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Valiant for Truth Just 350 years ago, Friends were gathered as a people—a short time in history, yet so long ago to us today. 350 years ago, George Fox climbed the steep slopes of Pendle Hill and had a vision of a great people to be gathered. And then he followed through in obedience. (See Quaker Quotes, page 28 for the Journal account.) William Penn wrote about George Fox's experience, "He had a vision of the great work of God in the earth, and of the way that he was to go forth in a public ministry to begin it. He saw people as thick as motes in the sun, that should in time be brought home to the Lord, that there might be but one Shepherd and one sheepfold in all the earth." Thick as motes in the sun! As a child I would lie on the floor and watch the dust motes in the sunlight streaming through the window. I never tried to count them—they were so numerous. They danced upon the air currents and were only visible in the sunlight. But people thick as motes? George Fox saw the place where a remnant of God's people resided, a place near Sedbergh where over a thousand Seekers gathered on First-day to listen and learn more of God through Christ. In obedience, George traveled to this place, sat on a large outcropping of rock (known since as Fox's pulpit) and preached to a thousand plus people for over three hours. Their response to his message marked the beginning of the Friends movement. That day, all the Seeker teachers plus hundreds of other people moved from being seekers to becoming finders—finders of the presence and power of Jesus Christ. "If you build upon anything or have confidence in anything which stands in time and is on this side of eternity...your foundation will be swept away," wrote Francis Howgill as he shared this experience. "Return to Christ who is the first love,...the Light of the world...and here you will see your Teacher, not removed into a corner, but present when you are upon your beds and about your labor, convincing, instructing, leading, correcting, judging and giving peace to all that love and follow Him." Enthusiastic to discover that Christ had come to teach His people Himself, these finders became the "First Publishers of Truth," preaching the message they had received in their villages and cities, in London and across the sea. Writing thousands of pages, preaching in marketplaces as well as prisons, their mission was no less than to kindle the flame of Christ in every heart. This missionary zeal has never again been equaled in the life of Friends. "The past cannot be repeated and ought not to be repeated even if it were possible," Elton Trueblood wrote. "What is important is that the vision of greatness demonstrated in an earlier time may help men and women of this generation to know how to discover the secret of an equal vitality, with relevance to the contemporary situation." Spiritual seeking continues in our day. Alternative spiritualities abound on bookstore shelves, in movies and TV, on the Internet and in casual conversation. Can our message of Christ find its way into bookstores and the modern marketplaces of TV and the Internet? The mission of early Friends was no less than to kindle the flame of Christ in every heart. Have we lost the zeal to do the same? Blessings in Christ, Trish Edwards-Konic

ON THE COVER The George Fox panel of the World Christian Fellowship window in the Upper Room Chapel, Nashville, Tennessee. The window depicts servants of Christ who have been empowered by the Holy Spirit through the centuries since Pentecost. (See http://www.upperroom.org/chapel/window.asp)   COVER STORIES 10 The Original Quaker Difference T.H.S. Wallace This introduction to the new book of George Fox's nine pastoral sermons is a jewel. A selection from Sermon IX, George Fox's Testimony at Yearly Meeting in London, 1681, is also included. 12 Reasons for Hope: The Faith and Future of the Friends Church John Punshon This selection is taken from the Epilogue in John Punshon's new book. Using the image of the ark, John contemplates the future of Christian Friends. 13 350 Years of Quakerism— Now What? Ron Selleck, Tom Hamm, Michael Hatfield, Wellington Whittlesey, Dean Freiday and Doug Shoemaker Six writers reflect on the future of Friends since its beginning 350 years ago. What would your response be to this question? Send your thoughts to Quaker Life for possible publication.   FEATURES 4 Commitments Retha McCutchen 4 News from Friends United Meeting 8 News 18 Fox Pix 350 Years of Quakerism—Now What? J.R. Keller 19 Salt and Light Simplicity of Schedule Bruce Bishop 20 Bible Study Root Strength: Interdependence Kelly Kellum 21 Peace Notes 23 Reviews 25 Book Notes 26 Passages 28 Quaker Quotes 29 Classifieds 30 Meeting Directory 34 Viewpoints 35 The Back Bench Confessions of a Lapsed Contemplative Nancy Thomas

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