George Fox's Catechism for Children, 1660

By Charlotte Condia

George Fox’s Catechism For Children, 1660 is in a traditional question and answer format. Fox, the founder of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) has a passionate love of Christ the Light. Fox writes of many things and answers any question you may have about early Friends. But principally, he writes about Christ the Light in a poetic and beautiful way. The reader can share his love and insights through this Catechism.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jun 4, 2014
• ISBN: 9781312250970

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George Fox's Catechism for Children, 1660

GEORGE FOX’ S CATECHISM

FOR CHILDREN, 1660

By

Charlotte Condia

Copyright © 2014, Charlotte Condia

Sunrise Publications

1020 Sable Circle

Las Cruces New Mexico 88001

ISBN 978-1-312-25097-0

All rights reserved

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by photostat, microfilm, xerography, or any other means, or incorporated into information retrieval system, electronic or mechanical, without the written permission of the copyright owner.

Dedication

For Canby Jones who introduced me to George Fox.

May he keep in the Light.

In gratitude to my editor Rachel Ribeiro

Preface

George Fox’s A Catechism for Children which he wrote in1660, follows the traditional question and answer format.  Fox discusses many things  but principally he explains what he believes about the Light.

This book discusses the beliefs of George Fox as presented to us in his Catechism and then a question and answer section that rephrases his Catechism for a more modern audience. It may be helpful for the reader to also read the Catechism itself, which can be found on the authors blog: http://fox1660catechism.blogspot.com/ under the section View/Download Catechism.

Some readers may find the idea of  answering that of God in others difficult.  This idea – treating others with equality and courtesy, having some concern for them – is an important part of God’s peace plan. This one-on-one dealing with others is essential to a peaceful life. 

There is a long section on the concept of answering, in my book, Some References to the Seventeenth Century Pastoral Letters of George Fox. To get a real understanding of this belief, my best suggestion is to read what Fox himself says ab out it. 

Fox’s use of capitals is not consistent. Sometimes I follow him and sometimes I follow current usage.

I use few quotation marks. However I have written a concordance for both the pastoral letters and the catechism which can be found on my web site, and there are copious footnotes in some of my other books.  Canby Jones’ edition of the pastoral letters has a very good index, as well. 

Text placed in brackets [  ], denotes an aside, of my own, or material which is primarily from Fox’s Pastoral Letters and not his Catechism.

Charlotte Condia

Las Cruces New Mexico, Spring 2013

PART 1: THE REMARKABLE GEORGE FOX

GEORGE FOX: NO MAN’S COPY

Why, with all the catechisms in the world, should we have such confidence in George Fox’s 1660 Catechism? We can have confidence because Fox is such a remarkable person.

In the year 1643 the Lord sent George Fox, an innocent lamb, young in years, to turn people from darkness to the Light.  Fox, who founded the Religious Society of Friends or, Quakers (the name that Quakers have for themselves is Friends) is a mystic, a passionate lover of God, theologian,

social reformer and an extraordinarily good and kind human being.  

William Penn said of George Fox, the human founder of the Quaker faith, that he is no man’s copy.  He is unique, a religious genius. The crown of Fox’s experience is his knowledge and passionate love of God and Christ the Light and his ability to share this with others.

The really remarkable thing about Fox is that he doesn’t say that there is only one way to get to know God, or that his way is the best. He is convinced that everyone may know God based on the goodness and purity within themselves.

WHAT MAKES HIM SO REMARKABLE?

George Fox is an orthodox Christian. He believes in the religion of the Apostles and Prophets.

He is a passionate lover of God and  a mystic who lives in the real world.

He believes in a universal Christ, one who enlightens everyone and saves everyone.  Although he lives in a society with a rigid class structure, he is able to see that everyone is equal before God. 

With a rare moral clarity, he knows right from wrong. He doesn’t  ask any sacrifice or suffering of his followers that he isn’t willing to undergo himself.

Fox believes that Friends should live in the world with a simple lifestyle; be in the world but not consumed by it. His focus is on this world. Friends are to have productive, meaningful  lives loving and serving God.

He is a man of peace who doesn’t condone war, refuses to participate in war for any reason.  He doesn’t resist violent attacks against himself, and accepts suffering.  He prays for and blesses his persecutors and expects friends to do the same.  For if you love your enemy, you cannot kill him.

AN ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN

An orthodox Christian with his beliefs grounded in the Bible, Fox does not create a new religion in his own image. His faith has great depth, for he shares the faith of the Prophets and the Apostles.  The Bible also authenticates his authority.  He reads the King James Version and other Bibles in English. (King James I authorizes the translation which we know today as the King James Bible in 1611. No attempt is made to force it on the Church of England; it becomes popular on its own merit.)

Fox’s authority comes more especially from  the presence of the Living God within him. In pastoral letter 34 written in 1653 he greets Friends: I do warn you in the presence of the living God not to speak the things of God at random, or in a presumptuous mind.

Christ, the Light, inspired the scriptures and now helps us to understand them. But they are only a declaration of the fountain,