The Quaker business tradition
Elizabeth Redfern welcomes a book on Quakers, business and industry
Ten years ago I came to Quakers as a direct result of repeatedly hearing, over the years I was in business, that there were famous businesses of yesteryear run by a group of people called Quakers, who were leaders in industrial innovation and driven by their religious fervour. These businesses were not simply successful and well managed – and, of course, not all were – they treated their employees, suppliers, customers and the rest of the community with respect, and worked with honesty and integrity. I thought that I should learn more about these Quaker people, as that was how I tried to run our business, and I eventually became one.
The Quakers and Business (Q&B) Group, of which I was the clerk for six years until last year, has seen, since the financial crisis of 2007, an increasing interest in these historical Quaker businesses. So, what can we learn from them? I think the answer is a sense of balance, pragmatism and compromise. These values are evident in so many instances in Quakers, Business, and Industry: Quakers and the Disciplines: Volume 4, edited by Stephen W Angell and Pink Dandelion. (Paul Anderson is the series editor.)
These Quakers in business realised that there was no absolute answer, and that rules were there to be applied with a bit of give and take where needed, with Meeting-wide discernment to help think things through.
Having already read most of the easily accessible Quaker business history books, Quakers, Business, and Industry certainly backs up what I had heard elsewhere, but more importantly fills in a lot of gaps and shows that not all was plain sailing. It also contradicts some of the business myths that have been handed down and explains – in an accessible way – what did happen and why? A good example is the situation with debt and bankruptcy. There were many situations where debt was taken on in a managed fashion, and bankrupts were not automatically removed from membership (as is often believed) if they took advice from others and worked hard to repair damage. Another myth is that Quakers went into business in the early days largely because they couldn’t enter higher education. This is irrelevant, as business was always seen as credible and worthy work.
Then there is the great American ‘captain of industry’ Joseph Wharton, who made armaments during the American civil war and yet also established a world-famous business school, and was seen as a model Quaker in how he lived his life.
It is heartening to know that there was this pragmatism to ensure that, where possible, businesses were successful enough to generate sufficient income to pay wages, and ultimately put food on employees’ tables. The thing I was most proud of in business was that we employed people, and were privileged to contribute to their lives.
With nine chapters, including a number written by Q&B Group members, the book has a comprehensive introduction written by the editors. It includes a number of chapters that look at specific Quaker business people and their families, and how their faith influenced their business careers, including in the UK George Bradshaw, the Rowntrees, and many Birmingham Quakers such as the Cadbury, Gibbins and Sturge families, and in the US William Penn, Joseph Wharton and Herbert Hoover.
The book emphasises how closely involved members of Meetings were in businesses, for example in the large Birmingham Bull Street Meeting, in what we call today ‘governance’ – looking at trading details and giving advice. There was also a trusted communications network between family members – especially though marriage – and between Meetings. This provided much-needed work opportunities, including apprenticeships, finance and knowledge. I encourage you to read this book to get a realistic view of what was, in reality, a balanced business environment.
Quakers, Business, and Industry: Quakers and the Disciplines: Volume 4 edited by Stephen W Angell and Pink Dandelion is published by the Friends Association for Higher Education at £15.44. ISBN: 9780998337449.
