Peter Elbra, who signed himself 'your sincere ex-Friend' has sent us the delightful story of a First Nation matriarch called Agnes Sutton who lived by the Skeena River in British Columbia. Agnes was a Quaker and a friend of Peter’s cousin Nadine.
'Although I am a lapsed Friend I still have an interest in the Society' says Peter 'and I thought this little bit of Quaker history might interest someone in the UK'.
Nadine was a journalist and wrote up her friendship with the remarkable Indian who reared 40 children (not her own!). She had been raised in sobriety and rather a lot of back-breaking work by a British missionary who appeared to believe he was a good Christian.
'Agnes epitomized all that is noble in humankind,' writes Nadine in her story 'she loved without reservation, she worked unendingly with or without reward, she laughed with her whole being, she thought profoundly and by the example of her lifestyle she gave unstintingly to her God and anyone in need.' A charitable dinner organised by the journalist gave Agnes, aged 89 at the time, her first experience of running water at home.
Eye is asking the editor if this story can be placed on our newly expanded website.