| Description | This section contains a number of documents relating to the outbreak of the Second World War on Friday 1st September 1939. Elizabeth Taylor Cadbury had arranged to hold an English-Speaking Union party at Winds Point on this date. This section contains notes responding to invitations she had distributed, including a letter from Lord and Lady Cobham at Hagley Hall in Stourbridge. Owing to the outbreak of war many guests were absent from the party. Elizabeth Taylor Cadbury's personal diary for 1st September 1939 reads:
'War news is terrible. at 5.30.am. Germany invades Poland!! Only about 60 come to my E. S. U.'
Taylor Cadbury's family journal dated Wednesday 6th September 1939 reads:
'On September 1st we had a party for the English-Speaking Union at Winds Point. This had been arranged at the beginning of August. As conditions became more and more critical, I wandered what to do with regard to cancelling, but finally decided to carry on. Between 60 and 70 people turned up, and all seemed to enjoy it very much, and said it would be one of the last happy memories before trouble began.'
On the reverse of the notes regarding invitations to the party is the typescript of a letter written by Elizabeth Taylor Cadbury to Carl Heath in the autumn of 1940, concerning the religious beliefs of the Society of Friends relating to international peace and pacifism in the context of totalitarian war. |
| AdminHistory | Carl Heath (1869-1950) was prominent both within the Religious Society of Friends and beyond through his religious and social writings and most notably through his work promoting international peace. Following his appointment as Secretary of the National Peace Council in 1909, Heath exerted an influence over the activity of the Council, organising and attending national and international conferences and publishing pamphlets relating to pacifism. Throughout the First World War Heath was involved in Quaker relief work through the Friends' Emergency Committee and the War Victims Relief Committee. Frederick J. Tritton refers to Heath's 'wide and extensive service' for world peace, describing Heath's belief that peace was only achievable through 'the expression of spiritual life in vital practice'. This belief shaped the development of Heath's ideas for 'Quaker Embassies' and the subsequent formation of the Council for International Service in 1919. After retiring from the Friends Service Council in 1935 Heath and his wife Effie spent a year at Woodbrooke before travelling to India where Heath published numerous articles in Quaker journal 'The Friend' opposing the growth of fascist power in Germany.
Heath appealed to Quakers through spoken addresses and written articles, encouraging Friends to oppose war through 'a deep spiritual effort' reaching 'to the peace of human freedom.' Reflecting Delamont's description of Elizabeth Taylor Cadbury's 'strong, practical and active' Quaker faith, Heath's religious faith is described by Tritton as 'one that expressed itself in active service.' Like Heath, Elizabeth Taylor Cadbury was publically active in endeavours supporting international peace, particularly through her work with the International Council of Women. |