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A PORTRAITURE OF QUAKERISM, VOLUME I

Taken from a View of the Education and Discipline, Social Manners,Civil and Political Economy, Religious Principles and Character, ofthe Society of Friends

by

THOMAS CLARKSON, M.A.

1806.

[Illustration: THOMAS CLARKSON, A.M.]

CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME.

INTRODUCTION

PREFATORY ARRANGEMENTS AND REMARKS

MORAL EDUCATION.

CHAPTER I.

Amusements distinguishable into useful and hurtful—the latterspecified and forbidden.

CHAPTER II.

SECT. I.—Games of chance forbidden—history of the origin of some ofthese.

SECT. II.—Forbidden as below the dignity of the intellect of man, andof his christian character.

SECT. III.—As producing an excitement of the passions, unfavourable toreligious impressions—historical anecdotes of this excitement.

SECT. IV.—As tending to produce, by the introduction of habits ofgaming, an alteration in the moral character.

CHAPTER III.

SECT. I.—Music forbidden—instrumental innocent in itself, but greatlyabused—the use of it almost inseparable from its abuse at the presentday.

SECT. II.—Quakers cannot learn instrumental on the usual motives ofthe world—nor consider it as a source of moral improvement, or ofsolid comfort to the mind—but are fearful that, if indulged in, itwould interfere with the Christian duty of religious retirement.

SECT III.—Quakers cannot learn vocal, because, on account of itsarticulative powers, it is capable of becoming detrimental tomorals—its tendency to this, as discoverable by an analysis ofdifferent classes of songs.

SECT IV.—The preceding the arguments of the early Quaker—but the newstate of music has produced others—these explained.

SECT V.—An objection stated to the different arguments of the Quakerson this subject—their reply.

CHAPTER IV.

SECT I.—The Theatre forbidden—short history of its origin—and of itsstate and progress.

SECT II.—Manner of the drama objected to by the Quakers—as itpersonates the characters of others—and it professes to reform vice.

SECT III.—Contents of the drama objected to—as they hold our falsesentiments—and weaken the sinews of morality.

SECT IV.—Theater considered by the Quakers to be injurious to thehappiness of man, as it disqualifies him for the pleasure of religion.

SECT V.—To be injurious to the happiness of man, as it disqualifieshim for domestic enjoyments.

SECT VI.—Opinions of the early Christians on this subject.

CHAPTER V.

SECT. I.—Dancing forbidden—light in which this subject has beenviewed both by the ancients and the moderns—Quakers principally objectto it, where it is connected wi