Meeting for Worship is at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, in the Meetinghouse
at 727 West Harrison Avenue in Claremont. Harrison is the equivalent of
5th Street in Claremont; 727 is between Indian Hill Blvd. and Mountain Avenue.
Right Sharing of World Resources: Information concerning Right Sharing of World Resources will be posted here.
Religious education: The Children's Meeting is also at 9:30 a.m.
on Sunday morning. Child care is provided during the meeting from
9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Retreats and discussion groups are scheduled for
adults during the year.
Claremont Meeting is part of a world wide religious movement commonly
known as "The Quakers" but more exactly named The Religious Society Of Friends. There is
a Meeting For Business, usually held the fourth Sunday of each month,
and a Quarterly Meeting, which draws Friends from several meetings
in this area. Each year Friends from meetings in the western United States
attend Pacific
Yearly Meeting. There are Quaker groups of national and international
scope, such as The American Friends Service
Committee, and Friends
World Committee For Consultation.
An introduction to Quaker Beliefs
and Practices, or General
Quaker Information might be of interest to those who want to know more
about The Society of Friends.
Events and Meetings are planned on a regular basis. See the monthly
Notices to know what is coming up. Advices
and Queries from 1997 through 2000 are available here.
A special display of poetry written by members
of the Meeting was shown in the Fellowship Room during November, 2001.
You may see it by clicking on the link here.
The Peace and Social Order Committee presents some thoughts
from the past to consider, with queries for the present,.
The Friends Committee on National Legislation represents Friends
views in Washington. They also provide assistance on their web site for
writing to our representatives. Click on FCNL,
which will take you to their web site with suggested letters and addresses
provided.
LEARN ABOUT QUAKERS AND THE POLITICAL PROCESS
Have you ever wondered what political roles Quakers have played in our country's
history? "Quakers and the Political Process: Living Our Faith in Action,"
a new exhibit at the Arch Street Meeting House in Philadelphia, examines
Quaker activity in politics from the time of William Penn to the present.
Quaker actions have provided strong foundations for the Declaration of
Independence, the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights, many
state constitutions, and the United Nations Charter including such key principles
as: Religious Freedom, Separation of Church and State, Freedom of Individual
Conscience, Justice for All, Peacemaking and Relief for All Who Suffer.
The Religious Society of Friends, commonly called Quakers or Friends, has
significantly influenced American politics and public policy. For example,
the following statement inspired Jefferson's language in the Declaration
of Independence:
All peace is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded
on their authority and instituted for their peace, safety, and happiness.
For the advancement of these ends they have at all times, an inalienable
and indefeasible right to alter, reform or abolish their government in such
a manner as they may think proper.
William Penn, "Declarations of Rights"
Religious Freedom
On October 28, 1701, William Penn granted his Charter of Privileges for
all Pennsylvania inhabitants, the earliest prototype for the U.S. Bill of
Rights. Directly reflecting the 50 years of persecution Friends had
suffered in Britain, the Charter included the following:
no persons who shall confess and acknowledge One Almighty God ... ; and
profess ... themselves, obliged to live quietly under the civil government,
shall be in any case molested or prejudiced ... because of ... conscientious
persuasion or practice, nor be compelled to frequent or maintain any religious
worship place or ministry contrary to ... their mind, or to do or suffer
any other act or thing contrary to their religious persuasion.
The Liberty Bell was cast in 1751-1753, by order of the Pennsylvania
Assembly, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Penn's Charter of Privileges,
with an inscription adapted from the following
Biblical passage: And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty
throughout all the land
unto all the inhabitants thereof ... - Leviticus 25:10
The exhibit consists of twelve large panels that address various aspects
of the Quaker contribution to American politics. Topics include an overview
of Quaker history, beliefs, and testimony; the history of the Quaker colonies
in West New Jersey and Pennsylvania; a discussion of Quaker advocacy work;
and profiles of two Quaker presidents, Herbert Hoover and Richard Nixon.
Karen Chapman visited Arch Street Meeting House, above, in Philadelphia.
Did she see all of this exhibit? You'll have to ask her.
View the exhibit on the web at <http://www.pym.org/exhibit>.
The Friends Bulletin is the
official publication of the three independent (unprogrammed) Western U.S.
Yearly Meetings. Some of its content is available from this link.
A Special Event for the Children's Meeting took place in1999, making
masks and connections to peoples in far away places and far away times.
Her first book, MARJORIE
SYKES: Quaker - Gandhian, is a narrative biography --
a delightful and authoritative illustrated account of Sykes, whose commitment
to Quaker beliefs, to non-violence, to Gandhian methods, to India and to
education in its broadest sense has formed a life of rare wholeness. It
will be of interest to those connected with Gandhian movements, to Quakers
around the world and to any who value learning of a life lived with positive
purpose.
TRANSCENDING TRADITION
presents excerpts from the writings and talks of Marjorie Sykes. Transcending
tradition and breaking down the walls which divide people characterize all
of Sykes writings and talks as well as the spirit in which she always lived.
Her work with Tagore and Gandhi and her leadership in Basic Education both
at Sevagram and in her own home in the
Nilgiri Hills of South India are reflected in these excerpts, as is her
peace-keeping experience in Nagaland and her links with Quakers world-wide.
This collection includes the subjects to which she was most devoted over
the years: simplicity, self-discipline, education, community, peace, non-violence,
the environment, Quakerism and world faiths. There are insights and depths
which challenge and inspire as one reads this wide-ranging collection. The
foreword by Gopal Gandhi, Director of the Nehru Centre in London, grandson
of Mahatma Gandhi, makes clear the respect with which Marjorie Sykes is
held by the many Indians who knew her.
Varying Art Exhibits are shown during the year. Samples of an Exhibit are shown here.
January 12, 2007
We appreciate the assistance of Ultimate Internet Access
our Internet Service Provider in Claremont,
for providing this web page for the Friends Meeting.