Drumore Friends Meeting House

It was a superb celebration! Thanks to everyone that planned the day. Thanks Doug Miller and to everyone that provided support to Doug Miller’s book. Thanks to all the celebration volunteers! Thanks to the families (Smith, Long, Gehr) that opened up their homes and barns for the tour. Thanks to everyone that came on a rainy day to share in the celebration. Thanks to everyone that had a part in making sure the building, grounds, and cemetery survive 200 years and will survive far into the future. (Janet Lamborn)

Another viewpoint of the celebration. Photos by Cindy Palmer; Afternoon program (Oct. 200th Celebration), filled building to standing room only. What is the Quaker faith? It is not a tidy package of words which you can capture at any given time and then repeat weekly at a worship service. It is an experience of discovery which starts the discoverer on a journey which is life-long. The discovery in itself is not uniquely a property of Quakerism. It is as old as Christian...ity, and considerably older if you share the belief that many have known Christ who have not known His name. What is unique to the Religious Society of Friends is its insistence that the discovery must be made by each man for himself. No one is allowed to get it second-hand by accepting a ready-made creed. Furthermore, the discovery points a path and demands a journey, and gives you the power to make the journey. Elise Boulding, The Quaker Journey (1954) [Found in Doug Miller’s Drumore Quakers’ Precious Habitation] (Janet Lamborn) See more

Another viewpoint of the 200th celebration. Photos by Cindy Palmer; Old farm tools, Old Oak tree, Old & Current Cemetery. Although the African American graves are unmarked and to one side of the cemetery, Quakers were among the few denominations of the nineteenth century where African American burials was a common practice. Additionally it was not until the end of the nineteenth century that Quakers modestly marked their gravesites. To love and be loved is a universal h...uman urge. Is it any wonder, then, that we are moved to seek God’s love? It is to this divine love that we are called. This is the high promise of man’s life. We are called away from indifference, from meanness, malice, prejudice, and hate. We are called above the loves that come and go and are unsure. We are called into the deep enduring love of God and man and al creation. Worship is a door into that love. Once we have entered it, our every act is a prayer, our whole life a continuous worship. N. Jean Toomer, An Interpretation of Friends Worship (1947) [Found in Doug Miller’s Drumore Quakers’ Precious Habitation] (Janet Lamborn) See more

Another viewpoint of the celebration. Photos by Cindy Palmer; Steve & Donna Long Barn featuring Joseph Smith’s secret room at the base of the 3-story barn that was part of the Underground Railroad. Modern day Quakers still have concerns about modern day racism, white privilege, and freedom; thus there are many Quaker UNDOING RACISM initiatives including: The Fellowship of Friends of African Decent is a 25 year old Quaker organization that supports the spiritual nurture of... Quakers of African descent and provides opportunities for sharing of our concerns. As those of us in the United States witness the media portrayal of high profile police violence and the resulting racial tensions, we are moved by our compassion for our communities to call for action that will lead to justice and respect, particularly for black men but also for black women and children in America. In the words of the poet, Nikki Giovanni, Black love is Black wealth. We as Quakers of African descent are making a personal commitment to these ends and invite others to join us in this effort. We call Friends’ organizations to use some part of our substantial corporate investments to support this work. (Janet Lamborn) See more