Changes

George Fox described himself as [[Christian]] and so do many, but not necessarily all, Quakers.

George Fox described himself as [[Christian]] and so do many, but not necessarily all, Quakers.

 

Quakers believe in direct ''revelation'', often referred to as the ''inner light'' or, in Fox's words, "that of God in everyone." Traditional Quaker meetings take place mostly in silence, with individual members standing up to speak when they believe they are moved to do so by God. [[Margaret Fell]] wrote that Fox had said

Quakers believe in direct ''revelation'', often referred to as the ''inner light'' or, in Fox's words, "that of God in everyone." Traditional Quaker meetings take place mostly in silence, with individual members standing up to speak when they believe they are moved to do so by God. [[Margaret Fell]] wrote that Fox had said

:the Scriptures were the Prophet's words, and [[Christ]]'s and the Apostle's words, and what, as they spoke, they enjoyed and possessed, and had it from the Lord and said, then what had any to do with the Scriptures, but as they came to the [[Holy Spirit|Spirit]], which gave them forth. You will say, Christ says this, and the Apostles say this but what can thou say? Are thou a child of Light, and have walked in the Light, and that thou speaks, is it inwardly from God?  

:the Scriptures were the Prophet's words, and [[Christ]]'s and the Apostle's words, and what, as they spoke, they enjoyed and possessed, and had it from the Lord and said, then what had any to do with the Scriptures, but as they came to the [[Holy Spirit|Spirit]], which gave them forth. You will say, Christ says this, and the Apostles say this but what can thou say? Are thou a child of Light, and have walked in the Light, and that thou speaks, is it inwardly from God?  

 

Quakers are traditionally [[pacifist]]s, the Society of Friends being, along with the [[Mennonites]] and the [[Plymouth Brethren]] one of the historic peace churches.  

Quakers are have a strong [[pacifist]] tradition. The Society of Friends is, along with the [[Mennonites]] and the [[Plymouth Brethren]] one of the historic peace churches. However there is also a non-pacifist tradition of "fighting Quakers."

 

Historically, Quakers were a [[nonconformist]] body. In the early twentieth century, many Quakers began to drop traditional Quaker folkways such as plain Quaker dress ("Quaker grey") and "plain speech" (particularly the use of "thee" and "thou") and replace them with modern interpretations such as not "dressing up" to attend meeting for worship.  

Historically, Quakers were a [[nonconformist]] body. In the early twentieth century, many Quakers began to drop traditional Quaker folkways such as plain Quaker dress ("Quaker grey") and "plain speech" (particularly the use of "thee" and "thou") and replace them with modern interpretations such as not "dressing up" to attend meeting for worship.  

 

A series of divisions has resulted in Quakers being organized into four branches.  The Friends General Conference is theologically liberal, sometimes seeking truths from non-Christian sources. They practice “unprogrammed” worship: meetings are conducted in silence, without clergy. Friends United Meeting is more avowedly Christian. They generally practice “programmed” worship: meetings are guided by clergy, with or without a silent component. Evangelical Friends International also practice programmed worship. They are similar to other evangelical Christians in their beliefs, although they generally do not observe the sacraments of communion or baptism. Conservative Friends are theologically conservative and Christ-centered, acknowledging the authority of Scripture. They practice unprogrammed worship, and many also practice traditional plain dress and speech.   

A series of divisions has resulted in Quakers being organized into four branches.  The Friends General Conference is theologically liberal, sometimes seeking truths from non-Christian sources. They practice “unprogrammed” worship: meetings are conducted in silence, without clergy. Friends United Meeting is more avowedly Christian. They generally practice “programmed” worship: meetings are guided by clergy, with or without a silent component. Evangelical Friends International also practice programmed worship. They are similar to other evangelical Christians in their beliefs, although they generally do not observe the sacraments of communion or baptism. Conservative Friends are theologically conservative and Christ-centered, acknowledging the authority of Scripture. They practice unprogrammed worship, and many also practice traditional plain dress and speech.   

"Dearly beloved Friends, these things we do not lay upon you as a rule or form to walk by, but that all, with the measure of the light which is pure and holy, maybe guided: and so in the light walking and abiding, these may be fulfilled in the Spirit, not from the letter, for the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life."''

"Dearly beloved Friends, these things we do not lay upon you as a rule or form to walk by, but that all, with the measure of the light which is pure and holy, maybe guided: and so in the light walking and abiding, these may be fulfilled in the Spirit, not from the letter, for the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life."''

