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The Sixth Annual Howard Staunton Memorial Tournament opens today in London. This report is taken from Chessbase News:

History in the making at historical Simpson's
by Steve Giddins

The annual Staunton Memorial begins on the 7th of August, at its traditional home of Simpson's-in-the-Strand. Once again, the joint efforts of the Staunton Society, GM Ray Keene, and Dutch sponsor Jan Mol will see a twelve-player all-play-all, between six Dutchmen and six English players. The full line-up is as follows:

GM Michael Adams England 2735
GM Ivan Sokolov Netherlands 2658
GM Nigel Short England 2655
GM Loek van Wely Netherlands 2644
GM Erwin L'Ami Netherlands 2610
GM Jan Smeets Netherlands 2593
GM Jan Werle Netherlands 2591
GM Jan Timman Netherlands 2561
GM Peter Wells England 2526
GM Jonathan Speelman England 2524
GM Alexander Cherniaev Russia 2431
IM Bob Wade England 2167

With an average FIDE rating of 2558, the tournament will be a Category 13, and the strongest such event held in London since 1986. In addition, it brings together Britain's two strongest players for the first time in an individual tournament in the UK for 17 years! Incredibly, the last time Adams and Short competed against one another in a classical tournament in this country was at the ill-fated English Championship knockout event in 1991. Even more incredibly, the 2008 Staunton memorial will be the first time ever that these two players, the greatest this country has ever produced, have played together in an all-play-all tournament here.

The other big story of the event is the participation of 87-year-old Bob Wade, who we believe will be the oldest player ever to compete in a tournament of this level. The New Zealand-born IM, who has lived in England most of his adult life, twice won the British Championship (in 1952 and 1970) and has tournament victories against such players as Korchnoi to his credit, as well as a draw with the legendary Bobby Fischer.

Here's a relatively recent game in which the octogenarian got a draw against an active grandmaster. In the post mortem, Chandler graciously acknowledged: "You played very well Bob, I have to say."

Chandler,Murray - Wade,Bob
Queenstown Classic Queenstown, NZ (2.2), 2006
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.d3 Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.Nbd2 h6 12.Nf1 Nh7 13.Ne3 Ng5 14.h3 Be6 15.Nh2 g6 16.d4 h5 17.Nd5 f6 18.f4 exf4 19.Bxf4 cxd4 20.cxd4 Bxd5 21.exd5 f5 22.Rxe7 Qxe7 23.Qd2 Nxh3+ 24.gxh3 Nc4 25.Qg2 Qf6 26.Nf3 Rfe8 27.Bd3 Ne3 28.Qh2 Nxd5 29.Bxd6 Re3 30.Be5 Qb6 31.Be2 Re8 32.Kh1 f4 33.Rg1 Qe6 34.Bd1 Rc8 35.Qg2 Kf8 36.Bb3 Qf5 37.Bxd5 Rc2 38.Qf1 Ree2 39.Bb3 Rxb2 40.d5 Qxe5 41.Bd1 Qe4 42.Bxe2 Rxe2 43.Rg2 Rxg2 ½-½.

The really famous game was this one, played half a globe and half a century ago:

Wade,Robert Graham - Kortschnoj,Viktor [D07]
Buenos Aires Buenos Aires (10), 05.07.1960
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.e4 Bg4 6.d5 Ne5 7.Bxc4 Nxc4 8.Qa4+ Nd7 9.Qxc4 e5 10.Bg5 f6 11.Be3 Bxf3 12.gxf3 Bd6 13.Nb5 Nb6 14.Bxb6 axb6 15.Rc1 0-0 16.Rg1 Rf7 17.Nxd6 Qxd6 18.Ke2 Rd8 19.Rgd1 Rdd7 20.Rd3 f5

21.Ra3 fxe4 22.fxe4 Rf8 23.Rcc3 Rdf7 24.Rf3 h5 25.Rxf7 Rxf7 26.Rf3 Rxf3 27.Kxf3 Kh7 28.Ke2 h4 29.Qc3 Qe7 30.Qf3 g6 31.Qg4 Kg7 32.Qe6 Qf6 33.Qxf6+ Kxf6 34.Kf3 Kg5 35.a4 Kh5 36.b4

36...Kg5?? 36...b5! 37.axb5 b6 should hold a draw. 37.b5 Kh5 [or 37...Kf6 38.Kg4 g5 39.Kh5+–] 38.a5! and Black is lost: 38...bxa5 39.b6 cxb6 40.d6+–. 1-0.

Bob is also famous for having built up one of the finest chess libraries in England during the 1960s, and he provided Fischer with most of his preparation material, when the latter was preparing for his 1972 world championship match against Spassky.

Despite his age, Bob is still a very active player in London League and other competitions, and he is keenly looking forward to the chance to make history by crossing swords with such a field of top grandmasters. Conceding almost half a century, and an average of some 400 rating points to his GM opponents, most players would be totally daunted by the challenge. But not Bob – throughout his career, he has been known as an indomitable fighter, and I am sure we will see these qualities in evidence again over the next two weeks.

As always, the tournament will take place in the elegant and historical surroundings of Simpson's-in-the-Strand, site of the famous 19 century chess mecca, Simpson's Divan. The tournament runs from 7 -18 August (rest day 13 August), with play starting at 2.00 p.m. daily. Entry is free to spectators, so if you are in London or nearby during the relevant period, pop along to Simpsons and watch top-quality chess being played in its most elegant surroundings. You will be watching history being made!

