Guilds
Guilds were set up for many different skills like sewing, arts and crafts, woodwork. The Certificate of Membership at Arundale School in England was applied to Vasanta Garden School.
It read:
“The object of the Guild is to serve by expressing the Divine in its aspect of beauty. This principle must first be expressed in unfailing courtesy of conduct and cleanliness of body. Members must be quick to notice and to remedy anything in the nature of disorder. Members must undertake some specific craft or art, with the immediate object of beautifying the school and must satisfy the Master Craftsman of their ability to accomplish the work. The Master must be satisfied, too, that those who seek membership will be able to carry out the work and to live up to the principles.”
Thereafter a Vasanta Co-operative Guild comprising of parents, subscribers and others who were interested in the school was started. Of no little importance was the work done in the Teacher-Parent Friendly Club, teachers and parents met often to discuss their common interest, the child.
It read:
“The object of the Guild is to serve by expressing the Divine in its aspect of beauty. This principle must first be expressed in unfailing courtesy of conduct and cleanliness of body. Members must be quick to notice and to remedy anything in the nature of disorder. Members must undertake some specific craft or art, with the immediate object of beautifying the school and must satisfy the Master Craftsman of their ability to accomplish the work. The Master must be satisfied, too, that those who seek membership will be able to carry out the work and to live up to the principles.”
Thereafter a Vasanta Co-operative Guild comprising of parents, subscribers and others who were interested in the school was started. Of no little importance was the work done in the Teacher-Parent Friendly Club, teachers and parents met often to discuss their common interest, the child.
NZ Theosophy magazine articles:
THE CHILDREN'S CORNER
The principal event of the past month at Vasanta College, Auckland, was the opening of the new building, measuring 25 x 15 feet, which has been erected by volunteer labour. The opening ceremony, conducted by the General Secretary, Mr. J. R. Thomson, is here described by one of the scholars. -ed.
ACCOUNT OF THE OPENING OF THE GUILD OF ARTS AND CRAFTS' WORKROOM OF VASANTA COLLEGE
On August 12th Mr. Thomson opened the Arts and Crafts' workroom. There were quite a large number of people present, and the room was packed tightly. On entering the door, on the left hand side, is the metal-work bench, made of solid rough wood, which will bear any amount of hammering and bumping. Further along, on the same side, is the more delicately-made bench for the girls sewing department. The contrast between the two is very marked. Although the room is of a fair size it is not yet large enough for all the crafts which will be practised there. Mr. Scott gave to the metal-work department a piece of tram rail to use as an anvil.
The room is on the slope of Mount St. John and is consequently very sunny and airy, and is overlooking the valley and Mount Eden. The inside has chocolate-coloured walls with a white plaster ceiling, across which are battens. It was decorated by some members of the upper classes with white narcissi, which showed up delicately against the dark walls and looked very artistic. Mr. Thomson's speech greatly impressed the elder children, and all listened intently. Mr. Thomson emphasised especially that the work of the Guild must be good, as every careful piece of work made a character better. These simple words made one's fingers itch to do some beautiful piece of work for the benefit of the school. On the wall above the speaker's head hung a panel, so as to attract the notice of anyone entering the door, on it was printed in Old English letters of blue and gold these words, "For the highest." After this Mr. Fernyhough closed the meeting. On the arrival of the potter's wheel, which is kindly promised us by Mr. Gardiner, the Guild will be completed with these crafts: needle-work, metal-work, wood-work, bee-keeping, basket and leather work, pottery, drawing and electrical departments.
Dorothy Stephenson
From the ‘Theosophy in New Zealand’ magazine Sept 1922
VASANTA COLLEGE: AN AFTERNOON IN THE ARTS AND CRAFTS WORKSHOP
At the Council meeting of the previous Friday the work for the ensuing week was decided upon, and now the Master Craftsmen are busy in arranging the work. There are plans to prepare for the book shelves; Dick is to prepare the drawings for an easel to hold a picture; Roy is to proceed with the steps for the kitchen, the drawings for which have been already passed by the Council; and so the preparation goes on.
In five minutes more, the workshop is transformed from a peaceful, orderly room, into a busy shop. The noise is, as a rule, too great for one to hear oneself speak, and the noise incidental to hammering metal upon the anvil (a piece of tram-rail acquired through the kindness of Mr. Scott), and of hammering nails into wood, is usually augmented by the happy singing of the workers. A stranger entering the room would perhaps stand for quite an appreciable time unnoticed,—not, be it Understood, through lack of courtesy on the part of the workers, but because they are so intent upon their work.
