The Society of Friends and Robert Barclays Explanation

The Society of Friends and Robert Barclay’s Explanation of the “Inner Light” (1675) American Cultural History, Topic 2

Living History

�In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the religious beliefs of the Society of Friends greatly influenced the culture of the Delaware River Valley. Though the Friends were dissenting English Protestants like the Separatists and Puritans, they had a unique set of doctrines that was highly radical in its time. The religion had first appeared in England’s North Midlands in 1647, when George Fox developed his doctrine of the “inner light”—the belief that every person is entitled to divine revelation that can guide him/her to morality, truth, and salvation through Christ—and began preaching. Fox emphasized human goodness because of the belief that God had placed some divinity within each person. Background: Fox’s “Inner Light”

Seeing History Kmusser, Delaware River Valley Metro Area (2006) (published by the copyright holder under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3. 0 Unported license at wikimedia. org)

� Before receiving personal revelation through the “inner light, ” Friends sometimes trembled in ecstasy, which caused their detractors to label them “Quakers. ” Friends were zealous Bible readers, and they heavily emphasized the New Testament, which differed from Puritans and Anglicans, whose doctrines stressed both books of the Bible. To Friends, God was full of light and love and desired harmony and peace for His children, who each had an equal chance to pursue salvation according to their “inner light. ” Accordingly, they rejected the Puritan concepts of predestination, original sin, and limited atonement. They believed that Christ had not died for an arbitrarily chosen few—but for all of God’s beloved sons and daughters. Background: An Equal Chance

�They did not believe in the formalities of most organized religions and, thus, rejected sacraments, ceremonies, paid clergy, and tithing. Lay members of a congregation simply came together, sat in silence until the “inner light” moved them, and then bore public witness of the truths that they felt God wanted them to share. They had no church government (all decision-making was done by the entire group of Friends at open meetings) and no minister to lead the meeting, and everyone—both men and women, old and young, rich and poor, and black and white—had an equal opportunity to testify, teach, and exhort. Background: Friends’ Meetings

�Theirs was a religion of equality, democracy, social pluralism, and reciprocal liberty. It was also a religion of pacifism, as the Friends’ tenets of tolerance, harmony, love, and brotherly kindness made them abhor war, slavery, persecution, and bigotry of all kinds, which allowed them to be good neighbors to people of all beliefs—even while they diligently preached to them about rigorous standards of Christian conduct, such as a strict law of chastity and extremely modest and plain dress. Background: Tenets of the Society

Seeing History Peter Lely, Portrait of George Fox (c. 1700 s) at Swarthmore College (in the public domain at wikimedia. org)

�What principles or lessons stand out to you from the history covered by the preceding slides? �What one word would you choose to describe the history covered by the preceding slides? Please explain. �What is the biggest question that you have about the history covered by the preceding slides? Reason from the Background

� “There is another Spirit—‘the light of Christ’ (D&C 88: 7) —another source of inspiration, which each of us possesses in common with all other members of the human family. If we know about the Light of Christ, we will understand that there is something inside all of us. …. The First Presidency has written, ‘There is a universally diffused essence which is the light and the life of the world, ‘which lighteth every man that cometh into the world, ’ which proceedeth forth from the presence of God throughout the immensity of space, the light and power of which God bestows in different degrees to ‘them that ask him, ’ according to their faith and obedience. ’ Regardless of whether this inner light, this knowledge of right and wrong, is called the Light of Christ, moral sense, or conscience, it can direct us to moderate our actions—unless, that is, we subdue it or silence it. ” Relate the Words of Modern Prophets

� “Every man, woman, and child of every nation, creed, or color—everyone, no matter where they live or what they believe or what they do—has within them the imperishable Light of Christ. In this respect, all men are created equally. The Light of Christ in everyone is a testimony that God is no respecter of persons (see D&C 1: 35). He treats everyone equally in that endowment with the Light of Christ. It is important for a teacher or a missionary or a parent to know that the Holy Ghost can work through the Light of Christ. A teacher of gospel truths is not planting something foreign or even new into an adult or a child. Rather, the missionary or teacher is making contact with the Spirit of Christ already there. The gospel will have a familiar ‘ring’ to them” (President Boyd K. Packer, Apr. Ensign 2005). Relate the Words of Modern Prophets

