Friends Bulletin

PACIFIC, NORTH PACIFIC, AND INTERMOUNTAIN YEARLY MEETINGS OF THE RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS

Volume 62, Number 3

November 1993

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PAGE 42 — NOVEMBER 1993

FRIENDS BULLETIN

Editorial

Calendar

Do we Friends take ourselves too seriously? Do we study issues and determine the way things ought to be? Do we bring that rightness with us when we come to Meeting for Worship for Business?

It's tempting to laugh and say, "No, not me. I never act that way." But in truth I know I do when I get too serious about the right ordering of business. And I know a lot of other Friends do, too. Each one of us is correct. Each one knows the right way that the business ought to be done. When the process really works, we give up our rightness, listen to the will of God, and the truly right way prevails.

Wayne and I are both always right. Astrology buffs would realize that, as we're both Aries, we're not supposed to get along. We're both headstrong and stubborn. But we do get along, or at any rate we've co-existed for over twenty-five years.

Now do you see what I just did? I took myself too seriously. I had intended to introduce the question, "Do we Friends take ourselves too seriously?" and then talk about how we need to laugh at ourselves now and again. I am reminded of the first time this year that I clerked Business Meeting. (Barbara Boggs and I are co-clerks of Corvallis Meeting.) I was nervous and kept making jokes. We had had several rather tense meetings in previous months and, while I worried that I had inadvert- ently done the wrong thing. Friends assured me that in fact I had set just the right tone. The meeting went better than usual.

Intermountain Yearly Meeting doesn't always take itself too seriously either. This year they invited Eric Johnson to speak on the question, "How can Friends and should Friends walk cheerfully over the earth? Why?" In other words, how can we see the humor in the situation?

Eric Johnson entertained Friends with humorous examples of how to walk cheerfully. His stories remind me of the saying, "Practice Random Kindness and Senseless Acts of Beauty," that was found in many of our newsletters a little over a year ago. Friend Johnson's examples of "Walking Cheerfully" are in the same vein. I am sure you will enjoy them.

For me. Thanksgiving is a time to get together with family and friends. A sign that our family is growing up is that the four of us won't be together this year. Becky will visit friends in Montana, and Wayne, Bruce, and I will give thanks with Wayne's cousin Jon and family in Eugene. Our nephew Rick, who lives with us, will go home to his family in Olympia.

Wherever you are, I hope that you can spend a special time with someone important to you.

Nancy Yamall

Happy Thanksgiving!

Cover

Cover Drawing by Etta Marie James, Eastside Meeting.

November 1993

19- 21 Quaker Women's Weekend, Quaker Center, Ben

Lomond, CA.

20- 21 Southern California Quarterly Meeting, Orange

Grove, CA.

25 Thanksgiving

December 1993

25 Christmas

27-1/1 The Year End Retreat with John Calvi, Quaker

Center, Ben Lomond, CA.

January 1994

7-9 Spirituality and Sexuality, Quaker Center, Ben Lomond, CA.

February 1994

4-6 Quaker Silent Retreat, Pacific Northwest Quar-

terly Meeting, Camp Huston, Gold Bar, WA. 18-20 Continuing Committee, IMYM, Las Cruces, NM. 18-20 SCQM Mid-Winter Fellowship, Pacific Palisades, CA 18-20 Friends Conference on Religion & Psychology, Quaker Center, Ben Lomond, CA.

March 1994

5 Representative Committee, Pacific Yearly Meeting,

YEARLY MEETING OFFICERS PACIFIC

Presiding Clerk: EUie Huffman (916) 626-1524 PO Box 136 Rescue, CA 95672

Assistant Clerk: Jane Mills (707) 539-6517

7899 St Helena Rd Santa Rosa, CA 95404

Treasurer: PhylUs Jones (916) 223-5405

PO Box 493599 Redding, CA 96049-3599

NORTH PACIFIC

Presiding Clerk: Margery Abbott (503) 284-1799 1830 NE Klickitat Portland, OR 97212

Steering Committee Clerk:

Paula Butzi (206) 869-2810

14349 189th Way NE Woodinville, WA 98072

Treasurer: Charlie Kimball (503) 997-4237

04862 Oceana Dr Florence, OR 97439

INTERMOUNTAIN

Presiding Clerks: (719) 846-7480

Bill and Genie Durland 605 W Pine St,

Trinidad, CO 81082

Continuing Committee Clerk:

Vickie Aldrich (505) 522-3462

1517 E Boutz Rd,

Las Cruces, NM 88001

Treasurer: Jan Miller (801) 278-2759

5672 S Park PI E Salt Uke City, UT 84121

FRIENDS BULLETIN

NOVEMBER 1993 — PAGE 43

Friends Bulletin

The official publication of Pacific, North Pacific, and Intermountain Yearly Meetings of the Religious Society of Friends

1620 NW Menlo Drive, Corvallis, OR 97330-2055 Editor, Nancy Yarnall (503) 757-0981

Book Review Editor

Molly Bishop, PO Box 192, Duncans Mills, CA 95430 (707) 865-2496

iMYM Corresponding Editors

Mary Lou Coppock, 1 127 E Belmont, Phoenix, AZ 85020 Jim Ray, 2520 S Ivanhoe PI, Denver, CO 80222 Alice H. Stokes, 1722 Saddle Hill Dr, Logan, UT 84321 Elizabeth Buckley and Deborah Richards, 13418 Mountain View NE, Albuquerque, NM 87123-2052

NPYM Corresponding Editors Pacific Northwest Quarter position open.

Jim Johnson, 715 Lexington Ave, Butte, MT 59701 Sheila Smith, 925 NW Merrie Dr, Corvallis, OR 97330 PYM Corresponding Editors

Patricia Silva, 16557 S Highland Ave, Selma, CA 93662 Friends Bulletin Committee

Clerk: Rob Roy Woodman, 2532 Westemessee Rd, Davis, CA 95616 (916) 753-5547

Molly Bishop, PO Box 192, Duncans Mills, CA 95430 Annis Bleeke, 31 1 1 NE Tillamook, Portland, OR 97212 Langdon Elsbree, 400 University Cir, Claremont, CA 91711 Charlie Kimball, 04862 Oceana Dr, Florence, OR 97439 Arden Pierce, 3498 South Ct, Palo Alto, CA 94306 Alan Strain, 260 High St, Apt 1, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Send all correspondence to the Corvallis address. Deadline for copy is the first of the month preceding the month of issue. We gladly accept copy on 3 1/2” PC or MAC floppy disks in any well-known word-processor format.

