6 February 2015 £1.80 the discover the contemporaryFriend quaker way the Friend Independent Quaker Journalism Since 1843

Contents VOL 173 NO 6

3 Thought for the Week: Hunting the Higgs . Anne Cluysenaar 4-5 News 6-7 Peace work in Ukraine John Lampen 8-9 Letters 10-11 William Henry Davidson Janet Ridley 12 The Christmas Truce Diana Lampen 13 Discernment and making decisions Alick Munro

14 Poem: On using this laptop for the and Mikhail Roshchins Rand Photo courtesy of Roland first time A war-damaged church in the Ukraine. See pages 10-11. Roy Stephenson 14 Friends Quarterly ‘I feel that more long-term 16 q-eye: a look at the Quaker world peacemaking Quaker work in 17 Friends & Meetings Lugansk and Eastern Ukraine is not only possible, but needed.’

Mikhail Roshchins Cover image: Lanty’s tarn ice covered. Photo: Val Corbett

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2 the Friend, 6 February 2015 Thought for the Week

Hunting the Higgs

No wonder they love a laugh, the physicists. What ever they find or don’t, it’s OK. Symmetries of the world just remnants of those which, if perfect, would only have led to

no world at all – anti-matter, matter would have cancelled each other out. Maybe. Or maybe not, if the theory is at fault. And if it is? More exciting still.

Whatever we’re made of, it wants to know how it came to be what it is. In us, for a while at least, the stuff of stars gets a glimpse of its own precarious life.

Like a single life, that will soon be gone. Universes before, maybe, or after our own, we won’t ever get to explore. They make up what is, though. And here we are!

Anne Cluysenaar 1936 – 2014

‘January 13: Hunting the Higgs’ is from Touching Distances: Diary Poems by Anne Cluysenaar, published by Cinnamon Press. It is used with permission of Cinnamon Press. Anne was a member of Caerleon, Newport Meeting in Wales.

the Friend, 6 February 2015 3 News Friends join call for new tax law The Religious Society of Friends in Britain has corporate tax dodging. The law needs to change so joined other faith groups in calling on politicians to that the loopholes which allow big corporations to end tax avoidance. avoid paying their fair share of tax can be closed. The recording clerk of Britain , ‘The proposed legislation has been carefully Paul Parker, signed a statement in support of a new constructed and seeks the best outcome for both the campaign calling on political parties to promise to act UK and developing countries. It is a matter of justice, against tax avoidance if elected. and justice – like love for our neighbour – does not The campaign was set up by faith-based groups such stop at national boundaries.’ as Christian Aid, Church Action on Poverty and the Signatories included Martin Atkins, general secretary Church Urban Fund, Methodist Tax Justice Network of the Methodist Church; Heather Poxon, director and Quaker Peace & Social Witness (QPSW). The of international development at the Salvation Army; church leaders stated: ‘People matter more than profits Alastair Redfern, bishop of Derby; and Joel Edwards, but every year billions of pounds are lost through former international director of the Micah Challenge. Scottish Friends hope for sustainability network Isolated Friends in the ‘[This] will help Local Meetings but our geography and numbers north of Scotland are addressing work with other churches in present particular challenges for the challenge of living out the their locality to promote aware- corporate action.’ Canterbury Commitment to ness of environmental issues and Jane Booth explains that they sustainability. undertake local projects… would like to start a network of Jane Booth writes in a recent ‘Many of us in North Scotland people in North Scotland Area edition of The Northern Quaker: are concerned about environmental Meeting interested in or wrestling ‘Area Meeting recently decided to issues and sustainability, but might with environmental issues. affiliate with Eco-Congregation feel a little isolated and unsure how She writes: ‘Anyone interested Scotland, an ecumenical charity to act on that concern as . can send me and/or Lynda Mitchell providing support to local As individuals, a lot of us are an email: [email protected] or churches. quietly making lifestyle changes, [email protected].’

Cold weather payments help QSA York Friend comments on ordination Some Friends have begun to give their winter fuel Barbara Windle, of York Area Meeting, spoke on allowance to Quaker Social Action (QSA). Radio Five Live on 26 January about the ordination of Five Friends have donated their allowance. The the Church of England’s first woman bishop. donations were spontaneous, rather than prompted Presenter Adrian Chiles asked Barbara for her by QSA campaigning. thoughts, as a Quaker, on the ordination. The donors were all people who already support She said: ‘The Quakers are in the fortunate position, QSA in different ways, QSA told the Friend. if I can put it that way, of not feeling the need for Fundraising and communications manager Sarah any ordained ministry at all. We have had a very Hind said: ‘We’ll spend the money in the same way strong testimony to equality, since the start, in the we spend most donations from Quakers – towards seventeenth century. Women have for a long, long our work helping people living on low incomes make time, been absolutely equal in the Quaker movement… tangible differences to their own, their families and For instance, our chief executive officers have just as their communities’ lives.’ often been female as male, and the people who hold – Sarah added: ‘We work with many people who just for a short time, because we only hold posts for a struggle to keep warm in the winter. We ask those short time – voluntary posts, are again equally divided who take part in our financial education workshops between men and women. We’ve not had a problem to tell us at the beginning what they are worrying with that.’ about. The top four concerns are paying energy bills Adrian asked Barbara whether the ordination of (thirty-nine per cent), paying rent/mortgage (twenty- bishop Libby Lane seemed ‘rather archaic’. three per cent), buying day-to-day items such as food ‘I’m delighted for them, that they’ve made this first (thirty-three per cent) and buying things for their tiny step, but it does seem rather amazing that in this children (thirty-six per cent).’ day and age people haven’t got further,’ she replied.

4 the Friend, 6 February 2015 reported by Tara Craig [email protected]

Friends remember the Holocaust Quakers across the country took part in Holocaust Memorial Day events on 27 January. York Friends contributed to several local commemorations. Jenny Hartland of Acomb Meeting spoke at a civic event. Jenny’s talk was inspired by this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day theme, ‘Keeping the memory alive’. She talked about the deportation and murder of her grandparents and of The Stolpersteine Project, which places small brass blocks into pavements to commemorate those forced out of Germany to their deaths. Edith Jayne of New Earswick Meeting lit a candle in York Minster. It was one of seventy commissioned by the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, designed by Anish Kapoor. During the same service members of the congregation lit 600 candles, to represent six Photo: Edith Jayne. million lives lost. Edith also read a poem. The candles that were lit at York Minster. She told the Friend that forty-four members of her extended family had been murdered in Auschwitz in the Meeting house and sharing Friends’ roles in the late 1944. Edith said it made her feel ‘both very angry Holocaust and after. and desperately sad’. ‘I will never know anything about This year the Meeting house hosted a Havdalah them. I was too young to know them as a child and and culture sharing on the theme of ‘Keeping the there’s nothing left – no memorial, no pictures, no memory alive’. The Havdalah ceremony signifies remains – nothing.’ the end of Shabat and heralds the new week. It was Holocaust Memorial Day was marked in Bristol marked by the lighting of the Havdalah candle, the by a three-hour civic commemoration consisting of sharing of spices, short prayers in Hebrew and singing. film, music and talks. Second generation survivors, Approximately twenty people attended the Havdalah including Marian Liebmann of Redland Meeting, this year, one of them from Lancaster Meeting. spoke of the experiences of their parents and other The cultural sharing focused on the loss or family members during the 1930s and 1940s. The experiences of loved ones, whether second or third event ended with a candle-lighting ceremony generation survivors of the Holocaust or pogroms, witnessed by community leaders, including a Quaker. or fathers who had served in the second world war. Marion told the Friend that she is involved with the Participants found it both moving and hopeful. One Bristol Holocaust Memorial Day steering group, and said: ‘It was deeply touching to hear the intimate spent the last six months helping with the programme stories of strangers.’ of events. She is also a member of the Bristol and West Marigold Bentley attended the national event to Second Generation Group. mark Holocaust Memorial Day, held at Central Hall, Lancaster Friends have participated in local Westminster, London. Marigold is assistant general Holocaust commemorations for the last four secretary of Quaker Peace & Social Witness and years, Caron Drummond told the Friend. This has secretary for Quaker Committee for Christian and traditionally involved donating the use of a room at Interfaith Relations.

