within the compass of which he or she refides, giving information of their disownment, and by what monthly-meeting. The particular occafion of disownment, fuch monthly-meeting is not enjoined to require. But if upon noticing the application, the monthly-meeting believes in the fincerity of fuch individual, and finds nothing to prevent amongst them, enquiry must be made of the monthly-meeting, by which the applicant has been difowned, concerning its confent to their reception of fuch perfon; and after information therefrom, that nothing appears to obftruct, fuch applicant may be by them received.

It is the judgment of this meeting, that no testimonies of denial be read in a public meeting, unless it fhall appear to monthly-meetings that our teftimony will be liable to fuffer by fuch omiffion.

We recommend to friends in their feveral monthly-meetings, to take especial care to appoint proper, prudent and judicious friends, to vifit their brethren in their families, to inform, advise or admonish, pursuant to former advices; and that such friends labour faithfully, in a spirit of love, and in the meekness of wisdom, to convince the judgments of their respective members of the neceflity of their coming up with their brethren in practice, agreeable to our Chriftian principle; that fo the fevera lbranches of the teftimony, which truth hath given our ancients and us to bear, may be maintained inviolate. 1733, 1751.

It is recommended, that the book of discipline be present in all our monthly, quarterly and yearly-meetings, that the fame may be confulted as occafion requires; and as opportunity offers, fuch portions thereof be read in each monthly. meeting, the women being present, as the elders, overfeers or other concerned friends, may from time to time think proper, for the inftruction, help and furtherance of the young and rifing generation, and fuch as may not otherwise be converfant or acquainted therewith.

NEGROES AND SLAVES.

1. IT is the fenfe of this meeting, that the importation of Negroes from their native country and relations* is not a commendable nor allowable practice, and that practice is cenfured by this meeting. 1727.

2. We fervently warn all in profeffion with us, that they be careful to avoid being any way concerned in reaping the unrighteous profits of that iniquitous practice of dealing in Negroes, and other flaves; whereby, in the original purchafe, one man felleth another as he does the beast that perishes, without any better pretenfion to a property in him than that of fuperior force, in direct violation of the gofpel rule, which teaches every one to do as they would be done by, and to do good unto all; being the reverse of that covetous difpofition, which furnishes encouragement to thofe poor ignorant people to perpetuate their favage wars, in order to fupply the demands of this moft unnatural traffic, whereby great numbers of mankind, free by nature, are fubjected to inextricable bondage; and

*This intended as flaves, or against their consent.

which hath often been obferved to fill their pof feffors with haughtiness and tyranny, luxury and barbarity; corrupting the minds and debafing the morals of their children, to the unfpeakable prejudice of religion and virtue, and the exclufion of that Holy Spirit of univerfal love, meekness and charity, which is the unchangeable nature and the glory of true Christianity : We therefore can do no lefs than with the greateft earnestness imprefs it upon friends every where, that they endeavour to keep their hands clear of this unrighteous gain of oppreffion.1760.

3. It is recommended to friends, who have flaves in poffeffion, to treat them with tendernefs, imprefs God's fear in their minds, promote their attending places of religious worship, and give those that are young, at least, so much learning that they may be capable of reading.

4. It is our fenfe and judgment, that truth not only requires that the young, of capacity and ability, but likewise the aged and impotent, and alfo all in a ftate of infancy and non-age among friends, be discharged and fet free from a ftate of flavery; that we do no more claim property in the human race, as we do in the brutes that perish. 1773.

Agreed that no friend import, or any ways purchase, difpofe of or hold mankind as flaves.; but that all those who have been held in a state

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of flavery be discharged therefrom; that all thofe be used well who are under friends' care, and are not in circumstances, through non-age or incapacity, to minifter to their own neceffities; and that they give those that are young fuch an education as become Chriftians, and encourage others in a religious and virtuous life. 1773, 1780.