Children still attend the Friends School, founded in 1785 at Chester Avenue and Main Street, to replace home-schooling that began soon after the Quakers settled in the New World. The Friends also operate the Orchard Friends School for children with learning disabilities on Main Street. He also told them at a special lecture during Intensive Learning last week at the meetinghouse that he used to go there for quiet time and lectures, as required during the school day. The school's 625 students still go to the Meetinghouse to listen, pray and contemplate once a week as part of their program. Today, most of the children are not Quakers, but rather come from various religious backgrounds.
Quakers are nonviolent and for peace.
Headmaster Alan R. Craig said the school enjoys close ties with the Moorestown Meeting. Each student is required to perform 30 hours of community service to graduate. Quaker influence also can be seen beyond the school, the meetinghouse and cemetery. One of the school's alumnae, Alice Paul of Mount Laurel, the author of the Equal Rights Amendment, successfully fought for the right of women to vote. A number of streets are named for Quaker families, such as Lippincott and Zelley.