As we gaze out over the beginning of another year, I was reminded of a poem I had heard called at the gate of the year. It was written by Minnie Louise Haskins, a British poet and an academic in the field of sociology. She was born in 1875 in South Gloucestershire, on the outskirts of Bristol, and she grew up in the village of Warmley. Her beginnings were very humble, her father was Joseph Haskins, a grocer, and her mother was Louisa Bridges. Her father acquired a pottery at Warmley making drainpipes, which was continued after his death by her mother. She was a devout Christian and taught the children of her local church for many years. She studied informally at University College, Bristol while undertaking voluntary work for her local church. By 1903, she was working in Lambeth, London, for the Springfield Hall Wesleyan Methodist Mission. In 1907, she departed for Madras, India with the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society to work in one of the Zenana missions to women. In 1912, to raise funds, Haskins published a small volume of poetry The Desert, which included the poem “God Knows”, originally written in 1908, not long after she had arrived in the mysterious country of India with all its unusual and distinct culture to that of her own. Sadly in 1915, poor health led Haskins, to return to England, thus after her health recovered, she ran a hostel for women in Woolwich for a short time. Afterwards she returned to study for the Social Science Certificate under Agatha Harrison. She was an intelligent lady and gained her Certificate with distinction in 1919, then she took the Diploma in Sociology, gaining a further distinction in 1920. From 1919 to 1939 she worked as a tutor in the Social Science Department where the senior tutor described her as: “a woman of unusual capacity and character … a rare understanding and sympathy and infinite patience, combined with a great deal of love and interest in people.” Somehow during this busy time she found time to publish a second volume of poetry, The Potter, in 1918.
She gained fame and notoriety when, unknown to her, the King of England quoted one of her poems in his address to the nation at Christmas time in 1939. This address is the only one solely written by the King and displays his personal thoughts and feelings at that time.
‘And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:
“Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown”.
And he replied: “Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God.
That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way”.
So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night.’
And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East.’
By ML Haskins. These were poignant words and sentiments from the King especially as the second world war had just broken out and people really didn’t know what the further would hold.
Thankfully you and I are not looking out at such an uncertain situation like war. However, the sentiments of Haskins are still the same, the year ahead is unknown but the one who knows the future is here and will take our hands and guide us through it, if we let him. As the prophet says in Isaiah 46 v 9,10 ‘I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:’ I hope you will come to know this God as you step into a new year. Happy New Year!
P, Pilgrim pilgrimway101@yahoo.com
