EDITORIAL

DESPAIR AND HOPE

As I write this, the news is full of doom and gloom as the credit crunch bites. Banks fail or are taken over, fuel poverty is forecast, and food prices are rising at a faster rate than I can remember. Then, there are the thousands who have lost their jobs - what of their future? Who cares? It is, or was, a rat race out there. The frantic dealings in the money markets; the huge salaries, large bonuses. Now harsh reality. It is at times like these that we all discover those who are our true friends.

What does it mean to be a friend? It means having in mind the needs of two people, as opposed to saying "I want". "The most important thing about my decisions is what I want." A real friendship means the "I" is crossed out. To be a friend means having open arms. No matter how much trouble you are in, or how sad you are, a friend is there to welcome you, without conditions attached.

Jesus told his followers, "I no longer call you servants....instead, I call you friends." What a wonderful thing to be a friend of Jesus. It means he always has our needs in his mind, no matter how desperate are our prayers to him. It means he always has open arms to welcome us to him, no matter how poor our part in the relationship has been.

And how can we be absolutely sure of this? Because, such was Jesus' longing that we should be his friends, that he was prepared to go to the cross on our behalf. "Greater love has no man than this," he said, "that he lay down his life for his friends."

The Cross can remind us of two things; "I" crossed out and open arms. "How much do you love me?", the child asked. "This much", said Jesus, and he stretched wide his arms and died. With such a friendship freely offered to us, what can we do? Bring our fears to the foot of the cross. Stay close to the cross, where human misery and divine mercy meet. The place where God has offered us the greatest gift. The place where time is transformed; where hope is restored and where death is destroyed forever.

In the short term, the effects of the credit crunch may not change. Yet, at the foot of the cross, we can find that deep peace which the world cannot give. The peace that sustains and strenthens.

Rev. Thelma Lockwood,
Curate

THE MINSTER CHAINED LIBRARY

The Stone Bequest contains many works edited by Erasmus, the greatest of these being the ten volumes of St Augustine of Hippo. In addition, we have some of the edited writings of other early Fathers, one of these being St Hilary of Poitiers.

St Hilary was born of wealthy pagan parents, c.315, and in his youth was a Neo-Platonist, and he converted to Christianity after his marriage and the birth of his daughter. He was held in such wide respect that the citizens of Poitiers elected him Bishop in c.353. Celibacy of the clergy was not necessary until the Middle Ages.

In c.355, he led the Synod in Paris that split the attending Gallic Bishops from the followers of Arianism in the West. Saturninus of Aries, an Arian, with the agreement of Emperor Constantius, called another Synod at Beziers, where Hilary refused to accept the Emperor's edict, and was consequently banished to Phrygia. During his exile, he taught himself Greek and became more familiar with the works of the early Greek Fathers. He also continued to be Bishop of Poitiers and ran the diocese by letter.

In his early years of exile, he wrote some of his finest works and these can be found. in the library. In addition to his other writings, one single volume is D. Hilarii Pictavorum Episcopii lucubrationes quotot extaut, ... This was printed by Froben in 1570.

The knowledge of Greek now allowed him to express in Latin more precisely the theological terminology needed for the fight against the Arians. This can be seen in the twelve books of de Trinitate where he brings new and provocative elements to Western theology.

He despised the faith that is based on vain and subtle questions of philosophy, as he felt this led to the birth of Arianism. He believed in faith in simplicity. A deep faith which fills the whole man with piety which leads to that man's deeper understanding of God.

In c.359, he attended a convocation at Seleucia, where he joined the Athanasians against the Arians headed by Acaciusi, and became known as Athanasius of the West. He requested the Emperor to allow him free public discussion against the Arian followers in order to vindicate his belief in the Trinity. However, the Emperor realised that Hilary was becoming a nuisance to him in the East, and sent him back to Poitiers in c.360.

He continued to fight against Arianism and held many Synods in Gaul to bring back the recognition of the Creed of Nicaea. In c.362, he went to Italy where he impeached the Arian Bishop of Milan, but failed to have him deposed as he was supported by Emperor Valentinian who, in c.364, forbade Hilary to remain in Italy. This resulted in his writing, a year later, that the late Emperor was: "the Antichrist who had made a gift, to the devil, of the world for which Christ had suffered."

