Middleton Friends Participate in Nonviolence Parade

One of the main components of  our Quaker Faith is our belief in Peace. Our history and steadfast belief in nonviolence is evident today, including recent participation in the Nonviolence Parade in Youngstown, OH.

The 16th Annual Ohio Nonviolence Parade brought together marching bands, community organizations, YSU athletes, schools, and everyday people who believe nonviolence is more than a week — it's a way of living!-- Quoted from website: https://www.ohiononviolenceweek.org/

This YouTube video (Link : YouTube Parade Youngstown ) highlights the parade.... even our own Members at 1:52!

Here are some more photos:

Our Book of Discipline explains our belief:

PEACE AND WAR

It has been the belief of the Society of Friends from its

rise that all war is contrary to the teachings of our blessed

Redeemer, Jesus Christ. In His Sermon on the Mount, He

admonished us to love our enemies, to bless those who curse

us, and to do good to those who hate us. Likewise, when Peter

smote the servant of the high priest with his sword, our Lord

said to him, “Put up thy sword again into its place: for all they

that take the sword shall perish with the sword” (Matt. 26:52).

In a statement presented to the King of England in

1660, Friends declared: “The Spirit of Christ by which we are

guided is not changeable, so as once to command us from a

thing as evil, and again to move unto it; and we certainly do

know, and testify to the world that the Spirit of Christ, which

leads us into all truth, will never move us to fight and war 

against any man with outward weapons, neither for the

Kingdom of Christ nor for the kingdoms of this world.”

As we believe that all war is wrong, so we believe that

all preparation or training for war is wrong. Military

conscription is inconsistent with the teaching and practices of

Christianity.

We not only feel abhorrence for the evils of war and

the suffering and misery connected with it, but we desire to

work actively for peace, endeavoring to remove the economic

and political causes of war. We wish to emphasize the

brotherhood of all men, and that unity and peace can only be

achieved by the Spirit of Christ working in the hearts of men.

It is our profound belief that the peoples of the world

desire peace, but we do not believe that it can be achieved

through a policy of military strength. Peace can only be built

when men seek to solve their common problems in a spirit of

reconciliation and national humility. We must act with love,

forbearance and forgiveness; trusting in God and in His Spirit

working in all men. 

Today when talk about defending ourselves against an

enemy is very prevalent, we would encourage our members to

keep in mind that the only true shelter is peace.

As members of a Society which has always been

opposed to war, we must work unfailingly for peace as a

Yearly Meeting as well as in our local communities, ever

keeping in mind that peace must begin with ourselves in each

individual heart. Jesus Christ called His disciples, and still

calls us to a deep personal commitment to the way of love. It

is only by the working of this Spirit through us that the

problems of war, hate and strife can be solved and peace

brought to a troubled world.

RACIAL EQUALITY 

We believe that all races are equal in God's sight. 

Friends feel the burden of racial discrimination, social 

 injustices and intolerances, and should do what we can, under Divine leading, 

to alleviate such wrongs. 

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Interested in learning more about Conservative Quakers?

Please come worship with us!

We meet Fifth Day (Thursday) at 3pm and First Day (Sunday) at 10:30am.

We welcome everyone!

Still yearning for more information?

Visit the official Ohio Yearly Meeting of the

Religious Society of Friends (Conservative) website

https://ohioyearlymeeting.org/

**Tip for viewing if on a smartphone: 

Our Middleton Friends website seems to work best from a

desktop/laptop computer.

The "sidebar" information does not seem to show up on a phone.

Click over to "web version"

at the bottom of this page to view all the website's information

on a smartphone. **

Everything Not Felt, Unavailing

"From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth;

and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands." 

Acts 17:26 (NIV)

Everything Not Felt, Unavailing

(Selections From the Journal & Letters of Job Scott )

The death of Christ is nothing at all to thee, savingly, further

than thou hast the living,

saving efficacy of it sealed to thee.

Nothing can possibly do this, without touching and changing thy heart.

If thou dost not feel it, it is nothing. Thou may imagine

and dream a thousand

things about faith, regeneration, and im-putation: but unless the

Holy Spirit change thee, and give thee to feel and know salvation,

in and for thy own soul:

thou would be just as much benefited, by imagining that Joseph of

Arimathea, or any other person, had purchased thy salvation, and that,

by imputation of what he had done, God would,

at some future time, save thee.

For everything that is not felt, is as totally unavailing

to thee, as the most ungrounded imagination; and until thou

sensibly feelest some real benefit, thou hast received no more,

substantially and savingly, than thou mightest

receive by a strong imagination, persuasion, and hope,

from any other quarter.

While the doctrine of salvation by Christ, is only ideal with thee,

it is nothing as yet experimentally in thy possession.

And ideal it is, must, and ever will be,

till thou feelest it. And feel it savingly, thou never canst,

but in and by the Holy Spirit,

the very life of the whole mystery.

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Interested in learning more about Conservative Quakers?

Please come worship with us!

We meet Fifth Day (Thursday) at 3pm and First Day (Sunday) at 10:30am.

We welcome everyone!

