T R A C T A S S O C I A T I O N O F F R I E N D S

1 5 0 1 C h e r r y S t r e e t P h i l a d e l p h i a , P A 1 9 1 0 2 - 1 4 0 3

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2015 Friends Calendar

Oh! how pleasant, and beautiful is the spring in a barren field, where barrenness and deadness fly away. As the spring comes on, the winter casts her coat and the summer is near. Oh, wait to see and read these things within. You that have been as barren, and dead and dry, without sap, until the Sun of righteousness is risen with healing in his wings, and begins to shine inside. For this is a day when he has come to visit you; yes, to you who have long sat in darkenss. Mind the secret springs and the tender plants.

Now you are called to dress the garden; let not the weeds and wild plants remain. Fretting is a weed; anger is a weed; self-love and self-will are weeds; pride is a wild plant; covetousness is a wild plant; lightness and vanity are wild plants and lust the root of all. And these things have had a room in your garden, and have been tall and strong: and truth, innocence and equity have been left out, and could not be found, until the Sun of righteousness arose, and searched out that which was lost, and brought again that which was driven away.

Therefore, do not be idle, but come into the vineyard and work. Your work shall be to watch, and keep out the fowls of the air, the unclean beasts, the wild bears, and the subtle foxes. He that is the Husbandman, will pluck up the wild plants and weeds, and make fences around the vines. He will tell you what to do. He, who is Father of the vineyard, will be near you. Now, read all this within yourselves in your heart, or you will stumble. Whatever is not clear to you, wait for the fulfilling of it. He that believes is not in a hurry. But, those of you who are only covered with leaves, the Son will search. You must come to the fall of the leaf, and to the time of deadness and winter, before the life will appear, and the living springs are opened. You must cast off your own garments, and then the Son will clothe you; but he will not clothe you until you are naked, [stripped of all your secrets, hidden desires, and self-righteousness]; you must not have, no, not so much as an apron of fig-leaves to cover your nakedness; for shame must come upon all flesh.

James Parnell, 1636-1656

Quotations for the 2015 Friends Calendar are taken from Scripture (King James Version) unless otherwise indicated and from the writings of Friends (Quakers) or those writings Friends might do well to consider. For Scripture, we use the most recent on-line versions found at www.biblos.com. We hope these citations will lead to further reflection and study, with consideration of spiritual and historic context.

Moon phases are from Fred Espenak, Phases of the Moon: 2001-2100. Greenbelt, MD: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center; http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/phase/phasecat.html. Dates are adjusted for Eastern Standard Time from Greenwich Mean Time. Cover: An Epistle to Friends, (s.d. probably from Colchester Castle ca. 1656). IN A Memoir of James Parnell, with Letters and Extracts From

His Writings, by Henry Callaway. London, Charles Gilpin, 1846, text from http://www.hallvworthington.com/parnellmemoir.html First Month: Martha Winter Routh, 1743-1817 IN Memoir of the life, travels, and religious experience of Martha Routh. York: W.

Alexander and Son, 1822.

Second Month: Isaac Penington, 1671 Letter to Catherine Pordage and another. IN Works of Isaac Penington, vol. 3, p. 485. Glenside PA: Quaker Heritage Press, http://www.qhpress.org/texts/penington/letter66.html; also listed as letter XCII IN http://hallvworthington.com/Pennington/Letters4.html.

Third Month: Elizabeth Collins, 1755-1831 IN Friends Library: comprising journals, doctrinal treatises and other writings of the Religious Society of Friends. Philadelphia: ca. 1849, Vol. XI; p. 451.

Fourth Month: The life of Thomas Story: carefully abridged, in which the principal occurrences and the most interesting remarks and observations are retained. Philadelphia: 1805; Printed by Joseph Crukshank; p. 31.

Fifth Month: Sophia Hume, 1702-1774 IN John Kendall, Letters on Religious Subjects Written by Divers Friends, Deceased, Vol. I, Philadelphia: Thomas Kite, 1831; reprinted in Friend's Family Library, Vol. II (no date or publisher given); p. 31.

Sixth Month: John Burnyeat, To Friends in New England, Virginia, Maryland, Barbados, 3[rd,] 10th month 1677, IN Friends Library: comprising journals, doctrinal treatises and other writings of the Religious Society of Friends. Philadelphia, ca. 1849, Vol XI; p. 158.

Seventh Month: John Rutty, 1697-1775 IN John Kendall, Letters on Religious Subjects Written by Divers Friends, Deceased, Vol I, Phila-delphia: Thomas Kite, 1831 reprinted in Friend's Family Library, Vol II. (no date or publisher given); p. 16.

Eighth Month: Dorcas Dole, 1685. Salutation of my endeared love. London: John Bringhurst p. 4. DQC

Ninth Month: John Woolman, 1775. Remarks On Sundry Subjects, INWorks of John Woolman Printed and sold by J. Phillips London DQC.

