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BRIEF STATEMENT 
 
 OF T1IE 
 
 RISE AND PROGRESS 
 
 OF THE TESTIMONY OF THE 
 
 iXeltfitous Soctetg of ffivitntsn. 
 
 AGAINST 
 
 SLAVERY AND THE SLAVE TRADE, 
 
 Published by direction of the Yearly Meeting, held in 
 Philadelphia, in'the Fourth month, 1843. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 
 PRINTED BY JOSEPH AND WILLIAM KITE. 
 ^ No. 50 North Fourth Street 
 
 1843. 
 
 fflfiffflffliiiiiiiffliiiiffliifi 
 
BRIEF STATEMENT 
 
 OF THE 
 
 RISE AND PROGRESS 
 
 OF THE TESTIMONY OF THE 
 
 RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS, 
 
 AGAINST 
 
 SLAVERY AND THE SLAVE TRADE. 
 
 V 
 
 
 Published by direction of the Yearly Meeting, held in 
 Philadelphia, in the Fourth month, 1843. 
 
 PHIL ADE LPH I A: 
 
 PRINTED BY JOSEPH AND WILLIAM KITE, 
 No. 50 North Fourth Street. 
 
 1843. 
 
 Vt 
 
At a Yearly Meeting held in Philadelphia, by adjournments 
 from the 17th of the Fourth month to the 22nd of the same, 
 inclusive, 1843. 
 
 A history of the rise and spread of a religious concern among 
 Friends in this country, on account of holding their fellow men 
 in bondage, and showing its progress in meetings and among the 
 members, until slavery was abolished within the Society, by the 
 persevering efforts of indefatigable labourers, having been pre- 
 pared by the Meeting for Sufferings, it was read and approved ; 
 and that meeting directed to have such an edition printed as 
 they may deem expedient ; and circulate the work among our 
 members and others. 
 
 Extracted from the Minutes, 
 
 William Evans, 
 
 Clerk to the Meeting this year. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 It was intended to include in the following pages, 
 an acco.unt of the labours of Friends, in all the Yearly 
 Meetings where slavery once existed, to induce the 
 members to set their slaves free ; and letters were 
 accordingly addressed with a view of procuring the 
 information necessary for drawing up such a sketch. 
 From two of the Yearly Meetings, however, the in- 
 formation could not be obtained ; as the documents in 
 relation to the subject were so circumstanced, as not 
 to be readily accessible. It is believed, however, that 
 the means used in the limits of those meetings to con- 
 vince the understandings of the members of the iniquity 
 of slave holding, and to induce them to give the negro 
 the enjoyment of his natural right to liberty, were 
 essentially the same as those detailed in the subsequent 
 narrative. 
 
 It is obvious, that in so brief a space as this essay 
 affords, a very imperfect view of the arduous and 
 unwearied labours of the Society in the cause of free- 
 dom could be given ; but perhaps enough is said to 
 show the benefit of patient, persevering labour, under 
 the influence of gospel love, in checking, and finally 
 eradicating an evil, which long-established custom had 
 sanctioned, and which was interwoven with all the 
 social relations, and with the strongest feelings of self 
 interest. Should it happily be the means of inciting 
 others to pursue the same course in reference to 
 slavery, the object of its publication will be obtained. 
 
BRIEF STATEMENT, &c. 
 
 It having pleased the Great Head of the Church to 
 enlighten the minds of some of our early Friends to 
 see the iniquity of holding their fellow men in bondage, 
 at a time when many of our members were themselves 
 slaveholders ; and the Society of Friends having been, 
 through faithfulness, favoured to clear itself of that 
 opprobrium of the Christian world, we have thought 
 that a narrative of the steps by which this reforma- 
 tion was effected, would be both strengthening to those 
 who, being slaveholders, feel the aw fulness of their 
 responsibility ; and encouraging to all as an example 
 of patient perseverance in bearing a faithful testimony 
 in the meekness and gentleness of the gospel, against 
 the evils which are in the world. 
 
 At the time when the Society of Friends arose, 
 there were great numbers of slaves in the British pos- 
 sessions, more especially in the West Indies, Virginia 
 and the Carolinas. Many of their owners were among 
 the early converts to our Society, and Friends who 
 had emigrated thither from England, fell into the cus- 
 tom and purchased slaves. 
 
 We learn this from the earnest exhortations of 
 
 George Fox and his fellow labourers to Friends to 
 
 1# 
 
6 SLAVERY AND 
 
 treat their slaves with Christian care and humanity, 
 and to prepare them for freedom. 
 
 Such was the counsel given by George Fox to 
 Friends in Barbadoes in 1671. 
 
 " Respecting their negroes, I desired them," says 
 he in his journal, " to endeavour to train them up in 
 the fear of God, as well those that were bought with 
 their money, as them that were born in their families, 
 that all might come to the knowledge of the Lord ; 
 that so with Joshua every master of a family might 
 say, ' As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.' 
 I desired also that they would cause their overseers to 
 deal mildly and gently with their negroes, and not use 
 cruelty towards them as the manner of some hath been 
 and is ; and that after certain years of servitude they 
 should make them free." 
 
 In a public discourse spoken in that island, he bears 
 the following remarkable testimony : " let me tell you 
 it will doubtless be very acceptable to the Lord, if so 
 be that masters of families here, would deal so with 
 their servants, the negroes and blacks whom they have 
 bought with their money, [as] to let them go free after 
 they have served faithfully a considerable term of 
 years, be it thirty years after, more or less, and when 
 they go and are made free, let them not go away 
 empty handed," 
 
 George Fox visited that island in company with 
 Wm. Edmundson, and their earnest labours with the 
 masters on behalf of the slaves, gave rise to a report 
 that they were exciting the latter to revolt ; a report 
 which George Fox promptly pronounced to be a 
 wicked slander. Four years afterwards, William Ed- 
 mundson again visited the island; and the same slan- 
 
THE SLAVE TRADE. 7 
 
 ders being revived, he was taken before the governor, 
 as appears by his journal. 
 
 It was probably during this second visit that he ad- 
 dressed an epistle to Friends of Maryland, Virginia, 
 and other parts of America, which contains the fol- 
 lowing passage : * And must not negroes feel and par- 
 take the liberty of the gospel, that they may be won 
 to the gospel ? Is there no year of jubilee for them 1 
 Did not God make us all of one mould ? And did not 
 Jesus Christ shed his blood for us all ? And what if 
 they were of Ham's stock, and were to be servants of 
 servants ? hath not that been fulfilled upon them ? and 
 must that yoke always rest upon their bodies, or ra- 
 ther be laid upon Ham's spirit wherever it is ? and 
 doth not Christ take away that wall of partition be- 
 tween people and people ? and is it not now that God 
 is no respecter of persons, but of every nation, tongue 
 and people, he that fears God and works righteousness 
 shall find mercy 1 and should not we show forth the 
 mercies and kindness of God to our fellow creatures? 
 And doth not the prophet say the Lord will stretch 
 forth his hand to Ethiopia, and will set up his altar in 
 Egypt which David several times calls the land of 
 Ham ] And Christ's command is to do to others as we 
 would have them to do to us ; and which of you all 
 w r ould have the blacks or others to make you their 
 slaves without hope or expectation of freedom or lib- 
 erty 1 Would not this be an aggravation upon your 
 minds that would outbalance ail other comforts ? So 
 make their conditions your own ; for a good conscience 
 void of offence, is of more worth than all the world, 
 and Truth must regulate all wrongs and wrong deal- 
 ing." 
 
SLAVERY AND 
 
 These extracts prove that the sin of slaveholding 
 was seen in its true light by some of the most eminent 
 of our early Friends. That many bore a faithful tes- 
 timony from that time forward, will be shown from 
 the official records of the Society. 
 
 At the Yearly Meeting of Pennsylvania and New 
 Jersey held in 1688, a paper was "presented by some 
 German Friends concerning the lawfulness and un- 
 lawfulness of buying and keeping of negroes ; it was 
 adjudged not to be so proper for this meeting to give 
 a positive judgment in the case, it having so general 
 a relation to many other parts, and therefore at pre- 
 sent they forbear it." 
 
 m Diligent search has been made at various times for 
 the paper spoken of in the above extract, and there is 
 reason to fear that it is no longer extant. The Ger- 
 man Friends who presented it are understood to have 
 been emigrants from Kreisheim, who had established 
 themselves in the neighbourhood of Germantown. 
 
 The first official step of the Society in regard to 
 trading in negroes, appears to have been taken by the 
 Yearly Meeting of 1696, which issued the following 
 advice to its members. " Whereas, several papers 
 have been read relating to the keeping and bringing in 
 of negroes ; which being duly considered, it is the 
 advice of this meeting, that Friends be careful not to 
 encourage the bringing in of any more negroes ; and 
 that such that have negroes, be careful of them, bring 
 them to meetings, have meetings with them in their 
 families, and restrain them from loose and lewd living 
 as much as in them lies, and from rambling abroad on 
 First-days or other times." 
 
 William Penn felt and mourned over the state of 
 
 \ 
 
 
THE SLAVE TRADE. 9 
 
 the slaves, but his attempts to improve their condition 
 by legal enactments were defeated in the House of 
 Assembly. The following minute of the monthly 
 meeting of Philadelphia made in 1700, bears witness to 
 his zeal for their welfare. " Our dear Friend and 
 governor having laid before this meeting a concern 
 that hath laid upon his mind for some time concerning 
 the negroes and Indians, that Friends ought to be very 
 careful in discharging a good conscience towards 
 them in all respects, but more especially for the good 
 of their souls, and that they might as frequent as may 
 be, come to meetings upon First-days, upon considera- 
 tion whereof this meeting concludes to appoint a meet- 
 ing for the negroes, to be kept once a month, &c, and 
 that their masters give notice thereof in their own fam- 
 ilies, and be present with them at the said meetings as 
 frequent as may be." 
 
 The quarterly meeting of Chester was at that time 
 the most southern branch of the Yearly Meeting of 
 Pennsylvania, and comprised all the meetings south 
 of Philadelphia quarter, as far as Hopewell in Virginia. 
 The attention of its members was early turned to this 
 subject, and in the Sixth month, 1711, the following 
 minute of that quarter was sent up to the Yearly 
 Meeting. 
 
 " Chester monthly meeting's representatives remind- 
 ed this meeting that their meeting was dissatisfied with 
 Friends buying and encouraging the bringing in of 
 negroes, and desires the care and notice of the Yearly 
 Meeting ; and the above particulars to be according 
 to order, presented by the representatives of this meet- 
 ing in writing to the next Yearly Meeting." The 
 Yearly Meeting of that year notices this minute, and 
 
 • 
 
10 SLAVERY AND 
 
 adds, that " after a due consideration of the matter, 
 the meeting considering that Friends in many other 
 places are concerned in it as much as we are, advises 
 that Friends may be careful, according to a former 
 minute of this Yearly Meeting, (1696,) not to encour- 
 age the bringing in of any more ; and that all mer- 
 chants and factors write to their correspondents to 
 discourage them from sending any more." 
 
