CHAPTER XXIV 



FOTHERGILL AND QUAKER RULE IN PENNSYLVANIA, 

 1741 TO 1756 



There was a state without king or nobles ; there was a church with- 

 out a bishop ; there was a people governed by grave magistrates which 

 it had selected, and equal laws which it had framed. RUFUS CHOATE, 

 1843. 



Oh, this is a good country ! God bless the King, and William Penn ; 

 we shall do very well by and by, if we keep our healths. J. HECTOR 

 ST. JOHN [CREVECCEUR] about 1770. 



THE Pennsylvania!! Friends often sought the counsel and 

 help of the society at home. The relationship between 

 the parental church and its strong and virile offspring 

 beyond the seas was one of mutual confidence and affec- 

 tion, maintained by frequent letters and visits. The 

 " Meeting for Sufferings," or representative meeting of 

 the society in London, was accustomed at that time to 

 meet once in every week. It was composed of the ablest 

 and most responsible Friends in the home counties. 

 Although they were excluded by their principle against 

 oaths from all public offices, and from most of the pro- 

 fessions, not a few of these Friends were men of influence, 

 merchants -or bankers well known in the metropolis. 

 Some, like Richard Partridge, who had long been the 

 vigilant agent for Pennsylvania, Richard How, David 

 Barclay, Thomas Hanbury or Simeon Warner, had ready 

 access to Ministers and public men. The original purpose 

 of the meeting, as its name implies, was to care for all 

 cases of " suffering for the Truth's sake," and especially 

 to help those imprisoned for conscientious causes, or 

 prosecuted for non-payment of tithes. Other business 



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