by WebPost | Sep 15, 2019 | History - Quaker, History - RFM
R. Arnold Ricks III, 94, on February 24, 2018, at home in Bennington, Vt. Arnold was born on August 23, 1923, in Richmond, Va., to Anne Elizabeth Ryland and James Hoge Ricks. His father, a member of Richmond (Va.) Meeting, was from a long-established Quaker family and served as a pioneering judge of the Richmond Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court for forty years, and his mother was from a Baptist family associated with the development of University of Richmond. A life-long Quaker, Arnold served in the Civilian Public Service as a conscientious objector, in 1941–1943 firefighting and doing reforestation in Oregon’s wilderness region and being an subjecting himself to experiments with hepatitis, which he contracted. In 1945 he joined the British-American relief team in rebuilding Cologne, Germany, where he helped to build a children’s center.
Originally a member of the Haverford College class of 1945, he graduated Phi Beta Kappa in philosophy in 1948.. After earning a master’s in European history from Harvard University in 1954, he taught history at Swarthmore College. In 1963, he began teaching at Bennington College, where he also served two years as Dean of Studies. A beloved teacher, he spoke of classes as an “assault on the unknown and the imperfectly known.” In 1972 he married Pat Adams, a painter and colleague at Bennington College, and after a 4-month sabbatical in 1973, traveling through Europe and the Middle-East with his stepsons, Matthew and Jason, they settled in Old Bennington, Vt. Starting in 1974 he served as a trustee of the Village of Old Bennington and as Road Commission, overseeing the design and reconstruction of Monument Avenue, the village road leading to the Bennington Battle Monument, ensuring that the historic road would be in narrow in keeping with its environs, which go back to when the first frame house in Vermont was built in Bennington in 1763--a house still in use.
For decades he made generous contributions to Richmond (Va.) Meeting. He retired from Bennington College in 1992. Three years later, the mayor of Cologne, who as a child had benefited from the British-American Relief team’s work, led a celebration in honor of him and the other surviving team members. When he retired as a trustee of Old Bennington in 2014, the villagers presented him with an inscribed bench on the grass island in front of the Old First Church. As a trustee of the Bennington Museum from 1995 to 2015, he helped initiate a period of growth and revitalization for the museum, for which in 2013 it created the Hiland Hall Award to recognize his service. He lived as George Fox said, “[walking] cheerfully over the world answering that of God in everyone.”
Arnold is survived by his wife, Pat Adams; two stepsons, Matthew A. Longo and Jason R. Longo; a niece, Francie Ricks; three grandsons; and many Ryland cousins in Virginia. His remains rest in Old Bennington Cemetery. Donations to American Friends Service Committee or the Bennington Museum in care of the Hanson Walbridge & Shea Funeral Home, 213 West Main Street, Bennington, VT, are welcome.
by WebPost | Dec 2, 2017 | Announcement, History - RFM
Midlothian Friends Meeting was established in 1986 as an ‘indulged’ meeting by the Ministry and Worship committee of Richmond Friends Meeting. The article below describes more about the history of Midlothian Friends Meeting.
Midlothian Friends Meeting
by WebPost | Dec 2, 2017 | Announcement, History - RFM
At the celebration of the sixtieth anniversary of Richmond Friends Meeting meeting at our current location on Kensington Avenue, a slideshow was shown of the history of Friends in Richmond, Virginia. Meeting Historian Betsy Brinson collected the material. Dan Shaw and Tracey Cain assisted in the preparation of the slideshow.
The slide show is is here.
by WebPost | Sep 26, 2015 | History - Quaker, History - RFM
Few people alive today know that the Powhatan hamlet of Fine Creek was a center of Quaker life in what was once part of Goochland County; then a part of Cumberland County with its formation in 1749; and finally a part of Powhatan County with that county’s formation in 1777. The Fine Creek area was first developed in 1735 by John Pleasants Sr., a member of a prominent and early Virginia Quaker family. He built a gristmill at Lees Landing Road (Rt. 641) and Huguenot Trail (Rt. 711) along the lower falls of Fine Creek. Within a decade a small rural hamlet emerged next to the gristmill with several stores, a cooper’s shop, a blacksmith shop, a small cheese factory, a postal station, and a ferry that provided access across the James River to the northern part of Goochland County. Eventually a one room schoolhouse was also built for the area’s children.
