The Society of Friends (Quakers)

1. The Society of Friends (Quakers) The Meeting of Friends Lita Arroyo & Layo Hernández

2. Quaker History • The group of "dissenters", who first went to Holland and then to America, was only a fraction of those who were dissatisfied with the Church. They were not able to express their dissent openly and fully, with the result that there developed small groups scattered through the country, who met for worship and for discussion. The general term "Seekers" has been applied to them. The most important thing was that there was no leader to inspire them and to weld them together. • Waiting for such a leader, as it were for a "Messiah" for their time. This leader came in the person of George Fox.

3. History, cont. • The Quaker movement began on the seventeenth century in England between the years 1643-1652. • In 1642, the civil war began between the king and the parliament and a large part was over religion. • The 17th century was also called the "Century of Dissent"; a time when people didn’t accept established authority, and wanted the right to think and make decisions for themselves. • For the Quakers, direct personal experience was to become the all important thing

4. Born in Leicestershire, in the midlands of England in July of 1624 and died January 13th 1691. He began to witness hypocrisy within religious communities He set off on a pilgrimage in 1643 all over England going from church to church and preacher to priest looking for an answer to his questions. During this time he was incarcerated many times by people who opposed his views. Founder-George Fox

5. Robert Barclay (1648-1690) • One of the most eminent writers belonging to the Religious Society of Friends • Wrote An Apology for the True Christian Divinity, published in Latin at Amsterdam in 1676 • An elaborate statement of the grounds for holding certain fundamental positions • Written mainly to refute Calvinism • Which left man pretty hopeless after the fall • Quakers believe the fall still left in man a seed of the Divine • “That of God in everyone”

6. Early Evangelization • The only Quaker “preaching” was done outside of worship • Evangelists were called “Public Friends” • They would preach to anyone who would listen • In Farmhouses, taverns, marketplaces, and even in churches during services, interrupting sermons! • Purpose • To attract bystanders to “The Truth”, and invite them to meetings • Named “Quakers” out of spite, due to the trembling that often preceeded the release of the Spirit • They took it as a compliment

7. Movement • Escaping persecution, the Quakers migrated to the US in the late 1600’s • The first Friends in Minnesota arrived in 1851, settling in St. Anthony (pre-Minneapolis) and farming areas to the west.

8. Quaker Population Worldwide and in the US

9. Forms of Worship • Un-programmed • No Presider • No Liturgy • “To wait upon the Lord” • Programmed • May have presider, prescribed reading, hymns, even a sermon

10. Quietism • Every self-centered trait must be quieted/suppressed so that the Divine may find unopposed entrance into the soul • Reduces worship to its essential universal elements • Stripped of all accidental additions • Not based on the experience of others • Emptiness in outward forms, rituals, creeds, hymns, sacred books, and sermons when not immediate and sincere embodiments of an inward spirit No second-hand religion • Validity through spontaneity

11. Four Basic Beliefs • 1. Christ is a present reality and can communicate with and give guidance and power to those who open their hearts to Him. • 2. A Christian doesn’t need to be a member of a Church or have to participate in any ritual. • 3. Church is not a building, hierarchy, or institution but a fellowship of people whose lives have been changed by Christ. • 4. All are called to be ministers, “Quakers didn’t get rid of the clergy, they got rid of the laity”

12. Quakers on the Bible • Viewed as true experiences of the first Christians and Evangelists • Why we lean on scriptural accounts when we might have the same experience ourselves? • Evangelists appealed to Scripture for the sake of those who considered it a Supreme Authority

13. “The word of the Lord God was among us; it was as a hammer and a fire; it was sharper than any two-edged sword; it pierced through our inward parts; it melted and brought us into tears that there was scarcely a dry eye among us” Journal of Richard Davies 1657 May be powerful Other times the assembly will sit in complete silence for the entire duration of the meeting Responsibility of the hearer to “translate” the messages If a friend is not Christian and a message includes a reference to Jesus Christ, this will be interpreted as the same thing “felt” by the hearer Different term attributed to the same “feeling” The Light Within

14. Elements of Worship • Four kinds of behavior exist as an ideal for any meeting of worship or business • Community • Equality • Simplicity • Harmony