Quaker delivers prestigious sermon at Cambridge University Janet Scott made the Quaker Good News’ to mirror the fact that She was formerly head of faith a major theme of the sermon 1 February 2015 was designated religious studies and director of which she delivered in Great St ‘Education Sunday’ by Churches studies in religious studies and Mary’s, ‘the university church’, Together in England. education at Homerton College. Cambridge, on Sunday 1 February. Janet is well known for her Janet delivered the 1980 It is a prestigious honour to leading role, as a representative of Swarthmore Lecture to London be invited to deliver the annual the Religious Society of Friends, in (now Britain) Yearly Meeting. It was ‘University Sermon’ and Janet ecumenical affairs in Britain and for later published as What canst thou chose the subject ‘Education for her concern for interfaith issues. say? Towards a Quaker Theology.

the Friend, 6 February 2015 5 Witness

Peace work in Ukraine Photo courtesy of Roland Rand. Photo courtesy of Roland John Lampen writes about a Quaker peace initiative in Ukraine

n early May of 2014 Mikhail Roshchin, of Moscow with members of different ethnic groups, young people Meeting, and Roland Rand, of Tallinn Friends and a religious leader, he found a universal wish for the Worship Group in Estonia, brought a concern to fighting to end, though some did not want this if the Ithe Europe and Middle East Section (EMES) of Friends price was the break-up of the country. World Committee for Consultation (FWCC). They He attended a meeting of the local Alternative to wished to travel to Ukraine to find out what ordinary Violence Project (AVP) group, and commented, ‘At the people were experiencing in the midst of violent AVP seminars it was the clear wish for Ukrainians to conflict and ask if there was anything Quakers could live in a tolerant environment despite the differences do in a modest way to foster local peace initiatives. among them. I sensed that many had reached that Friends who gathered in Strasbourg for the EMES viewpoint at the end of the seminar. The regret over annual meeting recognised and upheld this concern, historical neighbours not managing to live in harmony and asked EMES to facilitate it by banking any money was shared by many who held nationalistic viewpoints. collected for it. Compromise was considered essential for a peaceful An article appeared in the Friend (16 May 2014) solution to a conflict.’ He recommended AVP training after which Friends, many Meetings and two trusts, in Ukraine as a possible recipient of Quaker support. together with sources in other European countries, Roland’s first meeting in Odessa was with the AVP gave enough to cover the costs of our two Friends’ group there, where again the national situation was visits. There might be some surplus for small-scale discussed. He stated: ‘Concerning the question of one-off support if some promising Ukrainian peace what can be done right now for the resolution of the work was identified. conflict, it was found that activity should take place on several levels: person-to-person, system-to-system. A tolerant environment One person cannot resolve conflict between systems, but s/he can help on the person-to-person level. Some In the meantime the violence was getting worse and participants thought that it is important to start with this made it unsafe to go during the summer, which the closest one: for example with oneself.’ was the original plan. Eventually, Roland visited Kiev The next day he met the philanthropic organisation and the Odessa region in September. In conversations ‘The Way Home’ and heard about the temporary living

6 the Friend, 6 February 2015 arrangements for families from the eastern Ukraine Quaker work in Lugansk and Eastern Ukraine is not regions. He visited a kindergarten for low-income large only possible, but needed. I can continue to collaborate families and gave the children toys and candy. There is a with friends there who are searching for a long-term possibility of organizing summer camps in Ukraine and established peace on the base of their programme of Estonia, because the opportunity for children to learn dialogue between both parts of Ukraine.’ about other cultures early would be helpful in building It was part of Mischa’s original plan to make a visit tolerance. This is another programme for which he to Donetsk, where much fighting has taken place. advocated Quaker support. He still has funds in hand for this if it proves safe to Roland also met other community activists, among go. Meanwhile, he plans to keep up the contacts he them Inna Tereshchenko, director of the Odessa has made in Lugansk. He is also in touch with the Regional Mediation Group. Currently, Inna is the peacemaking movement ‘Anti-war’ (Antivoina). This representative for the Global Partnership for the movement is based in Kiev and is organising discussions Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC). A number using television and web links across the country. of Friends have worked with Inna in the past and have The AVP project leader in Kiev said later: ‘I’d like a high regard for her. Roland wants to stay in touch to say that Roland’s mission was a success. Thanks to with her and give her whatever support he can. He him, we started raising important issues and a desire found that cultural days and festivals are being held to promote peacemaking. In my opinion, we had a real to promote peace and stability: good examples are the peaceful dialogue, and I’m sure it has helped many of free-of-charge concert given in Odessa that he attended us to take another step to understanding its meaning.’ and the women’s movement’s demonstration at the Maidan Nezalezhnosti square in Kiev against the war. EMES Annual Meeting Mikhail (known as Mischa) managed to reach Lugansk, which is near the border with Russia, in Friends gathered in Strasbourg for the EMES annual October. This district has declared itself the ‘Lugansk meeting recognised and upheld this concern, and asked People’s Republic’ and makes Ukraine a ‘foreign country’. EMES to facilitate it by banking any money collected He found both his journey and the city very calm and for it. A support group was set up. It hoped that ongoing quiet since the armistice that was agreed in Minsk in support for peace activists there would follow in some September – but it is not universally honoured. form, not necessarily involving new structures, which He says: ‘The armistice is observed well here. I have it felt it could not undertake to manage. This seems to met a few responsible people, such as the chairman be happening. of the People’s Council of the Lugansk Republic, The first article in the Friend, and other information Alexei Karyakin, who took part in the Minsk peace about this initiative, raised an astonishing £10,490 from negotiations. I have met also with a vice-prime- Friends, Meetings and trusts to make it happen. The minister, Vassili Nikitin. Especially interesting and original plan was for each journey to be made by two helpful for me was a meeting with a troupe from the Friends, but this proved impossible, so our Friends’ Ukrainian-speaking theatre in the city. In the People’s costs were less than expected, at around £6,600. This Council I heard of a project of a peacemaking dialogue left a good surplus to devote to the local peacebuilding between Lugansk and Ukraine. I feel that this proposal initiatives that they recommended to us: the AVP is very positive.’ training, the proposed summer camp for displaced children, and the work of our friends in the Odessa Peacemaking initiatives Regional Mediation Group. There is also a modest grant for the continuing Mikhail also reports about ‘a peacemaking initiative of dialogue between Mischa and his new contacts. Mischa a social-political leader of Alchevsk (a city in Lugansk and Roland want to thank those who supported their province) called Alexey Mozgovoy, who started a concern and bring back to you the gratitude of people real peacemaking direct dialogue by means of web, in Ukraine who are trying to be positive in the midst of television and Skype connections with peacemaking fear, anger, loss and uncertainty. activists (journalists, political people and even a few military people) from Kiev’. In general Mischa felt that ‘there is a lack of presence of peacemaking, human rights and humanitarian John is a member of Central England Meeting. international organisations operating in Lugansk and Lugansk province’. He reports that he saw only one There are fuller reports from Roland Rand and Mikhail representative of the International Red Cross in the city Roshchins on their experiences. Copies are available from and writes: ‘I feel that more long-term peacemaking [email protected].

