Quakers: The Singing Friends

"We must not be afraid of being pe culiar," declared Delegate L. Hugh Doncaster before 900 fellow Quakers from 35 nations gathered at Quaker-founded Guilford College in Greens boro, N.C. To non-Quakers, it would seem that the term "peculiar" is an apt enough description. Beyond a general conviction that no man should do harm to others, Quakerism has no formal creed, and possesses no formalized liturgy or even any hierarchy.

Theologically, the Quakers range from conservative fundamentalists to Unitarian-type progressives; some anchor their belief in Christ, while others see Jesus as one among many great teachers. Nonetheless, as the ten-day...