9 20 2500 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/18b9b47aa9414b7f9ecaef6e1323b0ef.mp3 034f832a0e6fc031b0712e70e748536b https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/bbddff76c61e41a8ac8daff9111eb32c.png 7845b55000000b0c21f334782c4972b6 Sound A resource primarily intended to be heard. Examples include a music playback file format, an audio compact disc, and recorded speech or sounds. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound Mark B. The group did go public in May of 1960— Keith W. Yes, we said a few things— Mark B. —by printing a concern in The Friend, and it said—and I wonder who wrote that—and then a month later you had a one-day conference, and there was subsequently a lot of letters to The Friend, so you kind of, the group went public. Was there a particular reason for doing that? Do you recall where you were in the process? Keith W. We just thought a progress report might interest Friends, which it did. Duncan Fairn wrote it, and I think he came out first with the title Towards a Quaker View of Sex, a sort of slightly wry title. And so that came out, and that, of course, was written out of the stage that we had got to. We were at a fairly early stage. We were sort of Neanderthal man at that point, but nevertheless, we were making progress, and I imagine that he…I forget his letter now, but I imagine he let the cat out of the bag in the sense that he was saying we’re looking at this as a different morality, so that caused some correspondence and so on, which we considered, but we didn’t feel any of it needed answering. We didn’t indulge in, as the National Rifle Association does, having a spokesperson produce some beautifully worded—you know, they’re very good at this. We just went on with our work in the library of the Women’s University Club. And those Friends who said the—when he wrote, of course, he hadn’t read what we had so far written, and neither did we offer to give it to him. But a lot of people were disturbed at any thought that the ancient, ancien regime might fall. People like structure. Any change, especially of mind, any change is horrific to contemplate, so if you’re brought up in any system—and England is very programmed compared to America—if you’re brought up in any system, you don’t want it destroyed. For one thing, you may have suffered greatly in order to keep it going, or you may have felt that you set a good example by how much it had cost you in pain and agony of hanging onto the same relationship, for instance, long after it was over or something. So all those people had an investment in nothing changing. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Keith Wedmore talks about going public Description An account of the resource Keith Wedmore talks about the group writing and publishing an article in the The Friend, May 1960. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived excerpt from 20 March 2013 interview with Mark Bowman. https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/99be6bfa5226362898d3fda998c34134.mp3 22c4abc284baeccb3a0110c763eafab1 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/2b3b3df461471401d2a74c633201335d.png 7845b55000000b0c21f334782c4972b6 Sound A resource primarily intended to be heard. Examples include a music playback file format, an audio compact disc, and recorded speech or sounds. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound Mark B. Can you say a little more just—I’m curious about how you write with a committee of 11. How did the writing unfold? Did you have an outline? Did people write sections and brought them to the group? Keith W. Yes, yes, yes. Mark B. How did that happen? Keith W. At the end of each session—as far as I can remember—I haven’t read through this again, but as far as I can remember, at the end of the session, we would consider whether we would now add something, or add a chapter, or have a draft chapter as a result of the day. That, of course, doesn’t, by any means, happen every week, or every month or anything else, but it did happen. And then somebody would say, okay. It didn’t matter who did it at all, so somebody would write it and circulate it to the group, and we’d then come back next time and tear it apart and discuss it and produce something that we all agreed on, which was a lovely process because one of the charms of the Society of Friends is you’re allowed to change your mind. And so we could work it through until we had genuinely convinced each other of what it should say, and some things got altered quite a lot and some didn’t much. I, in fact, was asked to write the complete chapter on homosexuality, and not much of that actually didn’t get through. I mean, that was—but of course it had been in my head for something like 15 years. I could just sit down and write what the Emperor Hadrian or somebody thought. Which one was it? Anyway, it’s in the book. Mark B. Right, you quote that. Keith W. Constantine, or was it…it doesn’t matter. Anyway, there’s some emperor who thought that sodomy caused earthquakes or something. But all that was from actually reading Gibbon’s Decline and Fall when I was in Canada. Mark B. Did you write other sections? You wrote that section. Keith W. No, I wrote that, but, I mean, they had a hand in chipping at it, of course, and I’m only saying that most of it survived. I still see my own words. They probably took out some bits. But the same thing happened with them. We all, or I’m sure most of us, at any rate, volunteered to write a chunk. Mark B. Do you actually recall who was the major writer of the different sections? Keith W. Sorry? Mark B. Do you recall who was the major writer of the different sections? Keith W. Oh, I see. If you hand it back a moment, it might come back. That’s going to be difficult because of the very— Mark B. And it may not— Keith W. —[lack of] ego and vanity involved. It wouldn’t make any difference who wrote what, as far as we were concerned. Mark B. Can you say a little more just—I’m curious about how you write with a committee of 11. How did the writing unfold? Did you have an outline? Did people write sections and brought them to the group? Keith W. Yes, yes, yes. Mark B. How did that happen? Keith W. At the end of each session—as far as I can remember—I haven’t read through this again, but as far as I can remember, at the end of the session, we would consider whether we would now add something, or add a chapter, or have a draft chapter as a result of the day. That, of course, doesn’t, by any means, happen every week, or every month or anything else, but it did happen. And then somebody would say, okay. It didn’t matter who did it at all, so somebody would write it and circulate it to the group, and we’d then come back next time and tear it apart and discuss it and produce something that we all agreed on, which was a lovely process because one of the charms of the Society of Friends is you’re allowed to change your mind. And so we could work it through until we had genuinely convinced each other of what it should say, and some things got altered quite a lot and some didn’t much. I, in fact, was asked to write the complete chapter on homosexuality, and not much of that actually didn’t get through. I mean, that was—but of course it had been in my head for something like 15 years. I could just sit down and write what the Emperor Hadrian or somebody thought. Which one was it? Anyway, it’s in the book. Mark B. Right, you quote that. Keith W. Constantine, or was it…it doesn’t matter. Anyway, there’s some emperor who thought that sodomy caused earthquakes or something. But all that was from actually reading Gibbon’s Decline and Fall when I was in Canada. Mark B. Did you write other sections? You wrote that section. Keith W. No, I wrote that, but, I mean, they had a hand in chipping at it, of course, and I’m only saying that most of it survived. I still see my own words. They probably took out some bits. But the same thing happened with them. We all, or I’m sure most of us, at any rate, volunteered to write a chunk. Mark B. Do you actually recall who was the major writer of the different sections? Keith W. Sorry? Mark B. Do you recall who was the major writer of the different sections? Keith W. Oh, I see. If you hand it back a moment, it might come back. That’s going to be difficult because of the very— Mark B. And it may not— Keith W. —[lack of] ego and vanity involved. It wouldn’t make any difference who wrote what, as far as we were concerned. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Keith Wedmore talks about writing the study. Description An account of the resource Keith Wedmore talks about group collaborating in writing the study. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived From March 20, 2013 interview with Mark Bowman. https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/b20267d1a190aa6f84004193c77d16ca.jpg bb2e21e761d5a46a575b11ae054b0cfd https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/ef21e2c2e8d77e51d30dc42726591a8d.jpg bb88fcb5d4810c5e1d3c856e1db2e46f Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Bidder 90th birthday card Description An account of the resource Card sent to Anna Bidder by Cambridge Young Friends 1993. The signatories span several generations from the 1940s to 1990s. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Personal Papers of Anna Bidder at Lucy Cavendish College Archive https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/95c523dbe9e83d52441ea1249a79f897.jpg e217350f3faea61b25e4e48db140c66b Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Keith Wedmore at Cambridge Description An account of the resource Wedmore in his 15th century room at Jesus College Cambridge, 1953. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Reproduced by permission of Keith Wedmore https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/03608c185d496c2303659939d19355c1.jpg 2456633b15e280c548354de2f9e7525c https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/4450d955c31abd83c2437346bcaa7dc4.jpg d2330b1ae37738b9ef100ce93fbbaf89 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/00780eac2afdc76409a19503e1fba3f1.jpg ce5ba2dfc3a9200eae8209d6c40cddca https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/2d12c29736270a6ce29c115abebe2ba2.jpg 197923cac1e7d75fabd780ba4dd60944 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/8764ffce95faaa5b9cf6afe356ba81cf.jpg 67409c515198f316b23dab46195dab60 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/a1bb913f35f164b977a768c060d5bbc4.jpg 5827c1d13e367d6792a5fa54e4188627 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/5e627a9fb655e91f55744e2b17a82682.jpg dcd77ab9a4ed58d8c25c517849ed0746 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document The Quaker Group on Homosexuality and Other Problems of Sex Minutes of Meeting held on October 5th, 1958 1. Apologies for Absence. Kenneth Barnes Kenneth Nicholson Marion Fairn Alastair Heron. 3. Minutes of last meeting, 10th September, are taken as read. After discussion we agreed the name for the group given at the head of these Minutes. 4. Reports. Anna bidder has reported on the meeting which she and Kenneth Nicholson had with the Central Committee of Young Friends: There is a wide range of outlook among Young Friends. Some had personal experience of homosexuality and would welcome a meeting with this group. Others felt that this matter was outside the concern of Young Friends. The Central Committee is prepared to send representatives to our meeting on the 7th December. Lotte Rosenberg is asked to write to the Clerk of the Central Committee and, when names of representatives have been received, she will invite them. A group of London Friends is concerning themselves with part II of the Wolfenden Report. We think it advisable to get into contact with them. Anna Bidder will write to Mary Harper, a member of that group as well as of the central Committee of Young Friends and she will ask her to join us on the 7th December. 5. Discussion of our Approach to Young Friends We shall state our concern and then ask Young Friends to give their opinion. One of the main problems of the homosexual is his belief that he is the only deviant although in fact the problem of homosexuality will concern each generation. The Young Friend faced with homosexuality believing himself the only person so afflicted feels isolated from the Society of Friends and therefore the whole problem never reaches beyond the individual case. In meeting Young Friends we aim at exploring the situation confronting them. 6. Discussion of the Questionnaire (a draft questionnaire by Lotte Rosenberg is considered.) We should omit any question referring to the person's own personal life, but concentrate on general questions. Although we wish to receive information regarding sexual problems arising in Quakerism it is better tactics to commence with such questions that relate to Quaker concerns for the wider world. There are two approaches: (a) sexual problems arising in Quakerism, (b) The Quaker attitude towards problems arising in the wider society. It is with the latter approach that we think it best to begin. We wonder whether Quakers have a blind spot for problems of sex, for the interest shown is much less than the energy and resources which are given to the solution of other social troubles. We wonder whether Quakers would find it difficult to reveal their own childhood experiences, but they can, without such inhibition, give their opinion regarding the importance of children experiences in general. In our formulation of the questions we shall need to take consideration of the specific blind spots of Quakerism. "Remember then that are in bonds, as bound with them"; those words, spoken during our Meeting for Worship, could be accepted as our motto. 7. Young Friends Groups Some detailed consideration was given to the form of the questions to be put to the Young Friends Group and Duncan Fairn was asked to submit the following draft for Anna Bidder to use in writing to the Group: "I think you know that some of us have been meeting from time to time, largely as a result of the publication of the Wolfenden Report and the experience some of us have had, especially in University towns, in an attempt to make a fresh analysis of the ethics and morals of the whole field of sexual relationships for us as Christians and Quakers. We want to take nothing for granted by to get back to the very beginning, with such questions as what acts and relationships do we consider wrong and why? As we hope that you and some of your colleagues will meet with us at our next meeting on December 7th at the University Women's Club, 2 Audley Square, London, W.1.,we wonder whether you would help us by considering the following questions and let us know what your views are: (1) Do you consider that Young friends are faced with problems of sex in the same way as other young people? (2) If so, please state what the problems are. (3) Have you found (a) your local Meeting (b) individual Friends helpful to those Young Friends who have sexual problems, for example, whether between boy and girl, between those of the same sex and also of couples before and after marriage? (4) Do you feel that Friends are to hide-bound in their attitude towards sex? If so, in what respects? (5) Do you find that the attitude of Friends Schools has been especially helpful in these problems? 8. As promised last time the memorandum from Keith Wedmore following the first meeting of the Group, is attached. 9. Agenda for next meeting The next meeting will take place on Sunday, 7th December, at 10:30 at the University Women's Club, 2 Audley Square, W.1. Morning Session: (a) Report of the discussion at the Marriage and Parenthood Committee (Marion Fairn and Anna Bidder). (b) Preparations of questions which will shall address to headmasters of Friends Schools. 16 Back Street, St. Cross, WINCHESTER, Hants. MEMORANDUM FROM KEITH WEDMORE The Invert and Society "Love is all of one piece--from the love of mother and child to the love of sweethearts, husbands and wives, and friends. It is present, too, in the Labourer's devotion to his work, in the teacher's solicitude for her pupils, in the physicians's dedication to his art. All that heals, cultivates, protects and inspires--all this is a part of Love." --foreword to Dr. Bainton's "Love or Perish" "Deus est Caritas, qui menet in Caritate menet in Deo, et Deus in illo. Sic Deus in nohis, et nos maneamus in Illo." --the Grace of Jesus College, Cambridge All relationships involve some kind of bridge between personalities, the establishment of a link with the unknown and the different in somebody else. Where there is much traffic across this bridge, it flows familiarly and freely; where the intercourse is small and infrequent, it is more hesitant and uncertain. Sometimes nobody has ever crossed the bridge; and then, perhaps, when somebody does start, the fear of the unknown that is deep within us makes them turn back. "Nobody can cross that bridge," they say, and talk of turbulent waters, and cold foreign shores that nobody would wish to visit. This is the structure of much of the failure of society, this failure of human relationships, and the pattern is basically the same where ever we look; in race relations, or those between nations, or between society and the delinquents is produces. The super freedom of modern life gives us a swirling turbulent background, its failure is a failure to relate. Many retreat from the struggle into the mental home; others express their uncertainty in aggression: "Here, Joe, there's a stranger; heave half a brick at him". The problem of the invert is just part of this larger problem of society, and in no wise divisible from it. For the problem of the invert is not a propensity to love his fellow men; for if love is a good thing, one cannot have too much of it; no, the problem is a small chunk of that larger problem, a failure to relate: in this case, with the opposite sex. When that exists, with the noncomitant necessity to find all the satisfactions that relationships can offer among one's own kind, then there is a breach of that communion which God intended to exist among all his creatures. Most