 In the following year, (1712,) the Yearly Meeting in 
 its epistle to the London Yearly Meeting, expressed its 
 concern on the subject of slavery, and pointed out the 
 causes of the increase of slaves, in the following strong 
 language. " And now dear Friends we impart unto 
 you a concern that hath rested on our minds for many 
 years, touching the importing and having negro slaves, 
 and detaining them and their posterity as such, with- 
 out any limitation or time of redemption from that con- 
 dition. This matter was laid before this meeting many 
 years ago, and the thing in some degree discouraged, 
 as may appear by a minute of our Yearly Meeting, 
 (1696,) desiring all merchants and traders professing 
 Truth among us, to write to their correspondents, that 
 they send no more negroes to be disposed of as above ; 
 yet notwithstanding, as our settlements increased, so 
 other traders flocked in amongst us, over whom we 
 had no gospel authority, and such have increased and 
 multiplied negroes amongst us, to the grief of divers 
 Friends, whom we are willing to ease, if the way 
 might open clear to the satisfaction of the general ; 
 and it being last Yearly Meeting again moved, and 
 Friends being more concerned with negroes in divers 
 other provinces and places, than in these, we thought 
 it too weighty to come to a full conclusion therein ; 
 
THE SLAVE TRADE. 11 
 
 this meeting therefore desires your assistance by way 
 of counsel and advice therein, and that you would be 
 pleased to take the matter into your weighty conside- 
 ration, after having advised with Friends in the other 
 American provinces, and give us your sense or advice 
 therein." 
 
 The tenor of the advice given may be learned from 
 the epistle to London of the Yearly Meeting of 1714. 
 
 " We also kindly received your advice about negro 
 slaves, and we are one with you that the multiplying of 
 them may be of dangerous consequence, and therefore 
 a law was made in Pennsylvania, laying a duty of 
 twenty pounds upon every one imported there, which 
 law the Queen was pleased to disannul. We could 
 heartily wish that a way might be found to stop the 
 bringing in more here ; or at least, that Friends may 
 be less concerned in buying or selling of any that may 
 be brought in ; and hope for your assistance with the 
 government, if any farther law should be made, dis- 
 couraging the importation. We know not of any 
 Friend amongst us, that has any hand or concern in 
 bringing any out of their own country ; and we are of 
 the same mind with you, that the practice is not com- 
 mendable nor allowable amongst Friends ; and we 
 take the freedom to acquaint you, that our request unto 
 you was, that you would be pleased to consult or ad- 
 vise with Friends in other plantations, where they are 
 more numerous than with us; because they hold a 
 correspondence with you but not with us, and your 
 meeting may better prevail with them, and your advice 
 prove more effectual." 
 
 "The subject was again introduced from the subordi- 
 nate meetings into Chester quarterly meeting, in 1715, 
 
12 SLAVERY AND 
 
 and the following minute forwarded to the Yearly- 
 Meeting : " Chester monthly meeting having laid be- 
 fore this meeting that they are under a great concern 
 at Friends being concerned in importing and buying 
 of negroes, and do request the concurrence of this 
 meeting with them, that Friends be not concerned in 
 the importing and bringing of them ; and Newark 
 monthly meeting also requesting the discouraging of 
 the same practice ; this meeting taking the same into 
 their serious and weighty consideration, it is the unan- 
 imous sense and judgment of this meeting, that Friends 
 should* not be concerned in the importing and bringing 
 of negro slaves for the future ; and that the same be 
 laid before the next Yearly Meeting for their concur- 
 rence therein." All that the Yearly Meeting was able 
 to do at this time is expressed in the following minute 
 of that year, (1715) : " If any Friends are concerned 
 in the importation of negroes, let them be dealt with 
 and advised to avoid that practice, according to the 
 sense of former meetings in that behalf; and that all 
 Friends who have or keep negroes, do use and treat 
 them with humanity and with a Christian spirit ; and 
 that all do forbear judging or reflecting on one another, 
 either in public or private] concerning the detaining 
 or keeping them servants." 
 
 The Friends of Chester quarterly meeting, not rest- 
 ing easy under this minute, renewed their solicitations 
 in the following year. By minute of Fourth month, 
 25th, 1716, Chester monthly meeting desires that the 
 quarterly meeting will take into their further conside- 
 ration, the buying and selling of negroes, which gives 
 great encouragement for the bringing of them in : and 
 that no Friends be found in the practice of buying any 
 
THE SLAVE TRADE. 13 
 
 that shall be imported hereafter." This minute was 
 forwarded by the quarterly to the Yearly Meeting, 
 where it met with but a cold reception, viz. 
 
 " As to the proposal from Chester meeting about 
 negroes, there being no more in it than was proposed 
 to the last Yearly Meeting, this meeting cannot see 
 any better conclusion, than what was the judgment of 
 the last meeting, and therefore do confirm the same ; 
 and yet in condescension to such Friends as are strait- 
 ened in their minds against the holding them, it is de- 
 sired, that Friends generally do, as much as may be, 
 avoid buying such negroes as shall hereafter be 
 brought in, rather than offend any Friends who are 
 against it ; yet this is only caution and not censure." 
 
 It thus appears that all that could at this time be 
 gained, was to prohibit Friends from bringing in ne- 
 groes from Africa or elsewhere, and to advise that 
 they should not purchase such as were imported, and 
 that they treat with humanity and in a Christian man- 
 ner, those already in their possession. 
 
 The first step being thus taken, and the meeting not 
 being prepared to go further, an interval of ten years 
 occurs without any notice of the subject, but in which 
 the sentiments of Friends appear to have been prepar- 
 ing for another advance in this righteous testimony. 
 
 In the Fifth month, 1729, the faithful Friends of 
 Chester monthly meeting " offer to the quarterly meet- 
 ing, that inasmuch as we are restricted by a rule of 
 discipline from being concerned in fetching or import- 
 ing negro slaves from their own country, whether it is 
 not as reasonable we should be restricted from buying 
 of them when imported ; and if so, and the quarterly 
 
 2 
 
14 SLAVERY AND 
 
 meeting see meet, that it may be laid before the Yearly- 
 Meeting for their approbation and concurrence." The 
 substance of this minute was adopted by the quarterly 
 meeting, and sent to the Yearly Meeting of that year, 
 (1729,) which deferred the consideration for one year, 
 and in 1730, issued the following advice. 
 
 " The Friends of this meeting resuming the consi- 
 deration of the proposition of Chester meeting, relating 
 to the purchasing of such negroes as may hereafter be 
 imported ; and having reviewed and considered the 
 former minutes relating thereto, and having maturely 
 deliberated thereon, are now of opinion, that Friends 
 ought to be very cautious of making any such pur- 
 chases for the future, it being disagreeable to the sense 
 of this meeting. And this meeting recommends it to 
 the care of the several monthly meetings, to see that 
 such who may be, or are likely to be found in that 
 practice, may be admonished and cautioned how they 
 offend herein." 
 
 This advice was renewed in 1735, and repeated 
 annually thereafter (with the exception of 1740,) until 
 1743 ; and it appears that reports were annually sent 
 up, stating the care of the subordinate meetings in 
 these particulars. 
 
 From the minutes of several of the meetings, it ap- 
 pears that frequent labour was extended from this time 
 forward, to induce those who were in the way of buy- 
 ing or of selling slaves, to cease from the practice. 
 
 In the First month, 1738, Haddonfield quarterly 
 meeting directed the monthly meetings to make inqui- 
 ry into, and to answer in their reports, the situation 
 of their members, " respecting the buying and selling 
 slaves." 
 
THE SLAVE TRADE. 15 
 
 In the Seventh month of that year, the monthly- 
 meetings reported that they were mostly clear of buy- 
 ing and selling slaves. 
 
 That this labour was not ineffectual, and that it was 
 not confined to a single quarterly meeting, is apparent 
 from the following minute. 
 
 " Divers Friends in this meeting," says the Yearly 
 Meeting of 1738, "expressed their satisfaction in find- 
 ing by the reports of the quarterly meetings, that there 
 is so little occasion of offence given by Friends con- 
 cerning the encouraging the importing of negroes ; 
 and this meeting desires the care of Friends in their 
 quarterly and monthly meetings, in this particular, 
 may be continued." 
 
 In the year 1743, the following query was adopted, 
 and directed to be regularly answered :* 
 
 " 11th. Do Friends observe the former advice of 
 our Yearly Meeting, not to encourage the importation 
 of negroes ; nor to buy them after imported ?" 
 
 * The meetings for discipline in the Society of Friends, are of four 
 grades, Preparative, Monthly, Quarterly and Yearly. The first pre- 
 pare the business for the Monthly Meetings, which may be considered 
 the executive part of the Society ; the Quarterly Meetings exercise a 
 supervisory care over the Preparative and Monthly, which are subordi- 
 nate to them, and the Yearly Meeting includes the whole ; exercising 
 a general care over all departments of the Society, and making all the 
 rules for its government. The queries are answered by the inferior to 
 the superior meetings, and relate to the due attendance of the members 
 at meetings for Divine worship and for the transaction of the discipline ; 
 to the maintenance of love and unity ; the proper religious and literary . 
 instruction of the children ; the care of the poor ; the observance of 
 temperance, and of moderation in business, manner of living, &c. ; the 
 due support of discipline, and of the various Christian testimonies which 
 the Society believes itself called to uphold. The answers to these que- 
 ries are annually sent up to the Yearly Meeting, so as to place before 
 that body the religious condition of all its subordinate branches. 
 
16 SLAVERY AND 
 
 In 1755, this query was thus modified : 
 
 " 10th. Are Friends clear of importing or buying 
 negroes ; and do they use those well which they are 
 possessed of by inheritance or otherwise ; endeavour- 
 ing to train them up in the principles of the Christian 
 religion V 
 
 While the Society was thus clearing itself of the 
 importing, and selling and purchasing of negroes, the 
 concern was spreading on account of slavery itself, 
 and Friends in various quarters, felt more and more 
 deeply, its utter repugnance to the spirit of the gos- 
 pel. Among the foremost of these were John Wool- 
 man and Anthony Benezet, whose writings a few years 
 subsequent to this period, had so great an influence 
 upon public sentiment. John Woolman's attention was 
 more particularly turned to this subject in the year 
 1742, in consequence of being requested by his em- 
 ployer to write a bill of sale for a negro woman whom 
 he had sold. The thought of writing an instrument of 
 slavery for one of his fellow creatures was uneasy to 
 him; yet through weakness he yielded; but at the exe- 
 cution of it was so afflicted in his mind, that he felt 
 constrained in the presence of his employer and the 
 purchaser, to declare his belief that slave keeping was 
 a practice inconsistent with the Christian religion. 
 From this time forward, he was a constant and earn- 
 est pleader with his brethren for the liberty of the 
 slave. 
 
 In the year 1754, he published his Considerations 
 on the Keeping of Negroes, which was widely and 
 usefully circulated among Friends. 
 
