Society of Friends.
Philadelphia Yearly Meeting
Book of Discipline
1719 (1820)
(1 vol., 25p.)

289.6 So1

© American Philosophical Society
105 South Fifth Street * Philadelphia, PA 19106-3386
 American Philosophical Society 105 South Fifth Street Philadelphia, PA 19106-3386
Table of contents Abstract
In October 1719, the Yearly Meeting of the Society of Friends for Philadelphia and the Jersies reached consensus on a "book of discipline" governing the "establishment and order of meetings." The regulations covered both the conduct of the Quarterly and Monthly Meetings and the personal comportment of individual members, refining the bureaucratic structure of the meetings and laying out the powers of Overseers and other officials. It touches upon marriage (mandating endogamy), burial, and attendance at meetings, and cautions Friends to plainness of speech and dress, drinking, smoking, backbiting, and gaming.

This version of the Book of Discipline is a manuscript copy made for the American Philosophical Society in 1820 "from and antient Copy in the possession of Timothy Matlack, Esqr."
Background note
In October 1719, the Yearly Meeting of the Society of Friends for Philadelphia and the Jersies reached consensus on a "book of discipline" governing the "establishment and order of meetings." The regulations covered both the conduct of the Quarterly and Monthly Meetings and the personal comportment of individual members, refining the bureaucratic structure of the meetings and laying out the powers of Overseers and other officials. It touches upon marriage (mandating endogamy), burial, and attendance at meetings, and cautions Friends to plainness of speech and dress, drinking, smoking, backbiting, and gaming.

Among other rules, the Book of Discipline proscribed selling alcohol to Indians, "it being contrary to the care Friends have always had since the settlement of the Countries, that they might not contribute to the abuse and hurt those poor people receive by drinking thereof" and selling Indian slaves, and banned "the fetching or importing Negroe Slaves from their own Country or elsewhere," cautioning owners of slaves to be humane in tehir treatment.


Scope and content
The Book of Discipline of the Society of Friends in Pennsylvania and New Jersey is a manuscript copy made for the American Philosophical Society in 1820 "from and antient Copy in the possession of Timothy Matlack, Esqr."

Administrative information
Restrictions
None.

Provenance
Gift of Peter Stephen Duponceau, April 7, 1820 (accn. 1900-20).

Preferred citation
Cite as: Society of Friends, Book of Discipline, American Philosophical Society.

Processing information
Catalogued 2003.

Added entries
Subjects
  • Indians of North America
  • Matlack, Timothy, 1733-1829
  • Quakers--Pennsylvania
  • Slavery--Pennsylvania
  • Society of Friends--Doctrines
  • Society of Friends. Philadelphia Yearly Meeting

    • Contributors
  • Duponceau, Peter Stephen

    • Genre terms
  • Church records

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    Contact information
    American Philosophical Society
    105 South Fifth Street
    Philadelphia, PA 19106-3386

    [http://www.amphilsoc.org/]

    ©3/2003