Issue 05-04-2013
Featured story
Thought for the Week: Wink of Heaven
Engrossed in writing a poem, time ceases to exist for me.
Top stories
The second Underground Railroad
Historically, the term ‘Underground Railroad’, used in North America, described a loosely organised system that enabled fugitive slaves to escape from the Confederate States to Canada or areas of safety in the Union states, during the civil war period. It was run by local groups of Union abolitionists. The term –...
A Quaker library
Some of us knew they were there, of course, lurking in solid, leather-bound, rows in the basement of our Meeting house, and only accessible by lift. Most local Quakers, however, had no idea that there were thousands and thousands of pages of our past hidden underground. Next to them were...
No wings, thanks!
My passion is for holidays on a particular sailing boat, a ‘clipper’. This is a really big ship, with four masts, lots of food and fun; but, no, I do not climb masts and pull ropes! It’s a holiday, for goodness sake. The question is, however, how to get...
Quaker artists show in London
The work of five Quaker artists is on show this week in London. The exhibition, devoted to the art of five Friends, is at Capel Manor College in Enfield. The exhibition runs until Sunday 7 April. The Friends whose work is featured are Carol Baker of Tottenham Meeting, Alison Chaplin...
New meeting at Bunhill Fields
An interesting development is set to proceed at one of the most historic Meeting houses in Britain. An informal group of conservative Friends have asked to meet at Bunhill Fields Meeting House in London on Sunday evenings.
All articles
The mystery of Mary Magdalene
A Colchester Friend was an advisor on a major BBC documentary screened on Good Friday that looked at the life and legacy of Mary Magdalene. Joan Taylor, professor of Christian Origins and Second Temple Judaism at Kings College London, is an authority on the early church. She has an...
E-book to book-book
Quaker author Tim Gee has broken fresh ground with his book on the Occupy movement. You Can’t Evict an Idea, which analyses the impact of the movement, was initially ‘published’ as an e-book. Its success in this form prompted its publisher, Housmans, to then publish it in printed...
Methodist president challenges poverty myth
In his Easter message, the president of the Methodist Conference challenged the myth that poverty is the fault of the poor.
Paradoxes of suffering
Other people’s suffering appeals, irresistibly, to many television viewers and readers. Misery sells. But our own pain, despair and heartbreak is another matter. We struggle constantly to evade it or distract ourselves.
Truth, lies and paradox
The message of the Bible isn’t always simple. It is a composite work, written from many perspectives over a long period, for a mixed readership and, understandably, contains conflicting statements. Yet, odd though it may seem, this is a strength. Spiritual truths, beyond the communicative capacity of language,...
The failure of success
Is your attitude to life sharply contrasted between white and black – success or failure? If it is, you may find this slim volume helpful and heart-warming. If it isn’t – rejoice in being blessed with contentment. Jennifer Kavanagh, in her new book The Failure of Success, is deeply concerned...
Eye - 05 April 2013
The public Eye Eye’s mailbags have been brimming with anecdotes of Friends off the page and in the world. - A ‘peacenik’ player I’m a Quaker and a ‘peacenik’ is the title of a recent Channel 4 interview in which Judi Dench talked to Jon Snow about her beliefs,...
Letters - 05 April 2013
Decarbonisation targets As someone who works in the electricity industry, I am concerned about unquestioning support for the 2030 target proposed by Tim Yeo and backed by Quakers (8 March). There are numerous dimensions to consider: sectoral, geographical, emissions level, timing. The idea that we decarbonise electricity initially and transport and heating...