Children of Joseph Henry and Gertrude Taylor

THE LICKEY.

MARRIAGE OF MR. FRANK WOODALL.—The Meeting House at Ayton was well filled on the occasion of the marriage of Mr. W.E. Frank Woodall, of Chadwich Manor Farm, Bromsgrove, and Eleanor, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph H. Taylor, of Ayton. Mr. J.H. Barlow (uncle of the bride) briefly explained to the uninitiated the simple marriage ceremony of Friends. The contracting parties having "said their say," a time of worship followed, in which Mr. Geo. Cadbury, jun., Miss L.V. Hodgson, and Mr. J.H. Barlow took part. Owing to the illness of the bride's mother, and the desire to make no great display in these sad and serious times, nothing in the way of a reception was held. Mr. and Mrs. Woodall left by motor for Middlesborough in the afternoon, joining the train there for the Lakes.

TRIBUNALS AND OBJECTORS. Mr Basil Taylor, Herdholt, Great Ayton, Writes:—"I was glad to read in your 'Northern Notes' an appreciation of the broad-minded action of the Middlesbrough Local Tribunal in granting reviews of sundry 'conscience' cases. Without going into the merits of the case you mention I should like to point out a fact that does not appear to be generally realised—viz. that a very large proportion of conscientious objectors do not feel able to undertake 'alternative service' under the Military Service Act. Space does not permit a full explanation of this position; but surely it is a further proof of a man's genuineness if he chooses to go to prison rather than accept some pleasant occupation such as farm work, and these would seem to be the cases mentioned in Mr Long's instructions to Tribunals, where absolute exemption may be given if this is the only form of exemption that will meet the case. Such men are worse than useless to the Army, whereas, were they given the exemption provided by the Act, they would continue to be useful citizens."

MR BASIL TAYLOR'S CASE. Last Saturday, October 14th, Mr Basil Taylor, of Great Ayton, a Quaker of many generations, was sentenced to 112 days' imprisonment for refusing to obey military orders. As his family's hold on the principles of the Society of Friends goes back to Cromwell's day, his case certainly seems to support Lord Hugh Cecil's contention that the conscience clause of the Military Service Acts is not being well administered. The following description of the case is given by a correspondent:—"Basil Taylor is a conscientious objector to all forms of Military Service, was was only granted exemption from combatant service by the Tribunals; he was arrested on June 15th, and handed over to the military fourteen days later. The authorities to whom he was sent were fully alive to the absurdity of sending this man to them. His conduct proved that he was one of those entitled to the 'absolute exemption' provided for in the Act. Considerable pains were taken to procure exemption for him, but he consistently refused to compromise by accepting any form of civil alternative to military service. Finally he was offered absolute exemption by a special committee in London if he would abide by two conditions: (1) that he should not take any part whatever in peace propaganda work; (2) that he should devote a considerable portion of his salary to charitable objects. He could not see his way to obtaining his liberty by buying it on the hire purchase system, or yet why he should be fined for having a 'conscientious objection allowed him by the law of the land. Neither could he enter into a bargain which prevented him protesting against that which, by heredity and conviction, he believes to be entirely wrong. Spiritual liberty is his birthright, and he will not surrender any part of his spiritual liberty even though it has involved the loss of his physical liberty. By taking this course Basil Taylor is showing that he is not trying to escape from military service from cowardly motives. If it had been so he could have avoided all danger by working with the Non-Combatant Corps, or by accepting some civil alternative. It is therefore clear that this is 'an exceptional case in which the genuine convictions and circumstances of the man are such that neither exemption from combatant service nor a conditional exemption will adequately meet these cases' and 'absolute exemption may be granted in these cases,' to quote Mr Long's own words in the Local Government Board circular to Tribunals. The 'conscience clause,' it will thus be seen, 'allows absolute exemption for men who are without doubt entirely sincere and genuine.' Strange and extraordinary as it may seem, these are the very men who are being singled out for imprisonment. Even the imprisonment is of a strange and seemingly endless nature, for as soon as one sentence expires the man is returned to his unit, only to disobey again with the consequent further imprisonment, and so ad infinitum."

BASIL TAYLOR'S CASE. Mr Roland W. Pask, Great Ayton, writes:—"I am sure many of your readers will be interested in and appreciate the clear explanation of Basil Taylor's case which appeared in your issue of Saturday last under 'Northern Notes.' It is indeed to be regretted that a young man such as he is should be taken from his work and imprisoned, solely because he believes it to be wrong to undertake other work under the Military Service Act. No one can doubt that he has proved himself to be a genuine 'Conscientious Objector,' and absolute exemption would have been a just outcome of the experiences and trials through which he has gone during the past months. Can any who know him imagine Basil Taylor compromising with that which to him, as he has repeatedly stated, is evil and wrong? As one of his friends, it has been, and is, a pleasure to me to support him through these difficult times, and I have no hesitation in saying that in so far as he is doing that which he feels is right, he is entitled to equal consideration and sympathy with the many who are laying down their lives for what they believe is the right."

