beth Gurney Fry, Rufus Jones, Thomas Kelly, Mildred Binns Young, and other Friends whose inspiration is available to us. We value also many writings of seekers of all persuasions, aware of the diversity of vision among those whose hearts are fixed on God. We come to understand that the Light that inspired seekers of all times will illumine us as we search diligently to discern the Truth.

We know that God shares the Truth in many ways. If we bring open hearts and minds, we can find the Holy Spirit in unexpected places and in the contributions of men and women of all ages and all religions, sometimes in the form of stories, poetry, dance, music, art, or drama that give insight into humanity's highest values.

. . .IN TRADITION

While seeking the Truth in their own experience with God and Christ, early Friends read and discussed the newly printed Bible and the writings of mystics such as Francis of Assisi and Marie de Guyon and began to write their own spiritual literature, journals, and tracts. Their seeking led to practices such as refusing "hat honor" (to take off one's hat to social superiors), referring to days of the week and months by numbers to erase all non-Christian reference, and using "plain" language to avoid the then common honorific "you" for social superiors. Refusal to participate in war, strict honesty in business, equality of men and women, the gentle upbringing of children, noncoercion of conscience, the settlement of differences without suing each other in courts of law, declining to observe traditional religious holidays, and nonconformity to fashion in dress and conduct became some of the more enduring traditions of the Society. Meetings for worship to celebrate marriage or the life of a deceased Friend still take place with simple arrangements; these traditions testify to the spiritual nature of our lives and gather us into community. Silence before meetings for business, committee meetings, and meals has been another Friends' custom.

Yet, tradition is no substitute for faith; practices may become empty.

. . .IN GOSPEL ORDER

Gospel order is life lived in God's transforming, guiding, and sustaining power.

-- Sandra Cronk, Gospel Order (Pendle Hill pamphlet 297)

Early Friends identified a need for the right ordering of community life, which they called "gospel order," based in the life and teachings of Jesus. George Fox called this order the New Covenant of Jesus Christ, a divine, not an institutional, structure by means of which Christ could be "present in the midst of his people as ruler, governor, and orderer." Instead of the rules