Does anything unite Quakers?

At the World Conference of Friends in 1991, Val Ferguson asked:

 

"Does anything unite this diverse group beyond our common love and humanity? Does anything make us distinctively Quaker?

I say yes.

Each of us has different emphases and special insights, but wherever Friends are affirming each other’s authentic experience of God, rather than demanding credal statements, we are being God’s faithful Quakers.

Wherever we are seeking God’s will rather than human wisdom, especially when conflict might arise, we are being faithful Quakers.

Wherever we are affirming the total equality of men and women, we are being God’s faithful Quakers.

Wherever there is no division between our words and our actions, we are being faithful.

Whenever we affirm that no one – priest, pastor, clerk, elder – stands between us and the glorious and mystical experience of God in our lives, we are faithful Friends.

Whether we sing or whether we wait in silence, as long as we are listening with the whole of our being and seeking the baptism and communion of living water, we will be one in the Spirit."

Quaker Faith and Practice- Fifth Edition

Chapter 29 » 29.16

On Freedom

Many years ago, I can recall being set an essay to comment on the quote "Man is born free, but he is everywhere in chains," by someone called Rousseau.
This was a very alarming undertaking, made considerably worse by not knowing anything about French philosophers or what certain college lecturers might like to read. Instead of pretending to be very informed about either subject, I can recall noting all the ways in which a student could feel restricted, blaming various organisations, including the government and police. Since these observations addressed that particular area of the curriculum, and lecturers like having their lectures quoted back at them, somehow I passed that essay!

Even then I had a somewhat uncomfortable feeling there were bits neither of us had thought of.

These days I cannot pretend to be any wiser about Jean-Jacques Rousseau although this isolated statement, taken perhaps well out of the original context, continues to make me think. The world continues to be unjust in how it apportions resources and it is a tragic reality for many people that they still are so far away from freedom. We are victims of our own decisions, and fate also has a cruel tendency to place us in chains.

Those chains of oppression have a tendency to change according to circumstance. For some the struggle for survival could well require every possible resource yet still result in chains. In societies however, where there is law, stability, human rights, material safety, and the option of being content, it would seem ironic that we still somehow seem to end up in chains.

It would seem to me that we shall never experience complete independence because it is part of human nature to submit. If one source of oppression is removed, we will simply replace it with another because human beings naturally choose to be led. Instead of allowing ourselves freedom, we allow ourselves to be influenced, effectively tied down in chains.

Instead of being entirely free it is almost impossible to walk through a shopping centre without believing that there is something that you need.
It is hard to feel content, because we have chosen to accept the guidance of advertisements, as our teachers.
It is hard to feel happy with who you are because we have adopted certain role models which stress the importance of perfection and success.
It is hard to love your own body because somehow there is an image of perfection fixed in our minds.
It is hard to feel valued, because we have chosen to adopt a culture of competition which involves making judgements about ourselves and each other.
It is hard to feel full, when obliged to take all that there is to offer.
It is hard to feel safe whilst believing we are entitled to be led by our emotions.
It is hard to feel happy when we are told to keep raising the level of expectations.
It is hard to forgive because we are supposed to be governed by reason which allows us to retaliate and stand up for ourselves.
Chains are an inevitable fact of life.

Since we are bound through our very nature to be governed in some way, it would seem unrealistic to expect that we can simply throw away our chains. Instead I would like to believe that there is an opportunity for freedom through actively listening out for God. In each moment there would seem to be a choice between being an ambassador for God's Kingdom on earth, or self employed and entirely wrong.

When people sometimes ask me if Quakers believe in God?
I am aware of the many other available chains and ask myself,
Who else should they follow?

Unwelcome Guests

In 1975 a Comedy Series was introduced to British television viewers involving a very traditional seaside guest house. Every episode something went quite seriously wrong. Although in some instances people were unlucky, the cause for so much of this trouble was a seethingly rude, particularly stressed out proprietor called Basil Fawlty who in his attempts to present the best possible impression of his establishment, was, (in the words of their website) "the epitome of a frustrated, social climbing middle-Englanders".

Although it may seem we are not very like Basil Fawlty and cannot imagine ever owning a guest house, most of us would identify with having a home and visitors who come to see you.

The ones I am thinking of this morning do not come announced, They do not make an appointment or ring the shiny brass bell on the front desk to let you know they are here. They do not write their names in the visitors book, but intead put down promises about being there to make you happy, fulfilled, successful, appreciated and so with no further questions, it is quite understandable that we have a tendency to let them in to stay.

Such guests can be everything they promised. There was that surprise birthday party, unexpected presents, winning the charity raffle, a Valentines Card right out of the blue, and a job interview which went really well. Its a lovely feeling to be happy.