 In the same year, an epistle to its members, the 
 substance of which was sent up from Philadelphia 
 
THE SLAVE TRADE. 17 
 
 monthly meeting, and which is supposed to have been 
 from the pen of Anthony Benezet, was issued by the 
 Yearly Meeting. This paper shows the increasing 
 hold which the subject had taken of the Society, and 
 is a document well worthy of being again revived. It 
 is as follows : 
 
 " Dear Friends. It hath frequently been the concern 
 of our Yearly Meeting, to testify their uneasiness and 
 disunity with the importation and purchasing of ne- 
 groes and other slaves, and to direct the overseers of 
 the several meetings, to advise and deal with such as 
 engage therein ; and it hath likewise been the contin- 
 ued care of many weighty Friends, to press those that 
 bear our name, to guard as much as possible, against 
 being in any respect concerned in promoting the bon- 
 dage of such unhappy people ; yet as we have with 
 sorrow to observe, that their number is of late increas- 
 ed amongst us, we have thought proper to make our 
 advice and judgment more public, that none may plead 
 ignorance of our principles therein ; and also again 
 earnestly exhort all, to avoid in any manner encourag- 
 ing that practice, of making slaves of our fellow crea- 
 tures. 
 
 "Now, dear Friends, if we continually bear in mind 
 the royal law of * doing to others as we would be done 
 by,' we should never think of bereaving our fellow- 
 creatures of that valuable blessing, liberty, nor endure 
 to grow rich by their bondage. To live in ease and 
 plenty, by the toil of those, whom violence and cruelty 
 have put in our power, is neither consistent with Chris- 
 tianity nor common justice; and we have good reason 
 to believe, draws down the displeasure of heaven ; it 
 being a melancholy, but true reflection, that where 
 
 2* 
 
18 SLAVERY AND 
 
 slave keeping prevails, pure religion and sobriety de- 
 cline ; as it evidently tends to harden the heart, and 
 render the soul less susceptible of that holy spirit of 
 love, meekness and charity, which is the peculiar cha- 
 racter of a true Christian. How then can we, who 
 have been concerned to publish the gospel of univer- 
 sal love and peace among mankind, be so inconsistent 
 with ourselves, as to purchase such who are prisoners 
 of war, and thereby encourage this anti-Christian 
 practice : and more especially as many of those poor 
 creatures are stolen away, parents from children and 
 children from parents ; and others, who were in good 
 circumstances in their native country, inhumanly torn 
 from what they esteemed a happy situation, and com- 
 pelled to toil in a state of slavery, too often extremely 
 cruel. What dreadful scenes of murder and cruelty 
 those barbarous ravages must occasion, in the country 
 of those unhappy people, are too obvious to mention. 
 Let us make their case our own, and consider what we 
 should think, and how we should feel, were we in their 
 circumstances. Remember our blessed Redeemer's 
 positive command, ' to do unto others as we would 
 have them to do unto us ;' and that w 7 ith what measure 
 we meet, it shall be measured to us again. And we 
 intreat all to examine, whether the purchasing of a 
 negro, either born here, or imported, doth not contri- 
 bute to a further importation, and consequently to the 
 upholding all the evils above mentioned, and promoting 
 man-stealing, — the only theft which by the Mosaic law 
 was punished with death. ' He that stealeth a man 
 and selleth him, or if he be found in his hands, he shall 
 surely be put to death.' — Exod. xxi. 16. 
 
 " The characteristic and badge of a true Christian, 
 
THE SLAVE TRADE. 19 
 
 is love and good works. Our Saviour's whole life on 
 earth, was one continued exercise of them. * Love one 
 another,' says he, ' as I have loved you.' How can 
 we be said to love our brethren, who bring, or for sel- 
 fish ends, keep them in bondage ? Do we act consistent 
 with this noble principle, who lay such heavy burthens 
 on our fellow creatures ] Do we consider that they are 
 called, and sincerely desire that they may become 
 heirs with us in glory; and rejoice in the liberty of the* 
 sons of God, whilst we are withholding from them the 
 common liberties of mankind ? Or can the Spirit of 
 God, by which we have always professed to be led, 
 be the author of those oppressive and unrighteous mea- 
 sures 1 Do we not thereby manifest, that temporal 
 interest hath more influence on our conduct herein, 
 than the dictates of that merciful, holy, and unerring 
 Guide ? 
 
 " And we likewise earnestly recommend to all who 
 have slaves, to be careful to come up in the perform- 
 ance of their duty towards them ; and to be particu- 
 larly watchful over their own hearts ; it being by 
 sorrowful experience remarkable, that custom, and a 
 familiarity with evil of any kind, have a tendency to 
 bias the judgment, and deprave the mind ; and it is 
 obvious, that the future welfare of these poor slaves 
 who are now in bondage, is generally too much disre- 
 garded by those who keep them. If their daily task of 
 labour be but fulfilled, little else perhaps is thought of ; 
 nay, even that which in others would be looked upon 
 with horror and detestation, is little regarded in theni 
 by their masters, such as the frequent separation of 
 husbands from wives, and wives from husbands, 
 whereby they are tempted to break their marriage 
 
20 SLAVERY AND 
 
 covenants and live in adultery, in direct opposition to 
 the laws both of God and man. As we believe that 
 Christ died for all men, without respect of persons ; 
 how fearful then ought we to be of engaging in what 
 hath so natural a tendency to lessen our humanity, 
 and of suffering ourselves to be inured to the exercise 
 of hard and cruel measures, lest we thereby in any 
 degree, lose our tender and feeling sense of the mise- 
 ries of our fellow creatures, and become worse than 
 those who have not believed. 
 
 " And dear Friends, you, who by inheritance, have 
 slaves born in your families, we beseech you to consi- 
 der them as souls committed to your trust, whom the 
 Lord will require at your hands ; and who i as well as 
 you, are made partakers of the Spirit of Grace, and 
 called to be heirs of salvation. Let it be your con- 
 stant care to watch over them for good, instructing 
 them in the fear of God, and the knowledge of the 
 gospel of Christ, that they may answer the end of their 
 creation, and God be glorified and honoured by them, 
 as well as by us ; and so train them up, that if you 
 should come to behold their unhappy situation in the 
 same light that many worthy men who are at rest 
 have done, and many of your brethren now do, and 
 should think it your duty to set them free, they may 
 be the more capable to make a proper use of their lib- 
 erty. Finally, brethren, we intreat you in the bowels 
 of gospel love, seriously to weigh the cause of detain- 
 ing them in bondage. If it be for your own private 
 gain, or any other motive than their good, it is much 
 to be feared, that the love of God and the influence of 
 the Holy Spirit is not the prevailing principle in you, 
 and that your hearts are not sufficiently redeemed from 
 
THE SLAVE TRADE. 21 
 
 the world; which that you, with ourselves, may more 
 and more come to witness, through the cleansing virtue 
 of the holy spirit of Jesus Christ, is our earnest desire." 
 
 The Yearly Meeting of the next year, (1755,) re- 
 newed its directions to the subordinate meetings, to 
 treat with those who imported, and bought or sold 
 slaves, by the following minute. 
 
 " The consideration of the inconsistency of the prac- 
 tice of being concerned in importing or buying slaves, 
 with our Christian principles ; being weightily revived 
 and impressed, by very suitable advices and cautions 
 given on the occasion, it is the sense and judgment of 
 this meeting, that where any transgress this rule of 
 our discipline, the overseers ought speedily to inform 
 the monthly meeting of such transgressors, in order 
 that the meeting may proceed to treat further with 
 them, as they may be directed in the wisdom of Truth." 
 
 In the year 1758, it issued the following minute, 
 which continued to be the rule of discipline on the 
 subject, until 1776. 
 
 "After weighty consideration of the circumstances 
 of Friends within the compass of this meeting, who 
 have any negro or other slaves, the accounts and pro- 
 posals now" sent up from several quarters, and the rules 
 of our discipline relative thereto ; much time having 
 been spent, and the sentiments of many Friends ex- 
 pressed, there appears an unanimous concern prevail- 
 ing, to put a stop to the increase of the practice of 
 importing, buying, selling, or keeping slaves for term 
 of life; or purchasing them for such a number of years, 
 as manifests that such purchasers, do only in terms, 
 and not in fact, avoid the imputation of being keepers 
 of slaves. This meeting very earnestly and affection- 
 
22 SLAVER ST AND 
 
 ately intreats Friends, individually, to consider seri- 
 ously the present circumstances of these and the adja- 
 cent provinces, which, by the permission of Divine 
 Providence, have been visited with the desolating 
 calamities of war and bloodshed, so that many of our 
 fellow-subjects are now suffering in captivity; and for- 
 vently desires, that, excluding temporal considerations, 
 or views of self-interest, we may manifest an humbling 
 sense of these judgments, and in thankfulness for the 
 peculiar favour extended and continued to our Friends 
 and brethren in profession, none of whom have, as we 
 have yet heard, been slain, nor carried into captivity, 
 would steadily observe the injunction of our Lord and 
 Master, ' To do unto others, as we would they should 
 do unto us ;' which it now appears to this meeting, 
 would induce such Friends who have any slaves, to 
 set them at liberty, — making a Christian provision 
 for them, according to their ages, &c. And in order 
 that Friends may be generally excited to the practice 
 of this advice, some Friends here now signified to the 
 meeting, their being so fully devoted to endeavour to 
 render it effectual, that they are willing to visit and 
 treat with all such Friends who have any slaves ; the 
 meeting therefore, approves of John Woolman, John 
 Scarborough, John Sykes and Daniel Stanton under- 
 taking that service ; and desires some elders or other 
 faithful Friends in each quarter, to accompany and 
 assist them therein ; and that they may proceed in the 
 wisdom of Truth, and thereby be qualified to administer 
 such advice as may be suitable to the circumstances of 
 those they visit, and most effectual towards obtaining 
 that purity, which it is evidently our duty to press 
 after. And if after the sense and judgment of this meet- 
 
THE SLAVE TRADE. 23 
 
 ing, now given against every branch of this practice, 
 any professing with us should persist to vindicate it, 
 and be concerned in importing, selling or purchasing 
 slaves, the respective monthly meetings to which they 
 belong, should manifest their disunion with such per- 
 sons, by refusing to permit them to sit in meetings for 
 discipline, or to be employed in the affairs of Truth, or 
 to receive from them any contribution towards the 
 relief of the poor, or other services of the meeting. But 
 if any cases of executors, guardians, trustees, or any 
 others should happen, which may subject any such 
 Friends to the necessity of being concerned with such 
 slaves, and they are nevertheless willing to proceed 
 according to the advice of the monthly meetings they 
 belong to ; wherever such cases happen, the monthly 
 meetings are left to judge of the same in the wisdom 
 of Truth, and, if necessary, to take the advice of the 
 quarterly meeting therein." 
 
 The records of the Yearly Meeting show, that in 
 almost every year during the interval from 1758 to 1776, 
 the subject claimed the earnest and increasing care of 
 the meeting. The subordinate meetings were exhorted 
 to labour in Christian love and meekness with those 
 who offended in this particular. From the year 1767, 
 regular statements of this labour, and of the success 
 which attended it, were forwarded to the Yearly Meet- 
 ing, which repeatedly expressed its satisfaction with 
 the care and concern thus manifested. 
 
