Injecting Love into Our Civilization
Indianapolis First Friends Quaker Meeting
Bob Henry
June 8, 2025
Good morning, Friends, and welcome to Light Reflections. Today, at the Meetinghouse we are celebrating the recipients of the Friends Educational Fund. I will be sharing more about that in this message. The scripture I have chosen for today is Hebrews 10:23-34 from The Voice translation.
Let us hold strong to the confession of our hope, never wavering, since the One who promised it to us is faithful. Let us consider how to inspire each other to greater love and to righteous deeds…
A couple of years ago, I was listening to a fascinating book titled Wonderland: How Play Made the Modern World by Steven Johnson while I was working out one evening. In one of the chapters, he tells the story of Robert Barker, a man from Ireland who created the panoramic painting in 1792. I thought it was interesting since Robert Barker was my grandfather’s name and one of the grandfathers I was named after. Immediately after my workout, I contacted my mom about my grandpa’s lineage. I thought in a longshot I might be related. The inquiry sadly did not find us related since my grandfather was from England.
In a weird turn of events though, my mother mentioned as she was looking through our lineage that one of the Barker’s were actually buried in a Quaker cemetery in North Carolina. That piqued my interest, and I started my own research. Within minutes, I was sitting in shock at all the history I could find in a simple search. This is due to Quakers being so diligent in their genealogy records. I soon found out shockingly that the Barkers were prominent Quakers (until this time, I thought my family were the first Quakers in our lineage). I followed them from Indiana, back to North Carolina and then finally to a place called “Barker’s Bridge” in Delaware.
It was the story of how the Barker’s settled in Delaware from England that was one of the biggest surprises. My relative, Samuel Barker came to America in 1682 with Friend William Penn. After coming to America, William Penn offered Samuel Barker 200 acres of land in Delaware (New Castle, today). Penn’s Quaker faith rubbed off and the Barkers became Quakers in America.
I love how genealogy and studying our ancestors opens doors of learning and insight to who we are and how our lives developed both for the good and bad.
I don’t know about you, but if I find myself scrolling through the TV channels in the evening after work and come across renowned Harvard scholar, Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and his PBS TV Show Finding Your Roots, I immediately stop my scrolling and completely get engrossed in the show. Is this the case for anyone else here today?
I have always been fascinated by ancestry and genealogy, but somehow Gates makes the stories and life journeys come alive. Some say that Henry Louis Gates, Jr. has done more for expanding America’s sense of itself, by simply stimulating a national conversation about our identity. Sadly, for many in our Meetinghouse today, that identity has been continually threatened or erased since your ancestors were brought to this country on boats against their wills. This is why exploring these stories, and retelling the connections that bind us together and our shared histories is critical still today.
As I have studied my own ancestry, I also have learned how vital African American ancestry is in helping individuals and communities understand their lineage, history, and cultural heritage. It provides a sense of identity, belonging, and connection to the past, particularly in light of the disruptions caused by slavery and subsequent injustices. Uncovering family stories and ancestral connections can lead to a deeper understanding of the impact of historical events and foster a sense of agency and resilience.
Well, I could go on, but there is a reason we are all gathered here today. And that is celebrating those who are receiving scholarships from the Friends Educational Fund. If Henry Louis Gates was here this morning, I sense he would lay before us a big book filled with history that would help weave a piece of our shared history and identity together. So, let me take the Henry Louis Gates, Jr. role this morning (please note: I am no Henry Louis Gates Jr., nor do I presume to be) and let me share some of the history involved in the Friends Educational Fund in which, TODAY, you scholars are now included.
History notes that the Quakers were the earliest migrants to Indiana. Actually, as I did my own genealogy research, I discovered my Quaker ancestors came to Indiana to flee the ongoing Civil War, and to stand against slavery in the southern states. At times they were part of the Underground Railroad in this area and helped to promote safe passage to freed slaves through Westfield, Indiana. What I have found even more amazing is that the Bacon Farmland on which this Meetinghouse sits, was owned by a family (not Quaker) but who also were part of the Underground Railroad. The barn that would have sat in the Meijer Parking Lot today on Keystone was a stop for fleeing slaves heading through Westfield, and onto Canada. What amazing stories are awaiting our discovery right in our midst if we are willing to look and see.
These Indianapolis Quakers not only were involved in the underground railroad, but they also made a rather surprising decision after the Civil War. They decided to aid dependent African American children at a time when such benevolence was generally extended only to those who were white.
Before an orphanage or what they called an asylum, at that time, was ever erected or thought of for white children in Indiana, The Indianapolis Quakers along with our Western Yearly Meeting opened the Indianapolis Asylum for Friendless Colored Children. This was an effort that lasted from 1870 to 1922. History books note that Quaker interest in African American children developed in a time and place in which few whites believed in equality of the races in any respects. Many Quakers in Indiana were treated badly for their beliefs, others did not participate out of fear.
Now, this is our history Friends, even though Indiana was a “free state,” its laws in the early nineteenth century barred African Americans from voting, testifying against whites, and serving the military. They were forbidden to marry whites, attend public schools, and access jobs. Thus, African Americans in Indiana struggled desperately to provide for their children. And much like the news still today, it is the children who would suffer the lasting effects of the racial terror and violence that the early Black Africans in Indiana would endure.