In the corner, here, upon the left, behind the door, is the metal-work bench. Round the wall you will notice the racks that hold the tools, and underneath the bench, each on its own hook, are the templates Mr. Scott made for us. Here you see Fred using one. He is making a bucket from a petrol can, and a very substantial bucket it will be, too. A little further down the same bench, Lionel is doing some beaten copper work. The next bench you will see is very much more lightly built. This was made for the girls, for needlework, but you will see leather-workers at it now; Margaret is making a pair of slippers for Brenda, and Graham a serviette ring.
That small cupboard at the end of the room, under the motto, is the work of the Master Craftsman of the Carpentry Department: no, not quite all his own, but the majority—not bad work is it? It is to contain the carpentry tools. It has been rather neglected lately, because several of the Master Craftsmen have been engaged in erecting the shed for the pottery wheel. It was not realised that the pottery wheel would require a shed all to itself, so that is why the Master Craftsmen are hastening with it now. Several of the younger people are watching its growth with great interest.
Yes, that big cupboard at the other end of the room contains the half-finished work. You will notice the beehives on the top. The members of the Guild are anxious to augment their present income and have started keeping bees. The Master Craftsman of the bees was asked, the other day, if he would write an article, "Bees and How They Sting," but before he could answer it was suggested that "Stings, and How They Be" would prove more interesting.
Before going back along this Side of the room, let us see what this young gentleman is doing. He is hard at work on this fret-saw machine, so kindly given us by Mrs. Woolcott. He is making a jig-saw puzzle. How simple it is to make! Here is the set of wood-carving tools given to us by Mrs. Buttle, and here is the rack for the leather work.
Just look at all the children ! Aren't they happy? And their work—all of their own creation!
FINANCE
The Treasurer of the Trust is happy to report that loans have been promised almost sufficient to enable the mortgage payment of £1,000 to be made in January.
Unfortunately the Income Fund, fed by guaranteed subscriptions and donations is very deficient this year. Donations are barely half of former years. Members who subscribe annually and who have not yet remitted, are requested to kindly do so at once, as the financial year closes on 30th November. Address The Treasurer, Theosophical Education Trust, 351, Queen Street, Auckland.
From the ‘Theosophy in New Zealand’ magazine Nov 1922
The principal event of the past month at Vasanta College, Auckland, was the opening of the new building, measuring 25 x 15 feet, which has been erected by volunteer labour. The opening ceremony, conducted by the General Secretary, Mr. J. R. Thomson, is here described by one of the scholars. -ed.
ACCOUNT OF THE OPENING OF THE GUILD OF ARTS AND CRAFTS' WORKROOM OF VASANTA COLLEGE
On August 12th Mr. Thomson opened the Arts and Crafts' workroom. There were quite a large number of people present, and the room was packed tightly. On entering the door, on the left hand side, is the metal-work bench, made of solid rough wood, which will bear any amount of hammering and bumping. Further along, on the same side, is the more delicately-made bench for the girls sewing department. The contrast between the two is very marked. Although the room is of a fair size it is not yet large enough for all the crafts which will be practised there. Mr. Scott gave to the metal-work department a piece of tram rail to use as an anvil.
The room is on the slope of Mount St. John and is consequently very sunny and airy, and is overlooking the valley and Mount Eden. The inside has chocolate-coloured walls with a white plaster ceiling, across which are battens. It was decorated by some members of the upper classes with white narcissi, which showed up delicately against the dark walls and looked very artistic. Mr. Thomson's speech greatly impressed the elder children, and all listened intently. Mr. Thomson emphasised especially that the work of the Guild must be good, as every careful piece of work made a character better. These simple words made one's fingers itch to do some beautiful piece of work for the benefit of the school. On the wall above the speaker's head hung a panel, so as to attract the notice of anyone entering the door, on it was printed in Old English letters of blue and gold these words, "For the highest." After this Mr. Fernyhough closed the meeting. On the arrival of the potter's wheel, which is kindly promised us by Mr. Gardiner, the Guild will be completed with these crafts: needle-work, metal-work, wood-work, bee-keeping, basket and leather work, pottery, drawing and electrical departments.
Dorothy Stephenson
From the ‘Theosophy in New Zealand’ magazine Sept 1922
VASANTA COLLEGE: AN AFTERNOON IN THE ARTS AND CRAFTS WORKSHOP
At the Council meeting of the previous Friday the work for the ensuing week was decided upon, and now the Master Craftsmen are busy in arranging the work. There are plans to prepare for the book shelves; Dick is to prepare the drawings for an easel to hold a picture; Roy is to proceed with the steps for the kitchen, the drawings for which have been already passed by the Council; and so the preparation goes on.
