Some Signs of the Times...
Where I once lived in central Pennsylvania, there are lovely, secluded valleys where some very religious folks live. The roots of many of these communities go all the way back to when William Penn started his "Holy Experiment" more than 300 years ago as a haven from religious persecution and a beacon of spiritual freedom.
As you will see, many of these groups are anxious to let the passing world know something of what they believe. In one particular valley, west of Harrisburg, there is a church whose members have erected their own billboards, some full-size, to bear their witness. But I have also found numerous signs elsewhere bearing their own urgent call to pilgrim and passerby.
I find these homemade messages impressive and intriguing. And as I have paused to photograph them, I found myself wondering:
Where, here in William Penn's Quaker Commonwealth, are the Quaker billboards? And what messages would/should be on them?
But this query ought not be limited to the "Holy Experiment!" Shouldn't Friends elsewhere, usually small Quaker islands amid larger, often un-Friendly cultural seas, bring their lamps out from under those bushels?
Remember the query put before us so long ago, but as urgent today:
"What Canst Thou Say?"
A few such signs are shown on the next two pages, in hopes they will stimulate Friendly surfers to consider these queries, and move toward answering them in their own way. Here is one of the first to catch my attention:
Click here to see our first photos of Notable Quaker Signs.
There are some excellent ones. And we are looking for more.