Society of Friends Article

Why are members of the Society of Friends known as Quakers?

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George Fox recorded in 1650 that “Justice Bennet of Derby first called us Quakers because we bid them tremble at the word of God.” Originally derisive, it was also used because many early members of the Society of Friends trembled and showed other physical manifestations of religious emotion in their religious meetings. No embarrassment is caused by use of the term today.