Booklet Number 172

This booklet remains the property of Saint Andrew’s Uniting Church. Please see a Guide if you would like a copy.

ALEXANDER ARTHUR

VALENTINE SOUL 1877—1950

2

©Saint Andrew’s Uniting Church Corner Ann and Creek Streets

Brisbane QLD 4000 2017

3

Captain Alexander Arthur Valentine Soul

The honour board in the Merrington Anzac Memorial Peace Chapel bearing the name “A. V. Soul” was unveiled by Rev Dr E N Merrington on Sunday 23 September 1917 while Valentine Soul was serving as a YMCA welfare officer amongst Australian soldiers camped at Salisbury Plain in England. An active Anglican layman, he had earned a good reputation for his work on behalf of the Young Men’s Christian Association while stationed in Brisbane for several months in 1915 and 1916. Valentine Soul was born in Dublin on 14 February 1877, the youngest child of George Simmonds Soul and Anne Bruce née Holt. After a short period in Dublin while Valentine Soul was still a boy, the Soul family of one daughter and five sons returned to London. Mr George Soul was a commercial clerk. In London Valentine Soul gained business training with the firm of Tarn & Co, linen drapers, silk mercers, boys’ and ladies’ outfitters, boot makers and furniture manufacturers. It was said that at the age of 16, Valentine Soul was the youngest commercial traveller on the road in London. His first order was for 8000 yards of embroidery, obtained within an hour of starting. Valentine Soul became a lay preacher and Sunday school teacher in London. At the age of 20 he started a boys’ institute and brigade in North London. His mother died at Islington in 1900. Mr A V Soul made business trips to Australia in 1904 and 1907. His cousin, Washington Soul of the well-known chemists of Sydney - Washington H Soul and Company - had invited Valentine Soul to Australia, a land of opportunity. On the first occasion Valentine Soul travelled to Sydney via America and carried out his commercial activities while based in Pitt Street.

4

He sailed from London again in 1907 on board the steam ship Orotava, arriving in Sydney on 14 June. His work involved sales and marketing. He was an enterprising and successful businessman, making clever use of advertising. In 1908 and 1909, Valentine Soul was honorary organising secretary of the Young People’s Scripture Union having been specially licensed to preach by Rev Dr Saumarez Smith, then Anglican Archbishop of Sydney and Primate Archbishop. Based in Sydney, he travelled to towns and cities in Australia including Brisbane, Mittagong, Wollongong, Newcastle, Perth, Adelaide and Armidale, occupying pulpits in churches and cathedrals and addressing meetings and rallies in town halls. Mr Soul who was proud to

represent

represent a worldwide movement with a membership of some 700 000 readers was aiming to raise at least £1000 so that a strong organisation might be formed in Australia. He gained the support and patronage of Lord and Lady Northcote1 who expressed a desire that the Scripture Union work may be efficiently carried on. Mr Soul spent the years 1910 – 1913 in Melbourne as a manufacturer’s agent in Flinders Lane while his private residence was in Morang Road in

The Right Honourable Lord Northcote,

3rd Governor-General of Australia

Hawthorne, later 161 Power Street in the same suburb. He

became president of the Church Missionary Association’s

Sowers’ Band. In his year of office he increased the funds

considerably. He was also leader of a very successful young

men’s Bible class in Hawthorne.

1. Sir Henry Stafford Northcote was Governor-General of Australia between 1904 and 1908.

5

Though twice offered ordination, he remained a layman, saying

he was content to be “a helper of men”.

Mr A Valentine Soul visited his family in England early in 1915

staying with his father at Tufnell Park, London. Soon after

returning to Melbourne on 28 March on board SS Morea, Mr

Valentine Soul commenced work with the Young Men’s Christian

Association (YMCA). A major reorganisation of the association

resulted in the allocation of a vital role and responsibility in

Brisbane to Mr Soul. It was wartime and the YMCA Hut in North

Quay beside Victoria Bridge became a prominent and friendly

meeting place for young men about to serve overseas in the

Great War. Along with his many duties, Mr Valentine Soul

regularly addressed the weekly meeting for men and senior boys

in the front hall of the YMCA Building.

The YMCA Hut in North Quay next to

Victoria Bridge served servicemen of

two world wars.

In August 1916, a plan for Mr Valentine Soul to go to the Front as a YMCA welfare officer became known. Farewell functions were organised. Lady Rutledge received a number of friends in the front hall of the YMCA Building which was decorated for the occasion. A musical program was presented. Reference was made to the splendid work done by the YMCA among the troops everywhere.

6

Canon Garland was present, also the assistant minister of Saint Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Rev J Robb and the principals of the Methodist and Congregational Theological Colleges. Dr and Mrs Hamlyn-Harris held a second reception which was attended by many of Valentine Soul’s friends. Mr Soul had spent much time and effort appealing for funds and gifts for soldiers. Before he left, he visited The Southport School and took the opportunity of personally thanking donors there for the piano they had kindly donated for the troopship and the carrier for conveying it free of cost to the station. Many parcels were received by Mr Soul for the comfort of the soldiers on the troopship. AAV Soul spent the next 18 months on YMCA work on Salisbury Plain in Southern England. During his brief return to Brisbane afterwards he gave talks on his experiences, even resuming his popular talks in the front hall of the YMCA Building. Very soon however he proceeded to Colombo, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) to be YMCA army secretary there for a further two years. In 1920 when he reached Brisbane again he was titled Captain Soul and described as a man brimming over with enthusiasm for the great organisation he represented. Reports of Captain Soul’s indefatigable labours in Sri Lanka were becoming well known in Brisbane. While such praises were gratifying to the captain, he said that if they indicated that he was able to do a little for his fellow men, he was more than satisfied. A newspaper report said, “Captain Soul preaches the YMCA cause in a fashion that is inspiring”.1

1.The Telegraph, Brisbane, 23 February 1920, page 3

7

It was announced in August 1920 that an appeal was being made

by the Young Men’s Christian Association for £100 000 with

which to erect a new building in Melbourne to serve as the

headquarters for Australia. Valentine Soul moved to Melbourne

to take a major part in that appeal. He did so most capably

because of his long and wide experience in many spheres around

the world.