the Friend, 6 February 2015 7 Letters All views expressed are those of the writer and not necessarily those of the Friend

Cathars and Quakers of the size of the problem, pointing to the rapidity A very good article ‘Cathars and Quakers’ by Kris of growth and the urgent need of those deprived Misselbrook (23 January) suggested a spiritual link of modern means of family planning. This view is between the Cathars and the Couflaĩres (with correct vigorously supported by another writer who draws spelling) of the Congénies area in the eighteenth attention to the plight of women in the world in general. century and that the group pre-dated the Quakers in Another contributor discusses the ‘problems of a small France. There is a further link between the Couflaĩres planet with nowhere else to go’. and Quakers in the intended insult of the names. Other contributors express views such as the The patois word meant ‘swollen’, the English insult possibility of feeding eleven billion with an alternative ‘trembling’. The 1993 Backhouse Lecture by Ursula to present methods of food production – ‘people don’t Jane O’Shea gives a good explanation: ‘Quaking was like listening to prophets of doom, especially if they are sometimes taken as a sign of the power of the inward right’ – and that it is more to do with our lifestyle than experience with which a Friend wrestled.’ our numbers. One contributor objects to the manner of Richard Thompson discussion – ‘the word “population” suggests people as Mid-Thames Area Meeting and Languedoc Groupe numbers rather than children of God… There may be of the Assemblée de France a Quaker response to these questions, but I don’t think it will be helped by middle class British Friends talking It was most interesting to read Kris Misslebrook’s article statistics or calling on others to have fewer children…’ about the similarity between Cathars and Quakers – a Those who know my name will be aware where comparison that has come up in scholarship before. I’m in this spectrum I am, but I have tried to be fair in sure the connections are real, and Kris’s reference to the reporting the views of Friends. I hope Friends will be conflaires or inspirés is new to me, and most interesting. sufficiently interested to read this newsletter on this My own difficulty with Cathar scholarship and very important issue. It is in the latest winter issue, popular writing is that it takes Cathar dualism and which is on www.livingwitness.org.uk/earthquaker.html – like newspapers thriving on bad news – makes Roger Plenty the assumption that the preoccupation was with the Nailsworth Meeting, Gloucestershire world being bad. Many years of study, and visits to the Languedoc region, have convinced me that the Cathar Honours preoccupation was actually with the light, not the I am puzzled at some people’s dilemma about the dark, and was personally transformational – that is to acceptance of honours. Surely, for someone to reject say, in going through the ritual of the consolamentum the offer would be a bit of a slap in the face for all you became, by sheer choice and conviction, totally those who had bothered to go through the process light. In your consciousness you left the dark behind; of nominating them? And, after all, the Society did you became Christlike, a true heir of Christ. accept the Nobel Peace Prize. What’s different? I am inclined to believe that this was an under- Helen Keating standing carried down from Apostolic times. All the keys Castle Douglas Meeting, Dumfries & Galloway to the tradition are there in the gospel of John, which was the book Cathars carried with them always. Maybe When the husband of a Quaker acquaintance was this focus on the light gives an even greater link with awarded a knighthood that gave her the title ‘Lady’, Quaker belief. It certainly links the Cathars strongly I wrote congratulating them, and asked whether I with my own preferred tradition, not far removed from should in future refer to her not as ‘my friend’ but as Quakerism, known as the White Eagle Lodge. ‘my lady friend’. She replied thanking me effusively I have a book in progress and would be delighted to for giving her the solution to the dilemma she found hear of anything readers may share. My article ‘Cathar herself in as a titled Quaker, and informed me that Joy’, in the book The Cathar View, may interest readers. she was happy to be everyone’s lady friend… (My lady Colum Hayward friend tells me that she is happy for this to be printed!) [email protected] Mike Brayshaw 58 Upper Brighton Road, Worthing BN14 9HT Population earthQuaker is the quarterly newsletter of Living Wit- Worship or emotional incontinence? ness, the organisation that supports Quaker corporate What are our Meetings for Worship for? Advices & witness to sustainable living. The latest issue discusses queries 8 and 9 invite us to be aware of God’s presence the possibility of a Quaker witness on global population. amongst us. Instead, I have witnessed a growing Several contributors express a variety of views. One trend that is something else. Meetings (by virtue of contributor writes about an attempt to give an idea excessive spoken ministry) are engaged in reflections

8 the Friend, 6 February 2015 [email protected]