BASIL TAYLOR'S CASE. Mr Theodore Shewell, Redcar, writes:—"Your correspondent 'Perplexed' of Monday evening, in his desire to make a nice point, is unfair to himself, the public, and Basil Taylor. He is first perplexed about absolute exemption, and states that such exemption may only be given conditional upon doing work of national importance. Such an exemption would be a conditional exemption, and not an absolute exemption from the provisions of the Act. the two Military Service Acts, and the instructions quoted in your paper last Saturday, make the legality of absolute exemption perfectly clear to the unperplexed mind. Lord Lansdowne and Mr Long, speaking for the Government, have made statements about which there is no ambiguity. The former says that the intention of the Government is to give an 'absolute dispensation' to the out and out conscientious objector, and the latter, referring to the granting of absolute exemption, says: 'That is the law to-day.' In addition to this there is the fact that some hundreds of men have been granted absolute exemption free from any conditions whatever. Your correspondent is further perplexed about Basil Taylor's relations to the Building Society. 'Perplexed' admits that Basil Taylor is an agent, and then endeavours to make him appear financial secretary in charge of the Building Society's funds. He stigmatises my friend's conscience as unbalanced and uneducated, as 'he assists the military by providing it with the necessary funds.' No doubt the Building Society has invested money in War Loans; so have the railway companies, the insurance companies, and the banks; but they do so in spite of the conscientious objector, and not at his instigation. The offending advertisement bills were posted in Middlesbrough four months after Basil Taylor's arrest, and 13 days after he finally left the town, consequently he has never even seen them or is aware of their existence. I must remind 'Perplexed' that Bas Taylor was an agent for this society before the war, and that this society is a Building Society, and not a company for financing the military, and also that an agent has no control over the manner in which his board of directors may invest their surplus funds. Finally, I must say that to be in this way perplexed is a spurious assumption, calculated to discredit a high-minded gentleman, who is in prison for being true to his principles, and therefore is unable to defend himself."

COURT-MARTIALLED.

Conscientious Objectors Charged with Refusing to Obey Orders.

A Court-Martial at Glen Parva Barracks on Monday heard a charge against Private Basil Taylor, of refusing to obey an order given by a superior officer and refusing to fall in on parade at Leicester on June 11th. Taylor belongs to the Non Combatant Corps, and is a Quaker, his home being at Middlesbrough. Captain Groves appeared for the prosecution, and the accused, who was not legally represented, pleaded guilty.—In a written statement Taylor said his action was prompted by no spirit of obstinacy, but after two years of imprisonment for the same cause he again took a stand, even though it meant a repetition of his imprisonment. He adopted the course he was taking because he could not get from the Tribunals that which he was entitled to—absolute exemption.—Sentence will be announced in due course.

BEEKEEPERS' LECTURE

There was quite a good attendance at a meeting organised by the Beekeepers' section of the New Milton Horticultural Society, and held in the Milton Institute on Monday evening.

Mr. E. Britton, the chairman of the section, presided, supported by Dr. M.T. Archdall (hon. secretary), and the speaker, Mr. Basil Taylor.

Mr. Taylor criticised various popular fallacies in connection with bees and bee-keeping and gave those present some very useful advice. After the address Mr. Taylor answered a number of questions.

New Milton

Mr. Basil Taylor, of Hordle, gave an address on "Nationalism and the Alternative," a subject, he admitted, which was highly controversial. The patriotism which combined love of country with pride in the freedom of the individual was right and proper, he said. European nationalism was infected by a disease which had led men to worship the state as God. This was a perversion of human instincts. The individual tended to reach out for something higher, and should be encouraged to do so.

By direction of Basil Taylor, Esq.

The Grove Farm

Edwardstone

The Desirable Small Freehold Farm, with substantially built Farm Residence, Excellent Premises, Cottage, and

67 ACRES

of well-farmed highly productive Mixed Soil Land.

WITH POSSESSION.

Solicitors: Messrs. Bates, Wells and Braithwaite, Sudbury.

Particulars may be obtained from the Auctioneers, Sudbury, Suffolk, and from the Solicitors concerned.

"Rogers" Gilt Bought for Scotland

SHOW SUCCESSES

MR. Basil Taylor, farmer and fruit grower, of Newton and Edwardstone, owner of the Rogers heard of pedigree Wessex Saddleback Pigs, had some successes at the 18th annual show and sale of the National Pig-breeders' Association at Reading on Wednesday.

He gained a first prize and the reserve supreme championship with his young gilt, "Rogers Hazel 27th," born on January 3rd this year. This gilt was subsequently sold by Messrs. Harry Hobson & Co. for 160 guineas to go into Scotland.

HIGHLY COMMENDED.

Another gilt, "Rogers Peach 14th," was highly commended and was bought by a Welsh buyer for 85 guineas.

It may be recalled that "Rogers Hazel 27th" took a first at the Suffolk Show this year, and gained the reserve championship at Reading in competition with gilts and boars many of which were six months older than herself.

[ . . . ] Only accident reported was at Alpheton on Tuesday, when a 'bus, driven by Mr. Basil Simpkin, of Bury St. Edmunds, was involved in a collision with a goods vehicle driven by Mr. Basil Taylor, of Rogers Farm, Newton.

There were no injuries and only slight damage was done to vehicles.

Mr. Basil Taylor, of Newton, took second prize in the bacon class for a pair of first cross bacon pigs judged alive. The pigs were Landrace x Wessex Saddleback.

SEVERAL excellent Wessex Gilts, due to pig at the end of August. Hardy, prolific. — Basil Taylor, "Rogers," Newton, Sudbury, Suffolk. Phone Boxford 239.

Siam Hall, which is built mainly of timber and plaster, is the property of Mr. Fredk. Lowry Corry, of Edwardstone. It is rented by Mr. Basil Taylor, of Rogers' Farm, for two of his employees [ . . . ]