QUAKERS AND PEACE
The Peace Testimony
In 1660 the Quakers presented to King Charles II what they called “A Declaration from the Harmless and Innocent People of God, called Quakers.” The text read:
"We utterly deny all outward wars and strife, and fightings with outward weapons, for any end, or under any pretence whatsoever; this is our testimony to the whole world... The Spirit of Christ, by which we are guided, is not changeable, so as once to command us from a thing as evil, and again to move unto it; and we certainly know, and testify to the world, that the spirit of Christ, which leads us into all truth, will never move us to fight and war against any man with outward weapons, neither for the kingdom of Christ, nor for the kingdoms of the world. "
This declaration has been the basis for the Peace Testimony of the Quakers (or the Society of Friends as they are officially called). It is one of five central testimonies of the Friends’ religion; the others are Simplicity, Equality, Community and Integrity. These testimonies guide the life and practice of Friends and Friends Meetings around the world.
Living the Peace Testimony
Living the Peace Testimony is always an act of personal courage, especially during times of conflict when patriotism demands the armed service of citizens. This has been as true in Amesbury, Massachusetts as elsewhere. Quakers were fined or jailed for not participating in the French & Indian Wars, the American Revolution, and the Civil War. In more recent conflicts, Quakers who were able to prove themselves to be conscientious objectors have been permitted to perform alternatives to armed service such as ambulance driving or serving as medics.
Quaker Meetings have taken the Peace Testimony very seriously. In the 17th and 18th centuries, Friends who did take up arms in the conflicts mentioned were often read out (expelled) from their Quaker Meetings.
The Society of Friends, unlike some other religions
does not accept the concept of a "Just War."
Quakers have been early participants in peace vigils against the
wars in