In a simple ceremony at Dun Laoghaire Methodist Church last week, the secretary of the Conference, the Rev Edmond Mawhinney, presented the badge of the Order of Jerusalem to Dr Edith Loane. The order has recently been established by the World Methodist Council to honour those officers who have given distinguished service.
Dr Loane attended the meetings of the World Federation of Methodist Women (WFMW) in Denver, Colorado in 1971, representing the women's department of the MMS in Ireland, which later became the Methodist Women's Association. In Denver she was appointed official correspondent for Ireland of the WFMW. When it met in Dublin in 1976, the federation appointed her area president, and between 1981 and 1982 she served as treasurer.
From 1991 to 1996 she was the federation's president, becoming the first member of the Irish Methodist Church to hold world office. In that capacity she was also an officer of the World Methodist Council.
Throughout her years of office Dr Loane has been an indefatigable traveller, visiting all the continents giving addresses and seminars to women's groups. The badge of the order she has now received is of gold and enamel, incorporating the Jerusalem Cross and the Lion of Judah.
A small book recently published tells as much as is now known of the life of Dr Sally Wolfe. Called She Left her Heart in China, the book has been written by her great-niece, Ms Jane Wright. Born in Skibbereen, Dr Sally early felt the call to leave her comfortable home and become a missionary in China, to which end she received medical training in at University College Cork in 1913.
Her work in China was carried on against the background of political upheaval, as the last Chinese Emperor was deposed by the Koumintang, the Japanese invaded China and the Koumintang was ultimately overthrown by the Communists.
Through all of this, Dr Sally continued to run her hospital and to carry out operations. She adopted three unwanted Chinese children. Forced to leave in 1951, she never again heard from the three children.
She was never willing to speak much of herself, and her story has been pieced together from her surviving letters and from the comments of those who knew her. Copies of the book are available in bookshops in the Cork area, or from the publishers: Cloverhill Press, 57 Main Street, Groomsport, Co Down.
The annual Edgehill Refresher Course for Methodist ministers will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday next, September 7th and 8th. The Rev Prof Frances Young, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University of Birmingham, will speak on the theme, "Where shall wisdom be found?". Prof
Young has strong connections with Belfast, where her father, Dr Stanley Worrall, was a noted ecumenist.
The Rev Dr Bill Davies, former president of the conference, will address a series of meetings arranged by the Belfast District on "Ministry for the Millennium". Evening meetings will be held at Cairnshill on Thursday, September 16th, and Shankill on Friday, 17th, both at 7.30 p.m.
There will be a seminar at Edgehill College on the Friday morning, and on Sunday Dr Davies will preach at Sydenham in the morning and at Grosvenor House in the evening.
This year's Bedell Boyle Lecture, organised by the National Bible Society of Ireland, will be given at the Emmaus Retreat Centre, Swords, Co Dublin, at 8 p.m. on Friday, September 17th. The Rev Lucian Accad, general secretary of the Bible Society in Lebanon, will speak on the theme, "The Right Time has Come".
The president of the church, the Rev Dr Kenneth Wilson, will preach at Glengormley Methodist Church tomorrow morning. On Sunday, September 12th, he will preach at Cullybackey in Co Antrim in the morning and at Ballymena in the evening.
RTE Radio 1 will broadcast morning worship, led by the Rev Alan Meara, from Abbey Street Methodist Church tomorrow morning.