Friends (Quakers) in Texas: A Short History

FRIENDS (QUAKERS) IN TEXAS: A SHORT HISTORY

19th Century Quakerism in Texas: West Texas Quakerism and Friendswood

Few members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) lived in Texas until after the Civil War, as Friends (Quakers) were opposed to slavery. Despite the absence of Quaker communities in Texas during this time, the Quaker opposition to slavery was so well-known in Texas that a proslavery newspaper, the Anti-Quaker was published in Austin, Texas (only one issue seems to have been published).

The history of Quakers in Texas began in west Texas near modern-day Lubbock. In 1879, a group of Friends (Quakers) became the first permanent white settlers of the High Plains of Texas. The settlement of this Quaker community was the work of Paris Cox who was a Friend originally from North Carolina (b. 1846) but who had moved to Indiana during the Civil War and, sometime thereafter, had travelled in west Texas with a group of buffalo hunters. Cox had moved to west Texas in 1878 to near Lubbock, Texas, having a community well dug with which to irrigate the fertile plains to support the Quaker community. Despite some hardships, the Quaker community in west Texas had ten families by 1882.

The Quaker meeting was known as Estacado Monthly Meeting and belonged to Iowa Yearly Meeting of Friends, which was part of the evangelical Gurneyite Quaker tradition. In addition to the Quaker meeting, the Friends community also established a Friends school, which began in a dugout in 1882 under the instruction of Emma Hunt. By 1884 the Friends school had been moved into a permanent Quaker meeting house, and by 1890 the school had evolved into the first college on the Llano Estacado (high plains of Texas).

The Quaker college, known as Central Plains Academy, was co-educational, eventually enrolled over 100 students and was led by Jesse H. Moore (Ph. D., Johns Hopkins University; M.A. Harvard University). His wife, also a graduate of Johns Hopkins University taught music, voice, and violin at the college; other teachers included E.C. and Elva Lewis who had masters degrees from the William Penn College associated with Iowa Yearly Meeting of Friends. (The founder of the Methodist McMurry College in Abilene, Texas, as well as the President of the (now closed) Methodist Stamford College in Stamford, Texas was the Methodist minister James W. Hunt who was one of the only 18 who graduated from Central Plains Academy).

The town founded by the Quakers was known as Estacado, Texas (and was located near the current northern Lubbock County/Crosby county border), and by 1890 had a population of 200. However, several events undermined the town. First, Paris Cox died from throat cancer (aged 42) in 1888, and, then, a grasshopper invasion and drought in 1892-1893.

In 1893, most of the Friends began leaving Estacado (though a few families remained behind, as did the non-Quaker residents of Estacado) for Galveston County, Texas where they intended to farm figs and oranges. There they established Friendswood Monthly Meeting of Iowa Yearly Meeting of Friends, as well as the town of Friendswood, Texas. The Friendswood Quaker community was the first successful Quaker community in Texas. Both the Friendswood meeting and town are still flourishing, though, excepting some historical markers and grave sites, nothing of the earlier Quakers community in west Texas remains.

20th Century Quakerism in Texas: Quaker Diversity and Expansion in Texas

In 1910, the Friendswood Monthly Meeting re-organized itself to become part of the Kansas Yearly Meeting of Friends rather than Iowa Yearly Meeting. The nearby League City Monthly Meeting was already a part of Kansas Yearly Meeting, which, like Iowa Yearly Meeting, belonged to the evangelical Gurneyite tradition of Quakerism. Kansas Yearly Meeting expanded to include meetings in Bayshore, Northshore, and South Houston, as well as two meetings in San Antonio (San Antonio Monthly Meeting and Friends Chapel Monthly Meeting). Kansas Yearly Meeting also sponsored a Friends School in San Antonio as a ministry for emotionally disturbed children rejected by child-care agencies. Friendswood became headquarters for the Central African Broadcasting Company (CORDAC), which operated a missionary radio station in Burundi (broadcasting in five languages to an audience as large as 10,000,000). Although the evangelical San Antonio Quaker meetings and Friends school of Kansas Yearly Meeting no longer exist in San Antonio, the evangelical Quaker community in the greater Houston area is well established. Eventually, Kansas Yearly Meeting was re-named Mid-America Yearly Meeting and, then, renamed again Evangelical Friends Church Mid-America. It is affiliated with Evangelical Friends Church International, which is an umbrella organization of evangelical Quakers.

