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Friends United Meeting |
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January/February 2002
Salt and Light
Launching New Woodhouses on Uncharted Seas:
Where do we go for guidance and security in a new setting?
By Jack Kirk
In June and July of 1657 the brave little ship "Woodhouse" cut through the sometimes hospitable, sometimes treacherous waters of the North Atlantic as she made the voyage from London to New Amsterdam (now New York). Making landfall on the last day of July, her coming was one of the most important landings on North America's shores. It brought the seven men and four women who planted the Quaker seed in EnglandŐs North American colonies.
When the "Arbella" came in 1630 bringing the Puritans to Massachusetts, it also brought the concept that rights and privileges are only for "true believers." This theology led to cruel religious persecution and the genocide of many Native Americans in New England. In 1641, the ship sailing from Old England brought Sir William Berkeley, the Royal Governor of Virginia, the architect of a society geared to maintain inequality forever based on racial slavery.
But with the "Woodhouse" came Quaker testimonies of equality, community and peace, and the Quaker understanding that God is working within every person. This theology laid the foundation for the pluralistic society based on the ideal of liberties and justice for all that we know in the United States today.
The voyage of the "Woodhouse" was one of the most amazing sea journeys ever undertaken, based on following the best Divine leadings that came. Robert Fowler, a master mariner of the Yorkshire coast, had a leading to build a ship for the "Service of Truth," without knowing exactly what this meant. So, acting on his leading, he built a fine and graceful ship, although not one large enough for a long voyage on the open sea. Having completed the boat, he was not sure what to do with her until one night he received directions in a dream to sail around to London.
Meanwhile, in London were eleven Friends in ministry—seven men and four women—who felt an undeniable leading to go to America to share the Quaker understanding of Truth. They had no visible means of traveling, but they continued to pray and work in faith that a way would open. Imagine their delight and joy when Robert Fowler arrived with the "Woodhouse!"
Robert Fowler was dismayed and horrified. He had not built his sturdy little ship to withstand the treacherous voyage across the vast Atlantic. He was adamant he was not called to carry eleven Friends in ministry across the ocean. But Friends such as Gerald Roberts, William Dewsbury and George Fox labored with him to discern the Divine voice. At last he came to the point where he said, "I was made to do God's will." And so the "Woodhouse" made for the open sea.
What an unusual voyage it was! Each day, weather permitting, the eleven Friends in ministry and Robert Fowler met on the deck for open worship (all the days but three). They sensed the Divine Voice saying, "Cut through and steer your straightest course and mind nothing but Me"—and so they did. At one point, Robert Fowler wrote in the ship's log, "We see the Lord leading our vessel even as it were a man leading a horse by the head." Now that is a powerful sense of Divine guidance!
Divine guidance was surely with them. Once in danger from Dutch warships (England and Holland were at war at the time), a contrary wind arose and allowed them to escape. They made land in the very place in North America where some of them felt most led to visit—New Amsterdam. They had safely sailed between the treacherous rocks of a passage called HellŐs Gate between New Amsterdam and Rhode Island which no English ship had done before without a pilot.
Among the passengers who went ashore at New Amsterdam was Robert Hodgson. Soon he was speaking to great crowds on Long Island as he shared the new faith. Arrested by the authorities, he was imprisoned and tortured terribly to the point his life was in danger. Residents of Long Island protested to colony officials and secured his unconditional release. This was the first time citizens on these shores petitioned their government on behalf of religious freedom. Called the "Flushing Remonstrance," it was commemorated on its 300th anniversary in 1957 with a gray United States stamp portraying, among other things, a Quaker hat. The seeds of religious freedom came on board the "Woodhouse."
The successful voyage of the "Woodhouse" was made possible because of extraordinary obedience to the Divine voice. Faced with new and uncertain dangers of a vast, and at times hostile sea, and a strange, and at times inhospitable continent, the captain and passengers of the "Woodhouse" sought security and guidance in the most certain thing they knew—the inward leadings of God. By being true to these leadings, they came through, and God's Kingdom of light and love went forward.
So, here we are early in the year 2002. The attack on the World Trade Center towers and the current state of war has created a new sense of peril and uncertainty. We are not sure what dangers are lurking immediately ahead for ourselves, our families and for all humankind. This year, 2002, also marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Five Years Meeting of Friends, later renamed Friends United Meeting. This year, FUM launches into its second century.
Most of us are facing new threats, new challenges and unfamiliar territory. As this article is being written, I am in the midst of my first annual checkup following surgery for colon cancer and six months of chemotherapy. What will the doctors find? This is new territory for me. In the same way, each of you, your local and yearly meetings, and Friends United Meeting face new challenges and fearsome obstacles. How will we respond to them? Where can we turn for sure and certain guidance?
Can we not learn from the faithful passengers of the "Woodhouse" and from the obedient master mariner who was her builder and captain? Can we not find security and certainty in the source where Friends have found it for 350 years and where persons in the vital Judeo-Christian faith traditions have found it for thousands and thousands of years—in the leadings of the eternal and living God? This is the one and only place to look for certainty.
Placing our security in listening for and following the leadings of the eternal God then we can live in a new age and face new challenges with boldness and certainty. So placed on God's cutting edge in time and in the world, we can act on fresh concerns and launch new ventures.
The year of 2002 offers us the opportunity to launch new "Woodhouses" on uncharted seas. Let's put out to sea together, discerning God's will and obediently following with confidence and courage.
Jack Kirk is pastor at First Friends Meeting, Greensboro, North Carolina.
Copyright (c) 2002 Friends United Meeting
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