A DIFFICULT POSITION 305 



To return to our narrative. Through the years that 

 followed 1743 the position of the Friends controlling the 

 Assembly became more and more difficult. They were 

 men of peace ; and were bound by their convictions, 

 reinforced by long tradition, and stimulated by frequent 

 exhortations from their own Yearly Meeting and from 

 that of London, to have no part in war or warlike prepara- 

 tions. On the other hand, they were administering a 

 province of the British Empire, on behalf of a population 

 amongst whom the Quakers were now a diminishing 

 fraction (not more than one-third), and they were urged 

 by a large section of public opinion to meet the king's 

 requirements, and fall into line with the other colonies. 

 Defensive war, it was said, was on a wholly different 

 basis from war of offence : it was closely akin to the 

 force wielded by the magistrate to maintain public order. 

 Many Friends accepted this view besides James Logan. 

 What right, again, had the members of one religious body 

 to impose their principles upon the policy of the whole 

 community ? It was an undemocratic position ; yet 

 we must remember also that year by year, at the annual 

 elections, the Friends who controlled the Assembly were 

 returned by overwhelming majorities, despite a strong 

 party of opposition, to represent the people. Such was 

 Quaker prestige in the province, such the confidence 

 these men personally inspired by their life and character, 

 and such the popular estimation of their uncompromising 

 stand against governor and Crown for the liberties of the 

 state. 



Fothergill kept in close correspondence with his friend 

 James Pemberton during these years. The policy of the 

 London Friends, in the shaping of which the doctor had 

 a large hand, was to strengthen their fellows in the pure 

 principles of peace, and to uphold them in the jealous 

 care of their liberties, but to counsel moderation and 

 meekness. Eventually, when the crisis became acute, 

 they advised withdrawal from public office rather than 

 the compromise of conscience. The complaints of the 

 Assembly's conduct which were sent home by the governor 



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