The first session on Quaker History met today. One thought we had during the session is that there is a tension between the charismatic, dynamic activism of the first generation of Friends and the quiet, well organized nature of Friends who founded successful institutions and businesses. I believe that the tension between responsive activists who follow spiritual […]
Continue reading →Here are some links to some primary sources to provide the flavor of 17th century Quakerism. Chapter 1 Here is a link to the first chapter of George Fox’s Journal George Fox – Chapter 1. Long time members of our faculty will remember the Light Cantata a piece that was written to honor Friends Seminary’s 200th Anniversary […]
Continue reading →In a recent full faculty-staff meeting, I asked if our community might consider holding regular Meeting for Business. I would love to invite people to respond to this proposal; perhaps we can use this blog for critical evaluation of this idea. My current thinking is: We hold a monthly meeting for business 3:30 to 4:30pm. […]
Continue reading →Here are the readings for our session: Quaker History Intro Quaker History #1 Quaker History #2
Continue reading →I will be posting information about our Quaker History Reading Group in the blog. We will be reading the first eight chapters of The Oxford Handbook of Quaker Studies. I propose that we break the readings into three parts: Session 1: Introduction, Chapter 1: Seventeenth-century Context and Quaker Beginnings, Chapter 2: Restoration Quakerism. This session will […]
Continue reading →While reading the minutes from the March 2016 Meeting for Business at 15th Street Meeting, I came upon the following advices. I think members of our school community may find them helpful. Quaker Decision-Making Practices from The Quaker Way by Rex Ambler This comes from a document that was presented to the 15th Street Meeting for […]
Continue reading →This year, Meeting for Worship, will happen less frequently, for longer sessions. I think we will need to acquaint ourselves with new skills for doing meeting. These skills include: Centering Deep Listening Speaking Messages that do not come from the Ego I want to explore these skills more explicitly in the coming month. I encourage anyone […]
Continue reading →This is the first installment of my notes on my Quaker history talk. Please feel free to write a response if you want more information about anything below. The period starts with the beginning of George Fox’s ministry – in 1647, he convinced Elizabeth Hooton. This is the period when Quakerism was born -England during […]
Continue reading →Brooklyn Meeting asked me to make a presentation to newcomers about Quaker history. I will upload the notes with some discussion questions in the next series of blog posts. In my outline of Quaker history ( I am following the examples of Howard Brinton in Friends for 300 Years and Leonard Kenworthy in Quakerism) I delineate six […]
Continue reading →Do you have any text or poetry that you bring in memory to Meeting? Some of mine include the poem by Emily Dickinson “I dwell in Possibility”, the Talking Heads song “Once in a lifetime”, the Lord’s Prayer and the 23rd Psalm. I use companion texts to focus on while settling into the quiet of […]
Continue reading →Robert I Murray Robert I Murray was an insurance agent who worked in New York City before his death in 1903. He was the grandson of Robert I Murray who lived near 14th Street and 3rd Avenue and the great-great grandson of Robert Murray who lived on Murray Hill. This Robert Murray died in 1786 […]
Continue reading →Was there something you wanted to say in Meeting for Worship but you didn’t have the time or feel comfortable enough to rise and speak? In Brooklyn Meeting, we usually spend a few minutes after Meeting to share any afterthoughts. Reply to this post if you have an afterthought to share with others.
Continue reading →Bo Lauder, the principal at Friends Seminary sent around an endorsement of an upcoming workshop at Friends Council on clerking by Art Larrabee. He does a great workshop and I recommend it to all Friends who might someday clerk a committee, a Friends Meeting or any Friends organization. I attended one a number of years […]
Continue reading →(Upper School Meeting for Worship) Many Friends consider the early phase of Meeting for Worship as “centering.” I usually close my eyes and begin to be more aware of my breathing. I usually tend to slouch and I try to sit more upright without allowing my muscles to tense up. Sometimes when I exhale, I […]
Continue reading →I have long wanted to write about my encounters with Quakerism as a teacher at a Friends school. I am also eager to answer questions about Quakerism and how it can be applied to education in the 21st century. I welcome contributions, queries, and responses from Friends Seminary students, staff, parents, alums and the general […]
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