In the last days of the era BB—Before Beryl—, an old friendly acquaintance … wait. Let me explain. Some decades ago, during the Bubble, there was a website. Its gimmick was to provide reviews of consumer products—books and films, fatally, included—by actual consumers thereof. Royalties were based upon, ostensibly, the quality of the reviews asContinue reading “Hymn for the End of Term”
Author Archives: Markham Shaw Pyle
A Republic … if you can keep it.
Political violence, whatever its source or support, its affiliation or who are its apologists, is never acceptable in this Republic. We do not and cannot permit it, any more than we can and do permit politics to go about in uniform or in vestments. Nor does it matter to our purpose ‘cui bono?’, or ifContinue reading “A Republic … if you can keep it.”
Beryl-ing down the highway (and presumably flirtin’ with disaster)*…
Lost power MON 8 JUL. Got it back in fits and starts about 15 hours later. Which is more than a lot of town can say, including, critically, no few shops. Got Internet back only on FRI 12 JUL. (First site checked: MLB.com, of course.) Also on FRI, the family had to bid farewell toContinue reading “Beryl-ing down the highway (and presumably flirtin’ with disaster)*…”
The means of Grace and the hope of Glory: praying the Daily Offices
Today is the Sunday after Christmas Day. It is also, this year, New Year’s Eve, in the civil calendar; which means it is the Eve, the Vigil, of the Feast of the Circumcision. From that, it should be obvious that this is a post of limited interest—as regards, at least, its likely audience, if any.Continue reading “The means of Grace and the hope of Glory: praying the Daily Offices”
Remember, remember
Another Guy Fawkes Night: Bonfire Night. ‘The only man who ever went into Parliament with honest intentions.’ V-for-interminable-comic-book-and-cinema-preachiness. Fireworks. 1605 and All That. (Or, as I privately call it, that time when a bunch of my second through sixth cousins, against the urgings of various fifth cousins, tried to blow up my first cousin andContinue reading “Remember, remember”
For all the saints, who from their labours rest
Today is the Eve of All Hallows’ Day, Hallowe’en, the first day of the three days of Allhallowtide, the Fast before tomorrow’s Feast which begins with the Vigil this night, with the First Evensong of All Saints’ Day, Hallowmas. Allhallowtide shall then conclude, as ever it does in the eternal cycle of the Church Year,Continue reading “For all the saints, who from their labours rest”
Forty years long was I grieved with this generation
Sunday the 22d October was the 20th Sunday after Trinity. That workaday Season of the Church is hasting to its yearly end: soon enough, it shall be Advent-tide, and then Christmas, the birthday and New Year of the Church. But you’ll not be interested in that, and are perhaps doubtful of its relevance. (O thatContinue reading “Forty years long was I grieved with this generation”
The secret utility of mist and fog: observations on observing
This morning was a morning of mist and fog. Some should no doubt casually label it autumnal. I do not, quite, because I do not particularly measure by weather or by equinox: to me, Autumn has come when first I hear the geese overhead. Fog and mist are not commonly welcome in history or lawContinue reading “The secret utility of mist and fog: observations on observing”
Luke, geese, and Anglican humor: a miscellany in times of trouble
Briefly tearing my eyes, at once enraged and horrified, from the spectacle of barbarism that is Hamas, I note that today is the Feast of Saint Luke. In a world in dire need of spiritual physic, not to say an emetic of the soul, and of Greek logic and learning, that is no bad thing.Continue reading “Luke, geese, and Anglican humor: a miscellany in times of trouble”
Finis Palæstinæ. Delenda est.
It is impressed upon me that those with close personal ties to the region, or with family present in the warzone, particularly but by no means exclusively Jews or Israelis, may find my necessary afterword too much to read as they mourn or wait in dreadful suspense for news of their families, friends, and neighbors.Continue reading “Finis Palæstinæ. Delenda est.”
Markham Shaw Pyle, author & historian 