From The Archives

1.      The memorials in Canberra Baptist Church

In August 1948 the Deacons wrote to all State Baptist Unions and made the church available as a repository for memorials to prominent Australian Baptists. Since that time many memorials have been added for prominent Baptists as well as former church members.

One of two publications being prepared for next year’s 75^th Anniversary of the opening of the Canberra Baptist Church will tell the stories of the people remembered in the church’s memorials. Many of the stories are quite interesting and as we have been learning about the people concerned we have become conscious of the fact that we are indeed privileged to be responsible for helping to preserve the memory of some very remarkable men and women.

In a small number of cases, however, the information recorded about the person concerned is quite basic and, especially in relation to those who died early last century (or earlier), it is difficult to uncover information. Two cases, in particular, come to mind.

George Albert Green

The first is, George Albert Green. The church’s communion table was donated by his wife in his memory. Virtually all we know about him is contained on the plaque on the table, which states that he died on 29 July 1927 and he was “an active member of the Baptist Unions of Victoria and NSW”.

If anyone knows anything about George Albert Green I would like to hear from them.

Mary Ann Lockhart

We have two communion trays in memory of Mary Ann Lockhart. All we know is that she died on 16 April 1928. There are no other details. If anyone has any ideas they will be gratefully received.

Do you have a connection with any of the church memorials?

If you are connected with any of the memorials in the church and I have not yet spoken to you, please let me know. It is essential that the details we have are accurate and that, as far as possible, they are checked out by any living relatives or friends who are in the best position to know the facts.

Please contact me at church or by telephone on 6241 1877.

2.       Dr Waldock’s Pulpit Bible

I recently was given Dr Waldock’s Pulpit Bible. It was passed on to me by Ron Robb and had been on the shelves of the Archives of the Baptist Union of NSW. Ron felt that we might have a suitable place for it. The bible is quite old and worn and arrangements will be made to have it rebound.

On the front, in gold lettering, is printed “A J WALDOCK” and it also has the date on the cover: “26.8.02” – That’s last century (1902), not last year. Apart from the cover, which has come apart, the bible is in surprisingly good condition.

In the front of the bible, its author/editor Rev Joseph Parker of the City Temple, London, itemises some of its unique features. These include:

• The name: The Pulpit Bible;

• Marginal notes. They are the notes of an old preacher for the use of junior preachers.

• The intention is to indicate generally the special pulpit use of each verse where available in the bible. The notes virtually say to the user: “Would you like an old preacher to look over your shoulder and guide you through this chapter?”

• Striking texts are highlighted.

In effect, the Pulpit Bible is a standard King James Version which has notations, made by an experienced preacher, designed to assist young preachers find their way through the bible.

Thorwald has suggested that we might possibly have a display cabinet somewhere on the church premises (perhaps the foyer of Waldock Hall would be appropriate?) where such memorabilia could be on display for all members of the church to view.

3.       The Church Christmas Party Scripts

Ted Richards recently asked me if I would like his Christmas Party Scripts to store in the archives. I jumped at the offer. One of Ted’s zany scripts particularly attracted my attention and I would like to share it with you. It goes as follows:

The 1981 Award Speech

Good evening. I have to bring you the formal part of tonight’s proceedings. I have been asked to read the Annual Report of the Board of Management of the Baptist Orders of Merit – BOM for short - in the absence of all the board who are at present on a fact finding tour of Las Vegas.

Mr Chairman, my Lords, ladies and gentlemen, your board is pleased to report that 1981 was another very good year. We have attracted some excellent sponsors, which means that our awards are of a much higher value than previously. We are able to give travel tickets and cash as part of our prizes. But more about that a little later. In the meantime: Where, I hear you cry, has all the money come from? Multi-national corporations, which have sponsored us this year include the Lake George Navigation Company (Receiver and Manager appointed) and the Mogo Take Away Pizza and Septic Tank Pumping Service.

But the best news is that our Association has been extremely generous to us in giving us the proceeds of the Bingo and Hymn Singing Night, which they held recently at the Macedonian Club in O’Connor. The Association Treasurer asked me to announce that they would have given us much more except that some of the proceeds had to be used to clean up after the unseemly brawl, which unfortunately developed between our own Ladies Fellowship and the Hughes Boys Brigade Band. Thankfully very little permanent damage was done and the police have agreed to drop all charges.

You will be very pleased to know that I rang up the hospital just before the dinner tonight and they told me that the Boys Brigade side drummer, who one of our volatile ladies hit on the head with a tuba is recovering nicely, and they expect him out of intensive care in a couple of weeks.

And now for some very heart warming news: Your board this year decided to name their award after a worthy person. It gives me great pleasure indeed to announce that this award is now to be called the “Esme Molestrangler Prize”. From your gasps I can tell that you all realise how honoured we are that Esme has consented to let us use her name. Older members will remember that it was she who almost burnt the church down during her fiery furnace tableau at the Sunday School Anniversary. Unfortunately Esme cannot be with us tonight as she is back in gaol charged with being drunk in charge of a horse-drawn bread cart. But she sent this telegram:

Congratulations and best wishes to you both on this your special day. God bless her and all who sail in her. Turn left at any time with care. Keep off the grass. Do not talk to the driver. Shake the bottle. Tickets must be shown on demand. Do not spit. Form queue here. Love, Esme.

Another wonderful piece of news is that the Minister’s wife has graciously agreed to present the first Esme Molestrangler Prize tonight

Now for the awards. Once again we were swamped with nominations, and as in previous years we have narrowed it down to a winner and two runners up. The runners up do not receive a prize, only an honourable mention, and I will start with the third place.

Third place this year goes to those in the young people’s group who are working on a jazz ballet rock musical version of the Old Testament Book of Numbers. Apparently it still needs some work done on it, but we hope to see it next year, or the year after that, or even, hopefully, the year after that. Anyway, well done young people.

For second place: What more can we say about Eric Beauman’s idea that has not already been said? As the writer of the Pigeon Fanciers Gazette said: “It is the most brilliant advance in theological thinking since the invention of the non-iron cassock”. I am referring, of course, to Eric’s automatic sermon timer in which a trap door in the pulpit opens and drops the preacher into a vat of water after a pre-set time has elapsed. Suggested times are 18 minutes for home preachers and 12 minutes for visitors, after allowance has been made for injury time, dedications, long hymns etc. Eric, your idea is a good one. Keep working on it!

Now for the winner: I will ask the Minister’s wife to come on stage and announce the winner and make the award.

 “The 1981 award of a barbeque fat tin goes to Richard Bauer and David Stafford for services to church catering.”

B.H.

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