Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-09-09

TN MAKING plans for the purchase and
j preservation of the house of John Wool
man the Friends Historical Society is per-
forming a real service to the public. A
memorial to this famous Quaker will be of
interest to people of other lands, well
as of our own.
The Journal is a classic of literature
not indeed a major classic, but still a classic
Lamb said, Get the writings of John Wool
man by heart" Crabb Robinson called the
Journal "a perfect gen." declaring its style
to be "of the most exquisite purity and
grace" Claiming considered it beyond
comparison the purest and sweetest auto
biography in the language. The other
Quaker who has a distinguished place in
Americas hall of literary fame John Green
leaf Whittier. said that in editing Wooman's
pages he was awed and solemnized by the
presence of a serene and beautiful spirit.
The True Medium
Who now reads the writings Of this clerk
school teacher, tailor. itinerant Friend,
preacher foe of slavery? Today there seems
to be a revival of interest in the Journal
Perhaps Doctor Elot's warm recommended
tion has had something to do with II.
Though Woolman's literary fame rests
that we'll repays investigation. Some of his
remarks on worldly" affairs-such subjects
as wealth and poverty. labor and idleness-
have a fitness for the present times. not be-
cause they contain any advanced economics
but because they embody teachings rooted
deeply in Christian charity.
Many of these paragraphs have a COM
monplace sound, yet commend themselves
tl,nt- ,tv .I.-. Nvxz
quoted without comment:
Having from my Childhood been used to
bodily Labour for Living, 1 may express
my Experience therein.
Right Exercise affords an innocent Pleas
ure in the Time of it, and prepares us to
enjoy the Sweetness OF Rest but from the
Extremes each Way arise Inconveniences.
Moderate Exercise opens the Pores, gives
the Blood a lively Circulation and the better
enables us to judge rightly respecting that
Portion of Labour which is the true
Medium"
And this: idle men are often a Burden
to themselves, neglect the Duty they owe to
their families and become burdensome to
others also"
And: II have often observed that too
much Labour not only makes the Under
standing dull. but so intrudes upon the Har-
mony of the Body. that after ceasing from
our Toll, we have another to pass through
before we can be so composed as TO entoy
the Sweetness OF Rest"
Caution to the Rich
The following paragraph bears relation to
the next succeeding quotation: when
Wages In a fruitful Land bear so small a
Proportion to the Necessaries of Life that
not by moderate Industry attain 70 a COM
Portable Living and give their Children suf-
hcient Learning, but must either labour 70
a Degree of Oppression. or else omit that
which appears TO be Duty" then
"If Man successful in Business extends
Part Of his Income in Things OF no real IJse.
while the Poor employed by him pass
through great Difficulties in getting the
neeessaries of Life, this requires his serious
Attention"
Wealth desired for its own sake" wrote
Woolman "obstructs the increase OF virtue.
and large possessions in the hands OF selfish
men have a bad tendency. for by their means
too small number OF people are employed
In useful things, and some Of them are me-
cessitated to labour too hard, while others
would want business 20 earn their bread.
were not employments invented which. hav-
ing no real usefulness. serve only TO please
the vain mind" "If more men were use-
fully employed, and fewer ate bread as a
reward for dong that which is not useful.
food and raiment would on reasonable esti-
mate be more In proportion than they are
at present. All OF which, like the Sermon
on the Mount. is economically faIlacious"
In "A Word of Remembrance ana Caution
TO the Rich; Goodness remains 10 be
goodness. and the direction OF pure wisdom
Is obligatory on All reasonable Creatures"
Opposes Slavery
woolman was one OF the earliest OF anti
slavery advocates. He himself describes the
incident which brought the slavery question
practically before him. This was in 174s or
49, when Woolnaan was in his early
twentles;
my employer having nssro woman,
~