The Quaker Way (review)

Book Reviews69 with this or that aspect of his life and work may feel that something has been lost to the aging captain's memory and outlook. The book is written in simple, rapid prose which here and there—as in the last three tremendous paragraphs of Chapter 25—is also noble and direct. Blackburn CollegeJohn Forbes The Quaker Way. By Jane P. Rushmore. Philadelphia: The Representative Committee, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of Friends, 1515 Cherry Street. 1951. 47 pages. $1.00. A GROUP of her friends has had the happy thought of gathering in a little volume some of the significant utterances of Jane P. Rushmore . Few persons have a better right, through age and experience, to speak of the faith and "testimonies" of Friends. For many years her voice has been heard in Race Street meetinghouse as she clearly and with forthrightness contributed her judgment to the business of the Society. Her writings have long been classic statements of the truth she holds. The author is a Liberal. She believes in limiting one's belief to what the Light reveals. Some can believe more than others, and there is room in our creedless Society for a great variety of faith based on experience. There is more variety in Quaker faith than in Quaker practice, and some of Jane Rushmore's statements will enable the reader to examine for himself just how much is essential. Though the Bulletin does not usually deal specifically with religious questions, it may render a service in this case by quoting a few characteristic sentences: "Undoubtedly all people who profit by our method of worship do not attain spiritual satisfaction in the same way." "We need to prepare ourselves for meeting and to go to it with minds abounding in content, so that if the Light breaks through and illuminates what is mentally stored, we may speak to the edification of others." "Many of us have little interest in the metaphysics and miraculous elements of the stories of the birth and physical resurrection of Jesus. We place our faith in the eternal Christ, which was in the beginning, is with us now, and which dwelt in its fullness in the person of Jesus of Nazareth." ¡]The last sentence may be compared with William Penn: "Christ was before the law, under the law, with the prophets, but never so revealed as in that holy manhood." Quakerism a New Name for Old Christianity, 1672.] "Not the acceptance of tenets which we cannot understand, but living as Jesus taught men to live will make Christians of us." "We make no demand upon our members to accept the doctrine of metaphysical divinity unless their own guiding Light leads them to a perception of its truth." "This direct communion does away with the need of mediation 70Bulletin of Friends Historical Association between God and Man and is the most essential factor of our Quaker faith." Combined with a belief in the progressive apprehension of divine truth and in the call to cooperate with others in bringing mankind to the teachings of Jesus, these extracts give a faithful idea, I believe, of Jane Rushmore's conception of modern Quakerism. Her position is far short of what evangelical individuals and whole bodies of Friends feel is essential. But it is certain that she speaks for many Friends in England and in the eastern Yearly Meetings of our country in calling for a teachable and liberal Quakerism. Haverford CollegeWilliam Wistar Comfort ...