5. Free education is to be provided for the poor[787] (first it was only mentioned for the children of Friends, later others). 6. The coöperation of teachers is urged for the betterment of methods of teaching.[788] 7. The weaker communities are to be aided by the stronger.[789] 8. Both parents and teachers must realize the force of example.[790] 9. Close censorship of all reading material for the youth.[791] [Sidenote: Means of exercising influence: epistles, ministers, and representatives] [Sidenote: Philadelphia advices also general for first half century] From this very brief statement of London Advices and with little attention paid to their manner of getting into and influencing those of Philadelphia, save to state that the chief means were: (1) _epistles sent_, (2) _travelling ministers_, and (3) _through representatives sent from the lower meetings_, let us turn to consider those of the last named meeting. As early as 1694 we find that that body approved certain “proposals about the education of youth,” the initiative for which seems to have come from Philadelphia Quarterly Meeting.[792] So far as the minute of the meeting goes, one would hardly dignify this statement so much as to say that it suggested a plan of education. If such a plan were submitted, it was carefully kept out of the minutes of that date. The very nature of the advice continues as with those of London until near the middle of the century, but as one reads the records they are seen to grow gradually in definiteness until beginning (to name a definite date) about 1746 and on through the period of 1777 and 1778, there are elaborated certain ideas for the establishment of schools in town and country. It is not until those later years that anything like strong central control is felt, and certainly there were earlier no visible results of such centralizing influence. Even then it took the form of urgent suggestions which, though producing very considerable results, cannot be regarded candidly as the best that might have been done. It is with these suggestions of the latter part of the century that we are chiefly concerned. The most important are here stated in brief manner. [Sidenote: Summary of Philadelphia advices] 1. Education is to be useful in nature. 2. The minima to be attained are moral and Christian training and an ability to read and write. 3. The meetings are to assist each other in settling schools. 4. Members of Friends are to be employed as teachers in the schools; good moral influence of the teachers is of first importance. 5. A fixed income, house, and garden are necessary for securing a better and more permanent teaching body. 6. All teachers, employed, are to be approved by the monthly meeting. 7. Quarterly meetings are to appoint visiting committees. 8. Permanent funds recommended to be put in care of trustees. 9. Schools to be under the care of monthly meetings’ committees and reports are to be made thereon.