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Table of Contents

How Can Friends and Should Friends Walk Cheerfully Over the Earth? Why?

by Eric Johnson 44

Movement of the Spirit by Allen Hubbard - — 48

More Cheerful Walking — 49

Between Me and Thee: Reforming Relation- ships — Friends Family Service Seminar 49

Book Review — Quaker Meeting: A Risky Business by Eric W. Johnson 50

NPYM Mulling Committee Thoughts 51

Friendly News 52-53

Montana Gathering of Friends 52

New Mexico Regional News by Elizabeth Buckley & Deborah Richards 52

Colorado Regional Meeting by Jim Ray 53

College Park Quarterly Meeting

by Patricia Silva — 53

Memorial Minutes — — 54

Advertisements 55

Vital Statistics — 55

Worship on a Wet Day by Jeanne Lohmann — 56 Rain Prayer by Sara Ashworth 56

Drawing by Sharon Gates, Orange Grove Meeting.

PAGE 44 — NOVEMBER 1993

FRIENDS BULLETIN

How Can Friends and Should Friends Walk Cheerfully

Over the Earth? Why?

Keynote Speech Intermountain Yearly Meeting June 10, 1993

by Eric Johnson, Germantown Meeting, PA.

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Eric Johnson

The phrase, "Walk cheerfully over the earth," came from a message that George Fox sent to Friends in 1656 from Launceston Prison: "Be patterns, be examples in all countries, places, islands, nations, wherever you come; that your carriage and life may preach among all sorts of people, and to them; then you will come to walk cheerfully over the earth, answering that of God in every one."

Let's analyze the phrase.

Today many say "every person;" Fox most often said, "every one," not every mem. In Old English (Anglo-Saxon) "man" meant every human being. A male was a waepman; a female a wifman. The word "man" is gender neutral. When Thomas Jefferson said, "All men are created equal," he wasn't being sexist. David Hume wrote in 1776, "All men, both male and female."

What about the word "cheerfully?" How can we be cheerful when there are so many tragic problems over the earth? Crime, violence, death, war, starvation, corruption all get reported, while the good news does not.

"Cheerful" means to be full of good spirits, to be merry, to be ungrudging, and to be likely to dispel gloom or worry. We should be in favor of being cheerful.

So, should Friends walk cheerfully over the earth? YES! And I would prefer to say, answering that of love (or the Spirit) in every one.

Examples of cheerful walking:

When I was eight I climbed a tree with my first cousin, Mary Sharpless McClelland. Look- ing down, I said, "We might fall down." Mary replied, "Well, maybe, but we might fall up."

I've had some wonderful experi- ences jogging. Passersby say, "Love it. Pop!" and, "You're looking good." Kids wave, toddlers say, "by-by," and cars stop. When I jogged in England a British gentleman said, "I could do with a bit o' that meself."

It is good to jog cheerfully over the earth.

Recently I visited a Roman Catholic parochial school. My visit was one of several visits to many different kinds of schools to survey the attitudes and questions children in grades four through six had about questions concern- ing love and sex and families. Before I began my survey in the Catholic school, the sister who was Head took me around to each classroom to introduce me to the students. As soon as we entered each room, the students stood up and faced the sister and me. When she said, "Children, this is Mr. Johnson," they immediately replied, almost in unison, "God bless you, Mr. Johnson."

I found it an uplifting experience of the power of well- leamed good marmers.

An uncheerful experience:

Once when jogging I was clobbered with a baton. The person who did it just went on by and didn't explain why he had hit me. What a shock! I went over to two younger black guys and told them what had happened. They listened to me, shook my hand and said, "God bless you." I went on, renewed and strengthened.

More cheerful stories:

William J. Whalen, Associate Professor of Communi- cation at Purdue University and a Roman Catholic, writes in the Catholic publication. The Quakers:

"All the Quakers in the world add up to fewer people than the Catholics in a diocese such as Peoria or Dubuque. Yet the 198,000 members of the Religious Society of Friends have demonstrated for more than three centuries how a small band of men and women can witness to the world out of all proportion to their numbers."

Drawing by Etta Marie James.

FRIENDS BULLETIN

NOVEMBER 1993 — PAGE 45

"If Quakerism has anything to tell Roman Catholics it may be that personal commit- ment is central and essential to the Christian faith. The Quakers are mystics, but they do not ignore mankind in cultivating their own spiritual lives. As William Penn wrote: True godliness does not turn men out of the world but enables them to live better in it, and excites their endeavors to mend it.'"

Marian Anderson, who died in April 1993 at age 96, was another example of walking cheerfully. In 1939 she was not allowed to sing at the DAR concert hall because she was black. So, Eleanor Roosevelt arranged for her to sing at the Lincoln Memorial and 75,000 people came. It was a triumph and a cheerful experience for her.

In 1949 I took the senior class of Friends Central School to visit the United Nations.

We were walking along the largest hall and saw a familiar face; it was Eleanor Roosevelt.

As we passed her she smiled — at us and for us! What a thrill! The kids said it was the most memorable experience of their trip.

During World War II, I worked for the AFSC. I was in Eg)^t waiting for a military plane to Calcutta, just after the Bengal famine. Believe it or not, I bumped a full Colonel from a C-47. (I didn't do it; the authorities did.) The Colonel told me, "You Quakers are essential to the world." Later I was asked to preach at Whittier Friends Church. I told them of the suffering in Bengal, of the need for food, vitamins, and money. The congregation re- sponded, "Amen! Yes, Lord! It's the Truth!" I was some- what tempted to become Evangelical. It was rewarding to say something and have all those people say, "It's the truth."

Uncheerful aging:

When I look in the mirror, I see myself — an old, grim geezer. But really, inside I feel young, lively, and enthusi- astic. What do I do? I smile more! I take defensive action before looking in the mirror. My daughter, Emily, calls this a "geezerosity check."

More cheerful experiences:

In June 1992 1 attended a lesbian "ceremony of commit- ment." A large group of people experienced a regular marriage service and joyous refreshments afterwards. Eight months later the happy couple came to meeting with Maya and Matthew, boy and girl twins, rejoicing in hav- ing adopted these two wonderful children. Someone com- mented, "Wow, two mommies!"