We know from the historical Quaker record that White Oak Swamp Monthly Meeting (aka. Henrico Monthly Meeting) allowed a “particular” (or subordinate) Quaker Meeting, Fine Creek Meeting, to be created in the area in 1746. At that time in Quaker history a new meeting would not have been allowed by the “monthly” (parent) meeting if there were not a good number of Quakers willing to support its ongoing existence. Quaker discipline was strict then and not the laisser-faire culture of liberal Quakerism today. Quakers were required to attend worship every “First Day” (Sunday) at the local meetinghouse if they were to remain Quakers. So, we know that a ready-made and active membership would have been available to provide ongoing support for the new meeting.
White Oak Swamp Monthly Meeting had a dozen or so Quaker meetings under its care during the eighteenth century. Fine Creek Meeting was just one of these, along with its “sister” meeting of Richmond Friends Meeting. Had Fine Creek meeting survived the ravages of history, today it would be 49 years older than Richmond Friends Meeting.
Powhatan County archives do indicate that Fine Creek Quakers were active abolitionists. James Pleasants of Fine Creek (brother of John Pleasants Sr. who was instrumental in developing the gristmill at Fine Creek) began emancipating his slaves around 1800 along with Fine Creek Quakers John Pleasants Jr. and Jonathan Pleasants, both sons of John Pleasants Sr. No doubt they were prompted to do so by a unanimous decision by all Virginia Quakers in 1800 to “disown” (the term then used to revoke Quaker membership) any Quaker who refused to emancipate their slaves. All Virginia Quakers had been asked to begin doing so since the mid 1770’s. County and historical records demonstrate a concerted effort by Fine Creek Quakers to systematically work towards this end. It wasn’t until 1804, however, that the county finally began providing newly freed blacks their certificates of freedom.
Fine Creek Meeting existed from 1746 until 1780 – some 34 years. Yet, there is much mystery surrounding the meeting. At that time in Quaker history, once a meeting was in existence for more than a few years, there was pressure as well as support to build a permanent meetinghouse. Also, Fine Creek meeting was nurtured by the Pleasants family – one of the wealthiest families in Virginia. So, the circumstantial evidence would suggest that a meetinghouse existed somewhere in the Fine Creek area of Powhatan.
Where exactly was the Fine Creek meetinghouse located? Was it in the hamlet surrounding the gristmill; or, was it in the surrounding countryside? Why was the Fine Creek Meeting “laid down” after existing for 34 years? One can only hope that as ancient records become more searchable due to digitization, someone will be able to fill in the missing pieces to this local Quaker mystery.
— Howard Brod, Midlothian Friends Meeting
by WebPost | Apr 24, 2015 | History - Quaker, History - RFM, Peace and Social Concerns
There have been several celebrations and ceremonies marking the 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War and the freeing of slaves in the south. These events note an important milestone as a step toward greater racial equality, and Virginia Friends were allies in that equality quest.
Because it was against the law in Virginia to free your slaves, many Friends went to Ohio and Indiana, states that were more open to abolition. Due to dwindling numbers, the Virginia Yearly Meeting joined the Baltimore Yearly Meeting in 1843. Quakers who stayed in Virginia faced a hostile environment and needed to be discreet in their support of African-Americans. One supporter, John Bacon Crenshaw, a member of the Cedar Creek Meeting (mother to the Richmond Meeting) lived on a farm six miles north of Richmond. To help guide fugitive slaves north, he drove nails into fences and posts to indicate the route that led north. He is but one of many Friends aiding escaping slaves.
After the Civil War, a period called Reconstruction lasted from 1867 until 1875. During this brief time, African-Americans voted and elected legislators, pushing more equal treatment, but the white power establishment reasserted institutional racism by passing a huge body of laws that was called Jim Crow. From drinking fountains to walking on sidewalks, no aspect of civic life was too small to govern. This period, from 1875, lasted until the 1950’s, when it began to crumble with Brown vs. Board of Education. Most Jim Crow laws were finally dismantled by the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
White Privilege roots are deep and persistent, and as Michele Alexander points out in “The New Jim Crow” and Benjamin Campbell notes in “Richmond’s Unhealed History”, our prison system and zoning and boundary manipulations have been used to diminish the lives of our African-American citizens once again.
