The Quakers

About this time arose the illustrious William Penn, who established the power of the Quakers in America, and would have made them appear venerable in the eyes of the Europeans, were it possible for mankind to respect virtue when revealed in a ridiculous light. He was the only son of Vice-Admiral Penn, favourite of the Duke of York, afterwards King James II.

Around this time, the distinguished William Penn rose to prominence and established the Quakers’ power in America. He would have made Europeans revere the Quakers, if people could respect virtue presented in a ridiculous light. He was the only son of Vice-Admiral Penn, a favourite of the Duke of York, who later became King James II.

William Penn, at twenty years of age, happening to meet with a Quaker in Cork, whom he had known at Oxford, this man made a proselyte of him; and William being a sprightly youth, and naturally eloquent, having a winning aspect, and a very engaging carriage, he soon gained over some of his intimates. He carried matters so far, that he formed by insensible degrees a society of young Quakers, who met at his house; so that he was at the head of a sect when a little above twenty.

At twenty, William Penn happened to meet a Quaker in Cork whom he had known at Oxford. The man converted him to the Quaker faith. William was a lively young man, naturally eloquent, with an appealing appearance and a very engaging manner. So he soon won over some of his close friends. He went so far as to gradually form a group of young Quakers who met at his house. So, when he was just over twenty, he was already the leader of a sect.

Being returned, after his leaving Cork, to the Vice-Admiral his father, instead of falling upon his knees to ask his blessing, he went up to him with his hat on, and said, “Friend, I am very glad to see thee in good health.” The Vice-Admiral imagined his son to be crazy, but soon finding he was turned Quaker, he employed all the methods that prudence could suggest to engage him to behave and act like other people. The youth made no other answer to his father, than by exhorting him to turn Quaker also. At last his father confined himself to this single request, viz., “that he should wait upon the King and the Duke of York with his hat under his arm, and should not ‘thee’ and ‘thou’ them.” William answered, “that he could not do these things, for conscience’ sake,” which exasperated his father to such a degree, that he turned him out of doors. Young Pen gave God thanks for permitting him to suffer so early in His cause, after which he went into the city, where he held forth, and made a great number of converts.

After leaving Cork, he returned to his father, the Vice-Admiral. Instead of kneeling to ask for his blessing, he approached him with his hat on. He said, “Friend, I am very glad to see you in good health.” The Vice-Admiral thought his son had gone mad, but soon discovered he had become a Quaker. He tried every sensible method he could think of to persuade his son to behave and act like other people. The young man’s only response was to urge his father to become a Quaker too. At last, his father reduced his demands to a single request: “When visiting the King and the Duke of York, keep your hat under your arm. And do not address them as ‘thee’ and ‘thou.’” William answered, “I cannot do these things, for conscience’s sake.” His answer so enraged his father that he threw him out of the house. Young Pen thanked God for allowing him to suffer so early for his cause. Then he went into the city, where he preached and made a great many converts.

The Church of England clergy found their congregations dwindle away daily; and Penn being young, handsome, and of a graceful stature, the court as well as the city ladies flocked very devoutly to his meeting. The patriarch, George Fox, hearing of his great reputation, came to London (though the journey was very long) purely to see and converse with him. Both resolved to go upon missions into foreign countries, and accordingly they embarked for Holland, after having left labourers sufficient to take care of the London vineyard.

The Church of England clergy saw their congregations shrink daily. Penn was young, handsome, and graceful, so ladies from both the court and the city flocked devoutly to his meetings. The patriarch, George Fox, heard of Penn’s great reputation and came to London solely to meet and talk with him. He made the trip even though the journey was very long. Both men decided to undertake missions abroad, so they sailed for Holland. Before leaving, they left enough workers to tend the London vineyard.

Their labours were crowned with success in Amsterdam, but a circumstance which reflected the greatest honour on them, and at the same time put their humility to the greatest trial, was the reception they met with from Elizabeth, the Princess Palatine, aunt to George I. of Great Britain, a lady conspicuous for her genius and knowledge, and to whom Descartes had dedicated his Philosophical Romance.

Their efforts succeeded in Amsterdam. But one welcome brought them the greatest honor and, at the same time, put their humility to the greatest test. They received this welcome from Elizabeth, the Princess Palatine, aunt to George I of Great Britain. She was a woman of outstanding intellect and knowledge. Descartes had dedicated his Philosophical Romance to her.

She was then retired to the Hague, where she received these Friends, for so the Quakers were at that time called in Holland. This princess had several conferences with them in her palace, and she at last entertained so favourable an opinion of Quakerism, that they confessed she was not far from the kingdom of heaven. The Friends sowed likewise the good seed in Germany, but reaped very little fruit; for the mode of “theeing” and “thouing” was not approved of in a country where a man is perpetually obliged to employ the titles of “highness” and “excellency.” William Penn returned soon to England upon hearing of his father’s sickness, in order to see him before he died. The Vice-Admiral was reconciled to his son, and though of a different persuasion, embraced him tenderly. William made a fruitless exhortation to his father not to receive the sacrament, but to die a Quaker, and the good old man entreated his son William to wear buttons on his sleeves, and a crape hatband in his beaver, but all to no purpose.

