Quaker cemeteries are simple places reflecting the unadorned feeling shared by those of the religion. Their meeting houses are simple, and they are bound by a firm faith in peace and acceptance. In the early days of the religion there were some questions left to be answered. One of them had to do with cemetery markers.
The Friends Burial ground next to the Sandy Spring Meeting House in Sandy Spring Maryland was one of the earliest. Philip Thomas, who passed in 1754, was the first Quaker to be laid to rest there. There were no stone makers, only wooden markers though the grave sites were recorded. Since Quakers did not believe in titles and excess adornment the decision whether to replace the markers with stone ones raised quite the furious debate with strong opinions on both sides. The final decision was to place stone markers there. One of those who disagreed with the more permanent markers was Joseph Stabler. He was determined that he would make a statement against the markers.
In the early 1800's he took his oxen into the cemetery and plowed up the gravestones. While his efforts did not prevent the use of the stones, the section he plowed is still clear of any permanent markers.
-Professor Walter
Comments