upon earthly matters and for that reason one may change in the law to allow people who have a terminal consider that reprimand and admonishment would illness to receive assistance in ending their lives. not be misplaced. We gather for just one hour a week When there are so many other calls upon the time to worship God – to give ourselves up to the spiritual and resources of the Society of Friends it seems a waste and the godly, yet how can we do this when we are so to campaign for something for which an effective preoccupied with earthly matters? dedicated campaign is well under way. As a Society we The feelings we all share on what happened in France should work so that our members can cope with the are well justified. The thoughts and compassion that is emotional and spiritual issues that arise as we reach the due to the people of Paris should be expressed – but not end of our lives. Our Advices 29 and 30 say it all. in the time that is devoted to the worship of God. Nick Wilde Meeting for Worship is not a forum for Quakerly 23 Addington Close, Bedford MK41 9SP concerns, it is a place for worshipping God and that cannot be done when one is preoccupied with ‘earthly Plain speech matters’. I notice that those attending Yearly Meeting in May Stephen Feltham will be offered a ‘Facilitated exploration of the Large [email protected] Meeting House’. Would that be a guided tour? Jan Lethbridge Humanity Dumfries Meeting, Scotland I am first and foremost a member of the human race. I am a Quaker, but that only makes up a small part Fuel poverty of a total. Whatever our religion or none; whatever Thanks to Raymond Mgadzah for his informative article our sexuality; whatever our gender or colour; our about Cold Homes Week (30 January). Friends may like disability; our ability; whatever we are, we are all part to know that Quaker Peace & Social Witness (QPSW) of the humanity of the world with all our dreams for has endorsed Fuel Poverty Action’s Energy Bill of Rights the future. I cannot begin to understand genocide. which sets out eight principles for a clean, affordable and But I marvel at how the survivors of all world’s renewable energy system, in response to the crisis of fuel atrocities cope, come through and speak truth to a very poverty. Meetings can also endorse the Bill of Rights. misguided power. QPSW has just published a new briefing on Energy John Arnison Justice which explores how the UK energy system Leeds Area Meeting could be transformed to one which is both cleaner and more equal for people as well as the earth. For more Season’s greetings and solidarity information see www.quaker.org.uk/energy-justice. It is ironic that Peter Copestake’s letter saying he Sunniva Taylor was ‘disappointed’ that the Friend published John Sustainability & Peace programme manager, Lampen’s ‘Thought for the Week’ about the celebration Quaker Peace & Social Witness of Christmas, and that John’s remarks about leaving Jesus out of Christmas were ‘deliberately offensive to Christians’, appeared in the same issue (16 January) as Harry Albright’s essay on ‘Solidarity’, with its strong In essentials unity, defence of free speech and its conclusion that ‘…simply in non-essentials liberty, that people might be upset by criticism or scrutiny is not a reason not to publish when there is a valid point in all things charity. to be made’. I didn’t necessarily agree with every point that John Lampen made, but I congratulate the Friend The Friend welcomes your views. Please keep letters for publishing an essay with some controversial but short (about 250 words) and include your full thought-provoking ideas. Long may this continue. postal address, even when sending emails. Please Lois Chaber specify whether you wish for your postal or email Winchmore Hill Meeting, North London address or Meeting name to be used with your name, otherwise we will print your post address or Assisted dying email address. Letters are published at the editor’s Barrie Sheldon’s letter (30 January) has prompted me discretion and may be edited. Write to: the Friend, to clarify. I really meant that support for assisted dying 173 Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ or email legislation should be up to the individual and not to [email protected] the Religious Society of Friends. Dignity in Dying, of Remember if you are online that you can also comment on all articles at www.thefriend.org which I am a member, campaigns very effectively for a

the Friend, 6 February 2015 9 China

William Henry Davidson

Janet Ridley writes about William Henry Davidson, his remarkable life as a Quaker

medical missionary in China, and her Ridley. Photo courtesy of Janet attendance at the centenary celebrations of The four Davidson brothers in China in 1902. Back l-r: Henry and Warburton. Front the hospital he founded in 1914 l-r: Alfred and Robert.

illsborough is a small village in County Down in behaviour in China and the slaughter prompted solely Northern Ireland. It is twelve miles from Belfast by commercial interests. and one of the historic settlements of Ulster. Leaving the army a convinced pacifist, he joined his HHillsborough Castle was ‘Government House’ from 1924 elder brother, William, who had become a teacher at a until 1973 and is the official residence of the British Quaker school, Brookfield, located near Maghaberry monarch when visiting the province. It was the venue for in County Antrim. This experience drew him and his the signing of the Anglo-Irish Agreement in 1985. wife to join the Religious Society of Friends in 1865 It is also an old Quaker settlement. Every year as members of Lisburn . Later they Ulster Quarterly Meeting are given a traditional right: became grocers in Hillsborough. They brought up a access to the enclosed grounds of Hillsborough Castle large family to whom he passed on his love of China. so that a small group of Friends can visit a Quaker His heartfelt desire was that his sons should go back graveyard which is located within the walled estate. The there to make recompense for the wrong that he felt picturesque graveyard contains the remains of a number had been done. of Friends associated with the original Meeting house, Four Davidson brothers left Hillsborough in Northern now long demolished, that was situated nearby. There is Ireland and went to Sichuan province in China as still an old Quaker Meeting house in the village. Quaker missionaries with the Friends Foreign Mission Association between 1886 and 1939. One of them was Adam Davidson my grandfather, William Henry Davidson, who went as a doctor from 1902 and was the last to leave, just before Hillsborough is also the home of a remarkable the Japanese invasion in 1939. Quaker family: the Davidsons. Adam Davidson was He left school in Ireland before he was twelve and a Methodist who spent time in China as a soldier in was apprenticed to a wholesale druggist, which gave the nineteenth century. During the second opium war him the interest in medicine. He eventually achieved a (1856-1860) he was a corporal in the Twelfth Brigade formal qualification before he went to China. of the Royal Artillery. He was appalled by the British He was a quiet and unassuming man and must have

10 the Friend, 6 February 2015 found some of the hardships and quarrels in China very the huge Suining International Exhibition Centre. Chen difficult. There was a Quaker school in Chongqing, Yongjun welcomed everyone. This was followed by a few which is now 120 years old, but most of Henry’s work speeches, including one from myself (with a translator). was in Chengdu and Suining and nearby villages. They were able to relay some photographs on a large screen to illustrate my talk. Then there was a wonderful Life in Suining theatrical performance by at least one hundred nurses and doctors from the hospital. Music and dancing and Life in Suining was not very easy for Henry and his some comedy sketches relating to hospital life, all given wife Laura, who worked as a nurse, as the local villages to a professional standard, followed. would be ransacked by bandits and robbers. Once their The day ended with a sumptuous banquet for two house was stripped bare while they were on a short visit hundred people. During this time many people came to Chengdu. During this time of unrest Henry and two up to toast us and to say how much they appreciated other English Quakers (Leonard Wigham and John the work of Henry and Laura, and what hardships they Rodwell) were able to mediate without force. For their must have gone through. The Chinese people have benevolence and bravery they were each awarded a great respect for him and could not thank us enough seven-foot silk scroll with an embroidered inscription. for what he had done, and how pleased they were to A five-acre site was bought in Suining for a new meet us. hospital and in 1912 Henry was able to settle there and oversee the building of it. Originally it was to have one Three thousand outpatients daily hundred beds, but it started with only twenty when it opened in 1914. It was difficult to convince the Chinese A big plaque outside the new hospital (just one year people that the ‘foreigner’ was curing their loved old) reads in Chinese: ‘This hospital is one hundred ones, and sometimes deliberate lies would be told that years old now. We will spread the mercy of God to all someone had died because of the medicine ‘given by the the people’. The Chinese people in the region are very English doctor’. proud of their hospitals, which have the most modern Later on, as there were further skirmishes in the city, technology. The occupancy at the new hospital is 2,200 there were enough injured men to keep the hospital beds and they have 3,000 outpatients daily. The hospital full, so it became a less frightening place and the undertakes the responsibilities of medical treatment, missionaries were praised as ‘the saviours of the city’. disease prevention and healthcare of nearly ten million people in the Sichuan Basin and the surrounding area. 2014 centenary celebrations We were overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity of the Chinese people to us during the extended On 15 November 2014 the official ‘Centenary Cele- three days of our visit. They showed us some of the brations’ took place in Suining at the modern first-grade interesting sights, including a porcelain museum, an Tertiary Suining Central Hospital. All five descendants old Chinese village on the edge of the town, a local of Henry were invited, but I was the only one able to school, and the famous Guangde Temple, which they attend, along with my husband, Christopher. During the said Henry would have visited. Nothing was too much morning the courtyard in front of the hospital was filled trouble. We ate at a variety of restaurants to have a taste with people, including Chen Yongjun, the president of of Chinese cuisine. After our final evening meal with the hospital, who welcomed the dignitaries (in front of a Chen Yongjun, he took us for a boat trip on the river barrage of photographers) as well as many doctors and where we could admire the lights of Suining. It was a nurses from the hospital. memorable end to our visit. This was followed by free consultations for the locals The staff associated at the hospital are so indebted to by the doctors. We were taken to see parts of the main the work of William Henry Davidson that before they hospital before walking to the site of the original Boji took us to Chengdu for our flight they presented us Hospital, which was built by Henry and funded by with wonderful gifts to take for the other descendants the British Friends. Henry was its first president. This as their way of saying ‘thank you’. The whole experience place is now an open playground area, surrounded by opened our eyes to the very high regard in which they trees and bench seats where people can sit and reflect. hold my grandfather and the wonderful work he and his The original building, which was unable to be repaired brothers performed in China. any more, was demolished in 1954. A bronze replica of the facade is cut into the floor, with the dates 1914 and 2014, at the entrance to the main hospital. After lunch, hosted by the mayor for presidents past Janet, a granddaughter of William Henry Davidson, is a and present, the centenary celebrations took place at member of Cornwall Area Meeting.

