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Sound of Our Revolution | July 2021: Intent to Cause a ‘Serious Annoyance’

Another month, another wealth of Tory bullshit to inspire this month’s musical rage playlist.

This was a tricky one, not for lack of inspiration, more to the lack of trying to narrow down one particular theme rather than just Evil politicians being evil. Do I try to capture the feeling of dread many of the more vulnerable people in our society have at the frankly reckless and suicidal relaxing of covid restrictions this month? Do I try and capture the hypocritical nationalism sweeping the nation proud of a team of athletes they were booing mere days ago because of a symbolic gesture against racism?

In the end, I settled on something that’s gone under the radar thanks to the football mania and preparations for “Freedom Day”. The passing of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, with a worrying clause that potentially criminalizes the mere act of protesting, if the law enforcement deem your protest to fall under the category of “Serious Annoyance”.

Now if you read the website on this, they stress that the language of serious annoyance is independent from simply “being annoyed” by something – and they define serious annoyance as the following:

  • allowing a field to be used for holding an all-night rave;
  • conspiring to switch off the floodlights at a football match so as to cause it to be abandoned; and
  • noise, dirt, fumes, noxious smells and vibrations.

But that’s honestly besides the point. Just because legally they have no right to shut down protests, it would be very easy for this bill to be open to interpretation. The vagueness of that last point in particular doesn’t fill me with confidence. Even if we give the Tories the benefit of the doubt that this bill isn’t inherently designed to clamp down on the right to protest, there is no guarantee that this won’t be how it’s enforced in the future.

Not to mention the fact that we’ve seen law enforcement get violent towards protestors over very little. Once the people start defending themselves, that will give law enforcement legal justification in those actions.

Let’s not forget that this was introduced shortly after the murder of Sarah Everard by a cop.

Let’s not forget how the police acted at those very protests towards women in particular. Make no mistake, this bill achieves nothing for the people, and everything for the law and those in power. Maybe I’m wrong, and corruption will play no part in the administration of these new laws.

But we both know that’s not the case.

So this month – to remind us all why protest is a right that we cannot afford to lose, to celebrate the successful protests past, and to inspire future demonstrations, here is a playlist about the Right to Protest – and more importantly, the right to incite “Serious Annoyances” in the name of social justice and industrial action:

Voice of the Voiceless – Rage Against the Machine

“My panther my brother
We are at war until you’re free

You’ll never silence tha voice of tha voiceless
You’ll never silence tha voice of tha voiceless

You see tha powerful got nervous
Cause he refused to be their servant
‘Cause he spit truth
And burned like black churches”

Kicking off today’s playlist with another RATM Classic. Honestly I don’t know where these blogs would be if it weren’t for the existence of Tom Morello. If one of his bands doesn’t feature on one of our playlists, then countless bands inspired by his work will.

Voice of the Voiceless isn’t one of my favourite tracks, but the lyrics really struck a chord with me in reflection of the current situation. This bill, even if you assume the best and that the fact that it could easily be used to stomp down protestors is a bug and not a feature, is a reflection of the nerves of power. Whether it’s someone like Marcus Rashford who has captured the hearts of the nation in his campaigning on behalf of working class kids all over the country, or a group of unnamed protestors disrupting the corrupt police forces and pushing them to show their true colours. This bill is clearly the reaction of a power that is nervous of the people they control.

Don’t get me wrong – this doesn’t mean the rest of the fight will be easy – the opposite in fact. But if the powerful are scared, then we are doing something right, and have to keep it up.

Wretches and Kings – Linkin Park

“The people up top push the people down low
Get down
And obey every word
Steady getting mine if you haven’t yet heard
Wanna take what I got
Don’t be absurd
Don’t fight the power
Nobody gets hurt
If you haven’t heard yet then I’m letting you know
There ain’t shit we don’t run when the guns unload
And no one make a move unless my people say so
Got everything outta control
Now everybody go

Steel unload
Final blow
We the animals take control
Hear us now
Clear and true
Wretches and kings we come for you”

You’re all probably sick of this track by now, I include it at any given opportunity.

But honestly, this is probably my favourite Linkin Park track of all time. Certainly my favourite post-Hybrid Theory track at the very least. The entire band is on top form here. The beat is great, the mix is on point, the lyrics and rapping are reminiscent of the golden age of hip-hop and the political sensibilities thereof. All combining to make one of LP’s most politically charged anthems and one of the best protest songs to date.

In context of the rest of this album this track is set in a fictional dystopian event, but the use of Mario Savio’s “Bodies upon the gears speech” at the beginning and end of the track, fully cements the lyrics relevance in reality as well as in the heart of the excellent concept album that is A Thousand Suns.

Remain Violent – Warbringer

“All that’s what they want for you to say
To remain silent
Now you have the right to remain
To remain violent”

Another regular on my playlists – this track from the thrash gods that are Warbringer is about police brutality as a whole, but translates particularly to protesting and industrial action. It is especially pertinent as a response to the current policing bill in the UK.

The fact is that despite being very careful to make it appear that this bill is for the good of the people and their safety, all it really does is gives the police a get-out-of-accountability-free card for when they deliberately escalate protests to violence in order to undermine the cause and justify the excessive force they use.

After the point, they then expect you to remain silent, in that well known police trope catchphrase – but also in a wider sense of just shutting up and let these things happen, let the people be abused and oppressed, let the powerful consume more power for themselves, and let the law run rampant under the guise of protecting the people.

Fuck Authority – Pennywise

“You know the time is right to take control
We got to take offense against the status quo
No way, not gonna stand for it today
Fight for your rights, it’s time we had our say

I say fuck authority
Silent majority
Raised by the system
Now it’s time to rise against them”

This was a recommendation from our very own Thom Bee I believe. This track perfectly sums up the specific forms of corruption being enacted here, and what the response should be from us. This should be a sign that more than ever we need to make our voices heard, not just comply and be restricted to the approved channels that have been designed to satisfy liberals without ever actually having the ability to impact or enact any real change.

Fuck authority.

Seize The Day – Newsies Original Broadway Cast

“Tell those with power safe in their tower
We will not obey!

Behold the brave battalion that stands side by side
Too few in number and too proud to hide
Then say to the others who did not follow through
You’re still our brothers, and we will fight for you”

So, I have never heard this song or since this movie/musical in my life, but my god I need to see it now. Music by Alan Menken, one of Disney’s best composers, behind such greats as The Little Mermaid, The Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hercules, Tangled, and precisely 0 other Disney properties that are less good. Don’t look it up, definitely not the guy behind Pocahontas and Home on the Range too.

No one can be perfect though, and doing the score for Little Shop of Horrors more than makes up for where he slacked.

Anyway, this song, and by extension musical is all about the Newsboys’ strike of 1899 in New York, and is a joy to listen to. Musical soundtracks in particular offer this sense of uplifiting and hope that few other musical disciplines do, and Seize the Day is no exception. And while this is based on a strike from over 100 years ago, the lyrics and story ring true as much today as they ever have.

I particularly like the line “Then say to the others who did not follow through,/ you’re still our brothers, and we will fight for you”, which is a thing that I really admire about any form of social action like this. Sure, the left bickers about a lot of stuff, and there’s a lot of disagreements from different left leaning factions, and even within those factions there are different values and personalities that lead to discrepancies in ideas and decisions. But ultimately, we are all fighting for a common goal, and whether you reject the notions of industrial actions and protests or not, those who fight, are fighting for all of us.

And this is where the left shines. We’ll argue and protect our own viciously – but what we’re fighting for will benefit a large percentage of right-wing voters too. And whether you ever see our way or not, we are standing up for your rights as much as our own. Just not the ones that involve oppressing the rights and endangering the lives of other marginalized groups.

Illusion of Choice – The Best of the Worst

“Now we’re fighting back
We will not be oppressed

Illusion of choice
But I have a voice
Stand up for what’s right
We won’t be denied”

Another Thom suggestion, go Thom! This bouncy Ska track doesn’t hold back on its aggression and rage. There’s a stereotype that ska punk is somehow less serious than its Punk or indeed Ska roots. But despite the upbeat jaunty horn sections, the lyrics and soul behind a lot of the best Third and Fourth wave ska is on par with any of your average hardcore bands.

While this track is more about the broken two party system in America than about protesting itself, it does highlight the need to make your voice heard independently of your voting options. Voting in elections is only one way of exercising democracy. Protests and demonstrations, and standing up for your rights are equally as important.

Get Up, Stand Up – Bob Marley

“Most people think
Great god will come from the skies
Take away everything
And make everybody feel high
But if you know what life is worth
You will look for yours on earth
And now you see the light
You stand up for your rights”

I have a very weird relationship with Bob Marley – while I can only name maybe 3 of his songs, he was definitely one of the first musicians if not celebrity names as a whole that I recognized. Well before I even cared about music, let alone Reggae.

This track is a quintessential protest song. Reggae has a very unique tone that manages to encompass very tricky and complex political points whilst retaining a very calming vibe.

Unlike a lot of the punk and Hip-Hop on this playlist, this isn’t an overtly angry song. It comes from a place of anger for sure, but it’s calm and collected, which I think is a very useful tool in any protest song.

Not that overtly angry tracks are bad – this playlist is full of them! We need songs to help let anger out with, but we also need those reflective and introspective tracks that help process and examine the situation and your own actions and planning.

