19 June 2015 £1.80 the DISCOVER THE CONTEMPORARYFriend QUAKER WAY Hope, love Labyrinth and faith the Friend INDEPENDENT QUAKER JOURNALISM SINCE 1843 CONTENTS VOL 173 NO 25 3 Thought for the Week: Labyrinth Andy Stoller In silence which is active, the Inner Light begins to glow – a tiny spark. For the flame 4-5 News to be kindled and to grow, subtle argument 6-7 Meaning and purpose and the clamour of our emotions must be stilled. It is by an attention full of love Dorothy Buglass that we enable the Inner Light to blaze and 8-9 Letters illuminate our dwelling and to make of our whole being a source from which this Light 10-11 Hope, love and faith may shine out. Laurie Michaelis 12 Poem: Daisy Words must be purified in a redemptive silence if they are to bear the message of Brigid Sivill (Smith) peace. The right to speak is a call to the duty 13 Cinematic adventure of listening. Speech has no meaning unless John West there are attentive minds and silent hearts. Silence is the welcoming acceptance of the 14-15 Cultivating the seeds of peace other. The word born of silence must be John Lampen received in silence. 16 q-eye: a look at the Quaker world Pierre Lacout, 1969 17 Friends & Meetings Quaker faith & practice 2.12 Cover image: The labyrinth at Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre. Photo: Hugo Finley. See page 3. The Friend Subscriptions Advertising Editorial UK £79 per year by all payment Advertisement manager: Editor: types including annual direct debit; George Penaluna Ian Kirk-Smith monthly payment by direct debit [email protected] £7; online only £59 per year. Articles, images, correspondence For details of other rates, Tel/fax 01535 630230 should be emailed to contact Penny Dunn on 54a Main Street, Cononley [email protected] 020 7663 1178 or [email protected] Keighley BD20 8LL or sent to the address below. the Friend 173 Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ Tel: 020 7663 1010 Fax: 020 7663 1182 www.thefriend.org Editor: Ian Kirk-Smith [email protected] • Sub-editor: Trish Carn [email protected] • Production and office manager: Elinor Smallman [email protected] • Journalist: Tara Craig [email protected] • Arts correspondent: Rowena Loverance [email protected] • Environment correspondent: Laurie Michaelis [email protected] • Subscriptions officer: Penny Dunn [email protected] Tel: 020 7663 1178 • Advertisement manager: George Penaluna, Ad department, 54a Main Street, Cononley, Keighley BD20 8LL Tel: 01535 630230 ads@thefriend. org • Clerk of the trustees: Nicholas Sims • ISSN: 0016-1268 • The Friend Publications Limited is a registered charity, number 211649 • Printed by Headley Bros Ltd, Queens Road, Ashford, Kent TN24 8HH 2 the Friend, 19 June 2015 Thought for the Week Labyrinth have walked the labyrinth at Woodbrooke many times: it always teaches me something about my life and myself. I have vivid memories of my first encounter with it and the panic of getting totally lost – my childhood fear. IWould I ever get out? What if I took a wrong turn? It never occurred to me that I could just walk across it and be released – I felt so trapped! Since then there have been reflections on my life’s journey, the twists and turns, never quite ending up where you think you will. What if I had taken another path? Where would that have led? My shadow follows me. That, too, can be my dark side, conscience or God. I can’t see it behind me but know it is there. Sometimes it walks alongside and at other times it leads me. How significant is that throughout the years? I move from the outside towards the centre and that feeling of achievement when you stand in the central circle in the Light, the sun shining down. Then the return journey, comforted by knowing you have been somewhere special. On the return path I am aware of the sounds around me, from the birds singing to the distant hum of traffic on the main road, reminding me that the ‘real world’ is not far away. Someone is in trouble as a siren wails by, and I hold a thought for that unknown situation. Life is always precarious and you never know what is around the corner, good or bad. It can change in seconds. The scene constantly changes as I wind my way through. The sight of the nearby lake, then a turn towards the white Woodbrooke building itself, the majestic trees at that particular season, in leaf or bare. Then the open grass and meadowland. Life, too, is forever changing and never stands still. I observe a shining dewdrop on a blade of grass, the tiniest buttercup and other wildflowers below my feet. I feel the grass cushioned under my shoes. At other times I feel the cool grass under my bare feet. The sky is sometimes blue dotted with puff-ball clouds that I watch drift by; on occasions it