In 1660 an English maidservant named Mary Fisher stood before the court of the Sultan of Turkey, as anomalous as a pair of shoes in a mosque, and told its zealous Moslem members about the virtues of Christianity. Her presence there, alone and defenseless, bore witness to the compelling nature of the Quaker "concern," a strong inward urge to take some action to meet a certain situation. Mary Fisher satisfied her concern, was respectfully heard and allowed to depart in peace.
Ever since their founding in the 17th century by George Fox, Quakers throughout the world have been acting individually and together...