YMCA Headquarters City Road Melbourne

Alexander Arthur Valentine Soul lived in Melbourne for the rest

of his life. It is not known why Alexander became his first name.

According to Irish records, he was named and baptised Arthur

Valentine Soul. He lived for many years in Grey Street, West St

Kilda and later settled at Hampton. He was interested in

freemasonry, a member of Clarke Lodge, Ancient Free and

Accepted Masons of Victoria, and a member of the Baden Powell

Lodge. In Victoria he was a leading member of the Big Brother

movement, Commissioner (Social Justice Department), Boy

Scouts Association, vice-president of the Royal Victorian

Liedertafel. (male choir)

8

He was vice-president of the Melbourne City Mission, senior church warden at Holy Trinity Church of England at Hampton, and as a lay preacher for that church travelled extensively throughout the state. Valentine Soul died in 1950. His funeral service on 1 November in Holy Trinity Church of England, Hampton was conducted by Bishop Baker and his body was cremated at Springvale Crematorium.

YMCA Buildings in Brisbane

The Soldiers and Sailors’ Home, Turbot Street

It had long been recognised that seamen visiting Brisbane needed facilities. As far back as 1893 the YMCA gave them a concert and social evening at the Elizabeth Street rooms, an activity which continued over the years . In 1901 an opportunity presented itself for the seamen’s institute. At times the work was challenging – just prior to the outbreak of World War One 130 men had to be accommodated in the building and 13 tents in the Adelaide Street drill yard. Sailors could board there or were found accommodation if the hostel was full, could get a meal, read, write or play games.

With the declaration of peace, the gargantuan war effort was scaled back. The Hut eventually gave way to traffic development and the Sailors’ Institute was demolished for the building of the Dental Hospital.

9

The YMCA Building on Edward Street, Brisbane, ca. 1910. Formed in 1864, the YMCA of Brisbane serviced over 10,000 members of the community every week and operated programs from over 40 sites in South-East Queensland. “The Pocket Brisbane” of 1921 wrote ‘A magnificent structure in Edward street, opposite the Normal School, including swimming-pool, bowling-alley, billiard-room, and tennis lawns; 30 bedrooms and a roof garden.’

John Oxley Library, SLQ

10

References Hart, JH, Souvenir of Y.M.C.A. City Hut, North Quay, Brisbane, 192-? Massey, JT, The Y.M.C.A. in Australia, A History, Speciality Press, Melbourne, 1950 Young Men’s Christian Association of Brisbane, A Brief History of the YMCA of Brisbane Inc 1864 – 1988, Brisbane, 1988

Register of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Victoria UK Outward and Incoming Passenger Lists 1890 - 1960 NSW Unassisted Immigrant Passenger Lists Fremantle Passenger Lists Melbourne Directory 1910 Victorian Directories 1912 – 1915 Electoral Rolls, 1913 – 1937 Queensland Post Office Directory, 1920

Australian Star, Sydney, 8 June 1907, page 4 Farmer and Settler, Sydney, 15 November 1907, page 7 Australian Star, Sydney, 1 February 1908, page 4 Australian Star, Sydney, 4 May 1908, page 4 The Wollondilly Press, 4 November 1908, page 3 Armidale Chronicle, 24 July 1909, page 4 Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, 31 July 1909, page 6 Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate, 2 August 1909, page 4 The Mercury, Wollongong, 8 October 1909 The Telegraph, Brisbane, 22 November 1913, page 14 Journal, Adelaide, 29 March 1915, page 1 Prahan Telegraph, 10 April 1915, page 1 Weekly Times, Melbourne, 17 April 1915, page 8 The Telegraph, Brisbane, 10 July 1915, page 6 The Telegraph, Brisbane, 24 July 1915, page 7 Daily Standard, Brisbane, 3 July 1916, page 2 Brisbane Courier, 21 July 1916, page 7 Brisbane Courier, 29 July 1916, page 3 Brisbane Courier, 22 March 1917, page 6 Brisbane Courier, 26 January 1918, page 12 The Telegraph, Brisbane, 23 February 1920, page 3 Week, Brisbane, 27 February 1920, page 5 Brisbane Courier, 28 February 1920, page 6 Gippsland Times, 29 April 1920, page 3

11

Argus, Melbourne, 12 August 1920, page 6 Geelong Advertiser, 2 September 1922, page 3 Argus, Melbourne, 20 September 1934, page 8 Advocate, Melbourne, 20 April 1939, page 4 The Age, 1 June 1942, page 2 The Age, 24 August 1945, page 5 The Age, 1 November 1950, page 8 The Argus, Melbourne, 2 November 1950, page 16 The Age, Melbourne, 4 November 1950, page 2

Written by Noel Edward Adsett Brisbane April 2017

12