Chappaqua Friends Meeting

About Quakers

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The touchstone of faith for the Religious Society of Friends is the belief that there is "that of God" in... and accessible to... every human being. Everything, from our manner of worship to the way we conduct business, reflects this belief. It leads us to conclude that we are all spiritual equals and that human life is sacred. It leads us to affirm a way of life based on hope, simplicity, truthfulness, non-violence, right-sharing of the world's resources and responsibility to community. It encourages us in applying these principles to the best of our respective abilities in our private and business lives, our worship community and the wider community of the world. Three characteristics of Quakerism can be perceived immediately as different from other religions:
    • the absence of ministers or priests;
    • rule by consensus rather than majority or church hierarchy; and
    • worship conducted not so much "in" as "around" silence wherein anyone present might be moved to share spiritual insight.
Each worship community in the Religious Society of Friends holds a Meeting for Business once a month, which is also considered a manner of worship open to all members and attenders. There, Friends decide by consensus rather than majority on matters as various as the spiritual life of the meeting, peace and social concerns (such as prison reform and Friends' place and responsibilities in the world) as well as such workaday needs as upkeep of the building and grounds.

Meetings for Business form the operational infrastructure of the Religious Society of Friends and insure that every worshipper can take part in the decision-making process of the entire Society. They are held monthly, quarterly, and yearly. Chappaqua Friends Meeting is also known as the Chappaqua Monthly Meeting, and every third month, it sends representatives to meet with other Monthly  Meetings' representatives of a given area at a Quarterly Meeting for Business. Once a year, the Quarterly Meetings, in turn, send representatives to a Yearly Meeting to discuss the concerns and decisions raised at the Monthly and Quarterly Meetings. Chappaqua Monthly Meeting is a member of Purchase Quarterly Meeting and the New York Yearly Meeting.


Selected Readings on Quakers and Quakerism *
                                                                                                                              Compiled by the New York Yearly Meeting Advancement Committee, 2005
Overview—Who Are Quakers?
  • Brinton, Howard.  Friends for 350 Years (2002).  This revision of Friends for 300 Years is a bit dated, but still a classic explanation of who Quakers are and how we function.
  • Cooper, Wilmer.  A Living Faith: An Historical and Comparative Study of Quaker Beliefs (1990).   A readable, theological and historical exploration of Quaker beliefs over the full spectrum of contemporary Quakerism.
  • Cope-Robinson, Lynn.  The Little Quaker Sociology Book (1995).  All the major branches of the Religious Society of Friends are reflected in this lively, intelligent introduction to Quakerism.
  • Hamm, Thomas.  Quakers in America (2003).  A concise history of the Religious Society of Friends, an introduction to Quaker beliefs and practices, and a vivid picture of the culture and controversies of Friends today. 

Guides for Entry into the Quaker World
  • Birkel, Michael.  Silence and Witness: The Quaker Tradition (2004).  An introduction to Quaker thought, practice, and spiritual life.
  • FGC Religious Education Committee.  The Quaker Way (1998).  An easy-to-read faith and practice handbook.
  • New York Yearly Meeting.  Faith and Practice (1998).  The basic text describing spiritual beliefs and process in New York Yearly Meeting.  
  • Peck, George.  What is Quakerism? A Primer  (1988)  A 48-page pamphlet for beginners.
  • Punshon, John.  Encounter with Silence: Reflections from the Quaker Tradition (1987).  A small, rich, readable book on Quaker worship. 
  • Pym, Jim.  Listening to the Light: How to Bring Quaker Simplicity and Integrity into Our Lives (1999).  An accessible, contemporary introduction to Quakerism by a well-known British Friend. 
  • Smith, Robert Lawrence.  A Quaker Book of Wisdom: Life Lessons in Simplicity, Service and Common Sense  (1998).  Personal reflections by a lifelong Friend who came of age in the World War II generation, looking back on his roots in a Quaker family and community.  
  • Willcuts, Jack.  Why Friends Are Friends: Some Core Quaker Convictions  (1984).  A helpful introduction to Quaker faith dedicated to young pastors and new Friends.

Inspirational
  • Ambler, Rex, ed.  Truth of the Heart—An Anthology of Selections from George Fox (2001).  Brief selections, arranged by subject, from a man called the founder of Quakerism.  
  • Birkel, Michael.  A Near Sympathy:  The Timeless Quaker Wisdom of John Woolman  (2003).  A study of the spiritual practices of a man whose patient non-violence changed the world.   
  • Bill, J. Brent.  Holy Silence:  The Gift of Quaker Spirituality (2005).  A reflection on Quaker use of silence in and beyond worship, written primarily for a non-Quaker audience.
  • Kelly, Thomas.  A Testament of Devotion  (1941).  A short book of devotional essays, still widely read among Friends.
  • Moulton, Phillips, ed. Journal and Major Essays of John Woolman (1989).  An 18th century Friend records his efforts to follow his Quaker faith, a classic of American and Quaker literature.  
  • Steere, Douglas.  Prayer and Worship (1988).  A discussion of private and corporate prayer and devotional reading.
  • Trueblood, D. Elton.  The People Called Quakers (1985).  An introduction to Quakerism with a lively historical summary, including chapters that depict the Quaker experiment in radical Christianity as a life option for contemporary men and women.
  • West, Jessamyn, ed. Quaker Reader (1990).  Selections from writings of well-known early Friends. 

History
  • Bacon, Margaret Hope.  The Quiet Rebels: The Story of Quakers in America (1985).  Light, readable.
  • Newman, Daisy.  A Procession of Friends (1972).  Quaker history and principles related as a series of short narratives.
  • Punshon, John.  Portrait in Grey: A Short History (1984).  More scholarly than the other two, but still very readable.

Practice
  • Brinton, Howard.  Guide to Quaker Practice (1955).  A classic pamphlet on worship, structure, business, committees, traveling ministry, queries, teaching, social testimonies, and advices, which places practice in the context of belief.
  • Sheeran, Michael J.  Beyond Majority Rule (1996).  Also a classic.  A Jesuit priest’s study of voteless decisions in the Religious Society of Friends.

Periodicals
  • Friends Journal. 1216 Arch Street, 2A, Philadelphia, PA 19107, (215) 568-1377, www.FriendsJournal.org.  Published monthly.  Includes a wide array of articles on Quakerism with emphasis on the unprogrammed branch.
  • Quaker Life, 101 Quaker Hill Drive, Richmond IN 47374-1980, (765) 962-7573, www.fum.org/QL. Published ten times a year by the pastoral branch of Quakerism.  Includes articles on Quakerism around the world.  

* This list combines recommendations from QuakerBooks of FGC (Philadelphia), Quaker Hill Bookstore (Richmond, Indiana), and Quaker Information Center (Philadelphia), and includes authors affiliated with unprogrammed and pastoral branches of Quakerism.   Books not found in local libraries may be obtained from QuakerBooks of FGC, Friends General Conference, 1216 Arch Street, 2B, Philadelphia,PA 19107, 1-800-966-4556, www.QuakerBooks.org; or Quaker Hill Bookstore, Friends United Meeting, 101 Quaker Hill Drive, Richmond, IN 47374, 1-800-537-8838, www.QuakerHillBooks.org.