Official tournament website

RELEASE INTERNATIONAL 7x7 PRAYER ALERT – SPECIAL EDITION -
Tuesday 5 August 2008

SPECIAL 31-DAY PRAYER FOCUS ON CHINA

The world is training its gaze on Beijing, waiting for the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games this Friday. Away from the cameras, China’s unregistered church is bracing itself for yet more persecution – as the government ratchets up its crackdown on so-called ‘illegal religious activities’. In this special edition of 7x7, Release International (RI) invites you to join with Christians worldwide in a month-long strategic prayer campaign focused on China. For the next month, we will be interceding for policy reform and Christian revival in this vast communist nation, standing with the persecuted church and asking God to extend His kingdom there. We offer here a prayer a day for 31 days – you choose when to begin your own prayer campaign. Our next standard 7x7 will be sent out on 2 September.

Day 1
The Sichuan earthquake in May caused the death of some 69,195 people. Despite the scale of the tragedy, the Chinese government refused to allow house churches to send donations to the relief effort: some house church members were even arrested for trying to help in the quake zone. Please pray that the Chinese government will change its hostile attitude towards these Christians and let them engage in charity work.

Day 2
The Chinese authorities appear to be waging a concerted campaign of persecution against the ethnic minority Uyghur Christians of Xinjiang province, north-west China. Most Uyghurs are Muslim. Several Christians have been arrested on suspicion of separatist sympathies or leaking state secrets recently, including Alimjan Yimit. In May a judge sent Alimjan’s case back to the Public Security Bureau due to insufficient evidence – but Alimjan remains in detention. Pray for Alimjan’s swift release.

Day 3
On 2 July, 2008, house church leader and Christian rights activist Hua Huiqi was evicted from his rented home in Beijing. Officials broke into the apartment with a hammer and threw the family, including Hua’s 90-year-old father, into the street with their furniture. Hua’s brother suffered serious injury to his eye when officers beat him. The government is rumoured to want to detain Hua during the Olympic Games: he was jailed for six months last year. Pray for a new home for Hua’s family and for their safety.

Day 4
Shuang Shuying, the elderly mother of Beijing house church leader Hua Huiqi, is serving two years in jail – apparently because the authorities want to force Hua to give up his human rights and church work. She was accused of ‘damaging government property’ when she protested over being arrested with her son last year. Her health is frail: pray that God will uphold and strengthen her and make her a powerful witness for Christ in jail.
• RI continues to campaign for Shuang Shuying’s release. To join our campaign, view our one-minute video alert at: http://www.releaseinternational.org/current (scroll down to view). Pass it on to friends too.

Day 5
In January 2008, Beijing bookstore owner and house church leader Shi Weihan was arrested on suspicion of printing illegal Christian materials. He has been illegally held in a detention centre in Beijing for nearly five months without formal charge or trial. Shi’s family members have not been allowed to visit him or send him the medication he needs for severe diabetes. Pray for Shi’s release. Ask God to keep him in good health and to comfort his family.

Day 6
Thank God for the powerful witness of a house church in Beijing whose members’ homes were raided recently by officials. Despite their ill-treatment, Christians pronounced a blessing over officials and shook their hands after the raid. Pray that this powerful Christian witness will touch the hearts of these officers and open their eyes to their own brutality.

Day 7
In June 2008, senior house church leader Zhang Mingxuan was detained for several hours – to prevent him from meeting with an EU official in Beijing. Officials closed down his orphanage early this year; Zhang’s family have been forced to move home more than ten times since Christmas. The government reportedly wants to move the family out of Beijing. Pray for strength and courage for Pastor Zhang, his family and four orphans living with them. Ask God to provide them with a permanent home.

Day 8
In the last year Chinese police have detained some 600 Christians and sentenced 38 of them to more than a year in prison. Please pray that the Lord will grant His strength, His comfort and His wisdom to those in prison for their faith. Pray that they will remain faithful and be salt and light to their fellow prisoners.

Day 9
In May, the government held a conference on ‘administering Christian gatherings’ in Beijing. Recently, many house churches have had Sunday services interrupted by local policemen, and some landlords have been forced to stop renting out their property to Christians for worship meetings. Please pray that house churches in Beijing will find new places to worship. Pray that their leaders’ hearts will be on fire for God, despite regular harassment.

Day 10
Government leaders from across the globe are attending the Beijing Olympics. Please pray that these senior politicians will urge the Chinese government to improve its religious rights record, particularly in its dealings with the unregistered house church movement.

Day 11
Liu Huiwen from Gansu province is serving 18 months in jail for handing out Christian leaflets at a Muslim wedding in April 2007 and so ‘insulting ethnic minorities’. He is said to be suffering bullying and abuse in a prison full of Muslims. Pray for Liu and his family: his wife Miao Hui Lian has been under police surveillance since she complained about Liu’s ill-treatment.

Day 12
Despite the authorities’ determination to keep a tight rein on house churches in Beijing, the Olympic Village will have a prayer centre for athletes. Please pray that Christian athletes will be bold in sharing their testimonies and the gospel with their fellow Chinese athletes and others involved in the Games.

Day 13
Even a year ago, there were rumours that government agents had infiltrated every house church in Beijing to keep watch on their activities and, presumably, root out pastors considered to be ‘troublemakers’. This news must have bred distrust between house church members, with suspicion focused especially on newcomers. Pray that God’s Holy Spirit would help unite His family in churches which have been under intense pressure for months.

Day 14
Many poorly built school buildings collapsed during the Sichuan earthquake in May, killing many pupils. Due to China’s one-child policy, many parents lost their only child in the tragedy. Some held silent protests outside courtrooms, calling for justice, but were beaten by police or even arrested. Ask the Lord to use His people to bring comfort, friendship and hope to the bereaved.

Day 15
Many Christians in Beijing are volunteering to help in the smooth running of the Olympics, because they have a heart to share the gospel through their service. Please pray that God will give them courage and wisdom to share their faith.