 An examination of the minutes of the various quar- 
 terly and monthly meetings has shown that the atten- 
 tion of Friends was, from the year 1758, forward, 
 steadily directed to the great point of convincing their 
 fellow members who held slaves, of the cruelty and 
 
24 SLAVERY AND 
 
 injustice of so doing. It does not appear that many 
 were disowned for purchasing and selling negroes. 
 The forbearance, and yet earnestness of the course 
 pursued, had the happier effect of inducing the greater 
 number to abstain from doing either ; and by the year 
 1774, the Yearly Meeting maybe said to have cleared 
 its members from dealing in slaves. 
 
 A considerable number had also been emancipated ; 
 yet still the holding of slaves was not a disownable 
 offence, nor did a Friend bring himself under censure 
 for transferring or accepting a slave, without a pecu- 
 niary consideration; although by the minute of 1758, 
 the sense of the meeting had been so far expressed, 
 as to declare that the slaveholder was not to be em- 
 ployed in the affairs of the Society. 
 
 Friends in various quarters were now no longer 
 satisfied with this qualified disunity, and in 1774, re- 
 quests were sent up from Philadelphia and Bucks quar- 
 terly meetings, soliciting a revision and explanation 
 of the minute of 1758. In the Yearly Meeting itself, 
 a concern appeared for the further promotion of our 
 testimony against the iniquitous practice of depriving 
 our fellow men of their natural right to liberty, as ap- 
 pears from the following minutes. 
 
 " A committee of thirty-four Friends was appointed 
 to take this weighty subject under their consideration* 
 and make report to a future sitting, of their sense and 
 judgment of what additions or amendments are sea- 
 sonable and necessary, at this time, to be made to the 
 rule of discipline before mentioned ; and any Friends 
 who find a concern on their minds to deliver their 
 sentiments to the said committee, have the consent of 
 this meeting for so doing. 
 
 " Tenth month, 1st. The report of the committee 
 
 
w 
 
 THE SLAVE TRADE. 25 
 
 relating to our testimony against importing, buying, 
 selling or keeping slaves, being now deliberately read 
 and attentively considered ; a calming, uniting spirit 
 presiding, it is agreed to ; and the quarterly and 
 monthly meetings are earnestly recommended and 
 enjoined to give due attention to the same, as the 
 present sense and judgment of this meeting, being as 
 follows, viz. : 
 
 " Agreeable to appointment, we have weightily con- 
 sidered the sorrowful subject committed to us ; and 
 many brethren having had an opportunity of freely 
 communicating their sentiments thereon; after a solid 
 conference, we find there is a painful exercise attend- 
 ing the minds of Friends, and a general concern pre- 
 vailing, that our Christian testimony may be more 
 extensively held forth, against the unrighteous practice 
 of enslaving our fellow creatures, to promote which, 
 it is our sense and judgment, — 
 
 " That such professors among us who are, or shall 
 be concerned in importing, selling or purchasing ; or 
 that shall give away or transfer any negro or other 
 slave, with or without any other consideration than to 
 clear their estate of any future incumbrance, or in such 
 manner as that their bondage is continued beyond the 
 time limited by law or custom for white persons; and 
 such member who accepts of such gift or assignment, 
 ought to be speedily treated with, in the spirit of true 
 love and wisdom, and the iniquity of their conduct laid 
 before them. And if after this Christian labour, they 
 cannot be brought to such a sense of their injustice, as 
 to do every thing which the monthly meeting shall 
 judge to be reasonable and necessary for the restoring 
 such slave to his or her natural and just right to liberty, 
 
 3 
 
 i 
 
26 
 
 SLAVERY AND 
 
 and condemn their deviation from the law of right- 
 eousness and equity, to the satisfaction of the said 
 meeting, that such member be testified against, as 
 other transgressors are, by the rules of our discipline, 
 for other immoral, unjust, and reproachful conduct. 
 
 " And having deliberately weighed and considered 
 that many slaves are possessed and detained in bon- 
 dage by divers members of our religious Society, 
 towards whom labour has been extended ; but being 
 apprehensive that a Christian duty has not been so 
 fully discharged to them as their various circumstan- 
 ces appear to require : 
 
 " We think it expedient that the quarterly meetings 
 should be earnestly advised and enjoined, to unite with 
 their respective monthly meetings, in a speedy and 
 close labour with such members ; and where it shall 
 appear that any, from views of temporal gain, cannot 
 be prevailed with to release from captivity such slaves 
 as shall be found suitable for libertv, but detain them 
 in bondage, without such reasons as shall be sufficient 
 and satisfactory ; the cases of such should be brought 
 forward to the next Yearly Meeting for consideration, 
 and such further directions as may be judged expe- 
 dient. And in the mean time, we think those persons 
 ought not to be employed in the service of Truth. 
 
 " And having grounds to conclude that there are 
 some brethren who have these poor captives under 
 their care, and are desirous to be wisely directed in the 
 restoring them to liberty ; Friends who may be ap- 
 pointed by quarterly and monthly meetings on the 
 service now proposed, are earnestly desired to give 
 their weighty and solid attention for the assistance of 
 such who are thus honestly and religiously concerned 
 
THE SLAVE TRADE. 27 
 
 for their own relief, and the essential benefit of the 
 negro. And in such families where there are young 
 ones, or others of suitable age, that they excite the 
 masters, or those who have them, to give them suffi- 
 cient instruction and learning, in order to qualify them 
 for the enjoyment of the liberty intended, and that 
 they be instructed by themselves, or placed out to 
 such masters and mistresses who will be careful of 
 their religious education, to serve for such time, and 
 no longer, as is prescribed by law and custom, for 
 white people. 
 
 " And understanding that some members of our 
 religious Society through inattention, and others from 
 different motives, have been induced to be concerned 
 in hiring slaves on wages ; such should be incited to 
 consider, that this practice manifestly contributes to 
 promote the unrighteous traffic we are desirous to 
 suppress ; and therefore they should be advised and 
 admonished against being thus accessory to promot- 
 ing it. 
 
 " Also that all Friends be cautioned and advised 
 against acting as executors or administrators to such 
 estates where slaves are bequeathed, or likely to be 
 detained in bondage. 
 
 " And we are of the mind, that where any member 
 has been heretofore so far excluded from religious 
 fellowship, as the minute of this meeting, in the year 
 1758, gives authority ; nevertheless, in case of further 
 disorderly conduct, that they be treated with agree- 
 able to our discipline." 
 
 In the following year, (1775,) the increasing con- 
 cern of the meeting displayed itself in the following 
 minute. 
 
28 SLAVERY AND 
 
 " On considering the progress made by the quarterly 
 and monthly meetings, in promoting our testimony 
 against keeping of slaves in bondage ; it is satisfactory 
 to observe, that by the labour therein since last year, a 
 considerable number has been restored to liberty, and 
 that Friends manifest a concern for further proceeding 
 in this weighty service. This meeting, impressed with 
 an earnest desire that it may be completed, and the 
 church relieved from the grievous burthen under which 
 we have long laboured, again recommends, that the 
 united care and endeavours of Friends may be con- 
 tinued for perfecting it, agreeable to our solid sense 
 and judgment, given and enjoined on the quarterly 
 and monthly meetings concerning it last year. 
 
 " And where any members manifest such a disre- 
 gard to common justice, as to oppose and reject this 
 Christian labour of their brethren, and Friends appre- 
 hend they have fully discharged their duty to them, 
 that the particular circumstance of such cases be 
 brought to this meeting, pursuant to the directions 
 given in our minute of last year ; as likewise such 
 other cases which may be attended with so great dif- 
 ficulty, as to require the further advice and judgment 
 of the body thereon. 
 
 " And in order further to manifest our Christian 
 care and regard to such of those poor people who 
 have been restored to freedom, it is desired that a 
 benevolent care may be exercised by Friends in their 
 respective places, to assist and advise them, as their 
 circumstances and stations in life may require, both 
 for their spiritual and temporal good." 
 
 When the usual reports from the quarterly meetings 
 were read in the Yearly Meeting of 1776, a committee 
 
THE SLAVE TRADE. 29 
 
 was appointed to revise the accounts, and report to 
 the meeting, " the most effectual religious means for 
 perfecting a work which has long been the occasion 
 of heavy labour to the faithful members of the church, 
 and excited our desire to be fully clear of a practice 
 so directly opposed to the law of righteousness." The 
 committee made the following report, which was ap- 
 proved and confirmed by the meeting. 
 
 " We, the committee appointed to take under our 
 consideration the deeply affecting case of our oppress- 
 ed fellow men of the African race and others, as also 
 the state of those who hold them in bondage, have 
 several times met, and heard the concurring sentiments 
 of divers other Friends, and examined the reports 
 from the quarterly meetings, by which it appears, that 
 much labour and care have been extended since the 
 last, year, for the convincement of such of our mem- 
 bers who had, or yet have them in possession ; many 
 of whom have of late, from under hand and seal, pro- 
 perly discharged such as were in their possession, 
 from a state of slavery. 
 
 " Yet sorrowful it is, that many there are in mem- 
 bership with us, who notwithstanding the labour be- 
 stowed, still continue to hold these people as slaves ; 
 under the consideration whereof, we are deeply affect- 
 ed, and united in judgment, that we are loudly called 
 upon to a faithful obedience to the injunction of our 
 blessed Lord, * To do to all men as we would they 
 should do unto us ;' and to bear a full and clear testi- 
 mony to these truths, that 'God is no respecter of per- 
 sons,' and that ' Christ died for all men without dis- 
 tinction."* Which w r e earnestly and affectionately 
 intreat may be duly considered in this awful and 
 
 3* 
 
30 SLAVERY AND 
 
 alarming dispensation, and excite to impartial justice 
 and judgment to black and white, rich and poor. 
 
 " Under the calming influences of pure love, we do 
 with great unanimity, give it as our sense and judg- 
 ment, that quarterly and monthly meetings should 
 speedily unite in a further close labour with all such 
 as are slaveholders, and have any right of member- 
 ship with us. And where any members continue to 
 reject the advice of their brethren, and refuse to exe- 
 cute proper instruments of writing,- for releasing from 
 a state of slavery, such as are in their power, or to 
 whom they have any claim, whether arrived to full age 
 or in their minority, and no hopes of the continuance 
 of Friends' labour being profitable to them, that month- 
 ly meetings after having discharged a Christian duty 
 to such, should testify their disunion w r ith them. 
 
 " And it appearing from the reports of the several 
 quarters, that there are many difficult and complicat- 
 ed cases, which relate to those oppressed and much 
 injured people, requiring great circumspection and 
 close attention, in order that our religious testimony 
 may be promoted, and that the cause of Truth may 
 not sutler by unprofitable delays, w T e apprehend all 
 such cases might well be submitted to the quarterly 
 meetings wdiere they subsist, whose advice and judg- 
 ment should be observed and regarded ; so that any 
 member who refuses or declines complying therewith, 
 after being laboured with in the spirit of love and 
 wisdom, should be testified against." 
 
