The unread pages of Orders and Regulations

Alright I admit it, I have never read Orders and Regulations for officers from cover to cover. In 26 years of officership I have dipped into them from time to time usually as a last resort and I don't usually give them much thought.

However the other day I was given a big box of books by our retired Home League Secretary who was moving away to a smaller house. Among some really good old gems was Orders and Regulations for Officers of the Salvation Army 1942.

It contains all kinds of advice on all kinds of matters.

Health
"An officer who has a reasonably strong constitution may take a cold bath every morning; one who is delicate will find it helpful to sponge with cold and tepid water, have a wet towel rub or apply a cold or tepid dripping sheet."

"The officer should wear a flannel or woven woollen garment next to the skin all the year round. Only in this way can he pass from hot meetings into the open air without risk of catching cold."

Food

It is highly important that every officer shall cultivate self control in his eating and drinking avoiding costly and luxurious diet and taking food which both in character and quantity he knows to be conducive to health.

He will gain an influence for good over those who sit at table with him or who are acquainted with his habits of life. If an officer is unable to deny himself pickles and sauces or other things which he knows are injurious to him, in short, if he does not practice the self denial which he preaches his influence will be impaired."

Sleep
Except in extraordinary circumstances an officer should be in bed by eleven and up by seven. If in a locality where earlier hours are generally observed his hours should be earlier also.

Fresh Air
"Everyone should as a rule, sleep with the window open at the top all the year around. In fact it is usually advantageous to have it open both top and bottom provided that the bedstead is our of the draught."

Exercise
"Exercise which brings the greatest benefit is that which is taken regularly and not in fits and starts in the open air which is interesting to the individual which brings into use as many parts of the body as possible and which is not too violent." (that's kick boxing out then!)


These days we probably find such detailed regulations a little funny and if issued today we might even be a bit insulted by them. We have to remember that these were pre-NHS day, when TB was rife and before many of anti-biotics we take for granted today existed.

But sometimes I wonder if we don't need a bit more straight talking about our lifestyle as leaders. What would yesterday's officers make of the amount of take away food we consume, never mind sauces and pickles, the number of lattes consumed at Starbucks, the time we crawl into bed after watching a film on TV, and how many times we get in the car when it isn't that far to walk.

As they say in Yorkshire, Think on.

More tomorrow

God bless

Carol