1652 remembered

Friends met at Firbank Fell to mark the anniversary of George Fox addressing hundreds of seekers in 1652

Forty Friends attended the annual gathering at Firbank Fell near Sedbergh to remember the founding of the Quaker movement, when George Fox addressed hundreds of fellow seekers.

The annual event on 10 June marked the anniversary of the 1652 gathering. Chris Skidmore, a former clerk of Yearly Meeting, spoke before a Meeting for Worship.

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Comments

How should we read these early sermons? Of the scriptures it was said that what was written in the spirit should be read in the spirit. With respect to Fox’s sermons I would prefer not to be in the state in which he says he spoke them. I am prone to mental disturbance and the fasting that Fox practised would have very unpleasant results for me and those who have to cope with me!

George Fox’s sermon on the hill (as he recalled it later), had three notable elements, from my mental point of view.

http://www.quakerinfo.com/firbank.shtml

The first, common to much of his preaching, is that he appears to be in a state of mental distraction brought on, in part, by fasting. This is shown in many parts of his journals, but here he notes that others went into eat whilst he just drank a little water. The historical record means we have to rely on Fox’s later reconstruction of his memories without having much to check this by. John Marrant (1755-1791) had similar experiences under conditions of near starvation, but because of the later date, more critical historical analysis of his life has been possible. I think comparison of religious leaders who used starvation to promote spiritual insight would be valuable.

The second point is that Fox says he “directed all to the Spirit of God in themselves; that they might be turned from darkness to Light, and believe in it; that they might become the children of it”. This is a positive message as long as we recognise the spirit of God in others, as well as in
ourselves.

The final point in my personal list is that he calls people out of the established church. We are to “learn of me” (Christ within) - as above - but also we are told that “Christ was come, who ended both the temple and its worship, and the priests and their tithes”. To some Quakers, I know the second point is the most important (I apologise for offending) For me, it is the point at which I would not have followed Fox. In my experience, God appears unexpectedly beside me when I am speaking to people of different faiths and none, within established institutions and without.

Fox says this ... I say that ... what does your madness say? And please note that I mean no offence (-:

Best wishes, Andrew Roberts

By Andrew Roberts on 21st June 2018 - 13:45

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