While Friends globally hold differing views on the holiday season, early Quakers did not mark Christmas as a day different from any other. In his book, Christmastime in Pennsylvania, Don Yoder argues that while Quakers were against Christmas celebrations, some Quakers in mid-nineteenth century Pennsylvania “succumbed to a modified attention to Christmas at least as a family festival.” . . . (Click here to read more) “Early Quakers and Christmas”
For many of us in Canada and around the world, this holiday season will look a little different from past years. As we prepare to celebrate apart from our loved ones and many of our traditions are put on hold, we look forward to Christmases in the future where we can again gather safely. . . . (Click here to read more) “This Christmas Season and Stories of Christmases Past”
In this month’s Founders and Builders Series, we introduce you to Peter Brock, a gracious supporter of the CFHA and later honorary chairman. His legacy is remembered here by Jane Zavitz-Bond.
Peter Brock: World Peace Historian
1920-2006
By Jane Zavitz-Bond
Peter de Beauvoir Brock spent his life in the study, writing and teaching of the history of peace in the world. . . . (Click here to read more) “Founders and Builders Series: Peter Brock”
November 11 in Canada and other nations of the British Commonwealth is Remembrance Day. This is a day set aside to remember and honour military service people who have lost their lives in war, especially the First and Second World Wars. . . . (Click here to read more) “Remembering and Understanding Pacifism and Non-violence on Remembrance Day”
This guest post was graciously contributed by Dave Zavitz.
For generations the Marsh Store site has been the nucleus of activity in the Coldstream area. Its history began when John Moor Marsh and his wife, Sarah Zavitz, purchased the land in 1839 with encouragement from his brother-in-law Benjamin Cutler. . . . (Click here to read more) “Coldstream Series: The Marsh Store”
This month’s update is contributed by Donna Moore on behalf of Gord Thompson and Jeff Dudiak.
AGM, Sept. 26, 2020
It is just a little over a month since our AGM, and it is good to reflect on the highlights. Holding the meeting via Zoom allowed for more attendees from a distance to participate, and it was very helpful to have this wider group review and discuss our activities. . . . (Click here to read more) “November Co-Chair Update”
You may be aware that a few years ago the Records committee made an agreement with Ancestry.com to make available the microfilm of Canadian meeting books, registers, and other records that were microfilmed in 1974. A full list of these holdings was published in Newsletter #13 in 1975 and is available as a pdf on the CFHA website. . . . (Click here to read more) “Using Ancestry Quaker Records”
Peaceful. If I had one word to describe the setting of the Coldstream Meeting House, it would be peaceful. Coldstream is a small village about twenty-five minutes west of London. The Meeting House, on Quaker Lane, is beside a conservation area and the Quaker burying ground. . . . (Click here to read more) “Coldstream Meeting in the Fall”
The Friendly Friday sessions are held via Zoom starting at 1:30 PM, every other Friday. The next session will be held on Friday, October 30th. Subsequent sessions will be held on Friday November 13th and 27th, and Friday December 11th. . . . (Click here to read more) “Friendly Friday Session on October 30th”
In this month’s Founders and Builders Series, we introduce you to an influential Friend and early contributor to the CFHA. Our fourth essay features Fred Haslam and is written by Dorothy Trimble. Dorothy passed in 2014 at the age of 91 but remembers the life of Fred Haslam here in her 2012 essay written for the 40th anniversary of the CFHA. . . . (Click here to read more) “Founders and Builders Series: Fred Haslam”