THE MENTAL ABILITY OF THE QUAKERS 66i 



Besides their ability in business, the Quakers showed commendable initia- 

 tive in works of public utility. They originated most of the philanthropic 

 movements of the nineteenth century. Facts in support of this statement are 

 as follows : 



In 1758 Quakers refused to own slaves. In 1787 the movement for the 

 abolition of slavery was begun by Quakers, and was carried to success after 

 many years of strenuous agitation. 



A Quaker, Dr. Thomas Hodgkin (i 798-1 866), founded the Aborigines 

 Protection Society. 



A Quaker, Samuel Bowly (1802-1884), was the first advocate of temper- 

 ance reform. 



Elizabeth Fry and Stephen Grellet, both Quakers, began the work of 

 prison reform in 18 13. 



William Allen (1770-1843) and Joseph Lancaster (1798-1838), both 

 Quakers, were strenuous workers for the extension of education. 



Quakers played a prominent part in the agitation for the abolition of 

 capital punishment for trivial crimes. As a result of this agitation the 

 death penalty was abolished for one hundred and sixty ofiences. 



Peter Bedford, a Quaker (1780-1846), originated soup kitchens, clothing 

 clubs, and other means of aiding the poor. 



A Quaker, William Tuke (1732-1822), commenced the movement for 

 humane treatment of lunatics. The York Retreat, an institution for the 

 insane, was founded by Quakers in 1792. 



Dr. Dimsdale, F.R.S., a Quaker, played a prominent part in popularising 

 inoculation for smallpox. 



A study of the history of Quaker families shows that their business ability 

 is often inherited. In some of the instances quoted the son or grandson has 

 shown greater ability than the original founder of the firm. It has sometimes 

 happened that individuals of later generations have shown intellectual or 

 literary ability rather than business aptitude. It might not be anticipated 

 that a small community of religious fanatics should produce men of sufficient 

 scientific ability to be elected Fellows of the Royal Society of London in greater 

 proportion than the non-Quaker population. But, contrary to such antici- 

 pation, this is what has actually happened. 



The following table shows the total number of inhabitants of Great Britain 

 elected F.R.S. from the foundation of the Society in 1663 to the year 1900. 

 The numbers of Fellows who were Quakers or of Quaker descent are shown 

 separately. The numbers for the Quaker population are (in two cases) guesses 

 based on the statistics and facts previously given.* 



* Friends and the Learned Societies, article in Journal of the Friends* 

 Historical Society, vol. vii. No. 1, First month (Jan.) 1910, p. 30, and Record of 

 the Royal Society, 3rd Edition, 1912 (Oxford University Press). 



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