Friends Meeting House - Queens History
Flushing / December 13, 2009. George Fox was the founder of the Society Of Friends in the mid 1600’s, which later became known as the Quakers. He was a dissenter of the state religion of England at the time and believed that people could rely on their own inner spirituality to guide them. The Quakers or Friends crossed the Atlantic to practice their beliefs without interference and settled in Vlishing / Flushing in the 1650’s. John Bowne worshipped with the group that eventually built this meeting place and his house was considered to be a precedent of it. The Vlishing Remonstrance of 1657 and John Bowne’s subsequent struggle with the Governor and the West India Company came about as a result of the Quakers’ desire to practice their faith in Vlishing [aka Flushing].
The Friends Meeting House - Quaker History In Queens NY
This is the second oldest continuously operating Quaker meeting houses in the nation. The building was erected in 1694 and was expanded upon in 1714. George Washington is said to have visited it twice during his life. The Meeting House only ceased operations twice since its inception – once during the Revolutionary War when the British took it over, and again during the Yellow Fever plague of 1793, which had its origins in Pennsylvania, the Quaker state.
Religious Services At The Friends Meeting House In Flushing
Today the services remain unstructured in accordance with George Fox’s first teachings. Many times the services end up being hour-long periods of silence and meditation. And other times people get up and speak from their hearts when they believed they’ve been spiritually motivated to share what’s in their heart with the other members of the congregation.
Just as the services are unstructured, so too is the meeting house seating configuration. The service seating is arranged in a sort of community town hall style, which varies from the hierarchical structures I’ve seen in most other Christian places of worship.
Today there are about thirty members of the house and about another dozen or so attendees who practice their faith every Sunday from 11 am to 12 noon. The service is followed by an hour long social.
Thanks to Bridget and Ruth for providing insights and some of the information contained herein, and the Queens Historical Society.
Friends Meeting House Is Queens History - Related Links
TBD. Click on this link to view the location where the Friends Meeting House is located in Flushing Queens.
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