Are
the times, seasons of difficulty and embarrassment in the commercial
world? Is the aspect of the political horizon gloomy, and does it appear
big with convulsions? New admonition and, advices follow.
A third subject, comprehended in the letter, and which I believe since
the year 1787 has frequently formed a standing article in it, is the
slave-trade. The Quakers consider this trade as so extensively big with
misery to their fellow creatures, that their members ought to have a
deep and awful feeling, and a religious care and concern about it. This
and occasionally other subjects having been duly weighed by the
committee, they begin to compose the letter.
When the letter is ready, it is brought into the public meeting, and the
whole of it, without interruption, is first read audibly. It is then
read over again, and canvassed, sentence by sentence. Every sentence,
nay every word, is liable to alteration; for any one may make his
remarks, and nothing can stand but by the sense of the meeting. When
finally settled and approved, it is printed and dispersed among the
members throughout the nation. This letter may be considered as
informing the society of certain matters, that occurred in the preceding
year, and as conveying to them admonitions on various subjects.
Pages:
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225