been written with the weight, always growing on him, of the lack of true simplicity in ordinary life: 1 "Beloved friend: Since our last Conversation I have felt an increase of brotherly love, and therein a liberty to hint further to thee how at different times for years past, things have wrought on my mind respecting high living. In some affecting seasons abroad, as I have sat in meetings with desires to attend singly on the pure gift, I have felt that amongst my brethren, grievously entangled in expensive customs, the Lord hath a work for some to do in exampling others in the Simplicity as it is in Christ. II. Corinth. XI. 3. As I have seen that a view to live high hath been a stumbling block, and that what some appeared to aim at was no higher, than many of the foremost rank in our Society lived, there hath been a labour upon me, that in this respect, the way may be cast up, and the stumbling block taken out of the way of the people. Isaa. 57. 14. And here the inexpressible love of Christ in denying himself & enduring grief for our Sakes is often before me, as an example for us to follow, in denying ourselves, of things pleasant to our natural inclinations, that we may example others, in the pure Christian life in our age. 2. In regard to thieves, I have had many Serious thoughts, and often been jealous over myself, lest by withholding from a poor man what our Heavenly Father may intend for him through me, I should lay a temptation in his way to steal, and have often felt a care that no desire for riches, or outward greatness, may prompt me to get that in our house which may create envy, and increase this difficulty. 3. I have sometimes wrote wills for people when sick and expected soon to leave their families, who had but little to divide amongst their children, and I have so far felt a brotherly Sympathy, that their cases have become mine, in regard to a comfortable living for them, and here expensive customs have often made the prospect less clear. Expensive customs on such occasions have often Affected me with sadness. 4. The manner of taking possession of the Silver mines Southwestward, the conduct of the conquerors toward the natives, & the miserable toyl of many of our fellow creatures in those mines, have often been the subject of my thoughts; and though I sometimes handle. silver and gold as a currency, my so doing is at times attended with pensiveness, and a care that my ears may not be stopped against further instruction; I often think of the fruitfulness of the Soyl where we live, the care that hath been taken to agree with the former 1 From Woolman's copy, MS. A, p. 279 ff. owners, the natives, and the conveniences this land affords for our use: and on the numerous oppressions there are in many places, and feel care that my cravings may be rightly bounded, and that no wandering desires may lead me to so Strengthen the hands of the wicked as to partake of their Sins. I. Timo. 5ċ. 22v. 5. In conversing at times with some well-disposed friends who have been long pressed with poverty, I have thought that some outward help, more than I believed myself a Steward to communicate, might be a blessing to them; and at such times the expenses, that might be saved amongst some of my brethren, without any real inconvenience to them, hath often been brought to my mind; nor have I believed myself clear with out speaking at times publickly concerning it. 6. My mind is often on the immutability of the Divine being, & the purity of his judgments, and a prospect of outward distress in this part of the world hath been open before me, and I have had to behold the blessedness of a state in which the mind is fully subjected to the divine Teacher, and the confusion and perplexity of such who profess the Truth, and are not faithful to the leadings of it: nor have I ever felt pitty move more evidently on my mind, than I have felt it toward children, who, by their education, are lead on in unnecessary expenses, and exampled in seeking gain in the wisdom of this world to support themselves therein." da mo 9: 7: 1769. My dear friend — In our meeting of Ministers and Elders, I have several times felt the movings of divine love amongst us, and to me there appeared a preparation for profitable labours in the meeting: but the time appointed for publick meetings drawing near, a strictness for time hath been felt. And in yearly Meeting, for the preservation of good order in the Society, when much business hath lain before us, and weighty matters relating to the Testimony of Truth hath been under consideration, I have sometimes felt that a care in some to get forward soon hath prevented so weighty and deliberate a proceeding as by Some hath been desired. Sincere hearted friends who are concerned to wait for the Counsel of Truth, are often made helps to each other, and when such from distant parts of our extensive Yearly meeting, have set their houses in order and thus gathered in one place, I believe it is the will of our Heavenly Father, that we with a single eye to the leadings of his Holy Spirit, Should quietly wait on him without hurrying in the business before us. As my mind hath been on these things some difficulties have arisen in my way; first there are through prevailing custom, many expences attending our entertainment in town, which, if the leadings of Truth were faithfully followed, might be lessened. Many under an outward shew of a delicate life, are entangled in the worldly Spirit, labouring to support those expensive customs which they at times feel to be a burden. These expences arising from a conformity to the spirit of this world, have often lain as a heavy burden on my mind, and Especially at the time of our Solemn meetings; and a life truly conformable to the