Uncheerful Attitude:

The parents of a teenager got very tired of their daughter's bad attitude. "The trouble with you, Julie," said the mother, "is that all you do is grumble and com- plain."

"That's not so — it's not even fair," snarled Julie. "I also gripe, crab, bellyache, carp, and grouse."

Is this cheerful or not?

An old convent was at last renovated and modem plumbing put in. This meant there was suddenly a large supply of chamber pots left over. The very efficient Mother Superior felt that perhaps she could get a little cash for them to help the work of the convent, so she called one of the nuns and told her to take the pots into town to see what money she could get for them.

The sister, dressed in her traditional robe and veil, set off in the old convent station wagon, but on the way to town it ran out of gas. Being a practical woman, the sister got out, picked up a chamber pot, and carried it down the road to the nearest filling station, where it was filled with gas.

She returned to the station wagon and began to pour the contents of the chamber pot into the gas tank. Just then a large truck rounded the comer and squealed to a stop. The driver looked out of the cab and shouted, "Sister, that's what I call faith!"

More thoughts:

A small brother and sister, members of a high church, had grown very fond of a pet sparrow, which finally died. They decided to organize a formal internment for the sparrow, so they went out in the yard and dug a grave. Their mother watched and listened, fascinated by the proceedings. They wrapped the sparrow in cloth and the boy intoned, "In the name of the Father, the Son..." and the sister interrupted, dropping the sparrow into the grave, saying, "and in the hole he goes."

Another example of rote recital, perhaps by the same siblings, was overheard by the mother. The children were practicing the liturgy of ^e church. The girl recited, "In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost..." and she paused. At once her brother continued, "and the Republic for which it stands."

One has to be careful how one uses these things.

Drawing by Sharon Gates.

PAGE 46 — NOVEMBER 1993

FRIENDS BULLETIN

Cheerful self-confidence:

A fourth-grade class was studying inventions in a unit on science. The teacher, hoping to challenge the class, asked, "Can anyone tell us something really important that did not exist twenty-five years ago?"

A pupil raised his hand quickly.

"Yes, Mike?"

"Me!" replied Mike.

I didn't exist seventy-six years ago either.

Good manners are a good thing to have. Here is a young boy's essay on the subject:

"I have good manners. I say good night and good morning and hello and good-by and please and thank you, and when I see anything dead lying around the house, I bury it."

Cheerful hugging:

We've talked a little bit in our meetings about hugging and how important that can be. In 1983 Kathleen Keating wrote an excellent work. The Hug Therapy Book (Comcare Publications, 1983). What is good about hugging? These three Keating paragraphs give the essence:

"Hugging is healthy: It helps the body's immu- nity system. It keeps you healthier, it cures de- pression, it reduces stress, it induces sleep, it's invigorating, it's rejuvenating, it has no impleas- ant side effects, and hugging is nothing less than a miracle drug.

"Hugging is all natural: It is organic, naturally sweet, has no pesticides, no preservatives, no artificial ingredients, and is 100 per cent whole- some.

"Hugging is practically perfect: There are no movable parts, no batteries to wear out, no peri- odic checkups, low energy consumption, high energy yield, inflation-proof, non-fattening, no

monthly payments, no insurance requirements, theft-proof, non-taxable, non-polluting and, of course, fully returnable."

Cheerful praise:

People need praise. We tend to criticize people and tell them what's wrong with them. We don't tell them what's good.

One morning the Principal of Germantown Friends School, Henry Scattergood, came into his office and found a jar of something green in the middle of his desk. A note, in careful, childish handwriting, was attached:

Dear Mr. Scattergood,

Our class was making applesauce. Some of it we are giving to Miss Dewsnap (head of the lower school). Some we are giving to other people we think deserve applesauce. We think you especially deserve some applesauce and so we are sending you a quart of applesauce.

Sincerely yours,

Paul McKoy

Fifth grade

How nice to know that kids think you're doing such a good job — and to tell you so.

Sit cheerfully?

A third-grader was given an assignment to write on the subject, "What My Dog Means to Me." He wrote: "My dog means somebody nice and quiet to be with. He does not say, "Do," like my mother or, "Don't," like my father or, "Stop," like my big brother. My dog Spot and I sit together quietly and 1 like lum and he likes me."

That's called sitting cheerfully all over the rug.

More uncheerfulness:

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H. L. Mencken (1880-1956) enjoyed making fun of revered people of his day and in history, and in his mocking he often spoke much truth. He did not like the self-righteous Puritans, many of whom, cast out of the Church of England, migrated to America, where they endured many hardships and took a narrow, self-righ- teous view of life. This caused Mencken to define Puritan- ism as "the lurking, lingering fear that somewhere, some- one may be happy."

FRIENDS BULLETIN

NOVEMBER 1993 — PAGE 47

I don't think there are people like that reading this article.

Someone once said it might have been better if in 1620 Pilgrim Rock had landed on the Pilgrims instead of the other way around.

Two cheerful men:

Chiring an eighteen-month period in his early twen- ties, Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727) invented theories of gravity, light, and color, as well as calculus. At 85, shortly before his death, he wrote, "I do not know what I may appear to the world, but to myself I have been only like a boy playing on the seashore and diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me.

Most Friends have heard of Henry Joel Cadbury (1883- 1974), Professor of Divinity at Harvard, Chairman of the American Friends Service Committee, and one of the translators of the Revised Standard Version of the New Testament. He said:

"There are two kinds of Friends in our Society and two kinds of people in the world: the there- fore people and the however people. Therefore people say, "We need to deal with the problems of hunger in poor countries and in our own country, therefore...." And they go on to say what actions they will undertake. However people make the same beginning statement but follow it with "However..." And they explain why nothing can be done."

Try it for yourself after each of these statements: We must improve race relations in the city of Boston, (there- fore or however)... This morning I decided to volunteer at least two hours a week in our neighborhood nursing home, (therefore or however)... I am amazed at the amount of litter dropped in our city parks, (therefore or however)...

We need fewer however people in the world and among Quakers. We need more therefore people. Henry Joel Cadbury was a therefore person if there ever was one.

Therefore ... However ...

A cheerful ending:

The Owl

The bird I am going to write about is an owl. I don't know much about the owl so I am going to write about the bat. The cow is a mammal. It has six sides — right, left, an upper and a lower. At the back it has a tail on which hangs the brush. With this it sends the flies away so they don't get in the milk.

