In this Part 2 of my Quaker Dictionary, I continue to present terms which are not necessarily self-explanatory. Together with Part 1 and the upcoming Part 3 should contribute to your understanding of Quaker records and the culture that produced them.
Labor with: An effort by one or more Friends to help another struggle with a concern or a difficulty and come through to a resolution.
Lay Over: To postpone a significant decision to allow time for further reflection and discussion.
Leadings: The sense of divine guidance or revelation.
Lift Up: To emphasize or make explicit a particular concern.
(To be) Made tender: Refers to the action of God that opens people up to the Truth.
Marrying Out: Marrying a non-Quaker.
Meeting: A term used in place of church.
Message: A spoken message or ministry by an individual inspired by Divine leading in a Meeting for Worship.
Mind(ing) the Light: An expression used to remind Friends that the Inward Light is in each person.
Ministers: Also known as ministering Friends, Public Friends and Recorded Ministers. These were men and women with the gift to speak and minister to others.
Ministry: When a person is inspired by the Spirit to speak in Meeting for Worship.
Monthly Meeting: The responsibility of the Monthly Meeting is to care for members, authorize removals and marriages, maintain discipline, consider queries and foster social concerns.
Moved: Led or prompted by the Spirit.
Notion: An approach to religiously important matters that is not based on first-hand spiritual experience.
Particular Meeting: A formally established Meeting for Worship under the care of a Monthly Meeting.
Passing Meeting: Acceptance by a Monthly Meeting of a written request.
Preparative Meeting: A small unorganized outlying Meeting for Worship.
Proceed as way opens: Taking one step at a time in a prayerful manner so as to become clear on what to do.
Queries: A set of questions, based upon Friends’ practices and testimonies. These are considered by Meetings and individuals as a way of guiding and examining individual and corporate lives and actions.
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