FRIENDS, SOCIETY OF

or QUAKERS During wealth George Fox bore witne to the | Peace: Te-wae: ao tha tae, found it prevailed in many of the Churche s | and Fox, finding none to sympath ize with him was led to believ in e the ‘inner light.’ He was a great mystic, coming in a time when many were waiting for | one to lead them into a spiritual faith. Wherever he preached, hearers were convinced. These were gathere d after time into societies, and were known | as ‘Friends.’ The depth and the tenacity of their faith were proved by their | endurance under a persecution ‘ during a ve rien of ee cade | and Margaret Fell (afterwards his wife) | were themselves heroic sufferers. Dispensing with the outward ordinances of the Churches, they met in of|simple dependence upon the Spirit. They also refused to take oaths and to enter military service. In their personal and stio oe a SeTupUlo e Us speech The Society has not abandoned in any important way the ideal of George Fox. It has never been a large body, | but its intensive influence has been great both in England and in America. During the World War the Society sent many ambulance units to France | and other theatres of war. It also | rehoused you sands of homele people | in France, and_ establi shed maternity | hospitals, etc. Upwards of $5,000,000 | was expended in this work, The Friends the United States are composed of | two main bodies, The Society of Friends (93,000) and The Religious Society of Friends (17,000). There are besides,|35’ several other bodies. The American| Friends Service Committee performed | from valuable relief work in Europe both marine aa etter they World War. Sea Netherlands, on N.E. side Zuider Zee;} etc.), surface flat, part below level of sea;|Jslands coasts protected by dikes; exports|etc.), horses, cattle, dairy produce; capital, Lieu warden. Area, 1278 sq. miles. Pop.| ually 382,891.