Notes and Queries

NOTES AND QUERIES Si NOTES AND QUERIES Augustine Birrell on the Friends.—" One thing in the strange history of the Quakers stands out in the clearest relief. Despite their bold denial of all the Sacraments and of any kind of formal Priesthood, or ministry , denials which, in the first instance , brought down upon their covered heads the' whole forces of all the hatreds of a Christendom for once united, they nevertheless were the first, and for a long, long time the only, Nonconformists to obtain the protection of the law. This they won, not by political strife, but by a sublime indifference to consequences, legal or social. Unable to swear, they found the Courts closed against them, when in pursuit of their civil remedies. They submitted in silence, and were the more careful not to make bad debts. Marriage was only to be had within the walls of the Establishment . All other Nonconformists , wishing to wed, went to Church, at least once in their lives, fearing bastardy for their offspring. The Quakers feared nothing, did not go to Church, kept their own Registers, and made it a matter of religion never to die intestate.* This attitude of sublime indifference was soon found intolerable. In 1696 Quak- * Had they died without a will, their children might not have inherited, being, in the eye of the existing law, illegitimate .—[Editor]. ers were allowed to affirm in Courts of Justice, and in 1754 their marriages outside the walls of either Church or Chapel were recognized. No such consideration was shown to more orthodox Nonconformists for a century or so. Quaker history stands alone in its indomitable success. If it is finished it is a pity." Preface to " A Quaker PostBag ," 1910. Membership in the Eighteenth Century.—" Where as we the Subscribers were appointed a Com*6 at our Monthly Meeting1 To point out a method to Regulate that Difficulty that we have Long Laboured under to know who are the Proper members there of according to the Rules of Discipline—And accordingly We Having met together and Consulted the same Do Report as followeth, That all such friends as are approved of as Ministers Elders Overseers or Visitors be looked upon and approved as members Also them who have at any time been appointed Representatives by said Meeting To attend any other meeting, And all Such who Have Brought Certificates from any other Monthly Meeting of Friends Owning them as members there of. Except any of the afore said Have gone into any Disorderly act afterwards and 52 BULLETIN OF FRIENDS' HISTORICAL SOCIETY have not made satisfaction for the same, And That these and all others who look upon themselves to be members and are approved of as such by said Meeting who have Children under their care Endeavour as soon as may be to have their Births put upon Record and any friend or friends who Looketh upon him her or themselves to be members and are approved of as such by said meeting may if they Desire the same have their Names Entered also, And Those who may Claim a Right of Membership by Birth or Otherwise and Have so walked as they are not in full unity by Reason of their misconduct shall make Suitable Satisfaction to said meeting before They are approved of as members, And it is our oppinion that the Overseers or visiters, who they think may Claim a Right as aforesaid and Labour with them as they shall find it on their minds In order for their return , And where any Person shall apply to the Clerk to have his or their names or Childrens put upon Record and the Clerk is in Doubt about their being members that then He apply to said meeting for advise. Dated in Smithfield [Rhode Island ] the 30th of the 5* month 1765· Daniel Southwick Tho Lapham Adam Harkness Jabes Wing Joshua Lapham Thomas Steere John Smith From the Ms. Records Smithfield Monthly Meeting, Rhode Island. Slaughter of Seals in the Eighteenth Century.—[The following extracts are taken from the Ms. Journal of Christopher Almy of Newport, R. I., who went on a whaling and sealing voyage 1797-1799. The...