Christ the holy hatmaker

Ah, the old Salvation Army bonnet! Check out our latest article from Betty Thompson on bonnets, hats and the ways our lives are like a hat-maker's block.

Did you know that in America in the 1940's, ‘church hats’ accounted for half of all the nation's hat sales?

In those days, women would not dream of attending church without gloves and a hat - and they often bought real show-stoppers for Sunday church. If you went downtown in your fancy hat, you would be served first as shop keepers felt hat-wearers were ‘people of wealth’.

In the early 20th Century, wearing church hats became especially large in the African-American community. Many African-Americans had recently been released from slavery, and the church was one of the only places they were able to take up leadership positions and find respect. For African-American women, crafting, creating and wearing a church hat was testimony to their honoring God with their apparel.

While others in the community may still not accept them, they knew God did - and wearing these ornate church hats was one way of showing their love and adoration. [1] [2] [3]

Hats, hats, hats!

Do you know someone who always wears or wore a hat? Did you have a favorite hat as a child? How many hats do you own now? Do any of you remember pixie hats for little girls, and helmets for the boys?

Church hats, party hats, children’s hats, novelty hats, Race Day hats, garden hats and beach hats - the list goes on! Although personally I don't feel I suit hats all that well, I did have one hat that I wore as a young lady that I felt comfortable in. What was this hat? Get ready...

Yes, it was my Salvation Army Bonnet!

I loved it, and wore it proudly! It brought great bearing to the wearer and framed every face well. I never saw a person that it did not suit. Do you remember or did you ever wear a bonnet? (If you did - head on over to Facebook and tell me your story!)

The bonnet was part of The Salvation Army and I do miss seeing it!

A bonny bonnet poem

I want to share this lovely article from The Salvation Army War Cry 1906 edition called ‘In Defence of the Army Bonnet’, written by a lady called Jess Flora Quickfall.

While Flora was playing the organ at a small church in Northland, a gentleman observed her bonnet and remarked that the girl '...seemed alright, but he would advise her to wear a ‘decent hat’!'

Her reply was as follows:

‘Sir, I've listened to your story well, you've waxed quite eager on it

But now it is my turn to tell about my Army bonnet...

Tis true, it may be out of date and you dislike its homely shape,

But are you justified to hate my dear old Army bonnet?

 

It does not merely mark the path which I profess to follow,

It tells to all, both great and small - I hail a glad tomorrow.

It shows I've left the path of sin, the road that many wander in,

To follow Christ, through thick and thin...

that's why I wear the bonnet. 

 

A decent hat - I'll think of that, when I have ceased the fighting,

When I no more for souls implore, nor am in the war delighting.

And when I cease to love my Lord, when I no more revere his word,

and when I in the way have erred…

THEN I'll give up the bonnet!

 

It may be when I cross the sea, I will not need my bonnet;

A crown perchance, there'll be for me with glittering stars upon it...

and when the Master’s smile I meet, when his "Well done" my soul shall greet,

My happiness will be complete

Till then, I'll wear the bonnet.’

A milliner's block

As a child I used to sit and watch my mother make her own hats on her hat block.

Hat makers (also known as milliners) make their hats by pressing and moulding material repeatedly and firmly onto these wooden blocks - in the shape of a head.

‘And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.’ - Colossians 1:18

'Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.' - Romans 12:1-2

Jesus asks us to come and follow Him – and he will renew us and re-energise us. We have an amazing Saviour to whom we can each go to for this purpose.

He puts us on the hat-making block just like my mother’s – and shapes us into a new pattern - a pattern that looks more and more like him, the head. Our Lord gives us a fresh purpose daily. He gives us new eyes to see and new ears to hear. 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us that not only this - but we can be new creatures in Christ because the new has come and the old is gone.

'You will also be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD...' - Isaiah 62:3 

Not 'old hat'!

We can be like a completely new and completely transformed hat - one that God holds in his hands with pride. It will mean allowing God to shape us, pressing in areas again and again and again until we look like Jesus. Are we ready for that?

Are you ready to be shaped for new things?

Are you ready to be shaped for new seasons and new challenges?

Are you ready to be shaped in a way that wows people with your inner beauty? 

Are you ready to be shaped like Jesus, so that others may see him in you in a new, special way?

Then come to the milliner's block and allow God to shape you - and then you will be a creation that speaks of God's salvation every day.

Blessings to you all and I look forward to sharing with you again soon.

 

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By Betty T.

WM Writer