A Quaker is called, as we have seen, to the exercise of
important and honourable functions.
He sits in his monthly meeting, as it were in council, with the rest of
the members. He sees all equal but he sees none superior, to himself. He
may give his advice on any question. He may propose new matter. He may
argue and reply. In the quarterly meetings he is called to the exercise
of the same privileges, but on a larger scale. And at the yearly meeting
he may, if he pleases, unite in his own person the offices of council,
judge, and legislator. But when he leaves the society, and goes out into
the world, he has no such station or power. He sees there every body
equal to himself in privileges, and thousands above him. It is in this
loss of his former consequence that he must feel a punishment in having
been disowned. For he can never be to his own feelings what he was
before. It is almost impossible that he should not feel a diminution of
his dignity and importance as a man.
Neither can he restore himself to these privileges by going to a distant
part of the kingdom and residing among quakers there, on a supposition
that his disownment may be concealed. For a Quaker, going to a new abode
among Quakers, must carry with him a certificate of his conduct from the
last monthly meeting which he left, or he cannot be received as a
member.
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