Part 31 (2/2)
”And that proper Booksfor the several Classes of Catechumens, there is care taken for the several sorts, which may be all had in this Town And it may be necessary to acquaint you, that for the poor Children and Servants, they shall be given Gratis”--Hawks's _Ecclesiastical History of the United States_, vol
ii, pp 503-504
EXTRACTS FROM THE MINUTES OF THE MEETINGS OF THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS
FROM THE MINUTES OF THE YEARLY MEETING OF THE FRIENDS OF PENNSYLVANIA AND NEW JERSEY, 1774
”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 s 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 for their own relief, and the essential benefit of the negro And in such fae, that they excite the ive the, in order to qualify them for the enjoyment of liberty intended, and that they may be instructed by themselves, or placed out to such ious education, to serve for such tier, as is prescribed by law and custoress of the Testiainst Slavery and the Slave Trade_ Published by direction of the Yearly Meeting, held in Philadelphia, in the Fourth Month, 1843, p 38
FROM THE MINUTES OF THE YEARLY MEETING OF THE FRIENDS OF PHILADELPHIA AND NEW JERSEY, 1779
”A tender Christian sympathy appears to be awakened in the ious profession with us, who have seriously considered the oppressions and disadvantages under which those people have long laboured; and whether a pious care extended to their offspring is not justly due from us to them, is a consideration worthy of our serious and deep attention; or if this obligation did not weightily lay upon us, can benevolent minds be directed to any object eeneration for their beco as formerly enjoined, 'If thy brethren be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee, then thou shalt relieve hier, or a sojourner; that he may live with thee'”--_Ibid_, p 38
FROM THE MINUTES OF THE QUARTERLY MEETING OF THE FRIENDS OF CHESTER
”The consideration of the temporal and spiritual welfare of the Africans, and the necessary instruction of their offspring now being resumed, and after some time spent thereon, it is closely recos to pay due attention to the advice of the Yearly Meeting on this subject, and proceed as strengthafter the them such counsel as their situation may require”--_Ibid_, p 39
FROM THE MINUTES OF THE HADDONFIELD QUARTERLY MEETING
”In Haddonfield Quarterly Meeting, a committee was kept steadily under appointment for several years to assist in ro children Religious s were frequently held for the people of color; and Haddonfield Monthly Meeting raised on one occasion 131 pounds, for the education of negro children
”In Sales of worshi+p for the people of color were held by direction of the ; funds were raised for the education of their children, and cos to provide books, place the children at school, to visit the schools, and inspect their conduct and iularly held for people of color, at least once in three s 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 s of Friends of that city, and supported by funds derived froacies and bequests, yielding an incoe nuht of both sexes”--_Ibid_, pp 40-41
FROM THE MINUTES OF THE RHODE ISLAND QUARTERLY MEETING OF THE FRIENDS, 1769
A co met, and entered into a solemn consideration of the subject, they were of the ht beso with such who continue 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 disposition to set such free who are arrived to e; and when the labour is perforwhat further step to take in this affair, which hath given so much concern to faithful Friends, and that in the meantime it should be enforced upon Friends that have them in possession, to treat them with tenderness; i places of religious worshi+p; and give such as are young, so
”Are Friends clear of iroes or slaves; and do they use those ho are under their care, and not in circue or incapacity, to be set at liberty? And do they give those that are young such an education as becoious and virtuous life? Are all set at liberty that are of age, capacity, and ability suitable for freedom?”--_Ibid_, pp 45,46
FROM THE MINUTES OF THE YEARLY MEETING OF THE FRIENDS OF VIRGINIA IN 1757 AND 1773
”Are Friends clear of iroes to trade on; and do they use those hich they are possessed of by inheritance or otherwise, endeavoring to train theion?”
Theof 1773 recommended to Friends, ”seriously to consider the circuation we are under to discharge our religious duties to the disinterestedly pursued, will lead the professor to Truth, to advise and assist the their instruction in the principles of the Christian religion, and the pious education of their children; also to advise them in their worldly concerns, as occasions offer; and it advised that Friends of judgment and experiencethe solid sense of thisobligations to express our love and concern for the offspring of those people, who, by their labours, have greatly contributed toward the cultivation of these colonies, under the afflictive disadvantage of enduring a hard bondage; andthe benefit of their toil”--_Ibid_, pp 51, 52, and 54
EXTRACT FROM THE MINUTES OF THE METHODIST CONFERENCE, 1785
”Q What directions shall we give for the promotion of the spiritual welfare of the colored people?
”A We conjure all our ministers and preachers, by the love of God and the salvation of souls, and do require them, by all the authority that is invested in us, to leave nothing undone for the spiritual benefit and salvation of them, within their respective circuits or districts; and for this purpose to e into the state of their souls, and to unite in society those who appear to have a real desire of fleeing from the wrath to come, to meet such a class, and to exercise the whole Methodist Discipline a them”
”Q What can be done in order to instruct poor children, white and black to read?