New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-06-14
oUAKERnsrs AND SLAVERY.

II may seem a little remarkable that the recent
Yearly Meeting Of the Friends IN this city should re-
mind Us that the world moves, and is moved (prac
tically we mean, not spiritually from one point OF
enlightenment forward to anothera little remarkable
because Orthodox Quakerism, so called bymen, and
by ourselves fo the sake convenience is perhaps the
most rigdly conservative form Of religious organza-
ton in this couutry-not excepting even the Amerl-
can. Anglican Church, toward which Quakersn, by
pulling paradox, shows a considerable tendency.
Early Quakerism had decidedly polemiea charae'
ter and early Quakers talked with no more regard Tor
the propretes and clegances of speech than the rad
zeal modern Abotionists. Like all sects, they
grew by persecution; and when that ceased and
they became wealthy and respected for their wealth,
they lapsed into a kind OF quetisn, and preferred
those forms Of doing good which did not necessitate
noise and confusion Still the negative and general
testimony Of the Society was against Slavery as its
discipline prohibited slayeholdng. But it did not
care to have its members identified with the anti
Slavery associations and an unusually active and
earnest Quaker Abolitionst was always in some dan
ger of being "disowned," j. e., to use the worlds
word, excommmicated. A pro-Slayery Quaker would,
indeed. AZ any time have been a moral monster;
slayeholding member would very soon have been
dive,ted Of his membership; but Quaker voters did
not hesitate sometimes to support for office confessed
douchiace. YET the country owes a deep debt OF
gratitude to the Society for its early and de-
cisiye clearing Of its own private skirts
q disavowal the more praseworthy because
primitive Friends were especially clear and faithful
in their testimony against Human Bondage. There
was not member at the late meeting, upon the high
seats or the low seats upon the mans side or upon
the woman's side of the house, who did not under
stand the iniquity of Slavery, more clearly than
George Fox appears to have understood it. He had
many revelations aud heavenly openings and mrac'
ulous yisonsi he pitied the Blacks Of Barbados and
of Virginia as he pited with the whole force of his
benevolent nature, the wronged and the oppressed OF
every hue; but he does not seem TO have compre-
hended the inherent radical wickedness of Slavery
and its utter ncompatibility with the simplest ele-
ments of Christianity as believed by himself
There was Slavery in its most odious form
in Barbados when he paid that Island
aregious visit; yet so far from protesting against It
A. a sin in itself be wrote to the Governor and Coun
ell that his chief aim had been in his intercourse with
the negroes "to exhor and admonish them to be So
her TO fear God to love their masters and misresses
and to be faithful and dgent in their service and
business and then their masters and oyerseers would
love Them This is in the very style and almost IN
the very language of DR.. Fuller and Of other Divine
Doctors who were wont 20 champion the National
iniquty. George Fox preached many times to the
negroes Of Barbados exhoyting them to justice,
sobrety temperance, chastity. and piety, and to be
subject to their masters and gOrernors." That he bore
any testimony against Slavery in Virginia We have
been unable 20 discover. After his retumtO London
he sent long epistle to Friends in America and
in this he exhorted his brethren to keep up negroes
meetines" bnt be said nothing OF the duty of break
inc every yoke and Of letting the oppressed go free
Those who know the man WE'LL no assurance that
irhe had felt sayeholding to be sin he would have
denounced It as sin, although hell itself had gaped
and babe him keep silence. The presumption is that it
did not 80 appear to him. The doctrine of a Chris
tian humanity higher than his own was reserved tor
later generation.
We have introduced this topic, not for the purpose
Of detracing from the just reputation oil great re-
ngous lght and leader whose spiritual discoveries
we may so call them viii continue TO modify and
color religious belief long after the sect which he
founded has passed away, but because the facts
which we have presented are full OF encouragement.
They prove how surely and steadily society is adj
vancng toward practical recognition of the rights of
lis humbe,t members, and full admission Of the
worth and dignity ofmdivdual man. Feudalism de-
throued Slavery, and slavery in time dethroncd
Feulali.m; but the distinctive doctrine OF this age the
great idea of human equality and OF practical and
recommending democracy, is daily growing strong
enough in mems minds and cOnscicnees to save