Society of Friends

Society of Friends (Quakers), a religious organization that began in England in the 1640s, led by George Fox. The first Quakers arrived in North America in 1656. They were distinguished by their silent worship, their belief in the Inward Light of Christ in all people and the spirituality of the sacraments, their refusal to bear arms, their openness to women's preaching, and their antipathy to professional clergy. By 1660, Friends had won converts in New England, on Long Island, and in the Chesapeake region. They also, as in England, faced persecution, climaxing in the execution of four Friends in Boston. In the 1670s and 1680s thousands of Friends settled in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, colonies that Quakers established. By 1700, Friends were the third largest denomination in the British colonies.

After 1700, the number of Quakers remained relatively static. Nevertheless, individual Friends like John Woolman exercised considerable influence as reformers. They were early leaders of antislavery movements and defenders of the rights of Native Americans and free blacks. Friends dominated the 1848 women's rights convention, Seneca Falls, and Quaker women, notably Lucretia Mott and Susan B. Anthony, provided much of the movement's leadership.

After 1820, American Quakerism splintered. In the 1820s, Hicksite Friends, led by Elias Hicks of Long Island, who emphasized the primacy of the Inward Light, separated from Orthodox Friends, who emphasized the divinity of Christ and the authority of scripture. In the 1840s and 1850s the Orthodox further divided into Wilburites, unbending conservatives, and Gurneyites, more open to non‐Quaker influences. After 1870 Gurneyite Friends, especially in the Middle West, gave up most of Quakerism's distinctive features and adopted a pastoral ministry.

Twentieth‐century Quakers were most visible as social activists and peace advocates, especially through the American Friends Service Committee, founded in 1917. At the end of the century, American Quakers ranged from New Age universalists to fundamentalists.
See also Colonial Era; Conscientious Objection; Fundamentalist Movement; Pacifism; Peace Movements; Penn, William; Religion; Seneca Falls Convention; Unitarianism and Universalism.

Bibliography

Hugh Barbour and and J. William Frost , The Quakers, 1988.

Thomas D. Hamm