I particularly like the verse about God not coming from the skies to fix everything and make everything better, but how you should be actively looking to make things better on earth not waiting for a deity to fix it all.

My knowledge of Marley is limited enough that I’m not sure to what extent this was literal and what extent it isn’t. But whether or not you’re religious, the sentiment of waiting for a higher power to fix your problems rings true. Whether it’s a literal deity, or just some human saviour – it’s important to be reminded that your actions are in your control – no one else’s. Having external help is good of course and will be an invaluable asset. But unless you start proactively fighting for your rights, the chances of someone coming to save you are negligible. Stand up for your rights.

Protestin’ – Andy B & The World

“If we don’t have protest
what have we got?
a government regime
if we don’t have protest
what are we?
we’re part of the machine”

What an interesting artists these guys are. Rather than a solo project or an established band, Andy B & The World’s “The First One” is a worldwide collaboration project with 172 unique Ska/punk and folk musicians. The result of this is an album that encompasses a micro generation of musical talent and compositions. This can be a bit jarring, and there’s a lot of variety here, but not a bad thing at all.

This track is particularly pertinent, sounding very modern Britpunk with elements of Ska that make for a delightful anthem against the government, and insight into the importance of protesting.

This is made even more interesting, as it is a worldwide project, and this sentiment applies to the majority if not all of the world to one extreme or the other.

If we don’t have protest, we have a dictatorship. Keep hold of it.

The Guillotine – The Coup

“No, you can’t out-vote ’em
The rules is still golden
Only jewels we holding is if we guarding our scrotum
If you press your ear to the turf that is stolen
You can hear the sound of limitations exploding
Please sir, may we have another portion?
We’re children of the beast that dodged the abortion
Neck placed firm ‘tween the floor and the Florsheim
We’ll shut your shit down, don’t call it extortion
Caution — we’re coming for your head
So call the Feds and get files to shred”

Another familiar track here from The Coup. This is more about revolution than it is protesting – but the latter is an integral part of the former. Revolutions don’t just happen – they start with ideas, demonstrations, and are fed by attempts to suppress us. We’re on that third step now, so you know what happens next.

Rise, Rebel, Resist – Otep

“Do we sit still
Under attack
Or do we start pushing back?”

Otep is a great musician – and really puts the riot in riot grrl. With a musical style more akin to Nu Metal than the punk that typifies that genre, I think it’s hard to talk about feminist protest music without bringing up Otep.

Crushing Static-X-esque riffs, harsh vocals, and unapologetic queer femme lyrics. If this track doesn’t motivate you to push back, I’m not sure what will.

All Out – Public Service Broadcasting

“If you look at the benefits of ordinary working people
All the things they’ve achieved in life, is accomplished with strikes
I don’t think there ever be a day in life, when ordinary people can say, ‘I never have to go and strike again’”

Finishing up with this unique indie rock track that samples a few short powerful lines about the power of strikes, the need of protest, and losing trust in the police.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record: almost no social progressions or achievements have been achieved without some form of protest or industrial action. The fact is, we will probably never have a time where these methods aren’t necessary to enact change. At the very least we need a complete overhaul of our political system before that can happen, and the chances of that happening in our lifetime isn’t high.

So in the meantime, fuck the bill, keep causing an annoyance, stand up for your rights, push back, and fight.

That’s the highlights from our Playlist on Protests! You can listen to these track, as well as other songs by Steel Pulse, Muse, Public Enemy and more here on YouTube and here on Spotify.

And get ready for our show on the 26th July with Team Captains Khalid Winter & Bobbie Jones, along with guests Ela Bambust, Jake Donaldson, Kath Marvelley and Ryan Kenny!

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Pilsen, Little Village, West Loop

As 300 Test Positive For Coronavirus At Cook County Jail, Civil Rights Groups Sue: ‘People Will Needlessly Die’

So far, 234 detainees and 78 jail staffers have tested positive, according to the sheriff's office. "People are living like animals," one former detainee said.

Inside a unit at the Cook County Jail.
  • Credibility:

CHICAGO — With more than 300 confirmed cases of coronavirus at Cook County Jail, civil rights groups are now suing the sheriff’s office, demanding the immediate release of detainees.

As of Sunday, 312 detainees and jail staffers have tested positive for coronavirus, Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart office confirmed. The virus has spread rapidly at the jail that houses thousands, as the first two cases were confirmed just two weeks ago.

The emergency class-action lawsuit on behalf of detainees was filed by law firm Loevy & Loevy and civil rights groups Civil Rights Corps, the MacArthur Justice Center and the Chicago Community Bond Fund. The lawsuit demands the immediate release of vulnerable people in detention.

The infection rate inside the jail is nearly 40 times the overall infection rate in Cook County, attorney Stephen Weil said. One in 20 people at the jail that houses 4,700 have tested positive, and that number grows every day.

So far, 234 detainees and 78 jail staffers have tested positive, and 12 detainees are hospitalized, according to the sheriff’s office.

“Numerous people inside the jail, many with serious medical conditions, are housed in open areas where social distancing is impossible,” Weil said. “If something isn’t done to reduce the number of people in Cook County Jail, there is every reason to believe that people will needlessly die.”

Dart’s Office has worked with the courts, State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s Office and the Public Defender’s Office to expedite bond hearings and hasten the release of eligible detainees.

The jail also transitioned the majority of detainees to single cells to prevent transmission, Sheriff Tom Dart previously said. A barracks facility was also reopened to isolate detainees who have tested positive for coronavirus.

But Civil rights groups say too few detainees have been released to have any meaningful impact.

“The pace of release has been too slow to effectively mitigate the spread of this disease,” said Sharlyn Grace, executive director of the Chicago Community Bond Fund.

The Sheriff’s Office is required to respond with a brief to the lawsuit by Monday evening. The case was assigned to Judge Matthew F. Kennelly, who set an emergency hearing for 10:30 a.m. Tuesday where declarations from detainees at the jail on the crowded and unsanitary conditions will be presented, attorneys said.

“We are going to present evidence to prove our claims in the lawsuit and show the insufficiency of all the measures the sheriff has instituted thus far, emphasizing the high rate of infection which far exceeds the county rate,” said Alexa Van Brunt, director of the MacArthur Justice Center’s legal clinic at Northwestern University.

At a recent press conference, Dart said staff is rigorously sanitizing the jail. He also fiercely rejected allegations that detainees did not have access to soap and hand sanitizer. But the lawsuit’s plaintiffs said despite the sheriff’s claims, poor sanitation persists.

“What we’ve heard from employees and detainees alike, is that a lot of the policies the Sheriff is talking about are not being implemented on the ground,” Weil said.

Former detainee Flonard Wrencher spent two days in the jail because he could not afford a $7,500 bond, and was eventually bailed out by the Chicago Community Bond Fund. He said there was no space for social distancing in the jail and that people are squished together “like sardines in a can.”

“The conditions in the county jail is not suitable for human beings. People are living like animals,” he said. “We’re talking about non-convicted people.”

The bond fund began calling for a reduction in the jail population on March 6, when the jail population was at around 5,000. The group penned an open letter to county officials calling for mass decarceration, which has been cosigned by over 100 civil rights groups, legal organizations and prison reform advocates.

The situation at the jail has become a rallying cry for attorneys nationwide, who are sharing emergency motions with each other to get their clients freed.

Despite calls for mass decarceration in the jail, Dart said over 70 percent of detainees are not eligible for release because they are accused of violent crimes.

But Charlie Gerstein of Civil Rights Corps said most of the people in jail have not been convicted of any crime and are presumed innocent by the Constitution.

“The people who must be jailed, as the sheriff would describe them, because they’re supposedly dangerous … they would be released as we sit here right now if someone deposited money on their behalf,” he said.

Pascal Sabino is a Report for America corps member covering Austin, North Lawndale and Garfield Park for Block Club Chicago.

Block Club Chicago’s coronavirus coverage is free for all readers. Block Club is an independent, 501(c)(3), journalist-run newsroom.

Subscribe to Block Club Chicago. Every dime we make funds reporting from Chicago’s neighborhoods.

Already subscribe? Click here to support Block Club with a tax-deductible donation.

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Think about your favorite characters in television and movies, especially animated features. Do they wear glasses or not? Fictional characters are a great way to examine our cultural feelings towards different looks because they’re not real people. You can’t argue that a fictional character “needs” glasses because they don’t “need” anything. Characters are either given glasses or not, depending on how the creator wants us to view them. This is the psychology of eyeglasses.

If the eyes are the windows to your soul, then eyeglasses are how you frame those windows. Do you choose bold, black panel dividers or flowy red curtains? What kind of glasses you wear (and whether you wear glasses at all) can have a huge effect on how others perceive you and how you perceive yourself.

People may be more likely to trust or confide in those who wear glasses, particularly full-rimmed glasses. This effect is actually less the glasses themselves and more the eyes. Full-rimmed glasses draw a large amount of attention to your eyes, and eyes are possibly the most important part of the face when it comes to communication.

We humans are really good at zeroing in on facial cues and we often look to the eyes to get a quick judge of intent or character. This is why so many horror villains wear masks or have small, beady eyes. The less of the eyes and the face you can see, the less trustworthy a person becomes.

One of the most common traits to be associated with eyeglasses is intelligence. This likely dates back to the days when eyeglasses were less common, more expensive, and deemed largely unnecessary by the average person. There was once a time where prescription eyeglasses were worn out of necessity by scholars, bookkeepers, and others who needed their vision for academic pursuits.