This Indiana orphanage was known by freed slaves from the south and Black entrepreneurs and was recognized for wanting to give quality care and education to the African American children whose parents could no longer provide for them. It became so well known in Quaker circles that donations started coming from all over, from other Quaker Meetings in Indiana as well as other states, then businesses, and even from the state government.
But it was a large donation by an unexpected donor that is the reason we are talking about this today. John Williams, no, not the famous composer but the African American pioneer and freed slave from North Carolina who settled in Washington County, Indiana, near a Quaker Community.
Unlike most African American Hoosiers who struggled to make a living, John made a substantial living as a farmer and as a rather famous tanner (or shoemaker). Sadly, a successful Black Hoosier was not looked at very highly as the Civil War came to a close, and on December, 1864, John Williams became an innocent victim of racial terror and violence and was murdered on his own land at his own door right here in Indiana. Here is the actual account from Quaker Lillian Trueblood:
On the December night when the tragedy occurred, there was a light snow on the ground. The perpetrators of the deed came to the home of [John Williams who they called] Black John and aroused him from his slumbers. He ran out into the yard in his night clothes throwing his purse, which contained a small amount of money, behind the wood-box as he passed. A shot rang out and the victim fell near his own cabin door, the fatal bullet having entered his back. Since the slain man had just sold a number of hogs, a common belief, for a time at least, was that the motive for the crime was robbery. If so, there was disappointment, as Black John had left the larger part of the proceeds of the sale with William Lindley. There were those who believed robbery to be only the ostensible object of the killing, the real cause being race prejudice.
Because of John Williams and his friendship with Quaker William Lindley who he made executor of his estate, there is a Friends Educational Fund for our scholarship recipients today. In his will John Williams requested that his assets be used to educate, in his words, “poor Negro children” and, after his death, his assets were transferred by the courts to the Friends orphanage in Indianapolis. After the orphanage closed, a decision for educational scholarships was influenced by a bequest in the 1940s. First Friends invested the orphanage assets and used the proceeds to assist African American students.
Since that time the directors have continued to invest and use the income generated to provide scholarships. Over $1,200,000 in scholarships have been provided to more than 1,866 students since its beginnings. It has been the Indianapolis Quakers and currently First Friends who have protected this estate, grown it, and helped carry on John Williams’ legacy to make a difference in the lives of African American students wanting to pursue college and further their education.
Now, handing out money or scholarships is easy, remembering from where they came and through what pain and toil they had to be handed down is another thing. It is important to not only know our history, but to also know what side of history we are on.
I want us together, to continue the legacy of John Williams, to not forget his death, to always thank him for his sacrifice and foresight in making a difference in the lives of young black people.
Scholars and Friends…John Williams is your ancestor and today you are recognized and marked down in history as part of his legacy, his hope for young black people in this country and world.
This reminds me of poet and scholar, Maya Angelou’s words,
“Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave.
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise. I rise. I rise.”
You, scholars, are the dream and hope, you each have amazing gifts that you are being called to share with our world.
As well, this morning, I also want us to remember the legacy of the Indianapolis Quakers, who by putting others before themselves stopped perpetuating the sins of their ancestors and found a way to seek Truth by helping Black Africans after the Civil War in this racially divided and terror-stricken country. The call is being heralded once again in our country, I pray we, Quakers, again will respond, stand up, and protect the dreams of our Friends of color.
Our scripture this morning from Hebrews 10 read,
Let us hold strong to the confession of our hope, never wavering, since the One who promised it to us is faithful. Let us consider how to inspire each other to greater love and to righteous deeds, Folks, there is hope in God’s promises…
There is hope that we can be a people who continue to learn, become aware of our past, and make important changes.
There is hope that we can make these changes while continuing to seek the Truth.
I believe there is hope for our future…but that hope starts with each of us.
Martin Luther King Jr. said it so well,
“We have before us the glorious opportunity to inject a new dimension of LOVE into the veins of our civilization.”
John Williams, years before Dr. King was even born, with the help of his Quaker friends was injecting a new dimension of Love into the veins of civilization.
And this morning I hear the voice of John Williams calling each us…
You scholar recipients have this opportunity to inject a new dimension of Love into the veins of our civilization.
You parents and grandparents and friends have this opportunity to inject a new dimension of Love into the veins of our civilization.
And yes, we at First Friends have this opportunity to inject a new dimension of Love into the veins of our civilization.
Now, is the time to rise up.
Say it with me…
I rise.
I rise.
I rise.
Amen.
As we take a moment to center down and enter what we Quakers call Waiting Worship. I ask that we join together in some time of silence and expectant waiting on what the Divine might have to speak to us this morning. If someone feels nudged by the Spirit or led to speak out of the silence, please stand where you are and a microphone will be brought to you. To help us center down this morning I have provided a couple of queries for us to ponder.
What gifts do I bring to make the dream a reality?
Do I know my family history and what my ancestors are asking of me, today?
How might I inject a new dimension of Love into my world?