In the mid-1940s, the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) opened an office in Austin, Texas. This began the movement into Texas of Friends from outside the evangelical Quaker tradition to which the established Friends in Texas belonged. By the early 1950s, small groups of non-evangelical Friends were meeting in other cities in Texas, and contact between these Friends (and those in cities in Louisiana and Arkansas) was facilitated through the AFSC and the Friends Fellowship Council. This was part of a larger development in the Society of Friends known as the “New Meetings Movement (NMM),” which had begun earlier in the 20th century and was occurring throughout the country. The NMM meetings were established mostly in college and retirement-oriented towns across the country where Quakers were moving to attend or teach college or retire. The Friends moving into these areas came from different regions of the country, different Yearly Meetings of Friends, and, often, different Quaker traditions. Joining together, these Friends de-emphasized theology, the differences among Friends, and potentially divisive traditional Quaker practices (such as recording ministers and elders and maintaining separate business meetings for men and women) and, instead, emphasized freedom of individual religious belief, social liberalism, political activism, and the traditional Quaker practice of unprogrammed (silent) worship. These Friends in Texas meetings began cooperating with one another (and those in Louisiana and Arkansas) in a more formal manner in the mid-1950s, adopting the name “Friends Southwest Conference.” (As part of the New Meetings Movement tradition of Quakerism, rather than evangelical Quakerism, the Friends Southwest Conference operated parallel with and independently of the evangelical Texas Quakers). The Friends Southwest Conference became affiliated with the national Friends General Conference in 1957. In 1961, the Friends Southwest Conference was re-named as South Central Yearly Meeting of Friends, which continues to this day. Texas meetings belonging to South Central Yearly Meeting include: Friends Meeting of Austin, Coastal Bend Friends Meeting, Dallas Monthly Meeting of Friends, Fort Worth Monthly Meeting, Galveston Friends Meeting, Hill Country Friends Meeting, Houston Live Oak Friends Meeting, Lubbock Monthly Meeting, Friends Meeting of San Antonio and other meetings located in smaller towns around the state.

Most Quaker meetings in Texas belong either to South Central Yearly Meeting of Friends or the Evangelical Friends Church Mid-America. However, a few Quaker meetings do not.

El Paso Monthly Meeting belongs to Intermountain Yearly Meeting, which includes meetings in New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. As a meeting established during the New Meetings Movement of the 20th Century, El Paso Monthly Meeting and the meetings in South Central Yearly Meeting would have substantial similarities, though Intermountain Yearly Meeting, unlike South Central Yearly Meeting, does not belong to the Friends General Conference. (It is an “Independent” (also known as “Beanite”) Yearly Meeting, belonging to none of the larger Quaker umbrella organizations: Friends United Meeting, Evangelical Friends Church International, or Friends General Conference).

Three informal Quaker meetings in Texas belong neither to any yearly meeting or larger umbrella organization of Friends. The Amarillo Friends Worship Group has met for unprogrammed worship for over a decade but, in its current format, has no connection with other Friends in Texas. (At an earlier time, Friends in Amarillo were related to South Central Yearly Meeting but not presently). The Austin Christian Friends worship group and the Caprock Friends Christian Fellowship (in Lubbock) also meet for unprogrammed worship and have no formal connection with any of the yearly meetings in Texas, but do have informal relationships between them in terms of personal relationships, a shared history, and each group including members of Ohio Yearly Meeting (Conservative).

RESOURCES:

Paris Cox: http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/CC/fco86.html

Estacado, Texas: http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/EE/hne27_print.html

Central Plains Academy: http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/CC/kbc12.html

James Hunt and Methodist Colleges in Texas: http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/HH/fhu30.html

Religious Society of Friends in Texas: http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/RR/iqran_print.html

Evangelical Friends Church Mid-America: http://www.efcmaym.org/

South Central Yearly Meeting: http://www.scym.org/Conference_history.html

Friendswood Friends Church:  http://www.friendswoodfriends.org/

Quakers in Amarillo: http://www.prytaneumpress.com/amarilloquakers.html

Caprock Friends Christian Fellowship: http://www.texasfriends.org/

Intermountain Yearly Meeting: http://www.imym.org/

Evangelical Friends Church International: http://www.evangelicalfriends.org/

Friends General Conference: http://www.fgcquaker.org/

Friends United Meeting: http://www.fum.org/







Caprock Friends Christian Fellowship
Conservative Quakers in Lubbock, Texas

Quaker Glossary

Over the past 350 years, Quakers have developed a set of terms that are often confusing to visitors. The following may be helpful.

