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The Book of Genesis records the first murder, when Cain kills his brother Abel. Cain is a farmer and Abel is a shepherd. Both Abel and Cain bring an offering to God; God accepts Abel’s but not Cain’s, whereupon Cain flies into a rage.
‘You matter because you are you, you matter to the last moment of your life.’ So said Cicely Saunders, the founder of the hospice movement. Her words remind us that every life holds meaning until its final moments.
For contemporary Friends, the story of the Cadbury chocolate company and the cocoa from São Tomé and Príncipe is more than a historical business case; it is a profound lesson in the challenges of living our testimonies in a complex world. In the early 1900s, Cadbury faced allegations that the cocoa it purchased was produced using forced labour – something anathema to Quaker belief. While critics then, and since, have portrayed the company’s cautious response as a failure of moral courage, a closer examination reveals, I believe, a different truth: Cadbury’s protracted actions were not an abdication of responsibility, but a deliberate and consistent application of Quaker ethical traditions. The company’s strategy, shaped by the practices of discernment, collective unity, and principled patience, offers a compelling example of seeking right action through the Quaker method, even under immense public pressure.
Our Meeting began rather sombrely, with a reminder of the recent deaths of two great Quaker stalwarts: Peter Hussey and Frank Brown. We also heard that one of our co-clerks was prevented by the death of a family member.
Voice of Hope is a Quaker-inspired project based in Bujumbura, Burundi. I first came across it in the early 2020s when hearing of the work of Socrate Imani Matabaro, a Congolese Friend. Socrate was brought up in a society overwhelmed by violence, made worse by civil war in Rwanda.
On Remembrance Sunday, at 10:50am, I found myself standing alongside British Legion ex-servicemen, soldiers, VIPs, guides, sea cadets, and Karina Wells, the president of Exeter Lions. I was holding the only white wreath at Exeter city council’s Remembrance service. I was accompanied by local Quaker and former city councillor Ian Martin, who was there to support me. It took us both by surprise when the Rifles Regiment parade commander barked out ‘Wreath bearers step forward!’ I was feeling rather exposed. Two years ago, I had scarcely heard of Quakers.
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Written by and for Friends on the bench
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