people learn the pattern of love that they will follow all their life, while they are still children, from their parents and friends. A deep and proper closeness with each parent will give them an awareness of each sex, and an ability to relate with it; and a successful dependence, at the learning stage of life, on other males and females--such as brothers and sisters--starts that confidence in dealing with others including that familiarity with getting close to them and receiving love from them, which should last the rest of their years. Early failures to relate upset this pattern, and continue to do so until they are recognised. The homosexual shys away from the woman's love--suppose it can nothing for him--and often, oddly enough, that he has too much already. For often his mother appears doting and possessive, or in such relationships as he has, it seems to be that he goes no further. But the truth may often be, not that he cannot love women, but that no woman ever loved him; once the total absence of what is apparently having to be rejected can be realised, then a change in attitude can be brought about. A person needs love; if he does not like it, either it is not love, or his ability to receive it is impaired, as, for example, by not having had it before. In this situation, little is to be done by expelling boys from boarding schools, where usually what is going on is a more sharing of physical experience; nor may such real relationships as are formed here or in later life be profitably attacked; firstly because, ex hypothesis, they are all a man has and, secondly, because, oddly enough, they may be a way to his salvation. A deep and satisfactory relationships with either sex (and disturbed people often have had very few) helps in later relationships with each, for Love is Indivisible, and where it gains strength here, is the better able to wander on elsewhere. This is the basis of the problem, this the root, the other aspects, merely symptoms, often connected with the other problems of society. Only therapy may help some individuals, in whom long loneliness grow a despair which carried off the bridge, or made its passage seem uncommon, perilous; and only education and patience may help society, with its ignorance and fear, its offer of suspicion not love, and its concentration limited o the bits of the problem it can see. Does a person get lost in a fog through following others at random? The society supposes that the best answer would be to blindfold him altogether. But this is not the case. People have to see and follow better, not worse, and so fine a surer passage, and a more sturdy bridge, into the lands occupied by their neighbours, and into that fellowship which lives in loving and knowing one other person well. New York City 4 September 1956 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Meeting Minutes, 5 Oct 1958 Description An account of the resource The group affirmed their name; members reported on their activities; discussion about how best to get input from Young Friends; memo attached that Wedmore wrote in 1956--The Invert and Society. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Keith Wedmore Papers https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/9bb2dd8163b8253fc14bdd320faee300.jpg f01ca8e3160c0c9d6db1907ce1485a76 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/c69dca421da378ed21f8550e6ceb8350.jpg 1a8e0e22912dba5d09722ad683ab92ee https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/7aeb0b3c0d89d9c8083bfee3106b24d9.jpg 6b7dd96434b120d16c335fa38786b868 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document Quaker Group on Homosexuality and other Problems of Sex Meeting of the 1.2.59, at the University Women's Club. W.1. Morning session: Present: Anna Bidder Alfred Torrie Kenneth Nicholson Kenneth Barnes Richard Fox Mervyn Parry Alastair Heron Keith Wedmore Lotte Rosenberg Apologies for absence: Marion Fairn, Duncan Fairn. 1. Minutes of last meeting 7.12.58. Criticism was expressed regarding the form of the minutes: The minutes cannot give a detailed account of the discussion, therefore they sometimes appear to contain contradictions. One imperfect record in narrative form can give a misleading impression, e.g. in 2(b) of last minutes. It was agreed that minutes should record individual opinions as "points made during discussion", but that if on any point the meeting reaches full agreement this should be recorded as a formal minute. 2. Discussion of the meeting with representatives of Young Friends: In the discussion the following points were raised: Is a young person permanently affected by early sex experiences? Why does it seem that Young Friends do not discuss sex in groups as this is done by other young Christians? Young Friends seem burdened with concerns and this pre-occupation tends to suppress the awareness of sex problems. Is perhaps their concern with general problems of the world a substitute for the dealing with their own personal problems? The incidence of nervous breakdown as a result of sex problems has been exaggerated by the Young Friends reporting. Factors which determine sexual attitude of the young person were discussed. It was said that the child's attitude is more determined by the home than by the school. In this connection the role of the father was stressed. It was said that the Quaker father is often outwardly non-aggressive. If the boy identities with this non-aggressive father he may become prone to homosexual leanings. This trend can be intensified by pacifism and by the lack of righteous indignation and aggression amongst Quakers. 3. Discussion of the agenda for the next meeting, to be held at 2, Audley Square, on Sunday, 1.3.59., (morning session will begin at 10:30 a.m.) a) We agree to invite no guests to our next meeting but to concentrate on evaluation of our work so far and on our future policy. b) We agree that we should not separate the wider aspects of sex problems in society from the attitude of Quakers regarding these issues. Some of us are inclined at times to separate these two views but we find that we cannot avoid as Quakers seeing sex as part of the wholeness of life. 4. Discussion of Sources of Material open to us as a group: It is doubtful whether we can give the time to a programme of widespread fact-finding. The most accessible facts for our discussion are our own experiences and those of people known personally to us. Such discussion must be searching and is only possible if we regard all matters discussed within this group as strictly confidential. Afternoon session: Present all members as above, and in addition Hugh Maw and John Ounsted. The four headmasters present were asked to give comments on the five points suggested in the letter of 8th December 1958. 1,2: Sex instruction at home and at school: In the case of young children it is often thought advisable to send a letter to parents prior to their entry of school at 11, asking the co-operation of parents and suggesting that the parents should have talked to children before they enter school. The response from parents varies a great deal, some show appreciation, some hope that the school will relieve them of this responsibility. Replies from parents are often misleading: instruction may have been "given at the wrong moment or stage and rejected by the child, and is usually continued to the physical side of reproduction. It is not always easy to assess, during the first terms, what the child actually knows nor what are its needs. Instruction at school takes place at various stages of the child's education. Some schools give such instruction during Biology lesson after the child enters school at 11 or 13. Individual talks with those who wish to talk about personal problems can follow such class instruction or instruction can be given from the start in small groups. When questions regarding the emotional and social aspects can be encouraged, in class or in groups, very free discussion may result. Other means by lecture and film are mentioned. Personal problems which arise during the course of class-work or life can be made as opportunity for further discussion and instruction when need arises. During the last year at school a further opportunity may be given in the Divinity lesson, often taken by the headmaster. Success depends on the co-operation of all staff and the approachability of the individual teacher. Even so a child in need is often not able to talk to the adult but he may be observed until the right opportunity occurs. It is recognised that the problems of those in most need may go undetected. Right timing is considered essential. 