FRIENDS

SOCIETY OF, commonly known as QUAKERS, a society of Christians which took its rise in England about the middle of the seven Me century. George Fox, a native of Drayton, in Leicestershire, was the Pont to teach the religious views which distinguish the society. He commenced his ministerial labours in 1647,and immediately fell under persecution. But persecution, as usual, enlisted the sympathies of many in his cause. After making multitudes of converts he organized them into a Church, which became, although not until after severe persecution, one of the recognized sects of Christianity. Among the other eminent members of the society in its early days we may mention William Penn, Robert Barclay, George Whitehead, Stephen Crisp, Isaac Penning ton, J obn Cr ook, Thomas Story, . The early Quakers were marked as a peculiar people by their testimonies against oaths, a paid ministry, and tithes; their use of the singular pronouns when addre ing only one person; their refusal to take off the hat asa ‘compliment to men; the plainne of their apparel; and their disuse of the ordinary names of the months and days. The name Quakers was given to them in derision, and though they accepted the name they call themselves by that of Friends. A Derby magistrate was the originator of the derisive epithet according to Fox himself—** because I bade him tremble at the word of God.’’ The persecution and intolerance of which they were the victims, both in England and America, only tended to confirm the faith and strengthen the bond of union among the members of the rising society; and in neither country could it induce the sufferers to relinquish their conformity to what they regarded as duty. From the diffusion of more enlightened views on the subject of religious liberty, Acts were succe ively pa ed by the English Parliament, relieving Friends from the oppre ion under which they suffered, tolerating their mode of worship, marriage, ., and allowing them in a court of justice to make an affirmation in place of taking an oath in the usual way. The same liberal policy was pursued in America. One of the brightest chapters in the annals of Quakerism is that relating to the founding of the colony of Pennsylvania. See PENN,WILLIAM; PENNSYLVANIA. But, as in other reforming sects, so among the Quakers, succe in the course of time gradually undermined their zeal, and deprived them of many Of their characteristic qualities. Gradually the spread of wealth modified the stringency of their ‘sumptuary’ rules, and there was in consequence a "rapid decline of the ancient discipline. Coincident. 590