British Quakerism, 1860-1920: The Transformation of a Religious CommunityProfessor Kennedy's book chronicles the metamorphosis of the British Society of Friends from a tiny, self-isolated body of peculiar people into a theologically liberal, spiritually vital association of activists. Defined by a strong social commitment and enduring pacifist ethic British Quakersassumed an importance in society out of all proportion to their minuscule numbers. This transformation was, first and foremost, the product of a spiritual and intellectual struggle among Quaker factions-evangelical, conservative, and liberal-seeking to delineate the future path of their religiousSociety. Inspired by the leadership of a remarkable band of intellectually acute, theologically progressive, and spiritually committed men and women, London Yearly Meeting was both reformed and revitalised during the so-called Quaker Renaissance. Simultaneously embracing advanced modern ideas andreiterating their attachment to traditional Quaker principles, especially the egalitarian concept of the Inner Light of Christ and a revived peace testimony, liberal Quakers prepared the ground for their Society's dramatic confrontation with the Warrior State after 1914. Official Quaker resistance to the Great War not only fixed the image of the Society of Friends as Britain's most authentic and significant peace church, it also brought a group of talented and determined Quaker women into the front lines of the Society's struggle against war and conscription, aposition from which twentieth-century female Friends have never retreated. Quakerism emerged from the war as the religious body least tainted by spiritual compromise. Thus, when British Quakers hosted the first World Conference of All Friends in 1920, they could take satisfaction in their struggle to keep alive the voce of pacifist conscience and express renewed hope intheir enduring mission to create the Kingdom of God on earth. |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
The Condition of Friends | 12 |
Spiritual Rebellion | 47 |
An Angry God or A Reasonable Faith? | 86 |
Prophetic Vision | 119 |
The New Quakerism | 157 |
Kindly Silence the Men a Bit Women in the Society of Friends 18601914 | 211 |
Never to Fight with Carnal Weapons | 237 |
Common terms and phrases
April believed British Friends British Quakerism Charles Braithwaite Christ Christian Church conscience conscription David Duncan Declaration Divine doctrine early Friends early Quaker Edward Grubb Essays evangelical Friends faith female Forster Friends Service Committee George Cadbury George Fox Hicksite Hodgkin Home Mission Ibid influence J. B. Braithwaite JFHS John Wilhelm Rowntree John William Graham Joseph Joshua Rowntree June JWGP liberal Light Littleboy London Yearly Meeting Manchester Conference Manchester Friends March Meeting for Sufferings military ministers ministry Minutes modern Monthly Meeting Movement noted pacifist passim Peace Committee peace testimony political principles Quaker History Quaker peace Quaker Renaissance Quaker women Quarterly Meeting radical Religious Society Rendel Harris Report RMJP Rowntree's Rufus Jones Scripture seemed Sept Social Order Society of Friends Society's spiritual Summer School Swanwick theological thought truth Wilson Woodbrooke Worsdell Young Friends