1718.] HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. 227 



now is, and as a sort of per(iuisite the Sheriff was allowed to 

 keep tavern. Hence we find Nicholas Fairlanib, a newly elected 

 Sheriff, petitioning to the Court to be recommended for a license. 

 In later times the tavern was kept in the dwelling apartment of 

 the prison. 



Governor Gookin had become very unpopular with all parties 

 long before the close of his administration. He was superseded 

 by Hon. William Keith, a Scotchman, who arrived at Philadel- 

 phia on the 81st of May, 1717, and was sworn into office the 

 next day. 



Total abstinence from the use of intoxicating drinks was not 

 thought of in early times ; but the subject of their excessive use 

 was freiiuently brought before the business meetings of the 

 Quakers. Selling rum to the Indians was attended with so 

 many evil consequences, that it was frequently testified against 

 by different meetings of the Society. But rum was regarded as 

 an article of necessity. It was in general use, and was sold by 

 Friends of the highest standing, and sometimes at the houses at 

 which the earlier meetings of the Society were held. But the 

 evils resulting from intoxication were too apparent to be passed 

 over by a sect making high professions of morality, and 

 hence we find frequent testimonies borne against drunkenness. 

 The following is a specimen from the minutes of Chester 

 Monthly Meeting: 



" Friends being under a weighty concern for the preservation 

 of good order at all times, and particularly in the approaching 

 time of harvest, and it is desired friends avoid all extravagant 

 customs and drinking to excess." 



Meetings had for a long time been held at private houses in 

 Birmingham, but no regular meeting-house was established till 

 1718, when the first was erected at or near the site of the 

 present Birmingham meeting-house. It is said to have been 

 built of cedar logs. 



A new Friends' meeting-house was also built at Radnor this 

 year. The minutes of the monthly meeting that relate to the 

 erection of this edifice are given, to show the cautious manner 

 in which such enterprises were entered upon in these early times. 

 The first minute is dated at a meeting held at Haverford, 8th 

 mo. 10th of the previous year, and runs thus : 



''A letter from our Friend Benjamin Holm to this meeting, 

 recommending to their consideration the stirring up of frd' in y* 

 building of their meeting house att Radnor, and with desires y' 

 we should be concerned for y" prosperity of Truth, was read in 

 this meeting and approved off. Likewise this meeting pursuant 

 to Radnor frds desire acquiess w"" y" in building a new meeting 

 house and this meeting appoints David Morris, David Lewis, 



