Friends Service Council (The Quakers)
Founded: 1647 in London, United Kingdom
Field: peace movement
Prize share: 1/2
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.