Still yearning for more information?

Visit the official Ohio Yearly Meeting of the

Religious Society of Friends (Conservative) website

https://ohioyearlymeeting.org/

**Tip for viewing if on a smartphone: 

Our Middleton Friends website seems to work best from a

desktop/laptop computer.

The "sidebar" information does not seem to show up on a phone.

Click over to "web version"

at the bottom of this page to view all the website's information

on a smartphone. **

2026 Yearly Meeting

 Ohio Yearly Meeting of Friends held Yearly Meeting (our annual Meeting) last month, Eighth Month, 3-9 at the Stillwater Meeting House and Olney Friends School in Barnesville, OH.  Participants from all over the world were in person and via zoom. The minutes will be posted to the Ohio Yearly Meeting website soon.

A summary titled 2026 Annual Meeting Concluding Minute-a summary of Christ's work in and among us has been posted to the OYM website (link: Concluding Minute ) and re-posted below:

There was a brightness in the weather and in faces of Friends as we gathered on the South porch of Stillwater meetinghouse to register for Yearly Meeting.   Our smiles reflected the greetings of those we had not seen for a while, those we had only seen on a screen, and others we were meeting for the first time.  It was encouraging to notice an increase in attendance.  We felt joy in knowing that God is at work here.

We felt the absence of Friends we missed through illness, infirmity and passing.  But many of those we would see on the screen, and they were all in our hearts.  They are forever in our fellowship.

Our times of worship were deeply gathered.   Love echoed in both the messages and in the silence.  We experienced the love Christ showers upon us, and we prayed that we be worthy of it.  We prayed to be able to share it with a world that so desperately needs it.  

One morning, while watching the dawn from the South porch, a day of visitation occurred.  The Lord knocked on our door, and it was opened.  He became our God and we became His people.  The dawn light shone brighter and brighter until the perfect day appeared.  
  
We dove into our business, with appointments, query summaries and committee reports.  It all was framed with a reverence for our Lord.  

We labored with difficult questions that uncovered differences.  In the depths of our work, the enemy had the audacity to enter our discussions.  But he was noticed and we quickly turned away from him.   Even this moment glorified God as it caused us to remember the love we have for each other and how we must guard that love in all we do.   Our differences did not evaporate, but we became more tender with each other and in our prayers, we frequently asked that the Lord draw us closer. 

There was a balm in the depths of our silent worship as we remembered that God can do anything.
In that worship, we realized how natural it is for us to ask God for blessings in this natural life: health, home, sustenance.  And we thank God that he blesses us with these things.  But Christ did not come to preserve this natural life.  He came to end it.  The life of the natural-will has ended.  This is not death of the body, but death of the will.  When it dies, it is replaced with God’s will.  This happens here and now.  We do not have to wait. 

In that worship, we remembered Peter’s reaction to the vast load of fish that appeared at Christ’s command.   Peter fell on his face, afraid.  This was a human fear, arising from witnessing great power.  When God pours out His grace upon us, we can have the same fear.  That grace can be so intimate yet so powerful.  But as we transform our human fear of power into an awe of God, we delight in him and he delights in us.  Sometimes we experience fear when he calls on us to act.   But he provides us power and boldness.  We prayed to lay aside our human fear and be bold in all He calls us to do.

In that worship, we heard from the Lord: I am pouring out my gifts to you, without measure without price.  Do you have eyes to see and ears to hear the gifts I am sending to you?  Open your hearts dearly beloved, for I am coming among you.  Open your hearts to my freely given love that pours out like a mighty river to quench every thirst.

In the evenings, we became as little children, eating ice cream and catching fireflies.
We invited Alicia McBride of FCNL to converse with us.  She read us Psalm 46.  In the heart of that Psalm it says, “Our LORD and our God is with us.”  Alicia relayed how FCNL felt that God was with them in their work.  She emphasized how important it was for them to come to a sacred center before they set out.  During the conversation, the concerns of Ohio Yearly Meeting were reviewed along with that of individual Friends.  The exchange was frank, but tender.   Something was renewed.

Our Peace committee introduced us to several Friends.  One was led to support those threatened by our overzealous government.  In prayerful vigils he found a deeper spiritual life and demonstrated to those on the picket line how peace can be found in a simple Meeting for Worship.  We also heard from one whose indigenous ancestors suffered from the influx of Europeans.  Her spiritual connection to those ancestors and to nature dovetailed with her experience among Friends.   Both allowed her to develop a universal kinship with all life on earth.  Finally, a Venezuelan Friend described the sufferings his country has gone through.  His Christian faith led him through times we cannot imagine.  His perseverance was striking.  His unshaken commitment to our Lord through it all demonstrated the power that comes from a walk with Christ.

The week left us tired, but satisfied in all that we accomplished.  We spent hours conducting business and we made difficult decisions.  But we found many things to be encouraged by.  We experienced the depths of many gathered meetings.  We felt both the love between us and His love, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. 
 
We now conclude, purposing to gather again on Eighth Month 3rd, 2027, if it should so, be His will.

 Thanks to everyone who helped with the fulfilling fellowship!