The head is for the purpose of growing horns so that the mouth can be somewhere. The horns are to butt with and the mouth is to eat with. Under the cow hangs the milk. The milk comes and there is never an end to the supply. How the cow does it I have not yet realized, but it can make more and more.

The cow has a fine sense of smell and you can smell it far away. This is the reason for the fresh air in the country. The man cow is called an ox. It is not a mammal.

The cow does not eat much, but what it eats, it eats twice so that it gets enough. When it's hungry it moos, and when it says nothing it's because its inside is full up.

Walk cheerfully? Yes!! And be ingenious and be de- lightful. ■

Eric Johnson graduated from Germantown Friends School and from Harvard College and the Harvard Graduate School of Educa- tion. He has taught in independent and public schools and has served as the Head of Friends Central School in Philadelphia. A life-long Quaker, he worked with the American Friends Service Committee in Portugal, Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, and India. After the war he was involved in famine relief, refugee resettlement, international relations and conferences. Eric Johnson has written or co-authored forty-nine books on sex education, English and language arts, and humor. Book titles include: Quaker Meeting: A Risky Business, Love and Sex in Plain Language, The Family Book about Sexuality, (co- author), An Introduction to Jesus of Nazareth, and Older and Wiser.

PAGE 48 — NOVEMBER 1993

FRIENDS BULLETIN

Movement of the Spirit

by Allen Hubbard, Boulder Meeting

"Atheism and Quakers" was the subject of a Concern Group Meeting, convened by Eric Johnson at Intermoun- tain Yearly Meeting, 1993. A majority of those present admitted to being either atheist or agnostic, but then, as we explored the implications of a nontheistic view and stance, several began to hedge a bit. If there is no God, then what is it that moves us? What is the Spirit we seek, the Spirit that many of us have experienced and rejoiced in knowing; what is the source of this Spirit?

"What is the 'Spirit' we seek,./'

We find a clue in the word itself. "Spirit" comes to us from the Latin spiritus, meaning breath, breath of God, inspiration; spirare, the verb, means to breathe. Breathing is our very first, and most fundamental, act of personal responsibility — the primary thing we do to support our own living. And our first breath, in response to that aching emptiness inside, is an "in-spiration." We lift our chests, extend our diaphragms, and suck air. Then we release and suck again and again, imtil we finally expire.

Most of us maintain a paradoxical relationship with "inspiration." On the one hand, it is something we do, literally, as just described, but also figuratively. The music that moves me does so because I in-spire it; I actively take it in, drawing both feeling and meaning from it. Tomor- row I may hear the same music, but leave it in the back- ground, because I'm busy with something else. Maybe I'm tired or I've heard it all before. My active openness, interest, and participation make inspiration possible for me.

C)n the other hand, we generally do not see it that way. Inspiration is something that happens to us. Obviously (we think), the music inspires us, moves us, and perhaps even overwhelms us. The paradox of these radically dif- ferent meanings of "inspiration," combined with the na- ture of air — that invisible, elusive stuff that surrounds us, cools or warms us, moves the tree branches around, sometimes howls furiously and can knock us flat — makes breathing a metaphor useful in attempting to understand the Spirit and to answer the question of whether there is, or is not, a God.

We have two ways of relating to air and to the invisible, elusive stuff of the Spirit. One is passive, being touched or moved by it. It is no accident that we describe our experi- ence of the Spirit in terms of being warmed, cooled (re- freshed), and sometimes blown over. When we forget about breathing, as most of us do most of the time, this is how air enters our consciousness; it is outside, beyond our grasp and acting on us. Similarly, the Spirit may appear to us (be experienced by us) as a given, a gift; it comes to us, washes over us, is bestowed upon us, nudges or pushes us and we are moved.

The other way of relating to air is to be active; it is in- spiration, opening ourselves and actively taking in as much as we need and can hold. This way we sample and use the air to support our living, doing, loving, and growing. In spiritual terms, inspiration is how we respon- sively and responsibly take part of, and in, the Spirit, and we experience it as something growing within, fulfilling us as we inspire it. In the discipline of meditation, we may focus exclusively on our breathing and assume full re- sponsibility for the Spirit. We may learn to warm or cool ourselves as Yogis can. In the discipline of science/tech- nology, we may focus exclusively on our doing and mak- ing and assume full control. We may warm or cool our- selves by adjusting a thermostat and completely avoid the howling wind. We then are inclined to see the Spirit as our creation and our gift (for better or worse) to the world.

Both ways are real, true, and valid. In my own experi- ence, realization of the Spirit has grown as I made myself more responsible for inspiration of and inspiration in it. I have at times felt moved, but fundamentally in my daily living and doing I want responsibility. I would neither claim, nor believe, that "God (or Satan) made me do it." Still, I admit, insist, and enjoy that the Spirit I in-spire, like the air I breathe, is also out there being inspired by others, sometimes in ways difficult for me to fathom. I share in it with every living being.

Both ways are necessary. Experience and integrity require admission that I cannot make spiritual inspiration happen. I can want it but cannot will it. I can practice the active side of inspiration, opening my mind and heart, but sometimes, as I meditate in Meeting for Worship or at home, the Spirit simply isn't moving, and I am becalmed. But, a moment's calm in a hectic world is also valuable. On the other hand, I can prevent and deny inspiration and often have. The Spirit has whispered to me, even rattled my windows, but I refused to open up and listen. Only later, as I became receptive, did I remember various "mes- sages" that passed me by, because I couldn't take them.

"Am I theist, atheist, or agnostic?"

Am I theist, atheist, or agnostic? Confronting this question, I usually answer, "Well, probably yes, all of the above." If "God" is defined as a superior, anthropomor- phic being, I am an atheist. If "God" represents the Spirit of life moving in our universe ("our" denoting the respon- sibility of ownership in both directions) and in my heart and mind. I'm a believer. If we cannot decide and agree on a meaningful concept of "God," I suspend decision.

None of these positions precludes worship, seeking, inspiration, and sharing the Spirit. We all breathe. We all can in-spire and be moved by the Spirit, regardless of our stance on this question. Worship does not require looking up or bowing our heads in an inferior position. It does require looking in and looking out and a true, responsible openness to the Spirit. ■

FRIENDS BULLETIN

NOVEMBER 1993 — PAGE 49

More Cheerful Walking

The Hyperactivist's Lament

by Anthony Manousos, Claremont Meeting

I must hurry, hurry, dear, and run, run, run.