 At this Yearly Meeting the following query was 
 adopted in place of the one on the same subject, which 
 had been directed in 1775. " Are Friends clear of 
 importing, purchasing, disposing of, or holding man- 
 
THE SLAVE TRADE. 31 
 
 kind as .slaves? And do they use those well, who are 
 set free, and necessarily under their care, and not in 
 circumstances, through nonage or incapacity, to min- 
 ister to their own necessities 1 And are they careful 
 to educate and encourage them in a religious and 
 virtuous life V 9 
 
 The subordinate meetings upon the receipt of the 
 foregoing minute, appointed committees to carry out 
 the views of the Yearly Meeting. It is apparent from 
 the tenor of their proceedings, that the principal por- 
 tion of the labour had already been accomplished, 
 and that the greater part of the slaves owned by our 
 members had been set free. 
 
 The following extracts will fully justify this remark. 
 In 1776, Philadelphia Monthly Meeting replies to the 
 query, " that a considerable number of the slaves here- 
 tofore belonging to members of this meeting have been 
 set at liberty." A committee of that monthly meeting 
 had been labouring since 1774, with those who held 
 slaves, and in 1777, report is made that a few continue 
 to hold negroes in slavery. The minutes of that meet- 
 ing, from the year 1756 to the year 1783, exhibit an 
 unremitted attention to this subject, in labouring first 
 with those who bought and sold, and next with those 
 who kept, slaves. In 1778, seven members were dis- 
 owned for the latter offence, and one in the following 
 year. A much greater number emancipated their 
 slaves, so that in 1781 there was but one case under 
 care; and in 1783, the meeting reported that there 
 were no slaves owned by its members. 
 
 In the Fourth month, 1777, Haddonfield Quarterly 
 Meeting appointed "a committee to procure manumis- 
 sion papers, and assist the members of the monthly 
 
32 SLAVERY AND 
 
 meetings to manumit their slaves ; and also to see 
 to the education of coloured children." This com- 
 mittee continued under appointment for two years, 
 and in the Ninth month, 1779, reported that they 
 had fully complied with their appointment in ob- 
 taining manumissions. The names of the few who 
 continued to hold slaves were reported, and directed 
 to be transmitted to the monthly meetings, for them 
 to enforce the discipline. In 1781, the quarterly meet- 
 ing says : " It appears there has been a general re- 
 leasement from bondage of the Africans among us, 
 except in a few instances, where the women only are 
 in membership." 
 
 Chester Quarterly Meeting, Eighth month, 1777, 
 says, " the committee in the case of slaves reported to 
 this meeting in writing, as follows, viz. : * We the com- 
 mittee appointed to visit those that hold slaves, have 
 attended to that service ; and have visited all that had 
 any claim over such within the verge of this meeting, 
 that came to our knowledge ; a considerable number 
 of which have been manumitted since our appoint- 
 ment ; but there are some members in several monthly 
 meetings that still hold them, notwithstanding the many 
 and repeated visits paid them ; and w r e, as a committee, 
 apprehend we have discharged our duty and appoint- 
 ment to such, and desire to be released ; and we fur- 
 ther think that the several cases may be safely recom- 
 mended to the monthly meetings." 
 
 Burlington Quarterly Meeting of the same date, 
 (Eighth mo., 1777,) states that "Burlington Monthly 
 Meeting further mentioned, that most of those who 
 were in a state of slavery among them, have been 
 manumitted since last year; and that in regard to those 
 
THE SLAVE TRADE. 33 
 
 remaining, viz. three of age, and five minors, there is 
 reason to hope a little longer continuance of labour 
 and patience, will have a good effect." Chesterfield 
 adds to a report of a committee of that meeting on 
 the subject of slaves, containing in substance, that they 
 have had the satisfaction to find the hearts of divers 
 Friends tender towards that poor, oppressed people, 
 so that many have been manumitted ; and yet a con- 
 siderable number are continued in bondage ; and 
 though some members do not appear in a disposition 
 to comply with the desire of Friends, yet having a 
 tenderness towards them, they have a desire that their 
 cases may be continued under care a further time. 
 
 Reports of the progress made in emancipation, ap- 
 pear on minute from time to time, and in the Eighth 
 month, 1781, "Burlington adds to their report from 
 their committee for the manumission of negroes, that 
 they had attended to the service since last year, and 
 had the satisfaction of getting clear of all the cases of 
 this kind then known ; but that three young negroes 
 in a state of bondage had lately been discovered in 
 one family, which had been and remain under their 
 care. From the answers to the queries it appears that 
 all the other monthly meetings are clear of slaves, ex- 
 cept some remaining within the compass of Chester- 
 field and verge of one particular meeting." 
 
 At the same date, (Eighth mo. 1777,) the Western 
 Quarter, which had been set off in 1758, from the 
 south-western end of Chester, and which stretched far 
 into Maryland, answers the query respecting slavery, 
 in the following manner : " Clear of importing and 
 disposing of mankind as slaves, also of purchasing, in 
 all our meetings, except one, from which a doubt is 
 
34 SLAVERY ASB 
 
 hinted in one case. Some within the compass of the 
 meeting yet continue to hold slaves ; though many 
 have been manumitted since last year. The case of 
 those who hold them is weightily under care ; and a 
 growing concern appears amongst us, that we may 
 more fully attain to clearness respecting this matter." 
 
 The following report appears on the minutes of 
 Bucks Quarterly Meeting of the same date, (Eighth 
 mo. 1777.) " We of the committee appointed by the 
 quarterly meeting in order to treat ^vith our members 
 who hold their fellow men in bondage, in conjunction 
 with the several monthly meeting committees, now 
 report, that there hath been a considerable time spent 
 in labouring with them, in order to convince them of 
 the evil of the practice, which labours of love have by 
 some been kindly received, and they have complied so 
 far as to give those they had in bondage their liberty, 
 by instruments of writing given under their hands and 
 seals ; but there are others who still persist in holding 
 them as slaves, notwithstanding the repeated care and 
 labour of Friends extended towards them." 
 
 Upon turning to the minutes of the monthly meet- 
 ings composing Bucks Quarter, it appears that at this 
 time there were no slaves held in Buckingham or in 
 Wrightstown monthly meetings ; that in Middletown 
 four members persisted in holding slaves, three of 
 whom were afterwards disowned for that offence; 
 and that in the Falls Monthly Meeting, although many 
 had been set free, others were still detained in bondage. 
 These were subsequently emancipated ; and it does 
 not appear that more than one member was disowned 
 by that meeting, for refusing to comply with the dis- 
 pline in this particular. 
 
THE SLAVE TliADE. 35 
 
 At the monthly meetings of Salem, held in the 
 Eighth and Eleventh months, 1777, the committee 
 reported two cases of slaves, whose owners were not 
 willing to set them free ; and that two girls had been 
 sold for such a number of years, and under such cir- 
 cumstances, as to render their cases little better than 
 slaves. The individual who had made this sale was 
 brought to see its iniquity, and in the First month fol- 
 lowing, a report was made that one of them was re- 
 leased; but it does not appear that Friends were able to 
 procure the discharge of the other from her purchaser. 
 
 The success of these labours is noticed in the min- 
 utes of the Yearly Meetings of 1779, 1780 and 1781 ; 
 and as the minute of 1781 is the last on record upon 
 this subject, which speaks of slaves being still owned 
 by our members, it is probable that before the suc- 
 ceeding Yearly Meeting they had all been freed. 
 
 As the Society dwelt under the religious exercise 
 which had been brought over it by the participation of 
 its members in this grievous sin, a concern spread for 
 making reparation to the slaves themselves for their 
 labour ;* and for promoting the religious welfare of 
 
 * As a specimen of the religious care of Friends in this particular, 
 we select the following case. 
 
 A Friend became uneasy respecting the situation of a coloured man 
 who had been set free by his father some years before, but had received 
 no compensation for the time he served after he was twenty-one years 
 of age ; and he mentioned the subject to the monthly meeting of 
 Friends of New Garden, Pennsylvania, of which he was a member. At 
 this meeting, held the 7th of Eleventh month, 1778, five Friends were 
 appointed to advise and assist in the case ; and in the Third month fol- 
 lowing, they made a report, which was satisfactory to the meeting, and 
 for aught that appears, to the parties also. The report is in substance 
 as follows, viz. 
 
36 SLAVERY AND 
 
 them and their descendants. In reference to these 
 subjects, the following report of a committee was 
 
 41 Agreeably to our appointment, we have several times met and con- 
 sidered the case committed to us, respecting the uneasiness mentioned 
 by T. W., concerning the negro formerly possessed by his father, and 
 having carefully inquired into the circumstances, do find that W. W., 
 about 1 6 years ago, set free from a state of slavery the said negro named 
 Caesar, on condition that he would behave himself justly and honestly, 
 and also that he would lay up, or deposit in his, or some other safe hand, 
 the sum of three pounds yearly, that in case he should be sick or lame, 
 he might not be chargeable to his said master's estate. In consequence 
 of the said condition the said Caesar had laid up forty-two pounds, which 
 appears to us to be his just property, and all the heirs of W. W. who 
 are arrived at full age, (except one, who resides in Virginia,) cheerfully 
 agree to let him have it. But as the said Caesar informs us that he has 
 no present use or necessity for the said money, he agreed to have it de- 
 posited in the hands of J. P., and proposed to advise with him, when any 
 occasion occurred for applying it; with which we were well satisfied. 
 
 " It also further appears that said Caesar served his said master in the 
 capacity of a slave, something more than ten years after he was twenty- 
 one years of age ; and upon careful inquiry, we find he was tenderly 
 used during said time, and nursed in the small pox, which he had very 
 heavily, and it was long before he recovered ; so that we have reason to 
 believe it took at least one year to defray the expense thereof. These 
 things, the said Caesar fully acknowledges ; and further informs that his 
 said master allowed him sundry privileges during said term, whereby 
 he made for himself at least five pounds a year, beside being well clothed 
 and accommodated. 
 
 "After considering all the circumstances of his case, we are unan- 
 imously of the mind, that the further sum «f five pounds a year, for the 
 nine years he was in usual health, ought to be allowed him out of the 
 said estate, which the heirs now present and of age, also agree to; and 
 it is agreed with the said Caesar's free consent, to be deposited with the 
 other sum. 
 
 "And as the instrument of writing by which the said W. W. declar- 
 ed the said Caesar free, is conditional, and we apprehend not sufficient 
 to secure his freedom, the heirs aforesaid have executed a manumission 
 suited to the occasion. 
 
 "Third month 6lh, 1779." 
 
THE SLAVE TKADE. 
 
 37 
 
 adopted, and sent down to the subordinate meetings 
 by the Yearly Meeting of 1779. 
 
 " A committee being appointed to review the seve- 
 ral accounts now sent, of the labour which hath been 
 extended to fulfil the advice given last year, for pro- 
 moting the religious instruction of those negroes who 
 have been set free, and their offspring, and for assist- 
 ing and advising them in their temporal concerns ; and 
 if any further matter occurred to them to be necessary 
 to animate Friends to a continuance of care in this 
 weighty affair, to propose it, in order that our religious 
 duty to that long oppressed people may be fully dis- 
 charged, made a report in writing, which being seve- 
 ral times read and duly considered, is unitedly approved, 
 and recommended to the care of quarterly, monthly 
 and preparative meetings, in order that Friends may 
 be conscientiously concerned to discharge their 
 Christian duty in the weighty matters recommended ; 
 and to send an account to the meeting next year, how 
 this pious work goes forward. The report being in 
 substance nearly as follows. 
 