Day 16
Daniel Ng and his wife are Australian citizens who own a large company in China. Since August 2007, they have been barred from leaving the country and their assets have been frozen. Their firm was shut down by the authorities amid allegations of illegal religious activities – based on the fact that the company has a Christian ethos. Please pray for God’s protection for Daniel and his wife. Pray too that the Lord will raise up more Christian business leaders to bring His light into the business community.

Day 17
In May 2008, a prominent house church leader from the Uyghur community, Luo Yuanqi, was detained in Xinjiang province on charges of ‘inciting separatism’. He has been badly abused in custody. Pray for physical and spiritual healing for Luo and ask God to bless his ministry.

Day 18
It is illegal in China to share the gospel with people under the age of 18. Many churches do not have an active Sunday School programme and some do not recognise the importance of children’s ministry. On 28 February, 2008, 11 children in Xinjiang were detained for a day when they were caught attending a children’s Bible study. Pray that more churches will catch the vision for teaching children to grow up following Christ.

Day 19
Many churches had property and land confiscated by the communist regime in the 1950s – and many congregations are still pressing for this property to be returned. The Chinese authorities have resisted this. In Fanzhi, Shanxi, a pastor and several other Christians were injured recently when they remonstrated with builders redeveloping land which had belonged to them before the government seized it. Pray for justice to be done for these churches’ sake.

Day 20
The Chinese administration under President Hu Jintao has the stated aim of creating a ‘harmonious society’. Please pray that Hu Jintao and his ministers will be more open-minded about Christians and recognise the contribution they already make to social harmony by being good citizens.

Day 21
Chinese constitutional law grants citizens the right of religious freedom, yet many house church members do not know how to summon this right in defending themselves against allegations of ‘illegal’ religious activity. Christian lawyers are starting to educate Christians about their constitutional rights and have helped bring several successful lawsuits as a result. Ask God to protect these Christian lawyers and their families as they undertake this high-risk work.

Day 22
China has been fiercely criticised over its harsh repatriation policy for North Korean refugees found in its territories. North Koreans repatriated from China – about 4,000 a year – are reported to face brutal treatment as defectors, even execution. Pray that China will recognise the brutality of the Pyongyang regime and scrap its repatriation policy.
• RI has just launched a new campaign urging China to end its policy of repatriating North Korean refugees. Join us by gathering signatures on a petition which can be downloaded at: http://www.releaseinternational.org/current

Day 23
Missionaries to China have done much to build her church and spread the gospel. The Beijing Olympics will bring more than 500,000 foreigners into China. Pray that among these visitors will be some who are called to work with the church in China and extend God’s kingdom in the nation.

Day 24
Against a backdrop of persecution and suffering, misunderstanding and lack of communication have sometimes conspired to cause rifts between different Chinese house church movements. Please pray for unity between these movements. Pray that church leaders will work together to spread the gospel.

Day 25
Pastor Zhang Zhongxin was sentenced to two years at a labour camp in Shandong province recently for belonging to an ‘evil cult’. He had a varied ministry, which ranged from training to preaching, over a wide geographical area. Pray that Pastor Zhang will be able to continue his ministry during his detention.

Day 26
College students who turn to Christ on campus face worldly pressures once they step out into the workplace – particularly during China’s economic downturn this year. There is an urgent need for church workers to disciple these new Christians and keep in touch with them as they leave campus. Pray that God will raise up good and faithful servants to minister to these young people.

Day 27
Some house church leaders are misinterpreting the Bible and leaving their families behind to serve the Lord. They want to respond to China’s urgent need for Christian ministers – but they may pay a heavy personal price: family breakdown. Pray that church leaders in China will find the right balance between family priorities and spreading the good news.

Day 28
Cai Zhuohua, a house church pastor from Beijing, was jailed between 2004 and 2007 for distributing Bibles for free in poor areas where people could not access Bibles or could not afford them. The Chinese government recently held an exhibition in the US to try to prove that China not only has sufficient Bibles but is a major exporter of them. Pray that God will provide sufficient Bibles to meet the needs of believers in China.

Day 29
Jiang Zongxiu, 34, was beaten to death in 2004 for carrying Scriptures: she left behind an eight-year-old son. Her family is still waiting for justice: Jiang’s body has not been returned to her family and her attackers have not been punished. Pray that Jiang’s family will be comforted by the love of Christ and will see justice done.

Day 30
Despite its recent economic downturn, China is the world’s fastest-growing economy – a position which carries considerable political clout. Pray that, while much of the international community courts this emerging superpower, nations of influence will continue to put pressure on Beijing to clean up its human rights record in the future.

Day 31
The Beijing Olympics have inspired churches and believers all over the world to pray for China. Pray that this prayer campaign will gather momentum and that the Lord will bring revival to the nation of China.

Source: China Aid Association.

Release International website

Continued from Part 6:

Secondly, the monthly newsletter of the Support committee of the Transylvanian Saxons, LICHT DER HEIMAT, in its issues No 206 of December 1970 and No 211 of May 1971, published an article on the subject of Wurmbrand written by Gerhard Möckel. The title of the two-part article was Church in the East - considered from the West, [Kirche im Osten - vom Westen betrachtet, although the second part bore the title Tortured for Christ?: On the activity of Richard Wurmbrand , that is, Gefoltert für Christus? Zur Aktivität Eichard Wurmbrands. It was given as a talk of Gerhard Möckel before the Support Committee in Heilbronn on 23rd September 1970.







