Quaker Collection
Collection
Identifier: MSS -237 -SC
Scope and Content
This collection contains 6 documents pertaining to various aspects of the history of the Quakers in England, including their persecution. The documents in this collection range from the mundane, such as a witnessed loan agreement between two men (dated 1741) and a testimony of a woman's service to the Quaker ministry throughout her life (from 1687-1754), to those which speak to the persecution of Quakers in England in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
A document entitled "Advice to Friends Under Prosecution" informs Quakers of their rights before the law of which courts and magistrates "often claim ignorance." Another document presents the alternative oath which can be made by Quakers instead of the oath of allegiance to the State in its usual form. This proclamation also delineates the procedures which Quakers ought to follow in the event that they are threatened with excommunication or imprisonment for not proclaiming the Oath of Allegiance in its usual form. These two proclamations allude to the common practice of jailing Quakers for the practice of public sectarian worship which was illegal at the time.
The collection also contains a document dated 1729, which relates to the proper procedures for Quakers to follow in removing themselves from one community to belong to another Quaker settlement. A small book in the collection consists of the transcription of an address given to American Friends in England in 1920 regarding elements of Quaker history including the persecution of the members of this sect, the passive resistance practiced by them in facing discrimination, and some of the tenets they fought to hold, such as a firm belief in education for peoples of all classes, races, and nationalities. Finally, this address recognized the role of certain Quaker forefathers such as William Penn.
A document entitled "Advice to Friends Under Prosecution" informs Quakers of their rights before the law of which courts and magistrates "often claim ignorance." Another document presents the alternative oath which can be made by Quakers instead of the oath of allegiance to the State in its usual form. This proclamation also delineates the procedures which Quakers ought to follow in the event that they are threatened with excommunication or imprisonment for not proclaiming the Oath of Allegiance in its usual form. These two proclamations allude to the common practice of jailing Quakers for the practice of public sectarian worship which was illegal at the time.
The collection also contains a document dated 1729, which relates to the proper procedures for Quakers to follow in removing themselves from one community to belong to another Quaker settlement. A small book in the collection consists of the transcription of an address given to American Friends in England in 1920 regarding elements of Quaker history including the persecution of the members of this sect, the passive resistance practiced by them in facing discrimination, and some of the tenets they fought to hold, such as a firm belief in education for peoples of all classes, races, and nationalities. Finally, this address recognized the role of certain Quaker forefathers such as William Penn.
Dates
- 1729-1920
- Majority of material found in 1729-1754
Language of Materials
English
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research.
Copy Restrictions
Limited duplication of CSWR material is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with all copyright, privacy, and libel laws. Permission is required for publication or distribution.
History
The Quakers suffered religious persecution in England throughout the seventeenth century. The documents in this collection allude to a continuing persecution of Quakers by the State into the eighteenth century as well. Beginning in the late 1650s, there was an increase in violence against Quakers and arrests of members of this sect. In the following decade, thousands of Friends (as the Quakers are known) were jailed under the statutes enacted against dissenters by the Restoration government. At the time, participation in public sectarian worship was illegal. A frequent charge against Quakers included blasphemy, based on a misunderstanding of the Quaker belief that God's spirit dwells within people. Other accusations resulting in the punishment of Quakers included disturbing ministers, non-payment of tithes, plotting against the government, vagrancy, refusal to honor magistrates by removing the hat or addressing them in the second person plural, refusal to perform military service, public indecency, witchcraft, and refusal to take the Oath of Abjuration in which citizens renounced Roman Catholicism and Papal authority. Intolerance of Quakers also hinged on their defiance at proclaiming an Oath of Allegiance to the state. While this was seen as a display of a lack of devotion to the country by anti-Quakers, to the Quakers, such an oath went against their religious tenets. In 1689, Friends were allowed to make a declaration of loyalty which did not invoke the name of God, rather than the Oath of Allegiance, thus allowing Quakers to profess their loyalty to their country without compromising their spiritual beliefs.
In 1667, the King began to press for religious toleration. In 1672, the King secretly converted to Roman Catholicism and issued a proclamation to suspend the penal laws against nonconformity and Roman Catholicism. In 1686, a Royal Pardon released from prison Quakers who had been incarcerated due to their refusal to take the Oath of Allegiance. The following year, the King issued a Declaration of Indulgence which sought to guarantee freedom of conscience. This declaration was not accepted by Parliament. However, in 1689, the Act of Tolerance granted liberty of conscience to all. However, this act granted less freedom than the overturned Declaration of Indulgence in that under the Act of Tolerance, the persecuting laws were not removed from the books, but there were no longer penalties for individuals who broke them. Still, this signaled an end to the widespread persecution of Quakers in England.
In 1667, the King began to press for religious toleration. In 1672, the King secretly converted to Roman Catholicism and issued a proclamation to suspend the penal laws against nonconformity and Roman Catholicism. In 1686, a Royal Pardon released from prison Quakers who had been incarcerated due to their refusal to take the Oath of Allegiance. The following year, the King issued a Declaration of Indulgence which sought to guarantee freedom of conscience. This declaration was not accepted by Parliament. However, in 1689, the Act of Tolerance granted liberty of conscience to all. However, this act granted less freedom than the overturned Declaration of Indulgence in that under the Act of Tolerance, the persecuting laws were not removed from the books, but there were no longer penalties for individuals who broke them. Still, this signaled an end to the widespread persecution of Quakers in England.
Extent
1 folder (6 items)
Abstract
This collection contains 6 documents pertaining to the Quakers of England, 1729-1920.
Relevant Secondary Sources
- Bronner, Edwin B. "Quaker Discipline and Order, 1680-1720," pp. 323-335 in Richard S. Dunn and Mary Maples Dunn, eds., The World of William Penn. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1986
- Emmot, Elizabeth Braithwaite. The Story of Quakerism. London: Headley Brothers, 1908.
- Feola, Maryann S. George Bishop: Seventeenth-Century Soldier Turned Quaker. York, England: The Ebor Press, 1996.
- Frost, J. William. "The Affirmation Controversy and Religious Liberty," pp. 303-322 in in Richard S. Dunn and Mary Maples Dunn, eds., The World of William Penn. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1986.
- Vipont, Elfrida. The Story of Quakerism, 1652-1952. London: The Bannisdale Press, 1954.
- Title
- Finding Aid of the Quaker Collection, 1729-1920 (bulk 1729-1754)
- Status
- Approved
- Author
- Processed by K. Stocker
- Date
- ©2000
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is in English
Revision Statements
- June 28, 2004: PUBLIC "-//University of New Mexico::Center for Southwest Research//TEXT (US::NmU::MSS 237 SC::Quaker Collection)//EN" "nmu1mss237sc.sgml" converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02.xsl (sy2003-10-15).
- Monday, 20210524: Attribute normal is missing or blank.
Repository Details
Part of the UNM Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections Repository
Contact:
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451
cswrref@unm.edu
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451
cswrref@unm.edu