Elias Hicks

Elias Hicks was born the March 19th 1748 and deceased the February 27th 1830. It was a Prédicateur Quaker itinerant, originating in Long Island (New York). Its positions concerning the Doctrine brought the religious Société of the Friends (Quakers) to his first Schisme. He was the cousin of the painter Edward Hicks.

Biography

Youth

Elias Hicks was born with on the island from Long Island, in the State of New York. His/her parents were not Quakers, it becomes member of the religious Société of the Friends (Quakers) towards the 20 years age, by conviction.

He marries Jemima Seaman in 1771. The couple lives in the family farm of Jemina. Hicks takes again the exploitation of the farm after the death of his/her parents-in-law. They have eleven children.

Ministry

Towards the 27 years age, Hicks is recognized as preacher by the Friends. It is an endowed speaker, with a strong voice, a great insurance and a dramatic style.

Hicks is one of the first Abolitionniste S among the Friends. It is implied much and is often expressed on the Esclavage. Its “Observations on the slavery of the Africans” of 1811 require a Boycott products of slavery, it is one of the first calls to the boycott for social reforms in the United States.

Theological opinions

Hicks regards “obedience with the interior light” as the principle founder of the religious Company of the Friends. On several points, he is opposed to the traditional lesson Christianisme (the virginity of Marie, the complete divinity of the Christ, authority of the text of the Bible), also his detractors show it Hérésie. One can attach it to the tradition quietist of a John Woolman.

These opinions went in the direction of the free-thought which prevailed already in the United States, in particular among the deists such as Thomas Paine. The most original aspect of the theology of Hicks is its rejection of attribution with Satan of the origin of “passions” and human “propensities”. Its liberal attitudes towards sexuality alarmed its detractors.

Conflicts within the Company of the Friends

The controversy around the lesson of Hicks causes the division of the Annual meeting of Philadelphia as of 1828. Others follow, of which New York, Baltimore, Ohio and Indiana. The groups which follow Hicks are generally called “Orthodoxe” “Hicksites”, and their opponents.

Division was not only doctrinal, it reflected also the tensions between the Friends of the cities and those alive far from the great communities and Assemblées. The “Hicksites” were mainly Friends of the countryside, on the other hand the Friends of Philadelphia were often of commercial rich person.

End-of-life

At the 80 years age, made Hicks are last voyage of preacher. It covers nearly 4000 kilometers, badgered by the “orthodoxe” Friends on his way. A blow leaves it partially paralyzed and he dies shortly after in his house of Jericho, New York.

There remained a figure discussed a long time after its death.

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