 " Agreeable to our appointment, we have delibe- 
 rately considered the reports brought up from the sev- 
 eral quarters, and find that an increasing concern for 
 the real good of these people, appears to take place, 
 there being but a small number detained in bondage 
 within the compass of our Yearly Meeting. Under a 
 thankful sense of Divine favour in opening the hearts 
 of many, and making way for the deliverance of these 
 poor captives, we feel a tenderness for those who are 
 continued by any among us in bondage, and arc 
 renewedly confirmed in judgment, that where fervent, 
 close labour remains to be ineffectual, our testimony 
 
 4 
 
38 SLAVERY AND 
 
 for the cause of truth and righteousness should be held 
 up by monthly meetings, and they proceed to clear 
 themselves of this iniquitous practice. 
 
 " We are united in judgment, that the state of the 
 oppressed people who have been held by any of us, or 
 our predecessors, in captivity and slavery, calls for a 
 deep inquiry and close examination, how far we are 
 clear of withholding from them, what under such an 
 exercise may open to view as their just right, and 
 therefore we earnestly and affectionately intreat our 
 brethren in religious profession to bring this matter 
 home, and that all who have let the oppressed go free, 
 may attend to the further openings of duty. 
 ^ " A tender Christian sympathy appears to be awak- 
 ened in the minds of many who are not in religious 
 profession with us, who have seriously considered the 
 oppressions and disadvantages under which those peo- 
 ple have long laboured ; and whether a pious care 
 extended to their offspring is not justly due from us to 
 them, is a consideration worthy our serious and deep 
 attention ; or if this obligation did not weightily lay 
 upon us, can benevolent minds be directed to any 
 object more worthy of their liberality and encourage- 
 ment, than that of laying a foundation in the rising 
 generation for their becoming good and useful men ? 
 remembering what was formerly enjoined, * If thy 
 brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee, 
 then thou shalt relieve him ; yea, though he be a 
 stranger, or a sojourner ; that he may live with thee.* 
 Lev. xxv. 35. 
 
 " Under a fervent concern that our Christian testi- 
 mony respecting this exercising subject may spread, 
 and fasten on the minds of Friends generally, we ear- 
 
THE SLAVE TRADE. 39 
 
 nestly recommend a close attention to former advices, 
 and particularly that of last year ; and that quarterly 
 and monthly meetings may be encouraged to a con- 
 tinued care for the instruction of these people in 
 schools, and in the principles of the Christian religion." 
 
 These meetings were not slack in performing the 
 duties to which they were thus called. In all of them, 
 as far as appears, committees were appointed, and 
 funds provided to assist the free people of colour with 
 their advice, and to secure the education and reli- 
 gious instruction of their children. Religious meetings 
 were frequently appointed for them, and are reported 
 to have been held to good satisfaction ; and these la- 
 bours are continued to be noticed on minute for many 
 years subsequent to this period. 
 
 In the Eighth month, 1779, a committee of Chester 
 Quarterly Meeting report "that considerable progress 
 has been made in assisting and advising such negroes 
 as have been restored to freedom ; and are continued 
 to give them their advice on all occasions, particularly 
 to instruct them in the principles of the Christian reli- 
 gion, and the pious education of their children," &c. 
 
 In the Second month, 1789, the same meeting says, 
 "the consideration of the temporal and spiritual welfare 
 of the Africans, and the necessary instruction of their 
 offspring being now resumed, and after some time spent 
 thereon, it is closely recommended to our several 
 monthly meetings to pay due attention to the advice 
 of the Yearly Meeting on this subject, and proceed as 
 strength may be afforded, in looking after them in 
 their several habitations by a religious visit ; giving 
 them such counsel as their situation may require," &c. 
 
 In the Eighth month, 1798, the monthly meeting of 
 
 v 
 
40 SLAVERY AND 
 
 Concord, (a branch of Chester, now Concord Quar- 
 terly Meeting,) reported that a visit had been paid to 
 nearly all the families of the black people, as well 
 as to some single persons of the same colour residing 
 within the limits of their meeting, by a committee, to 
 a good degree of satisfaction. 
 
 The minutes of Burlington Quarterly Meeting, 
 exhibit the same care in appointing committees and 
 religious meetings. As a specimen of these minutes; 
 " several of the committee appointed to attend the 
 meeting at Crosswicks for the religious benefit of the 
 black people, report their attendance, and that the 
 meeting was large, satisfactory and encouraging." 
 The same minute provides for the appointing of other 
 meetings of the same character. In the Eighth month, 
 1785, " one meeting informs that two Friends having 
 each set a slave at liberty, expressed a desire to make 
 a proper allowance for the time they were continued 
 in their service, after they came of age ; after divers 
 times deliberating thereon, Friends to whose care 
 such cases had been referred, advised that the sums 
 should be ascertained by indifferent persons ; and one 
 of the negroes being deceased, the sum adjudged due 
 in that case, should be divided and paid to the next 
 of kin, as in cases of intestates' estates; which advice 
 the Friends have readily accepted, and have taken 
 measures to carry into effect." 
 
 I " In Haddonfield Quarterly Meeting, a committee 
 w r as kept steadily under appointment for several years 
 to assist in manumissions, and in the education of the 
 negro children. Religious meetings were frequently 
 held for the people of colour; and Haddonfield Monthly 
 
THE SLAVE TRADE. 41 
 
 Meeting raised on one occasion £131, for the educa- 
 tion of negro children. 
 
 In Salem Monthly Meeting, frequent meetings of 
 worship for the people of colour were held by direc- 
 tion of the monthly meeting ; funds were raised for 
 the education of their children, and committees ap- 
 pointed in the different meetings to provide books, 
 place the children at school, to visit the schools, and 
 inspect their conduct and improvement. 
 
 Meetings for Divine worship were regularly held for 
 people of colour, at least once in three months, under 
 the direction of the monthly meetings of Friends in 
 Philadelphia ; and schools were also established at 
 which their children were gratuitously instructed in 
 useful learning. One of these, originally instituted 
 by Anthony Benezet, is now in operation in the city 
 of Philadelphia, and has been continued under the 
 care of one of the monthly meetings of Friends of that 
 city, and supported by funds derived from the volun- 
 tary contributions of the members, and from legacies 
 and bequests, yielding an income of about $1000 per 
 annum. The average number of pupils is about sixty- 
 eight of both sexes. 
 
 While the Society was thus performing its duty to 
 the free people of colour, within its own limits, a con- 
 cern began to spread for the extinction of the slave 
 trade and slavery itself; and from this time forward 
 memorials and remonstrances on these subjects were 
 repeatedly laid before persons in power and the public 
 at large. The first notice of this extended concern 
 which occurs on the records of the Yearly Meeting, is 
 contained in the following minutes of 1785, 1786, 1787. 
 " Some lively, instructive remarks were made, on 
 
 4# 
 
42 SLAVERY AND 
 
 what appears further becoming a right concern for 
 promoting justice being done to the African race, as 
 well as their instruction in the principles of Truth ; 
 and faithfully labouring to improve every opportunity 
 for urging to those in power, the moral and Christian 
 necessity of suppressing the cruel traffic in those af- 
 flicted people, so grossly unchristian, and reproachful 
 to humanity." 
 
 " The deeply affecting concern on account of the 
 continued traffic in some parts of this continent in the 
 persons of our fellow men, the people of Africa, afresh 
 reviving, and the minds of many Friends being warm- 
 ly animated with a sense of its interesting import ; it 
 is renewedly and with much earnestness recommend- 
 ed to the diligent attention and care of the Meeting 
 for Sufferings, that no proper means may be omitted, 
 nor any opportunity lost, whereby the testimony of 
 Truth in this matter may be advanced, and the cause 
 of mercy and equity promoted and strengthened in 
 the minds of men generally." 
 
 " On a renewed consideration of the iniquity of the 
 skive trade, it is afresh recommended to the watchful 
 attention of our Meeting for Sufferings in particular, 
 and to Friends individually, that no opportunity be lost 
 of discouraging the unrighteous business, and mani- 
 festing to the world, the religious ground of our Chris- 
 tian testimony against this public wickedness." 
 
 The history of the abolition of slavery within the 
 limits of New England Yearly Meeting, is marked 
 with the same features of cautious, yet steady perse- 
 verance, which are traceable in the foregoing narrative. 
 In its earlier stages, it follows, at an interval of a few 
 years, the course pursued with us ; while the holding 
 
THE SLAVE TRADE. 43 
 
 of slaves was there made a disownable offence, five or 
 six years before it was so regarded in Pennsylvania. 
 
 The earliest notice on the subject, is a query sent in 
 the Second month, 1716, by the monthly meeting of 
 Dartmouth to Rhode Island Quarterly Meeting, asking 
 "whether it be agreeable to Truth, for Friends to pur- 
 chase slaves, and keep them term of life ?" This was 
 referred for consideration to the different monthly 
 meetings composing that quarterly meeting. Nantuck- 
 et Monthly Meeting promptly decided by a minute of 
 Ninth month, 171C, as the sense and judgment of that 
 meeting, " that it was not agreeable to Truth for 
 Friends to purchase slaves, and keep them term of 
 life ;" Dartmouth, " that the buying and selling of 
 slaves is inconsistent with Truth;" some others, "that 
 no more slaves be brought from foreign parts," &c. 
 The subject was brought by Rhode Island Quarterly 
 Meeting before the Yearly Meeting of 1717, which 
 notices " that a weighty concern rested on the minds 
 of Friends on account of importing and keeping slaves," 
 but made no decisive minute on the subject. 
 
 Although it is evident from the result, that the con- 
 cern on this subject was spreading among Friends, 
 throughout the Yearly Meeting, no further notice of 
 it occurs on the minutes till the year 1760, excepting a 
 short minute of the year 1727, censuring the practice 
 " of importing negroes from their native country and 
 relations." In 1760, the discipline was revised, and 
 the following passage, taken from the printed epistle 
 of the London Yearly Meeting of 1758, was incorpo- 
 rated into it. " We fervently warn all in profession 
 with us, that they carefully avoid being any way con- 
 cerned in reaping the unrighteous profits of that iniqui- 
 
44 SLAVERY AND 
 
 tous practice of dealing in negroes and other slaves ; 
 whereby in the original purchase, one man selleth 
 another as he does the beast that perishes, without any 
 better pretension to a property in him than that of 
 superior force, in direct violation of the gospel rule, 
 which teaches every one to do as they would be done 
 by, and to do good unto all ; being the reverse of that 
 covetous disposition, which furnishes encouragement 
 to these poor ignorant people to perpetuate their savage 
 wars, in order to supply the demands of this most un- 
 natural traffic, whereby great numbers of mankind, 
 free by nature, are subjected to inextricable bondage ; 
 and which hath often been observed to fill their pos- 
 sessors with haughtiness and tyranny, luxury and bar- 
 barity ; corrupting the minds and debasing the morals 
 of their children, to the unspeakable prejudice of reli- 
 gion and virtue, and the exclusion of that holy spirit 
 of universal love, meekness and charity, which is the 
 unchangeable nature, and the glory of true Christiani- 
 ty. We, therefore, can do no less than with the 
 greatest earnestness impress it upon Friends every 
 where, that they endeavour to keep their hands clear 
 of this unrighteous gain of oppression." 
 