He returned to his diocese and spent the rest of his life with his flock for whom he wrote hymns. These, however, were not as popular as those of St Ambrose, but Hilary himself said that the Gauls were not very clever in singing hymns.

Frank Tandy

HIDDEN HISTORY

Many families are working on 'Family Trees' and finding some very interesting characters of the past. Some visit the Minster, having discovered their roots are here in the Minster Town.

One such person was Rodney Martin. He chatted for a long time to Andrew, our Verger. His research had revealed that George Davidge, his great, great grandfather was baptised in Durweston Church in January, 1801. He married Anna Mitchell in Wimborne Minster on 19th December, 1822. He was a blacksmith and lived in West Street and King Street for 40 years. The 1881 Census records that he had been a Church Verger for 30 years. (it did not mention that it was the Minster.)

Mr. Martin produced an old photograph showing his great, great grandfather sitting on a carved chair, dressed in the verger's robe holding the verger's wand. The robe is likely to be the one still hanging in the Vestry in the Minster. If it isn't the same one, then it is an exact copy. Imagine the delight at finding a robe that your ancestor wore all those years ago. The wand too is still in the Minster, as is the carved chair.

Mr. Martin kindly sent me a photograph to help record this piece of Hidden History. George Davidge had a kindly face, with a twinkle in his eye that would have made everyone who visited the Minster feel at home and welcome. ( I would love to have met him.)

George and Anna had six children:

Mary Ann was baptised on 5th September, 1825 Sarah was baptised on 8th March, 1828 and later became a cook at the King's Head. Jane Burgess was baptised on 3rd April, 1831, but, sadly, died the following year. Jane was baptised on 8th February, 1833. and became a waitress at the King's Head. She later married William Martin ( Rodney Martin's great grandfather.) They moved to Cardiff. Francis was baptised on 9th August, 1835 and George was born about 1840. He became a coachman/ostler.

Anna died in 1881, and George later moved to St Margaret's Almshouses, where he died on 2nd December, 1886.

Rodney Martin was born in Wimborne in 1935 and was baptised in the Minster. He moved away from the Town in 1939.

Both Andrew and I thought this was an interesting story, and Mr. Martin kindly agreed to us sharing it with others as yet another piece of Hidden History.

Christine Oliver

AN OBITUARY - MRS. MARGARET RIGGS

who died at the age of 99 years.
At the time she left Dorset to be nearer her daughter in Colchester, Mrs. Riggs was the longest serving member of the Wimborne Minster congregation and had been a member of the Mothers' Union for seventy-four years!

Margaret, one of twins, was born in 1909 at Long Crichel was baptised in St Mary's Church there. While she was still a child, the family moved to Horton, a short distance away, and then to nearby Kingston Lacy, now a famous estate belonging to the National Trust. At the age of sixteen, she went into service at the home of Dr. Le Fleming, in Wimborne, and four years later married her husband, Bert, in St Stephen's Church, Kingston Lacy.

When they first married, she and Bert went to live in a tied cottage at Manor Farm, Pimperne, but when the farmer died, they had to move again. This time, they went to Winterborne Whitchurch where Bert became a dairyman, and then to Wimborne itself, where they lived for many happy years at New Borough.

Margaret and Bert had two children, Francis and Margaret, born in 1930 and 1932 respectively. She was immensely proud of her two children and also of her grandchildren.

Francis was first a choirboy and server, and then joined the Royal Navy and later became an officer in the Kenya Police Force in East Africa.

Margaret made many friends in the Minster Town who have continued to remember her since she went to Colchester to be near her daughter and family.

Margaret Riggs has lived a wonderfully faithful life and we thank God for her long life and service.

The Revd Canon Alan Butler

HOUSE GROUPS

What are they and what are they for?

Are they just cosy little groups of elderly people saying the same things each week, largely in agreement and trying not to upset each other?

Not, I hope, an adequate description of the Courtney House Group, for it has tried to tackle hard questions.

