May 17th 2026

In his early letters Fox speaks of the Light as that ‘which guides out of many things into one Spirit,’ advising his friends ‘to keep in the Oneness…to guide and preserve all in the Unity of the Spirit and the Bond of Peace’ (Ep. 24, 1652). ‘The Light of God is but one’ (Ep.25,1653).

—Howard Brinton, Friends for 300 Years, p. 21

Another characteristic of the Light is its bestowal on each person ‘in a measure.’ This does not mean that the whole Truth is not accessible to every person, but rather…that some persons apprehend more of the Truth than do others. —ibid., p. 27

Since the Inner Light is available to everyone, we are all equally responsible to attend to it in ourselves as well as seek it in everyone we meet. Everyone has that Light or that of God within. The challenge becomes to find it when it seems buried or looks different than what we are accustomed to.

South Central Yearly Meeting Faith and Practice, page 10