3. Problems encountered: Different maturation in boys and girls can cause problems if class instruction is given in a co-educational school. It is difficult for any teacher to observe the intimate life of children and only a very small faction of existing problems can become known to the staff. Even pupils are often unaware of what is going on in the neighbourhood of the dormitory. The mutual masturbation of children between 12-14 is very common, mostly however transient and subsides after 14 without, according to some of those present, having caused emotional involvement or leaving after-effects. The name homosexuality is perhaps not really applicable to these practices, as they seem to occur from a wish to show off, from curiosity or insecurity. The habit may linger on into a later age and it is then important to help the young person to overcome it without taking any punitive measure. Such inclinations may still be transient and should be distinguished from the homosexuality that has been conditioned by early experience and is deeper rooted. The young person who shows this latter inclination is not suitable for a one-sex school and a transfer can be advised without causing the pupil to feel expelled. Many ears may best a child in connection with biological functions when knowledge is lacking and it is not always easy for a teacher to detect the ignorance and to dispel these fears. If an adult is generally approachable for all problems he or she is more likely to be approachable for sexual problems. Without close contact with and confidence in the adult, sex remains, in the young, as a means of rebellion. It seems that homosexuality occurs less in day pupils attending boarding schools and it is decreased then outside contacts are more available. The Prep school has a large influence on the early formation of homosexual habits. The separation from parents at the young age may cause anxiety that favours mutual masturbation. Teachers may not be able always to help a child even if they are fully aware of the problem. A young person may not be approachable at that time, but he may at a later stage benefit from the school environment and he, as a parent, may show the result of his teacher's influence. The advice from a psychiatrist is sometimes sought and in some cases treatment is needed. We do not expect or seek unanimity amongst headmasters on problems of the sex morals. We are not seeking a testimony against something, but a positive attitude, to seek God in our neighbour. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Meeting Minutes, 1 Feb 1959 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Keith Wedmore Papers Description An account of the resource Group reviewed discussion with Young Friends from previous meeting; set agenda of next meeting to review their progress; in afternoon heard presentations from headmasters about sex instruction and development of adolescents. https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/0efcecd39dbf593ee9e45909659d00b2.jpg 1cbb2901e51beab2882fbc7f0b2b789c https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/c19a44bc739a6a56973ed8f3066624eb.jpg 0ed586a6e3c328d54ff1d8c47555efa6 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/b39d0b430ee98a2bd5d8addfcf11f6b1.jpg a070cc30b347ef9051a40dcb437ebddf https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/95d8ac753e24c555e22555656bed781a.jpg eb05876d696046fa25bc113d972e9729 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document Quaker Group on Homosexuality and Other Problems of Sex Meeting of the 1st March 1959 at 2 Audley Square, W.!. Members present: Alastair Heron Duncan Fairn Richard Fox Anna Bidder Lotte Rosenberg Kenneth Barnes Mervyn Parry Apologies for Absence: Marion Fairn Alfred Torrie Kenneth Nicholson Keith Wedmore 1. Minutes of last Meeting were accepted. The difficulty was recognised of recording meetings of the depth and quality of the last one. 2. Correspondence from Headmasters and Discussion of our Meeting with them: Letters from the headmasters John Ounsted, Hugh Maw, Kenneth Nicholson were reported on. J.O. stressed that for them sex is only one of many problems and that homosexuality has much diminished during the last few years. During the discussion Hugh Maw had stressed the problem of the headmistress's co-operation, which seemed to be crucial in his approach to sex-instruction. Several members felt that the difficulty exists in other Friends' schools. At a later date this group will probably wish to find an approach to headmistresses. In the discussion it was felt that the problem of approachability which was raised in the headmasters discussion will require further clarification. Not only the approachability of the adult but also the young person's ability to approach needs to be considered. In this connection the situation of students, their loneliness and their high suicidal rate at the Old Universities, were mentioned. Evidence had been offered by headmasters and others that in coeducational schools homosexuality is not a problem. Mutual masturbation occurs, however, in young boys but is transitory and can, according to these opinions, be ignored. Points were raised concerning the much needed research into the causes of homosexuality. It was thought that there is uncertainty regarding the causative factors, e.g., the role of environment. Enquiry would be desirable into the problem of homosexuality in ex-pupils from coeducation schools as compared with those of uni-sex schools. As a group we might be able to lay the foundation for such research and perhaps make our deliberation known in a pamphlet. 3. Discussion of our Future Programme: Anna Bidder outlined the trend of our discussions and the possibilities of our future programme: We have spent a long time discussing first infant sexuality, then older children, then adolescents, bringing in Young Friends. We were side-tracked into a discussion of Friends' inhibition in discussing sex. This side-tracking was necessary for us, for we as Quakers are concerned with this inhibition and we cannot discuss it with other Friends. So far we have not discussed adult homosexuality and that of the near-adult, the undergraduate. We have not yet come to the place where we could make a moral judgment, except in so far as we distinguished between the pre-marital, the extra-marital (adultery) and the transitory sexual relationship. We have discussed the problem of possible damage through transient sex relationship. We have always assumed the positive value of personality and personal relationships and we have assumed that the physical relation is important only in so far as it affects the personality and its personal relations. Discussion following Anna Bidder's statement raised the following points by various members of the group: Does the physical relation always affect the personality? Is trivial physical sex experience without effect on the personality? What seems trivial may not be so trivial in the unconscious and could affect the personality profoundly. Buggery can be more damaging that mutual masturbation because, at least in the passive partner, it can cause fixation on the infantile anal-erotic level. Since second marriages are often very successful, the fact that the first marriage involves the personality fully does not seem to preclude a successful second relationship. The relation between the physical and personality is different in men and women because of the women's experience of a physical change after intercourse--the rupture of the hymen, the possibility of establishing vaginal sensitivity only after intercourse, and the possibility of pregnancy. This difference may have influenced the traditional, value of female chastity. More intensive intimate sexual behaviour may have a more profound influence on the personality, but the degree to which a person is affected by sex experiences does not depend on the physical aspect alone. There exists a continual parallel between the physical and emotional commitment;specific for each individual. We agreed that topics requiring further discussion are: female sexuality and homosexuality of girls and women. Before we take up this topic we should have an additional woman member. Members were asked to bring in suggestions as to a suitable woman Friend. We agreed that our next phase of work should be concerned with the significance of the physical and its moral aspect. 