Hicksite

religious group

Also known as: Liberal branch of the Society of Friends

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June 29, 2026

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Hicksites are members of a liberal branch of the Quakers (Society of Friends). This faction emerged from a schism in American Quakerism in 1827–28, with followers of Elias Hicks being labeled Hicksites by orthodox Quakers.1

Elias Hicks was an advocate for the abolition of slavery in the United States and a liberal Quaker preacher. The Hicksite branch emphasizes the Inner Light, often at the expense of historical Christianity and the Bible. They were initially isolated from other Quakers but began to cooperate in the 20th century.12

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Elias Hicks
…but orthodox Quakers labeled them Hicksites. The Hicksites remained isolated from other Quakers until the 20th century, when mutual cooperation began to prevail.
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…but orthodox Quakers labeled them Hicksites. The Hicksites remained isolated from other Quakers until the 20th century, when mutual cooperation began to prevail.
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Friends General Conference
…liberal Friends were often called Hicksites for one of their leaders, Elias Hicks (1748–1830), a liberal Friends minister and leader in the fight to abolish slavery. Other yearly meetings also divided into Hicksite and orthodox groups.
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…liberal Friends were often called Hicksites for one of their leaders, Elias Hicks (1748–1830), a liberal Friends minister and leader in the fight to abolish slavery. Other yearly meetings also divided into Hicksite and orthodox groups.
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Friends United Meeting
…more liberal ideas of the Hicksites (see Friends General Conference), who began breaking away from the orthodox yearly meetings in 1827. The meetings were subsequently influenced by the English Friends minister Joseph John Gurney, a systematic theologian and Evangelical leader who preached in the United States (1837–40). As a result,…
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…more liberal ideas of the Hicksites (see Friends General Conference), who began breaking away from the orthodox yearly meetings in 1827. The meetings were subsequently influenced by the English Friends minister Joseph John Gurney, a systematic theologian and Evangelical leader who preached in the United States (1837–40). As a result,…
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Society of Friends
The impact of evangelicalism
…corresponded with one another, the Hicksite separation spread to other yearly meetings that had to decide to which portion of the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting to write. A pastoral visit to the United States (1837–40) by the leading English evangelical Friend, Joseph John Gurney (one of the few systematic theologians ever…
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…corresponded with one another, the Hicksite separation spread to other yearly meetings that had to decide to which portion of the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting to write. A pastoral visit to the United States (1837–40) by the leading English evangelical Friend, Joseph John Gurney (one of the few systematic theologians ever…
Read More