The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-04-07

soldiers at CAckfergus in which he dsting him
father closed him the career Of arms for which he
for time anxious. The Admiral had some other
designs for his SON He subsequently, for several
months, engrossed with important family AFFAIRS con-
nected with the Irish PR perty in which he evinced c.
and business talent Of high order But in Of his
tered again the enemy OF s sthsrs peace The
Quahers already numerous in Ireland Hearing by
accident that Thomas Love of that body, whom he had
heard at Oxford preach curiosity 10 test boyish
impression by the of his ripper judgment rather
induced him !" sav ana ten There is faith that
the world, and there is faith that Is over
come by the world snch was the text OF the feryid
speaker pied his condition. this topic seized once
upon the mind OF Penn He had hesitated hitherto
to obey the monton of his own heart, cherished BY
society business and the wishes OF his father but the
crisis had come at last The old emotions were forced
back with redoubed force, and from that night Penn
was in fact as in heart, one OF the new Society Of
Friends. Knowledge of this relapse quickly reached
Admiral Penn and Villa soon recalled TO London.
The interview between father and son. with which this
rapid sketch Of the years preceding incident in the
life Of the latter commenced took place after his
arrival at home, with the result stated Behold him
Of trials and victories. had not proposed to
myself biographical euogy, and shall not, therefore
perforce contentng myself with reference such add
tonal incidents Of his life may be necessary Illus
and as the consistent friend and advocate Of true religious
freedom. But first it is proper to dwell for moment
the religious profession just made, which exercised
great and peculiar influence the after life OF the sub
ject OF my remarks, At the time, confusion almost
anarchy, Of opinion peryaded England Things in
transition state Society there had not recovered from
effects attendant upon the civil troubles preceding the
Commonwealth that had apparently loosened the founda-
oDs upon which repOsed the social edfce Every shade
political belief the strctest school of divine right
widest repubhcanismeyen that of the Fifth monarchy
men-had IT'S votaries enterprising and ardent Religious
opinion equally divided by numberess secs, ncui
ing the Anabaptist, the Aran, the Brownis the Per-
iectst, and others, many of whose names
mostly till then unknown liberation In any shape,
only the dream of very few The of disputants at
he cross, at the sepulchre took quarter and
gave Alas It has been too often thus-a natural
result of fanatic bitterness and strife.
So For other faith, for milder beams
CT Heavenly justice, roam the Christian dreams
This creed is writ on Mercy's page above"
The followers of Fox among the champions OF this
arena, and cont ated with ardent and prominent
ZEAL unkno to recent disciples OF his school But
the excesses OF many early Quakers not raceaoe to
Penn or the more intelligent and more prominent mem
hers OF the body but were on its outskirts and repudated
by them. These out of that tendency
push sound doctrine to extreme conseq uencesan OFF
spring OF idiosy Dcracy ignorance or weaness-Hhch
has made nearly all the fanatics and large per centage
of lnatics in every age tendency that with pro-
duces absurd extremes and systems, which, through
liberation and intelligent discussion however do little
harm, and soon exhaust The ambitious spasms Of
trie vanity zeal. At brst indeed, apostles, Penn
and other Friends sought 10 disseminate the new mys
cisIn By feryent precep and example and for the
pose exhorted, preached, and travelled much but the
early members Of the society included unusual pro
portion of intelligent thinkers, and maintained
the position of law abiding peaceful lovers Of JUS
tce, charity and order The thought they aimed
preached the doctrine of social and political equality, and
aimed at the Institution OF universal religion. They
from the rkmaid TO the Lord Protector, in its behalf
The public teaching of such doctrine in itself
luton It could not be put down, because the children
or light also children of peace. Their patience
der suffering tired cut persecution. They declined FROM
scrupe vain and foolish several worldly customs Of
srect but did not adopt any unusual fashion Of dress
is commonly supposed The present Friends hat and
garb those OF the substantial and steady ct
zen Of the time, as distinguished from the "trip
nj he HOY hayQ finn la
and possibly, in the capicous revolutions OF aste
rather, style in dress, the Quaker may day find
