Commemorating 350 years since the Peace Declaration
Quakers in Europe and the Middle East have been commemorating the 350th anniversary of the Declaration from the Harmless and Innocent People of God, called Quakers to King Charles II: Our principle is, and our practices have always been, to seek peace, and ensue it, and to follow after righteousness, and the knowledge of God and Well-fare, and doing that which tends to the peace of All.
Although most Quaker historians place the date of this event as 21 January 2011, it was dated at the time as “11th Month 1660”. This is probably because the year was reckoned from April to March in those days. In any event, Quakers in Europe have been remembering the Declaration throughout 2010.
Britain Yearly Meeting has published an on-line pamphlet setting out the background to the Declaration and the complete text.
Friends continue to maintain their witness to Peace and Alternatives to Violence in many different contexts, from work in prison, to accompaniment in Palestine and Israel, to advocacy at the United Nations and the European institutions. To find out more about this work look at the “News” pages on this site, and at our Peace and Service Consultation pages.