In five minutes more, the workshop is transformed from a peaceful, orderly room, into a busy shop. The noise is, as a rule, too great for one to hear oneself speak, and the noise incidental to hammering metal upon the anvil (a piece of tram-rail acquired through the kindness of Mr. Scott), and of hammering nails into wood, is usually augmented by the happy singing of the workers. A stranger entering the room would perhaps stand for quite an appreciable time unnoticed,—not, be it Understood, through lack of courtesy on the part of the workers, but because they are so intent upon their work.
In the corner, here, upon the left, behind the door, is the metal-work bench. Round the wall you will notice the racks that hold the tools, and underneath the bench, each on its own hook, are the templates Mr. Scott made for us. Here you see Fred using one. He is making a bucket from a petrol can, and a very substantial bucket it will be, too. A little further down the same bench, Lionel is doing some beaten copper work. The next bench you will see is very much more lightly built. This was made for the girls, for needlework, but you will see leather-workers at it now; Margaret is making a pair of slippers for Brenda, and Graham a serviette ring.
That small cupboard at the end of the room, under the motto, is the work of the Master Craftsman of the Carpentry Department: no, not quite all his own, but the majority—not bad work is it? It is to contain the carpentry tools. It has been rather neglected lately, because several of the Master Craftsmen have been engaged in erecting the shed for the pottery wheel. It was not realised that the pottery wheel would require a shed all to itself, so that is why the Master Craftsmen are hastening with it now. Several of the younger people are watching its growth with great interest.
Yes, that big cupboard at the other end of the room contains the half-finished work. You will notice the beehives on the top. The members of the Guild are anxious to augment their present income and have started keeping bees. The Master Craftsman of the bees was asked, the other day, if he would write an article, "Bees and How They Sting," but before he could answer it was suggested that "Stings, and How They Be" would prove more interesting.
Before going back along this Side of the room, let us see what this young gentleman is doing. He is hard at work on this fret-saw machine, so kindly given us by Mrs. Woolcott. He is making a jig-saw puzzle. How simple it is to make! Here is the set of wood-carving tools given to us by Mrs. Buttle, and here is the rack for the leather work.
Just look at all the children ! Aren't they happy? And their work—all of their own creation!
FINANCE
The Treasurer of the Trust is happy to report that loans have been promised almost sufficient to enable the mortgage payment of £1,000 to be made in January.
Unfortunately the Income Fund, fed by guaranteed subscriptions and donations is very deficient this year. Donations are barely half of former years. Members who subscribe annually and who have not yet remitted, are requested to kindly do so at once, as the financial year closes on 30th November. Address The Treasurer, Theosophical Education Trust, 351, Queen Street, Auckland.
From the ‘Theosophy in New Zealand’ magazine Nov 1922
SOCIAL RECONSTRUCTION GUILD
At the picnic in Cornwall Park, held on Saturday, January 3rd, an attempt was made to gain a hearing for this Guild, whose meeting had been squeezed out by the crowding engagements of this busy week. After luncheon those present reclined on the grass and listened with appreciation to Mr. Jinarajadasa, who said:—" The subject is so large that one really requires months of preparation to give any coherent ideas, and one coming from outside the Dominion can scarcely give practical advice to you. I can only suggest general principles. The first thing to keep in mind is that a nation is an entity, it is going to be a vehicle of some kind of spiritual life which will specially characterise it as a nation. I would advise you not to be guided by the ways of reconstruction adopted in other countries, but to discover the particular type of movement which is going to give New Zealand the swiftest development. In industrial life in England they are discussing all kinds of schemes—Syndicalism, Guilds, Profit-sharing, Co-operation. It does not follow that because one of these may be a success there that it will be so here.
Try to feel what are the particular ways which will suit the people. Separate yourselves from all limitations and try to grasp the spirit of the Dominion, for the Dominion will be the nation to come. Each great nation is in charge of one or other of the great angelic orders. There is what is known as the Deva of the Race. He has before him the plan of the work which is to be done by the nation, and he is continually looking about for the persons to whom he can give the ideas of the future. No one individual is likely to be the maker of the nation. Men and women in all departments will be used by him. He has before him a clear plan of what is the type of national contribution which his people must give to the civilisations of the world.
