 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2002 (XXXX 4) |
During the French and Indian War, John Pemberton accompanied John Woolman on horseback as far as the edge of the frontier at Fort Allen (now Allentown, PA) when Woolman departed on his dangerous journey to visit the Indians at Wyalusing in 1763.
John Pemberton continues to assist modern Friends on their journeys. Although seldom able to fund trips fully, PYM’s Pemberton Fund is able to help remarkable journeys happen with a small amount of money. Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Friends — following leadings recognized by their Meetings — can request this support. Recently the fund has supported the journeys of:
- Steve Angell of Kendal Meeting (PA), and Ted Herman and Joe DiGarbo of Lancaster Meeting (PA) in several visits to the Balkans over the past five years to support peace work and to establish Alternatives to Violence trainings in the region.
- Vanessa Julye of Central Philadelphia Meeting and Lindsay Newbold of London Grove Meeting (PA) to Durban, South Africa, to attend the 2001 World Conference on Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Related Intolerance.
- Jim Kenney of Princeton Meeting (NJ) to the West Bank in June 2002 to participate in the Christian Peacemakers’ Teams, witnessing the Israeli/Palestinian conflict and reminding soldiers that the world is watching and praying for peace.
- Hollister Knowlton of Chestnut Hill Meeting (PA) and Theresa Fitzgibbon of Trenton Meeting (NJ) to Johannesburg, South Africa, in August and September 2002 to participate in the World Summit on Sustainable Development.
When he died in 1795, John Pemberton left land near what is now Temple University to Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, so that Friends could pasture their horses when they traveled to Yearly, Quarterly, and other Meetings in Philadelphia. When vehicles replaced horses, the pasture land was sold, and the proceeds invested and restricted so that the income only is used in keeping with John Pemberton’s intention to meet the transportation needs of PYM Friends. Surely these modern Friends are meeting his highest expectations.
To request the new guidelines and information about the John Pemberton Fund, call me at 215-241-7201 or e-mail carolw@pym.org.
Carol Walz
Mount Holly Meeting (NJ)
PYM Grants Coordinator
Last modified: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at 08:18 AM