"We utterly deny all outward wars and strife and fightings with outward weapons, for any end, or under any pretence whatsoever; and 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 do certainly know, and so 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 this world."
A Declaration to Charles II 1660 This is the entire text of what most believe is the seminal statement of the Quaker peace testimony. A Declaration from the harmless and innocent people of God, called Quakers, against all plotters and fighters in the world, for the removing the ground of jealousy and suspicion from both magistrates and people in the kingdom, concerning wars and fightings.
In an autobiographical "Memorandum," Friend William Rotch of Nantucket Island tells a gripping story of living his peace testimony during and after the American Revolution, while under suspicion and accusation from both sides.
First Among Friends A description of the origins and emergence of the peace testimony is in this essay by historian H. Larry Ingle, author of First Among Friends, the standard biography of George Fox.
Understanding the Peace Testimony (Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Resources for Those Laboring with Issues of Our Peace Witness in the Aftermath of the Events of September 11th
The War Prayer by Mark Twain, 1905 Outraged by American military intervention in the Philippines, Mark Twain wrote this and sent it to Harper's Bazaar. This women's magazine rejected it for being too radical, and it wasn't published until after Mark Twain's death, when World War I made it even more timely. It appeared in Harper's Monthly, November 1905
Links assembled by Dennis W. Mills"An eye for an eye only makes the whole world blind." - Mohandas Gandhi
The Quaker Peace Testimony
"We utterly deny all outward wars and strife and fightings with outward weapons, for any end, or under any pretence whatsoever; and 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 do certainly know, and so 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 this world."
A Declaration to Charles II 1660 This is the entire text of what most believe is the seminal statement of the Quaker peace testimony. A Declaration from the harmless and innocent people of God, called Quakers, against all plotters and fighters in the world, for the removing the ground of jealousy and suspicion from both magistrates and people in the kingdom, concerning wars and fightings.
In an autobiographical "Memorandum," Friend William Rotch of Nantucket Island tells a gripping story of living his peace testimony during and after the American Revolution, while under suspicion and accusation from both sides.
First Among Friends A description of the origins and emergence of the peace testimony is in this essay by historian H. Larry Ingle, author of First Among Friends, the standard biography of George Fox.
Understanding the Peace Testimony (Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Resources for Those Laboring with Issues of Our Peace Witness in the Aftermath of the Events of September 11th
The War Prayer by Mark Twain, 1905 Outraged by American military intervention in the Philippines, Mark Twain wrote this and sent it to Harper's Bazaar. This women's magazine rejected it for being too radical, and it wasn't published until after Mark Twain's death, when World War I made it even more timely. It appeared in Harper's Monthly, November 1905
Links assembled by
Dennis W. Mills"An eye for an eye only makes the whole world blind." - Mohandas Gandhi
