Baptist Heritage Queensland (BHQ) is starting work on a new project to celebrate the contribution women have made to the work of Christian witness and service in Queensland and beyond. This new initiative will take the form of a publications with the stories of women and a function at which their work can be commemorated.
One of the earliest BHQ publications was a book by Rev Mel Williams on Baptist men in the 19th century. At the time it was launched, people asked about the role of women. In the early days, women did not get much personal attention or publicity, so it was likely to be difficult to get adequate information about them, apart from the most prominent like Martha Plested and Kate Allanby, the first Queensland Baptist missionaries, or Miss Fewings, the founder of Sommerville House.
But now BHQ has decided it is time to change the situation and therefore has commenced this new project. It will cover the whole period of Baptist work in Queensland, not just the 19th century. Information is being sought about women who have made a significant contribution to Baptist churches in Queensland, other Christian work, missionary work and public life. They can be women who were involved at local church level or through the denomination, as deaconesses and missionaries or in their local areas as professional people like teachers, nurses and doctors or workers in community organizations like the Red Cross, CWA, local government and in other ways. A selection will be made from the names supplied and cameos of their life and ministry will be researched and published.
We are looking for family information, biographical articles, photographs and any other useful material. We hope the publish the material in various ways—e.g., there are some items in this issue of Forum, in a book and electronically.
The celebration event will be an occasion when interested people can come and hear the results of the project and listen to some talks and testimonies, and see displays. BHQ would coordinate this and where possible, draw upon the interest, skills and resources of the other groups who have interest and contributions to make.
Submissions of ideas and offers of help are invited. Please
contact BHQ at 17 Disraeli St Indooroopilly, 4068, phone 07-3878
3178 or archives@qb.com.au
WOMAN'S position in the church is second only to that of Jesus Christ Himself. It is in her power to make the church a success go far as earthly arrangements are concerned, or the contrary , not so much through her own energy as through the opportunities she has in the home of moulding and influencing the characters of those who take part in the worship and deliberations. In herself she is capable of rising to the highest ideal of Christian character , and she is also liable to fall lower than anything else that God has created . Her opportunities of necessity bring great responsibilities upon her, which can only be borne successfully through Jesus Christ. When she takes her proper position in the church she preaches a sermon loud and clear to those round and about her at every service, helps the pastor and officers, and is a source of joy and happiness to all in whose company she worships.
Woman can never occupy the position of man in the church or anywhere else. Of course instances have occurred, and will occur in the future, where the wife of a man has been forced to take the position and act the man, but I maintain that in all cases where this happens there has been a defect in the man, easily observable to an ordinary onlooker. By this I do not mean to underrate woman in the slightest; rather do I honour her that is capable of taking the position; but I believe, as a general rule, woman can do greater and more effective service through the man than by acting in his stead The church is holy just so far as the individual is holy, and woman's first service in connection with the church commences here. She alone has the privilege of training up the children, not of necessity but of circumstance, so that they may be true and good in and for the church, and very much depends on her actions in regard to the life with which she deals. Get a good start and very few go astray where privileges and opportunities such as we enjoy to-day are available. While in the church she has opportunities for service by giving diligent heed to the teaching of the pastor; by giving a pleasant smile and glad welcome to all who may happen to come within her reach; by seeing to it that no one within her circle or eyesight stands up minus a hymn-book without offering half of hers; and generally, by exercising a lively and joyful spirit in and among the worshippers who join with her.
After the service she can do many things, specially undertaking the visitation of the absent and sick, and comforting the sorrowful. Then there are the children who require a little assistance, perhaps, in reference to the sermon or preparation for Sunday school. In visiting, she has opportunities for service only available to her sex, as she can gain admission to all sick beds, and by a discreet use of tracts or other helpful literature make herself of assistance to those who are unable to avail themselves of the opportunities for public worship.
In the prayer meeting she enjoys equal opportunities with man, God being no respecter of persons, and can offer up the petitions which she has on her heart. When she accepts the position I believe our meetings will be more profitable and more spiritual than they are. The privilege is available, and as it carries with it responsibility, woman would do well to see to it that she take advantage of the opportunity only open to each of us for a limited period.
Entering a house, a practised eye can see at a glance whether it is the abode of a man and woman or only a man, and the same applies to the house of God. Little things can be tastefully arranged and made a help to the worshippers and all concerned. I refer to the dressing of the pulpit and communion table, etc. Neglect of these small things very often would not be noticed by the sterner sex, although when done nicely most men would be ready to appreciate and acknowledge the act of a kindly heart.
In the musical portion of the service she has a place superior to that of man, as she can praise God in hymns more sweetly than the stronger being, and put more intelligent feeling into the words used, thus making it almost a prayer as well.
The situation of the church to-day demands that meetings of a social character should be held at opportune times and in various interests. In these woman takes a leading part, first in obtaining and preparing the good things to be used, and, during the meeting by drawing people together who only meet on such occasions. When church people do as they ought, and make those who worship with them their personal friends, these meetings can be turned to different and more spiritual account.
In missionary effort, woman is available to raise funds for the support of those employed, as she possesses greater power for extracting money from the men than man, she being able to plead the cause better and more earnestly.
