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Quakers in Denmark Jens Steensberg As a background to the joint Nordic Yearly Meeting in 2002, this article gives a few examples of the earliest contacts between Danes and Quakers abroad. In addition a brief description of the establishment of Quaker Meetings in Denmark is given, and of the situation during the second half of the 20th century. Early Contacts During the 17th and 18th centuries it was the norm for younger persons from better off families to undertake several years of study and travel in Europe. Their travelling journals at times describe meetings with Quakers. The Danish physician Holger Jacobeus in 1674 ran into a »Qveker Kerk» (Quaker Church) in Amsterdam. »Here is found a Kind of People of a particular Religion, where quite usually one of the Women stand up to preach» as he writes. In 1727 the young pharmacist Claus Seidelin visited a building in London, which was used by different religious groups. »The Quakers too had one there, in which I once saw and heard as time went by 3 to 4 stood up to speak to the Meeting, as they felt the Inspiration come over them, as in England all Sects have the Freedom to exercise their religion, except the Catholics, who are the most Oppressed.» In the 1740s the genealogist and collector Terkel Klevenfelt undertook the dangerous crossing of the Channel aboard an English »Packet-Ship» (a small ship for passengers and light cargo), running a real risk of being captured by French pirates. During the 36 hour crossing he spent his free time getting to know a Quaker from Bristol. This person »made himself known» through his Clothes, his Hat, his Manner of Speech, as he said »thou» to Every Person. They spent a day and a night in friendly conversation in a mixture of English and Latin. However, the Quaker was not in all respects true to his principles, e.g. he sat down to eat bare-headed, addressed certain persons with the plural »you», and even carried a »Hirtzfanger» (a big hunting knife) for his protection on the trip. Klevenfelt emphasised the words of Paul, »Mulier taceat in ecclesia» (the woman should remain silent in church), whereas the Quaker owed his conversion to »hearing a Woman, moved by the Spirit, preach in a Quaker Meeting» Already in the 1650s the first English Quaker turned up in Denmark. Twenty-year-old John Hall sought to obtain an audience with the King (Frederick III), but was later put in prison. The king had a decree issued against »the Kind, which in England is called Quakers». The first Quaker publication in the Danish language was printed in Amsterdam in 1666. The Danish Quaker jubilee publication of 1975 gives a good overview up until the Second World War, of Danish contacts with English Friends and the reactions of Danish Authorities to »Quaker Delusions» ,the term used in the bill of 1741 to regulate private religious gatherings (»konventikelplakaten», in force in Norway until 1842, and in Denmark until 1849, the year of our constitution). Those who are interested are referred to this publication. Establishment Only by the constitution of 1849 was freedom of worship allowed in Denmark. During the 1860s several small Quaker orientated groups were formed in a number of small villages in Jutland. In 1875 a group of six persons for the first time asked to be taken into membership of the Society of Friends, as they submitted a form of credal statement. The first Danish Yearly Meeting took place in 1879, but the number of adult Friends never rose above 60-70 persons. In 1921 a visiting English Quaker remarked that there were no public meetings for worship, and meetings in private homes were held only in two areas of the country. However, this was the year in which Peter Manniche established the International People's College (Elsinore) with financial and other support from British Friends. This school was regarded as the Danish equivalent of Woodbrooke. When a young Danish couple returned from a period in the USA in 1929, regular meetings for worship were re-established in the Copenhagen area, but in a private home. A public meeting for worship was started in 1936. With support from American and British Friends an international Quaker centre was established in Copenhagen, in connection with the work for political and Jewish refugees from Germany and central Europe. The second half of the 20th century Danish Friends were also engaged in reconstruction work after the war, among other things through participation in international work camps. The organisation, Peace Supporters Relief Service which later developed into Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke (International cooperation), took its first steps in the Quaker Centre. Quakers were active in the Anti-Nuclear Campaign in the 1960's, and the interest in helping refugees who seek asylum in Denmark has continued throughout the century. Danish Friends participated in international peace camps and demonstrations such as Greenham Common in England and Brunssum in the Netherlands. On the initiative of Danish Friends, a Baltic meeting was held in 1984, the first in a series of meetings in which Friends from the east and west of Europe might meet. Danish Friends have been engaged in a number of peace oriented activities, such as the establishment of a Danish Centre for Conflict Resolution and the Peace Tax Fund. There has also been internal tension among Danish friends. One of the arguments concerns the question of whether it would be possible to be a member of the Society of Friends and at the same time a member of the Danish Lutheran State Church. For years there were two meetings for worship in the Copenhagen area, but this was equally due to conflicts between strong personalities of opposite convictions. Today the number of members has shrunk to about 30 adults. For years Danish Friends have been debating whether to move from the old flat on the 4th floor (without a lift) in the centre of Copenhagen to premises which would give easier access for elderly and handicapped persons. Only in the year 2000 did this finally become a reality, as we rented premises in the Copenhagen Christian Centre, newly established by the Pentecostal Church. This is situated in Drejervej near Norrebro station which has very good connections. Meeting for Worship is held here every Sunday morning at 10.00. Please see the homepage of Danish Friends. A few members live in scattered locations in Jutland. Meetings for Worship are held regularly Aarhus and twice a year members get together for a full day meeting in western Jutland. In addition, Friends from Jutland together with Friends from the Copenhagen area have gathered together for several days each year in an ecumenical retreat centre called »Skovhuset» (the Forest House) in the beautiful lake district of central Jutland. The Danish Yearly Meeting is one of the smallest in the world. Therefore contact with the wider Nordic family of Friends and Friends in Europe is of special importance to us. Even though our average age is increasing and membership is falling we are confident in the knowledge that we are part of the several hundred years old Quaker tradition. Like the Quakers of old, we too struggle to be patterns and to be examples to bring the Quaker message and concerns to people everywhere. *** hem |
Kväkarna, Vännernas samfund Kväkarna tror att det finns något av Gud i varje människa. Därför vänder vi oss mot alla former av våld, och tolerans är mycket viktigt för oss. Den stilla andakten står i centrum av kväkarnas andliga liv. Den firas utan predikan eller fastställt program. info@kvakare.se | |||