Today, in our prison population of 2.3 million, African-American are a disproportionate number of the imprisoned. Outside of prison, these, our brothers and sisters, lead shorter, unhealthier lives, earn less money, have poorer housing and school options than white people. So, 150 years after the Civil War ended, much has been changed, and much more remains to be changed.
Today’s Richmond Friends Meeting continues the work of earlier Friends to advocate for a fairer, kinder and more loving community for all to live and grow in.
by WebPost | Jun 3, 2011 | Adult Spiritual Education, History - RFM, Minuted Decisions
In her will, Jean Jones Anderson offered a bequest to Meeting, with the stipulation that it be used for adult spiritual education. After much consideration, in November 2011, Meeting approved the following policy governing the use of the bequest.
Recommendations from the Bequest Use Committee to Richmond Friends Meeting Approved by 11th Month Meeting for Worship with a Concern for Business (11/21/2010)
After a series of committee meetings, a listening circle, presentation at 10th Month Meeting for Worship with a Concern for Business, and with consideration of feedback from the broader RFM community, the Bequest Use Committee brought the following recommendations to 11th Month Meeting:
- The Bequest Use Committee recommends the formation of a new Committee: The Adult Spiritual Education Committee (ASE). This Committee would have responsibility for adult spiritual education as defined by Ministry & Worship, as specified in Jean’s will. Responsibilities of the new committee would include the study of scriptures (such as Bible Workbench), the study of Quaker history, testimonies, and values (such as Quakerism 101), study groups (such as Spiritual Formation), speakers, forums, adult religious education, and other activities. These responsibilities would transfer to ASE from Ministry & Worship (M&W) Committee. Fall Retreat will be a joint responsibility of these two committees.
- ASE would have an annual budget from Jean’s bequest to develop programs that benefit our Meeting as a whole and to purchase materials for Bible Workbench. In addition, ASE could use some funds to award need- based scholarships for individuals (members and attenders) who want to participate in adult spiritual education activities, especially those sponsored by the wider Religious Society of Friends. Because the Mary Hulburt Fund is designated for first-time participation in specific Quaker activities, it seems appropriate that ASE administer this fund.
- The Bequest Use Committee recommends that the members of ASE be members of Richmond Friends Meeting and that they be appointed for three years, with staggered initial terms to ensure continuity of membership over time. Current members of M&W who have one or two years remaining on their terms should be allowed to choose either to continue on M&W or to serve on ASE. Nominating Committee will determine the appropriate size of ASE and M&W and will fill ASE as soon as feasible. Like other committees, ASE will report periodically to Meeting for Worship with a Concern for Business on its activities and accomplishments.
- ASE will work with Financial Stewardship to develop guidelines for the investment and expenditure of the bequest funds over time. ASE and Financial Stewardship will present these guidelines to Meeting for Worship with a Concern for Business for approval as soon as practicable. In developing these guidelines, the committees will consider the following recommendations made by the Bequest Use Committee and approved, in principle, by Meeting at 11th Month Meeting for Worship with a Concern for Business:
- Since the amount of the bequest funds is still unknown, the Bequest Use Committee recommends dividing the funds into two parts for budgeting purposes. The Bequest Use Committee recommends that $20,000 of the funds from the bequest be held in reserve, to be invested and monitored by Financial Stewardship. It is anticipated that these funds would grow over time and would generate income to be used for adult spiritual education after the amount over $20,000 (see paragraph 4.b., below) has been expended.
- The Bequest Use Committee recommends an annual budget for ASE of five to 10 percent of the amount of the bequest funds over $20,000 for a period of ten to twenty years, depending on the amount expended each year. The exact amount of each year’s budget will be determined through the normal budgeting process and approved in a Meeting for Worship with a Concern for Business.
- Following the review and support of this proposal by M&W, this proposal was presented at the 11th Month Meeting for Worship with a Concern for Business and refinements suggested at that Meeting are reflected here.
These recommendations were approved and the Bequest Use Committee is now laid down. (Committee Members: T.J. Armstrong, Diane Bowden, Howard Garner (clerk), Bette Gilchrist, Steve Humphrey and Rita Willett.)