"The nation can be helped or hindered according to its karma. Sometimes a very little action may hinder a great event in the future. You will remember how England solved the problem of liberating the West Indian slaves, without doing injustice to the slave owners. She spent twenty million pounds, worth perhaps a hundred millions to-day. In Russia, when the serfs were freed, it was done by proclamation, and there was very little compensation, so that, as a result there was a -good deal of hardship. The good karma of England's act, which accomplished a good end without any accompanying evil, may be seen in the opportunity given to England to spread out in many ways, in Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, etc. Karma is very important in the life of a nation, and you willhave to see that things are not done by political bodies, or by various interests, which will handicap your nation in the future. There must be no kind of exploitation of any part of the people for the benefit of the others.
"I mention incidentally the great harm that might come to the nation through this scheme of indentured labour in Samoa. Business men may tell you that the conditions are fairly free from evil, but looked at Theosophically there is a great deal of danger. You might have your country more prosperous through the development of plantations, but if the scheme causes harshness or irritation among the people employed, that will react upon our nation.
"I do not know who was responsible for clearing out the slum area near your headquarters, but an action like that mean's a great deal. Beautifying a city, throwing open a space for the benefit of the children, means, on the other side of the sacrifice, a great possibility of growth and pleasant feeling in the life of the city. Whatever amount of money may be spent, it will be compensated in later generations by a greater civic vigour and national strength.
"I quite look forward to the time when practically all the great reformers will be influenced by Theosophical ideas. I believe that if we had been given ten or fifteen more years we could have prevented the Russian tragedy. Our movement was just beginning to be an inspiring force among many Russian thinkers. It would have made for unity, but events developed too fast. There can be no true development unless you take as a great law that nothing shall be done which is contrary to the law of brotherhood. You may bring about a solution by suppressing somebody, but that solution will be only partial in, effect. Study ideas, but be very cautious in putting them into action, because often the mass behind you may push you into unforeseen crises, and you cannot get back in time. Swiftness in action is very good in a way, but far better is the harmless-ness with which you bring about your results."
From the ‘Theosophy in New Zealand’ magazine Jan 1920
Try to feel what are the particular ways which will suit the people. Separate yourselves from all limitations and try to grasp the spirit of the Dominion, for the Dominion will be the nation to come. Each great nation is in charge of one or other of the great angelic orders. There is what is known as the Deva of the Race. He has before him the plan of the work which is to be done by the nation, and he is continually looking about for the persons to whom he can give the ideas of the future. No one individual is likely to be the maker of the nation. Men and women in all departments will be used by him. He has before him a clear plan of what is the type of national contribution which his people must give to the civilisations of the world.
"The nation can be helped or hindered according to its karma. Sometimes a very little action may hinder a great event in the future. You will remember how England solved the problem of liberating the West Indian slaves, without doing injustice to the slave owners. She spent twenty million pounds, worth perhaps a hundred millions to-day. In Russia, when the serfs were freed, it was done by proclamation, and there was very little compensation, so that, as a result there was a -good deal of hardship. The good karma of England's act, which accomplished a good end without any accompanying evil, may be seen in the opportunity given to England to spread out in many ways, in Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, etc. Karma is very important in the life of a nation, and you willhave to see that things are not done by political bodies, or by various interests, which will handicap your nation in the future. There must be no kind of exploitation of any part of the people for the benefit of the others.
"I mention incidentally the great harm that might come to the nation through this scheme of indentured labour in Samoa. Business men may tell you that the conditions are fairly free from evil, but looked at Theosophically there is a great deal of danger. You might have your country more prosperous through the development of plantations, but if the scheme causes harshness or irritation among the people employed, that will react upon our nation.
"I do not know who was responsible for clearing out the slum area near your headquarters, but an action like that mean's a great deal. Beautifying a city, throwing open a space for the benefit of the children, means, on the other side of the sacrifice, a great possibility of growth and pleasant feeling in the life of the city. Whatever amount of money may be spent, it will be compensated in later generations by a greater civic vigour and national strength.
"I quite look forward to the time when practically all the great reformers will be influenced by Theosophical ideas. I believe that if we had been given ten or fifteen more years we could have prevented the Russian tragedy. Our movement was just beginning to be an inspiring force among many Russian thinkers. It would have made for unity, but events developed too fast. There can be no true development unless you take as a great law that nothing shall be done which is contrary to the law of brotherhood. You may bring about a solution by suppressing somebody, but that solution will be only partial in, effect. Study ideas, but be very cautious in putting them into action, because often the mass behind you may push you into unforeseen crises, and you cannot get back in time. Swiftness in action is very good in a way, but far better is the harmless-ness with which you bring about your results."
From the ‘Theosophy in New Zealand’ magazine Jan 1920