Some books for those new to Quakers
One way to find out about Quakers is to read one or two of the books listed here. Most can be borrowed for a month from your local Meeting House library, or can be purchased over the net from Quaker bookstores.Those in dark blue can be purchased from the AustralianFriends Booksales. Acomplete catalogue of books available in Australia is available.
1. The Quaker Way (written by David Johnson 2007, 20 pages) was published by the South Australian Regional Meeting in Adelaide, dealing with prayer, pastoral care, the absence amongst Friends of priest, liturgy, creed or sacraments. Instead, there is daily attention to that of God within.
2. The Handbook of Practice & Procedure (by the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Australia Inc. 2004, loose-leaf) describes the organisational framework, the conclusions of annual gatherings of Friends in Australia on many topics, and guidelines on the conduct of the component parts of the Society.
3. A Short History of the Quakers (by Michael Birkel 2004, 144 pp.) is a meaty introduction to Quaker thought and life. It deals with topics such as ‘The Immediate Presence of God’, ‘The Universal Light of Christ’, ‘The Spiritual Basis of Peace’, the process of ‘centering’ in Meeting for Worship, and so on.
4. this we can say (by the AYM Faith and Practice Committee 2003, 352 pp.) is a compilation of brief writings on their religious life, faith and thought by around 250 Friends, chiefly Australian.
5. Quaker Ways (edited by Elizabeth Stevenson 1996, 58 pp.) was written for Junior Young Friends (aged 10 –16) by a score of Australian Friends. It explains, in simple language and pictures, Friends’ manner of living and the key ideas behind it.
6. A Light that is Shining (by Harvey Gillman 1988, 101 pp.) has become the standard introduction to Quakerism sent to enquirers in England. It describes the Quaker outlook, based on the common experience of a creative, loving power in all people and in the world around, however hidden. This leads to worship in the form of quiet waiting, a freedom from creeds and hierarchy, an emphasis on Spirit-led action, and so on.
7. Encounter with Silence (by John Punshon 1987, pp.) is a classic written by a Friend steeped in the traditions of both the un-programmed style of Quakerism in Britain and Australia, for instance, and the programmed Meetings common in America and Africa. There is gentle humour and great wisdom about silent worship, prayer, and so on, always related to the author’s own personal pilgrimage. The non-Quaker theologian Matthew Fox wrote a foreword.
8. Quaker by Convincement (by Geoffrey Hubbard 1985, 253 pp.) is a book often borrowed from Meeting House libraries. The author was a research scientist and convert from being; ‘a fairly humanistic agnostic’. He points out that becoming a Quaker is to make a commitment to God, not to the Society of Friends. Also, that membership of the Society is compatible with participation in other churches. The book includes a brief history of Friends, their core beliefs, the link to behaviour (peace; materialism; sexuality; crime; etc) and Quaker organization.
9. Introducing Quakers (by George Gorman 1981, pp.) describes the wide range of religious belief within the Society of Friends but unity on the greater importance of Christ-like behaviour than dogma. There are wise words about the Bible, miracles, death, Quaker worship, sense of community and simplicity.
10. Coming Home: an introduction to the Quakers (by Gerald Priestland 1981, pp.) is a racy pamphlet written by a Friend who was a war correspondent and then popular BBC broadcaster. He wrote to explain how he became a Quaker, to undermine “Friends’ distressingly virtuous reputation”, and to respond to George Fox’s query – “Christ saith this, and the apostles say this – but what canst thou say?”
11. Friends (by Richard T. Vann 1974, 3 pp.) is the heading of a neat and scholarly account of the Society in the Encyclopedia Britannica (vol. 7, p. 743). It deals with the basic tenet of the Inner Light, the Society’s history (notably in America), its organization and its influence in the world.
12. The Amazing Fact of Quaker Worship (by George Gorman 1973, 158pp.) answers questions such as - What do we worship? How best? How connect worship and life? How does the Quaker community work? The last brief chapter testifies to the Meeting for Worship as a gateway to transcendence, the simple happiness of living.
Books available from Friends' Booksales in Adelaide
Full catalogue of books available from Friends Booksales, Adelaide
Some of these books are displayed below.
Handbook of Practice and Procedure, 2005 edition
The fifth edition of theHandbook of Practice and Procedure, with the amendments to July 2004, was accepted at Yearly Meeting 2005. This is available in portable document format (pdf)on this website, or as a printed document from Friends Booksales.
Price: AU $6.50.
To order, contactFriends Booksales.
The revised draft sixth edition is now available for comment by Friends throughout Australia.To find our how to participate in this process, click here.
 this we can say
An Australian Quaker faith and practice, written over 10 years by contemporary Australian Quakers expressing their faith in text, poetry, drawings and song.