Since glasses break easily, they were infrequently worn by those who spent most of their time outside doing physical labor. And so, the idea that glasses are for the intelligent (or at least the booksmart) sort of stuck.

People can seem more earnest and committed when they wear glasses, particularly glasses with unassuming frames. There’s a level of vulnerability associated with glasses. You’re admitting to the world that you don’t have perfect vision, and that kind of honest vulnerability is very attractive to some people.

Of course, the type of frames you choose can have a big impact on this and other psychological effects of eyeglasses. Huge bold frames with Elton John-esque feathers all around the rims aren’t really going to give you an earnest, committed look.

Your choice of eyeglasses says a lot about your sense of fashion. While some people stick with one pair of glasses (and maybe a backup pair or two) others have an entire suitcase dedicated to their frames. People often match glasses to seasons or even individual outfits or hairstyles. If your coworkers see you in a different pair of glasses every other day, they’ll surely notice your fluid sense of style.

And you can set yourself up with a drawer full of lenses without breaking the bank. As long as you have a current prescription, you can purchase all the latest styles of frames from while paying a fraction of what you would at your eye doctor.

The same goes for sunglasses, which can also be fitted with lenses that match your prescription.

Glasses have long been used as a way to look younger or older, particularly where bifocals are concerned. Bifocal lenses give the automatic appearance of being middle-aged or older because they signal that your up-close vision is starting to worsen. However, making the switch from bifocals to progressive lenses can give you an immediate de-aging effect.

Regular lenses also have the tendency to make young people look a little bit older. Children obviously wear glasses, as well, but the association of maturity still clings to the look of prescription glasses.

Glasses have an impact on your view of yourself, as well. Just like how putting on a suit can boost your self-confidence, wearing a nice pair of glasses can change how you see yourself.

People generally fall into two groups: those who identify as “glasses-wearers” and those who don’t. A person who wears prescription glasses may not consider themselves to be a “glasses” person. They may take their glasses off before photos or avoid wearing them when they meet new people. Similarly, someone who has had LASIK or who typically uses contact lenses may still consider themselves to be a glasses-wearer. This is when you’ll find people wearing “blank” or “plano” glasses with no prescription.

Whether or not you wear glasses can make you feel like you. So if you’re having trouble looking like “you” in the morning, remember that your glasses are part of your aesthetic.


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The tragedy of the commons
Acton Institute Powerblog

The tragedy of the commons

Note: This is post #63 in a weekly video series on basic microeconomics.

Common resources are nonexcludable but rival, says Alex Tabarrok in this video by Marginal Revolution University. For instance, no one can be excluded from fishing for tuna, but they are rival — for every tuna caught, there is one less for everyone else. Nonexcludable but rival resources often lead to what we call a “tragedy of the commons.” In the case of tuna, this means the collapse of the fishing stock. Under a tragedy of the commons, a resource is often overused and under-maintained. Why does this happen?

(If you find the pace of the videos too slow, I’d recommend watching them at 1.5 to 2 times the speed. You can adjust the speed at which the video plays by clicking on “Settings” (the gear symbol) and changing “Speed” from normal to 1.25, 1.5 or 2.)

Click here to see other videos in the Introduction to Economics series.

Joe Carter

Joe Carter is a Senior Editor at the Acton Institute. Joe also serves as an editor at the The Gospel Coalition, a communications specialist for the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, and as an adjunct professor of journalism at Patrick Henry College. He is the editor of the NIV Lifehacks Bible and co-author of How to Argue like Jesus: Learning Persuasion from History's Greatest Communicator (Crossway).


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Video: Create your own embellishments

by Lilith Eeckels

Hello Altenew fans and welcome back to a new video from me, Lilith. Today I'll be showing you how to create a layout using 2 patterned papers from the Reflection Scrapbook Collection with some stamps, dies, inks and markers from Altenew. If you have the collection you will know you get a lot of product but at some point your favourite embellishments start to diminish. An easy way to counter this problem is to create your own.

@lilith @altenew

On this layout I used the Botanical Garden Stamp Set and Coordinating Die Set set as well as the Say Cheese Stamp Set and Coordinating Die.

The Altenew Markers are great for coloring in images as I did with the butterflies. Pop them onto a peg and create a fun detachable embellishment that you can add to any project. I added to my homemade tags. These are also really easy to make and the options are endless.

You can also create your own little paper dots by coloring some cardstock and cutting out circles with a punch or die. Add a couple of small dots with a pen pen and create little buttons.

You can watch the process video of this layout on You Tube or below:

Botanial Garden Set

Say Cheese

Happy Dreams

Rock collection mini cube inks

Reflection scrapbook kit

Altenew markers set A

You may also like

May Sukyong Park February 3, 2017 - 21:49

What a great use of those tiny circle cut-outs! Your layout turned out so beautifully!

Liz O February 4, 2017 - 00:32

Gorgeous page Lilith! TFS!

Vicki Finger February 4, 2017 - 06:00

I don’t scrapbook anymore but I love your style and enjoy watching you. It gives me ideas for the cards I make.

Lilith Eeckels February 4, 2017 - 06:54

Thank you Vicki. So glad you are picking up some ideas.

preety February 4, 2017 - 10:47

Awesome!! Thanks for the tutorial

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Merging businesses and team, and still delivering to all customers, no matter where they are hosted.

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Apple M1 support for Python

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Get a sneak peek into the upcoming Blackfire Monitoring feature: Services Monitoring.

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Schlagwort-Archiv: Henry Craik

Ein weiterer Nachruf auf Henry Craik

Henry Craik (1805–1866)

Als letzter Beitrag in der Reihe über Henry Craik folgt hier noch ein Nachruf, der heute vor 150 Jahren in der Zeitung The Bristol Mercury erschien.1 Im Vergleich zu den eher allgemein gehaltenen Lobeshymnen in der Western Daily Press entwirft er ein wesentlich lebendigeres und differenzierteres Bild Craiks (einschließlich einiger Schwächen). Der Verfasser war Richard Morris (1813–1894), Baptistenpastor an Craiks Wohnort Clifton.

By the Rev. R. Morris, Clifton.

Scotland has seldom given to the south a richer gift than that received in the life and character of Henry Craik. Scotch adventurers may be found everywhere, while her sons of toil, genius, and culture adorn every land; but in the career of our deceased fellow-citizen we have lost one whose adventurous spirit was controlled by a deep-toned piety, and whose ripe scholarship and unadorned eloquence of life and tongue made his presence amongst us of incalculable worth. Happily, in his case, he was a man of appreciated goodness and felt power. He was the last to desire a complimentary epitaph when gone, but the first to wish to hold a place after death in the memory and affection of the good and faithful.

We sincerely trust the memoir to be published of this esteemed servant of Christ will give to the public a definite and living portrait of his character. The events of his life were simple; they were neither startling nor unusual. By the side of his esteemed colleague, the Rev. Mr. Müller, it appears tame and unimpressive. The Orphan House and its christian missions have so striking an effect from their diffusive beneficence, and the thrilling report of their dependence and yet increasing progress, that the quiet ministrations of Henry Craik have almost escaped the attention of the public. But his life and character were full of incident and meaning. His character was unique, his life singular. They may be made productive of great good. Though dead, he yet speaks. We sincerely trust that the voice coming even from the grave will be listened to by many an obedient ear and loving heart.

We would respectfully urge the estimable man to whom his papers have been entrusted,2 rather to delay the memoir, than fail in infusing into the detail the genial spirit of our departed friend.

His appearance was at times almost grotesque, and but for a watchful home, we suspect it would have been as alien from the ordinary secular, as from the clerical garb. We have sometimes been with him when the broken umbrella, his faithful friend, and the oldest hat have, by mistake, been donned for the best attire. The collar of the coat was looking after the sleeves, and the necktie had comfortably nestled itself behind the head. When in such a state he had just come to the surface after a deep digging for a Hebrew root, or a dive into the depths of authorities to see whether the Keri of the Hebrew should be admitted into the text. His intense devotion to the study of the Scriptures made criticism a recreation, and in his most humorous, impassioned, or depressed moments it was never unwelcome. When amidst beautiful scenery, and affected almost to tears by its witchery, a passage of the Divine word would come to crown the scene. But with it would occur the readings and interpretations that reverence or enmity had ever suggested. Nor did this break the spell. If a critical friend was present, nature would have to wait, till the moot point was settled. Then the landscape came afresh, the more fascinating and beautiful that it had not rebuked his momentary forgetfulness of its charms. Poetry and sentiment at times lured, but never mastered him. He could enjoy the one and indulge the other. But they were recreations enjoyed, but not obeyed.

His unsuspicious nature and purity of character were without weakness, but not without peril. They exposed him to deception. When doubt of truthfulness was awakened, his watchfulness and resoluteness proved that his simplicity was only guilelessness, and his trustfulness the triumph of charity. He was ever ready to confide, slow to detect, but when deceived indignant in rebuke. Intentional deception he could not endure. To be acquainted with him was to respect him, and to know him was to love him. His trustful conversation, kindly fellowship, Scotch reminiscences, love of fatherland, English sympathies, devout spirit, made him, to the few, more of a model friend than he had been accepted by the many as a model preacher.