 In the same year the following query was adopted. 
 " Are Friends clear of importing negroes, or buying 
 them when imported ; and do they use those well, 
 where they are possessed by inheritance or other- 
 wise ; endeavouring to train them up in the principles 
 of religion!" 
 
 Nine years afterwards, (1769,) the Friends of 
 Rhode Island Quarterly Meeting, being uneasy with 
 this query, which allowed of the holding of slaves, 
 called the attention of the Yearly Meeting to the sub- 
 
THE SLAVE TEADE. 45 
 
 ject. The application was referred to a committee, 
 who reported, " that having met, and entered into a 
 solemn consideration of the subject, they were of the 
 mind that a useful alteration might be made in the 
 query referred to ; yet apprehending some further 
 Christian endeavours in labouring with such who con- 
 tinue in possession of slaves should be first promoted, 
 by which means the eyes of Friends may be more 
 clearly opened to behold the iniquity of the practice of 
 detaining our fellow creatures in bondage, and a dis- 
 position to set such free who are arrived to mature 
 age ; and when the labour is performed and report 
 made to the meeting, the meeting may be better capa- 
 ble of determining what further step to take in this 
 affair, which hath given so much concern to faithful 
 Friends ; and that in the mean time it should be en- 
 forced upon Friends that have them in possession, to 
 treat them with tenderness ; impress God's fear on 
 their minds ; promote their attending places of reli- 
 gious worship ; and give such as are young, so much 
 learning, that they may be capable of reading.'OThis 
 report was adopted by the meeting, and a large com- 
 mittee appointed to visit such Friends throughout the 
 Yearly Meeting, as are concerned in keeping slaves, 
 and endeavour to persuade them from the practice. 
 
 The next year (1770,) the following query was 
 incorporated into the discipline, " Are Friends clear of 
 importing, buying, or any ways disposing of negroes 
 or slaves; and do they use those well who are under 
 their care, and not in circumstances, through nonage 
 or incapacity, to be set at liberty? And do they give 
 those that are young such an education as becomes 
 Christians; and are the others encouraged in a religious 
 
si 
 
 46 SLAVERY AND 
 
 and virtuous life? And are all set at liberty that are of 
 age, capacity, and ability suitable for freedom?". The 
 subordinate meetings were directed bv minute to take 
 due care that this query be complied with. 
 
 The next year the committee of 1 769, reported that 
 they had completed their service, " and that their 
 visits mostly seemed to be kindly accepted. Some 
 Friends manifested a disposition to set such at liberty 
 as were suitable ; some others not having so clear a 
 sight of such an unreasonable servitude as could be 
 desired, were unwilling to comply with the advice 
 given them at present, yet seemed willing to take it 
 into consideration ; a few others manifested a dispo- 
 sition to keep them in continued bondage." 
 
 It is stated in the epistle to London Yearly Meeting 
 of the year 1772, that a few Friends had freed their 
 slaves from bondage, but that others " have been so 
 reluctant thereto that they have been disowned for not 
 complying with the advice of this meeting." 
 
 In 1773, the following minute was made. " It is 
 our sense and judgment, that Truth not only requires 
 the young of capacity and ability, but likewise the 
 aged and impotent, and also all in a state of infancy 
 and nonage among Friends to be discharged and set 
 free from a state of slavery, that we do no more claim 
 property in the human race, as we do in the brutes 
 that perish." 
 
 It appears by the epistles that the subject was 
 weightily before the Yearly Meeting in 1774, 1775 and 
 1776; and in 1777 a committee was appointed to aid 
 subordinate meetings in labouring with individuals 
 for effecting the discharge of all who were held in 
 bondage. This committee reported the next year that 
 
THE SLAVE TRADE. 47 
 
 most of the slaves were manumitted in the presence of 
 the committee ; and that encouragement was given to 
 hope that all would be set at liberty. In 1782, the 
 Yearly Meeting states, "we know not but all the 
 members of this meeting are clear of that iniquitous 
 practice of holding or dealing with mankind as slaves." 
 
 The object for which Friends had so long and pa- 
 tiently laboured, being thus attained, a concern was 
 introduced into the Yearly Meeting in 1783, for a 
 proper and equitable settlement for their past services, 
 between our members who had owned and manumit- 
 ted slaves, and those so manumitted ; and it was re* 
 commended to the quarterly meetings to appoint 
 committees to labour for the accomplishment of this 
 object ; " and also to encourage those who have been 
 held as slaves in a religious and virtuous life." 
 
 In 1784, it was concluded that where any Friends 
 refuse to comply with the advice of the quarterly 
 meetings' committee in this respect, they report the 
 case to the monthly meetings, and if the refusal still 
 continue to be persisted in, after tender care and la- 
 bour on the part of such meeting, that they be dealt 
 with as " disorderly walkers." 
 
 Although disownment was thus authorised, the 
 object was gained without resorting to it in any case ; 
 and in the year 1787, the Yearly Meeting states that 
 the effecting of a satisfactory settlement for the past 
 services of those who had been held in slavery was 
 brought to a close. 
 
 It appears that previously to the year 1759, the 
 Y'early Meeting of New ¥ork had manifested its 
 disapprobation of the slave trade, and that a query, 
 " whether Friends were clear of importing or pur- 
 
N 
 
 48 SLAVERY AND 
 
 chasing negroes or slaves, was regularly answered 
 by the subordinate meetings. 
 
 In the records of Purchase Quarterly Meeting, we 
 find the following minute. Fifth mo. 2nd, 1767. In 
 this meeting the practice of trading in negroes or other 
 slaves, and its inconsistency with our religious prin- 
 ciples was revived ; and the inconsiderable difference 
 between buying slaves or keeping those in slavery we 
 are already possessed of, was briefly hinted in a short 
 query from one of our monthly meetings, which is 
 recommended to the consideration of our next Yearly 
 Meeting, viz. "If it is not consistent with Christianity 
 to buy and sell our fellow men for slaves, during their 
 lives, and their posterity after them, then whether it is 
 consistent with a Christian spirit to keep those in 
 slavery we have already in possession, by purchase, 
 gift, or any other way'?" It does not appear from 
 minutes of the Yearly Meeting what notice was taken 
 of this application. 
 
 The minutes of Purchase Quarterly Meeting mani- 
 fest a continued exercise on the subject, by repeated 
 injunctions to the monthly meetings to enforce the 
 discipline in regard to it, and to send up regular ac- 
 counts of their proceedings therein. 
 
 The first minute of the Yearly Meeting on this sub- 
 ject, which we have seen, is dated in 1771, being as 
 follows: "This meeting, taking into consideration the 
 state of negroes being kept in slavery, do now con- 
 clude that those Friends that have negroes shall not 
 sell them to others for slaves, excepting in cases of 
 executors, administrators or guardian^ who are in 
 that case to advise with their respective monthly 
 
THE SLAVE TRADE. 49 
 
 meetings therein, if attended with difficulty, giving to 
 the said meeting the state of the case." 
 
 At the same meeting, a minute in relation to keep- 
 ing slaves, communicated by Philadelphia Yearly 
 Meeting, was read, and copies thereof sent to the 
 several quarterly meetings. The meeting also appoint- 
 ed a committee " to visit them that have slaves, and 
 see if there can a freedom be obtained for them that 
 are suitable for it ; and such as are not set free, suit- 
 ably instructed and provided for." 
 
 The committee made report in the following year 
 " that they had attended to that service with satis- 
 faction in their minds, and met with some encourage- 
 ment therein." The same meeting issued an epistle 
 to its members, exciting them ' to faithfulness in sup- 
 porting our- Christian testimony against selling and 
 buying negroes.' The meeting of 1774, " taking under 
 a weighty and solid consideration the matter in regard 
 to those Friends that buy or sell negroes, or otherwise 
 dispose of them, so that after they come to the age of 
 eighteen or twenty-one, according to their sex, they 
 or their posterity are kept in bondage, shall be treated 
 with as disorderly persons ; and unless they are 
 brought to a sense of their error, and set such at liber- 
 ty, the monthly meeting they belong to, shall testify 
 against them." 
 
 The next year, quarterly and monthly meetings 
 were directed to appoint committees to investigate the 
 condition of those held in bondage. In 1776, the 
 reports from the inferior meetings state that considera- 
 ble service had attended the endeavours of the com- 
 mittee, and the meeting renewed its injunction to the 
 quarterly and monthly meetings as last year, to visit 
 
50 SLAVERY AND 
 
 those Friends who continue these poor people in 
 bondage, and labour with them for their release; and 
 that if any are so far unmindful of the sense and judg- 
 ment of the Yearly Meeting, &c, that they be in- 
 formed that Friends can have no unity with them, 
 whilst in that state, so far as to employ them or accept 
 of their services in the church, or receive their col- 
 lections. It was also recorded as the sense and judg- 
 ment of the meeting, that no Friend should do any 
 thing whereby the right of slavery is acknowledged. 
 From the minutes of the next year it appears that a 
 considerable number of slaves were in consequence 
 set free, although some members were unwilling to 
 comply w r ith the advice of their Friends. At the same 
 Yearly Meeting it was directed, that those who still 
 continued " these poor people in bondage, should be 
 revisited ; and if any are so unmindful of the sense 
 and judgment of the Yearly Meeting, as to refuse to 
 comply with the advice of their Friends, that the 
 respective monthly meetings to which they belong 
 deal with such as disorderly persons ; and unless they 
 comply with the advice of the monthly meetings, by 
 setting their negroes of every age free, such are to be 
 testified against." 
 
 The answers to the queries from this time, state the 
 care exercised by meetings in these respects ; and it 
 is evident that very few slaves were now left among 
 Friends. A solitary one is reported in 1784, another 
 in 1785; and in 1787, the quarterly meetings state that 
 no Friends are concerned in negroes, as slaves. 
 
 In the Yearly Meeting of 1781, the. propriety of 
 compensating the slaves for their services was brought 
 into view, by a minute of Westbury Quarter, and the 
 
THE SLAVE TRADE. 51 
 
 meeting advised the appointment in each monthly- 
 meeting, " of a number of solid, judicious Friends, in 
 order to perform a visit to such Friends as have set 
 any of those people free; and likewise to the negroes 
 who have been set free, and inspect into the particular 
 state and circumstances of such negroes, and afford 
 them such advice and assistance, both in respect to 
 their spiritual and temporal good, as may be in their 
 power, and endeavour to find what may in justice, 
 remain due to them." At the succeeding Yearly 
 Meeting, it was directed "that the sum or sums which 
 may appear due to such negroes, be retained in the 
 hands of Friends setting them free, to be handed out 
 to said negroes, as they may stand in need of it, under 
 the inspection of standing committees appointed by 
 the monthly meetings for that purpose." 
 
 So faithfully and earnestly did Friends carry out 
 these views of the Yearly Meeting, that in the year 
 1784, there appear to have been but three unsettled 
 cases remaining. 
 