Gradually however, such guests have a tendency to become more demanding. At times they will over-eat, take their fun with little regard for the neighbours or other people's guests, create so much dirty washing, use chocolate, alcohol, pills, to achieve the same results. It feels a little unsafe, even dishonest, but who isn't afraid of the alternative to what your guests provide?

That discovery one morning that your guests had repainted the living room a bright sunny yellow was a bit awkward. Even in your dreams it seemed you might be losing control, relying too much upon feelings.

There was now a funny smell about the place. Although difficult to raise the subject directly, it seemed that some treasured possessions, besides those you had just become accustomed to, didn't quite fit in.

Next day it was all very dark because someone had stitched together the curtains. As you stumbled about the house, everything seemed that bit harder to do. Nobody came round to visit because everyone thought you were out. Through lack of practice, it was impossible to remember how curtains are supposed to move, although your guests said it would be quite ok to blame everyone else in the neighbourhood, even the wider world if this would help you to feel better, as it is a horrible feeling being all alone and no body came to help you.

The problem with intrusive guests is that they seem to have an answer for everything. This works for a while but then you are either stuck with the same problem, or else have something else to deal with. There's that promise of happiness and all life's other rewards written so convincingly in the visitors book. It begins well but now there are all these other guests who you don't like nearly as much even though they say that they're related. Somehow they have slipped in between, signed in with false promises or said quite rudely that they are realistic expectations. Instead of being in your own home environment, all these very different emotional responses have set up a roller coaster ride in your living space.

Escaping from a destructive and misleading environment will require carefully planning. It takes time- a whole life time of practice, but best to break the challenge down into individual moments.
An act of worship provides an opportunity to quietly slip away from the rest of life and think. Through silence it becomes possible to recognise those emotional dependencies which so easily get in the way. Gradually we re-discover who we really are by seeing our lives in context. Guests with all their promises need to be told very firmly that within any home there are rules. In future there will be a little sign right next to the bell telling any potential guests about the owner of this house. It says that what we want is not all that there is and that "We are Quakers"

  

What are Quakers supposed to do?

" The world needs deliverence from the bondage of fear, a fear which makes men selfish, cruel and callous.

Everywhere significance and security have faded out of the lives of men.

Our Society should be witnessing, from its own particular angle of approach, to a God who delivers from fear, and in whom men may find strength and abiding peace."

Yearly Meeting  Minutes 1938

Separation anxiety among Quakers.

Through having spent all of my adult life with the very good company of a rescue dog, I will be among the first to recommend this particular type of friend. It is a wonderful privilege to be welcomed every time you enter the house by your greatest fan........... although I do rather wish it wasn't necessary almost every time, to re-arrange the carpet.

Many rescue dogs have a tendency to suffer from separation anxiety. From insecurity, loneliness, hunger and mistreatment, a new leader of their pack arrives. Suddenly there is someone to latch on to, prepared to provide for all their needs giving them a home. For this reason it is very important to practice leaving your dog, building up intervals of separation gradually, causing the minimum disruption every time you arrive or leave. Since the relationship we have with our dog is based on trust, it is very important that we are not unreasonable in our expectations. However well adjusted and well trained, dogs are social creatures who need exercise, and cannot be left alone in the house too long.

Since it would be possible for my dog to do a great deal of damage, I like to think that rearranging the hall carpet is more symbolic than the result of prolonged distress. On my return, she is usually asleep in her basket, and through the limitations of a dog's short term memory, cannot recall digging about in the hall for those few crucial incriminating disruptive moments just after her pack leader left.

For Early Quakers there cannot have been much doubt who was the pack leader. Through their letters and testimonies there is so much evidence of trauma from the recent civil wars, howls of anguish through lack of consistent leadership, feeling very lost, and then finally re-homed with a living experience of Christ in their midst. Their responsibility towards God was decisive. Whether it be through leaving their plough, wives, likelihoods, rejecting the excesses of fashion, social protocol, refusing to swear an oath of allegiance, interrupting the priest, not paying tithes, burning all their musical instruments, going naked for a sign or heading to Boston for almost certain execution, duty to the pack leader totally transformed their lives. The depth and closeness of this relationship was expressed in many ways.

Typically, the Early Quaker William Dewsbury said during his final days

"If anyone has received any good or benefit through this vessel called William Dewsbury, give God the glory; I'll have none, I'll have none, I'll have none."

These days it may not always be so clear who Quakers have as their pack leaders. Instead of reacting quickly to every whistle of command, we tend to consider the prospect first, wonder if running after balls is really worth the effort since we are all such busy and important people really.

