FROM STEPHEN GRELLET'S MEMOIRS:

Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, 1796.

Memoirs of the Life and Gospel Labours of Stephen Grellet. In One Volume. Philadelphia: Friends' Book Store, n.d.

This Document is on The Quaker Writings Home Page.

I received much instruction at that Yearly Meeting. The weightiness of the spirits of many Friends, I thought, was very conspicuous. Business of peculiar importance, and which claimed much interest, was transacted. One of the the concerns was relative to the Indian tribes, which some Friends were appointed to visit. A large committee was set apart to have the particular care of this concern, which has been much blessed in their hands. Other Yearly Meetings shortly after felt a similar concern, to extend a Christian care over some other tribes. Their labours of love have been so blessed in several instances, that it may be said, respecting some of these people, that the wilderness has flourished. Some of them have been brought, in a considerable degree, to a civilized state, in the cultivations of their ands, etc., besides being in some measure made acquainted with the truths of the Christian religion.

Another subject, which obtained much of the attention of Friends at that meeting, was the state of the oppressed Africans. The Yearly Meeting came to the conclusion that any people of colour, becoming convinced of our principles, and making application to be received as members of our Society, ought to be treated as white persons, without any distinction on account of colour, seeing that there is none with God, who has made all the nations of the earth of one blood, and that Jesus Christ has died for all, and is the Saviour of all who believe in Him, of whatever nation or colour they may be. - Page 40.

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Regarding Paul Cuffee, 1811.

I remained in Liverpool till the 3rd of Eight month, having sundry meetings with Friends in that large commercial place, and several also among divers classes of the inhabitants. One of these was with the Methodists, in their large house, among whom I was much engaged in the Gospel of Christ, and many of us were baptized together by the one Spirit. I had also a meeting in the Poor-house; about a thousand of its inmates were present. I felt very tenderly for them. Many had seen better days, but owing to the pressure of the times they have been under the necessity of coming here. I also had a religious opportunity in that place, with about two hundred children. Some of them manifested tender religious feelings.

During the time I have been at Liverpool, Paul Cuffee, a black man, owner and master of a vessel, has come into port, from Sierra Leone on the coast of Africa. He is a member of our Society, and resides in New England. The whole of his crew are black also. This, together with the cleanliness of his vessel, and the excellent order prevailing on board, has excited very general attention. It has, I believe, opened the minds of many in tender feelings towards the poor suffering Africans, who, they see, are men like themselves, capable of becoming, like Paul Cuffee, valuable and useful members both of civil and religious Society. - Page 171.