THE QUAKERS, THEN A N D N O W19principle pacifism guide (verb) convert (noun) aristocrat grantdeal (verb) fair humane slave humanitarianThe Society of Friends (commonly called Quakers) was founded on the principles of simple living and pacifism. Each member must be guided by his or her own " i n n e r l i g h t " or " C h r i s t w i t h i n " rather than by the rules of a religious establishment. One of its early converts was a rich, aristocratic Englishman named William Penn. In 1681 he persuaded the King of England to grant h i m land for a Quaker colony in America, to be named Pennsylvania (meaning P e n n ' s forest). Penn called his colony the " H o l y E x p e r i m e n t " because of the ideals on which it was based, and he named its capital Philadelphia, city of brotherly love. He invited and welcomed to his colony settlers of various religions f r o m different countries, and gave them free land. Penn also dealt fairly and honorably with the Indians, and the colony was on good terms with them. Over the years Quakers have worked for many humane causes. B e f o r e the Civil W a r some of them actively opposed slavery and helped runaway slaves to escape. Today the Friends Service Committee carries on many humanitarian projects. The committee fights hunger and disease in parts of Africa as well as in Haiti and on American-Indian reservations. In African Mali and Senegal it helps villages to b e c o m e economically independent by establishing irrigation systems, and in the Philippines it supplies water buffaloes to poor farmers to use in ploughing and planting and for transportation. The committee also helps the homeless in the United States. The Society of Friends truly lives up to its name.A. PRONUNCIATION -er is pronounced far]. Quaker member inner rather hunger settler brother