Glossary:

ADVICES. The collected wisdom and experience of Friends written and used as reminder of the faith and practices held to be essential to the life and witness of Friends.

AFFIRMATION. A legal declaration made by one who refuses to swear an oath.

BIRTHRIGHT MEMBER. One who was born of Quaker parents and recorded at birth on a monthly meeting's membership rolls.

BREAKING MEETING. Term used for the closing of meeting for worship when a designated Friend discerns the conclusion of worship and signals other Friends, usually by shaking hands with the person next to him or her.

CENTERED. Being consciously directed towards the Presence of Christ, often used to describe an experience during meeting for worship.

CLEARNESS. A condition in which there are no perceived obstacles to a proposed course of action by an individual or meeting.

CLEARNESS COMMITTEE. A group of Friends appointed or selected to assist a person or the meeting to clarify a decision or concern.

CLERK. A member who presides at meetings of Friends and records the sense of the meeting with respect to decisions made or actions taken.

CONCERN. A deep and spiritual interest held by either an individual or a meeting.

CONTINUING REVELATION. The belief that Christ continues to speak directly to us, revealing to us His Will in specific matters.

CONVINCED FRIEND. A person who becomes a Friend as a result of being “convicted” by the Light as to his or her spiritual state and unity with Friends’ principles and witness. (“Convinced” is an archaic form of “convicted.”)

CORPORATE. A body of Friends. For example, the corporate witness of a meeting.

CONSERVATIVE FRIENDS. Those Friends who seek to conserve what they believe is essential in Friends’ traditions. At the very least, this is usually considered to be unprogrammed worship and a Christian faith (which may be understood in traditional, liberal, or evangelical terms). In some cases, it may also include certain aspects of traditional Friends’ lifestyles, such as plainness.

COVERED MEETING. A meeting during which Friends share an exceptional sense of the Lord’s Presence, often through a deep and shared stillness.

ELDERING. A respected Friend’s encouraging or admonishing another Friend as to some specific matter of concern to the respected Friend.

ELDERS. Those with a special gift and burden for encouraging and admonishing other Friends, especially as to vocal ministry during worship and spiritual development. Elders may be recognized and recorded by their meeting.

EVANGELICAL FRIENDS. Those Friends whose Christian understanding has been substantially influenced by evangelical faith and practice outside of the Society of Friends. Some evangelical Friends emphasize a single-conversion experience. Some emphasize holiness. Some are more liberal. Some also emphasize Quaker distinctives such as the peace testimony. Evangelical Friends meetings tend to employ professional pastors and use programmed worship.

EXERCISE. The exploration of a deep concern that has been brought to a meeting.

FACING BENCHES. The benches or seats in the front of the meeting room, facing the body of the meeting, on which recorded ministers and recorded elders, or, in their absence, those charged with breaking meeting usually sit.

GATHERED MEETING. A meeting during which Friends share an exceptional sense of the Lord’s activity gathering Friends into a deep sense of unity, often through united themes of vocal ministry.

GOOD ORDER. The procedures traditionally used by Friends to facilitate meetings.

GOSPEL ORDER. The order brought by obedience to Christ.

HOLD IN THE LIGHT. To pray that Christ’s Light be known to certain persons in an exceptional way, especially a comforting way.

INWARD LIGHT. This refers to the power and inspiration of Christ coming inwardly to us to show us our motivations and true selves, correct us, guide us, and lead us, and give us strength to act on this guidance. It thus brings us into unity with the spirit of God. The "Inward Light" is also called the "Light Within," the "Christ Within," the "Light of Christ," the "Holy Spirit," and "The Seed."

LEADING. An inward conviction that Christ is leading one to take a specific action.

LIBERAL FRIENDS. Those Friends who insist on the spiritual freedom of individual Friends and who seek to articulate their religious understandings in a manner consistent with the most contemporary movements in the natural and social sciences, the arts, and other aspects of secular culture. Liberal Friends are historically connected to both the 19th century Hicksites and 20th century “modernist” Gurneyite evangelicals.

