seems a redundancy; the previous enactment (if the printed Act be correct) making no mention of them however as they are clearly included in the general enactment in the first clause, this may not be of much consequence. It is matter of satisfaction to see the privilege of the affirmation thus extended; however the case may have stood with the generality of that denomination, as to a previous refusal to swear. I remember, some years back, when the Moravians were included with us in an Act relating to the Militia, to have made enquiry and received from the best authority the information, that this indulgence was extended to them, not in condesension to a scruple against bearing arms (as in the case of the Quakers) but to prevent their Missionaries and Ministers, abroad, being persecuted (as they were found to be) by the means of requisitions to Military service. 6 The first successful movement towards obtaining relief for Friends in the case of not swearing, was made by a petition to the House of Commons, read the 7th of the Twelfth Month, 1695, when leave was given, by a great majority to bring in a Bill, that our solemn affirmation and negation, might be accepted instead of an oath.' (a) The Petition was signed by twenty leading members of the society. George Fox had now been dead five years; and George Whitehead appears to have taken the lead in the previous solicitations, which occupied some weeks time. Edmund Waller, son of the poet, and 'member for Agmondesham,' who appears to have inclined to quakerism, was very helpful (says Whitehead) by solicitation and motion in the House for our said petition.' The grievances for which Friends sought redress are thus described : "For this cause of not Swearing, we have been exposed to great sufferings and inconveniences in our persons and estates, by tedious imprisonments, and disabled from receiving our due debts, or defending our just titles and properties; not suffered to give evidence in Courts of Judicature at Common, or Civil Law, nor to answer in Chancery, or Exchequer, prove wills and testaments, or take administrations, or to proceed in our trades at Custom House, or be admitted to our lands, or trusted in our duties and services in Courts Leet, and Courts Baron, but great advantage is taken against us, because we so fear an Oath, as that we dare not Swear: for which cause also, our children and young men are not allowed their Freedoms in Cities or Corporations, when they have faithfully served out their Apprentiships. Nor admitted to give our voices in elections of Magistrates, and Parliament Members in divers Places, though known to have Right thereunto as Freeholders, &c.", When the nature and extent of these privations is considered, we need not wonder to hear that, when the point had been carried in the House for a bill, many of the members came out to Friends and with great joy, love and tenderness also, shewed their satisfaction' at this success! (a) Whitehead's Christian Progress, Edition 1725, p. 643--655. There was a care on the minds of the members who favoured the Bill, that there should be in the form some solemn or sacred expres. sions, religiously respecting God, as solemnly to declare the truth in his presence: Which (says G. W.) we durst not gainsay lest we should be deemed Atheists; it being our principle that God is Omnipresent, and Omniscient also. Sir Francis Wynington, an ancient able counsel' drew the Bill, in as short a form as was consistent with this object, and it passed the Commons by 146 votes against 99. When it came to the Lords, the case of Friends (before exhibited to the Commons) was reprinted, and fortified with the two foreign precedents of an indulgence granted to the Menists (who refused to swear in any case) by William of Nassau in 1577, and by Prince Maurice in 1593. At the second reading some of the Bishops' urged the adding to the form of such terms as, I call God to witness and judge-or to record upon my soul--I appeal to God as judge, &c. and it cost the temporal Lords no small pains to satisfy them in Committee: which was not to be effected without conceding something, and the form as now passed stood: I, A. B. do declare in the presence of Almighty God, the witness of the truth of what I say-The Act as passed was to contiuue in force for seven years from the 16th of May 1696 (O. S.) and from thence to the end of the next Session of Parliament.' It was afterwards renewed for eleven years begining the 22nd Nov. 1702.' George Whitehead was strenuous on this occasion to avoid any imprecation, appealing to or invocating God, as Judge or avenger which would be construed to be an oath, or of the nature of an oath; or (severely) as swearing.' And many of the society being still under conscientious uneasiness with the form, further endeavours were used. But it was not until 1721 that the favourable opportunity they were waiting for occurred. (b) In this year, after a personal application on the subject by Joseph Wyeth to the King (by whom that friend was known and respected) a Petition went in, signed by one hundred and thirty two Friends, for the removal of the difficulties. On this occasion, the personal interest also of Thomas Story, an eminent member of the society, with the Earl of Carlisle in the upper house and the Lord Morpeth iu the Cominons, and his solicitation of the ministry were of service to the cause. The Bill passed the Commons as before, but was strongly opposed in the Lords; and the endeavours before used were repeated. to make it carry the substance of an oath. The Archbishop of York presented against it a Petition purporting to be from the Clergy in and about London, but signed only by forty one out of five hundred of them, and those 'very obscure. The petition was branded as a seditious libel, and rejected by the majority, and the Bill passed.