Quakers - The Society of Friends
The Society of Friends grew out of the tumultuous times of the English Revolution in the seventeenth century. Their opponents called them “Quakers,” because they were so eager to spread their message that they would talk (“quake”) about their beliefs to anyone who would listen. They believed that within each human being dwelled a piece of God. This “inner light,” as Friends called it, guided their actions. Such divine guidance made ministers, who traditionally interpreted God's will, unnecessary. Moreover, this belief in the inner light made Friends strong supporters of the spiritual equality of all people. In the late eighteenth century, such convictions would lead many Quakers to oppose slavery, and move to non-slave states.
