St Paul’s curate chastises church for failing on many of societies problems

The curate of St Paul’s, Shipley, Rev W Bowker (right), was the speaker at the Rosse Street Brotherhood. He was introduced as “the people’s parson” and his talk touched on many of the social issues of the day and he didn’t duck mentioning the church’s shortcomings. He said: ‘Some people say the war has been brought about because there are too many people. That is a libel on God. The Creator never opens a mouth which cannot be filled if, of course, there is a wise distribution of the necessaries of life. ‘The churches are weak today because they have neglected their duty. If the churches had done what they ought to have done there would have been no war. ‘The cause of the war was selfishness. It is that which is at the root of all quarrelling. ‘The moral and economic well-being of society lies directly with the churches. As the churches have not realised their responsibilities they are estranged from people.’ No dinner He continued: ‘Few present would believe that there are ordinary people in Shipley who that day have had no dinner. If they had, it will have consisted of a pot of tea and half a slice of dry bread, the other half having to be left for tea. ‘People laugh at me when I make a statement like that but it is a fact.’ He went on to address the problem of pensioners. ‘I am of the opinion that what I would call rest houses – not union houses or alma houses – should

be provided for the aged workers so that they can spend their declining years in reasonable comfort. Such houses ought to be established in every town. ‘I threw out the idea some thirty years ago and am pleased that something of the kind is being adopted in some mining districts. ‘Before long, the old age pensions will be increased and it is not before time either. ‘It is said when pensions are talked of that the amount which would have to be paid for that purpose is so large that it would ruin the country. But we have now seen that we can spend several millions a day in certain directions and not ruin the country.’ He had strict views on alcohol, especially the idea of women drinking. ‘I am pleased drastic measures have been taken in regard to the drink question. The change will be for the benefit of the whole country. ‘It is bad for men to indulge in excessive drinking but worse for women. It grieves me very much

when I see women going into public houses. Whenever I see a woman enter such places I always try to fancy what her home must be like. Women in pubs ‘There must be something wrong somewhere when a woman frequents a “pub”. I would make it a crime for a woman to go into a public house and sit and drink there. I feel sure that some such step will be taken at some future date. ‘ In conclusion, he again turned his attention to the role the church should play in helping to resolve social problems. ‘The world could be made much better for the poor people if each individual would realise his responsibilities and do his best to uplift his fellows. ‘What we should try to do is to be practical. It is said that Christianity is played out; it has not yet been played in. ‘When I visit sick or poor people I always ascertain whether there is anything in the cupboard before I begin praying for them. It is little use talking to a hungry man about the goodness of God. ‘A parson who goes and prays with a man half an hour and then leaves him with an empty stomach is not likely to accomplish much for the salvation of the world. ‘If the great ideal of human brotherhood is to be realised the churches will have to present a united front and unite in their efforts to uproot the evils which prevail in the world.’

John Ellis Walker, a brass founder of Windhill, was in court charged for driving a car without lights. P.C Smith said he had stopped the car because although it had a light on the near side, it had no light on the offside. The defendant, who had been driving for nine years, said that ‘owing to the bad state of the road, the lamp had jolted and broken, the oil vessel having fallen out. ‘He went to the Shoulder of Mutton Inn to get a piece of cloth to tie it up. He lighted the lamp where the Charlestown Company had their works and again at the Seven Arches. He lit the lamp again but immediately he started the oil vessel began to rock and the light went out.’ Done his best Asked if he had thought of putting the working light on the other side, he said he had but that would have meant having the red light to the front and the white light to the rear. The magistrates decided the driver had done his best under the circumstances and he would be let off on payment of costs. Alec Dearnley, a dyer’s finisher of Windhill was fined 7s 6d for riding a bicycle along Otley Road without a rear light. When stopped he said he knew the light had gone out when he was on Hollings Hill but he hadn’t thought it was worth getting off to light it. In a third case, which highlights the diversity on the roads at the time, Newall Wade, a Bradford teamster, was fined a total of 15 shillings for driving a horse and wagon with no light and for being asleep at the time.

Driver struggles to keep lamps alight on damaged Otley Road

Shipley Education Committee’s reluctantly decided to bring back slates for children to write on as there was a shortage of paper and it was becoming more expensive. Cllr Cowgill opposed the move saying they were ‘noisy and took a good deal of attention in the way of cleaning. Although they admit of a certain amount of facility and rapid work, they have their counterpart in the fact that they tend to a certain degree of untidiness and slovenliness.’ Bad habits Miss Hermione Unwin reluctantly recommended the use again despite the fact ‘slates encourage children in very bad habits and lead them to be more careless than they would be. During the war, however, we ought to make use of the slates lying idle in the schools.’ The committee heard that 56 ‘necessitous children’ were currently being issued dinner tickets, down from 115 the year before. Miss Allen, the school nurse, had paid 11 visits to schools in January and examined 980 children, finding 262 who required treatment. They also considered a letter from Miss G Cuff, assistant teacher at Otley Road Infants School, asking to extend her six months’ leave of absence to allow her to serve as a nurse. The committee agreed but turned down a request that they should pay part of her salary.

Paper shortage forces schools back to slates despite shortcomings

Tram driver has to steer from the back with conductor as look-out

Passengers on the Thackley to Bradford tram were given a fright when ‘on starting from Town Gate, a huge mass of flame and smoke burst from the driver’s control box and rose to the top of the car. ‘The driver soon had the fire extinguished and the car resumed its journey with the driver and conductor in reversed positions. ‘The latter took his position on the front platform and acted as look-out whilst the driver controlled the car from the rear box.’

Eccleshill Councillor E J Smith claimed in a lecture that the birth rate decline ‘both in the upper class and amongst the workers’ presented a serious outlook for the future. In a vote of thanks the Rev W Manning ‘thought there would be some difficulty in finding suitable accommodation for large and poor families at a rent within their means. It was greatly needed to insure respectability.’

Concerns over drop in the birth rate

Couple transform local Salvation Army Corps

The newspaper ran a short feature on Adjutant and Mrs Soper of Shipley Salvation Army (above). The couple had moved to the district from Scotland the previous April when ‘the prospects were anything but bright’ but since they arrived ‘the local corps has literally developed by leaps and bounds and now numbers about 300 members.’ Daughter of France Mrs Soper was ‘a daughter of France’ and ‘a remarkably capable and energetic lady and is acknowledged to be one of the finest and most fluent speakers in the Salvation Army movement.’ Her husband ‘threw in his lot with the Salvation Army when insults were more common than words of praise but he, together with his good wife, have weathered the storm and today they enjoy the appreciation of a large circle of well wishers.’