Quaker author of fiction and non-fiction, Daisy Newman writes of the role Quakers have had in befriending Indians, opposing slavery, providing humane treatment for prisoners and the mentally ill, and opposing war and capital punishment. This is history in its most readable form, as the author's sense of detail gets beneath the facts to give the reader the sense of place and emotion in each event.

Published By Direction Of The Five Years Meeting.

A important book which gives a comprehensive view of the message and vision of George Fox and the Early Friends, and how there is an urgent need to recover that vision.

Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone!

The best introduction to the spirituality of George Fox (1624-1691), founder of the Religious Society of Friends. The author explores six key phrases used by Fox and applies them to modern spirituality. Free study guide available online at the publisher's website.

Quakers are chary of doctrine, feeling that it seeks to limit our understanding of God and to shut people out rather than bring them in. In his 1982 Swarthmore Lecture book, the late Gerald Priestland drew upon his experience in exploring the doctrines of the churches for his broadcast series Priestland's Progress. In his talks with more than a hundred thoughtful churchpeople he found doctrine to be far more flexible and useful than many of us suppose. In his own words 'It is not a set of unreasonable certainties, but of reasonable uncertainties. It is a way of packaging and passing on information. It is a set of tools to work with, not a row of idols to worship'. Quakers do not need to hammer out doctrines of their own, but they can be an authentic part of the One Great Church only if they are prepared to come to terms with doctrinal thinking and see what it means.

Beth Allen offers her understanding of faithful discipleship, starting with how we experience and think about God. She explores how we can think and worship today in integrity to our inner selves and to our knowledge of the world, and takes a practical approach to theological and philosophical concepts, from her Quaker and Anglican experience. We need a solid foundation to ground us as we reach for the ideals, the actions which will make peace and justice real today. For Quakers, this starts with the meeting for worship, and continues with the experience of God found in words from Quaker and other traditions. The cool stillness of the Spirit is the source of enormous, exuberant life.

"The right joining in marriage is the work of the Lord only, and not the priests' or magistrates, for it is God's ordinance and not man's; and therefore Friends cannot consent that they should join them together: for we marry none; it is the Lord's work, and we are but witnesses." So wrote George Fox in 1669 in Quaker Faith & Practice 16.01. How can any couple be clear that they are called to steadfast commitment to each other? How can the meeting witness this divine work, and uphold the couple? The Quaker understanding of marriage is rooted in our history, unique, yet evolving. How could a meeting support a couple of the same sex who ask to celebrate their life long commitment before God and in the care of the meeting? This is a practical and inspiring book for those responsible for oversight or eldership. It will help registering officers and everyone concerned for committed partnerships. Couples considering their life together may find this informative and supportive.

Outlining a life of discipleship in Christ, William Penn addresses topics relevant today such as daily bearing the cross, worship and our inner character. Selleck's modern English translation makes this classic (written in 1668) easily readable in the 21st century.

This scarce antiquarian book is included in our special Legacy Reprint Series. In the interest of creating a more extensive selection of rare historical book reprints, we have chosen to reproduce this title even though it may possibly have occasional imperfections such as missing and blurred pages, missing text, poor pictures, markings, dark backgrounds and other reproduction issues beyond our control. Because this work is culturally important, we have made it available as a part of our commitment to protecting, preserving and promoting the world's literature.

Where do we stand on lived witness, on social testimony? Both in the essay by Jonathan Dale, which carries forward ideas expounded in his Swarthmore Lecture of 1996, and the short contributions from many Friends, we get a glimpse of other people's experience of the living truth. As Jonathan Dale says, 'The more the Light is followed, the deeper the joy and the readier we may be for the next step'. Quaker Books hopes that this book will inspire readers to think more on how we live out our testimonies in our lives, to develop a culture of mutual accountability, and to share the lessons from our own journeys. When we say that God is love, the integrity of our claim is known by the degree to which it is lived out in our lives. The examples given here should provide much to stimulate further action by us all.

Ryan P. Jordan explores the limits of religious dissent in antebellum America, and reminds us of the difficulties facing reformers who tried peacefully to end slavery. In the years before the Civil War, the Society of Friends opposed the abolitionist campaign for an immediate end to slavery and considered abolitionists within the church as heterodox radicals seeking to destroy civil and religious liberty. In response, many Quaker abolitionists began to build "comeouter" institutions where social and legal inequalities could be freely discussed, and where church members could fuse religious worship with social activism. The conflict between the Quakers and the Abolitionists highlights the dilemma of liberal religion within a slaveholding republic.

The secret of Woolman's purity of style is that his eye is single, and that conscience dictated his words. This Quaker preacher and tailor was a man of wisdom and true philosophy. These pages are filled with insight and messages for our time. A major classic of American spirituality.