Rudolf Fischer knew Gerhard Möckel well, even though Rudi had never heard of Wurmbrand until I sent him a copy of TORTURED FOR CHRIST just a few months ago. Rudi explained his German-language paper Sozusagen eine karpathische Gratwanderung (which I posted in its entirety here on Impala in several parts, see here) as -

"Written for a session of the Evangelische Akademie Siebenbürgen held in Hermannstadt-Sibiu in the autumn of 1997(?). .... It was printed in Zugänge Forum des Evangelische Fremdeskreises Siebenbürgen, Heft 22, Dezember 1997.

"Unfortunately I could not be present, the "text" was read by Frau Dorothea Koch-Möckel, the wife (now widow) of Pastor Gerhard Möckel. .... The paper was not read by Dr Möckel's widow but by his daughter-in-law. ... Frau Dorothea Koch-Möckel was married to the late Pastor Gerhard Möckel, Stadtpfarrer [16] Dr Konrad Möckel's son."

See Martyr Church.)

Gerhard Möckel was born in Hermannstadt (Sibiu) in 1924, the son of Dr Konrad Möckel who was the Stadtpfarrer in Hermannstadt at the time but moved in 1933 to become the Stadtpfarrer of Kronstadt (Braşov). Gerhard Möckel grew up, then, in the heart of Transylvanian Saxon society and of the Lutheran Church in Transylvania. And then he married a woman who was herself the daughter of a Lutheran pastor and a descendant of Bischop Teutsch (as Fischer has later informed me). Gerhard's father, Dr Konrad, was a staunch opponent of the Nazis.

Gerhard Möckel, though he too became a Lutheran Pastor, never served in Transylvania itself. He was wounded while serving as a soldier in the German army. After studies in Germany and Switzerland, he became the Lutheran Pastor to the German community in Greece. After 9 years he became a Director of Studies in the Evangelical (Lutheran) Academy in Berlin. Then as Minister to Berlin (Dahlem) and finally as the Minister to students in the University of Heidelberg.

After his retirement in 1990, he went to Transylvania where he devoted himself to founding and building up the Evangelical (i.e. Lutheran) Academy of Transylvania, at whose session in 1997 Frau Dorothea Koch-Möckel (Gerhard Möckel's wife) read Rudolf Fischer's paper Sozusagen eine karpathische Gratwanderung. A small world!

Gerhard Möckel was a longstanding Deputy President of the Support Committee of the Transylvanian Saxons and Evangelical Swabians of the Banat. [17]

Möckel opens his log address with a quotation from Dorothee Sölle [18] - "Resignation is the more harmless enemy of freedom than is terror." He admits that the speeches, books and articles of Richard Wurmbrand have shocked certain circles of Christians in the West and have gained a hearing among the Transylvanian Saxons. He claims that Wurmbrand's picture of Christianity in the East stem from his fundamentalist Biblical Theology. Through this he sees the Church as standing in opposition to the atheist ideology of the totalitarian State.

Möckel, on the other hand, says that each historical church should be placed in its historical context. Poles view the Lutheran Church in Poland, for example, as the historic partner of the Prussian State; Czechs saw the Roman Catholic Church in the Czech Lands as the historical partner of the Habsburgs.

The fundamentalist Bible Theology of Wurmbrand would lead the church into either a suicidal uprising against the State, or the resignation of "inner emigration". [19]

Möckel sets forward the possibility and desirability of "co-existence". At any rate, Möckel is a moderate who condemns the radicalism of Wurmbrand's Manichean vision who sees only black and white without any grey tones.

[16] Rudolf Fischer derives Stadtpfarrer from Latin parochius. A Catholic Stadtpfarrer is the parish Priest of the town or city. An Evangelical or Lutheran Stadtpfarrer is the Lutheran equivalent and so the most important member of the Lutheran clergy in any town or city after the Bishop.

[17] I've taken all this biographical information from the obituary of Gerhard Möckel, whose dates seem to be 1924-2004, taken from here, the Ostkirchliche Information (information on the Eastern Church) OKI-eMail IV–2004.

Pfarrer Gerhard Möckel gestorben
Nach langer, schwerer Krankheit starb Pfarrer Gerhard Möckel, der auch eine Zeitlang stell­vertretender Vorsitzender des Hilfskomitees der Siebenbürger Sachsen und ev. Banater Schwaben war und immer eine Mittlerposition bei den seinerzeit heftig diskutierten Fra­gen um die Berechtigung der Ausreise siebenbürgischer Pfarrer eingenommen hatte, am 13. August. Wir sind dankbar für seinen weiten Blick, seine seelsorgerliche Sensibilität und seine Funktion als Brückenbauer zwischen Menschen unterschiedlicher Prägung. Gerhard Möckel, 1924 in Hermannstadt geboren, war Sohn des seit 1933 in Kronstadt amtierenden Stadtpfar­rers Dr. Konrad Möckel, dessen Widerstand gegen die nazistische „Volksgruppe“ die Jugend­zeit Gerhards prägte. Als Soldat wurde er verwundet und kam in englische Kriegsgefangen­schaft. Nach dem Studium in Deutschland und in der Schweiz wurde er Pfarrer der deutschen Auslandsgemeinde in Griechenland. Neun Jahre später übernahm er die Stelle eines Studien­leiters an der Evangelischen Akademie in Berlin. Danach wurde er Pfarrer in Berlin-Dahlem und schließlich Studentenpfarrer in Heidelberg. Nach seiner Pensionierung ging Gerhard Möckel 1990 nach Siebenbürgen, wo er sich dem Aufbau und der Leitung der „Evangelischen Akademie Siebenbürgen“ widmete, bis sein Gesundheitszustand ein weiteres Engagement unterband. (Wieland Graef, Siebenb. Zeitung 15.10.04)

Parish Priest Gerhard Möckel has died on 13th August after a long and difficult illness. A longtime Deputy President of the Support Committee of the Transylvanian Saxons and Evangelical Swabians of the Banat, Möckel had taken a moderate position in the heavily discussed question of his time on the emigration rights of Transylvanian Priests. ... Born in Hermannstadt (Sibiu) in 1924, Gerhard Möckel was the son of Hermannstadt's Stadtpfar­rer (City Vicar) Dr. Konrad Möckel, who served as Stadtpfar­rer in Kronstadt (Braşov) from 1933, whose whose resistance to the Nazi ''Volksgruppe'' of Gerhards youth was outstanding.

