Lizzie Glasier

A member of the Glasgow Women's Labour League (of which she became president),^[15] in 1895 Lizzie Glasier wrote to the Labour Leader canvassing for the idea of establishing classes for children connected with "every branch of the I.L.P. and other Socialist bodies throughout the country".^[4][16] On 2 February 1896, socialist lecturer Caroline Martyn, called a meeting to form the Glasgow Socialist Sunday School, becoming its secretary.^[16]

This has been described as the origin of the modern Socialist Sunday School movement, and what became a nationwide network of Socialist Sunday Schools.^[4] F. Reid described the work of "second-rank adherents [of the Labour movement] who achieved no national prominence", like Lizzie Glasier and Archie McArthur, as being particularly important to the development of the Socialist Sunday School movement.^[16]

Lizzie Glasier edited the monthly magazine The Young Socialist.^[17][18] In its pages, she gave outspoken support to the demands of workers in the strikes involving seamen, dockers, railwaymen, and miners 1911–12.^[16] Editorship was taken over in the 1920s by Glasier's friend May Westoby.^[16]

In 1907, Glasier responded to an attack by some of Glasgow's Christians which suggested that Socialist Sunday Schools were irreligious.^[16] Her pamphlet was titled A Reply to the Sabbath school teacher's Magazine.^[16] She argued elsewhere that socialism was the highest religion, writing:

Socialism contains in itself a system of ethics which when brought into operation, and practised by humanity will lead to the perfect fulfilment of that highest and holiest aspiration of all religions—The Brotherhood of Man.... It has become as a religious faith, which no opposition or persecution is likely to weaken or dim; which no discouragement can turn its disciples aside from.^[19]

In addition to her work for the Labour movement, Glasier became well known for her work on behalf of children.^[13] She wrote four volumes on the decorative forms of school needlecraft, which influenced methods used in schools – its general methods being incorporated into The Handbook of Suggestions to Teachers, issued by the Board of Education in 1927.^[13] She was also a founder and Principal of the E.N.A. School of Needlecraft, which instructed teachers in new methods, seeking particularly to abolish minute sewing, which she viewed as injurious to young children.^[13]

Glasier also wrote and privately published a pamphlet about John Bruce Glasier's poetry.^[20]

In her later years, she and her husband lived with Katherine Bruce Glasier at Glen Cottage, Earby.^[13] In West Craven, she remained active in working with children and mothers, including as part of the Clinic Sewing Circle, and the Nursing Association.^[13] A regional paper described her as "frail in physique, but lion-hearted".^[13]

Elizabeth Glasier Foster died in January 1947 at Southend Municipal Hospital, Rochford, following a fall some weeks earlier.^[13]

Glen Cottage, preserved in memory of Katherine Bruce Glasier, later became a youth hostel.^[21]