CORRESPONDENCE 



To THE Editor of " Science Progress " 



THE MENTAL ABILITY OF THE QUAKERS 



From Edward Watkins, Clerk to the Fritchley (England) General 



Meeting of Friends 



Respected Friend, — The articles which have appeared on this subject 

 seem to miss the plain facts of the case, so far as mental ability means business 

 ability or business success. There is no need to look to any metaphysical 

 causes. 



For nearly two centuries after the rise of the Society of Friends hardly 

 any career or scope for their industry was open to them except business or 

 some form of commercialism. Their energies were therefore mainly turned 

 in this direction. 



They had further the extremely valuable advantage of mutual acquaint- 

 ance with one another through their meeting or Society arrangements 

 throughout the country and in America. Although these connections were 

 primarily for religious fellowship and purposes, yet in their frequent gatherings 

 there was abundant opportunity to talk over business matters. Their 

 religious, social, and business relationships were unequalled by those of any 

 other community in the world. Moreover, they could trust one another 

 as a rule better than outsiders. They were in the best sense one family. 



As to the Mennonites, excellent people as they are, I have found them 

 deficient in that frequent collective spiritual communion which is the great 

 basis of all true friendship and unity. They hardly seem to know what 

 collective worship is, and have no meetings for worship as Friends understand 

 them. Their other great defect is an entire lack of of&cial connection between 

 their different meetings, whilst among Friends all the meetings are dependent 

 one upon another in greater or less degree, representatives from one meeting 

 to another are constantly being appointed, and every individual member as 

 far as possible is kept in view and tracked to the world's end. 



As to any success of Friends in science and philosophy, there are many 

 helps to quiet and clear and unbiased thought among them which are hardly 

 to be found elsewhere. 



Edward Watkins. 

 Fritchley, near Derby. 

 September 13, 1922. 



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