As a soldier, Gerhard was wonded and taken prisoner by the English. After studies in Germany and Switzerland, he became Minister to the German Foreign Congregation in Greece. Then he became Minister in Berlin-Dahlem and finally Student Minister in Heidelberg. On his retirement, Gerhard Möckel went in 1990 to Transylvania, where he dedicated himself to the founding and leadership of the „Evangelischen Akademie Siebenbürgen“, the 'Evangelical Academy of Transylvania', until his state of health prevented further involvement. (Wieland Graf, Siebenbürger Zeitung 15.10.04)

[18] Wikipedia entry on Dorothee Soelle - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothee_S%C3%B6lle.

She coined the term "Christofascist" to describe fundamentalists.

[19] The behaviour of writers and intellectual in the face of Hitler is divided into (a) those who fled to foreign countries - the ("outer") emigration; and (b) those who remained in Germany while having nothing to do with the totalitarian Nazi state - the "inner emigration".

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To be continued

The funeral of Alexander Solzhenitsyn takes places today in Moscow. In the late 1960s and early 1970s I read A DAY IN THE LIFE OF IVAN DENISOVITCH, THE FIRST CIRCLE, CANCER WARD and THE GULAG ARCHIPELAGO well as the works of some other classical Russian authors. Rest in peace.

Times obituary

David Arnon in Haifa has received a long letter from Rudolf Fischer in Budapest. The two gentlemen were contemporaries at the Evangelical School of Bucharest in the 1930s. David has never before made contact with any other former pupil of the school.

Links

A message from Israel Sunday, July 20. 2008

David Arnon's 'C.V.' Monday, July 21. 2008

Continued from Part 5:

The material sent me by Hilfsaktion Märtyrerkirche (HMK) included three articles taken from LICHT DER HEIMAT: Monatsgruss der Hilfskomitees der Siebenbürger Sachsen i.e. the monthly Newsletter of the German Support Committee of the Transylvanian Saxons.

(1) The first article apeared in LICHT DER HEIMAT in December 1969. It has the title Ein Landsmann hört Wurmbrand "A fellow-countryman hears Wurmbrand" and is the report of a meeting addressed by Richard Wurmbrand in the city of Würzburg.

The author mentioned how Wurmbrand's book TORTURED FOR CHRIST had made his name known thoughout the world. The meeting in Würzburg was the first in a speaking tour by Wurmbrand through West Germany and Switzerland visiting 15 cities in all.

Since Wurmband came from Rumania, where he had spent 14 years in prison, the author, as a Lutheran Saxon of Transylvania, had hoped to hear information from a trustworthy source.

The room in Würzburg almost completely full with 1,500 visitors. Stewards organised the information well. You could buy the books of Wurmbrand and others at large stands.

The Priest of the Catholic Cathedral and the Dean of the Protestant Cathedral opened the meeting with their words of greeting to Wurmbrand. [15]

Than the "Landsmann" turns to Wurmbrand's speech. The writer is disappointed that Wurmbrands referred to Rumania so little, preferring to concentrate on the Soviet Union. Anyone who doubts Wurmbrand's claims and would like more detailed information, Wurmbrand suggests, can write to him at ''Hilfsaktion Untergrundkirche'' [the forerunner, presumably, of Hilfsaktion Märtyrerkirche] in Volmarstein. The writer wonders how Wurmbrand can give more details in writing but is so vague in public.

Wurmbrand claims that anyone who claims that there is religious freedom in Russia is a liar and conspirator with the Communists. The writer suggests rather that Western Christians should express solidarity with their Brothers in Christ in the East, instead of these numerous attacks from Wurmbrand.

Clearly the tone of the article is scepticism towards Wurmbrand's claims and rejection of his overall attitude towards the Communist authorites.

To be continued

[15] In its original German, the article opened -

Der vor allem durch sein Buch ''Gefoltert für Christus" in weiten Kreisen bekannt gewordene evangelische Pfarrer Richard Wurmbrand begann in Würzburg eine Vortragsreise, die ihn in fünfzehn Städe der Bundesrepublik und der Schweiz führt.

Wurmbrand stammt aus Rumänien, wo er vierzehn Jahre in Gefängnis verbringen mußte. Es lag für einen evangelischen Siebenbürger Sachsen besonders nahe, sich für den Vortrag dieses Pfarrer zu interessieren, nicht zuletzt, weil man auf Informationen von kompetenter Seite hoffen durfte.

Der Würzburger Hutten-Saal war mit 1500 Besuchern fast bis auf den letzten Platz besetzt. Am Eingang wurde von Helfern der gut organisierten Veranstaltung Informationsmaterial verteilt. An großen Ständen konnte man an Ort und stelle die Bücher Wurmbrands und auch andere erstehen.

Während die Grußworte des katholischen Dompfarrer und des evangelischen Dekans von Würzburg fast distanziert anmueten, war das Grußwort des JM - Generalsekretärs Zeiß um so engagierter.

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My posts this week may be few or truncated, since I am taking part, for the second year running, in a church mission on the Shankill Road, Belfast.

