Margaret Fell has been credited as the first Quaker to write a declaration against ... war and violence for any purpose. She delivered this in person to Charles II in England on June 22, 1660. She ended her declaration with: "We are a People that follow after those things that make for Peace, Love and unity...[we] do deny and bear our Testimony against all Strife and wars....Our weapons are not Carnal, but Spiritual." (Quoted from: Margaret Fell and the Rise of Quakerism by Bonnelyn Young Kunze, Standford University Press, 1994) (See more about the history of the Quaker peace testimony at the Quaker Peace Page.)

Since their beginnings over 300 years ago, Friends have been led by their committment to the ideal of peace to renounce wars and violence ... The Queries are a device used within the Society of Friends for promoting both corporate and individual self-examination. (The Queries regarding the peace testimony follow.)

Do you endeavor to live "in virtue of that life and power which takes away the occasion of all wars"?

Do you work to make your peace testimony a reality in your life and in your world?

Do you weigh your day-to-day activities for their effect on peace-keeping, conflict resolution and the elimination of violence?

Are you working toward eliminating aggression at all levels, from the personal to the international?

Many of us have deep concerns regarding our reponses to the tragic events of September 11, 2001 and the war in Iraq. This page is for contributions from persons from the Pataspco Friends Meeting and other F/friends. It is devoted to the concerns we have regarding the effects of the September 11 tragedy and with the manners in which we honor of our peace testimony.

Please note, items listed under actions or resources and web links, unless specifically identified as sponsored by Patapsco Friends Meeting, are placed here to be helpful, but we do not necessarily endorse the views expressed by other persons or organizations.

Limits to Nonviolence? - more queries on the peace testimony, thinking and rethinking our Quaker peace testimony

Sharing from PFM - sharing of the personal responses and experiences of those of us at Patapsco Friends Meeting

Sharing from Others - sharing of the personal responses and experiences from beyond our meeting

Resources and Web Links - postings of web site and outside resources that may be of help in the peace effort

To submit items please send an email with an attached Word document or pasted text to Ken Stockbridge at kstock@pipeline.com. Your personal sharing will have your first name, the date, and a few descriptive words as a title. You are encourgaged to submit several personal sharings over time as this is a process over time.