Wednesday 7 May 2014

Quaker Castle Tour part 5- Introduction to Quaker Heraldry

Before commencing today's tour, it may be helpful to explain how castles are usually built on two levels. In the centre there is the mound or motte. This is the strongest point so the castle owner would usually live in a stone keep built on top. A lower level called the bailey occupies a considerably larger area. It is protected by the moat, walls, towers at strategic points and a gatehouse. In this area you might find the homes of servants employed directly by the castle owner, besides workers engaged in a considerable number of support industries such as making arms, or caring for the horses. Since castle residents were dependent on the surrounding area for food and raw materials, the bailey also provided the obvious location for trade.



In times of unrest the population of a castle bailey could increase dramatically as refugees from the surrounding area sought safety within its walls. Although this influx of additional families put considerable pressure on a castle's resources, particularly if it was under siege, this responsibility to the wider community was generally understood.

Within the bailey of a Quaker Meeting are those altruistic members who might very well feel like servants, employed most of the time! Others drop in on a fairly regular basis to provide a range of services. Some would seem almost indispensable, whilst others caught up with a range of other concerns and not particularly central to the service of a meeting. In times of war, Quaker Meetings also tend to experience a sudden influx of visitors, drawn by the attraction of our peace testimony. Like castles, we have a responsibility to the wider community even though we might well feel a lone minority, under siege and our resources very small.

Just as those living within a castle bailey were a community, Quakers also tend to see themselves united though sharing a particular way of life. A traditional framework provided by our testimonies is quite regularly added to so that it might almost be assumed Quakers in England these days prefer to grow their own vegetables, choose to buy organic, aspire to a particular type of interior design, have a predictable choice of newspapers, read intellectual books, listen to Radio 4, attend the theatre, and have a somewhat time-consuming tendency to join local choirs. Although none of these activities are bad or subversive, those features describing "A Quaker Way of life" may surround a castle, enhance much that goes on within it, but they not its strongest point.

Those living within the bailey might also have been very busy with their own lives and so at times forgot what really went on in the keep. Through the feudal structure of society at this time, there was however always a direction and a focus. In general the best of any commodity they produced usually went to their lord. At times people may have resented this obligation and considered it most unfair. When the castle was attacked however, this same framework of leadership offered guidance and support.



This relationship between a lord and his subjects came to be represented in a considerable number of places about the bailey. The presence of a flag was a reminder of ownership and that their lord was close by. Even though most people were unable to read, they recognised the colours and pictures on it, some significance in the design, a motto of relevance, and knew that even though this represented the property of their Lord, it was their community as well.

At times of crisis we may run back to our Meeting Houses for support, even answers although it is also possible to get disorientated by life in the bailey. In the way we treat each other, through lack of patience, understanding, jealousy and lack of honesty, even Quaker Meetings so easily revert to manufacturing arms. Quaker heraldry can at times be very hard to find.

For those living with and around a Quaker Castle, we should perhaps be looking out for some banner displayed even above our testimonies, that says we are accountable and our Lord is close by. Though living below this banner, we have a sense of identity and place, knowing that we are subjects. Within this castle there is a contract and understanding between us.

At times it may be necessary to seek discernment because the property of our Lord, particularly within the human heart, can seem very small. It may appear no bigger than a mustard seed, but within the castle there is everything we need. Throughout creation, even within our own hearts there are the heraldic devices stamped everywhere as a reminder. These define our allegiance. We know through the motto of scripture our Lord's intent. Early Quakers were for example, very often talking of "The Word" which had come among them. Through Quaker heraldry we are able to recognise the limitations of our own wealth, status and property since all that we have is of a much meaner quality, loaned merely for our time on earth.

Our Quaker Castle is not about supremacy over other religions and very far from being the only authentic one about. We should not be arrogant, insular or intolerant because the Kingdom of our Lord may include any number of settlements such as ours. Through trade and dialogue with other faiths, we can become stronger, more sure of our own identity and not lose out on the opportunity for a shared spiritual allegiance. To whichever castle we belong, there is an identity, and legal framework on which we can trust. Here we can have absolute confidence in the strength of our protector, loyal to his purpose and so transform all our doings with love to be a part of the Kingdom.




No comments:

Post a Comment