I'm writing this on Monday in the later afternoon. Yesterday we attended the morning and evening services at West Kirk, Shankill Road. This morning I and Philip Todd distributed invitations to the Wednesday 'Community Lunch' at West Kirk to businesses on the Shankill Road above West Kirk as far as Cambrai Street. This afternoon we went door to door in the area, distributing individual invitations to the 'Men's Breakfast' (always well attended) which takes place on Thursday.

There are large numbers of tourists on "the Road" at this time of year. Many appear to have come on day trips from Dublin. We met three groups of Germans and a large group of Spanish students arrived at West Kirk for drinks this afternoon.

For my experiences last year see -

Shankill Road 1 ; and

Shankill Road 2 .

Psalm 113 (New International Version)

1 Praise the LORD. [a]
Praise, O servants of the LORD,
praise the name of the LORD.

2 Let the name of the LORD be praised,
both now and forevermore.

3 From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
the name of the LORD is to be praised.

4 The LORD is exalted over all the nations,
his glory above the heavens.

5 Who is like the LORD our God,
the One who sits enthroned on high,

6 who stoops down to look
on the heavens and the earth?

7 He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;

8 he seats them with princes,
with the princes of their people.

9 He settles the barren woman in her home
as a happy mother of children.
Praise the LORD.

Footnotes:

Psalm 113:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah ; also in verse

In July 2008 we received 101,721 "unique visits" in all, an average of 3.3 thousand per day (or 3,281 to be more precise.

That compares with daily averages of 3,200 last month, June 2008, and 4.6 thousand last year, in June 2007.

We experienced a minor peak of 3.7 thousand "unique visits" each day on the 25th, 26th, 27th and 28th of June when we covered recent political developments.

Site traffic in June 2008

Site traffic in 2007

David Fry has the title Conservative Party Northern Ireland Development Officer. David writes -

Supper Club with Annabel Goldie MSP

The Leader of the Conservatives in the Scottish Parliament, Annabel Goldie MSP, will speak at the North Down Supper Club in September.







Area Council with Owen Paterson MP and Stephen Gilbert

A special Area Council was held this week at the Malone Lodge Hotel in Belfast in the light of last week's Joint Statement from David Cameron and Sir Reg Empey. Shadow Secretary Owen Paterson and Area Chair Neil Johnston answered members' questions.

We were also thrilled to welcome Stephen Gilbert from CCHQ in London. Stephen is a key director of the Party's target seats campaign and informed those present that he has now undertaken the task of exploring which seats in Northern Ireland should become national party targets. Stephen has agreed to work with us very closely over the coming months.

Ed: For more information visit the Conservatives Northern Ireland website.

Impala covered the Cameron/Empey Joint Satement in several posts on 24-26 July. Party in response to this, as I believe, the Conservatives Northern Ireland website included a post 'Moving forward with Equal Citizenship' containing references to 'Equal Citizenship' and the 'Campaign for Equal Citizenship'. In any case, it's good that the veil of secrecy has now been lifted and that the negotiators on behalf of the Party are now reporting back to members.

The way that the Chairman of the Northern Ireland Area has been described pleases me less. At the first Conservative Party Conference which I attended [which was, more properly, the Conference of the National Union of Conservative and Unionist Associations], the Madam Chairman warned the Representatives that she did not take kindly to being described as a piece of furniture. Quite.

What prompted me to begin researching into Alexander McDonnell was an item that appeared in the British Chess Magazine where Ken Whyld of Moorland House, Caistor, Lincoln LN7 6SF, wrote a longrunning column entitled Quotes and Queries.

Whyld had co-operated with David Hooper in writing the Oxford Companion to Chess (OUP, 1984) and in Item No. 4568 Whyld wrote -

"David Hooper has been literally unearthing items about two who might be said to have made chess a popular game. He has had two gravestones in London cleared of soil and foliage. they read:-

SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF
ALEXANDER MCDONNELL [sic]
FORMERLY OF BELFAST
WHO DIED
14 SEPTR 1835
AGED 37 YEARS

Louis Charles De la Bourdonnais
The Celebrated Chess-player
Died December 13th 1840
Aged 43"

DH notes "Both masters are buried in Kensal Green all Souls Cemetry (opened in 1833) which is not to be confused with the adjoining St Mary's R.C. Cemetery. ....."

Whyld then repeats Hooper's detailed directions on how to find both cemeteries. Whyld ends with -

"This is the first time for half a century that the graves have been visible."

The item appears on pages numbered 514 and 515 where the items visible run from 4566 to 4569. I have entered a handwritten note on my copy 'Feb 87' but this may not be accurate, for I have another photocopy of a subsequent item No. 4577 where Whyld writes -

"John Neave was greatly interested in the account of the 'excavation' of the McDonnell and Bourdonnais (Q&Q 4568) and suggests that a fund should be opened to make a shrine at Kensal Rise Cemetery [sic], perhaps having the two stones moved to adjacent plots. James O'Fee also reacted positively to the account and is working to have a plaque fixed to McDonnell's birthplace in Belfast."

The page numbers on this copy are 74 and 75. The items run from 4572 to 4578. Here as well I have written by hand 'Feb 87' and both cannot be true.

To be continued

Lord Dunleath writes from Ballywalter, County Down -

Oh dear - I hope I am not causing problems!

[Not at all. This is all very interesting! And thanks very much for this new and stimulating information:Ed]

There is a subtitle to the Family Tree, which I told you previously was entitled McDonnell of the Glens - it says and [in blue] a McDonnell family as connected with Mulholland and underneath not complete, and, probably, as regards later generations, not accurate. It is Thomas & his descendants that are in the blue section.