 The course pursued by Friends of Virginia Yearly 
 Meeting, living in the heart of a slave country, and 
 surrounded by influences the most unfriendly to the 
 great work of emancipation, was marked by the same 
 features of patient perseverance as were the proceed- 
 ings of the other Yearly Meetings. 
 
 The first step taken by the Yearly Meeting of Vir- 
 ginia, was the adoption in 1757 of the following query, 
 designed to forbid the trafficking in slaves. " Are 
 Friends clear of importing or buying negroes to trade 
 on ; and do they use those well which they are pos- 
 sessed of by inheritance or otherwise, endeavouring to 
 
52 SLAVERY AND 
 
 train them up in the principles of the Christian reli- 
 gion?" 
 
 The Yearly Meeting of 1764, advises Friends who 
 are possessed of negroes, impartially to consider their 
 situation, and as the reports from the quarterly meet- 
 ings state that there is a general deficiency in most 
 places in instructing them in the principles of the 
 Christian religion ; it is the weighty concern of this 
 meeting earnestly to recommend to the quarterly and 
 monthly meetings, to have that unhappy people more 
 immediately under their care and notice ; and that they 
 not only advise their masters and mistresses to use 
 some endeavours towards their education, but also 
 make a diligent inspection into their usage, clothing 
 and feeding, earnestly advising that their state and 
 station may more and more become the particular 
 care and concern of each individuaL" 
 
 In 17(58, the propriety of forbidding its members to 
 purchase any more negroes, was proposed to the 
 Yearly Meeting, and the subject referred to the quar- 
 terly meetings to consider and report their judgment. 
 
 At the next Yearly Meeting (1767,) the matter 
 respecting negroes being again resumed, " it appears 
 that Friends cannot at this time unanimously con- 
 clude upon issuing any injunctions, either with regard 
 to purchasing or setting them free ; it is therefore left 
 under the consideration of Friends till next Yearly 
 Meeting, to be then re-considered ; and in the mean 
 time each individual is earnestly desired to be very 
 careful not to incumber himself or his posterity by 
 any further purchases of them, but to be weightily 
 concerned for the removal of such a burthen and in- 
 consistency from our Society," &c. 
 
THE SLAVE TRADE. 53 
 
 The subjecf was renewed in 1768, and the following 
 rule of discipline agreed upon. "The subject in regard 
 to negroes being brought before this meeting, and duly 
 and weightily considered, it appears to be the sense 
 of the meeting, and accordingly agreed to, that in 
 order to prevent an increase of them in the Society, 
 none of our members for the time to come, shall be 
 permitted to purchase a negro or other slave, without 
 being guilty of a breach of discipline, and accountable 
 for the same to their monthly meeting." 
 
 The Yearly Meeting of 1773, issued the following 
 advices to its subordinate meetings. "It is our clear 
 sense and judgment, that we are loudly called upon in 
 this time of calamity and close trial, to minister justice 
 and judgment to black and white, rich and poor, and 
 free our hands from every species of oppression, least 
 the language made use of by the Almighty through 
 his prophet, should be extended to us ; " The people of 
 the land have used oppression and exercised robbery, 
 and have vexed the poor and needy ; yea, they have 
 oppressed the stranger wrongfully, therefore have I 
 poured out mine indignation upon them ; their own 
 way have I recompensed upon their own heads, saith 
 the Lord God.' We do, therefore, most earnestly 
 recommend to all who continue to withhold from any 
 their just right to freedom, as they prize their own 
 present peace and future happiness, to clear their hands 
 of this iniquity, by executing manumissions for all 
 those held by them in slavery, who are arrived at full 
 age, and also for those who may yet be in their minor- 
 ity, — to take place when the females attain the age of 
 eighteen, and the males twenty-one years. And we 
 
 5* 
 
54 SLAVER i* AND 
 
 believe the time is come when every member of our 
 religious Society who continues to support, or counte- 
 nance this crying evil, either by continuing their fel- 
 low creatures in bondage, or hiring such who may be 
 kept in that state, should be admonished and advised 
 to discontinue such practices." 
 
 The same meeting recommends to Friends, " seri- 
 ously to consider the circumstances of these poor 
 people, and the obligation we are under to discharge 
 our religious duties to them, which being disinterest- 
 edly pursued, will lead the professor of Truth, to 
 advise and assist them on all occasions, particularly 
 in promoting their instruction in the principles of the 
 Christian religion, and the pious education of their 
 children ; also to advise them in their worldly con- 
 cerns, as occasions offer ; and it is advised that Friends 
 of judgment and experience may be nominated for 
 this necessary service, it being the solid sense of this 
 meeting, that we, of the present generation, are under 
 strong obligations to express our love and concern for 
 the offspring of those people, who, by their labours, 
 have greatly contributed towards the cultivation of 
 these colonies, under the afflictive disadvantage of 
 enduring a hard bondage ; and many amongst us are 
 enjoying the benefit of their toil." ) 
 
 In 1781), the Yearly Meeting directed that the mem- 
 bers who continued in the practice of holding their 
 fellow men in bondage, should be particularly visited 
 and laboured with; and recommended the appoint- 
 ment of committees for this purpose. 
 
 From the reports made to the succeeding Yearly 
 Meeting, that of 1781, it appears that the labours of 
 
THE SLAVE TRADE. 55 
 
 the committees appointed to visit those who held 
 slaves, had been nearly completed, and had produced 
 a good effect At the same meeting, quarterly and 
 monthly meetings were advised " not to employ in 
 the affairs of the church any members who continue 
 to hold their fellow creatures in bondage, after such 
 labours of love have been extended to them." 
 
 A person not professing with Friends, having been 
 appointed executor to a Friend's estate, had sold some 
 negroes, and two members, heirs of the deceased, had 
 purchased them. The case being represented to the 
 Yearly Meeting of 1781, it was recorded as the unan- 
 imous judgment of the meeting, that notwithstanding 
 motives of humanity may have induced such pur- 
 chases, yet they being contrary to our discipline, 
 monthly meetings ought to receive no acknowledg- 
 ment, short of the purchaser's executing manumissions 
 for said negroes ; also to continue it under their care, 
 that the remaining heirs do not receive any part of 
 the money arising from the said sales. 
 
 The minutes of the succeeding years, 1782 and 
 1783, manifest the deep concern which prevailed on 
 this subject. In 1 784, the quarterly meetings reported 
 that notwithstanding most of those members who held 
 slaves had been visited and laboured with in love and 
 tenderness, yet some of them do not discover a dispo- 
 sition to do that justice to these people, which we are 
 fully persuaded is their natural right. Monthly meet- 
 ings were therefore directed to extend such further 
 care and labour, as they apprehended would be useful ; 
 and where these endeavours proved ineffectual, were 
 authorised to disown the individuals. 
 
56 SLAVERY AND 
 
 In 1785, the following query, was adopted; "Do 
 any Friends hold slaves ; and do all bear a faithful 
 testimony against the practice ; endeavouring to in- 
 struct the negroes under their care in the principles of 
 the Christian religion, and teach them to read?" 
 
 In 1787, " it appearing by the accounts that some 
 in membership with us, still hold slaves ; that some 
 hire, and others are employed in overseeing slaves, in 
 consideration of which inconsistent practices it ap- 
 pears to be the unanimous judgment of the meeting, 
 that it is high time for us, as a people professing 
 Truth, to bear a faithful testimony against these 
 things ;" meetings were therefore exhorted to enforce 
 the discipline in these particulars. 
 
 In this manner, by patient and continued exertion, 
 the Yearly Meeting of Virginia gradually cleared 
 itself of this grievous burden to all rightly concerned 
 Friends. 
 
 The foregoing narrative is an instructive example 
 of the manner in which the great Head of the Church 
 disposes the hearts of his people to fulfil his gracious 
 purposes. The evil practice of slaveholding had 
 gained, before they were generally awakened to a 
 sense of its iniquity, a footing among a people united 
 in the bands of Christian brotherhood, and called upon, 
 as they believed, to maintain the cause of universal 
 righteousness. Those among them who were from 
 
THE SLAVE TRADE. 57 
 
 the first convinced of its sinfulness, and who were 
 themselves clear thereof, did not cease to proclaim 
 its unlawfulness and its inconsistency with a high 
 religious profession. Yet was this Christian zeal tem- 
 pered with Christian prudence and forbearance. They 
 sought to conciliate and to convince those whom they 
 saw to be in error. Year by year did they exhort 
 and labour with their brethren, and the opposition of 
 men urged to actions which conflicted with their 
 imagined interests, while it did not slacken their zeal, 
 did not excite them to harsh or intemperate expres- 
 sions. Their course was marked by discretion, no 
 less than by perseverance. They sought first to per- 
 suade their brethren to abstain from trafficking in 
 human flesh, and after more than half a century of 
 persevering labour, they effectually gained their cause. 
 
 The feelings and sentiments of the Society at large 
 had, in the mean time, been greatly changed, and the 
 enormous sinfulness of slaveholding was so generally 
 admitted, that few were found to defend it. Yet a 
 practice which had prevailed for many generations ; 
 in which men of influence and authority partook ; 
 into which many had fallen by inheritance from their 
 ancestors ; of which the enormity was in most cases 
 veiled by the mildness of the authority ; which the 
 complex relations of civil life involved at times in 
 questions difficult to be resolved ; a practice thus 
 deeply rooted, could not at once, by a common con- 
 sent, be abandoned. 
 
 More than twenty years again elapsed before the 
 Society was prepared to disown the slaveholder ; and 
 more than a quarter of a century before it could say 
 
58 SLAVERY AND 
 
 there was no slave within its borders. At the same 
 time there spread a conviction that justice required 
 it to compensate the slave for his labours ; to provide 
 for the instruction of the young, the care of the in- 
 firm and asred, and the assistance and advice of those 
 in active business. 
 
 It was not till all these duties were performed, and 
 this debt of justice had been paid, that the Society felt 
 itself called upon to plead the cause of the slave before 
 the world, and to remonstrate with the rulers and the 
 people against the iniquity of the slave trade, and the 
 wickedness of slaveholding ; the first memorial to the 
 general government having been presented by the 
 Yearly Meeting of Pennsylvania, about two years after 
 the extinction of slavery within its own limits. 
 
 From that period to the present time, the Society 
 has continued to labour with diligence and perseve- 
 rance, in this righteous cause ; endeavouring to en- 
 lighten the public mind respecting the enormities of 
 the slave trade and slavery; to prepare the way for the 
 extinction of these foul blots upon the Christian name, 
 and to ameliorate the condition of the free people of 
 colour. Memorials have frequently been presented to 
 Congress and other legislative bodies, with a view of 
 forwarding these important objects, and numerous 
 "" treatises, calculated to promote sound Christian views 
 respecting them, have been published and widely dis- 
 seminated; besides various other measures which, from 
 time to time, have been presented as proper and right 
 to engage in. And there is abundant cause thankfully 
 to acknowledge, that as Friends have endeavoured to 
 keep a single eye to their holy Leader, and simply fol- 
 
THE SLAVE TKADE. 59 
 
 low his requirings, having no other aim but to ad- 
 vance his glory and the good of their fellow creatures, 
 it has often pleased him to open the hearts of those 
 they have addressed, to receive their admonition or 
 remonstrances, and to bless their humble endeavours. 
 
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