the Friend, 6 February 2015 11 Review The Christmas Truce

Diana Lampen reviews the recent Gutenberg, Bullets & Billets , Project via

RSC production image 1916), Bairnsfather: Bruce ‘Old Bill’ by from Wikimedia Commons.

he Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) recently and debris. The horror of war was suggested, not offered a play for family audiences (children shown, but we saw and heard enough of incompetent of 10+) at Stratford-on-Avon based on the command, no man’s land, injury and death to evoke T1914 Christmas Truce. Sadly, the run has ended, it. We learnt about the living conditions, the bad food, and there is no plan to bring it to London. For my the mud and vermin and the humour of the trenches husband and me it raised the question of how to The play showed a group of men of very different introduce preadolescent children to some of the worst temperaments bonding together under the stress of events of the twentieth century. Writers like Michael danger and death. There was a sub-plot showing the Morpurgo and Michael Rosen have highlighted the struggle of Phoebe (Frances McNamee) a spirited VAD concern about how you bring the past to life without (Voluntary Aid Detachment) nurse, to assert herself destroying young people’s hope and trust in the future with a traditional and repressive matron. We know of humankind, and given some models of how to do it. how this could happen from writers like Vera Brittain, Last year was our best opportunity to remember but I felt there was something a little contrived about the story of the Truce. For the next three years the this part of the story. commemorations cannot provide us with family The first half ended with a hilarious improvised Christmas theatre carrying a message of hope. Like concert to boost the troops’ morale, immediately War Horse and The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, this followed by a dawn attack which we knew would play was an honourable and successful attempt to make sacrifice many of the men for weak tactical reasons. The history real to young people, showing how its positive nurses provoked a major dressing-down from ‘Matron’ and negative elements co-exist, without overwhelming for trying to decorate the ward for Christmas with toilet them with gory details. This restraint made it all the paper and bandages, but eventually a truce with her more poignant. was orchestrated. The standstill on the battlefield was Written by Phil Porter and directed by Erica beautifully evoked, from the soldiers’ first curiosity, Whyman, it began with a village cricket match in fear, disbelief and shyness to a wistful companionship Warwickshire, which was interrupted by the start of the in which they sang and drank beer, showed their family war and the call-up of reserve soldiers and nurses. The photos and exchanged little gifts, and kicked a ball main character was a real-life Stratford man, second about. Both sides knew it would all be swept away on lieutenant Bruce Bairnsfather, excellently played by the morrow as they tried to kill one another again. They Joseph Kloska and with plenty of humour. His cartoons shared their thoughts about why they were there, the of trench life became famous in the press, and the other futility of war and whether life could ever be the same main character is based on his creation ‘Old Bill’, the afterwards. These halting conversations encouraged us, cheery, cynical, indestructible old soldier, beautifully too, to reflect on why it was all happening. acted by Gerard Horan. At the end, the message came across powerfully that The production lived up to the RSC’s reputation, soldiers are not the caricature ‘killing-machine’ heroes even putting an improvised football match on the of action movies, and war is an affront to their and our tiny stage of the Swan Theatre. The story moved essential humanity and brotherhood. fluently from that peaceful pre-war world to the front line, with the village benches becoming the parapets Diana is a member of Stourbridge Meeting.

12 the Friend, 6 February 2015 Reflection Discernment and making decisions

Alick Munro offers some personal reflections on discernment, God and the Quaker business method

hen Quaker Business Method goes well it is round for raised eyebrows, dropped jaws and raised an uplifting experience, but sometimes there hands. Displaying the minute on a screen makes the are difficulties. job easier. The discernments perceived by the head WThe first difficulty is the gleaning of the discern- – shakers have a place in the comprehensive minute, ments in the minds of Friends. How careless it is of however little some aspects of God’s enlightenment God to put such different ones into Friends’ minds may resonate with the others. all at the same time, and even more careless to make Sometimes God needs to make his mind up. He will some of the Friends more articulate and confident need to think inclusively and laterally about all the than others, and some of them garrulous, and then to range of options, avoid getting prematurely attached to provide limited time. If God isn’t careful, some of the any one of them, and place them in some sort of rank Friends may depart unheard, with their noses out of order of desirability. For this last purpose He may act joint. God may need to be realistic about the number through the mind of the clerk. However, God will be of Friends He can effectively cater for in a Quaker mindful that He made Friends as people who desire Meeting for Business, and the number of agenda items unity and who, therefore, are subject to social pressure He can present to them. At the start of the Meeting, to conform. A murmuring of ‘Hope so’s’ in response God will have to tell the Friends to take each and every to the clerk’s discernment may not adequately express one of each other into their hearts and minds, and to God’s will, and may leave some Friends in doubt. The feel that they can resonate with one another, in order full diversity of God’s will may only be realised if all to cope with His carelessness. He will have to remind the Friends can participate by showing their hands in Friends that when He puts discernments into their approval or disapproval, when finite decisions need minds, He may be only toying with ideas. He may ask to be made. For those Friends who are diffident or a Friend to relay a discernment to the others, but then inarticulate, God only has hands through which to the Friend should feel that their duty has been done, relay the discernments He radiates. and the Friend may feel detached from it. Thereafter, God may expect those of the Friends God may usefully ask other Friends to invite a through whose minds He relays his minority views, speaker to clarify and confirm what s/he thought to clarify the negative discernments and state the God meant when He put such a discernment into the intensity of God’s internal discord, that this may also speaker’s mind. The precept that God can only speak be recorded. God may ask His Friends to give Him once through any one voice may limit His capacity for more time, if His internal discord is intense or widely adaptation and moderation. discerned. After a Meeting for Business, God may God could usefully advise Friends to recognise that well ask Friends to duly console those Friends He His will may be relayed by keyboard or pen as well happened to choose to relay the less desirable options. as via voice. Working by keyboard or pen allows God It is through God’s concern for the frail humanity more time for discernment and courtesy. of Friends, that He helps them grow in spirit and in Recording the enlightenment can be difficult too. number. At their best, they’re here for the cheer, the A summary of the discernments will need to be sharing of the experience of giving God a hand to comprehensive or those that were ignored will be lost focus His divine will. to us, as may the Friends, through whose minds they were relayed. A good summary might best be read out in total, then taken one sentence at a time, with the Alick is a member of Kingston & Wandsworth Area clerk allowing time after each sentence, and looking Meeting.

