Proposals Relating to the Education of Youth in Pensilvania (review)

BOOK REVIEWS75 printing of 1894, and nothing at all of the writings of Isaac Sharpless. From lack of space or of information the author omits, in his section on schisms, the story of the great separation among Friends. But perhaps this omission may be credited to sweet charity! Taylor, Rebecca Nicholson. A Family History of theResidence ofRebecca and Sarah Nicholson, Haddonfield, New Jersey. Privately printed. 1917. Pp.24. This is an interesting story written by Rebecca N. Taylor about her aunts, Rebecca and Sarah Nicholson, of Haddonfield, New Jersey. It was privately printed for members of the family, descendants of John Estaugh Hopkins and Sarah Mickle Hopkins. On the front cover is an interesting silhouette likeness of "Sally" Hopkins (1776-1808). A shorter edition of the same story was published in The Friend (Phila.) Twelfth month 3, 1925, and has been reprinted in pamphlet form. Van Etten, Henry. Les Quakers: Histoire de la Société Religieuse des Amis depuis sa fondation jusqu'à nos jours. Paris: Librairie Fischbacher. 1924. Pp. 130. A brief outline of Quaker history, biography, and doctrine. The last two chapters are of special interest, tracing the history of Quakerism in France from early times to the relief work during the World War. The same author wrote the following works: La Société Chrétienne des Amis, 1922; George Fox, 1923; Glanes mystiques, 1924; Le Quakerisme et la Jeunesse contemporaine, 1924. Franklin, Benjamin. Proposals Relating to the Education of Youth in Pensilvania. Facsimile reprint with an introduction by William Pepper. Philadelphia : University of Pennsylvania Press, 1931. Pp. xvii + 32. $2.50. This is a limited edition (500 copies) of Benjamin Franklin's famous tract, dating from 1749, in facsimile reprint, and in very beautiful binding, with a list of the seventeen known extant copies of the original edition. William Pepper's lucid introduction tells the occasion of Franklin's writing the Proposals. An itinerant preacher named George Whitehead arrived from Ireland in 1739; but the local clergy refused him their pulpits, and a group of citizens united to subscribe a fund for the erection of a building (in 1740) which could be used by any preacher who might have a message for Philadelphia; and the building was also to be used as a charity school. The University of Pennsylvania dates its origin from the opening of this school. Franklin became one of the trustees. Later, he was interested in establishing an " academy " for the " compleat education of youth"—in fact, a college; and for the furtherance of this idea, he wrote and circulated the Proposals. The academy opened in 1749; and before long it combined with the charity school, and the joint institution developed into a college and a university. The Proposals reflect that clear sanity for which Franklin was famous. He has ideas about the trustees (he suggests " that the Members of the 76 BULLETIN OF FRIENDS' HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION Corporation make it their Pleasure, and in some Degree their Business, to visit the Academy often, [and] encourage and countenance the youth . . . and masters"); about the Rector ("that the Rector be a Man of good Understanding, good Morals, diligent and patient; learn'd in the Languages and Sciences, and a correct pure Speaker and Writer of the English Tongue"); and curriculum ("As to their Studies, it would be well if they could be taught every Thing that is useful, and every Thing that is ornamental: But Art is long, and their Time is short"). He lays special emphasis on history ; and recommends " Gardening, Planting, Grafting , Inoculating, &c", and " that Benignity of Mind, . . . the Foundation of what is called Good Breeding: highly useful to the Possessor, and most agreeable to all "—all leading up to " an Inclination join'd with an Ability to serve Mankind, one's Country, Friends, and Family." Some of the specific recommendations which Franklin puts forth in the land of Penn's holy experiment now sound a little quaint; but the underlying purpose still holds good. Information Wanted on the History of Friends' Primary Schools The Committee on Education of Arch Street Yearly Meeting has been working for some time on the collection of historical data of Friend's primary schools throughout the limits of the...