Monday 31 March 2014

The generation divide

In the past Quakers must have seemed particularly rude and offensive. The usual protocol associated with fashion, was dropped, so it gave the impression we did not care for the values of society or what other people thought of us. Instead of addressing people in an acceptable manner, we "Thee'd and Thou'd" them regardless of social status as if was considered a priority to consider ourselves every bit as good as the best. Instead of allowing preachers to guide their parishioners in the customary manner, Quakers would frequently interrupt church sermons, shout the minister down and encourage a somewhat unruly debate. This must have been particularly annoying for those who had come to hear the thoughts of an educated man and worship.

Quaker refusal to confrom even to the King's authority through subscribing to an Act of Allegiance, must have seemed not only scandalously rude but also tantamount to rebellion. This extremely dangerous, blatant defiance for what was generally seen as a calming and controlling influence, could not have come at a worse time. For those of an older generation who had lived through the turmoil of civil war and the aftermath, it must have seemed that this arrogant ill-informed group was being stirred up by malicious itinerent preachers to renew all their troubles.

Those of us familiar with the work of Thomas Ellwood may appreciate the strength of a young man's conviction, when he refused to take off his hat in his father's presence. This act of defiance would have been particularly shocking to his father Walter since it was customary at the time for children to show their parents considerable deference. His distraught father's expectation had been entirely reasonable, more liberal than most since it was usual for children address parents kneeling. Such custums were particularly important because the breakdown of families through divided loyalties during civil war and its aftermath had quite probably troubled people the most. How terrible it must have been for a father to confront his own sons in battle, or a daughter lost to her parental family through her husband's political allegiance! Through the strength of people's convictions, these very tragic situations had happened often. There had evidently been great danger in the holding of strong opinions and for those wishing to restore and maintain peace, the strength, structure and survival of family life was now of paramount importance.

As Thomas Ellwood became increasingly clever and crafty in his defiance, associated with company of his own choosing, desperately seeking guidance from people he could respect, it is possible to imagine a father's pain, reviewing the relationship he had built up with his son over the years and wondering like so many parents still do "Where did I go wrong?"

The Ellwood family home was at Crowell in Oxfordshire. Thomas Ellwood's father had a small estate which he hoped to pass down, a family and household to protect. Instead of remaining in so dangerous a location, Walter Ellwood moved his family to London. Perhaps it was understandable that so many decisions taken during his son's formulative years were influenced heavily through fear and the very limited number of choices.

At the onset of war Walter Ellwood had been in a very difficult position. As a rural squire and local magistrate, his role and status in society was derived from the King and yet he knew of huge injustices in society from that same authority which also threatened to undermine his faith. When Charles I's commission of array had been read out at the town of Watlington close by, summoning his tenants to arms, instead of following the king's command, he could well have been one of a number of local landowners who had chosen to stay away. Through this sudden withdrawal of support, messengers of the King were left isolated and so it was possible and capture and imprison them.

Confronted by his son's rebellion, a distraught father recognised how it is possible to be led an alternative allegiance and that those qualities associated with honesty which had created such risk and unhappiness to his own generation they shared.

Crowell had been a particularly dangerous location, close enough to the royalist headquarters at Oxford for regular pillaging. Since the practice of forced billeting was common, enemy soldiers would have been frequently living in his home. Besides these regular hazards there were a considerable number of skirmishes and several small battles taking place close by. Like many soldiers and civilians, Thomas Ellwood's father may have felt sure of his allegiance at the onset of war but regular repeated danger, the practical demands of his own side and the pragmatic shifting of intent to gain additional allies can so easily undermine you.

Although our society may not be at war, there are still many dangers. Instead of royalist raiding parties, we have the challenge of defining priorities and then sticking to them. For most families, the media is now very firmly billeted in our homes. Within any neighbourhood there are skirmishes in the struggle for resources and power. We see the casualties of an unjust society about our home and community. So many of us hold on to our estates though fear, keep the shutters very firmly closed and refuse to tend the wounded. Perhaps like many civilans at that time, we still slink off to the battlefield once all action has died down to strip the wounded of clothing and possessions because we believe our primary purpose is to emerge through life with some kind of trophy. Do we sometimes wonder with our own children, "Where did we all go wrong?"

As Thomas Ellwood slipped out of the house once again to be in the company of Quakers, he left not only an empty room but other members of his family, servants who relied upon the estate for a livelihood and a role in the community which at the oldest surviving son, he was supposed to one day inherit from his father. Traditionally Quakers would seem to have a problem with continuity and leaving a bit of a mess behind them. This family estate, like our own had already been decimated by war.
Perhaps in the silence of his own home a bereft father came to understand a little more about leadership. He had wished so much to be a leader for his son, command his respect and yet the only thing which had been necessary for him to do was be an example, a pattern for him to follow. During the English Civil War as in the rest of life, the best leaders are those who are able to communicate their knowledge of being led. In desperately hard and troubled times there had been a leader even above the King that he could follow.

   



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