4. Discussion of our Attitude and Responsibility as Quakers regarding the Relation Between the Physical and Personality: Points raised in the discussion: Patterns of sexual behaviour are determined by cultural influence. Have we as a group a responsibility in forming a cultural pattern of sexual behaviour? Pre-marital chastity can be considered as one aspect of a cultural pattern. Transitory relation does not necessarily affect a happy married life. The assault of children does not invariably lead to their damage. A large number of people have a capacity for normal marriage adjustment in spite of any pre-marital experience, but there is a minority who will be damaged. What is our responsibility toward this minority? How do we feel about sexual stimulation through books and plays, especially the display of homosexuality in plays and films? There is a "fringe" of people who will get damaged through such displays. Discussion raised further points regarding social sanctions and our own responsibility connected with these: Every restriction is directed toward a minority. We have to distinguish between right and wrong restrictions. We behave with the assumption of free will and it is difficult to determine the point at which sanctions should be introduced. We need to consider the effect of prohibitions on those for whom they are not needed. In the very sensitive and excessive fear of sin resulting from prohibitions may have a damaging effect. Healthy prohibition must be based on knowledge. We should distinguish between prohibition and the creation of a standard. The sense of sin derives from the perception of one's own selfishness; this can be confessed to God when repentance becomes real. This act would then be the Quaker alternative to the Roman Catholic confession by which the Roman Catholic Church provides a framework for the ordinary person. A perception that a certain act is selfish presupposes tremendous surrender to self-examination, such as exists in the Society of Friends, Is this appropriate for "simple" folk? The Quaker attitude sometimes results in Quaker children experiencing moral sanctions at too early an age. Is then a code of behaviour necessary? Shall we as a group find ourselves pronouncing a moral judgment? Are there those who need a moral code in order to remain outside it? As Quakers we do not accept creeds. Do we also discount Codes? In our generation Codes are disappearing, but they may return in another generation. Would it be more appropriate to substitute questions for codes? For whom is the code helpful? For those kind of young people who are not strongly aroused by the sexual impulse, prior to meeting the right marriage partner. Such people are helped by a code to avoid premature sex experience. But those who have a compelling urge or are getting deeply involved in personal relationships will overstep the code. Some of us accept a premarital sex experience that derives from a clear decision: such experience usually leads to marriage. We all condemn the experience born from self-love. There are sincere transitory relationships born of a wish to give pleasure and leading to mutual gratification. Are these to be condemned? A transitory relationship which has involved the sexual may be less damaging than a relationship that has been frustrated by withholding the giving. Adolescents have usually a natural shell, an inhibition that protects them from premature sex experience. The attitude of adults should aim at avoiding sex becoming a means of rebellion in the young. This aim should be achievable by the Society of Friends. The headmaster has a special role in the coeducational school, in so far as he is a father image to the girls his attitude influences their attitude to the male partner. The headmistress rarely plays a similar role for boys. We seek to express what matters in sex relationships in the light of what we feel is inherent in Quakerism and Christianity. We need to know what we personally consider as acceptable. It is agreed, therefore, that members should be asked to send in a short note (not more than 500 words) on the topic: "The relation in the expression of sex between the physical and personality and the relevance of this relation to the sexual code of society." This note should reach L.R. by the 10th April in as many copies as possible. These will be circulated to members before the next meeting on May 3rd. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Meeting Minutes, 1 March 1959 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Keith Wedmore Papers Description An account of the resource Group reviewed correspondence and discussion with headmasters from last meeting; Bidder provided observations about their "future programme"; extensive discussion of members' perception of sexual activity related to personality and the role of moral codes. Each members asked to write thoughts before next meeting. https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/0974ee2f31da9cb817d9c8ab065cf028.jpg a1794efa3d4f77a0aa3b71af64b11b29 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/821f5cf4b49a10b7dc008b20edede3d2.jpg ae4ef787deb40d4c1e90ca3af5c72365 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/c04bbeab08e0cc0f1062c88c31cf5c93.jpg 34c6b9b3da2cc23bd6347cecb8b026d8 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document Minutes of the Meeting of the Quaker Group on Homosexuality and Other Problems of Sex, held at the University Women's Club, London, W1., 7th June 1959. 1. Members present: Anna Bidder Richard Fox Kenneth Barnes Mervyn Parry Lotte Rosenberg Keith Wedmore Alastair Heron 2. Apologies received from: Duncan Fairn Alfred Torrie Kenneth Nicholson 3. Minutes: After careful revision by the group, the Minutes of the last meeting were accepted. 4. Business Arising from the Minutes: Anna Bidder reported that Elsa Harman did not feel a concern to meet with the group. Joyce James expressed great interest but was unable to meet with us before November. Marion Fairn has written resigning from the Group and informing us that Joyce James i the new Chairman of the M. & P. We invite Joyce James to become a member of the Group and to join with us in December and thereafter as often as she can. We hope that, as Chairman of M. & P. she will keep us in touch with the work of that committee. The approach to Stephen J. Thorne and Doris Eddington has not yet been made. 5. Discussion on Homosexuality: For the purpose of discussion some categories must be defined. We recognise that these are to some extent arbitrary since grades of homosexuality from a continuous series from 100% heterosexual to 100% homosexual. We find two bases of classification: (a) Personality (b) Behaviour We note that homosexual behaviour does not invariably indicated that the person is a real homosexual and as such incurable. Nor is apparently heterosexual behaviour always an indication of 100% heterosexual leanings. Outward behaviour may be opposed to unconscious trend. It is therefore difficult to determine whether homosexual behaviour in a person is curable. We first considered situations in which homosexuality is creative: "xxxxxxxxx Eros" the importance of homosexuality in the male teacher of males (schoolmaster, college tutor). Is the value of this dependent on the absence of complete physical relationship? The teacher has a primary responsibility towards the well-being of the pupil. It is difficult to see how this can be rightly fulfilled if the teacher uses a pupil for the purpose of personal satisfaction, either intellectually, emotionally or physically, whether this is done consciously or unconsciously. This situation also applies to the relation between doctor and patient and in any situation of responsible leadership. When, between two people, a great difference of ages, experience or prestige exists, an analogous responsibility rests upon the older or more mature. All this applies equally to hetero- and homosexual relationships. In considering women teachers, we find that the parental impulse may be so strong that the homosexual side is less important, but we find that parental impulse can also be a valuable factor in men teachers. We find it difficult to distinguish between the maternal or paternal, or to be certain what is the relation between parental and homosexual feelings--we feel this problem calls for further study by us. We see that the relation will be affected by the gender and temperament of the individual and by the social pressure of the environment. In considering the teacher-pupil relationship we recognise a different emotional climate as between younger teen-age boys and girls, and consider that the emotional disturbance of this period is more over in girls than in boys that that freer expression has become permissible in both during the course of the last generation. This different between boys and gifts must affect the qualities most needed for teaching each. We suggest for further consideration the possibility that latent homosexual and parental feelings can each be valuable in a man teaching boys, but that latent homosexuality in a woman teaching girls may be a hindrance rather than a help and that parental feeling is here of primary value. To assist further discussion of the creative aspect of homosexuality at our next meeting, we formulate the following questions: i) do we think it is desirable that society should have some homosexuals, or is the ideal society heterosexual only? We are all agreed that the heterosexual relationship in marriage transcends in human importance any homosexual relationship. We also all accept that homosexuals have the right to loyal and permanent relationships and that these may be of creative value for themselves and for society. We agree that the heterosexual partnership has qualities which are not to be found in the homosexual and we ask ourselves ii) What is the difference between a homosexual and heterosexual partnership, when there is an intention of permanence in each case? Has the homosexual partnership also something to offer which the heterosexual cannot offer? iii) What has the homosexual individual to offer society? Are homosexuals a good element which should exist in an ideal society, or is their best value to society the result of God's redemptive power working in a situation which is basically no ideal? We hope members of the Groups will be able to give some thought to these problems before our next meeting on September 6th. The meeting will be held at the University Women's Club, 2 Audley Square, W.1. (signed) Anna Bidder P.S. The name and address of Kenneth Nicholson was omitted on the list of members: Kenneth Nicholson, Robins Acre, Saffron Walden, Essex. Tel: Saffron Walden 2122. The address of new member, Joyce James, will be given later. