Winter/Spring 2004
Facing Bench

The Legacy We've Received: Our Heritage & Mission as Friends
Lucy Anderson, at the request of the Communications Board, has written four brief summaries of our Friends beliefs and heritage.The first essay is included below. All four summaries will be introduced during Yearly Meeting in July. Let’s enjoy this look at the legacy we’ve received as Friends.

There is a current trend in America today to de-emphasize history, to “shelve” the past, and to concentrate only on contemporary issues.

Unfortunately, those who follow this thinking are left to wonder how the current situation came about and are often unfamiliar with the origin of their denomination, their church, and their own identity.

Let’s take a look at our heritage as Friends.

It was the year 1652 in England when George Fox, after climbing Pendle Hill, sought to reform the established Church (Anglican). He did not set out to found a new religion or to start another denomination. His vision was to share with everyone the dynamic truth that he had personally experienced: that “there is One, even Christ Jesus that can speak to thy condition.” What was the condition of those around him? They were discouraged, depressed and confused. In fact, many had joined together as “seekers” to find answers to life’s problems. It was in God’s timing that George Fox began his preaching crusades that seekers could become finders!

Thousands listened to Fox’s Christ-centered preaching. His sermons were so saturated with Scripture related to Jesus Christ that those who heard could not fail to be impressed with his message.

George Fox is a fascinating person, overlooked by many, ridiculed by some, and yet respected deeply by those who take the time to study what he did, what he said, and why he said what he did. He was a man with little formal education and yet God used his “holy restlessness” as the key to meeting his spiritual need and then in turn to bless the huge gatherings who listened to his testimony.

In his Journal writings and in his preaching, George Fox sought to rediscover the teachings and power of the Early Church as recorded in the book of Acts. If Christians were to be called the “people of God,” they first had to declare obedience to God as followers of Jesus Christ. (John 15:14) Then they became “new covenant people,” “living stones,” the true Church without spot or wrinkle (Ephesians 5:27).

Although Fox was without scholarly schooling, he was able to attract educated men like Isaac Pennington, Robert Barclay and William Penn. Along with these were the very dedicated “Valiant Sixty” who, among the audience at Firbank Fell, listened to Fox’s message and were motivated to cover all of northern England with the Good News that “Christ has come to teach His people Himself.”

This new breed of Quaker preachers were disturbers of the peace. Why? Because they spoke up in church services, they shocked officials by treating them as equals, they welcomed women to lead in meetings for worship, they defended the oppressed, and when they were thrown into jail, they sang and witnessed to other prisoners.

Historians report that between 1650 and 1690 Quakerism was the fastest growing movement of the western world. But this not without cost. In his Journal, George Fox writes that his journeys included eight imprisonments, the longest of which was for two years and eight months at Lancaster and Scarborough.

Some have asked: “Why weren’t the Quakers called ‘Foxites’?” Instead of revering Fox, these early leaders were inspired in the great challenge of evangelizing their communities with the joyous message of God’s forgiveness for sin through faith in Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.

Although the denomination was not large, their contribution through education, social reforms, industry, and government cannot be overlooked. May Friends in the 21st century be bold in sharing their encounter with the “Living Presence” and truly be salt and light in every culture.