“Love for a friend is not put to the test. There is nothing surprising in a friend loving a friend; there is no merit in it and it costs no effort. When love is bestowed on the so-called enemy, it is tested, it becomes a virtue and requires an effort, and hence it is an act of […] real bravery.”
“When a position is taken against a strong and violent adversary, it will be necessary to be firm as a rock, fully prepared to suffer any consequence rather than yield to evil… Firmness, like that displayed by the early Christians and Friends and followers of Gandhi, is impossible in the presence of fear or doubt. It comes only from faith – the deep conviction that the position for which one stands is part of the eternal truth; that being true, it will survive and can be brought into expression by those who will uphold it at all cost.”
I ask for daily bread, but not for wealth, lest I forget the poor. / I ask for strength, but not for power, lest I despise the meek.
“Concentrations of money and power in industry and in the military, the vast influence of the mass media, and seemingly insoluble nature of the problems confronting the world all combine to make us feel we are helpless victims of circumstances beyond our control.
Why, then, should we bother to try to speak out? Why should we spend precious time and energy on what appears to be a futile effort to influence the course of events? And if we do speak out, will anybody listen?”
“The duty of the Society of Friends is to be the voice of the oppressed but [also] to be conscious that we ourselves are part of that oppression. Uncomfortably we stand with one foot in the kingdom of this world and with the other in the Eternal Kingdom. Seldom can we keep the inward and outward working of love in balance, let alone the consciousness of living both in time and in eternity, in timelessness.”
“In every way and in every place, we must work to eliminate the scourge of hate that leads to violence and promote the bonds of love that establish justice and that lead to peace. To realize this, we must also hold people accountable for violating laws and hold lawmakers accountable for perpetuating lies […]”
Cursed Quaker, repent and drive the Devil from this Land. / Thus Minister Wilson cajoled Mary Dyer at the scaffold. / She preached the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.
Do you wish the elders to pray for you? / She said I desire the prayers of all God’s people. / Cursed Quaker, repent and drive the Devil from this Land.
I see sorrow and trouble in this land / Although there will be struggle, we’ll make the change we can / If not now, if not now, tell me when
February 2025: This month examines how Friends throughout history have stood up to authority and worked for justice. Quakers speak truth to power when we advocate for what is right despite opposition from kings, presidents, and institutions. We also investigate how Friends maintain their integrity when they are the ones in power.
“George Lakey was arrested during a 2013 demonstration in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as part of Earth Quaker Action Team (EQAT). EQAT was opposed to PNC Bank’s financing of mountaintop removal coal mining. After a five-year campaign, they were successful in getting PNC to change their investment policy.”
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