is grey and silver. Not for me, yet, walking in the rain – but that, too, would bring its own revelations. Time to slow down and notice and appreciate the smallest things in life. It feels as though this is my life in microcosm – a blessing to have the opportunity to reflect and learn on my journey, stepping slowly through the labyrinth in twenty minutes. Andy Stoller Hampshire & Islands Area Meeting the Friend, 19 June 2015 3 News From tiny acorns PEacE actiVists in Edinburgh opponents of wars which would West Princes Street Gardens hope to commemorate conscien- henceforth provide a public focus would be ideal, he said. It is hoped tious objectors with an oak tree and for those who wish to gather that the memorial can be in place a plaque. to remember all those, past or before the early 2016 centenary of A 453-signature-strong petition present, refusing to participate in the act that introduced conscription, in favour of a memorial was taken or opposing wars.’ the Military Service Act. to the Petitions Committee of It was presented to the council The memorial project was the City of Edinburgh Council by Andrew Farrar of Central spearheaded by the Edinburgh earlier this month. Approval was Edinburgh Meeting (representing Peace and Justice Centre, unanimous. South East Scotland Area Meeting) but eleven organisations are The petition said: ‘With the and Brian Larkin, Edinburgh Peace represented on the committee. centenary of the first world war, and Justice Centre coordinator. Among them are Edinburgh there is a feeling that there should Andrew told the Friend that the Quakers, the Muslim Women’s be a memorial in Scotland’s capital next stage is to find a suitable place Association of Edinburgh and the city to conscientious objectors and for the memorial. Iona Community. Ugandan orphan inspires Leighton Park students Ugandan NELLY ALEto recently left her home Students have raised funds for a number of projects, country for the first time to visit Leighton Park School, among them the construction of a water tank in a where she spoke to students from year seven to year school in Jinja. thirteen. Nelly grew up at Son Rise, an orphanage set up by the Jinja Educational Trust, in Jinja, eastern Uganda. She is in her twenties and now works full time with the trust, focusing on educational projects and helping teach children from surrounding villages. She spoke to Leighton Park students who were considering visiting Uganda as part of the next sixth form Africa trip. ‘You will come to the home and the school and meet the children who are very excited to meet new people. Even the little things that you may not think are important can change a child’s life,’ she said. Her visit to the Quaker school in Berkshire was part of an ongoing commitment to Africa. School. Park Photo courtesy of Leighton Armenian welcome for the WCC THE HUNDREdth ANNIVERSARY of the international community, the WCC’s member Armenian genocide has been maked by the World churches and all people of faith and good will to Council of Churches (WCC). remembrance, and to re-commit to the prevention of Karekin II, the head of the Armenian Apostolic genocide and all crimes against humanity.’ Orthodox Church, welcomed the executive committee The Religious Society of Friends is a member of the WCC to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin of the WCC, for whom they run the Ecumenical last week. Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel The committee met in Armenia from 7-12 June. (EAPPI). Its UK and Ireland activities are coordinated While there, they attended a public service of by Quaker Peace & Social Witness (QPSW). remembrance in Yerevan. WCC moderator Agnes Abuom read a statement Have you or your Meeting taken part in Refugee from her group at the service. Week? If so, tell the Friend: [email protected] She said: ‘In this centenary year, we call the 4 the Friend, 19 June 2015 reported by Tara Craig [email protected] TTIP vote postponed MEMBERS of the European Parliament (MEPs) must from across the political spectrum, were extremely wait for their chance to influence the direction of disappointed to hear that today’s vote in parliament the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership was to be postponed. Our chance to present the (TTIP), after the planned 10 June vote was postponed. Commission with a mandate developed via proper A new date has yet to be announced. democratic process will not be granted to us today [10 TTIP is a proposed trade agreement between the June]’. European Union and the United States. Supporters She added that the fight is not over, and ‘more work argue that it would lead to multilateral economic must be done to achieve consensus across a broad growth.