15. Importance of Community • “Where two or three are gathered in my name there am I in the midst of them” - Mt 18:20 • Heightened sense of life, fellowship, power • Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide Analogy • Unity • Outpouring of gifts of the Holy Spirit • Charismata 1 Cor.12:8-10 • Any good gift that flows form God’s love

16. Equality • Primarily concerned with respect • Not social/economic status • Anyone, regardless of age, race, or sex, is called to be a minister • Use no titles of honor

17. Simplicity • Adopted a standard of “Plainness” • Seen in every aspect of Life • Clothing • Modest, traditionally plain colors (gray) • Language • Numbered days of the week • Anti- Materialism • Possessions/Property

18. Harmony • Victory of Truth • Decision-Making • Proud of their Spirit-led process

19. Organization • A “clearness process” is applied when there is any important decision to be made • i.e. Marriage, membership, or wanting to join the army, etc. • The process consists of the meeting of several committees • Business meetings held regularly • Regional & Annual Meetings held for larger issues • Each is a form of worship • There is no voting or majority rule; all decisions are reached when the meeting as a whole feels that “ the way forward” has been discerned • There must be a consensus

20. It took three years for the friends to approve of marriage between homosexual couples • This decision was made in 1987 • Such decisions are left to each individual community of Friends

21. Clear for Marriage • Couple meets with Clearness Committee to discern whether marriage is right choice • Committee is composed of friends who can relate to circumstances/ the individuals to offer advice • Arrangements committee helps couple decide how programmed the ceremony will be • Support Committee • For “Rough Spots”

22. Quaker Weddings • Conducted in Silence as worship service • Couple stands and exchanges planned vows • Sometimes having labored for months over them • Vows written on large parchment document and signed in front of community • All in attendance also sign • To Witness and signify intended support • Even infants sign • Certificate is one of very few valued material possessions • Reception is not expensive or extravagant • Couple utilizes resources • Pot-Luck catered, may know a musician

23. Quaker Funerals • Conducted in silence as worship service • Every attendant has the chance to Very powerful and personal • Service conducted in Silence • Consists entirely of spontaneous “Eulogies” offered by friends, family, and acquaintances in attendance • Gravestone of George Fox- example of simplicity

24. 1725 Grand Avenue in St. Paul • www.tcfm.org • This specific house meeting was established over 50 years ago. • This particular house was purchase in the 1980’s

25. Meeting House Information • Worship are held on Sundays at 8:30 am and 11 am, and on Wednesday at 6:30 pm and are one hour long • Meet and Greet potluck is held on the third Sunday after the 11 o’clock meeting • Adult Ed programs are on Sunday at 9:45 am • Young Adult Friend (a group of 18-35 year-olds) meet at 12:45 pm on the third Sunday • Children leave the meetings after the first 15 minutes for Sunday School • Multigenerational meetings are held four times a year and only last half an hour

26. Membership Statistics • Mostly Caucasian in ethnicity • Ages range from infant to elderly • Official membership is only required if you want to be in certain committees • If want wishes to become an official member, he or she writes a letter of intent to a “clearness committee” • Approximately 50 Friends attend each meeting

27. Activism • This community considers itself progressive • They are actively involved in politics and dedicated to social justice issues • They are generally anti-war • Different sects of Quakers differ on these issues

28. Our Experience • Laura Whitley-Mott; “Friend in Residence” • Un-programmed • Multi-generational, not typical Sunday meeting • Messages • Other times the assembly will sit in complete silence for the entire duration of the meeting

29. Our Experience • Visual-Spatial • No alter, ambo, baptistry, choir space, tabernacle, or art • Simple room with chairs arranged in concentric circles • Acoustic • All messages proclaimed in English • No music • Period of silence between messages is expected • To let each one sink in • Kinetic • All sit for the service • When one is moved to speak, he or she is expected to stand • Hand shakes conclude the service

30. THE MEETING A poem by John Greenleaf Whittier "God should be most where man is least:So, where is neither church nor priest,And never rag nor form of creedTo clothe the nakedness of need,Where farmer folk in silence meet,I turn my bell-unsummoned feet;I lay the critic's glass aside,I tread upon my lettered pride,And, lowest-seated, testifyTo the oneness of humanity;Confess the universal want,And share whatever Heaven may grant.He findeth not who seeks his own,The soul is lost that's saved alone.”