She had then retired to the Hague, where she welcomed these Friends, as the Quakers were then called in Holland. The princess held several discussions with them in her palace. Eventually, she formed such a favorable opinion of Quakerism that the Friends admitted she was near the kingdom of heaven. The Friends also sowed the good seed in Germany, but gathered very little fruit. Their habit of “theeing” and “thouing” was unwelcome in a country where men constantly had to use titles like “highness” and “excellency.” William Penn soon returned to England after hearing of his father’s illness, hoping to see him before he died. The Vice-Admiral reconciled with his son and, though he held different religious beliefs, embraced him tenderly. William urged his father not to receive communion, but to die a Quaker. His appeal was fruitless. The good old man begged his son William to wear buttons on his sleeves and a mourning band on his beaver hat. But his appeal, too, was in vain.

William Penn inherited very large possessions, part of which consisted in Crown debts due to the Vice-Admiral for sums he had advanced for the sea service. No moneys were at that time more insecure than those owing from the king. Penn was obliged to go more than once, and “thee” and “thou” King Charles and his Ministers, in order to recover the debt; and at last, instead of specie, the Government invested him with the right and sovereignty of a province of America, to the south of Maryland. Thus was a Quaker raised to sovereign power. Penn set sail for his new dominions with two ships freighted with Quakers, who followed his fortune. The country was then called Pennsylvania from William Penn, who there founded Philadelphia, now the most flourishing city in that country. The first step he took was to enter into an alliance with his American neighbours, and this is the only treaty between those people and the Christians that was not ratified by an oath, and was never infringed. The new sovereign was at the same time the legislator of Pennsylvania, and enacted very wise and prudent laws, none of which have ever been changed since his time. The first is, to injure no person upon a religious account, and to consider as brethren all those who believe in one God.

William Penn inherited a great deal of property, including debts the Crown owed to the Vice-Admiral. These debts were for money the Vice-Admiral had advanced to support the navy. At that time, no money was harder to recover than money owed by the king. Penn had to visit King Charles and his ministers more than once to collect the debt. He addressed them as “thee” and “thou”. At last, instead of paying him in cash, the government gave him ownership and sovereignty over an American province. The province lay south of Maryland. Thus a Quaker became a sovereign ruler. Penn sailed for his new territory with two ships full of Quakers who had chosen to share his fortunes. The country was then named Pennsylvania after William Penn. There he founded Philadelphia, now the most flourishing city in that country. His first act was to form an alliance with his American neighbours. This treaty is the only one between those peoples and Christians that was neither sworn to nor ever broken. The new sovereign also served as Pennsylvania’s lawmaker. He passed very wise and sensible laws, none of which have ever been changed since his time. The first law forbids harming anyone because of religion. It also requires everyone who believes in one God to be treated as a brother.

He had no sooner settled his government, but several American merchants came and peopled this colony. The natives of the country, instead of flying into the woods, cultivated by insensible degrees a friendship with the peaceable Quakers. They loved these foreigners as much as they detested the other Christians who had conquered and laid waste America. In a little time a great number of these savages (falsely so called), charmed with the mild and gentle disposition of their neighbours, came in crowds to William Penn, and besought him to admit them into the number of his vassals. It was very rare and uncommon for a sovereign to be “thee’d” and “thou’d” by the meanest of his subjects, who never took their hats off when they came into his presence; and as singular for a Government to be without one priest in it, and for a people to be without arms, either offensive or defensive; for a body of citizens to be absolutely undistinguished but by the public employments, and for neighbours not to entertain the least jealousy one against the other.

As soon as he established his government, several American merchants came and settled in the colony. Instead of fleeing into the woods, the native people gradually formed a friendship with the peaceful Quakers. They loved these foreigners as much as they hated the other Christians who had conquered and devastated America. Soon, many of these people, falsely called savages, were won over by their neighbors’ mild and gentle nature. They came in crowds to William Penn and begged him to accept them as his subjects. It was very unusual for even a ruler’s lowliest subjects to address him with the familiar “thee” and “thou”. These subjects never took off their hats in his presence. It was equally unusual for a government to have not a single priest. Just as unusual was a people with no weapons, either for attack or defense. Citizens had no distinctions of rank except those of public office. And neighbors felt not the slightest jealousy toward one another.