himself suddenly in fashion am not here to pass udg
ment on the Friend or his peculiar opinions Granting
al that the most orthodox may object to them-that
they we're hereto in theory and schismatic in practice
regard Penns character rather the natural
suit OF Quaker discipline than Quaker principle The
doctrine Of the nner light whether viewed as newly
discovered truth or the exhumed deu sion OF former
age, (some trace its parentage to Ogen Of one thing
eertain-acng upon the character and moral dis
position OF PENN It produced at least thoughtful and
suggestive conscience crupuous in aim, deliberate, de-
cded and elevated in performance. And that active
tenet Of social and and political equality, taught and
consistently practced by the Qualer, elevated in his
heart from sentiment to duty strong tendency lbe
raj IDEAS already characteristic Of the new convert
result of disposition. study and crcumstan We will
now turn to his political career The careful observer
must derive from il ns ruction and profit IL will repay
the scholar for his labor whether viewed in its relation
affairs in England connected with the founda-
ton Of State in America neutral in the current OF
politics OF his day Penn identified himself asI have said
with neither wing tory. From this middle position
he enabled to render, time and again. service of
ments This could not have been his stand marked
that of friend enemy of those in power. An ad
herent OF the court he would have been under
ty Of conforming himself to its PRINCIPLES and policy
its enemy he could ask obtain favor its hands
To describe his position at the time cannot do better
than employ The language of one of his abest biogra
piers At this period Of his life (bout l67s Penn lived
much in the world and received with distinction by
nearly all conditions of men. His position indeed an
uncommon one Standing aoof from all intrigues in
that most intriguing Of courts; taking dret per-
sonal Iart in politics; candidate for Office
frTIp nlpi.f
with the best society acquainted with all the leading
spirits OF tie day yet possessed by of their
in love- business, gaantryhis perfect neutrality
TO the great objects OF personal and party strife secured
TO him hreer share Of intercourse with leading men
than perhaps any other individual Of the time enjoyed
In the good aces Of The king and particularly favored
high standing with the wits, ministers and favorites
who daily thronged the galleries of WHITEHALL while be-
yond that circle he enjoyed the confidence Of whom
no royal Establishments could win. Not only was he
intimate With the Catholic Duke of 0rmond
and his equally noble sons the Earl Of osssry,
pion Of Protestant doctrine the pious and gentle
fillotson. His genius and his virtues equally APP
preciated by the whig william Lord R,is sell the tory
Lord Hy de, and the republican Algernon Sidney" This
extract does but justice 10 the unbounded influence of
PENIS character and virtues among his countrymen.
that of his unwordly profession should mnge
terms Of easy intercourse with courter such those
Of Charles the Second II will aforementioned that his
youth had been passed in courts with wits, noblemen,
and OF fashion After his adhesion 70 the opinions Of
Fox, he assumed no sombre Or morbid views OF life
duty, but retained all that sprghtly cheerfuness of
which natural 10 him. and that jocose bumor,
and admire BILE tact taker that rendered him,
both courer and Quaker, agreeable companion.
This in accordance with his ideas of duty-that
Egous may live in, if not of, the world should do
the vices and rvote but not avoid the persons Of
those with whom the ordinary ways Of life may bring him
in In letter Of counsel 10 young end noble
relative whom he loved the mild preate Of Cambray sug
gests a similar morality in words OF gentepess and
ton peculiarly his "God forbid he says, that
should rake you ambitious man But without
being ndiscreet obrusye you should put yourself in
the way e persons in power and cultivate al fair oppor
tunites Of attracting their good win. q . II is
pre- per dcspise the world but il is also proper make
Ii snbservn to ones audable views II is proper to be
detached from it, from motives Of religion but there is
merit in abandoning ii from soth and price Attend to
it. 20 far it il duty but do not love y from
tye Of ambition. Neither neglect IL from dienes-,
follow it from vanity" The social position thus acquired
by Penn gave 70 his pacific plans of benevoence and
liberation The continued influence and support OF old aud
powerful friends His hold the polite world wa
tanned at tie expense OF unworthy act concession