in Southeastern Yearly Meeting, USA,
of the Religious Society of Friends
We cannot prove this, but we do know that when people act as if it were true, their trust is justified.
—1964 poster Quaker Home Service, London
Friends' Testimonies
- "A Friends Testimony is an outward expression of an inward leading of the spirit
—or an outward sign of what Friends believe to be an inward revelation of truth.
Equality was the earliest Friends' testimony as is evidenced in George Fox's first convert, Elizabeth Hooton, a woman. Early Quakers emphasized the Divine capacity in all peoples choosing to use the familial first person English tense for all (Thee and Thy) rather than the second person popular at the time for royalty and government officials. Friends continue to be concerned about civil rights, affirmative action, native American affairs, freedom of religious choice, rights of migrant workers, and with victims of war.
Integrity
A first name that Friends chose for themselves was Friends of the Truth. Maintaining honesty in all issues is a sacrosanct to Quakerism. "Let your yea be yea and your nay, nay" (Matthew 5:34-37)
Peace
When newly convinced Friends accepted the dignity and worth of the individual, "that of God in everyone," it becomes impossible to take another's life. "Furthermore, weapons destroy more than two individuals—the soul of the perpetrator as well as the victim." (Little Quaker Sociology Book) The "Peace Testimony is not just a negative objection to participation in war; it is a positive attempt to establish the conditions of peace." (John Punshon) Including Friends' appeal for world peace, Friends emphasize the right rearing of children, using love and guidance rather than corporal punishment. Quaker parenting is an active effort with underlying concern to be positive role models, encouraging a social awareness so that by the end of our lives, the world is a better place for our having been here.
Simplicity
The Quaker tenet of simplicity came to be emphasized not only as it relates to simplicity of integrity, but also due to the excessive cost and decoration evident between the social classes. Simplicity continues to encourage avoidance of excess materialism, to consider the right use of the world resources, to avoid excesses in personal habits. "Live simply so that others may simply live." (Quaker bumper sticker)
Community
"Participation in the activities of a group is the oldest and most effective form of education." (Howard Brinton). Quaker concern for community is inclusive of familial, church, wider local community, state, national, international with an awareness for the interrelatedness of each including the environment we create and need to protect for the good of all.
Click here for current updates are available to download in pdf format.
SEYM's Faith and Practice is available from the SEYM office or from QuakerBooks, www.quakerbooks.org
http://www.orlandoquakers.org/resources.htm provides a link to numerous Quaker spirtual resource websites.
On 4/12/1963 Southeastern Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends met for the first full session of their new Yearly Meeting for the first time. Their 1962 Conference minutes read in part, “Seven Meetings of the Southeastern Friends Conference having indicated by official Minutes their desire to assume Yearly Meeting status, the Planning Committee recommends that these Meetings now consider themselves the Southeastern Yearly Meeting [of the Religious Society] of Friends…”
These seven Monthly Meetings were: Augusta, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Palm Beach, and St. Petersburg. J. Barnard Walton (Friends General Conference, 1915-1963) had been instrumental in shepherding the Conference from its inception in 1950 to this conclusion. In recognition of his support, it was decided to name the annual Saturday night lecture series, The Walton Lecture.
The birthing of SEYM was unique in Quakerism with its individuals having been members in three of the east coast’s Quaker traditions: FGC, FUM, and Conservative. By 1970, SEYM decided to formally acknowledge the organizations that had supported its meetings: FGC, FUM and FWCC.
After careful consideration, holiday weekends were selected for formal and informal gatherings to allow early Friends from SEYM’s wide geographical area to attend as many meetings as possible. Easter week was selected for Yearly Meeting and the Walton Lecture. Later, Martin Luther King weekend was chosen for Winter Representative Meeting and the Michener Lecture, and Thanksgiving weekend for Half Yearly Meeting.
SEYM Meetings continue to grow and wane as population centers evolve. At the turn of the century, twenty-five meetings are affiliated with or have a relationship with SEYM. These meetings in alphabetical order are: Augusta Monthly Meeting, Brandon Worship Group, Charleston Monthly Meeting, Clearwater Monthly Meeting, Deland Worship Group, Ft. Lauderdale Monthly Meeting, Ft. Myers Monthly Meeting, Gainesville Monthly Meeting, Golden Isle Worship Group, Halifax Meeting, Jacksonville Monthly Meeting, Key West Worship Group, Lake Wales Worship Group, Managua Worship Group, Miami Monthly Meeting, Ocala Meeting, Orlando Monthly Meeting, Palm Beach Monthly Meeting, Sarasota Monthly Meeting, Space Coast Monthly Meeting, St. Petersburg Monthly Meeting, Stuart Worship Group, Tallahassee Monthly Meeting, Tampa Monthly Meeting, and Winter Park Monthly Meeting.
SEYM is noted for its social concerns including assisting in the founding and support of ProNica, the Cuban Quaker Project, and Amigos Construction.
—from the back of the SEYM Commemorative Card Collection for YM 2003
