relating to our testimony against importing, buying, selling or keeping slaves, being now deliberately read and attentively considered; a calming, uniting spirit presiding, it is agreed to; and the quarterly and monthly meetings are earnestly recommended and enjoined to give due attention to the same, as the present sense and judgment of this meeting, being as follows, viz.:

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Agreeable to appointment, we have weightily considered the sorrowful subject committed to us; and many brethren having had an opportunity of freely communicating their sentiments thereon; after a solid conference, we find there is a painful exercise attending the minds of Friends, and a general concern prevailing, that our Christian testimony may be more extensively held forth, against the unrighteous practice of enslaving our fellow creatures, to promote which, it is our sense and judgment,

“That such professors among us who are, or shall be concerned in importing, selling or purchasing; or that shall give away or transfer any negro or other slave, with or without any other consideration than to clear their estate of any future incumbrance, or in such manner as that their bondage is continued beyond the time limited by law or custom for white persons; and such member who accepts of such gift or assignment, ought to be speedily treated with, in the spirit of true love and wisdom, and the iniquity of their conduct laid before them. And if after this Christian labour, they cannot be brought to such a sense of their injustice, as to do every thing which the monthly meeting shall judge to be reasonable and necessary for the restoring such slave to his or her natural and just right to liberty,

and condemn their deviation from the law of righteousness and equity, to the satisfaction of the said meeting, that such member be testified against, as other transgressors are, by the rules of our discipline, for other immoral, unjust, and reproachful conduct.

"And having deliberately weighed and considered that many slaves are possessed and detained in bondage by divers members of our religious Society, towards whom labour has been extended; but being apprehensive that a Christian duty has not been so fully discharged to them as their various circumstances appear to require:

"We think it expedient that the quarterly meetings should be earnestly advised and enjoined, to unite with their respective monthly meetings, in a speedy and close labour with such members; and where it shall appear that any, from views of temporal gain, cannot be prevailed with to release from captivity such slaves as shall be found suitable for liberty, but detain them in bondage, without such reasons as shall be sufficient and satisfactory; the cases of such should be brought forward to the next Yearly Meeting for consideration, and such further directions as may be judged expedient. And in the mean time, we think those persons ought not to be employed in the service of Truth.

"And having grounds to conclude that there are some brethren who have these poor captives under their care, and are desirous to be wisely directed in the restoring them to liberty; Friends who may be appointed by quarterly and monthly meetings on the service now proposed, are earnestly desired to givè their weighty and solid attention for the assistance of such who are thus honestly and religiously concerned

for their own relief, and the essential benefit of the negro. And in such families where there are young ones, or others of suitable age, that they excite the masters, or those who have them, to give them sufficient instruction and learning, in order to qualify them for the enjoyment of the liberty intended, and that they be instructed by themselves, or placed out to such masters and mistresses who will be careful of their religious education, to serve for such time, and no longer, as is prescribed by law and custom, for white people.

“And understanding that some members of our religious Society through inattention, and others from different motives, have been induced to be concerned in hiring slaves on wages; such should be incited to consider, that this practice manifestly contributes to promote the unrighteous traffic we are desirous to suppress; and therefore they should be advised and admonished against being thus accessory to promoting it.

"Also that all Friends be cautioned and advised against acting as executors or administrators to such estates where slaves are bequeathed, or likely to be detained in bondage.

"And we are of the mind, that where any member has been heretofore so far excluded from religious fellowship, as the minute of this meeting, in the year 1758, gives authority; nevertheless, in case of further disorderly conduct, that they be treated with agreeable to our discipline."

In the following year, (1775,) the increasing concern of the meeting displayed itself in the following minute.

"On considering the progress made by the quarterly and monthly meetings, in promoting our testimony against keeping of slaves in bondage; it is satisfactory to observe, that by the labour therein since last year, a considerable number has been restored to liberty, and that Friends manifest a concern for further proceeding in this weighty service. This meeting, impressed with an earnest desire that it may be completed, and the church relieved from the grievous burthen under which we have long laboured, again recommends, that the united care and endeavours of Friends may be continued for perfecting it, agreeable to our solid sense and judgment, given and enjoined on the quarterly and monthly meetings concerning it last year.

"And where any members manifest such a disregard to common justice, as to oppose and reject this Christian labour of their brethren, and Friends apprehend they have fully discharged their duty to them, that the particular circumstance of such cases be brought to this meeting, pursuant to the directions given in our minute of last year; as likewise such other cases which may be attended with so great difficulty, as to require the further advice and judgment of the body thereon.

"And in order further to manifest our Christian care and regard to such of those poor people who have been restored to freedom, it is desired that a benevolent care may be exercised by Friends in their respective places, to assist and advise them, as their circumstances and stations in life may require, both for their spiritual and temporal good."

When the usual reports from the quarterly meetings were read in the Yearly Meeting of 1776, a committee

was appointed to revise the accounts, and report to the meeting, "the most effectual religious means for perfecting a work which has long been the occasion of heavy labour to the faithful members of the church, and excited our desire to be fully clear of a practice so directly opposed to the law of righteousness." The committee made the following report, which was approved and confirmed by the meeting.

"We, the committee appointed to take under our consideration the deeply affecting case of our oppressed fellow men of the African race and others, as also the state of those who hold them in bondage, have several times met, and heard the concurring sentiments of divers other Friends, and examined the reports from the quarterly meetings, by which it appears, that much labour and care have been extended since the last year, for the convincement of such of our members who had, or yet have them in possession; many of whom have of late, from under hand and seal, properly discharged such as, were in their possession, from a state of slavery.

"Yet sorrowful it is, that many there are in membership with us, who notwithstanding the labour bestowed, still continue to hold these people as slaves; under the consideration whereof, we are deeply affected, and united in judgment, that we are loudly called upon to a faithful obedience to the injunction of our blessed Lord, 'To do to all men as we would they should do unto us;' and to bear a full and clear testimony to these truths, that 'God is no respecter of persons,' and that Christ died for all men without distinction.' Which we earnestly and affectionately intreat may be duly considered in this awful and