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9781594982248

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This is an extraordinary piece of work. Presenting these epistles in poetic form breathes new life into them! This would be a wonderful read-aloud resource for meetings and gatherings. Chris Stern, author of Who Turned on the Light?: Stories of Hope and Healing George Fox wrote hundreds of epistles from the 1650s into the 1690s. Ben Richmond has sensitively collected and abridged the most significant of them into prose and poetry that makes their original power available to readers today. Thomas Hamm, Emeritus Professor of History and Quaker Scholar in Residence at Earlham College Ben Richmond has made George Fox's epistles accessible to a new generation. After recognizing in them messages of comfort and of exuberant joy, as well as psalms of lament, Ben has put a selection into a poetic format, retitled some for clarification, added the context of the time when each was written and the scripture passages that gave them life. Foundational Quaker theology is a thread running through the commentary. Margaret Fraser, Ireland Yearly Meeting, and former executive secretary, Friends World Committee for Consultation, Section of the Americas Ben Richmond takes excerpts from Fox's epistles and renders them in poetic form in such a way that makes these old letters accessible to contemporary readers. We not only capture the essential messages but sense the beauty and music. The background information and biblical references put the letters in their original context and satisfy the need for a logical, historical understanding. The poetry touches our intuitive, emotional side, all leading to a holistic reading that can be transformative. Nancy Thomas, author of The Language of Light What a wonderful book. Ben Richmond brings the epistles of George Fox to life and makes them so accessible. A truly inspiring volume! Ben Pink Dandelion, Professor of Quaker Studies, University of Birmingham I would encourage readers who find George Fox's Journal hard going to turn to Ben Richmond's selections from his Epistles. You will discover how directly Fox's voice spoke to his contemporaries-and to us. This version, laying out the words in short and powerful lines, helps the reader to absorb them in a fresh and engaging way. And Ben's short comments give useful context and insights into the message. John Lampen, author, Wait in the Light: The Spirituality of George Fox This is a wonderful book! With great clarity and power, Ben Richmond brings George Fox's words to life, making them accessible and meaningful for us today, and in so doing, provides an invaluable primer on early Quaker spirituality and discipline. I hope this rich resource will be widely used for study and reflection by individual Friends and within Quaker communities for many years to come. Stuart Masters, Quaker teacher at Woodbrooke, author, The Rule of Christ: Themes in the Theology of James Nayler and The Quaker Faith: Friends of Love and Truth Four hundred years since his birth, George Fox's writings still speak with prophetic power and deep spiritual insight. Ben Richmond's collection of Fox's letters make his spiritual counsel accessible and vivid, by arranging them in verse form and offering pertinent introductory information and biblical references. Since Fox often dictated rather than wrote his letters, Richmond's verse-form captures the moment freshly. I recommend Poetry and Passion both to newcomers and to long-time listeners to Fox. Douglas Gwyn, author, Apocalypse of the Word: The Life and Message of George Fox and Seekers Found: Atonement in Early Quaker Experience

Author Information

Ben Richmond joined the Society of Friends in Multnomah Monthly Meeting in 1971 and worked in the peace education office of the American Friends Service Committee in Portland, Oregon. He received a master of ministry degree from Earlham School of Religion in 1984 and served as pastoral minister of the West Branch (Iowa) Friends Church for three years, 1982-1985. For the next twenty years, he served in various capacities on the staff of Friends United Meeting, initially as coordinator of Peace and Social Concerns and for ten years as managing editor of Quaker Life magazine. From 2007 to 2009, he and spouse Jody Kerman Richmond taught at Friends Theological College in Kaimosi, Kenya, where Ben was interim administrator. Previous publications include an abridgment of The Reminiscences of Levi Coffin (stories of enslaved people traveling the underground railroad to freedom in the North) and the biblical study, Signs of Salvation. Ben and Jody have three children and four grandchildren. They are members of West Richmond (Indiana) Friends Meeting.

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