1947

Friends Service Council

American Friends Service Committee

for their pioneering work in the international peace movement and compassionate effort to relieve human suffering, thereby promoting the fraternity between nations

Friends Service Council

United Kingdom

“Children of Light”

On the occasion of the tercentenary in 1947 of the foundation of the Christian community the Quakers, the Nobel Committee resolved to award the Peace Prize to the congregation's two aid organizations. One was The Friends Service Council, which had been established in 1927 to carry out the missionary and aid work of the British Quakers. Its activities were founded in ancient traditions. In accordance with the belief that God's goodness shows itself in good deeds, the Quakers had for a long time been engaged in providing aid to the poor and sick. They regarded social injustice and intolerance as important causes of war, and spearheaded the struggles against slavery, for social reforms, and for women's rights. The Quakers opposed the use of arms and in the early 1800s took part in the foundation of the first peace societies. In both World Wars they took part in humanitarian aid projects for military and civilian war victims. The 1947 prizes marked the Nobel Committee's recognition both of pioneering work in the international peace movement and of humanitarian work carried out without regard for race or nationality.

American Friends Service Committee

USA

The Goodness of God Is Demonstrated in Brotherly Love

The second organization to receive the divided Peace Prize for 1947 was The American Friends Service Committee. It was founded in 1917, when the United States was drawn into World War I. Like their British co-religionists, the American Quakers sought to demonstrate God's love for man by doing good deeds. Having appealed to the Government to be allowed to undertake humanitarian work as an alternative to war service, they were given the opportunity to assist in the rebuilding of France. The Quakers set up provisional houses, provided livestock and seed corn, and were very active in their efforts to help the sick and pregnant. After the war they organized impressive aid projects in Germany and the Soviet Union, where there was great suffering from hunger and need. In the 1930s, American Quakers worked hard on behalf of Jewish refugees, and cared for victims on both sides in the Spanish civil war. During World War II they assisted the Japanese-Americans who were interned after the attack on Pearl Harbor. When peace came, they cared in particular for slave workers and prisoners of war in war-torn regions.