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Literary
July 24, 1787
The New York Packet
New York, New York County, New York
What is this article about?
Extract from John Coakley Lettsom's memoirs of John Fothergill praising Quakers for founding a persecution-free government in America, their uniform thinking and action, freedom from poverty, and adherence to beneficent principles, including a quote from a continental writer esteeming their virtues.
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Full Text
Extract from the Memoirs of John Fothergill, M. D. &c. by John Coakley Lettsom.
Persecution drove the Quakers to America where they founded a Government unknown in modern times; where the world beheld a people in power, the only people in history, who never exercised that power to persecute the weak!
What is familiar and near to us excites little scrutiny or investigation; but the time may come, when a wise Legislature may condescend to enquire, by what medium a whole society, in both the old and new world, is made to think and act with uniformity for upwards of a century!—By what policy, without emolument from government, they have become the only people on earth free from poverty!—By what economy they have thus prevented beggary and want among any of their members, whilst the nation groans under taxes for the poor!—Then, perhaps their fanaticism may not appear to the public in a worse point of view than has been exhibited by a modern writer on the continent, whose sentiments are as follow: After giving a view of their religious principles, he says, 'Let those who please consider the Quakers as fanatics; they are such as always merit esteem. I think myself obliged to declare, that I esteem them to be a great, industrious, modest, intelligent, and virtuous people, and to be animated with the most beneficent principles of any sect which ever yet appeared in the world. They have a comprehensive charity to the whole race of mankind, and deny the mercies of God to none. They publicly aver, that an universal liberty is due to all; are against impositions of every kind, yet patiently submit to many themselves; and perhaps are the only party amongst men, whose practices, as a body, correspond with their principles. I am not ashamed to own, that I have with great pleasure read over Mr. Barclay's apology for Quakerism, and do really think it to be the most masterly, charitable and reasonable system that I have ever seen.'
Persecution drove the Quakers to America where they founded a Government unknown in modern times; where the world beheld a people in power, the only people in history, who never exercised that power to persecute the weak!
What is familiar and near to us excites little scrutiny or investigation; but the time may come, when a wise Legislature may condescend to enquire, by what medium a whole society, in both the old and new world, is made to think and act with uniformity for upwards of a century!—By what policy, without emolument from government, they have become the only people on earth free from poverty!—By what economy they have thus prevented beggary and want among any of their members, whilst the nation groans under taxes for the poor!—Then, perhaps their fanaticism may not appear to the public in a worse point of view than has been exhibited by a modern writer on the continent, whose sentiments are as follow: After giving a view of their religious principles, he says, 'Let those who please consider the Quakers as fanatics; they are such as always merit esteem. I think myself obliged to declare, that I esteem them to be a great, industrious, modest, intelligent, and virtuous people, and to be animated with the most beneficent principles of any sect which ever yet appeared in the world. They have a comprehensive charity to the whole race of mankind, and deny the mercies of God to none. They publicly aver, that an universal liberty is due to all; are against impositions of every kind, yet patiently submit to many themselves; and perhaps are the only party amongst men, whose practices, as a body, correspond with their principles. I am not ashamed to own, that I have with great pleasure read over Mr. Barclay's apology for Quakerism, and do really think it to be the most masterly, charitable and reasonable system that I have ever seen.'
What sub-type of article is it?
Essay
What themes does it cover?
Religious
Liberty Freedom
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Quakers
Persecution
Liberty
Religious Principles
Charity
Uniformity
Poverty Prevention
Barclay's Apology
What entities or persons were involved?
By John Coakley Lettsom
Literary Details
Title
Extract From The Memoirs Of John Fothergill, M. D. &C.
Author
By John Coakley Lettsom
Subject
On The Quakers' History, Principles, And Society
Key Lines
Persecution Drove The Quakers To America Where They Founded A Government Unknown In Modern Times; Where The World Beheld A People In Power, The Only People In History, Who Never Exercised That Power To Persecute The Weak!
'Let Those Who Please Consider The Quakers As Fanatics; They Are Such As Always Merit Esteem.'
They Publicly Aver, That An Universal Liberty Is Due To All; Are Against Impositions Of Every Kind, Yet Patiently Submit To Many Themselves; And Perhaps Are The Only Party Amongst Men, Whose Practices, As A Body, Correspond With Their Principles.
I Am Not Ashamed To Own, That I Have With Great Pleasure Read Over Mr. Barclay's Apology For Quakerism, And Do Really Think It To Be The Most Masterly, Charitable And Reasonable System That I Have Ever Seen.