The journal, with other writings of John WoolmanWoolman, John
Religion
The journal, with other writings of John Woolman
Woolman, John
Quakers -- Biography; Woolman, John, 1720-1772
After all, Woolman's trouble and sorrow and tumult of spirit, so
suggestive, so helpful to modern souls, were transitory. At the heart of
his "endless agitation" subsisted a "central peace." His was the grace
to know that "deep humility is a strong bulwark," and to "look less at
the effects of the labour than at the pure motion and reality of the
concern." The gentleness with which he delivered his fiery message was
more than a manner due to Quaker training, or even than a result of
resolute self-discipline: it was the index of an inward stillness in
which his soul dwelt undisturbed. Let us hope that the days may come
when the "concern" about profiting by the painful or degrading labour of
others will have an interest as exclusively historic as the "concern"
about holding slaves has already attained. Tremulously it may be, yet
soberly and joyously, many clear-minded and practical people are
beginning to hope for such a day. When it comes, the immediate message
of Woolman will be less cogent, but he will still continue to be read by
those who care for the revelations of a beautiful soul. These pages
offer more than light on the path of social duty; they offer fellowship
with a spirit that "dwelt deep," and attained an abiding loveliness
because responsive through all turmoil of spirit and all outward
suffering, to the "gentle movings of Uncreated Purity." "That purity of
life," wrote he, "which proceeds from faithfulness in following the
Spirit of Truth, this habitation has often been opened before me as a
place of retirement for the children of the light, where we may stand
separated from that which disordereth and confuseth the affairs of
society." Such a "place of retirement for the Children of the Light,"
this book affords.
VIDA D. SCUDDER.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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