Mission with Prophetic Power: The Journal of John Woolman (SRSC 12)

Chapter 6: The Reform of Church and State (1763–1768)

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having tenderly expressed his concern* for us, signified that he had seen in the true light that the Lord would bring back His people from these things, into which they were thus degenerated, but that His faithful servants must go through great and heavy exercises.*

Slave-Owning; Serving in Government; Questions for a Self-Audit (1764)

Twentieth of Ninth Month.—The committee appointed by the Yearly Meeting to visit the Quarterly and Monthly Meetings gave an account in writing of their proceedings in that service. They signified that, in the course of the visit, they had been apprehensive that some persons holding offices in government inconsistent with our principles, and others who kept slaves, remaining active members in our meetings for discipline, had been one means of weakness prevailing in some places. After this report was read, an exercise* revived in my mind which had attended me for several years, and inward cries to the Lord were raised in me that the fear of man might not prevent me from doing what He required of me, and, standing up, I spoke in substance as follows: I have felt a tenderness in my mind toward persons in two circumstances mentioned in that report; namely, toward such active members as keep slaves and such as hold offices in civil government; and I have desired that Friends, in all their conduct, may be kindly affectioned one toward another. Many Friends who keep slaves are under some exercise* on that account; and at times think about trying them with freedom, but find many things in their way. The way of living and the annual expenses of some of them are such that it