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UNUSUAL KINDNESS

Bob Fyffe, general secretary of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, introduces the 2020 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (18–25 January)

DURING the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity we join with the worldwide Church to pray for the unity of all Christians, so that the world might be transformed by our shared Christian witness. The theme for 2020 comes from the churches of Malta, for whom the Bible has a special relevance because the gospel first came to Malta in the events that are told in the Acts of the Apostles, when Paul and those with him encountered ‘unusual kindness’ (Acts 28:2) from the inhabitants.

Many people in Britain and Ireland will have visited Malta on holiday and seen the place where these events are thought to have taken place. This is a reminder that Christianity is not merely a spiritual belief but a faith rooted in events in human history. The unity for which we pray therefore serves to make Christ known in the world.

The churches of Malta have drawn on the account of Paul’s shipwreck on the island and his journey to Rome where he would face trial and execution. This vivid story takes us through the fear of his fellow prisoners and captors in the midst of a violent storm to their experience of hospitality offered by the people of Malta after they were shipwrecked.

Through the worship service and resources for the eight days of the Week of Prayer we

are invited to reflect on how the call to unity comes in the context of a turbulent world, and how we are called to be on a journey with one another, in spite of the things that divide us, perplex us, make us uncomfortable with one another or create barriers between us.

We are called to exercise ‘unusual kindness’ to one another because in doing so we learn how to show it to all people, whatever their faith, race or social circumstances.

O Resources for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity are free to download from ctbi.org.uk/weekofprayer

O This article first appeared in CTBI magazine

ANGUS: Bellshill Band witnessed to more than 1,000 people in its 21st annual Christmas visit to the Scottish county. Soloists Daniel McMillan (vocal), Marjory Watson (vocal), YP Band Leader Chris Shanks (euphonium) and Deputy Songster Leader Lynn Shanks (flugelhorn) presented items in Kirriemuir Old Parish church and Lowson Memorial Parish church, and the congregations enjoyed opportunities to sing carols. Corps Mission Secretary Allan Scott and Band Sergeant David Kendall delivered thoughtful Christmas mes sages during each service. This annual ministry, which included open-air meetings at a hospital and hospice, has now raised more than £42,000 for charities in the area. – M. S.

Examining a vegetarian legacy

As thousands of people take part in Veganuary, Samantha Calvert explores vegetarianism in the early Salvation Army

IN the past five years Veganuary has joined awareness campaigns and challenges such as Dry January and Stoptober to encourage people to live better or raise funds for charity. Up to 350,000 people worldwide are trying a diet free of animal products for the month of January.

In the UK, organised veganism began with the founding of the Vegan Society in 1944, and the first members were part of the much older Vegetarian Society, founded in 1847.

The Salvation Army’s history is entwined with the history of late 19th and early 20th-century vegetarianism. William and Catherine Booth were interested in vegetarianism from the days of their engagement. In 1854 Catherine wrote to William: ‘Have you

Teatime at The Nest

thought any more about vegetarianism? I am inclined towards it more than ever… we will examine its claims.’

They were, however, not consistently vegetarian throughout their lives. During an overseas visit in 1894 William was asked in a War Cry interview whether he was still a vegetarian. He responded: ‘No, I regret to say that I am not; for, seeing what discussion and trouble it would be likely to entail during my travelling, I deliberately backslid on this subject on the day I left England. I am now taking a little meat once, and sometimes twice, a day.’ The 1886 Orders And Regulations For Field Officers demonstrated the Founders’ commitment to advocating a vegetarian diet: ‘It is a great delusion to suppose that flesh meat of any kind is essential to health. Considerably more than three parts of the work of the world is done by men who never touch anything but vegetables and farinaceous food, and that of the simplest kind. There are far more strength-producing properties in wholewheat flour, peas, beans, lentils, oatmeal, roots, and other vegetables of the same class, than there are in beef or mutton, poultry or fish, or

animal food of any description whatever.’ Later paragraphs state that a vegetarian diet is useful in ‘practising self-denial, improving… health, and brightening… spirits’ as well as supplying the means of saving ‘a substantial amount of money to help forward the Kingdom of God’.