� Between 1675 and 1715, 23, 000 Friends emigrated from England to the Delaware River Valley. In the early years of the migration, many Friends settled in present-day New Jersey and Delaware. In 1682, the scale of the migration saw a dramatic increase when 2, 000 Friends led by William Penn came to found the colony of Pennsylvania, which grew rapidly. By 1700, Friends and their sympathizers had become the majority of English-speaking settlers in the Delaware River Valley, and, during the early 1700 s, the number of Friends in the region doubled every generation. By 1750, Friends had become third largest religious denomination in the British colonies of North America. They had 250 meetinghouses, compared to 456 for Congregationalists (Puritans) and 289 for Anglicans. Only the unpopularity of the Friends’ refusal to take up arms in the War of American Independence halted their rise to even greater prominence in the New World. Background: Migration from England

� Like the Separatists and Puritans who had emigrated to Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay, respectively, the Friends came to the New World to escape persecution in England. Friends believed strongly in the separation of church and state and refused to pay church taxes to the Anglican establishment in England, which resulted in the seizure of their property and their imprisonment in large numbers. “Books of Suffering, ” which were read at the Friends’ monthly meetings, catalogued other English oppressions and injustices against them. After Fox joined forces with William Penn—a convert to the doctrine of the “inner light” and the wealthy, highly educated son of an admiral in the Royal Navy—the two men preached throughout Europe to gather a group large enough to found an entire colony of their own in North America. Background: Persecution and Penn

�In 1681, after Charles II paid a debt to Penn’s late father by granting the younger Penn a large territory (larger than England Wales combined and richer in soil and minerals than any other English colony in the New World) between New York and Maryland, Penn established the proprietary colony of Pennsylvania, where he held considerable authority. Penn determined to make his colony a holy asylum for Friends, and, in 1682, he personally sailed to Pennsylvania—along with 23 ships full of Friends—to establish a city between the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers, which he called Philadelphia, meaning “Brotherly Love. ” Background: Pennsylvania

Seeing History Jean L. G. Ferris, The Birth of Pennsylvania, 1680 (c. 1913) (in the public domain at wikimedia. org)

�What principles or lessons stand out to you from the history covered by the preceding slides? �What one word would you choose to describe the history covered by the preceding slides? Please explain. �What is the biggest question that you have about the history covered by the preceding slides? Reason from the Background

� “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints holds to the doctrine of the separation of church and state; the noninterference of church authority in political matters; and the absolute freedom and independence of the individual in the performance of his political duties. If at any time there has been conduct at variance with this doctrine, it has been in violation of the well-settled principles and policy of the Church. We declare that from principle and policy, we favor: The absolute separation of church and state; No domination of the state by the church; No church interference with the functions of the state; No state interference with the functions of the church, or with the free exercise of religion; The absolute freedom of the individual from the domination of ecclesiastical authority in political affairs; The equality of all churches before the law”(President Joseph F. Smith, Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith, 1998). Relate the Words of Modern Prophets

� Despite being ethnically diverse, Penn’s colony promoted the beliefs of the Friends. Though founded as a refuge for Friends, Pennsylvania became a cornucopia of ethnicities, as French, Dutch, German, Swedish, Danish, Finnish, Scottish, and Irish settlers mixed with the English Friends. The Friends had few problems with the diversity around them because they believed that the universal “inner light” in all of God’s children made every neighbor a welcome “Friend” to them. Friends in Pennsylvania embraced religious freedom for Christians (including a separated church and state), minimal government that had little interference in their daily lives, minimal taxes, basic literacy, strong families, hard work, simple dress and manners, the rule of law, and the sanctity of life, liberty, and property: beliefs that quickly endeared them to their diverse Christian neighbors. Background: Good Neighbors

�Though tolerance in Pennsylvania had limits— no professed atheists or non-Christians were allowed—as historian David Hackett Fischer asserts, “Pennsylvania came closer to [Penn’s] goal of a non-coercive society than any state in Christendom during the seventeenth century. ” Most important to the success of Pennsylvania was the Friends’ idea of reciprocal liberty, which embraced all of God’s Christian children and which was rooted in the Golden Rule. In short, it was the belief that every liberty desired for oneself should also be extended to others. Background: Reciprocal Liberty

�As such, the Friends’ Pennsylvania extended liberty of conscience, trial by jury, property rights, representation, and freedom from bondage (Friends were among the first and noisiest proponents of abolition)—the very same rights that they had desired in England—to Christians of every stripe. This “holy experiment” would have a profound influence on the principles of Christian liberty and equality upon which the United States would be founded in 1776. Background: A “Holy Experiment”

