Being and Doing – 14 June – Education

Note: The language of some posts about women are very much of their age and may be seen as victim blaming and mansplaining – even when written by women.  Please read them with care.

WHAT are the remedies against the absorption in personal life which belongs to women and to men, but also to women more than to men?   The first is an education whose aims and extent are wider than at present. Such an education will encourage an habitual reference of life to higher motives than personal ones – even those which belong to the family.   It would give and create in the young vivid interest in social questions in England and in foreign lands.   It would give such a knowledge of government, and of the history of these countries as to enable the child in after life to enter into these movements which are likely to bear on the progress of mankind.   It would give a clear idea of what we mean by mankind and its progress, and an interest in nations and their relations to each other, not only because we have a particular fancy for this or for that nation, but because we long for the whole advance of men.   It would give some knowledge and love of the great ideas and truths by whose working our mankind is regenerated.

STOPFORD BROOKE

THE dangers which threaten us will never be averted until there is no single good man or woman in any sphere of life who does not realize the individual’s responsibility for the general condition, and who is not labouring in some direct, definite, self-denying way to rescue those who are perishing from the action of preventable evils.

Archdeacon FARRAR

oooOOOooo

These quotes are from ‘Being and Doing’ A selection of helpful thoughts from various authors arranged for daily reading.

Collected by Constance M Whishaw and first published in 1908 for members of the Being and Doing Guild whose object is to do all they can for the relief of suffering and misery.

Most of the writers are 19th Century Christians from Britain and Europe who were committed to living their faith through deeds as well as words – Being AND Doing.

For many years these words have kept me company and encouraged me on the journey of faith.  I hope they will encourage others also.