March 1992 Quaker Thought FRIENDS and Life OURNAL Today THE SPIRIT HUNGER AND DISARRAY IN RUSSIA ON QUAKER PEACEMAKING Among Friends Edltor-Me ne ger Vinton Deming Assoclete Editor Melissa Kay Elliott Finding Affmity Art Dl,.ctor Barbara Benton Advertising Me neger andy Kehler and his wife, Betsy Corner, have been tax resisters since 1977. Catherine Frost They have given the tax money instead to a variety of groups doing Clrculetlon end Promotion constructive community work. Since 1989 the IRS has been trying to sell Nagendran Gulendran R their house in Colrain, Mass., in an effort to collect $25,896 in back taxes-but it ~setti ng Services James Rice and Susan Jordhamo hasn't been easy. Se cretertel Services First of all, there's been a growing tax resistance movement there in Franklin Edward Sargent County. Bob Bady and Pat Morse, for instance, had their house seized and Bookkeeper James Neveil auctioned in 1989. (They still live in the house, however, and the buyer hasn't Volunteers taken possession.) Shelburn Falls dentist Tom Wilson had his dental license Jane Burgess, Anders Hansen, Emil y Conlon revoked when he refused to cooperate with IRS. (He continues his practice, Boerd of Mene gers 1989-1992: Jennie Allen (Secretary), Richard however; even the local sheriff remains one of his regular patients). Eldridge (Assistant Clerk), Bernard Haviland, So when the word got out that IRS planned to auction Betsy and Randy's Eric Larsen, Marcia Mason, Janet Norton , David Samuel, Carolyn Sprogell , Wilmer house, supporters in large numbers turned up on the announced day to oppose the Tjossem, Alice Wiser sale. There were lots of signed bids (such as an offer to clean the teeth of an IRS 1990-1993: C lement Alexandre, Marguerite agent, others pledging to do community work or to be peace activists for life)­ Clark, Lee Neff, Mary Ellen Singsen 1991-1994: Frank Bjornsgaard, Emily Conlon, but no cash buyers came forward. Not a one. Nancy Cocks Culleton, Barbara Dinhofer, Sam So, in November 1991 , IRS upped the ante. Betsy, Randy, and daughter Lillian, Legg (Clerk), Parry Jones, Richard Moses (Treasurer), Harry Scott, Larry Spears, Robert 12, were given an eviction notice. When Randy decided to stay, he was held in Sutton, Carolyn Terrell contempt and tossed in the county jail for 6 months. Honorery Menegers E leanor Stabler Clarke, Mildred Binns Young This didn't go unnoticed by friends and neighbors, however. A sign-up sheet FRIENDS JOURNAL (ISSN 0016-1322) was got circulated, and volunteers committed themselves to stay in the house around established in 1955 as the successor to The the clock. There's been a continuous presence there since December 3. Groups Friend ( 1827- 1955) and Friends Jntelligencer (1844- 1955). It is associated with the Religious from as far away as Washington, D.C., have signed up to come and help out. In Society of Friends, and is a member of the early January, members of Mount Toby (Mass.) Meeting formed such an affinity Associated Church Press. group for a week. ° FRIENDS JOURNAL is published monthly by Friends Publishing Corporation, 1501 Cherry St., Meanwhile, Randy stays in jail and makes the most of his time there. He has Philadelphia, PA 19102-1497. Telephone (215) made friends with many of the prisoners, has organized a chess tournament, and 241-7277. Accepted as second-class postage at does what he can to interpret his tax witness. Allan Eccleston, member of Mount Philadelphia, Pa. and additional mailing offices. • Subscriptions: one year $18, two years $34. Toby Meeting, has been approved as the meeting's official minister and visits Add $6 per year for postage to countries o utside Randy twice a week. the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Individual copies $2 each. So what's next? IRS has scheduled another auction, this time out of the area in • Information on and assistance with Springfield, Mass.-in the hope, it seems, of attracting a buyer for the house, advertising is available on request. Appearance someone who doesn't know about this whole chain of events. Randy will not be of any advertisement does not imply endorsement by FRIENDS JouRNAL. there to talk about it, but lots of his friends will. Even if the house is sold, the • Postmaster: send address changes to issue will be far from over. The house is part of a land trust (Randy and Betsy FRIENDS JOURNA L, 1501 Cherry St., own the house but not the land on which it stands)-and there's the likelihood of a Philadelphia, PA 19102-1497 • Copyright © 1992 by Friends Publishing continuing nonviolent presence in the house to welcome any potential new buyer. Corporation. Reprints of articles available at How might Friends respond? I asked this question in late January of Francis nominal cost. Permission should be received before reprinting excerpts longer than 200 Crowe, long-time