Peter Monie

During its early years as the National Vigilance Association (Eastern Division) the organisation had a strong association with religion.  For example, the Ladies Committee Minute Book records that each of their meetings was opened in prayer (ACC 11191/2).  Having said this, while many involved with the NVA were religious, it does not seem that this was a requirement to work or volunteer at the NVA, and the organisation never described itself as a faith-based agency.   

Nevertheless, numerous individuals on the Committee held official positions in organised religion.  Interestingly, these individuals came from a wide range of faith groups, including the Church of Scotland, United Free Church, Free Church of Scotland, Scottish Episcopal Church and the Edinburgh Hebrew Community.  It seems that their similarities in working together to address vice and promote the moral protection of women and children outweighed differences in faith doctrines.

Rev. Peter Monie (1877 – 1946) was Chairman on the General Committee of the NVA and Guild from 1934-1944.  Born in Rothesay, Bute, in 1877 he was educated in Irvine, and then at the University of Glasgow, and Balliol College, Oxford.  He initially worked in the Civil Service, in India becoming the Municipal Commissioner for the City of Bombay in 1916 (Wikipedia, 2024).  He retired from the civil service and was ordained in the Scottish Episcopal Church in 1936.  He was appointed as the Rector of Old St. Paul’s in Edinburgh, a role he held until his death in 1946 (Anon, 1946).  Peter Monie was the Chairman of the General Committee of the NVA and the Guild for 10 years from 1934-1944.

(Image from 35th Annual Report: Guild of Service (1946)) 

References:

Anon., (1946) ‘Death of Edinburgh Rector’, Edinburgh Evening News, 11th December, page 5. 

Guild of Service (1946) 35th Annual Report: Guild of Service. Edinburgh: Guild of Service. 

Wikipedia, (2024) Peter Monie. Available at: Peter Monie – Wikipedia