The work of a peacemaker is never done.

I read the paper as I walk and give each friend a greeting.

I hardly have a chance to talk because I have a meeting.

My days are filled with things to do I simply must take care of.

There's a world that must be saved before I've time to spare, love.

But in a couple of weeks, or months, if our calendars agree, and if no crisis intervenes,

I think I might be free.

I hope you'll understand, my dear, why I must run, run, nm.

The work of a peacemaker is never done. ■

Pendle Hill — 1987

Words from Walt

by Walt Lohans, Fresno Meeting

The exquisitely formed mosquito — is a pest! Persistently and voraciously it attacks — with such zest!

Yet, if I successfully swat — only then I can rest — until the next one!

I sit in silence, try to center, get myself out of the way;

Wait for God's message to "make my day!"

(apologies to Clint Eastwood) ■

An Unprogram for Young Friends

by Julius Jahn, Tacoma Meeting

Once in a Friends Meeting,

This could happen to you.

They had so many children. They didn't know what to do. Until there was clearness. Because of the nearness.

They hugged them all fondly. And took them all to the zoo. ■

Drawing hy Etta Marie James.

Friends Family Service Weekend Seminar:

Between Me and Thee: Reforming Relationships

Do your relationships sometimes leave you feeling powerless, ashamed, overwhelmed, or just plain stuck? Have you wondered how to experience the transforma- tion you long for in your intimate and family relation- ships? Have you sought safety, but experienced fear, isolation and vulnerability? We yearn to create trusting relationships with ourselves, within our families, and our meetings, and to contribute ourselves to the world as examined Friends.

Friends Family Service and various Northwest Friends orgaruzations offer this weekend seminar to assist in creating a new vision. This vision will promote healing through spirit-led re-examination of interpersonal rela- tionships, including sexual ethics. Learning will occur through presentations, small group discussions and shar- ing, play, and fellowship. Our keynote speakers will be Stan Thornburg, pastor of Reedwood Friends Church in Portland, and Judy Brutz, educator and therapist, from both Cleveland Meeting and Des Moines First Friends Church.

Mark your calendars now for next April 15-17, 1994. Watch for more detailed conference information to be released about February 1994. The conference will be held at Reedwood Friends Church, Portland, Oregon.

If you have any questions or comments, you may call Nina Lawrence in Corvallis, Oregon, at (503) 757-4121 (days) or (503) 745-5377 (evenings), or you may call Rosannah Stone in Portland, Oregon, at (503) 236-0148. ■

Quakers Uniting in Publications

Quakers Uniting in Publications' (QUIP) tenth annual meeting was held at Quaker Hill in Richmond, Indiana, September 23-26, 1993. Nineteen publishers, booksellers, and Quaker service organizations of Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom were represented (in- cluding Friends Bulletin). Next year QUIP plans to return to Newberg, Oregon, the home of Barclay Press.

Perhaps the most significant achievement of the meet- ing was the decision to embark on the compilation and distribution of a Quaker Books in Print. The goal is to list titles of all publications in all languages dealing with Quaker faith, practices, and concerns which are currently available commercially.

Additional information is available from the QUIP Clerk, Jan Hoffman, Friends Family Service, 343 West St, Amherst, MA 01002. ■

PAGE 50 — NOVEMBER 1993

FRIENDS BULLETIN

Book Review

Quaker Meeting: A Risky Business by Eric W. Johnson*

In this book Eric Johnson, the 1993 keynote speaker at Intermountain Yearly Meeting, has amassed a collection of quotes related to Quakerism. Here are a few of them:

• We need to be unafraid of risk and to be coura- geous. Caroline Shipley, who was undaunted by anything in life, was walking down Market Street (Philadelphia) one day. A youth tried to snatch her voluminous bag. Quickly she caught him by the shoulder — she was a very strong woman — and said with a firm smile, "Let's sit down here on the curb and talk about this."

She came home with her bag. The young man went off amazed and smiling, (p. 12)

• In Meeting for Worship, about year 1916, George Warner, an Elder of the Meeting who rarely spoke, found himself suddenly "moved" to speak about the saving power of Jesus. And, for no reason known to him, he was inspired to speak in French. After ... Meeting had broken and Friends were puzzling over why George Warner had spoken in French, a young man came shyly forward and shook George Warner's hands. In French he told Warner that he was a sailor from France and had been given a period of liberty in the Port of Philadelphia. ... He saw an interesting looking building and just walked in and sat down. He said that he had been feeling like "a stranger in a strange land," far from home and in despair, even contemplating suicide. Then he entered the Meetinghouse, (and) heard George Warner's words... "I now know I have something to live for," he said (in French). He was invited to the Warner home for Sunday dinner, after which, a restored person, he returned to his ship.

• We Quakers don't sing very well, especially hymns. I think the reason is that we are always looking a stanza ahead to see if we agree with it. Perhaps we should suspend disbelief sometimes and sing joyously! (p. 54)

• The first awareness of the silence of a gathered Meeting is almost overwhelming. The impact hit me emotionally as it did my father when I took him to Meeting. There can be all kinds of little noises — superficial ones, throat-clearing, shoes hitting bench. They become a part of the sound of silence and don't touch it. And the speaking arises so completely from the silence that the worship seems unbroken, (p. 95) ■

Molly Bishop, Book Review Editor, selected the above quotations.

* Dorrance Publishing, Pittsburgh, PA , 1991.

Lehers

The Rest of the Sentence

The June '93 edition, Vol. 61, number 9, has some interesting and provocative articles, as usual.

I do have a question with one statement attributed to Rob Roy Woodman in his discourse of Nazis. What evi- dence exists that the "American liberators made the ho- mosexuals serve out the rest of their sentences?"

Betsy Robinson, Gila Monthly Meeting (NM) ■

Response to Herrick-Stare and the Boycott

In response to Randy Herrick-Stare's article, "IMYM, Friends, and the Boycott," published in the May 1993 Friends Bulletin, I must express dismay that I personally reacted quite negatively to what I felt was an imyielding and rigid interpretation of Quaker values that was unchari- table, to say the least, toward Quakers who might differ.

It appears that the response to the boycott, as written, was an angry outcry entirely without concern for gays and lesbians and their supporters ignoring the civil rights violation inherent in the Colorado measure designed to enforce outright discrimination. To gays and lesbians this outcry seemed to fit into the category of "blaming the victim," as women victims of rape have foimd when they have called upon law enforcement agencies to uphold the law.

