Thwacking People Out Of Love

[poliphilo]

 Being a Quaker elder turns out to involve more than sitting in the corner looking venerable. It also involves dealing with people who bring untrained puppies into the Meeting for Worship. And doing so firmly but lovingly. It has a lot in common with the office of churchwarden in the dear old, corrupt old, silly old Church of England. Churchwardens it occurs to me, are issued with staves as a symbol of office- and not only as a symbol but also as a defensive or offensive weapon- used to keep order and maintain decency in the sacred building. It is essentially a quarter-staff as used by the outlaw Little John to thwack persons of whom he disapproved....

Comments

[conuly]

Oh, but... puppies! Did you get a picture while dealing with the owner?

[poliphilo]

Just picture a fluffy chestnut brown thing with its tongue hanging out.

[conuly]

Aw!

[mtbc]

I recall something about churchwardens in England even having some powers of arrest to help prevent fuss and bother around the church and its grounds.

[poliphilo]

Well I never.

But I guess in the days before there was a regular police force someone had to be responsible for maintaining law 'n' order....

[paserbyp]

Security by Quaker elder volunteering?

[poliphilo]

I've already volunteered by becoming an elder.

[paserbyp]

You was drafted?

[poliphilo]

I let it be known I'd like the job.