Absence of leadership can often lead to panic. At times Quakers also have a tendency to dig up the hall carpet, desperately looking for meaning. Without a guiding influence in our Meetings there may be dog fights because in the strength of our opinions we too can get preoccupied with power.
We may make our mark in all the wrong ways, considering Quakerism to be merely a way of life and our sole responsibility to the rest of society is merely to make an impression. At times in the absence of leadership, Quakers can be quite ingenious in their ability to ignore the rules. Through misguided priorities and lack of trust we raid the rubbish bin. Through not being challenged, there is a tendency to chew away on all sorts of improbable items because even though we do not like to admit this, it can be very frightening to be left on your own.

Those Early Quakers understood how hard it was to be patient but at least through a sincere preoccupation with truth, they were facing in the right direction.

Isaac Pennington later recalled how
" I have been a man of sorrow and affliction from my childhood, feeling the want of the Lord and mourning after him, separated by him from the love, nature and spirit of this world, and turned in spirit towards him almost ever since I could remember."

For lonely impatient dogs waiting on a somewhat lumpy hall carpet, there is hope, that moment of joy for every seeker after truth, the sound of a key turning in the lock above their head, a furiously wagging tail rearranging all the letters on the mat, then a desperate need to find some toy to show your pack leader and, above all else, that knowledge of being loved.

Testimony of Marmaduke Stephenson

"And this is given forth to be upon record, that all pople may know who hear it, that we came not in our own wills but in the will of God."
 

Marmaduke Stephenson

Boston Martyr died with William Robinson October 27th 1659

Testimony of Marmaduke Stephenson

Paradise Island.

During my time at secondary school we were set the task of reading a book that scared me. Its content was so shocking, I cannot recall reaching the end even though "The Lord of the Flies" was very strongly recommended at the time. The feeling of horror I had was further aggravated by our local butchers shop which for some reason best known to themselves, decided to put a pig's head in the window. For me, this was one of those horrible visual images that you cannot help looking at, and remember for ever, however hard you try.

"Lord of the Flies" recalls the consequences of a plane crashes on a desert island. The only survivors are a group of schoolboys. Despite being in an effectual paradise they become victims to their own group dynamics, priorities, superstitions. As the plot progresses they become increasingly idle, gullible to superstition, unable to help themselves escape and violent.

This quite shocking dark narrative has since been made into several films. For those who have not encountered the book before, I will put in a link as a Summary of the plot.

It may be argued that this story is a huge exaggeration, contrived though being a particularly exclusive group of pre-pubescent boys, who despite being placed in the most perfect environment, were in other respects particularly unlucky. Instead of involving an inspirational Peter Pan and magical Neverland where life can afford to be a very big adventure, this alternative vision of the "lost boys" seemed to present a terrible indictment of human nature.

During the very early years of Quakerism as Britain reeled from the effects of Civil War most people felt they had been betrayed in some way. It seemed through their recent sufferings, lack of consistency in government and various transformations of the Church that their entire world was turning upside down. At this time of intense suffering and fear, a very similar book to "Lord of the Flies" was produced. Called "Leviation" it also reflected a belief that

“Life is nasty, brutish, and short”
― Thomas Hobbes

Despite the recent past and observations about the nature of humanity, Leviathan argued that civil peace and social unity could be achieved through the establishment of a commonwealth by social contract. In an ideal situation this would be ruled absolutely by a sovereign power who would in turn provide for its defense.

Through having experienced these times of terrible uncertainty and hardship, it would have been inconceivable for Early Quakers to dispense with all forms of government, choosing to promote instead an entirely individual approach, or system of Church Government in which a majority would decide. Instead there was a particularly strong emphasis on accountability, where instead of following creeds and clerics, Christ was believed to have come among his people to teach them himself. In practical terms, besides their Meetings for Worship, this meant Early Quakers were regularly referring back to the Scriptures for guidance. Typically, an almost unanimous decision not to take the Oath of Allegiance, could be justified through a reading of the gospels and that they were following Christ's instructions.

These days it might seem we are enjoying unprecedented freedom and opportunities. For many of us there is a particular way of life, so it could seem our Quaker paradise has a tendency to become an island. Perhaps our Meetings long to become more inclusive and diverse. We have access these days to so many different insights and sources of wisdom, but might there also be a risk of not giving them the respect they deserve. Lack of clarity may so easily lead to superstition so instead of living out our testimonies in the context of our belief, we settle for a way of life. Our paradise island may so easily lead to a power-struggle, becoming tainted by human needs and priorities, if we choose to forget what it is like to be human and that Meetings for Worship are for seeking and listening out to God.