Agnes Beeston was born on 18 Oct 1901 at 17 Sword Street, Glasgow,
the eldest child of John and Janet Brown. The family expanded
to include a further three sisters—Catherine Robertson (1903)
and Janet Clark Laidlaw (1907) were born in Glasgow; then another,
Helen Laidlaw, in Brisbane in 1917. They lived at various addresses
in east Glasgow including Tureen Street where the girls attended
the Tureen Street Public School. At Easter the custom was to roll
coloured hard boiled eggs at the nearby Alexandra Park—probably
more healthy than eating chocolate eggs as we do today.
Her father suffered ill health and, following the advice of his
doctor, the family came to Australia on the maiden voyage of the
Osterley. They sailed from London on 6 Aug 1909 for Melbourne,
Sydney and Brisbane via Suez. The girls found it an adventure
and Agnes won a skipping competition during the voyage.
Her father, John, was a grocer and her mother had a background
as a shopkeeper so it was natural that on arrival in Brisbane
they owned a series of shops at Albion (near the railway station),
Windsor (opposite the Town Hall), Fortitude Valley (opposite the
school) and then at Annerley. Agnes recounted many tales of delivering
goods to customers in a wheelbarrow.
Her mother, Janet, had promised that they would return to Scotland
within five years to visit the family and so they sailed in March
1914 on the Orsova—exciting perhaps for the young family
but for Agnes it meant relinquishing a scholarship to attend Brisbane
Girls Grammar school. War was declared while they were in Perth
(Scotland) visiting her grandmother Catherine Brown so this necessitated
hasty preparations for a return. A passage was obtained on the
Orama, the last ship to leave, and from Aden they sailed as a
darkened ship.
The family lived at various times in Annie Street, Paddington
(1909), Albion shop (4 years), Stoneleigh St., Albion (1916),
“Kinnoul”, Fairfield Road, Fairfield (1922).
Work and Family
On returning from Scotland, Agnes entered Stotts Business College
in 1915. Following completion of the course in August 1915 she
obtained a position with Robert Stirling, an indent agent, earning
15/- per week. It wasn’t long though before she moved to
the National Mutual where she was appointed as the first female
stenographer at a rate of 1 pound per week—all paid to her
parents. It was at the National Mutual she met John Francis Beeston
(Jack) who later became her husband.
Following her marriage on 6 June 1925 at Fairfield Baptist Church
by the Rev. Ralph Sayce, Agnes lived at Rome Street, Yeronga were
her two sons John Donald (1926) and Robert Alastair (1931) were
born. Both boys served the local church and denomination in a
range of capacities. John was a Sunday School teacher and superintendent,
deacon, secretary, treasurer, and on various denominational boards
as treasurer for 25 years; Rob was an army and sports chaplain,
pastor across three states and President of the Baptist Union
of Tasmania. There were nine grandchildren, four of whom Agnes
taught to play the piano over a period of about ten years!
Service – community and church
Agnes was involved in community service during World War II at
the Redbank Army Camp to provide canteen services as well as repair
and alter army uniforms. She also worked for Meals on Wheels later
in life. However, her dominant service interests were in her local
church and the denomination. These ranged across many areas though
most involved work with women or girls.
She was converted at Albion Baptist Church under the ministry
of Rev. George Winfield who was later to become the State Evangelist
in New South Wales. The membership roll of the Albion church records
her as entering membership by baptism on 17 Feb 1918 and then
transferring to Fairfield on 23 May 1920. A photograph held by
the Baptist Archives shows her in the choir at Albion church—music
was to be a life-long love.
At her local church she served as Christian Endeavour leader,
a Sunday School teacher, secretary and president of the Baptist
Women’s Union, organist, deacon, and assisted at Girls Brigade
with craft and devotions.
Senior Girls Missionary Union: She was a member of the first branch, and the first state secretary (1923). Later she became state president and then continued to serve on the executive for many years.
Queensland Baptist Women’s Fellowship: She was secretary of the Fairfield branch (1944-46) then served as state secretary from 1949-55. From 1963-65 she held the position of president; from 1965 to 1968 she was chairman of the A.B.W. Board. In 1984 Agnes was awarded life membership of the Australian Baptist Women’s Fellowship for her service among women in Queensland, Australia and the South West Pacific.
Baptist Women’s Union of the South West Pacific: At the inaugural meetings of New Zealand and Australian representatives held in 1968, she was elected Vice Chairman for a term of five years. With Mrs. E. Warner (Victoria) she developed a revised constitution which was accepted. She also attended the Baptist World Alliance Congress in Tokyo as an Australian representative.
Baptist Union: She served on a variety of committees including the Home Mission, ABMS, Evangelism, Department of Community Service and Aged Person’s Committee over a period of 32 years.
Agnes’ husband Jack died in June 1972 and for a time she continued to live in their home at Yeronga. In the late 1970s she moved to a unit at Coorparoo before eventually settling at Resthaven in 1982 where she passed away on 21 May 1999.
References
Albion Baptist Church Membership Roll
Queensland Baptist Year Books
Fellowship April 1984, published by Queensland Baptist Women’s
Fellowship
The Queensland Baptist August 1999
http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/descriptions March 2007
Family Records