Tenth Month: John Burnyeat, 20th 4th month 1678 To the Women's Meeting in Cumberland, IN Friends Library: comprising journals, doctrinal treatises and other writings of the Religious Society of Friends. Philadelphia, ca. 1849, Vol XI; p. 159.

Eleventh Month: Margaret Fell, 1656 In An Epistle to Convinced Friends In The Life of Margaret Fox, wife of George Fox, compiled from her own narrative and other sources with a selection from her epistles, etc. Philadelphia: 1885. Book Association of Friends p. 88. DQC.

Twelfth Month: Isaac Penington, 7th, 7 month, 1671, Letter to Catherine Pordage and another. IN Works of Isaac Penington, vol. 3, p. 485. Glenside PA: Quaker Heritage Press, http://www.qhpress.org/texts/penington/letter66.html; listed as letter XCII IN http://hallvworthington.com/Pennington/Letters4.html.

We thank Noah Baker Merrill, Marshall Massey and others who have contributed texts for the 2015 calendar.

We are grateful to staff and volunteers at Pendle Hill Conference and Retreat Center, Wallingford PA for hospitality. Our thanks to Anita Weber for editorial assistance in preparing the 2015 Friends Calendar, Quaker Heritage Press for their on-line offerings, and Earlham School of Religion, which provides the Digital Quaker Collection (DQC). http://esr.earlham.edu/dqc/

2015 Friends Calendar First Month

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Then Jesus said to his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it, and whoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it.

Matthew 16:24-25

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MOON PHASES Too few are willing to become the disciples of our blessed Lord, by taking up their cross in the denial of self.

Martha Winter Routh, 1743-1817

Full Moon 4

Last Qtr. 13

New Moon 20

First Qtr. 26

2015 Friends Calendar Second Month

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 FIRST DAY SECOND DAY THIRD DAY FOURTH DAY FIFTH DAY SIXTH DAY SEVENTH DAY

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MOON PHASES

Full Moon 3

Last Qtr 11

New Moon 18

First Qtr 25

O hear the voice of the living God! His word is near, near you; and his word has a voice that speaks. O that the ear that can hear, -might be opened in you! And the ear stopped, which will not, cannot hear the voice of the Shepherd! Oh wait for the Reprover! and turn the ear to him, letting in his reproofs, and turning from what he reproves for, without murmuring, without disputing; and the exercise of that ear, will open it more and more.

Isaac Penington, 1671

But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

John 10:2-4

2015 Friends Calendar Third Month

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Often when things have been presented to my mind to offer, I have given way to reasoning and a fear of being deceived, or getting before my true guide, so that I have lingered too much behind; and thereby brought great darkness over my mind. But my great and good master, who knew my heart, and that it was not stubbornness or willful, but a fear of missing my way in mercy looked upon my weakness, and again admitted me into favour with him. Elizabeth Collins, 1755-1831

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MOON PHASES

Full Moon 5

Last Qtr. 13

New Moon 20

First Qtr. 27

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Let us hold fast our profession Let us there-fore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4: 14, 16

2015 Friends Calendar Fourth Month

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Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

1 John 4: 2

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MOON PHASES

Full Moon 4

Last Qtr. 11

New Moon 18

First Qtr. 25

During this Time of Silence, I clearly beheld the contrary Natures and End of these diverting Spirits; the one Truth, the other Error; the one Light, the other Darkness; the one for Moral Virtue, and the pure Mind, and the other for a loose unbounded Liberty; and yet that these last, as Creatures, did not see the Sophistry of the evil One, to whom themselves were Instruments, not the Snare, but intended will, in their own View, and Way of conceiving things. Thomas Story 1662-1742

Believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

1 John 4:1

2015 Friends Calendar Fifth Month

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FOURTH MONTH SIXTH MONTH

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MOON PHASES

Do not let your adorning be externalthe braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wearbut let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in Gods sight is very precious. For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves. Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman

I Peter 3: 3-5, 7 (ESV)

Full Moon 3

Last Qtr. 11

New Moon 17

First Qtr. 25

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Then I was ashamed in my own sight, when I saw his purity: I could not delight to adorn my body, when I saw the nakedness of my soul, I left feeling immoderately for the body, and was made willing in the day of God's power to be stript of my delights, that I might be clothed with the righteousness of Christ.

Sophia Hume, 1702-1774

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24

2015 Friends Calendar Sixth Month

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1 2 3 4 5 6 FIRST DAY SECOND DAY THIRD DAY FOURTH DAY FIFTH DAY SIXTH DAY SEVENTH DAY

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FIFTH MONTH SEVENTH MONTH Let it be everyone's care, to wait for a clear and sensible feeling of that same power in its own pure nature, to spring in your hearts everyday, and then will your delight so be in it, and your acquaintance, in a clear understanding, will be so with it, that you will never be deceived, so as to take any other for it ...