We in Oregon are particularly indebted to our business community for early and rightfully sensing the similar OCA proposal as a threat to the business climate in our state and for raising huge sums of money. (One Chamber of Commerce dinner raised $250,000.) We, likewise, are indebted to the Catholic Church who spoke out against discrimination in spite of its discomfort with homosexu- ality. We are indebted to the Oregonian, Oregon's conser- vative state- wide paper, which ran twelve editorials (many on the front page) against the OCA measure, and a per- sonal editorial from the editor, a self-described conserva- tive Catholic, who deplored the assault on gay rights as an attack on everyone's basic civil liberties.

I believe it is right for Quakers to act in the Light as they are led in each situation. I will not choose to go to Colorado as long as the measure is in effect and pending final judicial interpretation. I was outraged that the Pope chose Colorado for his recent American appearance, and that the President, whom I warmly supported, ignored the boycott as well.

Friend Randy Herrick-Stare may not hilly understand the militant feelings and repressed rage of gays and lesbi- ans at this time (yes, including those who are Quakers). I ask that he remember many of us have seen our lovers and friends lose their lives to homophobic violence and AIDS. Remember, too, that we have lived our lives in a society that has depreciated our innermost being often on the basis of religion, Christian or otherwise.

Robert Morris Smith,

Gay/ Lesbian Worship Group, Multnomah Meeting ■

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NOVEMBER 1993 — PAGE 51

NPYM Mulling Committee Thoughts

Purpose and Vision (proposed expansion of current statement in Faith and Practice)

The purpose of the Yearly Meeting is to provide a means for Friends to strengthen and support one another in a conunon search for Truth and Light; I^YM, both as an organization and an annual session, supports and encour- ages monthly meetings, worship groups, and individual Friends in deepening their spiritual center and moving into Spirit-led action.

Issues arising from responses to queries and from the plenary of Annual Session, 1993:

1. There is a need for improved communication and interaction between geographically scattered groups and individuals.

A. Provide opportunities for travel

• Spontaneous gatherings, informal visitation

• More formalized individual travel in ministry

• Standing Ministry and Oversight Committee who could:

-travel between groups of Friends -listen and worship with these groups -sponsor retreats -share resources and experiences -provide pastoral care

• "Released Friend"/ Secretary for Nurture

B. Improve communication

• Newsletter

• Different/better use of Friends Bulletin

• Floating lending library, including video/ tapes

C. Revitalize Outreach Committee or combine with standing M&O

2. Individuals are seeking support and encouragement to lead lives of convincement.

• Develop better integration of first-time attenders

• Provide "modeling" at annual session via opportuni- ties for sharing stories

• Serve attenders new to Quakerism at AS by having "Quakerism 101" interest group

• Develop an explicit process for identifying, encourag- ing, and training people with possible calling to lead- ership within NPYM

• Create a standing committee to assist local groups with religious education for adults and children

• AppointareleasedFriendtofocusontheChildren'sprogram

3. The most valued functions of Annual Session are spiritual renewal, fellowship, education, and partici- pating in meaningful Quaker process.

• Focus annual session plenary "business" on consider- ation of seasoned concerns arising from meetings

• Create opporhmities for informal discussions around unseasoned concerns:

-threshing sessions on a peace and social concern -more interest group or spontaneous small group forums around concerns or projects of current interest to individuals -a "Hyde Park" speaker's comer

• Schedule more community worship opporhmities

• Have plenary reports from meetings consist of news of their "most exciting undertaking"

• Place more emphasis on the process by which concerns are raised and seasoned in advance of annual session

• Consider a longer or bi-armual session

4. We need to speak more clearly with a Quaker voice in our community.

• Establish a Standing Peace and Sodal Concerns Committee

• Develop sense of the collective stand on major social issues

• Reach out to minority communities to work on com- mon concerns

• Increase racial diversity in our own meetings

• Facilitate Quaker visibility in the community with signs and newspaper ads

5. As an independent Yearly Meeting, NPYM has partially isolated itself from active participation in broader Quaker fellowship.

• Consider NPYM affiliating with Friends General Conference

• Support representatives to facilitate dialogue between NPYM and FCNL, FWCC, AFSC, etc.

• DevelopjointprojedswithnationalorganizationsandNPYM

6. NPYM structures seem inadequate to serve the vision and discourages Friends from volunteering to take on responsibilities.

• Have Steering Committee meet fewer times, for longer duration — including worship and worship-sharing

• Clarify the roleofSteeringCommittee;seek to makeagendas "action-oriented" as opposed to "report-oriented"

• Have Monthly Meetings take responsibility for some annual session roles now assigned to individuals

• Hire an NPYM executive secretary to serve a co- ordinative role, annual session planner, and/or pos- sible other staff

• Create a standing M&O committee, including the present Outreach Committee and the Brinton Visitor program

• Create a standing Religious Education Committee to local groups, both for adult and children's programs

• Have annual session planners split off from Steering Committee, functioning as an autonomous group

Individuals, small groups, and meetings are encour- aged to respond to this vision by January 20, 1994. Mulling conunittee will meet in February to finalize a proposal to be brought to Steering Committee as a seasoned concern. Please send your responses to Paula Butzi, 14349 189th Way NE, Woodinville, WA 98072-6347. ■

PAGE 52 — NOVEMBER 1993

FRIENDS BULLETIN

Montana Gathering of Friends

The following articles are reprinted from the Montana Gather- ing of Friends Newsletter, Fall, 1993.

From the Qerk, Tom Roberts, Missoula Meeting

About seventy Friends and attenders gathered this late August at Luccock Park in the lovely Paradise Valley to share a weekend of community and Spirit. As usual, it was a special time. ... My hands have recently completely healed from the blanket (canvas) toss and I promise to have ropes on it for our next time. The children had fun with this and the whole weekend, I believe. ...

We need to continue to explore our relationships as a Quarter with the North Pacific Yearly Meeting. They form a much larger Quaker community than our own, thus can offer more diversity, a wide range of experience, and a connection to forms of Quakerism that we do not find in our own area. Yet at this point our ongoing connections are minimal. Why is this? Distance certainly is involved. Some may feel that they as a group are too much Christ- oriented at times. Perhaps we're not listening or they are not talking loudly enough. Should we consider a discus- sion at one of our MGOF gatherings with some members of their steering committee?...