[Perfectly understandable. Each of us is related by blood to an enormous number of people when you go back just a few generations. There's no such thing as a comprehensive family tree. Each is a selection of what the author judged important, or could find out!-Ed]

Returning to the mysterious Thomas, I do have some more clues for him..... He is descibed as merchant, Belfast, sec. Linen Hall library, dead by 13 Feb 1818 [Newsletter 17.2.1818]. So, and at this stage, he does not appear to be connected to the Medical profession

The Linen Hall Library & Belfast Newsletter records may offer some more definite information.

[I've tried myself to research the records of the Belfast Newsletter (and the Northern Whig] in the Linen Hall Library. They are, or were, held on microfilm and not entirely easy to deal with. Ed]

Continued from "Lord Dunleath on McDonnell" Part 3:

David McAlister

David McAlister has sent further comments:

You wrote on the blog about the Northern Whig article ["Lord Dunleath on McDonnell" Part 2, by David McAlister:Ed]:

"What an interesting article, of which I was unaware. Do we know who wrote the article? We know so little about McDonnell, and this is the only claim that I know that he learnt the game in Belfast. Possibly the author obtained the information from Mr James Gamble who had preserved some of the games. I suppose these are now lost, but you never know, they could turn up, even today. Do you know anything of "Mr James Gamble"?"

Here are two games between McDonnell and Gamble, in both of which McDonnell gives odds of the queen's knight. [pgn.file also attached.] Both are given in the Oxford Encyclopedia of Chess Games Vol 1 1485-1866 [there have not been any subsequent volumes] edited by Levy & O'Connell (OUP 1981). The source they give for both games is Walker's Chess Studies (London, 1844).

The first of the games was also given in the Northern Whig for 4th June 1914. The Northern Whig states the game was, "Played in Belfast in 1834, White giving the odds of queen's knight." The Encyclopedia only states the game to have been played sometime in the 1830s and does not give a venue.

[White "McDonnell, Alexander"]
[Black "Gamble, James"]
[Remove Nb1]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Bc5 6. O-O d6 7. d4 exd4 8. cxd4 Bb6 9. h3 h6 10. Bb2 f6 11. Nh4 Nge7 12. Qh5+ Kd7 13. Qg4+ Ke8 14. Qxg7 Rf8 15. e5 fxe5 16. dxe5 d5 17. Ng6 Rg8 18. Qh7 Rxg6 19.Be2 Be6 20. Bh5 Bf7 21. e6 Rxe6 22. Qxf7+ Kd7 23. Bg4 Qg8 24. Bxe6+ 1-0

[White "McDonnell, Alexander"]
[Black "Gamble, James"]
[Remove Nb1]

1. e4 e6 2. f4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Bd3 f5 6. Bc2 Nh6 7. Nf3 Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. d4 cxd4 10. cxd4 b6 11. Kh1 Ba6 12. Rg1 Nb4 13. Bb1 Ng4 14. Qd2 Nd3 15. Bxd3 Bxd3 16. h3 Be4 17. hxg4 fxg4 18. Nh2 g3 19. Nf3 Bxf3 20. gxf3 Bb4 21. Qe2 Qh4+ 22. Kg2 Qh2+ 23. Kf1 Qh4 24. Qg2 Rac8 25. Qxg3 Qxg3 26. Rxg3 Rc2 27. a3 Rfc8 28. Be3 Bd2 29. Ke2 Bc3+ 30. Kd1 Bxb2 31. Rb1 Rh2 32. Bg1 Rhc2 33. Be3 a5 34. f5 exf5 35. e6 Bxa3 36. Rxb6 Ra2 37. Rb7 g6 38. Rh3 Ra1+ 39. Ke2 Ra2+ 40. Kf1 h5 41. Rg3 Ra1+ 42. Ke2 Rh1 43. Rxg6+ Kh8 44. Bf4 1-0

In 1914 a Mr James Gamble was the President of the Belfast Chess Club. Presumably not the one who played McDonnell, but quite possibly a son or other relative. Perhaps he was the source for the 1914 article and game appearing in the Northern Whig. This Gamble died in 1920, the Belfast News-Letter for the 26th August of that year noting, "The Belfast Chess Club has sustained a heavy loss by the loss of Mr James Gamble, of Craigavad, which occurred on the 20th inst. For many years president of the club, he was for a still longer period one of its stongest players and most consistent supporters."

Checking in the 1902-1934 Minute Book of the Belfast Chess Club for any further informatioon on this Gamble, I found loose within its pages a newspaper cutting, unfortunately undated [though from the information given it must have been some time after 1908 and probably mid-1920s] giving a brief history of the Belfast club. There is a passage referring to McDonnell: "Alexander MacDonnell (sic) continued to be a member up to the day of his death. MacDonnell is, in all current histories of the game, complacently set down as an English player, for the simple reason that many of his games were played in London. He was a County Antrim man, born of an old County Antrim stock, which made its name and place of origin respected wherever its showed its presence. He was a son of Dr. MacDonnell, of Belfast, and, accordingly, a cousin of Sir Alexander, whose statue is to be seen in front of Tyrone House in Dublin, where he was the first Resident Commissioner of National Education."

The cutting goes on to refer to McDonnell's match with Bourdonnais, making the error (similar to the one in the 1914 Northern Whig) that he died during the progress of the match.

Does the infomation about cousin Sir Alexander McDonnell assist in working out Alexander's place in the family tree?

Ed: The significant fact is that Dr Alexander MacDonnell (McDonnell) is named as the father of the chess master. Whether the chess master was the son of Dr. Alexander, or of his brother Thomas, the master would have been a cousin of Sir Alexander, so that this piece of information does not allow us to distinguish between the two. I gave the start of the entry on Sir Alexander McDonnell in the DICTIONARY OF NATIONAL BIOGRAPHY, Volume 12 (which follows immediately than on the Chess Master) in "Lord Dunleath on McDonnell" Part 3:

'McDONNELL [sic], Sir ALEXANDER (1794-1875), commissioner of national education in Ireland, eldest son of James McDonnell [sic], M.D., was born in Belfast in 1794.'

