Book Review: The Citadel by A.J. Cronin

The Citadel

Author: A.J. Cronin

Publisher: Little, Brown & Company, paperback, 368 pages

Reviewed by Rev. Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson

The Author 

Dr. Archibald Joseph Cronin was born in Cardross, Scotland, in 1896. He studied medicine at Glasgow University, served as surgeon sub-lieutenant in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve in the first World War, practiced in South Wales for four years, and studied pulmonary disabilities, moved to London and practiced there, and became an author of a number of books, including the brilliant, 1941 novel, The Keys Of The Kingdom. 

Brief Observations 

The Citadel begins with 24-year-old Dr. Andrew Manson (several details of Dr. Manson’s life in the novel seem to parallel Dr. Cronin’s) arriving at his first post in Blaenelly, southern Wales. He is to be the assistant to Dr. Page, who is not well, suffering from a stroke. Manson had won “the Hunter Gold Medal, awarded annually at St. Andrews to the best student in clinical medicine (p. 14).”

Dr. Manson agonizes about his first patient’s illness, and struggles to diagnose her. He also thinks there are a few cases of typhoid fever, and contacts Dr. Griffiths of Toniglan, the District Medical Officer to inform him. Dr. Griffiths was unreliable, so Dr. Manson asked the advise of Dr. Denny. Dr. Denny told him it was caused from the contaminated well water. So Dr. Manson told everyone to boil the water before using it, and the typhoid problem was solved.

One night, because of the contaminated sewer, Denny and Manson secretly blew it up, and a new one was constructed.

There was a measles problem, and Manson thought Idris Howell should be isolated at home. So he went to school and had it out with the schoolteacher, Christine Barlow. Later he attends a gathering where Christine Barlow is present and he apologizes to her. 

Christine and Andrew become fond of each other. Andrew eventually is interviewed at Aberalaw, and is offered the appointment on one condition—that he is married. He tells the interview Committee that he is “engaged to someone in Blaenelly. I’ve—I’ve just been waiting on a suitable appointment—such as this—to get married (p. 86).” On his way back to Blaenelly, he agonizes over whether Christine would marry him or reject him. When he arrived back at Blaenelly, Andrew proposed to Christine. She accepted, they were married, and then moved to Aberalaw.

As Dr. Manson begins his new practice, he gets off to a bad start—he’s determined to employ the scientific method; however, he ends up losing patients because of an influential man and a nurse in the community who disagree with his approach.

Eventually Dr. Manson decides to write the most difficult medical exam, the M.R.C.P. It took him some time, and a lot of struggles, however he wrote the exam and passed. 

Back at Aberalaw, as he continues his practice, the community comes to trust and respect Dr. Manson, and more people choose him as their doctor. 

He then researched pulmonary diseases in relation to mining. As a result, he leaves Aberalaw and becomes Medical Officer of the Coal Mines and Metalliferous Fatigue Board in London. However, he soon resigned because he was not able to do what he believed was supposed to be his proper work. 

After some time, Andrew purchased Dr. Foy’s rather run-down practice. At first, he and Christine struggled financially. Eventually, he gains more affluent patients, and becomes more successful financially. Sadly, he loses his ethical idealism, and becomes more obsessed with climbing the financial and social ladder. He and Christine grow further apart because of his lack of ethical practice and growing affluence.

Manson was appointed to work with patients having specialized lung and bronchial conditions at the Victoria Chest Hospital. 

After much financial success, along with respect gained among both patients and colleagues, Andrew reached a breaking point of deep regret for having lost his ethical-moral idealism. He tells his colleague Dr. Freddie Hampton: “But I’m going to try and stop thinking of money and material success. That isn’t the test of a good doctor. When a doctor earns five thousand a year he’s not healthy. And why—why should a man try to make money out of suffering humanity (p. 321)?”

Andrew then expressed his deep remorse to Christine and is reconciled with her.

There are two trying events—one tragic—that brought on much grief and suffering for Andrew. In the closing pages of the novel, Andrew’s speech regarding the state of the medical profession was instrumental in determining Andrew’s future. 

Some readers of this review may recall that PBS dramatized The Citadel on Masterpiece Theatre. After reading the novel, I think—in part at least—I can see why. 

Wordless Wednesday: January 4, 2023

 

                                                 For Wordless Wednesday

Brief film review: The Holly and the Ivy

Brief film review: The Holly and the Ivy

Over the years, the Reverend Julianna, my wife, and yours truly, have enjoyed watching a host of classic films on the Turner Classic Movies channel. We appreciate being able to watch movies without far too many commercial breaks on other channels. 

