APPENDIX NO. 10: COPY OF ENTRY ON THE FIRST AND SECOND PAGES OF THE BOOK
OF MEMBERS OF THE FREE QUAKERS, WHICH MEMBERS OF MEETING SIGN, OR IN WHICH
THEIR NAMES ARE ENTERED BY THEIR PARENTS.
Charles Wetherill
Wetherill, Charles. History of The Religious Society of Friends Called
by Some The Free Quakers, in the City of Philadelphia. Philadelphia:
Printed for the Society, 1894, Number 3 of an edition limited to 800 copies,
signed by Charles Wetherill.]
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Quaker Writings Home Page.
The great end for which it pleaseth the Almighty to bring Mankind into
Existence, is, that they may faithfully serve him here on Earth, and glorify
him forever hereafter. He in his infinite Goodness is constantly calling
upon them to come and learn of him, who is Wisdom itself: and we doubt
not, but that those who adhere to his divine Instructions will be rewarded
with Everlasting Peace, and for his manifold Mercies bestowed upon us,
believe it to be our Duty, publickly to assemble together, to offer to
him our grateful Acknowledgements and tribute of Divine Worship. We do
therefore unite ourselves together as Members of this Religious Society
called by some the "Free Quakers": a Society established upon enlarged
and benevolent principles of the Gospel and hope to profess true Christian
Charity and that Divine Love which enlargeth the Heart towards all Men
and leadeth to hope and believe, that however divided the Church militant
may be, on Earth, that yet the Church triumphant in Heaven is made up of
all Nations, Kindreds, Tongues and People, who with the Harps of God in
their hands are praising him on Mount Zion.
We think it proper to add, as we have heretofore declared in an Address
published in the early Institution of this Society, "that we have
no design to form Creeds or Confessions of Faith, but humbly to confide
in those sacred Lessons of Wisdom and Benevolence which have been .left
us by Christ and his Apostles, contained in the Holy Scriptures and appealing
to that Divine principle breathed by the Breath of God into the Hearts
of all Men, to leave every Man to think and judge for himself according
to the abilities received, and to answer for his Faith and opinion to him
who seeth the Secrets of all Hearts, the sole Judge and sovereign Lord
of Conscience."
Being now through divine Favor in some measure established as a religious
Society, we trust by an adherence to those Catholic Principles, we shall
be favoured with the Blessing of the Almighty, and therefore relying on
him for Pro.tection, we do hereunto~subscribe our Names and the names of
our children, as Brethren and Sisters in Community, the seventeenth day
of the Second Month, called February, in the year of our Lord, One Thousand
seven hundred and eighty-five.