MEETING. In contemporary usage, this usually refers to the local congregation that meets weekly for worship and monthly for business. A “quarterly meeting” is comprised of representatives of related monthly meetings meeting quarterly for business, while the “yearly meeting” is the annual meeting of members and representatives from related monthly and quarterly meetings.

MINDING THE LIGHT. An exhortation to be consciously centered on the Light of Christ, especially during a trying time.

MINISTERS. Those with a special gift and burden for vocal ministry during worship. Ministers may be recognized and recorded by their meeting.

MINUTE. A statement of the sense of the meeting with respect to a specific item considered in a meeting for business.

MOVED TO SPEAK. Being moved by the Holy Spirit to speak during a meeting for worship.

OPENING. Moment of enlightenment or inspiration from Christ, often unexpected.

OVERSEERS. Those Friends with a special charge by the meeting to exercise pastoral care in the meeting, especially with respect to practical needs. (Overseers would be called “deacons” in some other denominations.)

PLAIN DRESS. Simple but distinctive dress intended to witness Friends’ convictions to others and to remind the wearer of the same.

PLAIN SPEECH. The "thee," "thy," and "thine" used by Friends, especially up to the early twentieth century. In the 1600s, a wealthy person or member of the nobility was addressed by the plural pronoun "you" while inferiors or children were addressed by the singular pronoun "thou." Friends and many others refused to recognize such distinctions. Because the days and months were named for non-Christian gods, goddesses, and emperors, Friends preferred to use "first-day," "second-day," "First Month," "Second Month," etc. Also refers to forthright and divinely-led speech.

PROGRAMMED MEETING. A meeting for worship with a pre-determined formatting of speaking, silence, singing, or other activities. Programmed meetings with substantial periods of silent waiting are often called “semi-programmed.”

PROCEED AS WAY OPENS. To await further Divine Guidance with respect to a specific issue, especially as the circumstances surrounding the issue continue to develop.

QUERIES. Specific written questions used as an opportunity for individuals and meetings to examine themselves (and be examined) with respect to the faith and practices held to be essential to the life and witness of Friends.

SEASONING. A process to ensure that decisions are truly grounded in God's will.

SENSE OF THE MEETING. A perception of Truth that emerges from the corporate business process as Friends seek Christ's will with respect to a specific decision. If the clerk feels that a decision has been reached, he or she states the sense of the meeting as a minute for the meeting's approval. No vote is taken. The clerk must discern the degree of unity required.

SPEAK TO ONE'S CONDITION. The experience of receiving a message directly from God, or through another person, that touches one at the deepest level or helps one solve a problem or make a right decision.

STANDING ASIDE. The withdrawal of opposition by a member not able to unite with a proposed minute, thus freeing the meeting to proceed.

STANDING IN THE WAY. The declaration of a member unable to unite with a proposed minute.

STOP IN THE MIND. An expression used by Friends to indicate a deeply-felt opposition to a course of action, even though the Friend may not be able to articulate fully what is specifically objectionable about the action.

UNIVERSALIST FRIENDS. Those Friends who consider the essence of Quakerism to transcend Christianity and be consistent with spiritual seekers of any or no religious orientation. Universalist Friends embrace “hyphenated Quakerism,” such as Buddhist-Quakerism, Christocentric Quakerism, Non-Theistic Quakerism, and Jewish Quakerism.

UNITY. A shared perception in a business meeting that a conclusion represents the Friends' best understanding of God's will on a specific issue.

UNPROGRAMMED MEETING. A meeting for worship sometimes erroneously referred to as a "silent meeting.” The essence is that Friends await the immediate guidance of Christ as to when and what ought be spoken. More traditional terms are “waiting worship,” “expectant worship” or “silence before the Lord.”

VISITATION. Intentional visiting among Friends for any specific purposes.

WAIT UPON THE LORD. Actively to seek and attend to God's will in expectant, quiet worship.

WEIGHTY FRIEND. A Friend whom others informally recognize as having special experience and wisdom.

WITNESS. Used as a noun or a verb; one who testifies to or shows evidence of religious beliefs and convictions, or the act of doing so.

WORLDLY. Manifesting the non-Christian spirit and values of the mainstream culture.








Caprock Friends Christian Fellowship
Conservative Quakers in Lubbock, Texas