the Friends’ Ambulance Unit (FAU) announced that the commanding officer was to resign from his post. The Friend on 23 November reported:
Captain Maxwell is returning to Cambridge at Christmas to continue his medical studies under the new recall regulations for medical students. All through the Unit and in all its branches this removal is a very serious blow. The Committee and the men are unanimous in common regret and in common appreciation. Leslie Maxwell assisted in the training and equipment of the Unit at Jordans in September, 1914. He left London with the first party of men in October, 1914, as the Adjutant and shared in the early vicissitudes and adventures of the Unit as one of its principal and most reliable leaders. In July, 1915, he became Officer Commanding and since that date has without intermission borne the heavy burdens of his office with a patience, courtesy, foresight and courage which have won him the confidence of the Committee and the men of the Unit as well as the large number of military and civil officials with whom he has had to deal.
In December the committee was able to announce the appointment of Meaburn Tatham as the new captain, which the Friend reported in the edition of 21 December. It also noted:
During the last week one new member, Joseph Davenport, joined the Unit in France, and Leslie Maxwell, Meaburn Tatham and Dr. [Humphrey] Nickolds left London for Dunkirk.
On the last evening of 1917 Leslie Maxwell received a presentation and an address of farewell signed by all members of the FAU serving under him. The next morning he left for England via Boulogne. Leslie Maxwell died in 1953.
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