In the past, we have used the York Course, New World, Old Faith, and here are some of the topics dealt with:

Is political correctness a good thing?
Can it not go too far, becoming inhibiting, mealy-mouthed, and even absurd in our attempts not to offend? (Examples of hymns and 'manholes'). Even so, we are warned by St James of the dangers of being ruled by our tongues (Reading: St James, Ch. 3 v. 1-12). Should we then pass laws against free speech, deny the BNP a voice in open debate?

What is the proper role for men and women today?
Should we welcome changes in marriage relationships? Should we welcome gay marriage, and priests who are practising homosexuals? Do we just go along with all this? Can the churches give a lead? (Reading: Colossians, Ch. 3 v.18-19).

Should we oppose governmental actions?
Should we oppose abortion on demand, unjust military action, alliances with tyrannical regimes, globalisation? Or is all this too political, and we should seek first the Kingdom of Heaven? (Reading: St Matthew, Ch6 v.25-34)

How should we deal with those of other faiths?
Should we try to convert them? Should we welcome asylum seekers or make them learn English? Would we welcome a mosque in Cook Row, or one bigger than the Minster in Leigh Road? Are all faiths equal? Have we anything to learn from other religions?
(Reading: Hebrews Ch. 13 v. 1-3)

The Turin Shroud.
What is our attitude to relics? If the Shroud were shown to be authentic, would you want to see it? Would its authenticity prove anything about Jesus and the Resurrection? Do we need it to be authentic -- does it matter?

House groups ask a lot of questions and provide hardly any answers. However, questioning and exploring are, we think, essential to growth.

For our next challenge we are considering studying some of the psalms. Does this seem uncontroversial? Then you haven't been to a Courtney meeting!!

Thank you Lord for giving us the chance to exchange views and examine our prejudices.
Enlighten us with your Spirit, and show us the way in which our feet should walk.
In Christ's name. Amen

Arthur Little

THE PILGRIM HOUSEGROUP

On 30th August, a beautiful Summer's evening (one of the few we have had this year!), the Pilgrim Housegroup hosted a 'Social Gathering and Buffet Supper'. SUPPER? , what a misnomer!
It was, in fact, a BANQUET!

A large number from the Minster congregation attended this most enjoyable event, and the scrumptious food and drink, as well as the jovial atmosphere was appreciated by all.

Very many thanks to all who arranged and prepared this festal gathering .

John Davis

WHAT THE FRIENDS OF THE MINSTER ARE DOING?

In addition to enjoying themselves visiting Selborne's Gilbert White Museum, and Exeter's wonderful Cathedral, drinking Pimm's at Serles House, listening to Professor Blair's brilliant Cuthburga Lecture, and looking forward to the November Tea Party, what else have the Friends found time for?

Even more significant than the above was the support given by the Friends to the following:

The expenses arising from the Minster's Quinquennial Inspection was part-financed, and the Lifepath programme earlier this year was wholly financed.

The impressive craftsmanship of the Minster Broderers continued to receive support, and the Music Collection in the Chained Library was provided with boxed cases.

Complete payment was made to cover the cost for the survey of the medieval murals in the North Transept and 90% of the cost of their cleaning and conservation.

The total fees were covered for Paul Hobbs's inspirational shoe installation during the Folk Festival.

The Friends are pleased to consider funding or part-funding other schemes, provided that they come within the Friends' remit, that the proposal is submitted in writing in advance, and that the Trustees would consider the proposal enjoys general support.

Arthur Little

MISCELLANY

MESSIAH

In the Hebrew Bible, the Messiah was the person who, it was promised, would be sent by God to usher in a new era of peace and harmony on Earth. The early Christians regarded Jesus as being the Messiah of the Hebrew prophecies and the saviour of mankind.

The word Messiah comes ultimately from the Hebrew Massiah, which literally meant anointed.
Christ was originally a Greek translation of this.

