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Here you are.No wonder it was a 'must have' tree.


http://www.shee-eire.com/Herbs,Trees&Fungi/Trees/Yew/yew1.htm

HISTORY: The oldest known wooden implement is a spear made of yew wood, about 50,000 years old, from Clacton-on-Sea, England.

Archeological excavations have found yew bows and knives in Swiss lake dwellings from 10,000 years ago. Historically, yew bows were the weapon of choice for both hunting and warfare throughout most of Europe until the invention of firearms.

Yew was also employed as a poison, used for assassination, suicide, as an arrow poison, and to poison fish and mammals.

Due to its hardness, it was used for shuttles, cogs, axle-trees, and pulley-pins. The colorful wood (red heartwood, white sapwood) was used to veneer furniture, to make lute bodies, bowls, tankards, combs, tool handles, pegs, and various art objects. It was used in many ways by various religions, and certain yew objects such as drinking-cups are still regarded as having a certain spiritual potency.

Yew forests were once common in France and Germany. The wood of the English Yew was used for bows by Celtic and Teutonic warriors, a practice which eventually led to the demise of the great Yew forests of Western Europe. In Teutonic areas the Yew had important symbolic significance. A judge's staff was made of its wood and Yew was planted in graveyards as a form of protection from malevolent spirits. Its needles were also used in rituals to communicate with the dead.

Can't see us using it as an arrow poison. Very un-British and probably outlawed by the Geneva convention.

A slightly 'seasonal' bit of information.

The worlds best selling book of all time is..... The Bible.

I wouldn't mind betting, the people who have bought it, haven't read it cover to cover.

I've read "The Prophet" by Kahlil Gibran. Says much the same thing in much less pages. I was even allowed to read a passage from it at my friend's funeral-which speaks volumes for the Roman Catholic priest who conducted the service. If only all clergymen could be so understanding of other's religions. By the way-I'm not a member of any religion. Just believe in God.

The worlds best selling book of all time is..... The Bible. [/quote]


I wouldn't mind betting, the people who have bought it, haven't read it cover to cover.[/quote]

I have. The Old Testament can be a bit hard going but Liverpool Anglican Cathedral has 'Supper with the Scriptures'which is the best explanation I have heard for some time:

Supper With the Scriptures - (weekly - Monday Evenings) Block 2 - Opening session for 2012
Education
Sir Giles Gilbert Scott Function Suite

09th January 2012 19:00 - 20:00
Join us on Monday evenings for free supper and an exploration of the Bible in a welcoming atmosphere. Open to all.

Supper with the Scriptures begins on Monday 12th January 2012 and runs from 7-8 pm.

A small snack will be provided free of cost, and parking is also free. You can arrive from 6.30pm.

Supper With the Scriptures explores theological themes as well as contemporary issues of faith and life.

It will ask difficult questions and will seek to address the walk of discipleship. You do not need to be an expert in the Bible to attend - people who are not churchgoers but are interested in knowing more about the Bible as a cultural and literary document are very welcome. There will also be lots of time for questions and discussion.

Clergy, pastors and readers who may not be able to attend Breakfast With the Bible are also most welcome to attend. The studies are led by the Reverend Canon Dr Jules Gomes, Dwelly Raven Canon and Lecturer in Biblical Studies at Liverpool Hope University.

Jules has a PhD in Old Testament from the University of Cambridge and has written five books and a number of academic articles on biblical topics. He uses the most recent as well as traditional methods in biblical scholarship to teach the Bible from the perspectives of literature, history and theology. The studies also draw attention to the use and interpretation of the Bible in music, art and film.

The studies are currently on the book of Genesis and will continue through the Old Testament seeking to make connections with the New Testament along the way.

The teaching will explore theological themes as well as contemporary issues of faith and life, and use the latest biblical scholarship alongside references to original Hebrew and Greek texts.

(Please note these sessions will cover the same material as Breakfast With the Bible each week - Supper with the Scriptures is designed to provide an alternate day and time for those unable to make Sunday mornings)

The sessions taught so far are now online and may be accessed at www.liverpoolcathedral.org.uk/breakfastwiththebible

For more information please contact [email protected]

Dates for your diary:

Block 2 - 9th January - 26th March 2012

[quote=FiremanFil]I've read "The Prophet" by Kahlil Gibran.

I have read all twenty three of Gibran's works.

Now I prefer reading the works of Rabindranath Tagore such as 'Gitanjali' ISBN 0-333-42217-1
'Rabindranath Tagore Selected Poems' ISBN978-0-14-018366-5

'The Hound of Heaven' By Francis Thompson
'Markings' by Dag Hammarskjold

The above are mystical spiritual works.

I also have a collection of Carribean Literature, writings and poetry to include the works of Derek Walcott, Kwame Dawes, Tupac Shakur, Robert Beckford, Colin Channer and Contempory Black british Poetry .

Interesting. I might turn up. In the meantime, here is a poem I wrote some tears ago. I think it may strike a chord....

A PRAYER FOR ME.

Oh, Lord, I think my place in life
Is not in congregation
I do believe to pray alone
Will always be my station.

This doesn't mean I love you
Any less than any other
More that I see you in a
Different light to "other" brothers.

You see, Dear Lord, to find your love,
I've entered in a search
Which hasn't led to peace of mind
Within the walls of church

I think it not a sacrilege
To speak in such a way
More personal quest in differing prayer
Amidst uncertainty

Dear Lord, I'd love to find my peace
In strength of human numbers
But would so many magnify my chance
In final slumber

A chance to be united with
The dream I hold so dear
The dream of you which will, or won't
Be proved when death is near

I think not, God-the more I
Try to find you, I am sure
It will not matter how, or when
You find me a death's door

Nor trouble me if I should be
Alone in final plea
I know that you'll be there to give
Undying love to me.

You can discuss that at your meeting if you like, pax. It is based on my experiences of life and my complete rejection of religion. :-)

That is so beautiful Fil. Straight from the heart!

:-) Thanks, Granny!!

Thanks Fil for your poem.

Everyone has their own path in life, and organised religion is not for some as per this verse from 'The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam'

'And this I know: whether the one true light,
Kindle to Love, or Wrath consume me quite,
One glimpse of It within the Tavern caught
better than in the Temple outright'.

FF that`s beautiful

:-) Thanks, GJ!! (Just seen a print error-last line of 7 should read "At" death's door). I'm thinking of getting it published as it seems to strike a note with many people of different faiths.

Thanks for that, Granny; the Rubaiyat is (are?) one of my favourites. A word missing from the last line though.
"Better than in the temple lost outright"

Well done, Chris. I haven't read Omar's work-but I had a feeling there was something missing from Granny's post-maybe just a typo, though!! :-)