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Meeting Minutes, 7 June 1959 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Keith Wedmore Papers Description An account of the resource Group discussed invitations to join the group (Joyce James added); discussed what known and understood about homosexuality and when it might be creative; affirmed higher value of heterosexual partnerships and asked what value can be seen in homosexual relationships. https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/cbe9043fa7ad2e28de15a80f0838e837.jpg 76ba06a6aa5acd5d24c1826dedb1a6b7 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/2489aa4ef98b82e76e76225ca4336414.jpg 03739a98834810fe7db99c35bd30fff4 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/71c6cc6205b8b0fc244c9e3910e68298.jpg ad8d1fb4c3b527c0fc245d5e0936da3f https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/1b7b08e6efb46595c846d410e52c6d3a.jpg c92e434b456ad18141376574aa84ade2 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/95a13cf29924aeb5d54d6d577da1adb5.jpg 39f161a03ad1a03053a342f827f10e40 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document The Quaker Group on Homosexuality and Other Problems of Sex Meeting held 6th September 1959 at the University Women's Club, 2 Audley Square, London W.1. Members present: Kenneth Barnes Kenneth Nicholson Lotte Rosenberg Alfred Torrie Anna Bidder Apologies for absence: Alastair Heron Mervyn Parry Richard Fox Keith Wedmore Duncan Fairn 1. The minutes were approved. 2. The attached letter from Stephen Thorne was read. It was agreed to send him and Doris Eddington the file of our minutes for meetings held in 1959. The hope was expressed by all that these two Friends would feel able to meet with us in October or, failing that, in December, and that they would be able to share the whole day with us so as to join in our Meeting for Worship. It should be pointed out that minutes represent the course of our thinking, not joint decision, and that any generalities must be misleading. 3. Dates of Meetings It was felt that the three month gap which had elapsed since our last meeting was too long and should be avoided next year. It was agreed that we should try at our October meeting to fix the dates for next year. 4. Chairman Anna Bidder announced that she expected to be out of England on a Sabbatical Year from the end of August 1960 to July 1961 so that a change of chairman would be necessary during the coming year. 5. Approach to Society of Friends: We recalled our minutes of 3.5.59. It was re-emphasized that, when we seek to lay our concern before the Society of Friends, we do not offer a revised moral code, nor "Findings"--we would present ourselves as a research group and lay before the Society some of the questions which have presented themselves to us as challenges. We might even cast these in a form suitable for study groups of concerned Friends up and down the country. It will probably seem right to put first before Friends our initial concern for the problems of young people and for the male homosexual imprisoned by ostracism and the present legal position. We have many times agreed that these factors make it easy for a young man with homosexual tendencies to become embedded in a homosexual society, and hard for him to once so entangled to extricate himself. It is important to recognise that homosexuality can be a real and bitter problem to men and women of high integrity leading good Christian lives. We believe that Friends will respond with a liberal sympathy to this problem and that lack of knowledge is the chief problem in this field. We should then make it clear that considering these problems has led us to wider consideration of problems of sexual morality. We have learnt to seek an approach to all human action that assesses it in the light of the will of God rather than in the light of man-made codes: "Except your righteousness exceed the righteousness of the scribes and pharisees..." We are told that Friends who are parents of adolescents are likely to welcome the opportunity to discuss general problems of the Christian attitude towards sexual morality. We note that the Society has not to our knowledge reconsidered its attitude towards these for many decades, although implications of many other social problems have been often under discussion. We should present the problems as one of human relationships and have the greatest tenderness towards the minority in the Society who have a restricted view on problems of sex. 6. Our afternoon session has been devoted to the questions posed at the end of our last meeting on the value of the homosexual to society, and to a comparison of male and female homosexuality. 7. With regard to the first, we find it impossible to make any answer, since we are made increasingly aware of the immense number of different human situations and problems covered by the term "homosexual". Many artists--actors, dancers and musicians--are homosexuals, but this may not always be due to the same cause, but to either temperament, upbringing or "fashion" in a particular circle. Any fine relationship of affection is of benefit to society, whatever the sex and age of the individuals concerned. We subscribe on the whole to the last clause of our minutes of last time. We have received evidence that homosexuality only very rarely is inborn. A great number of varieties of relationship are lumped under the name homosexuality. We should avoid anything that makes a person into a homosexual. In the creation God planned male and female. In the ideal society we should not wish to have 100% homosexuals or 100% heterosexuals, either would be a weakness and not an asset because they would be limited as personalities and in their personal contribution to society. Whatever a person has within him, whatever tendencies and limitations, something good can come from it by the grace of God, but that does not imply that God had planned it. 8. We have received a long document giving the outlook of a pair of women homosexuals and agreed that parts of this should be typed and circulated for our next meeting. We discussed the differences between male and female homosexuality. There does not seem to be group homosexuality or promiscuity amongst girls as it is observed in boys. For a woman homosexual the maternal aspect is a vital part of her relationship, She can achieve sexual satisfaction without abandoning her female role, while in the case of male homosexuals one of the partners takes on a role which is contrary to his innate being. The apparent masculinity in a woman may be a protective maternal attitude. Women often some to homosexuality later than men and after failure in heterosexual relationships. Many of these women are quite conscious of their homosexual relationships being only a second best. The male homosexual more often comes to his attitude as a first choice and at a younger age. Often he is influenced in this choice by a fear of taking the initiative with a woman, while a woman is not required to take the initiative. Summary of our discussion: We consider that homosexuality is a term that covers many human situations and relationships, and its use, therefore, may affix a label that does not take record of a person's real value. We do not believe the God planned the homosexual attitude as a specific type of human relationship and our aim should be to avoid anything that may make a person into a homosexual. The value of anybody, in our view, does not depend on him being either heterosexual or homosexual. It is important what a person does with the condition in which he finds himself placed. A difference between male and female homosexuality is noted and in many cases a woman can remain true to her female role in a homosexual relationship, while the male homosexual often has to take on a role which is not in accord with his inner being as a man. 9. We see our work now as having two streams: (a) to set down the result of our thinking up to date. (b) to continue our exploration. In the course of both we feel that subjects requiring specialist research may become defined of a kind for which we are not equipped but which others may wish to take up. Date of next meeting: Sunday, 4th October, 10:30 a.m. