Thoughts on the Peace Testimony

by Cary Andrews
Scarsdale Meeting

When I think of the Peace Testimony, what comes to mind is the phrase—“Let there be Peace on Earth and let it begin with me.” It was a song written in 1955 by Jill Jackson Miller and Sy Miller, It was originally written for and sung by the International Children's Choir. To me, it exemplifies how I approach my life and how I try to live the Peace Testimony. Another rendition of this sentiment is, “First, keep peace within yourself, then you can also bring peace to others,” by Thomas A. Kempis. He was a German-Dutch canon of the late medieval period and wrote devotional books. I have a plaque with these words in beautiful script with floral embellishments that I keep in my kitchen.

The Peace Testimony is complicated, and open to many interpretations.

I have taught First Day School for at least 35 years, and an important part of our curriculum is the SPICE acronym for the testimonies—Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality. So many lessons over the years to teach/ learn about Peace with our young friends. So many songs and poems with peace as their message, the knowledge of those refusing to go to war, the conscientious objectors (my husband served at Mass General Hospital as part of his service during Vietnam), early Friends and their objection to war. I love the A.J. Muste phrase, “There is no Way to Peace, Peace is the Way.” But it became quite sticky for me when our eldest son joined the Marines.

I seriously considered leaving our meeting because I felt that this had challenged our beliefs somehow. But at Scarsdale Friends Meeting there was support and concern for his decision, and to me this was such a show of community, and it was almost overwhelming to find such acceptance and love and peace. I find there are many ways to peace, and many ways to follow the testimonies. I believe the military even has 'Quaker' as a choice for religion on their dog tags, and have known of a number of Quakers that served in the military. I am proud of him and his service. And both of my sons have been married under the care of their Quaker Meeting. Being a Quaker is an important part of our lives. 

We are a community of seekers after all, and this is certainly a testimony that we all try to live and understand. We strive for a way to live our peace. It is a process, a journey, and a joy.