=="Let us then try what Love will do"==

==Quotes==

 

[[William Penn]], founder of [[Pennsylvania]], was a well-known Quaker, who demonstrated Quaker principles in his dealings with the Indians. In 1693, in his "Fruits of Solitude" he wrote:

[[William Penn]], founder of [[Pennsylvania]], was a well-known Quaker, who demonstrated Quaker principles in his dealings with the Indians. In 1693, in his "Fruits of Solitude" he wrote:

==Peace Work==

==Peace Work==

The Religious Society of Friends has historically been respected by all sides as mediators, because of their commitment to peace. In 1947, the [[American Friends Service Committee]] was awarded the [[Nobel Peace Prize]]. Recently, the AFSC made a trip to [[Iran]], which followed a meeting in September 2006 in [[New York City]] with other faith leaders and [[Mahmoud Ahmadinejad]], President of Iran. At that meeting, President Ahmadinejad issued an invitation for the dialogue to continue in Tehran.

The Religious Society of Friends has historically been respected by all sides as mediators, because of their commitment to peace. In 1947, the [[American Friends Service Committee]] was awarded the [[Nobel Peace Prize]]. Recently, the AFSC made a trip to [[Iran]], which followed a meeting in September 2006 in [[New York City]] with other faith leaders and [[Mahmoud Ahmadinejad]], President of Iran. At that meeting, President Ahmadinejad issued an invitation for the dialogue to continue in Tehran.

==Famous Quakers==

==Famous Quakers==

*[[William Penn]]

*[[William Penn]], founder of Pennsylvania

 

*[[Nathanael Greene]]

 

*[[Lucretia Mott]]

*[[Richard Nixon]], president

 

*[[Whittaker Chambers]]

 

*[[Richard Nixon]]

* Barbour, Hugh, and J. William Frost. ''The Quakers.'' Greenwood Press. 1988, 412pp; historical survey, including many capsule biographies [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=98470032 online edition]

* Braithwaite, William C. ''The Beginnings of Quakerism'' (1912); revised by Henry J. Cadbury (1955)  [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=62095557 online edition]

* Bronner, Edwin B. ''William Penn's Holy Experiment'' (1962)

*  Connerley, Jennifer.  "Friendly Americans: Representing Quakers in the United States, 1850-1920."  PhD dissertation U. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 2006. 277 pp.  Citation: DAI 2006 67(2): 600-A. DA3207363  online at [[ProQuest Dissertations & Theses]]

* Illick, Joseph E. ''Colonial Pennsylvania: A History.'' 1976. [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=4151675# online edition]

* Jones, Rufus M., Amelia M. Gummere, and Isaac Sharpless. ''Quakers in the American Colonies'' (1911) to 1775 [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=6633084 online edition]

* Jones, Rufus M. ''The Story of George Fox'' (1919) 169 pages [http://books.google.com/books?id=5YcIAAAAMAAJ&printsec=toc&dq=inauthor:Jones+inauthor:Rufus&num=30&as_brr=1&sig=AsJpguGlx8b4SLsilr3XUbAzZGA online edition]

* Jones, Rufus M. ''A Service of Love in War Time: American Friends Relief Work in Europe, 1917-1919'' (1922) [http://books.google.com/books?id=lgU2AAAAMAAJ&printsec=toc&dq=inauthor:Jones+inauthor:Rufus&num=30&as_brr=1&sig=JwyHxCRccbvDQrwC0UpR2KfMBAE online edition]  

* Jordan, Ryan. "The Dilemma of Quaker Pacifism in a Slaveholding Republic, 1833-1865," ''Civil War History,'' Vol. 53, 2007 [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5020095133 online edition]

* Larson, Rebecca.  ''Daughters of Light: Quaker Women Preaching and Prophesying in the Colonies and Abroad, 1700-1775.'' Knopf, 1999. 399 pp. 

* LeShana, James David.  "'Heavenly Plantations': Quakers in Colonial North Carolina." PhD dissertation: U. of California, Riverside 1998. 362 pp.  DAI 2000 61(5): 2005-A. DA9974014  Fulltext: [[ProQuest Dissertations & Theses]]

* Russell, Elbert. ''The History of Quakerism'' (1942). [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=72364552 online edition]

*[[John Brown]]

* Gummere, Amelia, ed. ''The Journal and Essays of John Woolman'' (1922) [http://books.google.com/books?id=Tfqnp5sdLk8C&printsec=toc&dq=intitle:%22john+woolman%22&num=30&as_brr=1&sig=m21bEQwieqpFmcq8F2Xyv1AcLk4 online edition]

* Jones, Rufus M., ed.  ''The Journal of George Fox: An Autobiography'' [http://www.strecorsoc.org/gfox/title.html#contents online edition]  

==External links==

==External links==