Seeing History Bernard Picard, Engraving: Quaker Meeting in London: A Female Quaker Preaches (c. 1723) (in the public domain at wikimedia. org)

Seeing History Bill Whitaker, Photo of Friends Church in Pleasant Plain, Iowa (2009) (published by the copyright holder under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3. 0 Unported license at wikimedia. org)

Seeing History Ahc, Photo of the Centre Friend Meetinghouse in Centreville, Delaware (n. d. ) (published by the copyright holder under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3. 0 Unported license at wikimedia. org)

�What principles or lessons stand out to you from the history covered by the preceding slides? �What one word would you choose to describe the history covered by the preceding slides? Please explain. �What is the biggest question that you have about the history covered by the preceding slides? Reason from the Background

� “Jesus taught people how to live with one another. He declared the two great commandments: first, to ‘love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, ’ and the second, to ‘love thy neighbour as thyself. ’ Then He added, ‘Love your enemies, [and] bless them that curse you. ’ He taught the Golden Rule: ‘All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them. ’ This principle is found in nearly every major religion. Others such as Confucius and Aristotle have also taught it. After all, the gospel did not begin with the birth of the Babe in Bethlehem. It is everlasting. It was proclaimed in the beginning to Adam and Eve. Portions of the gospel have been preserved in many cultures. Even heathen mythologies have been enriched by fragments of truth from earlier dispensations. ” Relate the Words of Modern Prophets

� “Wherever it is found and however it is expressed, the Golden Rule encompasses the moral code of the kingdom of God. It forbids interference by one with the rights of another. It is equally binding upon nations, associations, and individuals. With compassion and forbearance, it replaces the retaliatory reactions of ‘an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. ’ If we were to stay on that old and unproductive path, we would be but blind and toothless. This concept of treating others as one would like to be treated is easy to understand. And it acknowledges the precious nature of each of God’s sons and daughters. Scripture asks parents to teach children not to ‘fight and quarrel one with another, and serve the devil, who is the master of sin. ’ Instead, we ‘teach them to love one another, and to serve one another’” (Elder Russell M. Nelson, Nov. Ensign 2002). Relate the Words of Modern Prophets

�What does Barclay explain about the “inner light”? What is it, who receives it, and why do they receive it? How does it change the way that Friends view others—and themselves? Reason from the Source

�What does the “inner light” have to do with spiritual rebirth and salvation? Reason from the Source

�What does the “inner light” have to do with Friends’ worship and freedom of conscience? Reason from the Source

�How does the document relate to FACE Principle #4: “Conscience Is the Most Sacred of All Property”: “God requires faithful stewardship of all His gifts, especially the internal property of our conscience, thoughts, and convictions. This is a tool for selfgovernment as each child learns the revelation of consent. Each individual governs his life through the voluntary consent to do right or wrong and is protected by laws established by the consent of the governed”? Relate the FACE Seven Principles

�How does the document relate to Doctrine and Covenants 84: 45 -47? ◦ “For the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ. And the Spirit giveth light to every man that cometh into the world; and the Spirit enlighteneth every man through the world, that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit. And every one that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit cometh unto God, even the Father. ” Relate the Anchor Scriptures

�How does the document relate to Alma 5: 45 -47? ◦ “And this is not all. Do ye not suppose that I know of these things myself? Behold, I testify unto you that I do know that these things whereof I have spoken are true. And how do ye suppose that I know of their surety? Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me. And moreover, I say unto you that it has thus been revealed unto me, that the words which have been spoken by our fathers are true, even so according to the spirit of prophecy which is in me, which is also by the manifestation of the Spirit of God. ” Relate the Anchor Scriptures

�How does the document relate to 2 Nephi 26: 24 - 28? ◦ “He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him. Wherefore, he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation. Behold, doth he cry unto any, saying: Depart from me? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but he saith: Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, buy milk and honey, without money and without price. Behold, hath he commanded any that they should depart out of the synagogues, or out of the houses of worship? Behold, I say unto you, Nay. ” Relate the Anchor Scriptures

�How does the document relate to 2 Nephi 26: 24 - 28? ◦ “Hath he commanded any that they should not partake of his salvation? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but he hath given it free for all men; and he hath commanded his people that they should persuade all men to repentance. Behold, hath the Lord commanded any that they should not partake of his goodness? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but all men are privileged the one like unto the other, and none are forbidden. ” Relate the Anchor Scriptures