Other Protestant groups stripped away the priesthood or the clergy entirely. During the early 1600's George Fox began a personal quest for spiritual truth. The opening of the Gospel of John speaks of a light which enlightens every man. This Inner Light, also spoken of as the Holy Spirit, the Divine Presence, or the Risen Christ, became the cornerstone of Quaker theology. If someone is moved to speak we listen, not only to the speaker, but also to the voice of God within ourselves.
Truth is discerned as it resonates widely within the seeking community.
Truths that are widely acknowledged through this process become known as Quaker Testimonies. It is seen as the testimony of the seeking community extended over time. Surprisingly the hat played an interesting role in early Quakerism. One of the early Quaker Testimonies was to the equality of all people. If God dwells in every person, there can be no assignment of social worth that distinguishes royalty from commoners or elevates one person over another.