Recently we watched “The Holly and the Ivy,” a 1952 black & white British film, 80 minutes long. It was  directed by George More O'Ferrall, produced by Anatole de Gunwald, and is based on the 1950 play of the same name by Wynyard Browne. 

The story mainly takes place on Christmas Eve, and Gregory family members are arriving at the parsonage in the remote village of Wyndenham in rural Norfolk. Ralph Richardson is the parson, the Reverend Martin Gregory, who is a widower. Celia Johnson is Jenny Gregory, the parson’s daughter who is in love with a Scottish engineer, David Paterson, and wants to marry him, but believes she cannot because she feels duty-bound to look after her dad. David feels a great deal of urgency to marry Jenny, and take her with him, as he is about to leave for a five year job in South America.

The Reverend Gregory’s two other children also arrived home for Christmas—daughter Margaret, and son Michael. Both of them are in a rather strained relationship with their dad. They feel that because their dad is a parson, they could not share certain details of their lives with him, for fear that he would judge and reject them. 

Eventually there is a confrontation between the Reverend Gregory and son Michael, in which the latter is honest with his dad. A heart-to-heart conversation between daughter Margaret and her dad reveals how much she has suffered because of the death of the man she loved, and the death of her four-year-old son, who died of meningitis. 

The Reverend Gregory, instead of rejecting and judging his children, surprises them by showing them empathy, and sharing his own regrets about the past, as well as his struggles as a parson. 

It is a heart-warming story, and underscores the importance of reconciliation, communication, and compassionate family relationships. I also appreciated how the film addresses the continuing stereotypical, prejudicial, and false view (even today) of many towards clergypersons—that they are too ‘holy,’ self-righteous and judgemental of others, living sheltered lives, and therefore to be avoided because they lack empathy towards, and understanding of people living in “the real world.” 

Prayer of the Day/Collect for 2nd Sunday in Advent

Blessed are you O God of heaven and earth: Long ago you gave the prophet Isaiah a beautiful vision of Shalom, in which the violence among human beings and the predator instinct among animals would be transformed into a new world order of perfect Shalom. In a world and church filled with conflicts, divisions and wars, we pray: Come Jesus, Prince of Peace, usher in your perfect realm of Shalom. Amen. 

Sermon for Kore Bohmer Funeral

Funeral Sermon for Kore Bohmer, by Pastor Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson, based on Psalms 91:14-16 & 92:12-15; Eph 3:14-21; Lk 23:39-43, on Friday, November 18, 2022, at Bawlf Lutheran Church. 

A loving husband and father, a kind-hearted friend and neighbour, an active and respected citizen in the community, and a faithful member of Bawlf Lutheran Church, Kore Bohmer, has left his long and full life-journey in this world for life eternal. You who knew and loved Kore shall certainly miss him. 

Kore lived a long and full life of 99 years. Thus in our scripture passages from the book of Psalms, we learn a couple of truths, which I believe resonate with the life of Kore. First, we learn that God shows his care for us by protecting us throughout our lives. Having lived for 99 years, God honoured Kore’s love of God and his faithfulness to God by protecting him and giving him a long life. One example of God protecting Kore was him riding a Harley Davidson motorcycle until he was in his mid-80s! Wow! Quite amazing, that he could benefit from God’s protection and ride his motorcycle in his senior years. 

The second truth we learn from the psalmist is that God promises to bless some folks with a healthy, active, productive, long life. God says: “With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation.” And in Psalm 92: “The righteous flourish like the palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. In old age they still produce fruit.” I think that word “satisfy” is a good description of Kore’s life. His life was a satisfying one in that he lived it to the fullest.

I also like the way the psalmist compares those in old age with the palm tree and the cedar of Lebanon. These are both very stately trees and can serve a variety of purposes. 

Indeed, the Syrians list over 360 uses for the palm. It can be twisted into ropes, used for thatch, it gives shade, is used to construct booths, and heralds an oasis from afar. Furthermore, some say that a palm tree bears its best fruit in old age. Dates growing on palms past one hundred years are said to be the best ever! 

The palm and cedar trees, being productive in old age, are living reminders that we humans need not feel useless, unproductive, or bored when we grow old. Rather, we can be productive as Kore was in his 99 years. Kore continued to be a loving parent to Brenda, encouraging her when she took over the farm, and helping her on the farm in his retirement years, and participating in community organizations and events, including sports, Boy Scouts and 4-H. Kore also served on Church Council, and did not like to miss attending worship services on Sundays. Speaking of serving, Kore’s life was, in numerous ways, an example of the line that we sang in our hymn, Christ, Be Our Light: “Let us be servants to one another, signs of your kingdom come.” 