An oppressive sense of responsibility checked indulgence in mere literary pursuits, yet he found time to keep abreast of the current literature of the day, and watch with deep solicitude the phases of the controversies that were disturbing the Church of Christ. In some he took an active part, in nearly all a deep interest, and if he had lived, this winter would have witnessed his indignant condemnation of the modern attempt to create a church, or reveal a religion, without a creed. He had purposed a series of lectures to remonstrate against this attempt. While holding with an eager grasp the old standards of the evangelical faith, he grew in catholicity of spirit. His reading had become more liberal, his public services less confined, and his friendships more extended.

In his early life he had passed from the home culture and discipline of an estimable Scotch clergyman to a tutorship in the South of England.3 The education of home and of the University of St. Andrews had prepared him to do honour to his new position. He was highly esteemed, and still true to his early devotion to classical studies. An apparantly [sic] accidental association with Mr. Müller, gave young Henry Craik fitting opportunity for the revelation of his power. He became an earnest acceptable preacher of the Gospel. Adopting the views of the Baptists, his course was in the main prescribed. He did not join the Baptist denomination, but, with Mr. Müller, came to Bristol, and sought to establish a Christian Church. An open and unpaid ministry was the principle on which the attempt rested. They met with many suspicions and much opposition from the religious public. Both these honoured men, with instinctive wisdom, gave themselves mainly to work. The one to become the prince of our philanthropists, the other the model student and preacher. In each department success came.

Religious controversy was to them an unwelcome employment. Teaching, preaching, and working, their loved service. The small company soon became a formidable following. Generous and liberal helpers unexpectedly sprang up, and from the East the tribe travelled West, until Salem and Bethesda chapels became the accepted substitute for the name of a sect, and Ashley-down Orphan Asylum the evidence of a noble beneficent triumph. Faith in the Word was honoured in the chapels. Faith in the Work was blessed in the Asylum.

Of Mr. Müller we need not write. His monument time has already reared. Those structures of real magnificence, that form the home for nearly 2000 orphans, both conceal and reveal the nobility and simplicity of his character. His deceased friend claimed no such honour. His devotion was emphatically to the Divine Word. He laboured and watched to catch its very whispers, while his hearers received from his lips the fulness of its counsels, and the wealth of its revelations. Biblical words were to him as caskets. He suspected a jewel in each. He erred sometimes, but not often. The grammatical value, rather than the spiritual force of a passage, would captivate him. The form became more important than the principle it embodied. But these instances were few in contrast with the abounding of fruitful and sober exegesis. We would pass them by, if veneration for his memory did not demand an exact likeness of our friend. With these admissions, we leave Mr. Craik, confessedly, one of the very best commentators that Holy Scriptures ever had. Through him for thirty years their infinite variety and resource have ministered to the guidance and consolation of thousands of hearers.

We would confess our deep regret that he has left behind him commentaries on only one or two portions of the Scriptures. His independent criticisms on Alford, Bishop Ellicott, Tregelles, and Scrivener have been gracefully appreciated by these learned men, and they probably would share the regret that so successful a student and critic had not lived to record his matured judgment in a written commentary on the text. His work, however, is done, and the absence of the teacher should make the student the more solicitous, habitually to be taught of God.

As if impelled by some pre-monition of his approaching removal to his better home, he had long indulged the hope of visiting the scenes of his early days. The opportunity came, and he joined his honoured brother’s family, sojourning amidst the lake scenery of his native Scotland. To him, more than to many, such companionship, scenery, and associations would yield intense joy. A joy the purer, in that so much of Heaven would be blended with the scenes. But disease brought disappointment, and soon he was compelled almost to hasten back to his home at Clifton. From this there was one continuous descent to the grave. A long and painful illness ensued. Loving hearts and medical skill and care joined to stay the hour of departure. He himself had the impression that his work was not yet done. To his honoured brother, with another friend present in this chamber of sanctified affliction, he expressed the wish that he might yet bear the fruits of bygone labours into the earthly storehouse of his great Master. His desire seemed natural. Such stores as he possessed could not, in human seeming, be spared. They were more needful for earth than heaven. But not so was the decree of infinite wisdom and love. By such discipline are we taught that though God puts such treasure in earthen vessels, the vessels are not the treasure. They may be broken, but the riches remain.

The last days of our departed friend were those of suffering and exhaustion. Amidst all, peace reigned. His soul stayed itself on God. There was no exultation, but much tranquillity. Neither doubts nor distrust disturbed his last moments. All was peace. Once he said, as we were standing by his bed-side, “God’s presence is precious; I feel its value; it is my stay, my hope; but it is good to have about me and in my chamber those I love. I feel how merciful and kind it is of my heavenly Father to give us these objects of human affection and sympathy. I like their presence; they help and cheer me.” His beloved wife4 and dear daughter5 were moving about his tender heart, and soothing its sorrows, and assuaging its pains. They were ministering to his peace. And thus in them his keen eye of faith and love saw his Lord. They to him were gracious and needed gifts from His hand. The last words addressed to us when passing round his bed of langour and pain were, “Dear M—, when you hear it is all over, give God thanks.” These words followed us. They enjoined a duty we knew to be well nigh impossible to obey. It would require great resignation and faith to praise God for taking away such a man and such a life as Henry Craik’s. But we have learned already that often an apparent loss is a great gain. To him this must be, and to us it may be true. We may, then, calmly say, “The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” It is all over; let us give God thanks.

He was carried to the grave on Tuesday, amidst the sorrows and regrets of thousands. Whether by design we know not, but with marked propriety the Cathedral bell was tolling as the funeral passed through College-green; and in Bath-street the shops and offices of the Jewish merchants and traders were partially closed. The day was gloomy; the very heavens seemed to sympathise with the sorrowing crowd. A long line of carriages and mourners followed the remains to the cemetery, and there thousands were waiting the interment. Among them were nearly all the Baptist and Independent ministers in the city. A clergyman, Mr. Doudney, was present. Two brethren officiated, and gave utterance to the sympathy and sorrow that prevailed. All was genuine. Each seemed to be bearing a heavy burthen. It was felt to be a time to mourn and weep. A master in Israel had fallen. But the sorrow was not as those without hope, for all felt, “Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord.”

Bristol has lost many citizens and benefactors during these last twenty years; the broken columns and massive monuments of our cemetery tell of losses that no language can express. But of all, none surpass that which has been sustained by the church and the world in the death of Henry Craik. Neither mural tablet nor marble monument is needed to perpetuate his name. A multitude now and many hereafter will trace their likeness to Christ to his ministration. It will be increasingly seen how largely the Divine Spirit used him to awaken to life and mould into spiritual beauty the new creature in Christ Jesus. And in the impress of the Lord stamped on the new character, shall be traced the faithful work of the under-servant who laboured for such a joy and such a reward. “They that turn many to righteousness shall shine as the stars for ever and ever.”

Let us breathe the prayer that we may follow in his steps, so that “to live may be Christ, to die gain.”

Redland, February 5, 1866.

Ein Sonett auf Henry Craik

Es ist frappierend zu sehen, wie sehr Henry Craik nach seinem Tod von seinen Zeitgenossen gefeiert wurde und welche Prominenz er demnach zu Lebzeiten genossen haben muss – Vergleichbares ist mir im British Newspaper Archive sonst nur noch bei Georg Müller und Robert Chapman begegnet. Schon einen Tag nach seiner Beerdigung bot der Bristoler Buchhändler und Drucker William Mack Porträtfotos von Craik zum Kauf an:

1866-01-31 The Western Daily Press 1 (Craik)
The Western Daily Press, 31. Januar 1866, S. 1

Drei Tage später, also heute vor genau 150 Jahren, erschien in der Western Daily Press sogar ein Nachruf in Sonettform – eine solche Ehre dürfte nur den wenigsten „Brüdern“ zuteilgeworden sein:

1866-02-03 The Western Daily Press 3 (Craik)
The Western Daily Press, 3. Februar 1866, S. 3

Henry Craiks Beerdigung

Henry Craik (1805–1866)

Heute vor 150 Jahren wurde Henry Craik auf dem Friedhof Arno’s Vale in Bristol beigesetzt. Auch darüber berichtete die Western Daily Press in größter Ausführlichkeit (31. Januar 1866, S. 3):

A stranger visiting Bristol yesterday could not fail to observe that a funeral ceremony of unusual importance engaged the attention of the citizens. The leading streets and thoroughfares were occupied by groups waiting to see or to join the procession which carried, in sad solemnity, the body of a beloved minister to the grave. The route was a long one of four miles, extending from Hampton Park to Arno’s Vale. The funeral left Mr Craik’s residence about 10.30, but it was after twelve when the long line of carriages – the longest ever seen upon a like occasion – reached the cemetery, where hundreds had been waiting for hours in the rain and cold of a gloomy, wintry morning. The weather must, of course, have deterred many from going out, but at every part of the route the funeral was met by sympathising spectators. In Queen’s Road, at the Triangle, a body of ministers and friends joined it. At Counterslip we observed a large number of the workmen of the great sugar-house1 – many of them had been accustomed to Mr Craik’s ministrations in the room provided for the purpose at the works, and they evidently felt the loss which they had sustained. At the railway station and other parts, cabs and carriages filled with ladies in mourning testified to the feeling in which Mr Craik’s memory was held. As might be supposed, the other name associated with Mr Craik’s for the long series of 34 years – the name of George Muller – was frequently in the minds of the mourners, and many expected to see him yesterday. He could not attend, owing to severe indisposition, which has kept him for two or three Sundays away from his usual public duties. We may be sure, however, that no one more sincerely mourned the loss of “Brother Craik,” as he always styled him, than the great founder and director of the Ashley Down Orphan Houses.

