"OIL ON TROUBLED WATERS."
In reference to the article on the origin of this phrase, I remember reading that the first use of it was to be found in Bede's "Ecclesiastical History," A young- monk was going to attend a meeting of ecclesiastics in the north of England. When he was starting the abbot gave him a flask of consecrated oil, and told him, if the sea was rough, to pour oil on the troubled waters. At the conference there \va=s much heated discussion, and the young monk. remembering the advice of the abbot, thought it meant that he should play the part of peacemaker. This he did, and told the abbot on his return that he had poured oil on the troubled waters of the meeting. I can't recall any earlier use of the phrase in its metaphorical sense. ANGLICAN.
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Bibliographic details
Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 206, 1 September 1933, Page 6
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141"OIL ON TROUBLED WATERS." Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 206, 1 September 1933, Page 6
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