Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1847-08-19
The Friends.

We extract from the London Econo-
mist of June 26, the following strong,
yet just encomium of the society of
Friends. 1t appears in the shape of re-
view, or book-notice, and comprises the
substance of the writer's remarks on
Clarkson's Portraiture ofthe Christian
Profession and Practice ofthe Society Of
Friends"
owe know not if in the whole COM
pass of literature more striking con-
trast can be offered than that between the
spirit stirring scenes described by Mr..
Gleig, and the peaceful composing "Por-
traiture of the Christian Profession and
Practice of the Friends" by Clarkson.-
The one all excitement, war, Bloodshed,
and destruction, the other all quietness,
Kindness, and love, full ofhuman welfare
There is heroism, too, amongst the
Friends. However mistaken we may
suppose George Fox, the Founder, to have
been on some points, there is no doubt
he was hero. He stood up maniully
for the right lie received with true
iorbearancc the bullets of the mob, and
the gives of the magistrates. His inllu-
ence has been felt for two centuries, and
it is not little remarkabl that some of
the most conspicuous features Of his creed
have now become SO general, that though
still peculiarly proiessed by his disciples
they can. no longer be said to distinguish
them. Fox was an enemy TO sanguinary
punshments and slavery. The Friends
though foremost in fighting the battles Of
personal freedom, and of an ameliorated
penal code, are now followed on these
points by almost the universal commune
lily. Here and there you still hear voice
speaking of the humanity of this age as
the cold sickly shade of sentimentalty /;
there are yet some minds amongst us
which sympathise more with the iron will
of ieudalism than the soft silvery age we
live in, but these are rare exceptions, and
the bulk Of the community is now con-
verted Oh these two great points TO the
doctrines of George Fox. We are all
Quakers.
1t is said that the Society of Friends is
dwindling away amongst us. Behold the
reason. We are going over to them. and
there is less occasion to preserve those
rigid forms which formerly separated
them more markedly from the rest of the
people. We can comprehend how mind
deeply affected by the doctrines Of Christi
anity, and living amidst the destruction of
the great revolution, and the irlyolities
and debaucherics of the restoration,
should have very intense hatred Of war
and intemperance, and should have found
ed sect distinguished for its love OF
peace, and its moderation in all things
TO Justify the rigid manners, and the
once unsocial spirit Of the Friends, we
must remember the RIGHTEOUSNESS of the
age of Charles H., Of which they were
the offspring, and against which they
were protest. A more general APP
proXimation of society to planness Of
dress, to temperance and orderly be-
haviour - rs different as the Quakers
themselves from the rollickng Bloods of
Charles ll-makes the necessity at pres
ent so much the less for the Friends to
keep themselves separate from the rest of
society.
There is another point on which the
Quakers have preceded the rest of socic-
ty, which is now, in a very numbering
fashion, trying to- oyertake them. We
have no recollection, that during the late
discussion on the subject of education,
one word was said about the Quakers.--
OF the Roman Catholics, the Methodists,
the Jews, we heard enough, but nothing
of the Quakers. The reason probably is,
/ that the Quakers are educated by their
own means. Every boy or girl who
comes into the world must, however poor,
ifthe discipline of the society be kept up,
receive an education. All, therefore,
who are born in the society must be able
to read and write. Thus, the keys of
knowledge are put into their hands. =
The Friends share III no endowments
they contribute TO all taxes they derive
no wealth, no assistance from the State
they pay their quota of every sum levied
OH the people, They pay like all the
rest, and receive nothing, while many of
the others receive much. Yet they
educate their own people.