The magnitude and importance of the engagement have claimed the solid consideration of this meeting; much Christian sympathy being felt and expressed with this our dear friend in the prospect before him, and this meeting feeling unity therewith, thinks it right to liberate him for the service. Under a sense of the awful responsibility of the engagement, we reverently commend him to the protecting care of Almighty God,earnestly desiring that he may, from day to day, abide in deep humility, watchfulness, and prayer, and be preserved in single dependence upon the leadings of the Holy Spirit; and may his Gospel labours be blessed to the spreading and exaltation of the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Signed in and on behalf of the Yearly Meeting of Ministers and Elders, held in London, the 16th, 17th, and 28th of the 5th Month, 1831. WILLIAM ALLEN, Clerk. To the Inhabitants of the British Colonies in New Holland, Van Diemens Land, South Africa, and elsewhere, where these may come. The Religious Society of Friends, constituting the Monthly Meeting of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, in Great Britain, send greeting: Our dear friend George Washington Walker having, in a solid manner, spread before this assembly, a religious concern which rests with weight upon his mind, to offer himself to go out as a companion to our dear friend James Backhouse, of the City of York, who is about to pay you a visit in Gospel love. These are to certify, that he, the said George Washington Walker, is a member in good esteem with us, the Society aforesaid; and that, in this, his arduous engagement, he has the near sympathy and cordial concurrence of this meeting; trusting that in surrendering himself to this service, he is moving under the direction of Him who is Lord of Heaven and Earth. We desire that these, our beloved Friends, may be preserved in the fear of God, daily walking in his counsel; that so their circumspect conduct, and their religious labours, may tend to the instruction and edification of those among whom their lot may be cast; that many may be brought to the knowledge of the Truth,-may be turned from darkness unto light,-from the power of Satan unto God; that receiving the remission of sins through the blood of Christ Jesus our Lord, and by the sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit, they may become meet to be partakers of that eternal inheritance, which he hath prepared for them who truly love and fear Him. We commend these our beloved friends to the protection of the Lord God Omnipotent, through all the outward dangers, and the inward conflicts of spirit, which may be permitted to attend them; desiring that He may keep them in the way in which they should go, bless their labours for the honour of his name; and when their service is performed, be graciously pleased to permit them to return in peace. Under the feeling of a measure of that Love which desires that all men may be brought to the knowledge of the Truth as it is in Jesus, and be saved, we are your friends. Signed in and on behalf of our Monthly Meeting aforesaid, this 13th day of the 7th Month, 1831. Michael Watson John Burt Joshua Ianson William Grimshaw Thomas Richardson, jun. John Hills John Brown George Baynes Edward Ford James Gilpin Edward Backhouse William Noble Solomon Chapman George Richardson Daniel Oliver Thomas Richardson Jonathan Priestman William Richardson Anthony Clapham Joshua Watson William Brown William Hotham John Richardson APPENDIX. B. A CONCISE APOLOGY for the peculiarities of the SOCIETY OF FRIENDS, commonly called QUAKERS, in their language, costume, and manners. By JAMES BACKHOUSE. When any People adopt a style of Language, Costume, and Manners, differing from that of the community at large, it is reasonable to expect that they will appear singular, if not foolish, in the eyes of the uninformed. It is therefore incumbent on those who act in a manner at variance with common custom, to explain their reasons for so acting, in order that they may not be misunderstood. It is well known that the Society of Friends, commonly called Quakers, has adopted, in many points, practices very different from those of the Christian community in general; but their motives for doing so, it is apprehended, are little understood by many of their fellow Christians: and as the Quakers believe that they have scriptural grounds for these variations from common usage, it is a matter of some moment, that their views should be explained, in order that they may not be regarded as visionary, and that Christians of other denominations may consider how far they are called upon to act according to the same principles. Explanations of this kind have been copiously given in several treatises on the principles of Friends, already published; but as these treatises, from their size, are necessarily limited as to their circulation, the following reasons, in a more compendious form, are submitted to notice.