Children, Information, etc
CHILDREN, INFORMATION etc.
7.1.1 Children in worship
Through their presence in worship children and adults minister to one another. The natural noises of a young baby are not normally felt to disturb worship, and Meetings should encourage parents to bring their babies into worship.
Other children usually join the adults for a short part of the meeting, either at the beginning or at the end, and for the rest of the time may have their own activities. Quite young children can learn to be part of the silent worship. It is helpful for adults to explore with children, in ways suited to their age, what it is we all do in meeting for worship. Some Friends have a particular gift for vocal ministry which is suitable for both children and adults. Spoken ministry while children are present should be tested (like any other ministry) to see if it comes from a true leading. Children may have times of worship of their own, or prepare a special contribution which can, by arrangement, be shared with the whole meeting.
7.1.2 Young people in worship
We grow in different ways and at different speeds. Young people should be encouraged to take part in the full meeting for worship as they are ready. A group of young people may also wish to have a meeting for worship together at a different time, and they may want occasionally to explore different pattterns of worship on their own or with older Friends. Times when younger people and adults learn about and reflect on worship together can help the growth of everyone in the meeting.
7.1.3 Junior Young Friends' Gatherings
These were started in the late 1970s at the Quaker Settement. Originally for 3rd and 4th form pupils (years 9 & 10), they now include year 11 students The venue alternates between the Settlement and wherever the host MM is located. Usually some Young Friends are invited to help run the gatherings.
Their purpose is to bring together Quaker children at an age at which many disappear from our meetings. They offer an opportunity to understand some Quaker philosophy and practices, to have experience in a Quaker group, and to get to know each other through enjoyable shared activities.
The structure generally provides for morning sessions of talks or workshops drawing on Quaker values, concerns or history — a time to talk at a deeper level. Afternoons have a variety of more social activities, such as crafts, community help, visits to places of interest, films, etc.. Evenings can be completely organised by the JYFs.
As for funding, the School Trust Administration, via a minute of YM, makes $1500 available to assist with gatherings. Sometimes further funding has been taken from the John Holdsworth Endowment Fund. (see also 5.8.2)
7.2 YEARLY MEETING EPISTLE
(This item belongs more logically with Yearly Meeting publications, at 5.4.6)
The epistle is essentially a letter of greetings addressed to Friends everywhere, and sent to Yearly Meetings all over the world from the YM of Aotearoa/New Zealand. It is based on the experience and spiritual insights of the yearly meeting during its sessions. It is widely distributed as a separate document, as well as with the yearly meeting minutes.
At the start of each yearly meeting, a committee of 3-4 Friends is appointed to draft the epistle. Other Friends may offer suggestions to this committee. Their draft is submitted for approval at the final day's plenary session, and read out during the final worship session. Discussion of the draft epistle by the plenary session should normally restrict itself to surface details (e.g. errors of fact). Though signed by the Clerk, it is not a normal minute; and Friends understand that it is not subject to the same amount of discussion.
Past epistles from here and elsewhere show considerable variations (for example in length and tone). An epistle may have some features of a report, but should not try to cover all aspects of a yearly meeting; rather it should single out a small number of notable themes, and may offer some response to the challenging question: "How does Truth prosper among you?"
It may also have some features of ministry, but should not be too personal in tone. It should try to make reasonable sense to Quakers in other countries.
7.3 QUAKER WEBSITE
The website for Friends in Aotearoa/New Zealand, inaugurated in 2000, is found at
It contains a lot of material more recent than this handbook, and it has links to Quaker websites elsewhere.
7.4 QUAKER HISTORICAL MANUSCRIPTS
A series of historical publications has been produced by New Zealand Friends, beginning in 1988. The first six titles were:
1. Haddenham Quaker History 1660-1870, by Walter Rose (1988)
2. The New Zealand Journeys of Lucy Violet Hodgkin,
by Frances Henry (1989)
3. Seeking a New Land: Quakers in New Zealand,
edited by James Brodie & Audrey Brodie (1993)
4. Go Anywhere Do Anything: New Zealanders in the Friends' Ambulance Unit in China 1945-1951, by Catriona Cameron (1996)
5. Keeping Track: Quakers in Nineteenth Century New Zealand,
by Audrey Brodie & James Brodie (1999)
6. Remembrance of Friends Past: Testimonies & Memorials to lives & works of New Zealand Quakers who died from 1842 to 1998,
by Margaret West & Audrey Brodie (1999)
7.5 QUAKER TAPESTRY PHOTOS
Yearly Meeting possesses framed photos of most of the Quaker Tapestry, which was completed in England in the 1990s. These are high-quality reproductions, almost full-size, of 63 of the panels — a list of them is given below. They form a resource for education, inspiration and outreach, especially if used in connection with the illustrated book Pictorial Guide to the Quaker Tapestry.
These photos may be borrowed, in groups or as a full set, through the Extension Committee.