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Interested in learning more about Conservative Quakers? Please come worship with us! We meet Fifth Day (Thursday) at 3pm and First Day (Sunday) at 10:30am. We welcome everyone!

Still yearning for more information? Visit the official Ohio Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Conservative) website by clicking here: OYM  or going to the website: https://www.ohioyearlymeeting.org/  

**Tip for viewing if on a smartphone:  Our Middleton Friends website seems to work best from a desktop/laptop computer. The "sidebar" information does not seem to show up on a phone. Click over to "web version" at the bottom of this page to view all the website's information on a smartphone. **

Celebrating America's 250th!

Middleton and Salem Meetings were invited to participate in Salem, Ohio's Independence Day parade on 7/3. The day was HOT but crowds were out to celebrate America's 250th Birthday. Thanks to everyone who made the float exceptional by raising awareness of Quaker's important role in forming the United States. See the post from 6/12/26 for more information relating to the history of Quakers in this time of celebrating America's 250th. 

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Interested in learning more about Conservative Quakers? Please come worship with us! We meet Fifth Day (Thursday) at 3pm and First Day (Sunday) at 10:30am. We welcome everyone!

Still yearning for more information? Visit the official Ohio Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Conservative) website by clicking here: OYM  or going to the website: https://www.ohioyearlymeeting.org/  

**Tip for viewing if on a smartphone:  Our Middleton Friends website seems to work best from a desktop/laptop computer. The "sidebar" information does not seem to show up on a phone. Click over to "web version" at the bottom of this page to view all the website's information on a smartphone. **

Conversations with Conservative Quakers

 

Ohio Yearly Meeting recently interviewed a Member of Rockingham Meeting. Susan Smith is a Conservative Friend who has served for many years as Elder and Clerk of Ohio Yearly Meeting.  In this conversation, she answers questions about Faith, Eldership, and Conservative Friends in General. She is also co author of Traditional Quaker Christianity. 

Click on this link to view the interview on YouTube: Conversation with Susan Smith

Follow Ohio Yearly Meeting on YouTube for lots of great information! Click here OYM YouTube or go to: https://www.youtube.com/@ohioyearlymeeting2155

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Interested in learning more about Conservative Quakers? Please come worship with us! We meet Fifth Day (Thursday) at 3pm and First Day (Sunday) at 10:30am. We welcome everyone!

Still yearning for more information? Visit the official Ohio Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Conservative) website by clicking here: https://www.ohioyearlymeeting.org/  

Tip for viewing if on a smartphone:  Our Middleton Friends website seems to work best from a desktop/laptop computer. The "sidebar" information does not seem to show up on a phone. Click over to "web version" at the bottom of this page to view all the website's information on a smartphone. 

Quakers and the American Revolution

 Several members of Middleton Meeting belong to the North Carolina Friends Historical Society.

"The purpose of the North Carolina Friends Historical Society is to support the collection and preservation of and publish valuable information relative to the history of the Society of Friends in North Carolina and adjacent territories and to work in harmony and cooperation with the Quaker Archives at Guilford College."--from the North Carolina Friends Historical Society website (https://www.ncfhs.org/)

As we approach our country's 250th birthday, a recent NCFHS newsletter published Quakers and the American Revolution by Max L. Carter. It provides insight into the influence of Quakers in our early history. 

Interested in learning more about Conservative Quakers? Please come worship with us! We meet Fifth Day (Thursday) at 3pm and First Day (Sunday) at 10:30am. We welcome everyone!

Still yearning for more information? Visit the official Ohio Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Conservative) website by clicking here: https://www.ohioyearlymeeting.org/  

Tip for viewing if on a smartphone:  Our Middleton Friends website seems to work best from a desktop/laptop computer. The "sidebar" information does not seem to show up on a phone. Click over to "web version" at the bottom of this page to view all the website's information on a smartphone. 

Podcast: Inside a Conservative Quaker Meeting

 

Thee Quaker Podcast recently visited Marlborough Meeting in Kennet Square, PA. Marlborough Meeting is part of Ohio Yearly Meeting. The podcast steps inside a Conservative Quaker meeting to "witness a commitment to simplicity and integrity that has endured for centuries". It is a nice introduction to Conservative Friends. 

Please listen to the thoughtful podcast by clicking here: Inside a Conservative Quaker Meeting

Clicking on this will bring up a page on the Thee Quaker website.  On that page will be a white circle with a black triangle in the center.  Click on the triangle to hear the episode.

Ohio Yearly Meeting has information available for people who are new to our unique way of worship. Click on this link to learn more: First Visit

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Interested in learning more about Conservative Quakers? Please come worship with us! We meet Fifth Day (Thursday) at 3pm and First Day (Sunday) at 10:30am. We welcome everyone!

Still yearning for more information? Visit the official Ohio Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Conservative) website by clicking here: https://www.ohioyearlymeeting.org/  

Tip for viewing if on a smartphone:  Our Middleton Friends website seems to work best from a desktop/laptop computer. The "sidebar" information does not seem to show up on a phone. Click over to "web version" at the bottom of this page to view all the website's information on a smartphone.