Mission with Prophetic Power: The Journal of John Woolman (SRSC 12)
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Mission with Prophetic Power: The Journal of John Woolman
at Blackwater, and from there went to the Yearly Meeting at the Western Branch. When business began, some queries 4 were introduced by some of their members for consideration, and, if approved, they were to be answered hereafter by their respective Monthly Meetings. They were the Pennsylvania queries,* which had been examined by a committee of Virginia Yearly Meeting appointed the last year, who made some alterations in them, one of which alterations was made in favor of a custom which troubled me. The query* was, “Are there any concerned* in the importation of Black people,* or in buying them after imported?” which was thus altered, “Are there any concerned* in the importation of Black people,* or buying them to trade in?” As one query* admitted with unanimity was, “Are any concerned* in buying or vending goods unlawfully imported, or prize goods?” I found my mind engaged to say that, as we profess the truth, and were there assembled to support the testimony of it, it was necessary for us to dwell deep and act in that wisdom which is pure, or otherwise we could not prosper. I then mentioned their alteration, and, referring to the last-mentioned query,* added, that as purchasing any merchandise taken by the sword was always allowed to be inconsistent with our principles, so Black people* being captives of war or taken by stealth, it was inconsistent with our testimony to buy them; and their being our fellow creatures, and sold as slaves, added greatly to the iniquity. Friends appeared attentive to what was said; some expressed a care and concern* about their slaves;*
4 Query – A “query” in Quaker culture was the expression of some matter of “truth” that would guide the way that believers and churches examine themselves. See further for examples regarding slavery. Remember that truth is a matter of lifestyle as much as doctrine.
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