If the holy potential is in each of us, and we recognise it, our behaviour towards others must be deeply affected. How could we abuse or treat them as enemies? Must we not try to heal relationships fractured by anger, fear and incomprehension, making use of the universal capacity for peace making that flows from 'that of God'? To do so effectively involves understanding the nature of unpeaceful relations and recognising that there are different types depending on the power balance of the protagonists. But some methods are always appropriate: recognising and responding to the good in the other, establishing and maintaining a relationship of trust, listening, perseverance. There is no box of magic peace making tricks. All depends on love and concern informed by experience and understanding.

Are Quakers Christian? Is it possible for Quakerism to be both Christian and Universalist? These are just two of the questions which form the starting point for this book. In exploring them, it becomes clear that they cannot be answered in isolation for they are linked to a whole complex of questions about Jesus, God and the nature of human living. So it becomes necessary to engage in theology. But for Quakers this must be from a distinctively Quaker standpoint which seeks to be both undogmatic and concerned with practical issues. Most of all it must be grounded in our corporate experience of God. Janet Scott attempts to begin this process. She explores what we may say about Jesus and about God, sets out one way in which Quakerism may be both Christian and Universalist, and points out areas needing further discussion.

This book is an attempt to study historically and critically the religious movement inaugurated in the New World by the Quakers, an important movement both for the history of the development of religion and for the history of the American Colonies, and to present it not only in its external setting but also in the light of its inner meeting. At the time of original publication in 1911, Rufus M. Jones, M.A., D.Litt., was Professor of Philosophy at Haverford College; Isaac Sharpless, D.Sc., was President of Haverford College; and Amelia M. Gummere, was author of The Quaker - A Study in Costume.

From 1940 to 1946, Roger Cowan Wilson was General Secretary and Travelling Commissioner of the Friends Relief Service. Soon after his wartime experience, in 1949 he delivered the Swarthmore Lecture, and applied his clear thinking and his understanding of Quaker processes to examine how a religious concern can be made manifest in practical work, and what needs to be considered so that this can be organised. 'The true "concern" is a gift from God, a leading of his Spirit which may not be denied.' How is the authority for this held by a human organisation? What kind of people does it need to lead and carry out its work? Subtitled 'A study in motive and administration in Quaker relief work', Authority, Leadership and Concern was soon recognised as an essential book, was reprinted in 1970, and is still valuable in the next century.

Rex Ambler's collection of passages from the writings of George Fox (1624-1691) is intended to make available his clearest and most profound writings from the whole range of his works, and to display them in such a way as to show the connections between them. It should therefore be possible, reading the text through, to gain a picture of Fox's whole vision. The anthology is presented in parallel with a translation into modern English, a glossary and a concluding essay 'Making sense of Fox'. This edition has some minor revisions.

Physicist and astronomer Arthur Eddington tested Einstein's Theory of Relativity at an eclipse in 1919. A lifelong Quaker, his 1929 Swarthmore Lecture explores how science and religion define and look at reality. 'You will understand the true spirit neither of science nor of religion unless seeking is placed in the forefront.' 'He puts a strong line against simplistic reductionism in relation to our minds . He emphasizes that when we ask the question, "What are we to think of it all? What is it all about?," the answer must embrace but not be limited to the scientific answer. His lecture explores this in a delightful way, that remains fully relevant today.' - Prof. George Ellis 'The attitude of the scientist, here so admirably explained, is the attitude, also, of the mystic. Experience, to both, is what matters most."'- The Sufi Quarterly, 1929.

This life of Fox was written, not primarily for those who are his followers and disciples in name and faith, but rather for that wider group of persons who are only remotely acquainted with him as a 17th century figure in leather breeches, the founder of the Quakers and an apostle of the divine in man.

Walter R. Williams presents a picture of the courage, faith, devotion, and sacrifice that have been displayed throughout the history of Quakerism. Biographical sketches of Quaker leaders challenge the reader to Christian integrity and selfless service.

Silence is a key characteristic of Quaker worship. The author shares his experience of learning to wait in the silence and find God. Perfect for seekers, inquirers and seasoned Friends.

Originally published in 1921. This is the 1930's enlarged and revised edition. . Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. Home Farm Books are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork. A detailed history of Quakerism. The author has set forth an important historical sketch of the Society of Friends in England, with chapters on early American Quakerism and Quaker work world wide. Contents Include: The century preceding George Fox. George Fox: The name "Quaker" The Inner Light and Salvation. The inner light and the scriptures: The expression of the new experience. Publishing the message. Early Quakerism in Ireland and America. The work of William Penn. The Quaker worship: Meetings in early days. Members one of another. The leadings of the light: Plainness, Oaths, War, Honesty: The exaggeration of Nayler. The restoration: Persecution. The Quaker meeting for Church business. The 18th century. Quietism and seclusion: The "Circular Meetings." Tradition. Philanthropy. Work for slaves. The peace testimony. Social life. The 19th century. Emergence from seclusion. The evangelical movement. Joseph John Gurney. History of Quaker ministry. Foreign and home mission work. Adult and childrens schools. The new thought. John Wilhelm Rowntree. Peace service during and after the Great war. All Friends Conference 1920 and the Peace Testimony. The soul of Quakerism. etc.