The follow excerpt comes from ‘Quakers in Norwa’ by Hans Eirik Aarek, available on the Norway Yearly Meeting web site.
The last years of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th constitute a period of major change in the international Quaker society. The Society was modernised through a liberalising of theology, a more positive attitude to research and education, and an acknowledgement of the social and ethical challenges inherent in modern industrial society.
A decisive event was the Manchester Conference in 1895, which in many ways initiated this development. Here the outline of modern Quakerism was shaped. One concrete result was the establishment of Woodbrooke College in Birmingham in 1903. Norwegian Quakers were to make considerable use of this educational institution in the years to come. They brought the new ideas back to Norway and started a process that also renewed the Norwegian Society of Friends.
At the same time there was a process of emancipation from British Quakers. In 1909 representatives of Norwegian Friends attended London Yearly Meeting. In 1920 several Norwegian Friends took part in the important All Friends Conference in London which discussed in particular the peace testimony as a fundamental expression of Quaker faith. The conference affirmed the liberal theology that commenced with the Manchester Conference in 1895.Another event took place in 1920, which pointed in the same direction.
Henry T. Hodgkin, Quaker, and a central person in the international Christian peace movement, visited Stavanger and spoke at meetings in Stavanger Cathedral, Betanien, and Totalen, which were all filled to capacity. The peace testimony was the focal point. The visit was initiated by Ole F. Olden who, with Anna Andersen (jr.) and several young Friends, were promoters of the new ideas.