Jam & Jerusalem Explained
Here are some interesting facts about Southwell WI and the WI in general that we hope you enjoy reading.
Why do we sing Jerusalem?
The decision to choose Jerusalem came as a result of a letter from Vice Chairman Grace Hadow to the organisation's magazine, Home and Country, the December prior to the 8th AGM, suggesting its use. Members wrote in favour of this suggestion. The letter headed An Institute Song, by Grace Hadow read: I have recently been at Exhibitions or Council meetings at which the whole assembly has joined in singing Sir Hubert Parry's setting of Blake's Jerusalem. Many WI members have said how much they would like to sing it at our Annual Meeting in London, and I write to urge that WIs or County Federations which approve of this suggestion might write to Headquarters and ask if this could be arranged. It should be clearly understood that when a WI makes this request it pledges itself to learn words and tune by heart. The attempt cannot be a success unless every delegate is ready to sing whether she thinks she can sing or whether she thinks she can't. Both words and music are simple and dignified and easy to learn. Incidentally the learning would give pleasure to any WI and would afford an excellent opportunity for a short talk either on Blake's poetry, or on poems about England. We have long looked in vain for a national 'Institute Song'. Here is one made to our hand and one which some counties have already adopted. Yours truly, Grace E. Hadow. A Mr Leslie of Llansantffraid, an amateur musician, persuaded Sir Walford Davies, a personal friend and composer, to make a special arrangement for string orchestra for the 8th AGM, which he himself conducted the singing, bringing a choir from local WIs with him to lead. In the 1920s, many WIs were forming choirs and seeking help and advice. The Shropshire Federation was the first to form a music sub-committee and they invited Mr W H Leslie to advise them. So successful was this that Mr Leslie was invited by the NFWI to conduct singing schools in the county federations round the country and also to write articles about choirs and music for WI Home and Country. As mentioned earlier, Mr Leslie, of Llansantffraid on the Shropshire-Montgomery border, was a personal friend of the composer Sir Walford Davies, and was himself deeply involved in amateur music. The first WI Choral Competition was held in Sussex in 1923, and very soon other federations followed. The first one-day school for village conductors was held in London in early 1924 with Mr Leslie in charge. All went back to their federations pledged to help to train other conductors and there was a great need for suitable music for these choirs to sing. With Mr Leslie's help, the NFWI brought out the first Women's Institute Song Book - a collection of songs particularly suitable for singing at monthly meetings. Jerusalem was sung at the AGM, but at this point it had not been adopted as the official song. Lady Denman recalled that the NFWI ran a competition for an 'Institute song', hoping that it might produce a good but unknown poet. Many poems were sent in but nothing suitable was found; it was after receiving a verse that began, 'We are a band of earnest women' that Grace Hadow, the Vice-chairman, suggested that Jerusalem should become the WI song. Jerusalem had been used by the National Union of Suffrage Societies in the 1918 celebrations of women's enfranchisement, and many of the leaders of the NFWI, including Grace Hadow, had been part of that struggle to win the vote for women. Millicent Fawcett, the leader of the suffragists, wrote to Hubert Parry, 'Your Jerusalem ought to be made the women voters' hymn', which of course in a way it was, being adopted by the WI. In brief, by singing Jerusalem the WI is marking its links with the wider women's movement, and its commitment to improving the conditions of rural life.
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What's all the fuss about jam?
The WI in Britain was formed in the middle of the First World War, when submarine blockades prevented food from being brought into the country and it was imperative that as much food as possible should be grown at home. The Board of Agriculture gave the challenge: 'We have to prevent hunger - every ounce of food which can be grown in this country must be grown, and every woman who can give a hand in this vastly important work must give a hand.' (From verbatim report of the October 1917 meeting - NFWI). Thus from 1915 to 1917 the WIs, under the auspices of the Agricultural Organisations Society (AOS), played their part in increasing food production by making jams and preserves and bottling and pickling other fruit and vegetables. These tasks were second nature to most countrywomen - and very necessary if the excess produce from gardens and smallholdings were to be preserved. This was the war work for which WI members became renowned (and the 'jam' image has stuck ever since). Many WIs set up fruit bottling centres. In 1916 the AOS imported from the US six fruit sterilising outfits for the Institutes to borrow. They were soon in great demand and more had to be obtained. Canning and bottling did not require sugar but if the excess fruit produced in gardens and small holdings was to be preserved as jam, sugar, though in short supply was necessary. However, in 1917, 1918 and 1919 the Board of Agriculture allocated sugar to WIs for fruit preserving and all these preserves were then taken for communal use. Yet again, in the Second World War, WI members helped with food production. In 1939 the NFWI set up The Produce Guild, with a government grant of £500, to teach members about intensive cultivation and provide fertilisers and cheaper plants. When war broke out, the NFWI was invited by the Ministry of Agriculture to organise a Co-operative Fruit Preservation Scheme. Five hundred Dixie Hand sealers - or home canners - came from America, together with a complete Food Preservation Unit and oil stoves, preserving pans, tea towels, thermometers, jam jars, bottling jars, jam-pot covers and special discs for pickles and chutneys. Between 1940 and 1945 more than 5,300 tons of fruit were preserved; that is, nearly 12 million pounds of fruit, which might otherwise have been wasted, provided food for the nation.
The Words to Jerusalem
JERUSALEM
And did those feet in ancient time Walk upon England’s mountains green? And was the holy lamb of God On England’s pleasant pastures seen? And did the Countenance Divine Shine forth upon our clouded hills? And was Jerusalem builded here Among those dark,Satanic mills? Bring me my bow of burning gold! Bring me my arrows of desire! Bring me my spear; O clouds unfold! Bring me my chariot of fire! I will not cease from mental fight, Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand, ‘Til we have built Jerusalem In England’s green and pleasant land. Words by William Blake, Music by Sir Hubert Parry |