CHAPTER VI.

SECTION I.

Management of the poor-Quakers never seen as • beggars—George Fox began the provision for the Quaker-poor-Monthly meetings appoint overseers-Persons passed over, are to apply for relief and the disorderly may receive it in certain cases-Manner of collecting for the poor-If burthensome in one monthly meeting, the bur then shared by the quarterly-Quakers gain settlements by monthly meetings as the other poor of the kingdom by parishes.

THERE

HERE are few parts of the Quaker-constitution that are inore worthy of commendation than that which relates to the poor. All the members of this Society are considered as brethren, and as entitled to support from one another. If our streets or our roads be infested by miserable objects imploring our pity, no Quaker will be found among them. A Quaker-beggar would be a phænomenon in the world.

It does not, however, follow from this account that there are no poor Quakers, or that members of this Society are not born in a dependent state. The truth is, that there are poor as well as rich, but the wants of the former are so, well provided for, that they are not publicly seen, like the wants of others.

George Fox, as he was the founder of the religion of the Quakers, I mean of a system of renovated Christianity, so he was the author of the beautiful system by which they make a provision for the poor. As a Christian, he considered the poor of every description as members of the same family, but particularly those who were of the household of faith. Consistently with this opinion, he advised the establishment of general meetings in his own time, a special part of whose business it was to take due care of the poor. These meetings excited at first the vigilance and anger of the magistrates; but, when they came to see the regulations made by the Quakers in order that none of their poor might become bur thensome to their parishes, they went away, whatever they might think of some of their

new

new tenets of religion, in admiration of their benevolence.ronm

The Quakers of the present day consider their poor in the same light as their venera→ ble elder, namely, as members of the same family, whose wants it is their duty to relieve, and they provide for them nearly in the same manner. They entrust this important concern to the monthly meetings, which are the executive branches of the Quaker constitution. The monthly meetings appoint four overseers, two men and two women, over each particular meeting within their own jurisdiction, if their number will admit of it. It is the duty of these to visit such of the poor as are in membership; of the men to visit the men, but of the women sometimes to visit both. The reason why this double burthen is laid upon the women-overseers is, that women know more of domestic concerns, more of the wants of families, more of the manner of providing for them, and are better advisers and better nurses in sickness than the men. Whatever these overseers find wanting in the course of their visits, whether money, clothes, medicines, or medical advice and

attention,

attention, they order them, and the trea surer of the monthly meetings settles the different accounts*. I may observe here, that it is not easy for overseers to neglect their duty; for an inquiry is made three times in the year of the monthly meetings by the quarterly, whether the necessities of the poor are properly inspected and relieved. may observe also, that the poor who may stand in need of relief are always relieved privately, I mean at their respective homes.

I

It is, however, possible, that there may be persons, who, from a variety of unlookedfor causes, may be brought into distress, and whose case, never having been suspected, may be passed over. But persons in this situation are desired to apply for assistance. It is also a rule in the Society, that even persons whose conduct is disorderly are to be relieved, if such conduct has not been objected to by their own monthly meeting. "The want of due care," says the Book of Extracts, "in watching diligently over the

* In London a committee is appointed for each poor person. Thus, for example, two women are appointed to attend to the wants and comforts of one poor old

woman.

8

flock,

flock, and in dealing in due time with such as walk disorderly, hath brought great difficulties on some meetings; for we think it both unseasonable and dishonourable, when persons apply to monthly meetings for relief, in cases of necessity, then to object to them such offences as the meeting, through the neglect of its own duty, hath suffered long to pass by unreproved and unnoticed.”

"

The poor are supported by charitable collections from the body at large; or, in other words, every monthly meeting supports its own poor. The collections for them are usually made once a month, but in some places once a quarter, and in others at no stated times, but when the treasurer declares them necessary and the monthly meeting approves. Members are expected to contribute in proportion to their circumstances; but persons in a low situation, and servants, are generally excused upon these occasions. It happens in the district of some monthly meetings, that there are found only few persons of property but a numerous poor, so that the former are unable to do justice in their provision for the latter. The Society have therefore resolved, when the poor are too numerous to be supported by their own

monthly