W. GLADYS RINDER TO BR, JULY 1918
BRACERS 79617. ALS. McMaster
Proofread by S. Turcon and K. Blackwell

I’m writing because there are at least two things I want to say; the first is about that letter. I am so sorry about it, and wonder if the fact that typing is easier to read than my writing has anything to do with it! If so it’s a pity as I can type, only I make queer mistakes! So glad to receive so good an account from yr. last visitors, only don’t grow too meek! A meeting at Roden [?] Buxton’s at which you were the very reverse comes back to me still as inspiration. — CA [Clifford Allen] sent me that note and asked me to have part of it copied. You have put into words what many of us have been groping for. Even people like Mr. Bracher [?] — devotees of the self-destruction cult — are wavering; he is no longer certain that going to prison always helps a movement. For some time I’ve been feeling that principles which don’t make life fuller and richer are insufficient, it’s totally easy to be in opposition, but unsatisfying. I do so thoroughly agree with what you say about “serving the world” through “the positive desire to nourish life in the world rather than minister to death.” If we are to be of value at all we must be creative, it isn’t enough to pull down incessantly. I always felt that yr. influence in the offices was in some sense creative: it brought out harmony and good feeling where both before and afterwards there was friction, and it seems to me that will [be] a very valuable quality for the after war time. It’s the spirit we want in the new world, and if we can’t manage it on a small scale, in more or less personal relations we shall only fail with bigger things. — I can’t do it myself, and only wish one were sure one was really “nourishing life in the world” in yr sense. — Rigid principles make such water tight compartments between human beings; if only all those who are sick of this orgy of destruction could turn to living things, such as art and thought, — we might in time understand one another much better. I find that sense of harmony and joyous growth in Hilda Meynell’s music, she told me afterwards that to create it was her great desire, it has the liberating power of all great thoughts. I quite agree with all you say about preaching, but feel very doubtful as to whether the prisoners should accept release conditional on abstention from propaganda. I feel strongly with CA about preserving liberty. — The Labour Conference was inspiring: what a wonderful person? [Longuet] is, such passionate sincerity is very rare. — Now for some office news. — We have now weekly! visits from our friends, I’m sure J.B. [Joan Beauchamp] will soon lose her freedom again; she and V.T. [Violet Tillyard] are full of theories of breaking every rule on principle as protest against general conditions. I can’t feel it a very effective policy under present circumstances. Finances are far from flourishing, Al. W. and T. Harris have been app. a special commission, we have all been catechised. They made (what they thought!) most delicate and tactful enquiries of me as to the effect of “dear Ernie’s” regrettable manners on the “young women on the staff.” I think they imagined brusque joviality reduced them to tears! I’ve a suspicion CGA is going, but don’t know. — I’m fitting into here by degrees, it’s a great change from C.O.I.B., but after all it may be excellent to be shaken out of a rut. I hope to be of some real use. I’ve so often thought of what you always say about looking for “tendencies”, it’s most helpful. — But things here are at present rather chaotic, it’s not clear which tendencies will prevail. Dr. S. [Salter] flashes here weekly, like a meteor and decides many matters in the twinkling of an eye, but on the whole I’ve a curious feeling that the NCF has somehow got into a rather stagnant backwater, and how to get it out is the problem. — I haven’t seen C. since L.P. Conf. She has an extraordinary power of disregarding all the petty annoyances which most of us allow to distract us. It’s like a sound sense of values, and leaves her free to go on to the next thing of importance. But one of the things I admire most in her is her generous judgement even of those she doesn’t like. It’s a spirit which must lead to good feeling, only it’s fearfully difficult to emulate. We move to 7 Meck: Sqre on 11 July, it will in some ways be very convenient. Our last “visitors” at Y.B. [York Buildings] suggested a fine of £5 per copy. At that rate J.B. owes £120,000! — Your brother and his wife have been so kind to me, we’ve had some quite amusing interviews. Poor CA seems rather despondent about himself. We do so miss you, you know we are doing everything that can be done on the lines you wish, don’t you? Many of our people are beginning to worry over the problem of introducing pacifist principles into industry. One result has been to convince many at Wakefield that pacifism is essentially unpractical, and they no longer consider themselves pacifists. Oh dear, why can’t you have 3 or 4 visits a week? I wish I could so something more to help. I saw a most marvelous sunrise last week: unearthly pink flush above glorious turquoise sea, and then a ball of fire. The world was new made and all things were possible.

Very best wishes
W.G.R.

H.O. are apparently about to offer 2 yr. freedom conditional on work and no propaganda.