Orders And Regulations For Soldiers (1890) included a short section on food. The first paragraph stated: ‘With brown bread and good vegetables, milk, eggs, and fruit, there is very little need for meat, and good, vigorous health can be maintained without it.’ This paragraph was included in the 1943 revision but from 1950 onwards the guidance was less specific.

Of all Catherine and William’s offspring, Bramwell is most associated with vegetarianism. His articles on vegetarianism were published in The Local Officer and republished in The Herald Of The Golden Age, a journal of the Order of the Golden Age, a Christian vegetarian organisation. Based on writings of their daughter Catherine Bramwell-Booth, it seems likely that Bramwell and his wife, Florence, were not fully vegetarian until 1888, although

the family may have been predominantly vegetarian.

The Salvation Army’s commitment to vegetarianism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries was evident in its social work.

The use of a vegetarian diet was widely believed to be beneficial to the reformation of alcoholics in the 19th century. Meat was seen as food that caused a desire for alcohol. An Annual Report of the Women’s Social and Rescue Work contains the story of a reformed alcoholic, Betsy Bobbett. The officer who witnessed her cure said, ‘The vegetarian food we use is the greatest help in diminishing the craving for alcoholic stimulants. It is carefully selected to this end.’

A vegetarian diet was also used in Salvation Army children’s homes such as The Nest. The children came from difficult backgrounds.

The author H Rider Haggard visited The Nest and a number of the Army’s other social work projects in 1910, and was told by the officer in charge that, occasionally, when they grow older, ‘propensities originally induced in [the girls] through no fault of their own will

assert themselves’, so to ‘lessen this danger, as in the case of the women inebriates, all these children are brought up as vegetarians’ (Haggard’s Regeneration). Oriolet, a short-lived Salvation Army hospital in Loughton, Essex, was also run on vegetarian principles at the beginning of the 20th century. Prior to being offered to the Army, Oriolet had been run by its owner, A F Hills, as a vegetarian hospital for some years and his offer of its use was likely to have been made to safeguard its future as a vegetarian institution.

The entirely vegetarian diet continued until the hospital closed in 1904 due to the poor health of its only physician, Dr Ruth Wilson. Dr Wilson had, though, considered the diet a success from every point of view.

How successful The Salvation Army was at encouraging its members to take up vegetarianism is unknown. It distributed large quantities of vegetarian literature supplied by the Order of the Golden Age, but no record indicates high levels of vegetarianism within the Army. Perhaps members did not take to their hearts those requirements which, unlike teetotalism, were not mandatory. On the other hand, vegetarianism is likely to have been more widespread among Salvationists in the late 19th and early 20th centuries than is generally claimed today, even if the Booths were the only high-profile exponents.

Perhaps the most that can be said with any assurance is that the Army has an undeniably vegetarian legacy: a clear recommendation by both William and Bramwell Booth of the spiritual and temporal benefits of a vegetarian diet. William Booth wrote in Religion For Every Day: ‘There are multitudes of men and women who would be wiser, healthier, happier and holier without meat altogether. I recommend everybody who has not made the experiment of total abstinence from flesh meat in every form to do so at once. Give it a month’s trial.’

In recommending a month’s trial William Booth would presumably have been in favour of Veganuary!

SAMANTHA IS HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS AT THE VEGAN SOCIETY

Pointing the way to

Ruth Unwin (Alton) has been a member of the International Staff Songsters since their inauguration. She shares some highlights as they celebrate their 40th anniversary

IN 1979 General Arnold Brown asked Major Norman Bearcroft to form the International Staff Songsters. My sisters – Miriam, Eunice and Rhoda – and I sang as a quartet, often visiting corps and participating in events at headquarters. I was also part of the vocal group for the LP Spirit, which was directed by Major Les Condon, who recommended me for an ISS audition. The same night as that audition I attended my first ISS rehearsal. I was quite young and very nervous to be in a room with such great Army names as Major Norman Bearcroft and Jacqui Proctor. It was scary in many ways, but the songsters were capable and we all loved singing.

Our first public event was the installation ceremony on 7 March 1980 at Fairfield Halls, Croydon. I will never

forget the experience. My family were there to support – my parents, my sisters and my dear grandmother, who had a lovely rich alto voice and was a great inspiration to me, vocally and spiritually. Apparently my future husband, Tony, was there too!

