<P> In many Friends meetings, the couple meet with a clearness committee prior to the wedding . This committee's purpose is to discuss with the couple the many aspects of marriage and life as a couple . If the couple seems ready, the marriage is recommended to the meeting . </P> <P> As in the wider society, there is a wide diversity of views on the issue of same - sex marriage, and Friends have varying views on the topic . Various Friends meetings around the world have voiced support for, and have recognised, same - sex marriages . In 1986, Hartford Friends Meeting in Connecticut, U.S., reached the decision that "the Meeting recognised a committed union in a celebration of marriage, under the care of the Meeting . The same loving care and consideration should be given to both homosexual and heterosexual applicants as outlined in Faith and Practice ." Since then, some other meetings of liberal and progressive Friends from Australia, Britain, New Zealand, parts of North America, and other countries have recognised marriage between partners of the same sex . In jurisdictions, where same - sex marriage is not recognised by the civil authorities, some meetings follow the practice of early Quakers in overseeing the union without reference to the state . There are also Friends who do not support same - sex marriage, and some Evangelical and Pastoral yearly meetings in the United States have issued public statements stating that homosexuality is a sin . </P> <P> Like many religious movements, the Religious Society of Friends has evolved, changed, and split into subgroups . </P> <P> Quakerism started in England and Wales, and quickly spread to Ireland, the Netherlands, Barbados and North America . Today Kenya is, by far, the country with the most Quakers . Other countries with over 5,000 Quakers are Burundi, Bolivia, Canada, Guatemala, Nepal, Taiwan, Uganda, United Kingdom, and the United States . Although the total number of Quakers is around 377,000 worldwide, Quaker influence is concentrated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Kaimosi, Kenya; Newberg, Oregon; Greenleaf, Idaho; Whittier, California; Richmond, Indiana; Friendswood, Texas; Birmingham, England; Ramallah, Palestine, and Greensboro, North Carolina . </P>

What was the philosophy that guided the quakers