-The votes in Committee, on a motion of the Archbishop of York that the affirmation should not go in any suit at law for tithes, were 21 for, and 52 against the Clergy. Of a protest in the sequel against THE BILL, signed by three bishops and eleven other (b) Gough's Hist. vol. iv, p. 180--197. the M ACT OF AFFIRMATION. peers, I have given an account in this work, vol. 1, p. 111 113; where may be found, likewise, the substance of the Act, which is the 8 Geo. 1, cap. 6; afterwards made perpetual by the 22 Geo. II, in 1749; the form in both being, I, A. B. do solemnly sincerely and truly declare and affirm.' The Society expressed itself truly thankful to God and those in authority' for this relief; the subject having caused it much trouble, by the differences that arose about it, in its meetings for discipline as well as among the members individually. (c) In both these Acts the penalty of false and corrupt affirmation is made the same as for perjury; and the affirmation itself is subject to the exceptions of not passing in criminal cases, or to serve on juries, or to to bear any office or place of profit in the government. The subject is thus brought down to the Act before us, on which I need not remark further. On the former occasion, Friends were solicitous that the privilege thus acquired should not be abused; and they issued An Epistle of caution to Friends in general, relating to the solemn affirmation, from a meeting held in London the 2nd of the First Month, Jan. 1721-2.' (d) In this document are advices very well adapted to the case as it stands at present—but it is probable the Society will now again press upon its members, on occasion of the acquisition of their full Civil rights in this matter, the obligations to truth and honesty resting on our Christian profession, and the necessity of stating with due caution and deliberation whatsoever facts, opinions or engagements we may find ourselves called upon to affirm to in public. I shall be ready to give a place in this work to any suitable pieces of advice of the kind which may come under my hands for the purpose. Ed. ART. V.-Lines suggested by walking through a corn field on a Thus far propitious Heaven our hope has crown'd But now the fervid sun, with face unveil'd (c) Story's Journal, Folio: p. 476, 529, 617, 753--768. Yearly Meet. Minutes, under the head Affirmation. (d) Gough, Hist. vol. iv, p. 191. See also Davis's Digest, on the whole. These Air receives and, with the load o'ercharg'd, O Thou Supreme! who ever hast controul'd O succour (if the time be come) thy poor; Give that its outward bread to reap; nay, more Teach this, chastis'd by want, how to receive These thy good gifts aright and in true peace to live! ART. VI.-FABLES, &C., IN PROSE AND VERSE-CONTINUED. The Stag's Horns. Utilissimum sæpe quod contemnitur. Phædr. I. 12. His thirst allay'd, at the clear stream Shone the broad antlers in the flood. His legs he next surveys with pain: Would they were aught but what they are My graceful boundings o'er the plain Too slender and too weak to bear. Alas! full oft a seeming good, Lured by its fair outside we prize, And spurn the gift, ill-understood, And sought the thicket's shade profound, The slower hounds o'ertook the game, And thus with his last breath he cries, "For the Editor of the Yorkshireman," Communications may be addressed, POST PAID, at the Printer's, Pontefract; at Longman and Co.'s, London; John Baines and Co.'s. Leeds; and W. Alexander's, York. CHARLES ELCOCK, PRINTER, PONTEFRACT. ART. I.-Of the Office of Churchwarden, as subject to be filled by Quakers: with the case of a Friend elected to it in the year 1808. It is well known that Friends have expressed a decided objection (as a society) to their members serving the office of Churchwarden, and have used considerable endeavour to prevent their being chosen to it. The following case (which the Editor is prepared to authenticate to any who may desire that satisfaction for good ends) is now published as likely to afford to the younger members of our Society some useful information. Ed. CASE: In the Seventh month, 1808, I was served by the Churchwardens of the Parish of West Ham with notice of my election to that Office on the preceding Easter Tuesday (so called) and required to attend the Archdeacon, or his Surrogate, &c. at Romford on the 27th of the Month, to be affirmed into and take upon myself the Office. I had been long informed of my being chosen, and that it was expected I should provide a deputy, according to the Act of Toleration, and the practice of some friends chosen in our parish heretofore: but having fully weighed the matter I found the execution of the office, any manner, to be so inconsistent with my religious principles, that I could not, with peace of mind, engage in it. My objection lay against the Office itself, independent of any circumstances attending it, that might by the favour of the Ecclesiastical Officer admitting me, or of my fellow-parishioners, be made easy to me. It is an Office under the Hierarchy, and its execution, (saving some civil duties imposed by comparatively modern Acts of Parliament) tends directly in VOL. II. |