At the cemetery it was found impossible to admit even a small proportion of the immense crowd seeking admission to the chapel – a crowd which extended beyond the portico and spread itself over the cemetery, waiting patiently for a glimpse of the coffin as it was carried to the grave. Major Tireman2, a prominent and able preacher among “the Brethren,” was chosen to officiate in the chapel, and the Rev. Mr Victor, of Clevedon, at the grave.

The chief mourners were the three sons of the deceased, Mr Conrad Finzel3, Major Tireman, Messrs Howland, Acland, Rickards, C. Lemon, and the Rev. Mr Victor. Eight deacons of the Bethesda Chapel were present, viz., Messrs Martin, Butler4, Feltham5, Pocock, Withey6, Jos. Matthews, Isaac, and Captain Beecher. In the other coaches were the Revs. Aitchison, Robinson, and Larkins, and Messrs Horne, Davis, Wright, B. Perry, Jno. Thomas (Clevedon), B. Thomas, Elliot Armstrong, Wm. Stancombe, Hatchard, Shoobridge, Chapman (Barnstaple), Hake (Bideford), Lawford, and Hallett. In a carriage in the procession were Mrs Muller and her two sisters, and nearly 30 private carriages followed in the rear. Amongst those who had joined in the procession to show their respect for the deceased, were the Revs. N. Haycroft, M. Dickie, R. E. May, H. I. Roper, E. Probert, R. P. Macmaster, J. Tayler, T. A. Wheeler, Dr. Gotch, D. A. Doudney, E. J. Hartland, U. Thomas, and Messrs H. O. Wills, F. Wills, Griffiths, Grundy, Gould, Mack, Poole, G. W. Isaac, Batchelor, &c. When the coffin had been deposited in the chapel, Major Tireman, having read the latter portion of the 15th chapter of 1st Corinthians, and offered up prayer, founded an address upon the 13th verse of the 14th chapter of Revelations: “And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, write – Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.” He remarked that when the beloved disciple John heard that voice from heaven under circumstances of humiliation and depression, the companions of tribulation, he was led to see far greater revelations of the coming kingdom and glory of the Lord whom he loved than he had ever experienced before. So they might believe that the cloud of great and deep sorrow under which they were labouring would be made subservient to a deeper spiritual experience and a deeper spiritual joy. It was not said blessed are the dead. There was nothing blessed in death – it was the struggle with the last enemy that had to be destroyed – it was a penalty to be paid even by every redeemed son of Adam because of sin. The reason of the blessedness was that they “died in the Lord.” Of whom could they with greater truth say this than of their beloved brother? They had, indeed, the comfort and satisfaction of knowing that he died in the Lord. They had a comfortable assurance that he lived in Him, and that was to them an assurance that he died in Him and inherited His blessings. If it could be said of anyone that he lived in the Lord it could surely be said of him whose remains, surrounded by the accompaniments of sorrow and death, were present in their midst: eminently he lived in the Lord, and to him to die was gain. This was the testimony of thousands, and it was not only written in the hearts of those present, but it was a living epistle known and read of all men. Little did he (Major Tireman) think when last in that place, to witness the consignment to the silent tomb of their brother, Mr Hale7, who was suddenly taken in the midst of his labours, and when he heard their dear brother address them, that he himself would be the next to go; and much less that he should occupy that place and speak a few words over his remains. But God’s ways were inscrutable, and he (Mr Muller) who was his colleague so long – who was his friend and companion so many years – was himself unable by sickness to perform those last duties. Might God long spare him, and not add sorrow to their sorrow. Pleasant and lovely were they in their lives, and in death they were not divided. He was laid aside in God’s providence, and this alone prevented him from paying a last testimony to their brother. He (the speaker) was there because Mr Muller, and the family of the deceased, would have it to be so – not as one worthy to address them – but as one who yielded to none in respect for the character and integrity of life of him with whom he had been united for 15 years in the closest ties of friendship. The delight of our eyes was gone. Of him it might be truly said – Si monumentum quæris, circumspice – “If you seek his monument, look around” – in the sorrowing hearts and tearful eyes of the thousands of sorrowing sons and daughters of the Lord. Surely when he fell a pillar was broken in the house of our God. They had lost one who for 40 years devoted his life to the services of his God and Master. All his vast energies, and qualifications, and endowments were employed for one purpose – that of making more and more clear the Word of God. He lived for one purpose, and died for one purpose. The great delight and consolation of his soul was to make clear the Word of God, and he rejoiced in displaying its untold beauties to others. He left, like Peter, no legacy to the church, but he leaves his name, his works, his character, his example, as a lasting heritage. He combined fervent piety and zeal with childlike simplicity. His very sensitiveness and acute sensibilities may have been a hindrance to the work he was engaged in carrying on. He could not go from house to house without deep feeling on the occasions of sorrow to which he was called to minister. If his character was aspersed he was never moved to any unchristian feeling, much less to any unchristian act. “He was a good man and full of the Holy Ghost, and through him much people were added to the Lord.” His loss had made sincere mourners of them all. They would not be able to feel it as they desired just then; but they would feel it in days and years to come, and feel it deeply. They rejoiced, however, in his blessedness, and in the rest he had from his labours. He had gone to realise the full enjoyment of those truths in which he believed here, and on his dying bed his eyes lighted up with fire at the prospect of being in the fellowship of the blessed. Could they look upon his last remains and their sorrows not be moved? This was the last they should ever see of their much-beloved brother, whose presence they had so often welcomed and which had struck joy into so many hearts. Never again would those lips speak the words which flowed from him like rivers of living water. Never again would those eyes light up with fire and that tongue become the pen of a ready writer, and those hands be lifted up, as they were when he spoke of things concerning the King. Never again would his footsteps fall on the threshold of that place wherein they all so loved to hear them fall, and where he so often gave good counsel and advice. Should their sorrows not be moved? Never again would they hear his little cough with which he entered the room, and which gave an indication of his presence amongst them. Could they think of such things and not sorrow? Major Tireman, having given a few words of earnest and affectionate exhortation to the bereaved widow and family of the deceased, concluded with prayer his deeply-affecting discourse, which was imperfectly heard in the crowd and pressure.

The coffin was then removed to the grave, and, having been lowered in the earth, the Rev. Mr Victor, of Clevedon, addressed the assembly in an earnest and Christian manner. He said the grave over which they met was hallowed, because the sting of death was taken away from him who now was lying within it. The grave was hallowed because of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, who had made it impossible for this tomb to retain their brother now committed to it. “I am,” said the blessed Saviour, “He that liveth, and was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore, and have the keys of death and Hades.” “I am the resurrection and the life, he that believeth in Me shall never die.” On this dreary, wintry day, whilst this body was committed to the tomb, the spirit that in-dwelt in it was soaring on high – a lovely bird of Paradise, hymning hallelujahs in the bosom of their blessed Lord. These were hallowed remains in this hallowed grave, because the body was redeemed as well as the soul by the precious blood of Christ – the body was once in-dwelt by the Holy Ghost, through whose power its senses were engaged and employed for their Master in the skies. The eyes saw for Christ, the lips spake for Christ, the hands were lifted in the service of Christ, and in intercession for many. Hallowed memories gathered around this grave. The memory of the just is blessed. There was the remembrance of their brother as a devoted husband in the Lord – a fond father, a faithful servant of the risen Son of God, who declared the whole counsel of God – a brother beloved, who was constrained to love all who loved the Lord Jesus. Hallowed memories were here, of words faithfully spoken to saints and sinners, of prayers offered in deep affection and fervent desire, of a consistent life maintained by the grace of God. Besides these hallowed memories they had hallowed hopes. Here lay a sower of the seed. For many years the precious seed of God’s truth had been cast by him into the hearts of the sons of men. Fruit had appeared, but the righteous had hope in his death, and the abundant harvest was yet to be seen. How many would be a crown of rejoicing to their brother in the day of the Lord. They had hallowed hopes – they sorrowed not as those without hope. They were anticipating the coming day, the morning without a cloud, when these remains should come up, because of their union with Christ, and spring into beauteous immortality. The spirit that in-dwelt in the body would then be re-united with the body, and they who were the children of God would then with that glorified saint cast their crowns at the Redeemer’s feet, and their immortal lips join with him in ascribing for ever and ever “Salvation to our God who sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.” He (Mr Victor) would affectionately ask, before they separated, could they who were mourning say, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain?” Had they peace through the blood of Christ? Did they know the power of the resurrection in creating them anew, and raising their expectations, and causing them to long for the return of their beloved Lord. If not, might God grant that the prayer just now offered might be answered, that their beloved brother, though dead, might yet speak to them. Mr Victor then offered up prayer, and the mourners having taken a last look upon the coffin – the inscription-plate of which simply bore the name, age, and date of death of the deceased – the vast assemblage left the cemetery. We do not remember a funeral which called forth such unfeigned marks of sorrow and respect.

