In this pamphlet an English Quaker recreates for us some of the happenings of 1652 in the northwest country where she makes her home, and calls attention to the meanings and challenges for us in the vitality of those early days.

Centering on ten challenges of 1652, Elfrida Foulds begins the discussion with "The Challenge of Obedience" where Fox was inspired to climb Pendle Hill instead of proceeding along a more usual way of service. "To any but a prophet the choice would have seemed obvious and the choice would have been wrong."

From there the challenges mount: "The Challenge of the Vision; of Recognition; of Swarthmore Hill; of the Outgoing Spirit; of Friendship; of Strength; of Steadfastness; of the Sowing; and The Challenge of Joy." Of that last Elfrida urges that "the spirit of the early days of Quakerism will not be fully renewed in [this] century of its history until the full secret of that joy is rediscovered and expressed anew..."

"The world today is hag-ridden by fear, as if indeed the witches and warlocks of old Pendle had come to life, to execute a fearsome vengeance on mankind...If we could take up the challenges of 1652, we should know that the Lord is at work in the darkness; that the ocean of love and light is unquenchable, yesterday, today and forever; that whatever may befall us, our joy no man taketh from us..."

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