July 1953 School Magazine

July, 1953

Brisbane Girls' Grammar Schoo1 Magazine

July, 1953

Brisbane Girls' Grammar School Magazine

WITCHCRAFT In England, the legal definition of a witch is "a person who has conference with the devil to consult with him or to do some act". When examining the records of mediaeval witchcraft we are dealing with the remains of a pagan religion which sur- vived in England until the 18th century. As civilisation in- creased and christianity became more firmly rooted, the old religion was practised by more ignorant members of the com- munity. The religion consisted of a belief in a god incarnate, in a human being or an animal. The assemblies or "Sabbaths" took place four times a year, on 2nd February (Candlemas), May-eve (Roodmas), lst August (Lammas), and November-eve (All Hallow E'en). These joyous celebrations which were at- tended by many thousands of worshippers began in the even- ing and lasted till dawn. In addition to these, were smaller weekly meetings which were attended by the principal mem- bers of the cult who held a position similar to a bishop. In each district there was a band of thirteen people, a chief or "devil" and twelve members. The band was known as a Coven. They celebrated the religious rites, practised as heal- ers and were consultants in all cases where witchcraft was required. Witches used two kinds of famil iars, the divining familiar, and the domestic familiar. The divining familiar was com- mon to the whole of Europe. The witch on joining the religion was instructed by the grand master as to the animals to be used in divining and the form of words to be recited at the ceremony. In ancient Rome, divination by animals was known as "augury" and was considered a legitimate way of foretell- ing the future but when it was practised in the 16th and 17th century by "witches" the ir persecutors said they were inspired by the devil. The domestic familiar varied with the locality. The creature was usually some small animal fed in a particular way and employed to carry out the witches commands after certain ritual words had been spoken. The animal forms in which the devil appeared were usually the horse, bull, cat or dog. Among the ritual methods to destroy an enemy, one of the most ancient as well as the most dramatic, was the making of an image--generally in wax-to represent the enemy and gradually destroying it. It is clear that in Europe, traces of this ancient heathenism, long survived the adoption of Christianity. - P. RICHES, V. c2.7

more changes than this. There were two wars inerasable from my memory, when my young charges collected in my rooms, bewildered more than frightened with a suddenly savage and bitter world . They have even changed my structure, adding a wing here, adding a wing there, until I often found it hard to recog- nise myself. And so I stand to-day, aged perhaps w1th many changes wrought, but always the same in spirit. In all of these many past years I have heard and seen over and over again the same drama acted, but each time by the next generation. The cheers of a victorious School have rung through my old hall, the stern voice of a mistress as she reprimanded a young errant for misdeeds, and_ outside the light and cheerful voices of girls at play. All th1s have I heard so often. Then I have sympathised as my charges confided to me secrets I can never reveal, and have been outwardly stern but inwardly amused about a mid-jaunt, for me, another secret to treasure forever in my heart. Yes, I have a heart and it beats as strongly as yours, always reo..dy to open and receive another. I have always felt pride in myself and all myself and my walls contain, for though old, I represent a coming generation, which will lead a large world in whatever way it will. And it is my duty to see that that generation is trained for its object well, inside "these old walls". -LOIS COLES V.

GYMNASTIC DISPLAY CONCERT, 1953 26