Category Archives: Books – by Chuck Fager

For Friendly Summer Reading: Two New Books

So you know I’ve been interested in Quakers and Quakerism for decades.
I began exploring this interest by writing stories about Friends in 1977.
Beginning in 1989, I was asked to read my Quaker and other stories to campers and adults at Friends Music Camp, at the Olney Friends School in Ohio, where Peg Champney was the founding Director. I’ve been invited back to read more of these stories every summer since.
Now I’ve collected nineteen of these stories in a new book, “Posies for Peg.”
And: My granddaughter came to me awhile back, to say that some schoolmates had been asking her about what Quakers believe, and how our beliefs differ from other Christian churches — but she didn’t know how to answer them.
Her uncertainty was no surprise: even though she grew up among Quakers, she hadn’t been taught about Quakerism. And I couldn’t find any compact, accessible guide to the topics that kept coming up for her.
So I set out to produce one.
I wanted to offer concise answers to some of these typical questions. So far I’ve gathered almost fifty such FAQs.
These make up a new book — really an over-sized pamphlet– called, Some Quaker FAQs. I think of it as the beginning of an “un-systematic theology” for Friends.

Quakers & the Underground Railroad: Humility Time

. . . a great many whites exaggerated or invented their Underground Railroad support after the Civil War, and actual white URR activists were often valiant, but relatively few in number and were marginalized & vilified by both respectable folk & dangerous mobs.
Further, contrary to common Quaker legend, this marginalization was especially strong among Friends: the Quaker Establishment in all the branches was dead-set against it, visible supporters were often disowned or sidelined, and only after slavery was safely outlawed did a URR “pedigree” suddenly become widely fashionable among Quakers.
Yes, there were Quaker heroes of the URR. But . . .

Jimmie Lee & James: Two Selma Landmarks

Jimmie Lee & James: Two Selma Landmarks Jimmie Lee Jackson (left) and James Bonard Fowler: They met fatefully on the night of February 18, 1965, fifty years ago today. The white community of Marion, Alabama, thirty miles northwest of

How To Be A Writer — “Sponsored” & Not

It’s Simpler Than You Think. (I Didn’t Say “Easier.”) So in Salon, writer Ann Bauer spills her guts. If you think you can bear it, this is her opening: << Here’s my life. My husband and I get up each morning at 7 o’clock and he showers while I make coffee. By the time he’s dressed … Continue reading How To Be A Writer — “Sponsored” & Not →

Eating Dr. King’s Dinner – A Moderately Long Holiday Read

“And to put ourselves into the proper frame of mind for these times of retreat,” Dr. King concluded, “we have always made it our practice that for the first two days we are in jail, we will fast.”

So there it was, finally.

As I say, these were not his exact words, but the cadence and content are all there. In any case, when the trusty heard the word “fast,” his mouth dropped open. Mine did, too.

The trusty frowned more deeply, and turned his head slightly, as if he was working up to ask a question, perhaps something like, “Say what?” Dr. King headed him off.

“And that, my friend, is why I very much appreciate the effort you’ve gone to,” he said, “but I’m afraid I am unable to eat your greens.”

“You mean – ?” croaked the trusty. Much of the rest of the disquisition may have gone over his head, but this last was sinking in.

Dr. King nodded.

The trusty looked genuinely confused.”You mean,’ he repeated, “you can’t – ?”

Now Dr. King shook his head slowly.

The trusty looked at Abernathy, who had moved to Dr. King’s elbow. He smiled apologetically, but shook his head also.

The trusty blinked and turned toward the other staffer, who had hung back silently through this whole exchange. His head shook too.

The trusty stood there for a moment, without a clue as to what to do next.

And then, he looked at me.