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Meeting Minutes, 6 Sept 1959 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Keith Wedmore Papers Description An account of the resource Bidder announced 1960-61 sabbatical requiring another chair of group; discussed approach to Friends--not to present moral code or finding, but to enable dialogue and learning; continued discussion of value of homosexuality in society and comparison of male and female homosexuality. Letter appended from two lesbians. https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/42b4c74f83e193e13c3b8f241dae2131.jpg 029c0240d98e208cf959b7fbabcf37f7 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/044f3c595b4b40da1060398fddcca37a.jpg 4bae50fb4a886cf1f32da2cab4df4f73 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/e627343d11ccf1413be0c3efbadb0f7d.jpg c64da9edcece5aca29413cdb2cdb82c2 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document The Quaker Group on Homosexuality and Other Problems of Sex Meeting held 4th October 1959 at the University Women's Club, 2 Audley Square, London W.1. During our Meeting for Worship, we were grateful for the Prayer of St. Francis:- "O Lord, make us instruments of thy peace Where there is hatred let us sow love, Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is darkness, light; Where there is sorrow, joy; Where there is doubt, faith; And where there is despair, hope. O Divine Master, let us not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is giving that we receive It is in forgiving that we are pardoned And it is in dying that we are born to everlasting life." Members present: Kenneth Barnes Anna Bidder Richard fox Duncan Fairn Alastair Heron Kenneth Nicholson Mervyn Parry Lotte Rosenberg Keith Wedmore Apologies: Alfred Torrie 1. Finance: It was agreed to start, on the basis of voluntary contributions, a Bursary Fund, so that members and guests for whom the expenses of our meetings are a burden can receive assistance. Keith Wedmore undertook to receive and administer the fund and to handle the pooling of fares. 2. Correspondence: Letters were read from Eric Baker and Stephen Thorne. The Chairman was authorized to tell Eric Baker of our concern. The group regretted that a long-standing engagement prevented Stephen Thorne from attending that day and hoped very much that he and Doris Eddington would be with us on December 6th for our time of worship, morning session and lunch. In considering a possible link with Meeting for Sufferings, it was felt to be important that we should continue the present phase of our work on our existing basis of membership and not on individual appointment by Meeting for Sufferings. We look forward to the advice of these two Friends on this and other problems. 3. Minutes: The minutes were revised, approved and signed. 4. The remainder of both sessions was devoted to defining some of the points which we feel must be included in any statement by which we may make our concern known. In our discussion we referred repeatedly to the valuable document submitted by the two women friends X and Y. We first considered long-term homosexual relationships. The following points emerged:-- (i) We find no crime or sin necessarily inherent in love between two men or two women finding physical expression of a sexual character. (ii) This understood, we recognise that in such relationships a fine affection is often combined with a passion which must be frustrating because it cannot be satisfied, for the partners are seeking something which the relationships cannot provide. This is due partly to its own nature, partly to the setting in society. (a) the Nature of the Relationship We fine that there may be an over-emphasis on the value of passion for its own sake. The outgoing and giving element may then be subservient in the search for self-gratification. This can result in a restless changing of partners, and these changing partnerships are often associated with bitterness and jealousy and frustration within the partnerships and the social groups in which they take place. An over-emphasis on passion can also be found in hetero-sexual relationships but in these it can be replaced by the permanent and creative relationship of marriage, and the restless search for an ideal of self-gratification become reduced in its effect by the setting of family life. We find this well-expressed by what was said to one of us:-- "It is such fun being married and it is quite different from being in love." (b) The Effect of the Setting in Society Social forces tend to hold a marriage together. The same forces make the dissolution of homosexual partnerships easy. The effect of public opinion on these partnerships is clearly a very complex problems, however, and we cannot at present assess it. (iii) We realise that we shall probably always have the problem of the homosexual with us: what is the constructive attitude towards it? A Christian redemptive attitude is required which recognises that no human experience need be a dead loss; whether it is or not may depend upon how an individual is helped through an experience by the community. We accept homosexuality without necessarily condoning and we seek the imaginative compassion which re-integrates the homosexual into the community. Would not this attitude towards homosexuality diminish rather than increase its incidence? We recognise that this attitude amongst us is the result of over a year of disciplined search for understanding. For us in this group it has been a moving experience to find that we can approach the problems together with a scientific and objective approach which puts aside pre-conceived moral judgments but rests on a faith in the possibility of discovering the Will of God. (iv) In presenting our concern to the Society we shall have both to offer a factual picture and an attitude of mind. We must make clear our exercise in achieving this. (The last part of these minutes record discussion occurring when three or four only remained.) The date of the next meeting is:- Sunday, 6th December 10.30 a.m. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Meeting Minutes, 4 Oct 1959 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Keith Wedmore Papers Description An account of the resource Group agreed to subsidize travel costs of participants as needed; continued to try to develop link with the Meeting for Sufferings; spent considerable time identifying key points of a statement they could issue; affirmed importance of this group meeting, exploring and learning together over many months. https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/efccd5baab40f9f72ae3979152d977b8.jpg 492cd6331c86e94d30d239c0be5c3f5a https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/c43a1ca611fca02da90bba04db54592a.jpg 09403afa1550ad81427d323b2c10cfc6 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/231774de9873aef7eb80b1a48cc2526b.jpg ebaa9660267b03ec3c909788b223d025 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/93e8e6f19a6093d8094e979fab8a25e3.jpg 2b3c81cdaf39edee9f6b8ee267ef8b9f Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document Quaker Group on Homosexuality and Other Problems of Sex Meeting held on 6th December 1959 1. Present: Anna Bidder Duncan Fairn Mervyn Parry Keith Wedmore Alastair Heron Joyce James Alfred Torrie Richard Fox Doris Eddington Stephen Thorne Apologies: Kenneth Barnes Kenneth Nicholson 2. Minutes. With two small corrections the minutes were accepted. 3. In discussion with Doris Eddington and Stephen Thorne we considered how our concern can best be brought before the Society of Friends. Comments are invited invited from Doris Eddington and Stephen Thorne. Anna Bidder says that we feel our concern is for the moral and spiritual imprisonment of the homosexual. We see as our function: (a) research, (b) the task to lay our concern before the Society of Friends. We see the possibility of (i) presenting our concern to the Meeting for Sufferings, (ii) writing to THE FRIEND, (iii) offering a speaker and offering a study-outline, which Eric Baker had suggested might be sent out by the Home Service Committee. As a group we are not liberated from existence until we have gone a further stage in making our concern known. Stephen Thorne summarised our position in approximately these terms: It is clear that the approach of the group has gone beyond the local problems of Cambridge students. It seems that the discussion has become more general and is concerned with wider issues. What is the end of the group's project? This concern extends beyond the Society of Friends. It may be right to have contact with groups from other Christian bodies with the same concerns. He was interested in the group's contact with the Marriage and Parenthood Committee, and the suggestion made by Eric Baker mentioned above. He was not sure that the Home Service Committee was the right link; he would rather think of the Marriage and Parenthood Committee and the Penal Reform Committee. He did not think it clearly advisable to link with the Temperance and Moral Welfare Committee because of its primary concern with temperance. The Marriage and Parenthood Committee seems uncertain regarding its purpose in the Society of Friends because it is a specialised committee concerned with a restricted aspect of the problems of sexual morality and finds its interpretation to the Society of Friends difficult. This is a similar problem to the one facing