Early Quaker education in PennsylvaniaWoody, Thomas
History
Early Quaker education in Pennsylvania
Woody, Thomas
Education -- Pennsylvania -- History; Society of Friends -- Education -- History; Thesis (Ph. D.)
The reader will have noticed that the chief emphasis is placed upon the
wrongfulness of bartering slaves; this may be explained by saying that
that was the first problem they had to face. Not until they were able to
secure the Negroes’ freedom could an education be of much value to him,
for all that he made of his life belonged to his master. But as soon as
he became free, there arose other needs, other desires. New prospects
opened before him, and there was a possibility that he might accomplish
something for himself and his posterity. This was realized by the church
organization and it followed the move for freedom by emphatic requests
that the meetings take care of the spiritual and intellectual education
of the negroes. The following will illustrate very clearly the insistence
with which the local church investigated the activity of its members, and
the penalty levied on the disobedient one. In 1759, it was reported that
... had purchased several Negroes; this being a breach of discipline, two
members were appointed to speak with him on the subject, according to
their custom. The final report on his case was made in 1762. They may be
praised for longsuffering and condemned for inefficiency.
... appeared at this meeting and after much weighty advice
given him in that affair, it is left for him weightily to
consider whether he can not find freedom to bring up such
of his negroes as are young in useful learning, endeavoring
to instruct them in the principles of Christianity, and at
a proper age, if they desire it, to set them free, and if
otherwise, that he can not have the unity of Friends.[1177]
Instances similar to this one are almost without number; reference is
made to a few of them only.[1178] The work of each of the particular
meetings is more completely brought out in the following pages.
[Sidenote: No early school recorded]
[Sidenote: Meetings for Negroes]
Of all meetings in the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, there were none which
accomplished more for the education of the Negro than did Philadelphia
Monthly. As has already been noted elsewhere in this work, there was
quite early a considerable interest manifested by the meeting in regard
to the question of servitude, and also the masters’ care in giving
them Christian instruction.[1179] There is no record to show that at
these early dates there was any permanent school; all care was, without
question, left to those who had Negroes in their employ, education being
tutorial entirely. The master’s care was well guarded by the meeting’s
committee on Negroes, however, and in this way a central responsible
party was provided. In addition, there was also established a meeting
which was held once each three months in the interest of Negroes.[1180]
[Sidenote: Committee appointed on Negroes]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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