CHAPTER III.

WORLDLINESS.

It is worthy of notice how large a proportion of the professors of Christianity practically disregard the Scripture exhortation: "Be not conformed to the world, but be ye transformed in the spirit of your minds." It remains to be sorrowfully true that the world lieth in wickedness, and that many of its practices are not consistent with the purity inculcated by the religion of Christ. George Fox says, in his Journal:

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When the Lord sent me into the world, He forbade me to put off my hat unto any, high or low, and I was required to thee and thou" all men and women, without any respect to rich or poor, great or small. And as I travelled up and down, I was not to bid people "Good morning" or "Good evening." neither might I bow, or scrape with my leg, to any one. This made the sects and professors rage.

Oh, the rage that was in the priests, magistrates, professors and people of all sorts, and especially in priests and professors; for though "thou," to a single person was according to their accidence and grammar rules, and according to the Bible, yet they could not bear to hear it. And because I could not put off my hat to them, it set them all into a rage. But the Lord showed me it was an honor below, which He would lay in the dust and stain; an honor which proud flesh looked for, but sought not the honor which cometh from God only; that it was an honor invented by man, in the fall and in the alienation from God, who were offended if it was not given them, yet would be looked upon as saints, church members and great Christians. But Christ saith: "How can ye believe who receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that cometh from God only?" "And I," saith Christ, "receive not honor of men." Showing that men have an honor which they will receive and give, but Christ will

have none of it. This is the honor which Christ will not receive, and which must be laid in the dust. Oh, the scorn, heat and fury that arose! Oh, the blows, punching, beatings and imprisonments that we underwent for not putting off our hats to men. For that soon tried all men's patience and sobriety, what it was. The bad language and evil usage we received on this account is hard to be expressed, besides the danger we were sometimes in of losing our lives for this matter, and that by the great professors of Christianity. And though it was but a small thing in the eye of man, yet a wonderful confusion it brought among all professors and priests. William Penn, in speaking of Friends, says:

Not to respect persons was another of their doctrines and practices, for which they were often buffeted and abused. They affirmed it to be sinful to give flattering titles, or to use vain gestures and compliments of respect; though to virtue and authority they ever made a difference, but after their plain and homely manner. They also used the plain language of "Thou" and "Thee" to a single person, whatever was his degree among men.

Robert Barclay, in his "Apology," Proposition XV., unfolds, to some extent, the grounds of the objections felt by Friends to titles of honor and vain compliments: First, because these titles are no part of that obedience which is due to magistrates or superiors, which consists in obeying their just and lawful commands; secondly, such titles are not used in Scripture; and thirdly, they often lay on those who use them a necessity to lie, because he who is styled "Your Excellency" may have nothing of excellency in him; or "Your Grace" may appear to be an enemy to grace, and he who is called "Your Honor" may be known to be base and ignoble; lastly, these titles are part of that honor which comes from below, which is to be rejected by Chistians.

Such absurd compliments as "Your humble servant," etc.,

are so notoriously false and hollow, that "To use lying is now come to be accounted civility."

Kneeling, bowing and uncovering the head is the outward. signification of our adoration towards God, and therefore it is not lawful to give it unto man.

When George Fox was travelling in the southwestern part of England, one major Ceely put off his hat to him, and said: "How do you do, Mr. Fox? Your servant, sir." George replied to him: "Major Ceely, take heed of hypocrisy and of a rotten heart; for when came I to be thy master, and thou my servant?"

In 1656, seven Friends in Wales were arrested and committed to prison till the next assizes, five months off. When the assizes came, they were brought before the court, and no breach of law was proven against them. Yet, taking occasion of their coming before him with their hats on, the judge, on pretence of its being a contempt of court, fined them and recommitted them to prison, where they remained for three months longer.

In Cheshire there was a hole hewed out of a rock, into which prisoners were sometimes forced, by way of torture. It was called "Little Ease." A Friend, who complained to the mayor against a drunken fellow who had grossly abused him, was sent to "Little Ease" for not putting off his hat when he made the complaint, and the drunkard went unpunished.

When George Fox was travelling in Cornwall, he was arrested and committed to prison by major Ceely. When the assizes came on, no breach of law could be proven against him. The judge, instead of releasing him, fined the prisoners twenty marks apiece for not putting off their hats.

When William Penn became convinced of the principles held by Friends, he saw that the so-called "Hat honor" paid to men was inconsistent with the high standard of practical

Christianity, and was turned out of his home by his father for his refusal to conform to the usual custom.

On one occasion, when George Fox and his friends were taken into court, they stood with their hats on, and the Journal narrates that:

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Judge Glyn, a Welshman, then chief justice of England, said to the jailor:-"What be these you have brought here into the court?" "Prisoners, my lord," said he. you not put off your hats?" said the judge to us. nothing. "Put off your hats," said the judge again. Still we said nothing. Then said the judge: "The court commands you to put off your hats." Then I spake and said: "Where did ever any magistrate, king or judge, from Moses to Daniel, command any to put off their hats, when they came before them in their courts, either amongst the Jews (the people of God) or amongst the heathen? And if the law of England doth command any such thing, show me that law either written or printed." The judge grew very angry, and said: "I do not carry my law books on my back." "But," said I, "tell me where it is printed in any statute book, that I may read it." Then said the judge: "Take him away, prevaricator! I will ferk him." So they took us away, and put us among the thieves. Presently after he called to the jailor: "Bring them up again! Come," said he, "where had they hats from Moses to Daniel? Come, answer me; I have you fast now!" I replied, "Thou mayest read in third of Daniel that the three children were cast into the fiery furnace by Nebuchadnezzar's command, with their coats, their hose and their hats on." This plain instance stopped him; so that, not having anything else to the point, he cried again: "Take them away, jailor!"

In the early history of Pennsylvania there is an incident recorded, which shows the carefulness of Friends to maintain their testimony on this point, and also the jealousy with which they guarded against any infringement on their liberties.

In the year 1725, John Kinsey was employed to plead in a

case before the court of chancery in Pennsylvania. When he undertook to speak, having his hat on his head, he was interrupted by the governor of the province, William Keith, who was president of the court, and directed to remove his hat. He declined obedience, saying that he could not do it, for conscience' sake. The governor, notwithstanding this reply, directed the hat to be taken from his head, and then suffered the cause to proceed. At the Monthly Meeting of Philadelphia, held Second Month 30th of that year, the subject claimed the serious attention of the members, and the representatives to the Quarterly Meeting were directed, after giving in to that body an account of the state of their members, "To signify the great uneasiness Friends are under at the governor's not suffering our Friend, John Kinsey, Jr., to plead in the last court of chancery until his hat was first taken off by an officer, which this meeting apprehends to be an infringement on the religious liberties of our community, and desires advice and assistance of the Quarterly Meeting therein."

At the next meeting, the representatives report "That the Quarterly Meeting, upon hearing and fully considering the case of John Kinsey in the court of chancery, had appointed ten Friends to wait on the governor with an address, showing the infringement made, as Friends conceive, on their religious liberty secured to them by law and charter, and requesting the governor that he would consider it as such, and for the future be pleased to direct that all such impositions might be avoided."

The humble address of the people called Quakers, by appointment of their Quarterly Meeting held second of Third Month, 1725, for the city and county of Philadelphia.

May it please the Governor. Having maturely considered the inconveniences and hardships, which we are apprehensive all those of our community may be laid under who shall be