The games with Gamble give us great colour! And tell us that the master was visiting Belfast in the 1830s. Craigavad isn't too far from my home and it's possible that James Gamble has living descendants. I'll make some inquiries.

On [Mac] or [Mc] or even [M'] I guess that the Gaelic Revival which set in about 1880 made it more likely for people to write [Mac].

I have photocopies from the Oxford Encyclopedia of Chess Games Vol 1 1485-1866 with all the games of the McDonnell - de la Bourdonnais match. Sadly, the volume can't been a big seller and money ran out after Volume 1. Still, it's a great resource to have all these old games preserved.

David McAlister again:

I've consulted my copies of the Chess Player's Chronicle and the Chess Player's Magazine mentioned in the DNB [see Part 3:Ed]. The author of the two articles was George Walker, author of Chess Studies [source of the Gamble games]. Incidentally he is not to be confused with William Greenwood Walker, who faithfully recorded the 1834 match games.

Little is said about McDonnell's family background in either piece, though each states Alexander was the son of a physician, without giving the name of the father. One interesting little snippet is that Walker states in the CPC that Alexander's father was still alive and living in Belfast at the time of writing (October 1843).

Ed: The DNB entry on the chess master states that Dr Alexander McDonnell [i.e. father of the Master] died on 21 April 1843.

Wikipedia includes this entry on George Walker;

"George Walker (born March 1803 – died April 1879) was an English chess master and writer.

He was an author of The Celebrated Analysis of A D Philidor (London, 1832), A New Treatise on Chess (London, 1832), A Selection of Games at Chess played by Philidor (London, 1835), Chess Made Easy (London, 1836), Chess Studies (London, 1844).

In 1845, he teamed up with Henry Thomas Buckle, William Davies Evans, George Perigal, and William Josiah Tuckett in London in two telegraph games (won and drew) against a team of Howard Staunton and Hugh Alexander Kennedy in Portsmouth. He won a match against Daniel Harrwitz (7 : 5) at London 1846.

Walker used his column in Bell's Life to propagate organizing the international London 1851 chess tournament (Adolf Anderssen won). "

David Hooper and Kenneth Whyld too have a long entry on George Walker in their OXFORD COMPANION TO CHESS (Oxford University Press, 1984). George Walker was a major figure in the popularisation of chess which took place in the English-speaking world in the early 19th century.

He edited the first chess column ever to appear in a periodical (The Lancet, 1823-4), founded the Westminster Chess Club at Huntman's in 1831, through which was made the challenge to de la Bourdonnais for the match with McDonnell in 1834, and then the st George's Chess Club at Hanover Square. From 1835 to 1873 he edited a column in Bell's Life, a popular Sunday paper featuring sport and scandal. He edited England's first chess magazine, The Philidorian (1837-8), but above all he published many books at a low price so that they sold widely.

Chessgames.com have some of George Walker's games here.

Hooper & Whyld add -

"He should not be confused with William Greenwood Walker who recorded the games of the Bourdonnais-McDonnell matches 1834, and died soon afterwards 'full of years'."

I'm surprised that Hooper & Whyld have no separate entry on William Greenwood Walker (nor has Wikipedia). There are a few references to William Greenwood Walker on the Internet -

"George Walker organized the event [the McDonnell-de la Bourdonnais match] and William Greenwood Walker, the aged Secretary of the Westminster Chess Club, wrote down all the moves. This was the first important chess match [sic - there were in fact 6 matches] of modern times and the longest chess match in history." and

"The match was suspended to allow La Bourdonnais to return to Paris on business. Also, William Greenwood Walker, the Westminster Chess Club Secretary, died during this period. .. In 1835 La Bourdonnais was making plans to continue his match with McDonnell. But McDonnell developed a kidney infection and died of Bright's disease on September 14, 1835.

- a biography of de la Bourdonnais

"The moves were recorded by William Greenwood Walker, the Secretary of the Westminster Chess Club where the matches were held. Bourdonnas won 45, over half. MacDonnell won 27, about a third. There were 13 draws - so it was a fighting match. Not only were the moves recorded, but the were published in newspapers and periodicals so that the public could follow, which it did with great excitement and anticipation." - another biography of de la Bourdonnais

"The games were recorded for posterity by the club's elderly founder William Greenwood Walker, who remained by McDonnell's side for the entire duration of the match. Play generally began around noon, some of the games taking more than seven hours to complete." - Wikipedia entry on Alexander McDonnell

Wikipedia rightly adds that "the modern era of chess began with the McDonnell-La Bourdonnais match of 1834". The role of William Greenwood Walker was critical. In those days, the players were under no obligation to record their moves, nor did they.

It was the faithfulness of William Greenwood Walker which enabled the public, for the first time, to play through the games - the most brilliant ever seen till that time - at home after they had been played over the board, and so to follow the course of the matches. William Greenwood Walker remained at Alexander McDonnell's side for the entire duration of each game (each could last many hours), and for the entire duration of each of the six matches, lasting weeks and months, and, moreover, recording the games accurately - no easy matter as any spectator of the drama and tension of a major chess game will testify. He deserves a place in the game's Hall of Fame.

Yet WGW cannot have predeceased his hero, Alexander McDonnell, as one website claims. As recorded in Part 3, WGW signed his Preface to his Selection of Games at Chess as "Hon. Sec. to the Westminster Chess Club" and dated it "July, 1836". (McDonnell had died the previous year, 1835.)