13 Poetry On using this laptop for the first time

I am doing this for practice, nothing more. We practice all the time, preparing for The Real Thing. When we reach the end, will we hope To find opportunity to use what we have Learned? Will the Real Thing Still await? We do not know.

Make practice Real.

Roy Stephenson Lancashire Central & North Area Meeting Ads

Friends Quarterly he new issue of the Friends Quarterly, the sister publication of the Friend, is published this week. It includes a moving personal testament from Stephen Yeo setting out for his family after him the basis of his belief. David Hamilton considers the nonviolence that Jesus Toffered as an assertive rather than passive response, while Hugh Rock examines Quakerism as the ‘religion of what is done’. Jessica Metheringham has developed the themes from her George Gorman lecture about equality and inequality, and Jan Arriens writes about the interrelationship of faith and action, between a gathered Meeting and the world outside. Single copies of the Friends Quarterly are available from the Quaker Bookshop, or from Penny Dunn at [email protected]. For subscriptions, contact Penny or go online via www.thefriend.org/ subscribe. The editor of the Friends Quarterly, Tony Stoller, is always pleased to see draft articles from Friends and others for consideration for the Quarterly. This provides an opportunity to publish longer articles than the Friend can carry – typically between 2,500 and 4,500 words – on Quaker issues or on subjects of interest to Friends. These can often be articles drawn from talks given to small audiences which deserve a wider reading, or papers setting out areas of study and perception. Draft articles should be sent by email to [email protected] as Word documents, preferably with minimal formatting. Any enquiries about whether a possible piece might be suitable are also welcome at the same email address.

14 the Friend, 6 February 2015 6 Feb 3/2/15 14:46 Page 2

Recording Clerk’s Office Internship opportunity Salary: £20,520 per annum. Full time, 35 hours per week Contract: 5–11 months fixed term. Location: Friends House, London We are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic candidate who is in sympathy with the values of the Quakers and who wishes to develop their skills through an internship opportunity. This new role has been created to support the Recording Clerk’s Office (RCO) in fulfilling its long-term strategic goals. This is a unique opportunity for the post-holder to work with a dynamic team and gain experience in project and committee co-ordination, event management, group facilitation, research, and direct contact with Quaker meetings. A keen desire to embrace training and learn from the internship is essential. The successful candidate will need to be flexible, able to prioritise and manage diverse tasks and have good people, communications, IT and database skills. They will need a high level of attention to detail and the ability to work quickly, creatively and accurately under pressure. Occasional weekend or evening work will be required. Closing date: Sunday 1 March 2015 Interviews: Wednesday 11 March 2015 For further information and details on how to apply visit www.quaker.org.uk/jobs

the Friend, 6 February 2015 15 a look at the Quaker world [email protected]

Restoration and recipes

Quaker cookery books However, historical damage dating back to the 1700s are (prior to the volumes arriving among thousands of volumes in at the library) has meant that need of restoration work. up to seventy-five per cent of Chawton House Library in the collection requires urgent Hampshire is a research and attention. learning centre for the study The Alton Herald reported of early women’s writing from in December that the Library’s 1600 to 1830. It is housed in the response has been to launch a manor house once owned by Jane Book Conservation Appeal. Austen’s brother, Edward Austen The George Cadbury Fund Knight. contributed the first donation of The collection of around 10,000 £2,000 to the appeal. Due to this

books and manuscripts was connection with Friends, some Volumes. In Four A Novel. Husband – Mysterious House Courtesy of Chawton First Edition 1801. Library. recently surveyed by a library of the first books to be restored conservator, who said that ‘the include Quaker texts such as the Information on the collection books are looked after with great Richardson, Pease and Gurney can be found at www. conscientiousness and care’. family recipe books. chawtonhouse.org Quaker sightings

Eye readers have been glimpsing Friend-related helping one another up with a tender hand.’ mentions in the media recently. Finally, Friends have been the unexpected inspiration A ‘back-handed compliment’ was spotted by Connie behind a new comic novel by US congressman Steve Hazell, of Bournemouth Meeting, amongst the leaves of Israel. In an article for the Washington Post, by Karen Winifred Holtby’s novel The Land of Green Ginger, set in Heller, Steve revealed that the ‘spark’ for The Global the 1920s. She writes: ‘A character, who today we would War On Morris came when he learned that the NSA describe as being “right wing”, is scathing about the (National Security Agency) had accidentally done newly formed League of Nations, calling it “A Quaker surveillance on a group of Quakers. imposition”.’ He said: ‘If it’s happening to this group of elderly Meanwhile, Jenny Vickers, from Wells-next-the-Sea Quakers, it has to be happening to other people. That Meeting, got in touch after discovering ‘The last word’ night I went home to my apartment in Washington and in The Times of 12 January featured Isaac Penington’s created Morris Feldstein… because I don’t know about words: ‘Our life is love, and peace, and tenderness; and elderly Quakers, but I do know about Jewish guys on bearing one with another, and not laying accusations Long Island, whose whole philosophy is, don’t get into one against another; but praying one for another, and t rou b l e .’ A different kind of Light A recent news story piqued reveal that this is not The Light the interest of Geoff Pilliner, of on the Euston Road in London Alton Meeting. but an independent ‘community’ The story spoke of The Light cinema operator aiming to ‘bring ‘tempting back audiences that have personality back to city centres’. been turned off by the generic The Daily Telegraph of the 30 multiplex experience offered by the January reported that The Light market leaders.’ had recently raised over £5million However, talk of ‘a café-bar to buy a muliplex cinema in concept’ and ‘showings of sport, Cambridge, in addition to the two

Photo: Nic McPhee / flickr CC. Photo: Nic McPhee / flickr opera, live theatre and music’ other UK cinemas it currently runs.