head of the American Friends Service Committee office in words. Available in microfilm from University western Massachusetts and a supporter of Randy and Betsy. She suggests: Microfilms International. • Form an affinity group to help sustain the presence in the house. (To be PRINTED ON RECYC LED PAPER scheduled, contact Traprock Peace Center, Keets Rd., Deerfield, MA 01342; phone, (413) 774-2710. • Funds are also needed to support the action (checks made out to "War Tax Refusers Support Committee" and mailed to the address above). Moving? • Letters to the editor on the subject of taxes and militarism are always helpful. • More sponsors are needed in Congress for the Peace Tax Fund bill. (Write Let us update NCPTF, 2121 Decatur Pl. NW, Washington, DC 20008 for more information.) your subscription At a rally last fall in support of Betsy and Randy, Juanita Nelson-who, with husband Wally, has been a tax refuser for decades and is known to many and address. Friends-offered these words by Goethe: " Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has Genius, Power, and Magic in it." Good advice as Write or call: another tax season is upon us, when many of us seek to find our way on this FRIEN DS JouRNAL, 1501 Cherry St., difficult question of taxes for war. Philadelphia, PA 19102-1497 (215) 241-7277; Fax (215) 568-1377 2 March 1992 FRIENDS J ouRNAL March 1992 FRIENDS Volume 38, No. 3 JOURNAL Features Departments 7 Inspiration 2 Among Friends Chris Laning What we await is the Real Presence, name it what we will. 4 Forum Viewpoint 8 The Spirit of the Gospels 5 Frederick Sontag 24 Reports It gives meaning to our lives and unites us with others. 26 Young Friends 11 Grace-Filled Moments 28 News of Friends Laurie Rizzo 30 Bulletin Board Saying goodbye with a cake may provide such an opening. 31 Calendar 12 George Fox: An Unusual Contemporary 31 FCNLNotes John Punshon 33 Arts What meaning was there to the Tercentenary? 33 Parents' Corner 14 Some Thoughts on Consequences 34 Reviews Edward F. Snyder A God of love and justice? How, then, can we fathom the 37 Milestones human scene before us? 40 Classified 16 Lives of Faith; Lives of Suffering 42 1991 Index Henry B. Freeman In El Salvador's pain and struggle, a Friend finds new Cover, below, and on page 7: Detail from Albrecht strength. Durer's woodcut series, "The Apocalypse," 1498 · 19 On Quaker Peacemaking Irwin Abrams It is possible to translate into action what lies deep in our hearts? 20 Hunger and Disarray in Russia David Hartsough As shelves stand empty, the danger of another coup remains. 22 Nonviolence Training in Moscow Robert Levering Who would have predicted such a possibility! FRIENDS JOURNAL March 1992 3 Forum Benches needed Columbia (Mo.) Meeting is a small unprogrammed meeting. We have been working and saving for a meetinghouse of Qur own in which to worship and have our children grow in Friendly persuasion. It has not been easy to work through the concerns many Friends feel about the use of money, time, and energy for the meeting itself rather than for our Friendly efforts in the community and world. Also, location has been a really contentious issue. In early September we moved into our own meetinghouse, an architecturally simple, one story, rectangular building with a very large living room for worship. There was rejoicing and joyous song and a gathering of prayerful minds in our meetings for worship. However, Mary Howarth (FJ July 1991), a number Yes, know yourself as you are known we are living on the edge in terms of of times the words/ names Unitarian and beyond the form you call your own. finances, and purchasing new benches for Universalist are incorrectly " merged." our Friendly seats is much too much. The correct way to write it is Unitarian Mirror image, spirit bright, Are there older meetinghouses or Universalist-as in Unitarian Universalist Silence, Love, and Truth and Light. Quarters with laid-down meetings who Association, or Unitarian Universalist might have extra benches, perhaps minister (which would describe me). The Sidney Fisher needing refinishing and loving care? I words should not be hyphenated or Somerset, England travel to New Jersey once or twice a brought together with a slash. year, and would consider renting a U­ Haul to bring a load of Quaker benches Charlie McGarry A new verse to Missouri. If you would like to see Newport, R.I. your benches sat upon once more, please The early hymn "How Can I Keep let me know. From Singing?" has long been a favorite Pat Wixom of mine but has somehow seemed 359 Crown Point Mirror image incomplete. So I was inspired to write a Columbia, MO 65203 fourth verse as follows: Francis Kazemek (FJ November 1991) brings together the themes of poetry, To each of us the pioneers Parents' issues love, and light, and "the lineaments of A torch of truth are handing.