Yesterday was the 350th anniversary of the original public Quaker declaration against warfare in 1661.
350 years ago (January 21, 1661): ‘Concerned that they were suddenly being persecuted as supposed revolutionaries, George Fox and other Quaker leaders delivered a memorial to King Charles II affirming their pacifism. It was the first time Friends had formally declared themselves pacifists *as a body*, and it was to have world-shaking …consequences.’
It’s good to remember that Quakers, like Dr. King, were calling for a “radical revolution of values” — a nonviolent struggle against injustice, creating a society based on equality, loving one’s enemy, living in the power that takes away the occasion of war.
I’m glad that Friends have the opportunity to read the FULL declaration, and get a sense of its historical context. Providing that in the reading material for Peace Testimony Workshops offered by your committee has been quite helpful.
I was delighted recently to see a scan of the actual first publishing of the document (where the letter “s” looks similar to our letter “f”.) Friends often called themselves “Publishers of Truth,” and (as a printer I’m glad to note) they made sure there were plenty of copies around of their messages, for those who hadn’t necessarily heard their proclamations in meetings for worship or in public squares and markets.
Have a look: http://quaker.org.uk/peace-testimony-declaration-title-page
(I note that there are several paragraphs at the end in this original that didn’t make it to the html link.)
Peace to all, -DHF