16 the Friend, 6 February 2015 6 Feb 3/2/15 14:41 Page 5

Friends&Meetings Joan NEWTON 26 November. Deaths Member of Keswick Meeting. Aged 99. Changes to meeting A Memorial Meeting for Worship to Mary BENTLEY (née Kime) celebrate Joan's life will be held at PORTOBELLO & MUSSELBURGH 27 January. Wife of Dennis and 11.30am Saturday 7 February at MEETING From 8 March we will mother of Martin, Peregrine, Marigold Keswick FMH. Light refreshments meet (including Children's Meeting) and Julian. Attender at Dorchester afterwards. at 11am on 2nd and 4th Sundays each Meeting. Formerly of International month. Venue: St James Church Hall, Voluntary Service for Peace and Marjorie Heathcote TEMPLE Rosefield Place, Portobello EH15 1AZ. Family Service Units. Aged 90. 2 January at Kingsgate Care Home. Enquiries Kim Smith: kimdsmith@ Sister to Dorothy and Cousin to yahoo.com / 0131 665 8166. Moira FIELD 26 January in Margaret Slee. Member of Sheringham The Maltings Care Home, Fakenham. Meeting. Aged 102. Enquiries: Notices Member of and former warden at [email protected] Wells-next-the-Sea Meeting. Aged 100. Private funeral. Memorial Meeting QUAKER ARTS NETWORK invites 2pm Sunday 8 March at Wells-next- Harry YOUNGMAN 18 January. Quaker artists interested in exhibiting the-Sea FMH. Enquiries: Alison Husband of the late Elfriede. Member at Friends House to submit exhibition Cracknell 01328 710517. of Saffron Walden Meeting, also with proposals. See www.quakerarts.net Bardfield Meeting. Aged 92. for terms of reference. Submissions Catherine Mary Vipont MACDONALD deadline: 2 March 2015 (née Brown) 28 January, peacefully. Memorial meetings Mother of Robert, Isabel, Alastair and Diary Eleanor; grandmother of Oscar, Veronica HALLETT A Memorial Daniel and Thomas. Aged 72. Meeting to celebrate Veronica’s life HOW WILL YOU VOTE? Preparing Committal service at Hereford will be held at 2.30pm, Saturday for the General Election. Friday 13 - Crematorium 10.30am Thursday 28 February, Cardiff Meeting House, Sunday 15 February at Woodbrooke 19 February followed by memorial 43 Charles Street, Cardiff CF10 2GB. Quaker Study Centre, . service at Ledbury Baptist Church, All welcome. What can you and your meeting do? Ledbury at 12 noon. Family flowers. 0121 472 5171, www.bit.ly/g_election Donations, to be shared between Acorns Hospice, St Michael’s Hospice and the Institute of Cancer Research, to: Hawcutt Funeral Directors, Bye St, Ledbury HR8 2AA (01531 632084).

Friends & Meetings notices Personal entries (births, marriages, ACKWORTH SCHOOL deaths, anniversaries, changes of Ackworth, Pontefract, West Yorkshire WF7 7LT address, etc.) charged at £21.60 incl. vat for up to 35 words and Tel: 01977 611401 E-mail: [email protected] includes a copy of the magazine. Meeting and charity notices (changes of clerk, new wardens, changes to GENERAL MEETING meeting, diary, etc.) £18 zero rated will be held at the School on for vat. Max. 35 words. 3 Diary or Meeting up entries £43.20 (£36 if Saturday 9 May 2015 zero rated); 6 entries £75.60 (£63 zero rated). Notices should prefer- • The Meeting is an opportunity for all members of ably be prepaid. Cheques payable to to see the School and we hope that as many as possible will attend. ‘The Friend.’ Deadline usually • All Area Meetings are asked to appoint a Representative. Monday morning. • Members wishing to attend on a personal basis may do so, but are Entries are accepted at the editor’s asked to make their intention known to the School. discretion in a standard house style. A gentle discipline will be exerted 10.30am Coffee to maintain a simplicity of style and 11.00am Meeting for Worship followed by the Business sessions wording that excludes terms of 12.15pm Lunch endearment and words of tribute. Ask for a copy of our Guidelines. Special Topic: Music 3.45pm Tea and dispersal The Friend, 54a Main Street, Cononley, Keighley BD20 8LL. John Wattis 01535 630230 / [email protected] Clerk of Ackworth General Meeting

the Friend, 6 February 2015 17 6 Feb 3/2/15 14:41 Page 6

Classified advertisements 54a Main St, Cononley, Keighley BD20 8LL. T&F: 01535 630230 E: [email protected] Oxford EAST LOTHIAN. Attractive, cosy country Quaker volunteers cottage, near Edinburgh, sleeps 5. Meeting [email protected] 07851 699162. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED, Quaker , TOP FLAT TO LET Kendal. Enjoy one or two weeks in our KENDAL, COSY COTTAGE FLAT. Two Charming and peaceful 2nd floor cosy cottage flat and help in a variety of bedrooms. Adjacent Meeting House. flat overlooking gardens in the roles. March - December 2015. Details: Parking. Available January and February. heart of Oxford. Secure entrance [email protected] Details: [email protected] via busy Meeting House. SOUTH DEVON. Wonderful walks, local Large main bedroom, small study/ where to stay exploring or space for retreat. Flat at 2nd bedroom, sittingroom, kitchen Greenway on the River Dart. Sleeps 1-2. and bathroom. Contact agents: GUESTHOUSES, HOTELS, B&BS Donation £30 per night directly to Leaders Ltd on 01865 764533 Quakers or Oxfam. 01803 431047 [email protected] CAUTLEY, , 1652 COUNTRY [email protected] Cross Keys Temperance Inn (formerly home of early Quaker Gervase Benson). SUFFOLK COAST WALBERSWICK Self- Quality en-suite B&B £42.50pppn. contained annexe. Very close to beach. events Evening meals available. Friendly Quaker Beautiful, varied walks. Sleeps 2/3. £150– hosts. 015396 20284. [email protected] £275pw; £50/night. Tel: 01502 723914 GLIMPSES OF TRANSFORMATION www.cautleyspout.co.uk email: [email protected] 2nd Kindlers’ monthly Saturday workshop. 21 February, 10am-5pm, Friends House, GLASGOW FRIENDS B&B. £18pppn. SWALEDALE, YORKSHIRE. Superb Euston. No booking. £10 pay at door. Proceeds for Meeting House funds. Contact selection of gorgeous cottages amid 01505 842380. [email protected] stunning scenery. Details, photos, virtual tours. www.catholecottages.com personal NEWCASTLE, WARM, FRIENDLY B&B 01748 886366. Jesmond. Quiet, adjacent Metro/city. SPARKY FEMALE FRIEND, 80s, seeks Veggies welcome. 0191 285 4155. ACTIVITY HOLIDAYS strong-arm walking helper [f/m] for slippery slopes, summer holiday. SETTLE, YORKSHIRE DALES. Convenient A WALKING WEEK IN FOX'S FOOTSTEPS Moderate distances. Interests: country- for Pendle Hill and 1652 Country. Ensuite based at Sawley Meeting House, 24-30 side, painting, history, archaeology - Fun! B&B. No tariff, but donation to Settle May. £115. Full details under News & Events: Glenthorne? Hebrides? Contribution to Friends Meeting. [email protected] / www.sawley.pendlehillquakers.org.uk expenses. Initial meetings SE England. 01729 822779. Please reply to Ad. Box 972 c/o The CATHARS AND QUAKERS. 7-day Friend Advertisement Dept. COTTAGES & SELF-CATERING pilgrimage in ‘Cathar Country’ exploring old Cathar sites, but also their beliefs and way of life – and reflecting on our own. 1652 COUNTRY, HOWGILL, SEDBERGH. Special trip to the ‘Quaker’ house at accommodation Comfortable 4 star holiday cottages in Congenies. 16-23 September. Contact for WANTED Yorkshire Dales National Park overlooking brochure: [email protected] Firbank Fell. Walks and Quaker trails from LONDON (SE/SW). Friendly , considerate the door. Bed & Breakfast also available. COBER HILL HOTEL/CONFERENCE CENTRE Aromatherapist seeks quiet abode from www.AshHiningFarm.co.uk Cloughton, near Scarborough. The perfect 17 February. Need large room in quiet Jim Mattinson 07774 281767. place to enjoy a creative break and enjoy- able learning holiday. We host a variety of house (studying purposes), garden prefer- CHARACTER COTTAGES, countryside themed holidays throughout the year. able. Non-drinker, spiritually-minded. near Ludlow. Green awards. Walking, Why not try Painting, Lacemaking, Likes: cats, cooking, art, nature. Annaliza: wildlife. Short breaks. Families. Pets. Birdwatching, Photography, Health and 07913 768296. Ffriends’ discount. 01547 540441. Relaxation, and more. Call 01723 870310. www.mocktreeholidays.co.uk www.coberhill.co.uk NEWLY-WED CZECH/IRISH STUDENT couple (Attenders) moving from Prague to London, seek work as wardens in Quaker meeting house, London area (with Live Adventurously accommodation included, if possible). Alternatively, low-rent accommodation in Exciting new residential event for 8 to 11 year olds London area sought. Please email: (born between 01/09/03 - 31/08/06). [email protected] Wednesday 8 – Friday 10 April, Gilwell Activity Centre, Essex. SOUTHEND-ON-SEA. Mature young male college student, seeks room, term-time We will be together in worship as well as trying out adventurous only from September. Quaker background. activities and thinking about what it means to ‘live adventurously’. Please call 07957 911278 (mother). This links to Quaker Week 2015. Run by . Cost £75. Visit www.quaker.org.uk/live-adventurously-2015 For details of placing an or call 020 7663 1013 for more information. advertisement contact George Bookings close on Friday 6 March. Penaluna at the address above.

