A Portraiture of Quakerism, Volume 3: Taken from a View of the Education and Discipline, Social Manners, Civil and Political Economy, Religious Principles and Character, of the Society of FriendsClarkson, Thomas
Religion
A Portraiture of Quakerism, Volume 3: Taken from a View of the Education and Discipline, Social Manners, Civil and Political Economy, Religious Principles and Character, of the Society of Friends
Clarkson, Thomas
Society of Friends
a contemplation of these superior advantages, brought to us by
revelation, to be roused into the practice of a superior virtue.
Classical education again is considered as objectionable by the Quakers
on account of the Heathen notions, which it may spread. Thus the highest
reputation of man is placed in deeds of martial achievement, and a
martial ardour is in consequence infused into youth, which it is
difficult to suppress. That such notions and effect are produced, there
can be no doubt; but how are we to avoid these whilst we are obliged to
live in the world? The expulsion of the classics would not expel them.
Our own newspapers, which are open to all, spread the same opinions, and
are instrumental of course in producing the same excitements, but they
do it in a much more objectionable way than the classical authors, that
is, they do it with less delicacy, and with a more sanguinary applause.
But where, as I observed before, shall we retire from such impressions?
Does not the recruiting drum propagate them in all our towns? Do not the
ringing of the bells, and the illuminations, which occasionally take
place in the time of war, propagate them also? And do we not find these,
both in war and in peace, the sentiments and impressions of the world?
Our own notions then, our own writings, and our own customs, are more to
be blamed in this respect, than the literary compositions of ancient
times. But this, of all others, ought to be least an objection with the
Quakers to such an education; because, to their honour, they have a
constant counteraction of the effects of such sentiments and impressions
in the principles of their own constitution, and which counteraction
cannot cease, while, by the bearing of their testimony, they live in a
continual protest against them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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