As a person of faith, Kore liked to read the Christmas story aloud to his family every Christmas Eve. He was also proud of his biblical name, which in 2 Chronicles 31:14 refers to Kore as the son of Imnah the Levite, keeper of the east gate, in Jerusalem, and was in charge of the freewill offerings of God.

Turning to our passage from Ephesians, which is a prayer for the faithful—the prayer emphasizes the blessings those who have faith in Christ are given, among these blessings and gifts are: “...being rooted and grounded in love, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Just as a plant, in order to grow and be healthy and productive, needs to have a healthy root system; so too it is with us spiritually. Kore as a faithful follower of Jesus, was rooted and grounded in love. For his faith to be healthy and productive, Kore needed to be rooted and grounded in Christ’s love, which he received through his involvement in this congregation. Kore’s being rooted in Christ’s love, made it possible for him to share that love with his family, and members of Bawlf Lutheran, and members of the community. 

God’s love in Christ is all-inclusive, it reaches us in every area of life—that is why we are filled with all the fullness of God. We call it mercy—it is God’s forgiving love. We call it providence—it is God’s caring love. We call it kindness—it is God’s understanding love. We call it—Christ’s passion and death—it is God’s proven love. We call it happiness—it is God’s encouraging love. We call it the will of God—it is God’s unerring love. We call it heaven—it is God’s rewarding love. We call it eternity—it is God’s unending love. Insofar as we share this fullness of God’s love with others it becomes a real blessing to them as well as us—which, I believe was true for Kore in his life, as he inspired and influenced others in loving ways, he and they were blessed. 

Turning to our gospel passage from Luke, the fullness of God’s love in Jesus became a reality for that criminal crucified beside Jesus, when he said to him: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus, in love answered him with that wonderful promise: “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” 

May we be inspired by the long, full and faithful life of Kore Bohmer. May we, like Kore, live healthy, active and productive lives as we grow older. May we be like the productive palm trees that produce the best fruit in old age. May we, like Kore, live life to the fullest, because God through Jesus has filled us with his love to share with others, and make a difference in the world and in the church. As we leave this world, may we, like the criminal on the cross pray: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom”--trusting that Jesus will answer us with his promising, comforting words: “Today you will be with me in Paradise.” 

Brief Book Review: The Spirit Of Counsel

The Spirit Of Counsel: Spiritual Perspectives in the Counselling Process

Author: Martin Israel

Publisher: A.R. Mowbray & Co. Ltd., paperback, 192 pages

Reviewed by Rev. Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson

The Author 

At the time of publication, the Rev. Dr. Martin Israel lectured in pathology in the University of London at the Royal College of Surgeons, he was also an Anglican priest, and author of several books.

Contents

The contents include a Forward, sixteen chapters with the following titles: 1 The Way of the Spirit; 2 Illuminated Self-Love; 3 Self-Discovery and Illumination; 4 The Path of Counsel; 5 Bearing One Another’s Burdens; 6 The Way of Unknowing; 7 Psychic Communion and Counselling; 8 The Discernment of Spirits; 9 Counselling Towards Liberation; 10 Discipline in the Service of Freedom; 11 The Counsel of Perfection; 12 The Need to be Wanted; 13 The Identity Crisis; 14 Matters of Life and Death; 15 Counselling for Death; 16 Intimations of Joy; and a short conclusion, titled: The End of Counsel. 

Brief Observations

This reviewer struggled with the Rev. Dr. Israel’s style and language of prose; finding it difficult, obscure, and in places too abstract and elitist. In short, it was not an easy read, and perhaps the author had in mind as his audience professional counsellors and physicians. Moreover, this volume would have been far more accessible, I believe, had the author shared more concrete examples from his own life experiences. Another irritating factor is the author’s sexist language. That said, I’d like to conclude with three quotations, which may awaken the curiosity of some readers to check out this volume. Two stars out of five.

“As I grow in love, so the full burden of human suffering becomes known to me. I become increasingly available to all the world’s pain, which has to be borne in love before it can be transfigured by the power of the Holy Spirit (p.49).” 

“Without forgiveness there is no love, without love no growth, without growth no continuing life (p. 168).”

“The more experience one has in the various disciplines of life, the less dogmatic does one become (p. 171).” 

The Weekend in Black & White - November 4, 2022

 

           Taken on November second, our first snowfall.

              For the Weekend in Black & White