Simplicity that is in Christ, where we may faithfully serve our God without distraction, and have no interruption from that which is against the Truth, to me hath been very desirable; and my dear friend, as the Lord in Infinite mercies hath called thee and I (Sic) to labour at times in his vineyard, and hath, I believe, sometimes appointed to us different offices in his work, our opening our experience one to another in the pure feeling of Charity may be profitable. The great Shepherd of the Sheep I believe is preparing some to example the people in a plain Simple way of living, and I feel a tender care that thee and I may abide in that, where our light may shine clear, and nothing pertaining to us have any tendency to Strengthen those customs which are distinguishable from the Truth as it is in Jesus." The friendships of our Journalist were warm and permanent. Among these, in Rebecca Jones, 36 John Woolman found a most congenial companion, upon whose strength of character and sanctified common sense he had learned to depend. They were both teachers, and her school for girls at 8 Drinker's Alley, in Philadelphia was in great repute. Her brother, Daniel Jones, had remained in the Church of England in which faith both of them were born, and was the leading Inn-keeper at Mount Holly. She was in the habit of spending a portion of her brief summer vacation with him, and with John and Sarah Woolman, for the benefit of the country air. John Woolman was a frequent visitor to Rebecca Jones's school, and often wrote the copies for her in his fine clear hand. "None but a philanthropist is fitted for the office of teacher," is the comment of the editor of her interesting Memorials. Many a modern school might profit by her "Rules of Conduct", of which one was, "Make all your speeches to your mistress with due respect, observing cheerfully to perform her 1 "Memorials of Rebecca Jones," by Wm. J. Allinson, ed. directions with despatch, according to your ability. If a stranger should speak to you, give a modest and ready answer, standing up and turning your face towards them respectfully; take your seats again and silently apply to your business." These two Quaker philanthropists, together with another teacher, Anthony Benezet, were at this time deeply interested in the proper education of youth. The children of Quakers, especially in the country neighborhoods, were lamentably deficient in their instruction. Many grew up ignorant of reading or writing, and documents of the middle and last quarter of the eighteenth century are often signed by a mark. In 1746 a recommendation was made for the better instruction of Friends' children, but little came of it at the time. In 1750 the same thing happened, but a few Friends were laboring steadily for improved conditions. Among these was John Woolman. It is hardly likely that Woolman did not know Christopher Dock, the famous "Schoolmaster of the Skippack." There was frequent intercourse between the German Baptists on the outskirts of Philadelphia and the Quakers. Dock came to America in 1714 and became a well known teacher. Christopher Sauer, the German publisher, in Germantown, of many Friends' books, persuaded him to write his "Schulordnung" in 1750, but for nineteen years it lay neglected. In 1769 Sauer's son urged him to publish it, and the little book appeared from the Sauer press in 1770. It has been called the earliest book in Pennsylvania on the subject of school teaching. Anthony Benezet opened his school in 1755, and his "Primer" is later, undated. But it is more than likely that Woolman's antedated both. Indeed Benezet's is modeled somewhat upon that of Woolman. A Quaker broadside issued about this time, or possibly in 1759, on the whole subject of education, is interesting in this connection.2 How many people think of Woolman as schoolmaster? Yet for many years, in the intervals of his travels and while carrying on his business as a tailor, John Woolman was teaching. The "Testimony" of his Monthly Meeting says that Woolman "several times" opened a school "for Friends' children and others," for nothing exclusive ever found place in his spirit, and these are the 1 The original is in the Historical Soc. of Penna. Cassel Collection. years when his Larger Account Book tells us clearly how he was engaged. Its the life of a busy man. There are accounts for teaching the children of Aaron Barton, and of his brothers, Asher, and Abner Woolman; Thomas Bispham, James Dobbins, John Steeper, John Atkinson and many others. The rate he 38 Parged for his pupils may be gathered from a memorandum for a small relative. The bill sent her father, Asher Woolman reads thus: da mo "To schooling thy daughter 2 of 1, 1769 till £ s d At the head of this book stand what at first may seem like some of his own pious reflections, but they are of uniform length. Cannot some of us recall days long ago when we toiled laboriously over our copy-book, vainly endeavoring to get the proper slopes and flourishes on the "T's" and the "G's," for instance, in some such sententious phrase as "To be good is to be happy"; "The child is father to the man?" These lines in Woolman's book, in clear and bolder handwriting, are nothing more or less than his writing-book headings, from which he set copies for his small pupils. They are all original, and these are a few of them: "If anger burns, stand still. Kindness in the heart feels pleasant. The wounds of a friend need no plaister. A rose in the Spring smells sweet. Let the dainty man try abstinence. An Easie Life, a delicious Cook, and the Doctor." Interspersed among the school accounts we find not only charges for spelling books, writing materials, ink powder and the These were all well-known citizens of Northampton township. |