Hey!! I know the answer to that one! I have a friend who is a Quaker and I asked her just yesterday because I didn’t know that there was more than one type of Quaker either. In point of fact, there three types of Quakers: Conservative, Hixite and Gurneyite. (My spelling on the names may be way off.) There is even a book about them by a guy named Hamm who will explain the differences between them which are someone subtle. One group has a pastor and the other two don’t. One group; still practices quietism and the other two don’t. I’m sure the differences go deeper than that, but you would need to either chat with a Quaker or read the book to understand them.
In the 18th century the Friends entered a period of “quietism”(“quietism” doesn’t mean worship on the basis of silence…but rather an organizational “quiet” removing themselves much like the Amish do)…they pretty much turned inward. Quakerism was one of the fastest growing religious groups in America until the Revolution…Quakers as a whole did not participate and many went to prison as people of conscience.
During this period of “quietism” Friends became pretty “legaliistic” in many ways. The plain speech was used…Quaker style clothing was almost a requirement as Friends did not want their members to have “worldly adornment”…Friends became pretty separate.
By the Civil War many Friends began entering into the mainstream of American life again as they opposed slavery. In the 19th century the evangelical revivals began…mostly among the Methodists…and influenced many Friends. Just prior to this Elias Hicks, an influential Friend opposed some of the inroads that was making it’s way into the Society. He opposed pastoral systems…evangelical theology which seemed to be pushing toward a “creed” formulation of a statement of faith that many wanted Friends to adopt…some of the Yearly Meetings were split over “Hicksite” and “Orthodox” disagreements…many “orthodox” Friends sided with Elias Hicks on principle sake…not because they agreed with some of his theology…but they felf he was being “railroaded”.
Joseph Gurney was a Friend who was very influenced by the evangelical revivals and through the Yearly Meetings he was involved with…changes occured…a pastoral system of ministry…evangelistic preaching and music was introduced to some of the Meetings. John Wilbur had very “orthodox” beliefs but felf Joseph Gurney went a bit too far with “hireling ministers”…the “Wilburites” along with the “Hicksites” still met on the basis of Silence and those moved to vocal ministry provided it. The “Gurneyites” employed pastors and evangelical structures much like the Methodists…but retained some Quaker characteristics…a time of silent worship and continued to not use “outward forms” of water baptism and communion as the Methodists did.
In the 20th century most of the breaches among Friends were healed, and Yearly Meetings joined again…there are still those Yearly Meetings that keep separate…the Conservative Yearly Meetings and some of the Evangelical Friends are under the umbrella of Friends United Meeting…others are under the umbrella of Friends General Conference…there are some Meetings that remain under a loose association of Conservative Yearly Meetings…and of course we have the Evangelical Friends International that comprise the largest group and call themselves “Friend’s Church” instead of Society of Friends…all of these groups work together under the American Friends Service Committee and Friends Committee on National Legislation. In the States the largest group of Friends are Evangelical…as well as in Africa and South America…the largest group of Friends on any given continent is in Africa…Evangelical and “Hicksite” Friends work together in these areas…but the Evangelical are the largest.
There are independant Meetings…mostly in the Western United States that are more “orthodox” in belief yet no ‘creed’ or religious test of membership exists. Liberal Friends and Orthodox Friends worship together acknowledging “That of God” in one another.
California Yearly Meeting of Friend’s Church, along with other Evangelical Yearly Meetings now allow those Friends who wish to undergo water baptism to be baptized and some local Meetings might even meet for a communion service. If the pastor of those Meetings does not feel comfortable conducting the rituals…members may request other ministers to conduct them…some of the Friend’s Churches even share “co-pastors” with Mennonite and Brethren congregations.
Friends of all persuasions dress like those around them…albeit pretty conservative…one should not dress in such a way to attract attention to oneself…either too "down"or too “dressed up”.
There is a group of Conservative Friends who’s members wear the plain clothing and use the “plain speech”…not using the more formal “you” and “yours” but “thee” and “thou”. The women wear the Quaker head coverings, similar to the Amish and conservative Mennonites. The men wear the “Quaker grey” or black coats and pants and wear their hats in Meeting…only removing them for prayer.
My road to Catholicism was very circuitous and convoluted so I don’t think I’m a good case study.
)
.