PHISHING FOR YOUR IDENTITY

Phishers send an e-mail or pop-up message that claims to be from an organisation that you may deal with, such as a bank or auction site. It asks you to 'up-date', 'validate'. or 'confirm' your account information and may threaten that there will be consequences if you don't reply.
The messages direct you to a website that looks just like the real thing, but it is in fact a very convincing copy of a genuine site.
The sole purpose of the bogus site is to trick you into revealing your personal information and passwords, so the operators can steal your identity and run up bills or commit crimes in your name.
Do not reply to messages asking for personal or financial information. Don't click on the link in the message either. Legitimate companies don't ask for this type of information by e-mail.
Check your credit card and bank statements, as soon as you get them, for any purchases you don't remember.
For clear, practical consumer advice, call Consumer Direct on 0854-040506 or go to www.consumerdirect.gov.uk.

(Published by kind permission of Wimborne & Colehill Home Watch)

DOUBT

In English, doubt goes back to Latin dubitaire 'to hesitate, waver', from dubium 'doubt' (from which dubious also derives). The immediate sources were French forms in which the -b- had been lost, and people never pronounced the 'b' in doubt - it was a learned spelling to show that the writer knew the original Latin word. The first “doubting Thomas” to refuse to believe something without proof was the Apostle Thomas.

WHAT IS A PARISH?

In the Christian Church, a parish is a district which, generally, has its own church and priest, and in British civil administration it is the smallest unit of local government, established only in rural areas.

The word parish goes back through Latin parochia 'staying'.
from which parochial also derives, and eventually back to Greek oikos 'house'.

WlMBORNE IN BLOOM

The Regional 'In Bloom' results were , announced at the Awards Ceremony held in Crawley on 3rd September. The Town was awarded a 'Silver Gilt Medal' in the Small Town Category We were pipped to the top spot by Liphook, (Hampshire), and Wareham, which both won 'Golds'. Like Wimborne, Upton also won a 'Silver Gilt'.

The judges report stated: "Wimborne Minster has a very strong sense of pride.
Its floral displays have developed extremely well, enhancing the appearance of the town. There is great support from volunteers and the whole community.

The Autumn Ball, mentioned in the September edition of PRINT, and due to be held on Saturday, 25th October, is already sold out.

HOW DID AUSTRALIA GET ITS NAME?

Since the days of the ancient Greeks, travellers speculated on the existence of an 'unknown southern land', or in Latin terra australis incognita. from australis 'of the south'. Portuguese sailors may have reached Australia in the 16th century, but the first Europeans known to have visited it were the Dutch in 1606. At first the continent was called New Holland, and it was not officially named Australia until 1824.

WIMBORNE & DISTRICT ROUNDTABLE

On Thursday, 18th September, the Wimborne & District Roundtable hosted their annual Harvest Supper, in the Community Room of the Allendale Centre, which was attended by a large number of residents from local Care Homes and Sheltered Accommodation.

It was a most enjoyable and sociable event with delicious food, and the evening was rounded off by a superb programme of music by the Broadstone Community Concert Band conducted by Damon Corio.

On behalf of all the guests, I thank the Roundtable members and their many helpers for the excellent repast and the Band for the expertise of their performance

John Davis

LIFE IN A CISTERCIAN MONASTERY

Cistercian monasteries were sited in areas of wilderness. So Cistercian monks were not only required to pray and study, but also to labour on the land. They drained swamps, cleared woodland, built bridges, and tilled fields. They bred horses and sheep, installed fishponds, and pioneered many agricultural improvements, turning their monasteries into productive, model estates.

THE LIGHTER SIDE

With failing eyesight, a Czech man went to have his eyes tested. The optician showed him a wall chart displaying the lettersCVKPNWXSCZY and asked him if he could read it.

"Of course I can read it," the man replied. "I know him."

POLITICS: The gentle art of getting votes from the poor and campaign funds from the rich, by promising to protect each from the other

EMPLOYEE; I went to church and prayed for a raise.
BOSS; Don't let me ever catch you going over my head again!

"I always like to begin a journey on Sundays, because I shall have the prayers of the Church to preserve all that travel by land or by water." - Jonathan Swift

Caesar was watching Christians being thrown to the lions.
"One good thing about this sport," he said, "is that we're never bothered by spectators running on to the pitch."

A beautiful girl went to see an artist.
"Can you paint me in the nude?" she asked.
"Certainly," he replied, "but I'll have to keep my socks on - must have somewhere to put the brushes."

NOTICES