150. Todestag von Henry Craik

Henry Craik (1805–1866)

Heute vor 150 Jahren starb in Clifton (einem Vorort von Bristol) der engste Freund und Mitarbeiter Georg Müllers, Henry Craik, im noch nicht sehr fortgeschrittenen Alter von 60 Jahren. Über sein Leben habe ich bereits 2010 einen Wikipedia-Artikel geschrieben, sodass ich hier auf einen biografischen Abriss verzichte;1 stattdessen möchte ich die Aufmerksamkeit auf die erstaunlich ausführliche Presseberichterstattung lenken, die sein Tod auslöste.

Die Bristoler Tageszeitung The Western Daily Press widmete Craik am 24. Januar 1866 gleich zwei lange Artikel. Auf Seite 2 hieß es unter der Rubrik “Topics of the Day”:

One of the most devoted, learned, and amiable labourers in the Christian vineyard, the Rev. Henry Craik, passed from his labours into eternal rest late on Monday evening, in this city. Under date March 29, 1832, there is the following entry in the Narrative of the deceased gentleman’s fellow-labourer, Mr Müller, so well known throughout the Christian world as the founder of the Ashley Down Asylum for Orphans: – “I went to Shaldon this morning; brother Craik has left for Bristol for four weeks. I think he will only return to take leave, and that the Lord will give him work there. [What a remarkable presentiment, which came to pass, concerning my beloved brother and fellow-labourer.]” From that period, if we except the short interval of leave-taking which Mr Craik spent with his former flock at Shaldon and Teignmouth, he has, until struck down by his last painful illness, devoted himself to the work of the Christian ministry in Bristol with a zeal which nothing could damp; and we only state the simple truth when we say that while he was beloved by the people who had the benefit of his ministrations he won by his pure, consistent, Christian life, and by the devotion with which he threw all his energies into the performance of his work, the warmest esteem and the deepest respect of persons of all creeds capable of appreciating worth of more than an ordinarily rare kind. In another column a narrative of Mr Craik’s life will be found. It is necessarily imperfect, as indeed it is impossible to do justice to such a life within the brief limits of a newspaper article. He laboured long in this city, and the spirit in which he laboured and the faith with which he rested upon the promises of the Master, whom he served for the means necessary to enable him to prosecute his labours, were purely apostolic. Ever since, and for some time before, he came to Bristol, Mr Craik, like the colleague who now mourns his loss, depended for his living upon the willingness of the people to whom he ministered. With a faith which we need not say is rarely exhibited in these doubting days, he trusted not in man, but in God, for the “food and raiment” which he required. The dominant thought of his life was not how he might increase his store of the goods of this world, but how he could best promote the spiritual interests of his fellow-men. One, if not more than one, of the universities of his native country, on two occasions, offered him, as a mark of appreciation of his rare scholarship, the degree of D.D., but on both occasions he declined the honour. His modesty was as conspicuous as his worth, and his memory will dwell long in the hearts of all who had the privilege of his acquaintance.

Das angekündigte Lebensbild folgte auf Seite 3:

Our readers will receive this announcement, we feel sure, with deep and unfeigned sorrow. A truly good man – a great man, in the sense of high intellectual as well as high moral qualities – has been removed from us, after 34 years’ service as a devoted Christian minister in this city. Mr Craik’s death was not unexpected. A painful illness had confined him for several months to his house. In the summer, when upon an excursion in Scotland, the symptoms of a wasting internal disorder became apparent by increased feebleness and incapacity for study. Medical advice was sought; but it was not until he returned home to his residence in Hampton Park, Redland, and had consulted his own medical attendant (Mr Burleigh), along with Dr. Symonds, that a correct diagnosis was obtained. It was then found that Mr Craik was suffering from collapse of the pylorus – a disease always dangerous and difficult of cure, and one which soon showed the usual effects in his case. When the writer saw him, some three months since, he was painfully struck by the sad change in Mr Craik’s appearance. Although he was then able to drive out a little, he was a mere shadow of his former self; he was debarred from reading – a severe deprivation of one of his chief pleasures – he could not even bear the excitement of another reading to him, except at infrequent intervals, and he seemed altogether like a man who was slowly nearing the last stage of decay and dissolution. Yet his old cheerfulness and geniality were but slightly diminished; while his confidence in the end, his faith, his hope, were expressed in the same unaffected, unfaltering, manly tone and manner which always characterised him. To meet death was not to meet an enemy of whom he was afraid – it was to meet the conqueror of death, the Master whom he had served so lovingly, so cheerfully, and so acceptably, as many can testify in this city and elsewhere. Mr Craik lingered on, gradually growing weaker and weaker, until Monday night, when he died very calmly and peacefully. About nine o’clock a change was observed by his family, and an intimate friend and neighbour (Mr Charles Lemon) was sent for. The pulse was found to be gradually falling, and at 11.23 it ceased. It is common enough to praise men when they are dead, and to indulge indiscriminate laudations of them. Of all this Mr Craik had an instinctive abhorrence. Himself without a particle of pride or affectation – although he had, being among the first linguists in England, much to be proud of – he turned with surprise and regret at the assumption of superiority in others, especially when he knew, as he easily could know, that it was pretentious and unwarranted. We are only employing, however, the language of truth and soberness, when we say that Henry Craik’s religion was of the loftiest and purest description – that it was untarnished by worldly considerations, and that it combined as much of the spiritual and human nature in felicitous proportion as we have ever found or expect to find again. His very simplicity and child-like trustfulness charmed all classes. His piety, never ostentatious, never bordering upon personal merit, was so transparent that you could not help feeling and recognising its power and influence. The priestly character he could not assume, nor the perfunctory style of duty which some who disown the title of priest are apt to fall into. His whole life, his very soul, he gave entirely to the service of his Master and the welfare of his fellow-creatures. As he lived, so he died, in faith and hope. Who that knew him doubts his destiny? Of some men we may have doubts – of Henry Craik we can think only as we think of the saints and martyrs who walked for a while upon earth in a pilgrim’s journey to Heaven. Thousands will sorrow after him – his bereaved flock, and especially his self-sacrificing colleague, Mr George Muller, with whom he commenced his ministry in Bristol, and who regarded him in the truest sense as a brother. By the whole Christian community of this great city his memory will be cherished with affection, his character will be reverenced, and his life and labours will long be remembered with admiration and gratitude.

By the first part of Mr Muller’s “Narrative,” we find that Mr Craik left Teignmouth, where he then was a minister among “The Brethren,”2 for Bristol, on a visit of four weeks, on the 29th March, 1832. Mr Muller states that “it was there [Teignmouth] that I became (in 1829) acquainted with my beloved brother, friend, and present fellow-labourer, Henry Craik.” Mr Muller, at Mr Craik’s solicitations, followed him to Bristol, and on the 22nd April preached at Gideon Chapel, then occupied by the Brethren.3 It is well known that these remarkable men made a wonderful impression during this their first visit to the city. An entry of the “Narrative,” dated April 29, 1832, says: – “Brother Craik preached this evening at Gideon for the last time previous to our going. The aisles, the pulpit stairs, and the vestry were filled, and multitudes went away on account of the want of room.” The next entry, May 15, shows the decision to accept the invitation to settle in Bristol. “Just when I was in prayer,” writes Mr Muller, “concerning Bristol, I was sent for to come to brother Craik. Two letters had arrived from Bristol. The brethren assembling at Gideon accept our offer to come, under the conditions we have made, i.e., for the present to consider us only as ministering among them, but not in any fixed pastoral relationship, so that we may preach as we consider it to be according to the mind of God, without reference to any rules among them; that the pew-rents should be done away with; and that we should go on, respecting the supply of our temporal wants, as in Devonshire.” This last sentence means a great deal. In Devonshire these truly apostolic men literally laboured “without money and without price.” Occasionally they were reduced to such straits as to have neither money nor food; yet their wants were always supplied, without appealing for aid to friends or neighbours. They made no bargain in Bristol for salaries or residences. “A cheap lodging” at 18s a-week, consisting of two sitting-rooms and three bed-rooms, was deemed sufficient for them and their families. It was the year of the cholera, and during four months they held every morning a prayer meeting at Gideon, from six to eight o’clock, at which from two to three hundred people were present. Mr Muller says: “Though brother Craik and I visited many cholera cases, by day and by night, yet the Lord most graciously preserved our families from it.” That Mr Muller fully estimated Mr Craik’s preaching power may be seen by an entry of Oct. 1st, 1833: – “Many more are convinced of sin through brother Craik’s preaching than my own. This circumstance led me to inquire into the reasons, which are probably these: – 1. That brother Craik is more spiritually minded than I am. 2. That he prays more earnestly for the conversion of sinners than I do. 3. That he more frequently addresses sinners, as such, in his public ministrations, than I do.” Mr Craik’s preaching drew a large and intelligent congregation to Bethesda Chapel, Great George Street – this place of worship having been secured when Gideon was found inadequate. It was not popular preaching, being deficient in manner and style, and without any of the gaudy rhetoric which is commonly relied on to fill chapels. Mr Craik had but one object in view – to instruct and impress his hearers, and in this he always succeeded. No one could complain that Mr Craik did not understand the text on which he preached. Whatever the subject might be Mr Craik was certain to master it thoroughly. His language was chaste and scholarly. Words singularly forcible and apposite were employed to convey his meaning upon topics to which he had given special attention. Frequently there was much warmth, always great earnestness, in his pulpit addresses and his prayers. Many thoughtful and pious members of the Church of England were drawn to Bethesda Chapel on the Sunday evenings to hear Mr Craik, and were not the least sincere among his numerous admirers. Mr Craik also preached, alternately with Mr Muller, at Salem Chapel.

