Church Government of the Quakers, 
m 
1811 .] 
they be select? But that business is 
business prescribed or ertjoined by the 
yearly meeting; and they have no power 
to make or alter general rules of disci¬ 
pline rft nay, are even bound to a subor¬ 
dination to the general and open meet¬ 
ings for discipline; viz. the yearly, quar¬ 
terly, and monthly, meetings. 
One might think that a writer who pro¬ 
fesses to know so much of the internal 
government of the Society, of which he 
says the bulk are as ignorant as a journey¬ 
man tailor of the discussions of the privy 
council, should himself have steered clear 
of such gross misrepresentation. I think, 
too, he might have condescended, from 
the loftiness of his judgment-seat, to 
have looked at two books, one very small, 
the other not very large, namely, A Sum¬ 
mary/ of the Historyf Doctrine^ and dis¬ 
cipline, of Friends; and, Extracts from 
the Minutes and Advices of the Yearly 
Meeting. The former may, I think, be 
had for a groat, and the latter, though a 
quarto, for 6s. 6d. in boards. 
I recommend the next champion who 
attacks the Friends on the peaceable plain 
of the Monthly Magazine, first to prove 
his armour against these books. I would 
recommend them to all. its readers who 
desire verius guarn d Vcro cognoscere Qua- 
kerorum mores; and my single and double 
crosses above and at foot will guide 
them at once to the places in question. 
Alteua Pars. 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
OU have inserted in your magazine 
for May last, a paper signed Verus, 
on the defects of the church government 
of the Quakers. It is there stated that 
the really-efFective part of their govern- 
Bient is exercised by the members of the 
select meetings, the business of which 
meetings is transacted secretly, the mem¬ 
bers are elected by themselves vvithout 
any interference of the society (on this 
most stress is laid); they are called elders, 
and the acknowledged ministers are also 
members. 
The internal oeconomy of any one 
religious sect is an object of material 
importance to the community at large, 
but if any of your readers, for their own 
information, or to ascertain how far your 
publication has been made the medium 
of conveying truth on this point, think it 
worth while to apply to genuine sources 
j- Summary, &c. Ch. c» 
of information, I believe they will find 
that this statement is almost entirely er¬ 
roneous. 
A certain portion of the management 
of the church discipline of the Quakers 
revolves on the select meetings, but they 
have by no means tlie entire real govern¬ 
ment of the society. The greater part 
of the business of the respective districts 
is transacted by the monthly and quar¬ 
terly meetings, and all matters which 
concern the society at large, as a body, 
are placed under the superintendence of 
a committee, chosen from the annuai 
meeting in London, which is called the 
morning meeting, or, the meeting for 
sufferings. The monthly meetings are, 
in most instances, assembliesof the whole 
of the members of the society i-esident in 
the place; the quarterly meetings are 
composed of deputies from tire several 
monthly meetings in the county. 
Tire select meetings w-hich are called 
meetings of ministers and eiders, are not 
self-elected; the elders are appointed as 
vacancies occur, by the monthly meeting 
to which the select meeting belongs, the 
ministers are invited as their ministry has 
become approved, to be members of the 
select meetings by the monthly meetings^ 
and not by the select meetings; they 
are subjected to the approval of the quar¬ 
terly meetings, Th.e members of the 
select meetings are appointed fur life or 
quamdiu se bene gesserint. 
As plainness of dress is considered as 
an essential by the society, it is natural a 
choice should be made from Uaose men>- 
bers who act consistently, rqther than 
front those who act inconsistently, with 
their principles and profession ; the ior 
sinuation respecting w^eigHt of pocket is 
unfourtded, no undue preference is shewn 
to property in the election of members to 
the select meetings. 
Tiie account of the severe notice said 
to be taken of the heresy of the preacher 
in the United States who disbelieved the 
account of Jonah and the whale, should 
not have been reported without names, 
or at least the time and place where it 
happened. It is as probable that the 
story may have been materially altered 
in passing from hand to hand, as that 
these particulars should have been lost. 
A greater interference with the right of 
private sentiment on doctrinal points has 
been shewn by the society in some in¬ 
stances, than has been approved by a part 
of its members. S, T. 
NoUinghamfuly 17, ldll» 
Ts 