$30.00 soft cover
$40.00 hard cover
$40.00 large print
To order, contactFriends Booksales.
Read more about this we can say.
Peace Comes Walking: The life of Donald Groom, Quaker peace worker
by Victoria Rigney
This story of passionate idealism, spiritual strength and unexpected tragedy spans the peace movements of the twentieth century. Donald Groom was born into a family of conscientious objectors during World War I and worked in interesting places at extraordinary times: Spain during the civil war, India before and after Partition, and Australia during the Vietnam War.
About the author
Victoria Rigney was an Australian Quaker who developed an interest in biographical writing through working with children coming into care of the state. Victoria was awarded the Donald Groom Fellowship by Quakers in Australia to research and write a biography of Donald Groom, and an Arts Tasmania literary grant to continue the work.
To order write to Friends Booksales, PO Box 181, Glen Osmond SA 5064 orsales@quakers.org.au
 Backhouse and Walker by William Oats
This covers the nine years and five months during which James Backhouse and George Washington Walker travelled in Australia, at times walking 25 to 30 miles a day, observing white settlers' relations with the Aboriginal peoples, and the way the British treated their prisoners in the penal settlements.
Blubber Head Press, 1981.
Price: AU$10.00 plus postage and packaging
To order write to Friends Booksales, PO Box 181, Glen Osmond SA 5064 orsales@quakers.org.au
Choose your Dilemma by William Oats
This book is a collection of letters written by William (Bill) Oats to his mother from Europe between 1938 a
nd 1940. The dilemma faced by Bill Oats was how to oppose Fascism by peaceful means. As a young man teaching at the International School in Geneva he had, as he puts it, 'fallen amongst Friends'. Since the founding of the Society men Friends have faced the dilemma of fighting with outward weapons which now takes the form of resistance to conscription.
This book will appeal particularly to those who had personal experience of the times in which it was written. It is also relevant to to those of subsequent generations who are required to make difficult decisions regarding conscientious objection. It is, too, a rattling good read.
Price: AU$15.00 plus postage and packaging
To order write to Friends Booksales, PO Box 181, Glen Osmond SA 5064 orsales@quakers.org.au
 Quaker Ways edited by Elizabeth Stevenson
Quaker Ways is a publication addressed especially to young people in the 12 to 16 age group and includes a wide range of articles on Friends' history, faith, experience and practice.
Price: AU$12.00 plus postage and packaging
To order write to Friends Booksales, PO Box 181, Glen Osmond SA 5064 orsales@quakers.org.au
 Living the Way: Quaker Spirituality and Community
by Ursula Jane (Janie) O'Shea
Twenty-eighth Backhouse Lecture1993
To order write to Friends Booksales,
PO Box 181, Glen Osmond SA 5064 orsales@quakers.org.au
TheBackhouse Lectures are delivered annually at theYearly Meeting gathering in January. They cover a wide range of aspects of Quaker life and seek to deeply question how we can grow spiritually.
Print and audio copies are available byemailing Friends Booksales.
The following publications are available from the AYM office, or on this website
The Dictionary of Australian Quaker Biography
This collection of eight ring-bound volumes includes biographies and the Testimonies to the Grace of God in the lives of Friends who have died since 1900. An annual supplement includes material on Friends who have died during the preceding year.
Price: AU 400.00 in print; AU$50.00 on CD-ROM.
To order, contactAYM Secretary
Journals and newsletters
The Australian Friend is the quarterly journal of Australia Yearly Meeting. This is available for AU $15.00/year within Australia and AU$25.00/year overseas. To subscribe, contactymsecretary@quakers.org.au.
The Yearly Meeting Secretary produces amonthly newsletter, which is posted or emailed free to members and regular attenders on request. To subscribe, contactymsecretary@quakers.org.au.
All Regional Meetings produce monthly newsletters. These are usually displayed in the Meeting House, and subscription details are usually inside the cover or on the back page. Contact your localRegional Meeting library.
Pamphlets
Quaker pamphlets explain aspects of Quaker faith and practice within Australia, and are available on this website for browsing or printing out.To see the complete list of pamphlets, go to: Publications - Pamphlets.
List of Members and Attenders
A list of all members and attenders within Australia Yearly Meeting is available to those listed in this book only. They are published every second year by Stephen Hodgkin, Canberra RM, and can be purchased from Friends Booksales in Adelaide.
The Dictionary of Australian Quaker Biography
This collection of eight ring-bound volumes includes biographies and the Testimonies to the Grace of God in the lives of Friends who have died since 1900. An annual supplement includes material on Friends who have died during the preceding year. These are available in all Friends Meeting Houses in Australian capital cities.
Price: AU 400.00 in print; AU$50.00 on CD-ROM.
To order, contactFriends Booksales.
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