01 OPENING PANEL: The Prism
GOD & MAN
02 A01: George Fox's Convincement
03 A02: James Nayler
04 A03: James Parnell 05 A04: The Woodhouse
06 A05: John Woolman
07 A06: Conscientious Objection 08 A07: Oaths
PUBLISHING TRUTH
09 B01: Firbank Fell 10 B02: Mary Fisher
11 B03: John Bright
12 B04: Publishers of Truth 13 B05: Stephen Grellet
14 B06: Woodbrooke 15 B07: Services Overseas
16 B08: Quaker Action Caravan
THE MEETING
17 C01: Swarthmore Hall 18 C02: Margaret Fell
19 C03: Keeping the Meeting 20 C04: Meeting Houses
21 C05: Meeting Houses Overseas 22 C08: Quaker Marriage
23 C09: Quaker Pilgrimages 24 C10: Children's Work
25 C11: The Leaveners
THE ART OF LIVING
26 D01: Lichfield & Pendle Hill 27 D02: Quaker Simplicity
28 D03: Personal Devotion 29 D04: Coalbrookedale
30 D05: Innocent Trades
31 D06: Quaker Merchants 32 D07: Railways
33 D08: Quaker Botanists 34 D09: Quaker Doctors
35 D10: Quaker Scientists
36 D11: Industrial Welfare 37 D12: Query 19 — Ecology
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
38 EO1: George Fox at Ulverston 39 EO2: John Bellers
40 EO3: Bankering 41 EO4: Criminal Justice
42 EO5: Elizabeth Fry
43 EO6: Elizabeth Fry & the Patchwork Quilts
44 EO9: Mary Hughes 45 E10: Unemployment
46 E11: Friends' Provident Institution
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
47 F01: George Fox in Derby Gaol
48 F02: The Penn & Meade Trial 50 F04: Daniel Wheeler
51 F08: Friends' Ambulance Unit
52 F10: Underground Railroad
53 F11: Penn & Pennsylvania
54 F12: America & Milford Haven
55 F14: Quakerism in Aotearoa/NZ 56 F15 Workcamps
57 F16: Peace Embassies 58 F17: Vigils for Peace
59 F18 World Conference
60 F19: Quakerism in South Africa
61 F20 Backhouse & Walker in Van Diemen's Land
62 F21: Friends in Canada
63 F22: Friends in the Netherlands 1940-45
64 FINAL PANEL
7.6 QUAKER "CLASSICS" - NOTABLE QUAKER BOOKS
This is an annotated list of Quaker books that can perhaps claim "classic" status. Many are held by Meeting House libraries.
BASIC BOOKS
A Light that is Shining, Harvey Gillman, 1997, 101pp.
A clear, engaging introduction to the core concerns of Quakerism.
Quaker by Convincement, Geoffrey Hubbard, 1985, 253pp.
The Quaker faith presented by a British Friend in the 1980s, including explanations and historical background.
Advices & Queries, Britain YM, 1995, 24pp
Recent version of a famous and inspiring booklet. (cf 1.5 above)
Quaker Faith & Practice, Britain YM, 1995, 613pp.
A compendium on all aspects the Quaker Faith today. Many excellent quotations.
The Amazing fact of Quaker Worship, George Gorman, 1988, 158pp. A profound look at Friends' unprogrammed worship.
Quaker Spirituality, selected writings, ed. Douglas Steere, 1984, 330pp. A major anthology, edited by an expert.
GEORGE FOX
Early Prophetic Openings, George Fox, 48pp.
A selection of key Christian passages from Fox's Journal.
The Journal of George Fox, ed. John Nickalls, 798pp.
Fox's own account of his spiritual development and the rise of the Quakers.
A Reader's Companion to Fox's Journal, J. Pickvance, 1989, 149pp. Sets the scene and helps to interpret Fox's writings.
No More But My Love, ed. Cecil Sharman, 1980, 180pp.
A selection from Fox's letters.
George Fox Speaks for Himself, ed. H. McGregor-Ross, 1991, 153pp. A skilful selection from all kinds of writings by Fox.
HISTORIC QUAKER WRITINGS
A Sincere & Constant Love, ed.Terry Wallace, 1992, 142pp.
Selected writings of Margaret Fell, with commentary.
The Light Within, Isaac Penington.
Writings of one of the first and best Quaker letter-writers.
Hidden in Plain Sight, ed.Mary Garman, 1996, 512pp
Quaker women's writings 1650-1700. Voices of hope, giving insight into the power of the Spirit.
Barclay's Apology in Modern English, ed. Dean Freiday, 1947, 465ppp. A classic systematic statement of Quaker theology.
The Peace of Europe, The Fruits of Solitude, Edwin Bronner, 1993, 322pp. Study of William Penn's writings and vision.
Journal & Major Essays, John Woolman, ed. Phillips Moulton, 1997. A classic by the well-loved Quaker mystic and reformer.
Wilt Thou Go on my Errand? ed. Margaret Hope Bacon, 1994, 416pp. Journals of three 18th-century Quaker women who travelled in the ministry in Europe and America.
Elizabeth Fry, June Rose, 1994. A biography of this complex woman, using her own journals and showing her defiance of the conventions of her time.
A Testament of Devotion, Thomas Kelly, Inspiring essays by a notable 20th-century Friend.
SOME HISTORICAL WORKS
A Living Faith, Wilmer Cooper, 1990, 217pp. A historical study of Quaker beliefs and evolving Quaker thinking.
Portrait in Grey, John Punshon, 1984, 293pp. Account of the beginnings of Quakerism and its rapid expansion in England and beyond.
The Quakers, J.William Frost & Hugh Barbour, 1994, 418pp. An in-depth history of Friends from 1650 to 1990.
Mothers of Feminism, the Story of Quaker Women in America, ed. Margaret Hope Bacon, 1986, 273pp. Includes their pioneer work against slavery and intemperance.
VARIOUS
Is the Bible Important Today? Kenneth Lawton et al, 22pp A booklet asking Friends how they see the Bible.
Beyond Majority Rule, Michael Sheeran, 1983, 152pp. A Jesuit's impressive findings about Quaker decision-making.
The Quaker Tapestry, a celebration of insights, O. Greenwood Pictorial Guide to the Tapestry, giving the stories of the panels.