North Pacific Yearly Meeting Reconsidered by Starshine, Heartland Meeting

Should MGOF consider another yearly meeting be- sides NPYM? Only four adults and three young people traveled to Corvallis in 1993. In talking with those four adults, I found only one is really interested in returning in 1994, and that is because she wants her children to partici- pate in their excellent youth program. When her children are out of the nest, she also might not be interested. Of course, others may choose to attend.

"Should MGOF consider another yearly meeting besides NPYM?"

There are many responsibilities that MGOF is not fulfilling as a Quarterly Meeting at NPYM. For example, seldom does more than one person attend Steering Com- mittee. And the burden of having NPYM meet in Montana was such that we feel unable to have it again on a regular rotating basis. Also we are not fulfilling leadership roles.

If not NPYM, what are MGOF's options for a yearly meeting?

MGOF could become a yearly meeting in itself. This would mean less travel, but also less exchange of Quaker ideas. We might become self-satisfied and inbred.

Another idea is to join with some of the Wyoming people. Wyoming is another large city with long streets. Casper is actively involved with IMYM, but Sheridan and other northern cities might be interested. Indeed, Wyo- ming Friends Meeting is seasoning the idea, and I would like to suggest that MGOF season it, too. ■

New Mexico Regional News by Elizabeth Buckley & Deborah Richards, Albuquerque Meeting

This fall finds many Friends embarking on new leadings and responsibilities. In September, Friends gathered at Ghost Ranch for New Mexico Regional Meeting. In addi- tion to the fellowship and walks along the mesas, many also worked on preparations for the upcoming 1994 FWCC Triennial, as well as the coordination of IMYM for the next two years.

IMYM Executive Committee reported the highlights of their meeting. The planned theme for 1994 will be C^aker Community, with an emphasis on our sense of selves as a community within Yearly Meeting.

The Local Arrangements Committee reported on plans for the upcoming 1994 FWCC Triermial to be held at Ghost Ranch, where 300 programmed and unprogrammed Friends will gather. Over 50% will be from North America, 25% from Africa, 10% from Latin America, 2% from Asia and the West Pacific Section, and about 10% from the European and Mideast Section.

After all of this planning, "Silly Night" at NMRM brought comic relief. This energy flowed over into the following morning's interest and worship-sharing groups.

This summer marked a special turning point for many regional Friends. Since Friends General Conference was held at Stillwater, Oklahoma, a number from our region were able to participate for the first time. It was such a good experience that some are enthusiastically looking forward to attending next year. Those wishing to ride Amtrak together across the country should contact Mark Elliot (505) 722-9497.

Durango Friends excitedly report their purchase of property for a meeting house.

New officers of NMRM are now beginning their terms: Elizabeth Buckley, Albuquerque, clerk; George Cunningham, Socorro, recording clerk; Kitty Bejnar, Socorro, treasurer; and Jim Dudley, Albuquerque, Clerk of Ministry and Oversight.

In addition, we, Elizabeth and Deborah, are beginning our shared service as correspondents to Friends Bulletin. We look forward to the months ahead, of writing about what NMRM Friends are thinking, doing, and sensing in the movement of our lives. ■

Former Friends Bulletin correspondent, Phyllis Hoge, is cur- rently teaching in Beijing, China, and would welcome calls from visiting Friends. Her number is 201-7531, ext. 1717. (You may have to say "er-chee-chee-chee" to get the extension.) Her address on campus is Room 305, Door 2, Foreign Experts Bldg. Her university address is English Section, Foreign Languages Dept, Language and Cultural University, Beijing 100083 China.

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NOVEMBER 1993 — PAGE 53

News from Colorado Regional Meeting

by Jim Ray, Mountain View Meeting

Colorado Regional Meeting was held on September 1 7- 19, 1993, at Snow Mountain Ranch YMCA Camp. This was the first time at this site. It was a pleasant weekend near the ski areas amid walking trails full of golden aspens and spruce trees. By the time the registration was completed that Friday evening, the attenders numbered about 65 adults and 20 children from Fort Collins, Boulder, Denver, Colorado Springs, and Steamboat Springs. Mariagnes Medrud, the Recording Clerk, received notes from the leaders of the various meetings. Pam Avery, Meeting Clerk, introduced the theme given by the keynote speaker, Clare Sinclair. The theme was "Searching for Common Ground."

Clare related several times when she was able to con- nect with that of God in persons who were quite unlike her. She told of several experiences and then related that she finally took to heart John Woolman's autobiographi- cal statement about his resolve to visit the Indians. "This first motion being love, I resolved to go to visit the Indians, that I might learn something from them." Sinclair realized she couldn't do her job until she felt love and then went forth in a spirit of humility.

After that revelation, her job was easier. Instead of waiting for invitations, she went to the communities where the Friends churches were located, called them, and asked if she could visit. She was always welcomed, often very warmly. "In peace, love, and joy, we are all on common groimd," she concluded.

Following Clare's warm speech. Friends broke into small discussion groups which spoke to each other on topics such as, "New Models for Quaker Service," "Is Quakerism Relevant in a Violent World?" and "Following Through on your Passionate Convictions."

After dinner on Saturday, fellowship was the primary activity with folk dancing, singing, and playing with the children in the lodge. It was a wonderful evening!

Colorado Regional Meeting decided to lower its as- sessment for regional meeting expenses from $6 to $5 for each member and decided to meet at Snow Mountain Ranch again in September 1994.

The spring gathering of CRM will be in April at Fort Collins.

Courtesy is given to Gail Hoffman who provided most of the copy for the Mountain View Friends Meeting Newsletter. ■

Silent Retreat

In order to offer an opportunity to reach more pro- found depths in the silence. Pacific Northwest Quar- terly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends will sponsor a Quaker Silent Retreat, February 4-6, 1993, at Camp Huston, east of Seattle. For information contact Margaret Gottlieb, 2603 NE 82nd St, Seattle, WA 98115, (206)526-5462. ■

College Park Quarterly Meeting

by Patricia Silva, Fresno Meeting

Sentences picked at random from CPQM's State of the Meeting Report in this column in the September issue of Friends Bulletin reflected observations and feelings about our meetings' inner workings, based on answers to a multitude of queries. This column reflects outreach efforts which are made in all our meetings in one way or another.

