FRIENDS, SOCIETY OF. The body of Christians known as the " Friends " and nick-named the Quakers (q.v.) was founded by George Fox (1624-1691 A.D.) as the result of a profound religious experience. As a young man, Fox was troubled for a time with religious despondency, and could find no comfort or help In the counsels of the priests and preachers of his age. He wandered about in great misery, with the Bible as his only companion. At length the clouds were dispersed, as they so often are in such cases, and his outlook was brightened in a wonderful way. He received a divine message to the effect that "There is one, even Christ Jesus, that can speak to thy condition." He now knew Ia what direction to seek for help. " I saw also that there was an ocean of darkness and death, but an infinite ocean of light and love which flowed over the ocean of darkness. In that I saw also the infinite love of God, and I had great openings." Such an experience as Fox had had seemed to prove to him that what men needed most was to seek spiritual enlightenment by kindling Into flame the divine spark which exists in all of them. He had found that no priest nor religious rite is neces.sary to bring the soul into direct communion with God. He had re-discovered, he thought, the original secret of Christianity, and was prepared to devote himself heart and soul to the task of reviving primitive Christianity. In 1647 he started on a missionary campaign, which only ended when his life did. He wandered about England as a preacher, urging the people to " look to Christ within " and to " follow the inward light." He met with great success. After he had laboured alone for four years, he was joined by other preachers. In the seventh year of his work there were more than sixty. In the eighth year there were preachers in Asia and Africa, as well as in various parts of Europe. About twenty years after the formation of the body known as the Friends, William Penn (1644-1718) joined them. The Friends flourished in spite of persecution. Many of them were fined and imprisoned, particularly between the years 1650 a-nd 1689. In 1682 a settlement was made in America, and in a few years there were thousands of Friends in the American Colonies. The body in America in 1827
split into two divisions, one of which became known as the Hicksites (q.v.). The principles of the Friends have been summarized as follows : (1) God's Spiritual Light that lighteth every man; (2) the indwelling of the Spirit with the disciple; (3) the Headship of Christ in His Church; (4) the priesthood of all believers: (a) the free dom of the Gospel Ministry: (6) the spiritual equality of the Sexes; (7) Spiritual Baptism, and Spiritual Com munion; (8) the unlawfulness of war to the Christian: (9) the unlawfulness of oaths; and (10) the duty of brotherly love, and of simplicity of life. The members of the Society of Friends worship in silence, unless some member of the congregation is moved by the Spirit to preach or offer prayer or give praise. " But this silence is itself intended to be occupied with religious acts. Highest of these is the direct communion of the soul with its Maker and its Lord, in rapt devotion, in thanksgiving and prayer. But there are services, in these hours of silence, adapted to every degree of religious experience and every serious mood of mind. One of the most profit able of these is self-examination. . . . Another exer cise is religious meditation. At worst, every atteuder can force himself to think on profitable themes by repeat ing to himself texts of Scripture, or the verses of some suggestive hymn. ' Sometimes a light surprises ' the humble worshipper; his thoughts are led on and upward by a higher Power; new meanings of texts flash upon his mind, a new illumination is given to the path of duty, and in answer to the prayer breathed forth by his inmost soul, he feels conscious of a closer union with God, and strengthened for his future warfare with the world, the flesh, and the devil. And, if some brother or sister is led to offer vocal service, it often happens that the word of exhortation or reproof or comfort, or the earnest peti tion to the throne of grace, harmonizes with the private exercise of mind which the hearer has passed through, confirming his faith, and invigorating his resolution" (Sehaff-Herzog). The Friends have been great philan thropists. See Schaff-Herzog; J. H. Blunt; Prot. Diet.; R.S.W.