William Penn might glory in having brought down upon earth the so much boasted golden age, which in all probability never existed but in Pennsylvania. He returned to England to settle some affairs relating to his new dominions. After the death of King Charles II., King James, who had loved the father, indulged the same affection to the son, and no longer considered him as an obscure sectary, but as a very great man. The king’s politics on this occasion agreed with his inclinations. He was desirous of pleasing the Quakers by annulling the laws made against Nonconformists, in order to have an opportunity, by this universal toleration, of establishing the Romish religion. All the sectarists in England saw the snare that was laid for them, but did not give into it; they never failing to unite when the Romish religion, their common enemy, is to be opposed. But Penn did not think himself bound in any manner to renounce his principles, merely to favour Protestants to whom he was odious, in opposition to a king who loved him. He had established a universal toleration with regard to conscience in America, and would not have it thought that he intended to destroy it in Europe, for which reason he adhered so inviolably to King James, that a report prevailed universally of his being a Jesuit. This calumny affected him very strongly, and he was obliged to justify himself in print. However, the unfortunate King James II., in whom, as in most princes of the Stuart family, grandeur and weakness were equally blended, and who, like them, as much overdid some things as he was short in others, lost his kingdom in a manner that is hardly to be accounted for.

William Penn could take pride in having brought the much-praised golden age down to earth. In all probability, that age never existed anywhere but in Pennsylvania. He returned to England to settle some matters concerning his new territories. After the death of King Charles II., King James, who had loved Penn’s father, showed the same affection for Penn. He no longer saw Penn as an obscure member of a religious sect, but as a very great man. The king’s political aims in this matter matched his personal feelings. He wanted to please the Quakers by repealing the laws against Nonconformists. Through this universal religious toleration, he hoped to gain an opportunity to establish Roman Catholicism. All the members of England’s religious sects saw the trap laid for them, but did not fall into it. They always united when Roman Catholicism, their common enemy, had to be opposed. But Penn did not think he was in any way obliged to abandon his principles merely to please other Protestants. Those Protestants hated him, while the king he would be opposing loved him. Penn had established universal freedom of conscience in America. He did not want anyone to think he intended to destroy that freedom in Europe. For this reason, he remained so firmly loyal to King James that a rumor spread everywhere that Penn was a Jesuit. This slander deeply distressed him, and he was forced to defend himself in print. Yet the unfortunate King James II. combined greatness and weakness in equal measure, like most princes of the Stuart family. Like them, he went as far overboard in some things as he fell short in others. He lost his kingdom in a way that can hardly be explained.

All the English sectarists accepted from William III, and his Parliament the toleration and indulgence which they had refused when offered by King James. It was then the Quakers began to enjoy, by virtue of the laws, the several privileges they possess at this time. Penn having at last seen Quakerism firmly established in his native country, went back to Pennsylvania. His own people and the Americans received him with tears of joy, as though he had been a father who was returned to visit his children. All the laws had been religiously observed in his absence, a circumstance in which no legislator had ever been happy but himself. After having resided some years in Pennsylvania he left it, but with great reluctance, in order to return to England, there to solicit some matters in favour of the commerce of Pennsylvania. But he never saw it again, he dying in Ruscombe, in Berkshire, in 1718.

All the English religious sects accepted from William III and his Parliament the religious tolerance and freedoms King James had offered. They had refused those same freedoms when James offered them. The Quakers then began to enjoy, by law, the various privileges they still have today. Once Penn had finally seen Quakerism firmly established in his native country, he returned to Pennsylvania. His own people and the Americans welcomed him with tears of joy, as though a father had returned to visit his children. All the laws had been faithfully obeyed in his absence. No other lawmaker had ever enjoyed such good fortune. After living in Pennsylvania for some years, Penn left with great reluctance to return to England. He went there to seek some measures to benefit Pennsylvania’s trade. But he never saw Pennsylvania again. He died in Ruscombe, in Berkshire, in 1718.

I am not able to guess what fate Quakerism may have in America, but I perceive it dwindles away daily in England. In all countries where liberty of conscience is allowed, the established religion will at last swallow up all the rest. Quakers are disqualified from being members of Parliament; nor can they enjoy any post or preferment, because an oath must always be taken on these occasions, and they never swear. They are therefore reduced to the necessity of subsisting upon traffic. Their children, whom the industry of their parents has enriched, are desirous of enjoying honours, of wearing buttons and ruffles; and quite ashamed of being called Quakers they become converts to the Church of England, merely to be in the fashion.

I cannot guess what future Quakerism may have in America, but I see it shrinking daily in England. In all countries that allow freedom of conscience, the established religion will eventually swallow up all the others. Quakers cannot serve in Parliament or hold any public office or position of rank. This is because such positions always require an oath, and Quakers never swear oaths. They are therefore forced to make their living through trade. Their children, made wealthy by their parents’ hard work, want to enjoy honors and wear buttons and ruffles. These children are quite ashamed of being called Quakers, so they join the Church of England merely to be fashionable.