In answer to the query. What are we doing to make the larger community aware of our Friends Meeting?" Redding Meeting members and attenders have learned to operate the equipment at their local public access television sta- tion in order to produce six half-hour programs about Quakerism and their meeting. According to Phyllis Jones, they had, at the time of her letter, taped the first part and will continue through the fall. She reports that some programs will be call-in opportimities for the public.

Berkeley Meeting First Day School children sent a letter to President Clinton, giving their expressions "in the spirit of Isaiah and Micah's conversion of 'swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks'" to issues of peace and conflict. Some examples: Grenades become drinking cups. Ammunition becomes butterflies. Barbed wire is twisted into spoons and forks. A fist turns into a friendly hand that wants to shake hands. President Clinton responded, "Thank you for writing. Your letters mean so much to me. As President, I want to help yoimg people like you to grow up in a better world."

Chico Meeting will hold a retreat in 1994 entitled "Quakers Response to Violence in the Community and the World." They held a candlelight vigil outside the State Capitol on the occasion of the execution of David Mason. Meeting members and attenders distributed information regarding the death penalty at the State Capitol building.

Reno Meeting held a brief discussion about the possi- bility of using local media to make known Quaker activi- ties. They participated in a happy gathering in Death Valley earlier this year and they mentioned Connie Jolly and Robert Vogel, the hardy souls who joined them, imparting information about AFSC, FWCC, FCNL, Pendle Hill, and other Quaker organizations, stressing the impor- tance of participating in wider Quaker concerns, which also include PYM and CPQM. Twenty-eight people attended, including five children.

Berkeley Meeting has addressed unemployment within their meeting by forming a group, initiated by Bob Jolly, which provides emotional support. Friends who have offered to do so give informational interviews about the work they do (so job seekers may learn more about various kinds of work) and a list of agencies that provide job search services. Are we sensitive to the needs and difficul- ties of our members and assist them in useful ways? In these times, such support is rare and precious and serves to break the sense of isolation felt in unemployment. ■

PAGE 54 — NOVEMBER 1993

FRIENDS BULLETIN

Memorial Minutes

Kim Maser

Kim Maser died October 1, 1992, as the result of a massive aneurysm and brain hemorrhage two weeks be- fore her 80th birthday. Each member of her family was able to spend some time with her during her last few days.

Kim was bom in Cologne, Germany, coming to the United States as a young woman with her husband. Cliff Maser. She was an active member of Corvallis Meeting for many years while Cliff was on the faculty of Oregon State University. Her kitchen was a meeting place for students ai i neighbors. Her children grew up in Corvallis Meeting.

For several years after Cliff's death Kim lived in Port- land, attending Multnomah Meeting, but she finally moved to Bend where she lived just a few miles from her daughter's ranch. She was an important member of Juniper Worship Group. All of us, but particularly the children, looked forward to the days that Meeting was held at Kim's because of the old-world elegance with which she served an after-meeting snack.

Kim was a world traveler, a loving, thoughtful friend, a tme "lady" with a sprightly sense of humor. After a visit with Kim, one always felt appreciated and loved.

During the last few years of her life, Kim's hearing and vision had gradually begun to fade, but, as if to compen- sate, she developed an inner sight, a sort of spiritual vision. She often told of being visited by people who had passed beyond the physical life. When she asked why they came to her, she was told, "Because we see your Light." ■

Dolores Clayton

Friends from many circles — theater, dance, politics, community service, as well as Friends from Redwood Forest Meeting — were shocked by the unexpected death of the sixty-three-year-old creative dynamo, Dolores Clayton, on April 9, 1993.

Bom and reared in San Francisco, she started dancing school at age three and later performed with the San Francisco Ballet. Before she finished college, the difficult decision of whether or not to become a professional dancer was settled by her marriage to Robert Clayton.

During their first year of marriage. Bob was stationed in Korea, and Dolores went back to college in Berkeley. Bob's next stint was in Selma, Alabama. After discharge the Claytons returned to Berkeley where their three chil- dren were bom, and Bob took his doctorate in English.

The Clayton family moved to Santa Rosa in 1963 where Bob joined the faculty of Sonoma State University. Dolores became active in the League of Women Voters, served a year on the Sonoma County Grand Jury, was a member of the Human Services Commission, and ran for City Council.

Graduating in 1982 from Sonoma State in Theater Arts, she acted in many plays. She also served on the Board of Actors Theater.

Through her husband's illness Dolores became ac- quainted with Friends House and Redwood Forest Meet- ing. She soon became active in the Meeting and was serving on Oversight Committee at her death.

Her husband died in 1991. Dolores is survived by two daughters, Alison of Santa Rosa and Julie of Los Angeles; a son, Philip of Santa Rosa; a brother, David Richardson of San Bnmo; and two grandchildren. ■

Elizabeth (Betsy Moen) Mathiot

Elizabeth Mathiot (Betsy Moen) died March 1 1, 1993, of a heart attack in Madurai, India, shortly after her 54th birthday. She was on sabbatical leave from the University of Colorado, where she was on the Sociology Department faculty.

She was bom in Chicago, Illinois, to John and Charlotte Williams, and grew up in Hickory, North Carolina, where she graduated from Lenoir-Rhyne College. After gradua- tion she worked in medical research at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. She married Thomas Moen in 1964.

Later, after working as a volunteer on population issues with the Sierra Club, Elizabeth received a Ph.D. in demography and sociology from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. She taught at the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon, before coming to Colorado in 1976. Her areas of study were demography, human ecology, women's studies; in the last few years her research concentrated in the area of grass-roots development.

In Boulder she began attending Meeting and became a member in 1984. She was always concerned about poverty and inequality and these concerns crystallized during her 1983-84 sabbatical trip to Asia and India into a passionate commitment that permeated her life and her research. The motto of the Right Sharing of World Resources program (FWCC), "Live simply that others may simply Uve," became the cornerstone of her personal life.

She was a major force in developing on the Boulder campus the International and National Volimtary Service Training (INVST) program, which trains students in com- munity building and nonviolent approaches to social change; she served as INVST's acting director in 1992.

Her research became focused on practical aspects of economic and social justice and on women's equality. She returned for several extended periods to India's Tamilnadu State, studying grass-roots self-help movements and es- pecially women's roles in these movements.

Although Elizabeth and Tom decided to end their marriage last year, they remained close friends. In addi- tion to Tom, Elizabeth is survived by a large international community of friends, whose lives she touched deeply, who celebrate her life, and who will miss her greatly. ■

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NOVEMBER 1993 — PAGE 55