Spencer Heath Archive

Item 1380

Carbon of a letter from Heath to American Friends Fellowship Council, 20 South 12th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

May 2, 1941

Gentlemen:

For many years I have felt a somewhat distant and theoretical sympathy with the Quaker philosophy and spiritual belief as it has reached me from historical and general sources other than directly from Friends themselves. This growing sympathy and a feeling that I could not without important reservations become a member of any of the more formal religious denominations moved me some months ago to begin attendance at the Friends’ Meetings both here in Baltimore and in New York City where I spend a considerable portion of my time. So much have I enjoyed the spirit of these meetings with their deep spiritual freedom and sincerity, that I de­sire to become more directly associated with them and with at least some of their excellent activities. Through the reading of your Bulletin #173-A entitled, “Wider Quaker Fellowship,” I feel that I should be most happy to be accepted to the kind of membership there described.

Until recently my acquaintance with Friends has been more business than personal, being confined almost entirely to the members of the firm of Bartlett, Poe and Claggett, who have represented me in a legal capacity for many years past. I have also met Friends casually at various peace meetings and similar places, but without becoming acquainted with them.  During the last several months, however, I have become somewhat acquainted with the leading members of the Baltimore Meeting including Mr. Bliss Forbush, Dr. Canby Robinson and his daughter, Miss Mary Hastings, Mr. Arthur Taylor, Jr., and the Misses Corse.  In New York City I found great pleasure in the acquaintance of Mr. Wolcott D. Street, and also Mr. Henry Robertson, of Clifton, New Jersey, who attends the New York meetings.

My familiarity with Quaker literature, as such, I am afraid is limited to the circulars and pamphlets which are set out for distribution at the meetings with which I have become fairly familiar. From general read­ing I have always been much interested in the lives of George Fox, Elizabeth Fry and Anne Hutchinson, although it is my impression that the latter was not a member of any Society of Friends.

I shall be very happy if I am found acceptable for membership in the Wider Quaker Fellowship as described in the bulletin above referred to, and to participate in some of its activities.

 

Sincerely yours,

 

Spencer Heath

SH:ML