the group. Many of the problems are not normally seen as deriving from the religious way of life. The relationship of the group to its own meeting is an interesting test. How far could individual members of the group draw their own Meeting into contact with the group? If this is not possible, the implications for the Society of Friends have to be realised. On the periphery of the Society of Friends there is a great deal of activity which it is difficult to bring inside the Society. Possibly through THE FRIEND or better THE FRIENDS' QUARTERLY the concern could be brought to a wider group, including an invitation to a conference that would be testing the wider interest. An approach to Meeting for Sufferings is doubtful, though individual approaches have been made and produced a useful concern. It is, however, doubtful whether the concern could be brought to Meeting For Sufferings unless through the Penal Reform, Marriage and Parenthood or the Home Service Committee, or through a Quarterly Meeting. A concern brought by an individual group would probably be handed on to another group and not back to its originator. The Penal Reform Committee is weak and it is doubtful whether it could deal with the problem. Doris Eddington said that is would be advisable to get a wider contact with other groups before making an approach to the Society of Friends. Stephen Thorne considered it possible that the Overseers' Meeting at Y.M. might invite discussion on this problem. This might be one way to bring the concern to a larger group of Friends and could provide a way to suggesting to Y.M. that a further report, published by the Overseers, Penal Reform or Marriage and Parenthood Committee or by Yearly Meeting might be invited. Keith Wedmore remarked that people took a moral code for granted. We are concerned that people should revise their moral code. During the discussion it was said that toleration can be indifference. The Society needs to understand what is meant by pastoral responsibility. We need to re-capture our duty to make a contribution to our group and to people outside. Anna Bidder said that pastoral responsibility to our own members is an important duty, and equally our responsibility as modern people to those outside the Society of Friends. Stephen Thorne said that we took for granted too easily that we were concerned with prison reform as a Society of Friends. The Penal Reform Committee is disappointing. Meeting after lunch: members only were present 4. Finance. It is agreed that Keith Wedmore should approach Christopher Holdsworth, as a Trustee of the Joseph Rowntree Trust, to see whether a grant could be made from their funds towards the group's expenses. Keith Wedmore undertook a re-assessment of the contribution due from members of the group. 5. Further Plans. In discussing the suggestion made by Stephen Thorne and Doris Eddington, most members felt a difficulty in approaching their own Meetings directly. The Penal Reform Committee does not appear to have a strong impact on the Society, but we feel it should be approached. We agreed on the following programme: (i) We ask A.B. to invite two members of the FTU to attend our next meeting on January 31st. (ii) We invite two members of the Penal Reform Committee on March 6th. (iii) To hold further meetings on May 1st or 8th and in July and September. We also note that the FTU is organising a conference in April to which it might be right to send representatives. The letter to headmasters was considered as a basis of approach to these bodies. We feel it necessary to have a group judgment to offer these groups. We agree to change our name to "A Quaker Group..." [section missing] ...of Friends about the social problems of sex and we feel that unless this is recognised the consequences to the spiritual life of the Society can become very serious. We feel that the time is right to start preparing a draft for the FRIENDS QUARTERLY EXAMINER. We ask Duncan Fairn and Richard Fox to collaborate in making a draft which Alastair Heron will edit, to be submitted to us for general but not detailed criticism at our next meeting or when ready. Our next meeting will be on Sunday, January 31st at 10.30 a.m. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Meeting Minutes, 6 Dec 1959 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Keith Wedmore Papers Description An account of the resource Group discusses next steps with Stephen Thorne and Doris Eddington from Society of Friends; affirmed that what they have learned goes beyond Young Friends and perhaps even the Society; takes first step to draft a statement of concern to publish. https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/e542495e79db68b5bf38b72fdac28354.jpg 99ee6bdedfe6773749f8061d7de16e47 Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Bursary record 12-12-1959 Description An account of the resource Financial report from Keith Wedmore giving meeting expenses and travel costs for each participant--and showing balance in bursary. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Keith Wedmore Papers https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/4525e8fcfeaca18fc7696dcfd163ec86.jpg 5a8c5a70182ddce4e60c53a3b9086ee9 Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Group Roster Oct 1960 Description An account of the resource Wedmore's copy of the October 1960 roster of the group with his markings of later changes in contact information. "QCB" was Wedmore's facetious name for the group: "Quaker Committee on Buggery." Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Keith Wedmore Papers https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/c720c23382d081a704edf91d1d707383.jpg 06d12cc696c63742dfc568de7808744f Hyperlink A link, or reference, to another resource on the Internet. URL http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_McClean_Bidder Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Anna Bidder biography Description An account of the resource Wikipedia biography of Anna Bidder https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/9a8eb415f0fa645321c983f2616a1956.gif c91cebb9cd84bcd9a889a44ca77a8529 Hyperlink A link, or reference, to another resource on the Internet. URL http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1358371/Anna-Bidder.html Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Anna Bidder obituary Description An account of the resource Obituary of Anna Bidder published in The Telegraph on 4 October 2001. https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/e4a9ebf7bf5c42cb4ec84988751d6720.jpg 1203a5f5ae26042805867d2d0a1a97c4 Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Anna Bidder photo Description An account of the resource Picture of Anna Bidder found on Lucy Cavendish College web site. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Cambridge Newspapers Ltd. (permission requesting pending). https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/bd2dd9114f05fbf0c2754c0bd63536a4.jpg a60cb4102d1f04120393ecdc764439db Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Anna Bidder in retirement Description An account of the resource Anna Bidder in her living quarters in the retirement home where she moved in 1994. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Personal Papers of Anna Bidder in the Lucy Cavendish College Archive. https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/9db91aae4677ec91fb10b3110ee1ce6f.jpg 9cebb386d439c1bc6f838601227fbf12 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/48a9eb5be84915d4a57d389315ec13f6.jpg 8d0788f27bdaee0f10facc9407cefa84 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/7ac87160603145bd9e3c81089721fc58.jpg 7adc1420f144034bc3ca8a6a9f62f6d4 Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Bidder Memo 1959 Description An account of the resource Notes by A.M.B. 29 April 1959; likely written in response to request for each person to write a note on her/his personal perspective on society's sexual code. See <a href="http://exhibits.lgbtran.org/exhibits/show/towards-a-quaker-view-of-sex/item/180">Meeting Minutes 1 March 1959.</a> Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Keith Wedmore Papers https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/61f9f2a2b5f9bc10da70d47826c4ce8d.jpg 24ed4c2bce4d068ddd71adbce83e7b74 Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Kenneth Barnes photo Description An account of the resource Photo of Kenneth Barnes 1959 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Image Gallery of the Archives online at the Wennington School Association. https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/a5537d5ba4f8789c7aacb97514cf6550.jpg 8335a60e11b4e2aa22801df162f13af6 Hyperlink A link, or reference, to another resource on the Internet. URL http://www.wenningtonschool.org.uk/index.php/people/21-people/156-kenneth-barnes Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Kenneth Barnes bio Description An account of the resource Barnes biography on website of Wennington School Association. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Wennington School Association