Quakerism in Palestine

Abstract

QUAKERISM IN PALESTINE79 a bond of fellowship. A humble beginning with great promise. Since last August five applications for membership in the Society have been made and others will follow. Swiss Friends do not yet aspire to form a Yearly Meeting of their own ; all that they ask is to follow in the wake of English Friends and to serve with them, needing their counsel and their visits. They have endorsed the words of the "Message to All Men" (issued by the Meeting for Sufferings, 1919) and will: "follow the light of Christ in our Hearts, enter upon the right way of life and receive power to overcome evil by good. . . . We stretch out our hands in fellowship , sympathy and love across frontiers, lands and seas, . . . to unite in the service of healing the broken world, to bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the Law of Christ." QUAKERISM IN PALESTINE By Khalil Totah AMERICAN Protestant missionaries began their work in Syria in 1823.1 Mr. Bird was in Jerusalem in 1824 and was arrested there on an accusation of distributing "books which were neither Mussulman, Jewish nor Christian." 2 It was about a half century later, in 1867, that two Quaker preachers, Eli and Sibyl Jones, "were liberated by New England Yearly Meeting to go on a concern of religious service. Their several missionary journeys, companions, and activities remind one of Paul—the chief difference being that of direction. Paul sailed from Syria westwards while they sailed from Boston eastwards to Syria.8 They landed in Beirut in November 1867, and their chief interest seemed to be that of visiting schools in Beirut and in the Lebanon. Wherever they went they preached, exhorted, and testified . In January 1868 they visited Jerusalem but soon left for England on account of Sibyl Jones's health. 1 Before the World War Palestine and Syria were one province in the Turkish Empire; the term Syria then included Palestine. 2 See E. D. G. Prime, Forty Years in the Turkish Empire; or, Memoirs of Rev. William Goodell, D.D. New York 1876. 3 Rufus M. Jones, Eli and Sibyl Jones: Their Life and Work. Philadelphia [1889]. 80 BULLETIN OF FRIENDS' HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION February 1869 saw them re-embarking for Syria with the approval of English Friends. Again they spent much time moving about visiting schools and preaching. This time the personality and power of Eli and Sibyl Jones began to show concrete results. Their life had touched that of Theophilus Waldmeier, who was a remarkable man in himself.4 The following was his first impression of the Quaker itinerant preachers and of Quakerism: "I was told that they were Quakers, or Friends, who were good people on the whole, though wrong in rejecting the outward ordinances. This interested me much, and as I had never become acquainted with such people before, I the more desired to see them, and learn their religious principles. Their addresses, especially those of Sibyl Jones, were so powerful and edifying, that our hearts were touched, and I began to think that their religious principles must be of a superior nature. I went to the hotel where they lodged, and made their acquaintance, and from that time I have believed that the Quaker principles are the right basis for a true spiritual church." 5 This was the first seed of Quakerism, which germinated and bore much fruit, as will be seen later. Theophilus Waldmeier, born a Roman Catholic in Switzerland, went as a missionary to the now sorely-tried Ethiopia and finally came to Syria, where his life work was awaiting him as a Quaker pioneer. Though not a Syrian, Theophilus Waldmeier was the first to become a Quaker in Syria as a direct result of a Quaker concern to preach the Gospel. His rich life became a blessing to many souls. He started, developed, and watched over Friends' educational work in the Lebanon ; and later his life was crowned by his unique ministry to the insane at Asfuriyeh—the first institution of this sort in the Near East. Such names as "Philadelphia House" and "Strawbridge House" are sufficient evidence of Friends' interest in and generosity to that most...