A LITTLE HISTORY ON THE QUAKERS (July 2010)
Abridged from the Seventeenth Century Review 2005
The Quakers began as Children of Light in northern England in 1652. George Fox, the one who began the movement, began to make converts in the hundreds with young men and women from all classes of society. In that year the Society of Friends came into existence. Actually they did not intend to form a new sect. This new group, namely the Society of Friends, firmly believed they represented the return of true |
primitive Christianity and with their beliefs they could transform the world. They tried to dispense with social hierarchy. They wore plain clothes, refused to take oaths of allegiance to the hierarchy, refused to pay church tithes, used plain language with all people, even to address aristocrats or the king, refused to doff their hats before their rulers, and took a definite stand against war and would not join military units.
As a result of these doctrines, there were frequent arrests, imprisonments, and other forms of punishment. It was not until 1689 under Charles II that they could follow their doctrines freely.
Their leader George Fox was imprisoned eight times. Once when the officials were in the process of charging him he said, “You ought to tremble before the word of God.” “You are the quaker, not I,” the judge is reported as saying. From that experience the word Quaker became the name commonly used when referring to the members of the Society.
Quaker settlements in the new world were rapidly occurring and by 1681 there were fourteen hundred in the new provinces. It was at this time that William Penn developed a grand ambition to procure his own colony. To cancel a debt of 16,000 pounds owed to his father, King Charles II agreed to grant Penn 45,000 square miles west of the Delaware River as the colony of Pennsylvania (Penn’s Woods). Penn in 1681 sent his cousin to lay out the city Penn named Philadelphia, City of Brotherly Love.
As a result of these doctrines, there were frequent arrests, imprisonments, and other forms of punishment. It was not until 1689 under Charles II that they could follow their doctrines freely.
Their leader George Fox was imprisoned eight times. Once when the officials were in the process of charging him he said, “You ought to tremble before the word of God.” “You are the quaker, not I,” the judge is reported as saying. From that experience the word Quaker became the name commonly used when referring to the members of the Society.
Quaker settlements in the new world were rapidly occurring and by 1681 there were fourteen hundred in the new provinces. It was at this time that William Penn developed a grand ambition to procure his own colony. To cancel a debt of 16,000 pounds owed to his father, King Charles II agreed to grant Penn 45,000 square miles west of the Delaware River as the colony of Pennsylvania (Penn’s Woods). Penn in 1681 sent his cousin to lay out the city Penn named Philadelphia, City of Brotherly Love.
Penn himself set sail in 1682 for his new colony aboard the ship Welcome and went to the site of the City of Philadelphia. He not only established social justice and government, he sold land to enhance his fortune.
Little did they realize in 1682 that ninety-four years later in that City of Brotherly Love, men in a meeting would declare independence from England.
The Quakers are a different set of folks. They hold no specific creed. There are no set beliefs. They have no professional clergy and no sacraments or liturgy. They are devoted to freedom of conscience and look to an inward relationship with God.
Still known as the Society of Friends, as well as by the name Quakers, historically they have been active in campaigning against the slave trade in the 18th and 19th centuries and at the same time campaigning for the rights of women, prisoners, and homosexuals.
This should give you a little background for July’s newsletter.
Little did they realize in 1682 that ninety-four years later in that City of Brotherly Love, men in a meeting would declare independence from England.
The Quakers are a different set of folks. They hold no specific creed. There are no set beliefs. They have no professional clergy and no sacraments or liturgy. They are devoted to freedom of conscience and look to an inward relationship with God.
Still known as the Society of Friends, as well as by the name Quakers, historically they have been active in campaigning against the slave trade in the 18th and 19th centuries and at the same time campaigning for the rights of women, prisoners, and homosexuals.
This should give you a little background for July’s newsletter.