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MOON PHASES

Full Moon 2

Last Qtr. 9

New Moon 16

First Qtr. 24

...Then to your comfort, will your heavenly peace spring under the power and government of him that is the prince of true peace... your hearts be made truly glad, and weighty and ponderous, and not be carried about by every wind.

John Burnyeat, 1677

2015 Friends Calendar Seventh Month

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SIXTH MONTH EIGHTH MONTH

MOON PHASES

Full Moon 1

Last Qtr. 8

New Moon 15

First Qtr. 23

Full Moon 31

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Let reason be exercised; not to pride and ostentation of science, but as God's precious gift, and let no man of superior talents and opportunities, cover his spiritual idleness, under specious claims to divine inspiration.

John Rutty, 1697-1775

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55: 8-9

2015 Friends Calendar Eighth Month

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9 10 11 12 13 14 15

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1 FIRST DAY SECOND DAY THIRD DAY FOURTH DAY FIFTH DAY SIXTH DAY SEVENTH DAY

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SEVENTH MONTH NINTH MONTH

MOON PHASES

The Lord does teach his people of his ways, and gives them power to stand still and see his great Salvation brought to pass for their deliverance from all oppression; for it is but a very little while and all those that keep to the word of Patience will be delivered out of all Temptation; and my Prayer to God is, That he will preserve my Soul in Faithfulness among the living in the Heavenly Jerusalem to the End.

Dorcas Dole, 1685

I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found. Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them:

Hosea 14: 8-9

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Last Qtr. 6

New Moon 14

First Qtr. 22

Full Moon 29

31

24 23

30

2015 Friends Calendar Ninth Month

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

FIRST DAY SECOND DAY THIRD DAY FOURTH DAY FIFTH DAY SIXTH DAY SEVENTH DAY

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6 7 8 9 10 11 12

1 2 3 4 5

EIGHTH MONTH TENTH MONTH

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Friends in early Time refused, on a religious Principle, to make or trade in Superfluities, of which we have many large Testimonies on Record, but for want of Faithfulness some gave way, even some whose Examples were of Note in Society, and from thence others took more Liberty: Members of our Society worked in Superfluities, and bought and sold them, and thus Dimness of Sight came over many. At length, Friends got into the Use of some Superfluities in Dress, and in the Furniture of their Houses, and this hath spread from less to more, till Superfluity of some Kind is common amongst us. John Woolman, 1775

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MOON PHASES

Last Qtr. 5

New Moon 13

First Qtr. 21

Full Moon 27

And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

Matthew 6:28

The mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Isaiah 55: 12

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2015 Friends Calendar Tenth Month

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NINTH MONTH ELEVENTH MONTH Yourselves know that he who, through his bounty has blessed us with spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus, so that we are made stewards of his manifold graces, doth now require answerable service from us all, according to our gifts received from him; and whosoever is found faithful to their gifts and places, shall certainly witness an increase and grow in grace and in knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; and so come more and more into true soundness, to the spirit of a sound mind .... John Burnyeat, 1678

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MOON PHASES

Last Qtr. 4

New Moon 12

First Qtr. 20

First Qtr. 27

Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

I Corinthians 4: 1-2

2015 Friends Calendar Eleventh Month

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TENTH MONTH TWELFTH MONTH

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MOON PHASES

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In the measure of light received from the Father and fountain of light and life, all wait, and dwell; and to the life raised by the immortal Word of life, join your minds; and pass from death to life, that so you may come to know and witness the true love that is to the brethren, where unity is, whereby you all may know that you are true disciples; in that you love one another; and here you fulfil the whole law, and keep the new commandment, which your Lord and Master has commanded. Margaret Fell, 1656

Last Qtr. 3

New Moon 11

First Qtr. 19

Full Moon 25

Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. John 12: 35-36

2015 Friends Calendar Twelfth Month

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FIRST DAY SECOND DAY THIRD DAY FOURTH DAY FIFTH DAY SIXTH DAY SEVENTH DAY

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ELEVENTH MONTH FIRST MONTH

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And if you walk faithfully in this dispensation, ye shall in due time know another when the work of this is over; for really, friends, ye must be emptied of that wherewith you are now filled, before ye can be filled with that which is true and living Be afraid of that which comforts you in your present state You must die to your own wisdom if ever ye will be born of and walk in the wisdom of God.

