Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-03-26

and visions of which the senses take
no cogniZance. James Freeman Clarke
calls them the English Mystics." If
! they were myStiCS, they We're exceed
inS practical inystics, They were
one OF the most independent people
among all the races, They differed
from all the sects around them in
that they renounced the use of all
force in the propagation of their
principles. They inculcated and prac-
ticed religious liberation. The have
the honor of being one of the few
divisions of Christendom against
which the charges of cruelty and sell
fshness and love of power cannot
be brought. Their gun was a pro-
test, their bullet a principle, and their
power the inner light.
When violence was used against
them their principle of action was,
never retaliate. Their method OF
growth was by patience and perser-
vcrence and quiet suffering, and their
method was effective. For example,
they carried their religion in the
Massachusetts colony and planted it
right in the midst of the hard headed
Puritans. The Puritans prosecuted
them, whipped them, robbed them,
hung them, but they kept right on
asserting themselves and suffering
until. by their patience. they wore
out the cruelty of the Puritans and
brought the Puritan scourSe and
scaffold into public disgrace. The
public. won over to them by their
beautiful spirit, rose and dema
the cessation OF persecution. Thus
they purchased and established for
us by their sufferings the religious
liberation which now exists in our
Republic. They served America by
patiently suffering. Their martyrdom
was like the martyrdom of the church
of the catacombS. of which history
tells us in thrilling words. The
church of the catacombS was the
kingdom of God in sackcloth, work
ing underground. along channels and
galleries of rock. to overthrow and re-
place the armed empires above. The
QuakerS were content to be in the
minority on every great question un-
til by self assertion and honest argu-
ment and right living they could win
men enough to their side to make
them the ma jority.
The principles Of George Fox came
to America not only in the person of
George Fox himself; they came also
III the persons cl his many wei o.
who settled in all the colonies, but
notably in Massachusetts and Rhode
Island and Pennsylvania. In most of
the colonies they had patiently to
work their way into recognition. This
was especially so in Massachusetts.
Tie first thing which met the Quak-
ers there was persecution, and that
from the holy Puritans. This is one
of the stains which rest on the men,
Dry of the Puritans. 1t is vain to try
to excuse it, for it cannot be eX-
cused; it can only be admitted and
apologlzed for.
The territory OF Pennsylvania was
given to William Penn by Charles II.
in lieu of money owed his father by
the crown. The land was his to do
with as he wished and he devoted it
TO working into life a Quaker COM
monwealth. There was no man bet
ter fitted to establish such a COM
monwcalth than William Penn. lie
had paid a large price for the pri-
VileGe of being a Quaker, ana this
made him 4 man to he trusted. lie
sacrificed the friendship of his home.
He had f!pility; he was educated at
oxford. lie was Democratic He
was kindred spirit to John Bright,
the Quaker statesman of Great Bril-
tain. who for whole generati ton was
leading spirit in the great move
mcntS of his country. lie gave Penn
sylvania constitution and laws full
of the genius of humanity. and full of
equal justice. lie allowed all re-
forms to he pushed within his terri
tory. There was not one good Quaker
thing which did not flourish in it,
Here the Indians were treated as bro
theirs and here they acted hrotherly
in return. The colony was a temper
ance colony; it was an anti-war col
GnN; it was colony noted for its
RELIGIOUS tolerance.
The liberty of thoughts granted by
this colony bore its products and
brought the colony honor. 1t enabled
it to grow into what it Is today. the
second state in the Union.
The part which the Quakers have
taken in building the American Re
public makes clear this tWo-fold way
in which patriots can effectively serve
their country.
J. By uttering an emphatic protest
against all destructive evils.
History can ask no grander Illus
tration of the power of protest than
Ntuhhtf ne Oh american SOIL. W ny Is
it that there is no African slavery to-
day within our borders? 1t is because
the Quakers as early at 1858 issued
their protest against African slavery.
and Kept ii issued until the nation was
cducated up to the emancipation proc
lamation. I;ut mark this: They in
vested their all in their protest. They
meant il, and they made the American
people feel that they meant it. Thoir
protest was strong with tho moral
strength of n splendid personality and
a consistent life: it's power was moral
.. by keeping before ones country
uplifting and inspiring ideas.
We call guns. swords. poWdcr. forts