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Cleveland Friends Library Bulletin Cleveland Friends Library BULLETIN #6 3rd Month 2018 Recent Additions to LIBRARY RESOURCES the Library Books for New Attenders An Introduction to Quakerism Primitive Quakerism Revived Most people, when they first come to a Friends meeting, Living as Friends in the Twenty-First have heard a little about Quakerism - that we worship in silence; that we have no clergy; that we are pacifists; that Century we have a peculiar way of speaking - or any number of By Paul Buckley other limited ideas about Friends. Some people are drawn to Friends because of what they think Quakerism is about. and Some new attenders come from other denominations with which they were unsatisfied and try to understand The Call to Radical Friends’ faith in the light of the doctrines of their previous Faithfulness denomination. We invite you as Seekers to learn more about Friends. You may, or may not, then be convinced Covenant in Quaker Experience by the Quaker message. By Douglas Gwyn Friends have existed as a religious movement for over 350 years. Friends’ message arose as a mighty challenge The purpose of the authors of these two short books is to the ideas and traditions and forms that for 1600 years to appeal to modern day Friends to recapture the same passed for Christian witness. The best way for new spirit which gave its vitality attenders and other interested persons to gain an to the message of Early understanding of what is at the root and origins of the Friends. Quaker movement is to go to the source. [Note: Books in In Primitive Quakerism bold type are found in our Library. Other books indicated, Revived, which the author has we do not currently hold a copy]. consciously modeled on Going to the Source William Penn’s classic Primitive Christianity Revived, While there are books that explain the early history of Buckley outlines how the Quaker movement, it is of great value to go straight to modern Quakerism has the writings of the earliest Friends, such as The Journal of drifted from its original George Fox, of which there are several editions available message and, like the in the library. The first part of the Journal, covering the Christianity of the time of period up to 1652, gives a clear picture of George Fox’s early Friends which had spiritual struggle - a struggle repeated by countless other become lost in forms and Friends - and the openings which he received and which trappings, has itself over gave birth to the Quaker message - that “Christ has come time compromised with “the god of this world.” He to teach his people himself.” Early Prophetic Openings of names the 10 signs that a revival of Quakerism is needed. George Fox is an abridged version of the early part of Fox’s Reviewing the basics of early Quakerism, punctuated by Journal. If Fox’s Journal seems too daunting at first for you, short passages by early Friends, Buckley then reviews the this 44 page booklet, available in the library, will give you changes and compromises in Quaker faith and practice a good idea of Fox’s early struggle and message. in the 3 branches of Friends (liberal, evangelical and The library also has a number of short selections from conservative) over the past 300 years. He then gives his the writings of several other early Quakers. The Light vision of what “Primitive Quakerism Revived” would Within and Selected Writings provides an introduction to look like today. (Continued on back page) the sensitive spiritual struggle of Isaac Penington (1617- - over - 1679). Another short collection of Penington’s writings is Meeting by Thomas Gates (PH #371); Gospel Order, A found in The Inward Journey of Isaac Penington (Pendle Quaker Understanding of Faithful Church Community by Hill [PH] pamphlet #29). Sandra Cronk (PH #297); The Authority of Our Meeting James Nayler was another influential early Friend who is the Power of God by Paul A. Lacey (PH #365); Creeds rose to great prominence. He stumbled at one point in his and Quakers, What’s Belief Got to Do With It? By Robert ministry and suffered terrible torture, but left us before Griswold (PH #377). his death with one of the most beautiful witnesses of faith: There are a number of longer introductions to Quaker There is a spirit that I feel that delights to do no evil, nor to Worship, including Silence and Witness: The Quaker revenge any wrong, but delights to endure all things in hope Tradition by Michael Birkel, Encounter With Silence by to enjoy its own in the end. Its hope is to outlive all wrath John Punshon and contention and weary out all exaltation and cruelty, or whatsoever is of a nature contrary to itself; it sees to the end Quaker Testimonies of all temptations. As it bears no evil in itself, so it conceives The Quaker testimonies of Integrity, Simplicity, Peace, none in thoughts to any other. If it be betrayed it bears it, and Equality all emanate from faithfulness and obedience for its ground and spring is the mercies and forgiveness of to God. These testimonies are addressed in a number of God. Its crown is meekness, its life is everlasting love short pamphlets: The Testimony of Integrity in the unfeigned, and it takes its kingdom with entreaty and not Religious Society of Friends by Wilmer A. Cooper (PH with contention, and keeps it by lowliness of mind. In God #296); Peace Be With You, A Study of the Spiritual Basis alone it can rejoice, though none else regard it or can own of the Friends Peace Testimony by Sandra Cronk: Finding its life. […] the Taproot of Simplicity, a movement between inner A short selection of his writings is available in Selections knowledge and outer action by Frances Taber (PH # 400); from the Writings of James Nayler, edited by Brian A Plea for the Poor by John Woolman (PH #357). A longer Drayton and in James Nayler Speaking (PH# 413). work is Plain Living: A Quaker Path to Simplicity by Other short selections of early Friends include The Catherine Whitmire. Messenger That Goes Before: Reading Margaret Fell for Spiritual Nurture (PH #398), Barclay in Brief offering a New Additions continued short selection of writing by Robert Barclay (PH #28) and an abridged version of William Penn’s No Cross, No NOTE: Paul Buckley will be presenting a workshop by the Crown. (PH #30). same title at the FGC Summer Gathering (Workshop #21). Selections of the writings of other early Friends can also While the goal of the author be found in Early Quaker Writings, 1650 to 1700 and of The Call to Radical Hidden in Plain Sight: Quaker Women’s Writings, 1650 Faithfulness is similarly to call to 1700. Other selections include The Quaker Reader Friends to rediscover the edited by Jessamyn West and Quaker Writings: An early Quaker message, his Anthology, 1650-1920 edited by Thomas Hamm. approach is different. This Quaker History short book is made up of short essays, which were To put the early Quaker experience into context, there originally bible lessons given are a number of general histories, including George Fox and at New England Yearly the Valiant Sixty by Elfrida Vipont, which describes the Meeting and at Durham early years of the Quaker movement and the men and (Maine) Friends Meeting. The women who travelled throughout Britain, America, first part of the book uses Europe and even the Middle East to spread the Quaker passages from the bible to message. The Story of Quakerism by Elfrida Vipont and illustrate the experiences of Friends for 350 Years by Howard Brinton and Portrait in early Friends such as James Grey, A Short History of the Quakers by John Punshon cover Parnell, John Burnyeat, Sarah Jones, Sarah Blackborow, Quaker history to the mid-1900s. The Quiet Rebels and Francis Howgill, George Fox, James Nayler and John Mothers of Feminism: The Story of Quaker Women in Camm in answering the call to radical faithfulness during America both by Margaret Hope Bacon focus on Quakers the first years of the Quaker movement. in America. The final essays in the book deal with Covenant: Quaker Worship “Covenant in Quaker Spiritual Formation,” “Covenant in Quaker Worship, Ministry and Decision-Making,” A number of pamphlets can provide a helpful “Covenant and Testimony” and “Can’t See the Covenant introduction to Quaker worship: Four Doors to Meeting for the Contracts.” for Worship by William Taber (PH #306); Members One The Quaker Studies group has been reading and of Another, The Dynamics of Membership in Quaker discussing this last book..
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