Our own idea is, that Mr Craik’s forte was the professor’s chair rather than the pulpit. As a Hebraist he had few equals, still fewer could be named as his superiors; and among his friends and correspondents were some of the first scholars and divines of the day, including our own diocesan (Bishop Ellicott), with whom a strong intimacy was maintained, – the Bishop being fully alive to the extent and variety of Mr Craik’s learning and ability. Mr Craik had been a pupil, at Edinburgh University, of the late Dr. Chalmers, and was educated as a clergyman of the Church of Scotland, in which his brother (Rev. Dr. Craik, of Glasgow) occupies a conspicuous position. But the trammels of Presbyterianism were over much for him, and he became a decided Nonconformist, embracing the Congregational form of church polity. His habits, however, were too retiring to allow him to mingle in controversial strife. Only once do we remember his appearing in public to give his views on the connexion of Church and State. It was in 1860, at the Broadmead Rooms. A correspondence followed in these columns, his opponent being a well-known clergyman who figured on the same side at the July election of members of Parliament.

Mr Craik, while an active pastor, was also a frequent writer. His principal works are: “Principia Hebraica;” “The Distinguishing Characteristics and Essential Relationships of the Leading Languages of Asia and Europe;” “The Hebrew Language, its History and Characteristics;” “Hints and Suggestions on the Proposed Revision of our English Bible;” “Reply to certain Misrepresentations contained in Essays and Reviews;” “Pastoral Letters;” “An Amended Translation of the Epistle to the Hebrews;” “The Popery of Protestantism,” &c.

We understand that Mr Craik kept a diary, in which he has given the leading events of his interesting career, his correspondence and intercourse with eminent men of his time, and an account of the establishing of that great national institution, the Ashley Down Orphan Houses. This will shortly be published, we believe, and will form a valuable history of the thirty-four years’ life and labours of Mr Muller and Mr Craik – two of the most remarkable men, two of the most honoured servants of the Church of Christ, who have ever appeared in this or any other country.

Auf derselben Seite findet sich unter der Rubrik “Deaths” noch folgende knappe Notiz:

On the 22nd inst., at Holyrood Villa, Hampton Park, Clifton, the Rev. HENRY CRAIK, deeply and sincerely regretted by a wide circle of friends and admirers.

Über Craiks Beerdigung am 30. Januar erschien in der Western Daily Press ebenfalls ein ausführlicher Bericht, den ich mir für einen separaten Blogeintrag aufhebe.


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MISUNDERSTANDINGS Magazine final issue Launch!

Admin/ May 31, 2011/ Event, Publication/ 0 comments

After 7 1/2 years of publishing, Toronto’s Misunderstandings Magazine is ceasing publication, as its editors move on to other projects. This little publication, which straddled the line between zine culture and Toronto’s more mainsteam literary community, positioned itself as a playful journal striving to introduce and foster emerging writers and showcase them alongside some of Canada’s best talents. Despite limited resources, MM’s editorial team of Jim Johnstone, Vicki Sloot and Ian Williams nevertheless were able to create a reliable publication that captured the vitality and quirkiness of Toronto’s diverse literary scene.

On Thurs June 02, beginning at 7:30pm, livewords hosts the launch party for Misunderstandings Mag 16: The Final Issue. This special event, hosted by Edward Nixon and Jim Johnstone, takes place @ Black Swan Tavern (154 Danforth Ave, Toronto) it will be a night to celebrate the contributors in MM16 and all the writers and artists who have been part of the magazine’s 16-issue run. Come and help to put a gilded fork in it! Complimentary snacks, cash bar.

Readers include: Al Moritz, Paul Vermeersch, Blaise Moritz, Robin Richardson, Sam Cheuk, Claire Caldwell, Mathew Henderson, Mat Laporte, Rob Taylor and other surprise guests.

>>> For more information on livewords: go here
>>> RSVP to the Facebook event: here

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How to Get to Know Your Sponsored Child’s Family

Have you ever had one of those awesome, world-colliding moments when people from two different parts of your life meet? Like bringing a significant other home to meet your family for the first time. Or introducing your friends from church to your friends from work at your birthday party. These experiences only come around every now and then. And I love them.

Continue Reading ›

It Takes a Village: Meet Staff Who Live Out the Call for Community

I’ve always loved the sentiment “It takes a village.” To me, those four words encapsulate the most powerful aspect of human growth and development: community. We all have a village surrounding us. And so does each and every child in the Compassion program.

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young boy with a huge smile sitting

4 Prayers of Praise During a Pandemic

Over the past several months, we’ve asked you to join us in praying specifically for the children and families living in poverty who have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. You answered. And so did God. Today, we want to lift up prayers of praise to our God who has answered our prayers — and who will never forget the hungry, the forgotten or the oppressed.

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Sitting in a window reading

What to Do If It’s Been a Long Time Since You Received a Letter

Have you ever been so excited to receive a letter from the child you sponsor, but it feels like it’s been forever? I’m sure a lot of us have. And it’s highly likely that you might feel that way during this global pandemic. Here’s when to reach out to us if it has been a while since you received a letter — and tips for while you wait!

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Tony Beltran holding a picture of himself when he was a child

Compassion Graduate: From Shoeshiner to National Director

Need a hopeful story today? Meet Tony Beltran. He started work shining shoes at age 7, but now he is national director of Compassion Dominican Republic.

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A girl hugs a letter to her chest.

How to Write Your Sponsored Child in a Time of Crisis

Writing letters to your sponsored child during a crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, requires a little extra thoughtfulness and sensitivity. That’s why we’d like to give you a few tips for writing letters to your sponsored child right now!

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Two children sit outside on a porch, reading letters.

10 Center Directors Share Why Your Letters Matter

A few months ago, we asked every single Compassion center director around the world about the impact letters from sponsors have on the children at their center. And their answers are pretty incredible. Get ready to be inspired.

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Two girls stand outside a bathroom, giggling.

Potty Talk: The History of the Toilet and Why It Matters

Today is a good day for some potty talk. And no, I’m not talking about the kind we scold kids for! I think we should talk about actual toilets today, specifically the history of the toilet. Do you know why? Because World Toilet Day is coming up — a day set apart to bring attention to the global sanitation crisis — and because the history of the toilet has passed many people by. So, I say we get down to business and talk toilets.

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Two boys in Uganda hug Christmas gifts.

Everything You Need to Know About Giving a Christmas Gift

Our Christmas Gift Program is an amazing way to give a child in poverty a present this holiday season. Get all your questions answered about how it works!

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A man stoops on the ground with a young boy on his back.

6 Ways to Write Your Child As If You’ve Met Them

You may never have the chance to visit your sponsored child, but you can learn from those who have visited tips on how to write great letters!

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Two young girls sit inside on a step in front of a red wall, smiling.

How Can Good Friends Help Break the Cycle of Poverty?

This International Day of Friendship, join us in celebrating friendship by learning how important friendship is to children living in poverty — and praying for those special friendships.

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A boy in Burkina Faso wearing a green and blue checked shirt holds his hands together in praying while smiling at the camera. He is in a classroom surrounded by other children praying.

How to Pray with Compassion on This National Day of Prayer

This Thursday, May 2, is the National Day of Prayer. Prayer is a critical part of Compassion’s ministry. We believe it is key in releasing children from poverty! As the National Day of Prayer approaches, we want to not only pray for our country, but for the countries around the world where Compassion works. Will you join us in this effort?

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From Free-Thinker to Judgemental Zealot

Isn’t it absolutely wonderful when one of the coolest, most interesting people you knew from your childhood has turned into one of the most uninteresting, predictable, judgemental humans you could have ever met?

A little background: this girl was what I would consider as a goth girl. She was fun to be around, generally a really nice, lovely person. In high school, a little negative, but she was generally one of those who didn’t care what anybody thought. She was uniquely individual. I knew her since we were 5 years old. Seriously, that’s no lie. I considered her to be my friend.

I have discussed this person in the past before. She’s one of the people who only message me (and I think it’s just a copy and paste message to everybody on her friends list) when she needs something. I think one time it was a request to contribute to her GoFundMe for $500 so her son could have a birthday party.

I think at some point someone ultra-religious has helped her see the light because well, she’s become incredibly predictable to the point where I have all her notifications muted. A few times, she’s posted how same-sex marriages aren’t “valid” and how two people of the same sex loving each other is terrible.

I’m still in awe because this is a huge change from then to now. I’m all happy that she’s found religion (though it looks like it’s one of the crazy Southern Baptist nightmare sects). I just don’t know how she can be happy knowing that she’s agitated many people who considered her friend. It’s quite sad. I used to look forward to seeing her when I’d fly back to the USA, but not so much now. I’ve lived my life being judged because I was a skinny white guy who only liked playing soccer who was interested in guys. I really thought that she was one of those people who would have my back in anything, anytime. Little did I know how powerful religious brainwashing is.

I am guessing that’s what makes me so sad about it. Even after visiting the USA for a few weeks, I see how powerful religion is and in my opinion, it shouldn’t be. Australia, in comparison, is so much better in that regard.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not anti-religion. I’ve been shaped from it, especially when it comes to family values (which include not being an asshole to family members with differing opinions). At the same time, I am wise enough to know that there are good things to believe in every religion. I firmly believe that people should have something to believe in, even if it’s nothing at all. Who am I to judge?