I was used to performing at Fairfield Halls, so I felt at home. In the afternoon before the festival we rehearsed marching in pairs down the steps to the platform, then moving forward to receive our appointment letter from the Chief of the Staff.

The first song we sang as the ISS was ‘Jesus, The Very Thought Of Thee’, so our first word was ‘Jesus’. That was an important moment for us because Jesus has been at the centre of everything we have done, no matter who has been our leader or whether we have been at a small corps, a large territorial event or on tour. That is the message we have taken to everyone, whatever their circumstances and whether they are a committed Christian, thinking about making a decision or someone who once had a faith. To point the way to Jesus is why the Staff Songsters are still in existence after 40 years.

General Brown, when announcing the group, indicated it was his hope that the ISS would not only introduce new music but also revive many of the legacy songs of The Salvation Army. These are a wonderful heritage from people who have gifted their musical and lyrical talents to

Jesus

us. It has been a privilege to sing them and they have remained some of my favourite songs. Norman was a wonderful originator of music for the group and had a knack for arranging them so beautifully. The harmonies were well crafted, enhancing the original form of each song.

‘My Solemn Vow’ by Catherine Baird and Norman Bearcroft, ‘Passport To Heaven’ by Olive Holbrook and Edward Purcell, ‘He Giveth More Grace’ by Annie Johnson Flint to the tune of ‘Blacklands’ by Ray Steadman-Allen – these are just a few of the heart songs that impacted me back then and still have a powerful legacy today. Any song by George Marshall is also a favourite, although I might be biased as I was born in his home town of South Shields. There is a tremendous depth to these devotional songs. Even today, as culture and times have changed, their words still apply to our experiences. I’m really glad that they are still part of our repertoire.

When Captain Len Ballantine took over as leader in 1992 it was a significant time of transition within the Army in the UK and Republic of Ireland. Len extended our repertoire to introduce us to a contemporary style of music. This happened as the Army was relaxing its attitude towards music by non-Army

composers. He was an absolutely brilliant teacher and trainer, and we really took this new style on board. Len also introduced a little bit of movement into our singing, which caused great hilarity. I never get tired of singing Len’s arrangement of ‘More Than Wonderful’. I absolutely love it. The group took to it straight away. It is a joy to sing every weekend as former members join with us. It has become an anthem of the ISS. Our repertoire today shows our development, as well as how we remain true to General Brown’s original vision. Norman and Len were talented originators and arrangers for the group, and the interweaving thread of the heart songs, the contemporary choral work and the pioneering of new music has continued under the leadership of Peter Ayling, Andrew Blyth and, since 2003, Dorothy Nancekievill. Dorothy has added further pieces by contemporary choral composers such as Will Todd, Eric Whitacre and Bob Chilcott, which are a pleasure to sing. Our repertoire truly has something for everyone.

The aim of the group has always been to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus and to challenge and encourage them on their spiritual journeys. It is humbling to discover when this has happened following our festivals, meetings and recordings – and now through social media. What better way to share the gospel than through song?

Our visits to corps are always a highlight. We often stay in people’s homes, where there is the opportunity to share in conversations. I also enjoy the moments before festivals when we shake hands with people who have come to hear us. Although it is a brief time, even those few sentences are an opportunity to share with others.

It has been an amazing experience to sing in so many lovely and varied places, from cathedrals and churches to prestigious venues, such as the Royal

Albert Hall and the Hollywood Bowl in the USA. In contrast, but equally memorable and poignant, have been visits to countries such as Kenya, Zimbabwe and South Africa. These have provided opportunities to see first-hand what goes on in the Army overseas and how Salvationists there are worshipping and serving in their communities.

I am excited at the thought of being back at Fairfield Halls for the 40th anniversary concert on 7 March. It will be a really enjoyable time, singing with a live orchestra and being reunited with many former members.

Ruth Unwin

But I am also wondering where the years have gone. I never imagined I would still be part of the group 40 years later, but what a privilege it has been. The ISS are a wonderful family and community. I have been blessed to have enjoyed some long-standing friendships. They have encouraged me and helped with my personal and spiritual development. It truly has been more than wonderful.

O For more information about the 40th anniversary of the ISS, visit salvationarmy.org.uk/iss