Lost Quaker Journals: #7 -- Richard M. Nixon

From the archives of the Association of Bad Friends. All rights reserved.









Richard Milhous Nixon, born and raised a Quaker in southern California, was the 37th President of the United State. He was a graduate of Whittier College (a Friends school) and the Milhous family (from Indiana before moving to California) had long been Quaker. Jessamyn West, the novelist, was his cousin. Nixon is largely known for the Watergate scandal, during the investigation of which it was revealed that he had a propensity for ... um... "plain speech" -- though not of the variety usually approved of by Friends.

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"Snow Trail" -- Second Place

Here's my photograph that took second place in "Non-Professional, Black and White Scenic" at the 2011 Indiana State Fair.

Here's the technical information for those of you who care about such things:
Camera: Nikon D80
Lens: Nikon DX AF-S 18-135 (32mm)
1/200 second; f 7.1; ISO 200
Location: Ploughshares Farm, Mooresville, IN
Processed in Adobe Lightroom and Nik SilverEfex Pro
Printed on my Epson R2880

The Quaker Whoopee Cushion

New from Bill Stone Enterprises! It's the "Old Quaker Whoopee Cushion," the fun product made with Friends in mind. Slip an "Old Quaker Whoopee Cushion" under the bench pad at Meeting and watch the Friends quake. When a weighty Friend plops his backside down, out comes the sound of silence. Imagine the look on the gathered Meeting's faces!!

The "Old Quaker Whoopee Cushion" is perfect for unprogrammed and programmed Friends alike. It's one size fits all shape works on benches, pews, pulpit furniture, choir chairs, and more.

It comes in grey or gray.

And it's only $19.95 plus postage and handling.

BUT WAIT. Order in the next 20 minutes and we'll throw in another "Old Quaker Whoopee Cushion" at no extra cost. AND THAT'S NOT ALL! The first twenty callers will receive a copy of "Walk Cheerfully: The George Fox Jokebook."

Just call 1-666-QUAKER. Operators are standing by.

Lost Quaker Journals: #6 -- Hannah Whitall Smith

From the archives of the Association of Bad Friends. All rights reserved.

May 27, 1875 I do not care what the title my publisher put on my new book says, sometimes the Christian life is just not that happy. And that's no secret. Especially when some Christians send me letters telling me what I got wrong. "Dear Mrs. Smith -- I read the heresy you published. You will burn in Hell for all eternity for what you wrote. Please turn from your vile ways. In Christian Love, Miss Prudence Pureblood." "In Christian Love", indeed. Well, let me tell you. Miss Pureblood can take her Christian Love and stick it[editor's note: the rest of this sentence is illegible]. -- Journal of Hannah Whitall Smith


Hannah Whitall Smith’s book The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life, first published in 1875, is still in print and is an extremely popular book among Evangelical and conservative Christians. Less popular is her spiritual autobiography, The Unselfishness of God And How I Discovered It. Published in 1903, it has three chapters which explain how she became a Christian universalist. She was also the mother-in-law of Betrand Russell.

Lost Quaker Journals: #5 -- Charles Elmer Hires

From the archives of the Association of Bad Friends. all rights reserved.

April 1, 1876

This new temperance movement is driving me wacky. Women armed with hatchets chopping up saloons. It's just unseemly. It's enough to drive a Quaker to drink. What I wouldn't give for a pint of stout right now. Still, there has got to be some way to make some money on it. That Canadian fellow McLaughlin may be on to something with his "Ginger Ale." What could I come up with? .... Hmmm, how about "Sassafras Ale?" No. I've got it. "Root Beer!" We can have our beer and our temperance, too! -- Journal of Charles E. Hires.


Hysterical Historical note: Modern bottled root beer was developed by Quaker pharmacist Charles Elmer Hires. In 1876 he was selling 25 cent packets of powder which could make five gallons of root beer. In the 1880s he developed a syrup of the concoction for use in soda fountains. That soon followed by kegs of root beer and modern bottling.

Despite it being a non-alcoholic drink, the temperance ladies (primarily) were not amused by it's name. Hire's one-upped them by marketing his root beer as "The Temperance Drink."

I could find no word on what the current stance of the Women's Christian Temperance Union is towards Hire's "Greatest Health-Giving Beverage in the World."

Lost Quaker Journals: #4 -- Daisy Douglass Barr

From the archives of the Association of Bad Friends. all rights reserved.

March 10, 1923

What to wear to church tomorrow? Ha! I wish there was a choice. But it’s always black or gray. Especially when you are the pastor. I’d look so much better in… um… white! That’s it. I’m going to start dressing in all white. Maybe even a white head-covering. That would give plain clothes a whole new look. White is right! -- Diary of Daisy Douglass Barr

Hysterical historical note – Barr was pastor at Friends churches in New Castle and Muncie, Indiana. Famous as a preacher in the early 20th century, she was infamous for being Imperial Empress of the Indiana Women's Ku Klux Klan at about the same time.

Further note: The photo is not of Barr, but rather one of her compatriots from the Indiana Klan dressed in Imperial Empress garb.

Lost Quaker Journals: #3 -- John Dillinger

From the archives of the Association of Bad Friends. all rights reserved.

July 22, 1934

Guess I’ll go catch a picture show tonight. I had this nagging feeling all morning that I should go back to Quaker Meeting. It’s a little embarrassing to think about after having been kicked out of Friends’ Sunday School in Mooresville, Indiana. So I went out across Chicago to try and find one. It was impossible! No signs anywhere to help identify what’s a Meetinghouse and what’s not. And not even a Yellow Pages ad. I’ll tell ya, a bank is easier to find on a Sunday than a Quaker church is. I did see a woman in red hanging ‘round the Biograph Theater. Maybe she’s one of those fast Friends I’ve heard of and can direct me to the nearest Meeting. – The Diary of John Dillinger

Awaken Your Senses: Meditation Video

Lost Quaker Journals: #2 -- George Fox

From the archives of the Association of Bad Friends. all rights reserved.

CHAPTER I. Boyhood -- A Seeker: 1624-1648

When I came towards nineteen years of age, being upon business at a fair, one of my cousins, whose name was Bradford, having another professor with him, came and asked me to drink part of a jug of beer with them. I, being thirsty, went in with them, for I loved any who had a sense of good, or that sought after the Lord.

When we had drunk a glass apiece, they began to drink healths, and called for more drink, agreeing together that he that would not drink should pay all. I was grieved that any who made profession of religion should offer to do so. They grieved me very much, having never had such a thing put to me before by any sort of people.

Wherefore I rose up, and, putting my hand in my pocket, took out a groat, and laid it upon the table before them, saying, "If it be so, I will leave you."

Looking upon the Society of Friends now as I write these words, I wonder if I shouldst not have stayed with Bradford and hadst a few more beers. Barkeep, another round… -- George Fox: An Unauthorized Autobiography