But… is that what I’m doing when I say my friend’s become so predictable?

I just want to be treated nicely. That’s all. It’s an unfortunate day when words can change someone’s whole outlook in life and negatively affect others along the way.

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Duke's Blog

Learning is a life long journey.

Crystal Input to FPGA

Sometimes for lower the cost, I'd like to use crystal instead of oscillator for FPGAs.

Outside circuit:

Full schematic could be found at: https://github.com/dukelec/cdpga/tree/master/cdpga_b/files

We need implement an inverter between CLK_I and CLK_O:

module example(
    input       clk_i,
    output      clk_o,

assign clk_o = ~clk_i;
// wire clk = clk_o;

When implement an inverter from one input pin to an output pin, we actually have many stages cascaded, so the crystal frequency can't be too high, e.g. 4, 8, 12, 16 MHz is fine, and we should add constraintion to reduce the delay.
(For very low frequency crystal, e.g. 32.768 kHz, we should add constraintion to increase the delay, even add more stages by ourself.)

Before we add any constraint, the inverter placed far away from input and output pins, and the clk_o only get ~450kHz:
(Sometimes the inverter placed in the middle, we can get 16 MHz clock, but some functions not stable at sometimes.)

After add this constraint, we can get 16 MHz clock, and all other functions in the FPGA are very stable:

#set_max_delay -from [get_ports {clk_i}] -to [get_ports {clk_o}] 10.00 # this one not work

# create virtual clock
create_clock -name vclk -period 10
set_clock_uncertainty -setup 0.3 [get_clocks {vclk}]
set_input_delay -max 0.4 -clock vclk [get_ports {clk_i}]
set_output_delay -max 0.4 -clock vclk [get_ports {clk_o}]

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Please visit the original link: /crystal-input-to-fpga


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Like…how important are relationships in business, more important than this?

They are super important in our personal lives but what about entrepreneurship?

Well, in our opinion, they are twice as important in biz!

Our question to you is…what do you imagine when we say relationships in business?

We might leave it at that but we want you to know our 2 cents on this.

If someone mentions relationships in business what we imagine is us solving the other person’s problem.

We think relationships have a strong background in mutual benefits. And especially in business, that means that someone comes with a problem and we solve it for them.

We realized this especially while we were doing cold calling our potential clients.

Most of the people just jump head-first into selling things to strangers. But what if you shifted from selling to helping and transformed the stranger into a potential client? That sounds much more like relationships in business.

The main task of relationships in business

Our main task when we are looking for clients is to understand their pain and to sell find a FIT between their problem and our solution. If these two don’t fit, we have nothing to back up our belief of mutual benefits.

Once we contact our potential clients with this thought in our heads, we know that we aim for a healthy beneficial relationship where selling is not our primary mission.

Because if we are able to maintain the relationship and help our potential client, the selling part will come naturally and that’s the beauty of it.

So if it was up to us, we would like everyone to first build relationships, nurture them and then bring an offer. Stick to this scheme and enjoy the fruitful outcome.

Stick to this scheme and enjoy the guaranteed fruitful outcome.

GliderPath Team

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Monday, 25 July 2011

2:15 Yarmouth (25th July) - Result

A restricted maiden auction stakes over 7f 3y on good ground.

In ways this race may revolve around the fortunes of one horse - Swing Alone. A relatively cheap breeze-up purchase at  £15,000, this son of Celtic Swing looked to have an unenviable challenge in making his debut at Royal Ascot in the Chesham Stakes. Much like her late father, Paul, Gay Kelleway has never been frightened of a challenge and this bay colt ran a superb race at odds of 40/1. By any measure, this will be a much easier task and her trainer is probably hoping to take this in some style before progressing to more loftier heights as noted by a Royal Lodge (Group 2) entry. Clearly this juvenile has strong claims.

What are we to make of the opposition?

On balance, with such a restricted race, the debutantes are unlikely to achieve the standards set by a handful of form horses. The betting is the best guide to their respective chances and if any are backed to 13/2 & less are worth a second look.

My Sharona* has shown ability on all three starts and although limited to some extent has a battling attitude and will appreciate this drop in class. The Newbury race was a fair contest, and this daughter of Dark Angel plugged on well at the line suggesting this 7f should not cause too many problems. She showed good speed here last time when just failing to win a small race, so will have no problems using her pace to sit handy and tap into that determination in the final furlong. In a weak race Sylvester Kirk's filly has sound each way claims.

I am quite a fan of Mark Brisbourne because he does wonders with his small string of juveniles. He is one of those trainers who often springs a surprise and that was almost the case with Lady Tycoon. This daughter of Indasatchel was backed from 50/1 - 16/1 on debut at Wolverhampton. A filly with some size and scope for a cheap purchase, she led the field a merry dance and for much of the way, looked to hold the aces, but tired a touch in the final furlong to be collared by Meanwhile. On balance, that was a sterling effort and she has claims with a featherweight in a race type of such restrictive nature. The problem is trying to assess the level of that form. The favourite done nothing and the rest of the field looked a motley crew. It just might be the case no one turned up that day. It is interesting to note O'Neill sticks with this ride as he was aboard My Sharona last time. It is intriguing to consider whether he had the choice of mounts. On the early declarations he was booked to ride Lady Tycoon, so there is no inside information to be gleaned from that point.

Of the others, Hamble may be worth a second chance if backed to 13/2 & less. This juvenile is owned by Charles Cyzer (ex-trainer), a home bred from a winning family and quite an attractive horse. He has been off course for a good while and may have been gelded since that run. He was quite fancied in the betting that day but never held much chance after a slow start and then outpaced. On balance, the form looks weak but he gave the impression there could be substantial improvement to come. This step up to 7f will certainly be a positive and Cyzer is a canny owner. He isn't the type of person to have a horse in training for the fun of it. The betting is the key to this gelding's chances and if backed he could be something of a dark horse.

Conclusion: Unless one of the debutantes is substantially backed this looks a four horse race. Swing Alone sets the standard dropping from Listed class to a restricted auction race. Kelleway will be disappointed if her representative doesn't shine today. He looks the horse to beat but priced around even money makes a few in opposition tempting each way alternatives. My Sharona should travel well and has the attitude to grind out a finish. She has sound place claims and may sneak a win. Lady Tycoon could go well although a little difficult to assess. Hamble needs to improve but may do just that. The key to him is the betting. If backed to 13/2 & less expect a big performance.

*NR: My Sharona

HCE: ''The money didn't come for Hamble but it didn't stop William Haggis' juvenile winning. A good-looking gelding, with a nice attitude, he could well go on to win a nursery if not a conditions stakes. There was a huge gamble on Ocean Tempest - for John Ryan - from over 300/1 on Betfair to an Sp of 10/1. His backers must have felt disappointed to go so close but denied at the line. Swing Alone was difficult in the paddock and definitely temperamental. He settled going down to the start but never looked happy in the race but ran on well at the line. Perhaps stepping up to a mile would be to his benefit but one to be slightly careful with as his earlier antics could only be viewed as a negative,''


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HostOnNet Blog

Free Hosted DNS

As a lot of people were involved in The Planet’s outage this week, which took down their DNS servers, we need to remind people how important it is NOT to rely on your hosting providers DNS servers.

Why? I only have servers at one location, why does it matter if they go down?

The main reason is e-mail.

Let’s say someone tries to email you, if all of your DNS servers are down, that email is going to bounce.

However, if your DNS servers are still up, but your mail server is down, the remote mail server will “grab” your mail server IP, and put it in the their outgoing queue and try to continue resending for 5 days.

So what should you do about it? Well for one, don’t host your DNS servers in the same location! offers free DNS hosting to anyone, we’ve been in business for about 7 years now, we have over 40k domains, 30k customers. We are not new to the business. We know what we are doing. EditDNS has 5 nameservers, 3 in the United States, and 2 in Europe, we offer free email forwarding, url forwarding, slave/backup dns, and dyndns DNS.

Don’t let another outage hurt your business again.

Posted in Web


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Monday, 1 October 2012

Lichfield and The Horologicon

I'm going to be talking at the Lichfield Literature Festival on Wednesday at 3:45 - lots more details here. Also, by a strange quirk of chronology it will be the first place in Britain that you'll be able to buy The Horologicon, my lovely new book about strange words and phrases hidden in the dictionary. The rest of the nation will have to wait another four weeks, but in the home town of Dr Johnson time runs faster.

I shall do my best in my hour-long talk to cause oscitancy, which Johnson defined as "yawning or unusual sleepiness". There'll be lots of other words from The Horologicon including micher which Johnson called "A lazy loiterer, who skulks about in corners and by-places, and keeps out of sight; a hedge creeper", and describes me perfectly.

Click here for more details.

A harmless drudge.

  1. You can't search 'zwoddery -uhtceare' on the Google. The only search-engine-able pages online with 'zwoddery' in them are related to the Horologicon.

  2. camostar, try zwodder (no y) - you could start with this:

  3. In school we used to call skiving (playing triang) 'mitching', and a skiver was a 'mitcher'. I always wondered where the word came from, perhaps it's from 'micher'?!

  4. Errr...that should read playing truant. Predictive text *sigh*