18 the Friend, 6 February 2015 6 Feb 3/2/15 14:41 Page 7

BOOK NOW! books

BOOK LAUNCHES Two new books by Jennifer Kavanagh The Emancipation of B Friday 6 March, 6 for 6.30pm Westminster Meeting House. Geoffrey Durham talks to Jennifer about her first novel. A Little Book of Unknowing Tuesday 24 March, 6pm. Watkins Bookshop,19-21 Cecil Court, London WC2N 4EZ. Free, all welcome.

INNER LIGHT BOOKS Editions concerning traditional Quaker Faith & Practice V For a list of publications or for more HARNEY information on particular titles visit www.innerlightbooks.com or write ` Editor, Inner Light Books ANOR 54 Lapidge Street San Francisco CA 94110, USA Programme 2015 February 13-15 Stay close to the Root (early Quaker advice) Patricia Cockrell miscellaneous March 13-15 ‘The Road Less Travelled’ Chris Braithwaite April 10-12 Finding out about Quakers Quaker Quest team A QUAKER MP? Support Alan Avery from Pickering Local Meeting. Donate at April 24-26 Love matters David Cadman www.thirskandmaltonclp.com June 15-19 Experiencing Shakespeare John Lampen (with Jane Lapotaire) June 26-28 Walking with a smile into the dark Jennifer Kavanagh ACCOUNTING SERVICES July 27-31 Experiencing Oxford Gill Peaston Charity Accounts prepared. Independent Examinations carried out. September 4-6 Making your mark Jane McDonald Bookkeeping Services. September 12 Inner Peace, Outer Peace, a Quaker-Muslim dialogue Contact David Stephens FCCA Monawar Hussain & Andrew Clark on 07843 766685. Email: [email protected] September 11-13 Towards a Quaker Bank? Quaker Finance Trust October23-25 Finding out about Quakers Quaker Quest team ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT & November 6-8 An introduction to the ‘Experiment with Light’ CONSULTANCY Susie Tombs & Barbara Childs Bookkeeping, Wardening Cover, Lettings, November 20-22 Everyday mysticism Harvey Gillman Outreach & Project Management for Quaker Meetings & small businesses. All events are £181 (deposit £81) except Experiencing Shakespeare £500 Wendrie Heywood (deposit £250) Experiencing Oxford £480 (£240) and Making your Mark £186 07881 220829 (deposit £86). [email protected] www.mindfulbusinessservices.com Bursaries of up to 50% may be available (one per person per year) except for Experiencing Shakespeare and Experiencing Oxford. THE PRIORY ROOMS We also offer individuals an option to have a Meeting and conference facilities few days of relaxation on a Bed and Breakfast in central Birmingham. or fully-catered basis. Comfortable, flexible accommodation Please contact us for further information. with a full range of support facilities and optional hospitality packages. Manager: Gillian Peaston Charney Manor, Charney Bassett, See www.theprioryrooms.co.uk Wantage, OX12 OEJ. Tel. 0121 236 2317 [email protected] Tel: 01235 868 206 Email: [email protected] Web: www.charneymanor.com YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU’LL FIND in the advertisements. Don’t miss them! Charney Manor is a registered charity, no. 237267

the Friend, 6 February 2015 19 6 Feb 3/2/15 14:41 Page 8 vol ADVERTISEMENT DEPT EDITORIAL 173 54a Main Street 173 Euston Road Cononley London NW1 2BJ Keighley BD20 8LL T 020 7663 1010 No

T 01535 630230 F 020 7663 11-82 6 E [email protected] the Friend E [email protected] LIVE ADVENTUROUSLY WHY NOT OFFER QUAKER QUEST IN YOUR AREA THIS YEAR? Quaker Quest Network can offer help and support including half day and full day workshops to motivate and inspire you and train your Quaker Quest team. Leighton Park School invite all Friends to their “How-to-do-it” manual and pack of posters provided. Contact the Training Co-ordinators on 01372 454363 GENERAL MEETING email: [email protected] Friday 20th March 2015 www.quakerquest.org 10.30am - 4.30pm (Main Hall) The day will include a presentation on an aspect of life at Leighton Park School Please contact Nicky Tarrant, Bursar's PA to confirm your attendance. Tel: 0118 987 9607 or Email: [email protected] www.leightonpark.com Reg. Charity No. 309144

Want to work as a Woodbrooke Gardening Friend? Woodbrooke is offering a unique oppor- tunity to assist Garden Manager, Steve Lock, in developing and caring for its beautiful organically managed gardens. Gardening Friends usually work in the garden for periods of two to three months, joining a team of staff and volunteers on site. We offer room and board, expenses, the opportunity to join available short courses free of charge and use of Woodbrooke’s other facilities See the full job description and down- load a application pack on the website: www.woodbrooke.org.uk If you are unable to access the internet, please call 0121 472 5171. Closing date 13 February 2015.