Isaac Penington, 1671

MOON PHASES

Last Qtr. 3

New Moon 11

First Qtr. 18

Full Moon 25

For ye were sometimes dark-ness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

Ephesians 5: 8

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1 2 3 4 5 6

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27

28 29 30 31

1 2 3 4

6 7 8 9 10 11 5

13 14 15 16 17 18 12

20 21 22 23 24 25 19

27 28 29 30 31 26

2 3 4 5 6 7 1

9 10 11 12 13 14 8

16 17 18 19 20 21 15

23 24 25 26 27 28 22

30 29

1 2 3

5 6 7 8 9 10 4

12 13 14 15 16 17 11

19 20 21 22 23 24 18

26 27 28 29 30 31 25

1 2 3 4 5

8 9 10 11 12 7 6

15 16 17 18 19 14 13

22 23 24 25 26 21 20

29 30 31 28 27

1 2 3 4 5

7 8 9 10 11 12 6

14 15 16 17 18 19 13

21 22 23 24 25 26 20

28 29 30 31 27

1 2 3

5 6 7 8 9 10 4

12 13 14 15 16 17 11

19 20 21 22 23 24 18

26 27 28 29 30 31 25

1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

31

Names of the Months and of the Days of the Week

From the practice of the Jews before the Babylonian Captivity, it seems probable that at first the months were simply numbered, not named. This is a clear and rational procedure and is found in the early Scriptures, so the Society of Friends felt called upon to use the Scriptural names of the days of the week and of the months instead of those names which are in common use and which are, for the most part, derived from the names of pagan gods. Other religions (Christians, Jews and Muslims) as well as Friends have similar views on this subject. Richard Baxter, the English non-conformist of the Seventeenth Century, said: "It were to be wished that the custom were changed of using the names of week-days which idolators honored their idols with as Saturday, Monday, and the rest. So for the months." Friends did not object to the names "September," "October," "November," and "December," but objected to their use since the months they name are no longer the seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth months. January was named for Janus, an old Roman god. February was named from the Februa, the expiatory ceremonies which the Romans held in honor of their dead in this month. March was named for the Roman god Mars, who, at the time of the naming of the month, was primarily a god of agriculture, the symbol of spring-time and youth. It was only after the artificial identification of Roman gods with Greek gods that Mars became the god of war, the counterpart of Ares. April is derived from the same root as the Latin aperire, which means "to open". Thus April is the month of opening buds and flowers. May is of uncertain origin, perhaps from the Roman goddess Maia, or from maiores (the older). June may have been named for the Roman goddess Juno, or from iuniores (the younger). July, originally Quinctilis, was renamed for Julius Caesar, who was born in that month. August, originally Sextilis, was chosen by the Roman emperor Augustus to be renamed in his honor because of the many fortunate events in his life that had occurred in that month. The practice of naming the days of the week is derived from Egyptian astronomy. It did not become firmly established in our civilization until the time of Theodosius at the end of the Fourth Century C.E. Curiously enough, it was the Roman custom of lettering the successive days of a nundinum (a period of eight days, in addition to the current day) which gave rise to the modern custom in some Christian groups whereby the dominical letter is determined. The days of the week are lettered from A to G, just as the Romans lettered the days of a nundinum from A to H. According to the Egyptian astronomers the sun and moon were planets and the order of the planets in terms of their distance from the earth was as follows: Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, sun, Venus, Mercury, moon. One hour of each day, beginning with the first, was consecrated to each of these "planets". The whole day was consecrated to the planet to which belonged the first hour. If the first day be consecrated to the sun, to which belongs the first hour, then the first hour of the next day will belong to the moon and the day will be the moon's day (Monday) and so on. After the cycle has been completed, the first hour of the eighth day will belong to the sun again, and it will again be the sun's day (Sunday). Our names of the days of the week are derived from Anglo-Saxon names and these in turn are named for the Saxon gods who approximate to the Roman gods for whom the days were named. The Roman names have survived, to an extent, in Spanish, French, Italian and other languages derived from or greatly influenced by Latin. The day of Mars was called the day of Tiw, the god of war (Tuesday). The day of Mercury was called the day of Woden, chief of the gods, whose attributes corresponded more nearly to those of the Roman Mercury than to those of Jupiter, chief of the Roman gods (Wednesday). The day of Jupiter, who was believed to hurl thunderbolts, was called the day of Thor, the god of thunder (Thursday). The day of Venus was called the day of Frigg, queen of the gods, who was sometimes confused or identified with Freyia the goddess of love (Friday). The seventh day was still called the day of Saturn, the sower of seed (Saturday). No doubt most Christians unthinkingly use these names, or else they use them merely in conformity to the general custom. Although general custom can, in the long run, determine the correctness of language and vocabulary, it cannot pass upon right and wrong. And so, some Christians still feel that the use of these names for months and days, derived as they are from non-Christian sources, is inconsistent with the tenets of the Christian faith.

Published by the Tract Association of Friends, 1501 Cherry Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102-1403 www.tractassociation.org; info@tractassociation.org