H. Larry Ingle
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Political Thought of John Dickinson and William Penn — Two Books Reviewed by H. Larry Ingle
“Constitutionalism and the Political Thought of John Dickinson” and “Liberty, Conscience, and Toleration: The Political Thought of William Penn. Reviewed by H. Larry Ingle
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01: “Truly Radical, Non-violent, Friendly Approaches”
This article examines longstanding internal challenges faced by the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), focusing on criticisms from within liberal Quaker circles regarding its governance, professionalization, diminished explicit religious commitment, and political stances. The piece chronicles tensions from the AFSC’s founding in 1917 through the late 20th century, highlighting key moments of internal dissent and…
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02: From Supporter to Friendly Critic: How AFSC Changed Me
The article reflects on H. Larry Ingle’s evolving perspective on the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), highlighting his initial support and later criticism of the organization’s shift away from strong Quaker influence. He details the challenges of AFSC’s governance, the move toward professional staff over volunteer Friends, and the dilution of Quaker identity within the…
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03: The Cold War’s Effect AFSC, 1947-49
The article examines the impact of the Cold War on the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) between 1947 and 1949, highlighting its transition from a primarily relief-oriented Quaker institution to a politically engaged organization critiquing American foreign policy. It explores the internal debates over professionalization, political involvement, and the tension between maintaining Quaker identity and…
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04: Pickett vs. Chambers: A Case Study of Elite Class Power
This article examines the conflict between Clarence E. Pickett, leader of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), and Whittaker Chambers, a Quaker who broke with communism and accused Alger Hiss of espionage. It reveals how elite Quaker power influenced public perception and internal Quaker relations, highlighting tensions between political and religious integrity within 20th-century American…
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05: “Speak Truth to Power:” A Thirty Years Retrospective (1985)
This article reflects on the 1955 publication “Speak Truth to Power” by the American Friends Service Committee, highlighting its principled pacifist critique of Cold War militarism and its call for nonviolent resistance rooted in Quaker faith. It emphasizes the pamphlet’s urgent message that lasting peace requires inner spiritual transformation and active love, offering a timeless…
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10: Gilbert White & AFSC: A Letter to the Editor, Friends Journal, 2006
This letter to the editor addresses concerns raised by Gilbert White regarding the governance and direction of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) in the late 1960s. The authors emphasize the importance of openly discussing these longstanding issues about AFSC’s board-staff balance and its connection to the Religious Society of Friends, calling for a renewed…
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Milton Mayer, Quaker Hedgehog
A Review and Profile, by H. Larry Ingle Reprinted from Quaker Theology #8, 2003 Oxford-educated political scientist Isaiah Berlin, in his minor classic “The Hedgehog and the Fox” (1953), divided people into two groups, those who understood one big thing like the hedgehog and those, like the fox, who knew many things. The subject of…
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Nixon’s First Cover-Up, The Religious Life of A Quaker President
Nixon’s First Cover-Up, The Religious Life of A Quaker President. By H. Larry Ingle. University of Missouri, 271 pages. Reflections on a “Quaker” President Who Wasn’t Actually a Quaker By Lon Fendall [Note: This essay was originally presented to a panel at the 2015 American Academy of Religion meeting in Atlanta, Georgia.] I want to…
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Whittaker Chambers, Alger Hiss, and Quaker Leadership: A Problem for Friends
This article explores the complex and largely overlooked Quaker identity of Whittaker Chambers, a key figure in the Alger Hiss espionage case, and the challenges he faced within the Quaker community, particularly from Clarence Pickett. Chambers’s deep Quaker faith influenced his anti-Communist testimony, yet he was marginalized by Quaker leaders due to political and theological…
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“From Peace to Freedom: Quaker Rhetoric and the Birth of American Antislavery, 1657-1761″*
This article reviews Brycchan Carey’s work on the early Quaker opposition to slavery in America, highlighting the significance of George Fox’s 1657 epistle as a foundational anti-slavery statement. It explores the complexity of Quaker abolitionism, including prominent figures like Anthony Benezet and John Woolman, and considers the ongoing challenges in public recognition of Quaker contributions…
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“The Early Quakers and the Kingdom of God: Peace, Testimony and Revolution”*
The post reviews Gerard Guiton’s book on early Quakers, critiquing his theological approach that prioritizes a static interpretation of Quaker beliefs over historical context and action. The reviewer emphasizes the need to consider evolving historical circumstances and actions in understanding Quaker pacifism and theology rather than purely theological assertions detached from historical realities.
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“Quaker Brotherhood: Interracial Activism and the American Friends Service Committee, 1917-1950″*
This article reviews Allan W. Austin’s book on the American Friends Service Committee’s interracial activism from 1917 to 1950, highlighting both the Committee’s efforts and struggles with race relations during that period. It discusses the historical context, challenges in funding and administration, and the broader implications for Quaker engagement and declining influence in social justice…
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“America’s Providential History, Including Biblical Principles of Education, Government, Politics, Economics, and Family Life,”* A Review
This article is a critical review of the book “America’s Providential History,” which presents a conservative Christian interpretation of American history grounded in biblical providence. The reviewer highlights numerous factual inaccuracies, ideological biases, and poor scholarship within the book, noting its distortion of historical events, misuse of quotes, and one-sided political agenda. The work is…