On the Road: Quakers

As I've mentioned, I lead a group of New Yorkers of different faiths to services around the city. Afterwards, we talk about them. Feel free to join us.

Yesterday we sat with the Quakers of Fifteenth Street Meeting House. It was an "unstructured" meeting, which means that the Quakers sit in silence in a large open circle until someone feels moved to speak. No clergy, and the Bible preaching was all attenders quoting from memory. Mostly it was just quiet. New York had one of its early spring days - the clouds passed over the sun, and the plain white walls of the colonial-era building glowed in a slow rhythm.

The church has a fairly prominent history of social activism - Bayard Rustin and Daniel Seeger were both members - which continues to the present. Before the congregation was released to the coffee hour, a hefty sheaf of announcements was read out, including committees for the environment, the death penalty, the homeless, and a call to the fourth anniversary protests against the invasion of Iraq. Silence and speaking loudly, I guess.

Only one broad-brimmed hat, and no oatmeal.

On Friday, we attend services at Central Synagogue. Doing our part to make Stephen Prothero proud.