* For further information on the principles of Friends, see Barclay's Apology ;-Tuke's Principles;-Gurney on the Distinguishing views of Friends. One of the first peculiarities in the manners of a Quaker likely to arrest attention, is his disuse of Complimentary Modes of Address. These, it is presumed, originate in a disposition to gratify that principle in the human mind, which loves to be thought something of: and this principle, if examined into, will be found to have its root in pride, either of circumstances, character, or station in life. But as "the Lord knoweth the proud afar off;' " and " hateth a proud look;" and "will destroy the house of the proud;" and "every one proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord;"§ and a proud heart is sin ;" and "God resisteth the proud;"¶ it is inconsistent with that love which "worketh no ill to his neighbour;"** and which it is the duty of Christians constantly to exercise, to cherish this pride. For this reason, the Quakers do not use those complimentary titles, and addresses, which, by exciting and fostering the pride of those to whom they are addressed, are calculated to produce feelings the very opposite to christian humility. The Society of Friends conceives the use of Complimentary titles to be clearly forbidden to Christians, by the exhortations of their great Lord and Master; Be ye not called Rabbi; for one is your master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your Father upon earth; for one is your Father which is in heaven." And, in the following verse, the disciples are forbidden to desire such compliments; "Neither be ye called Masters: for one is your Master, even Christ." The pride of the Scribes and Pharisees, in loving such compliments, and in seeking gratification in other ways, is further denounced by the Saviour; "But all their works, they do, to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, and love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets, and to be called of men Rabbi, Rabbi."‡‡ The injurious effect of a desire for worldly honour, is also pointed out by our Lord, in the following expressions: "How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?"§§ It must be obvious to every considerate person, that in making a stand against any wrong practices, even where these merge by slight gradations into right ones, a line must be drawn somewhere, to commence from; and unless this line be drawn from the commencement of the evil, it is very difficult, if not impossible, to find another place * Psalm cxxxviii. 6. ↑ Proverbs vi. 17. ‡ Ibid. xv. 25. ¶ James iv. 6 1 Peter v. 5. ** Romans xiii. 10. 11 Matthew xxiii, 5, 6, 7. § Ibid. xvi. 5. || Ibid. xxi. 4. ++ Matthew xxiii. 8, 9, 10. $$ John v. 44. where such a line can be drawn. The depravity of the human mind continually inclines it to risk cherishing evil in others, rather than to hazard giving offence, by adopting a course of conduct calculated in any degree, to correct the evil. Hence, a testimony against an evil practice is almost sure to be evaded, unless it have a clearly defined line to commence from. The Society of Friends has therefore drawn this line of commencement, from the complimentary style now prevalent, of addressing single persons in the plural number, which is supposed to have originated in the practice of addressing emperors and princes, in the plural term, You, by way of adulation,—a form of address, which, in this day, has become extended to the lowest classes of society, spoiling also the beauty, and the distinctive operation of our language. The appellatives Mr. Mrs. and Miss, have likewise been avoided by the Quakers, for the same reasons. At the period of the origin of this People, these appellatives were considered complimentary; but, like the address of the plural pronoun, You, to an individual, they have at this day, pervaded all ranks, This circumstance may be traced to the operation of a principle in the human mind, prompting persons in the lower walks of life, to desire the same gratifications that are indulged in by those in the higher circles ;-a principle which is constantly striking death-blows at distinctions not existing in rank or merit, by inducing the lower classes to imitate those things, invented to gratify the pride of the higher classes. The effect of this principle is so unvarying, that it may be regarded as one of the laws of God, to prevent man retaining distinction from his fellow man, by such unworthy means. Complimentary modes of address are often a mere cloak for insincerity, they do not constitute an integral part of true politeness, or of genuine courtesy of manners. These have their origin in love towards our fellow creatures, and in proper consideration for the feelings of those around us ;-in doing, in short, as we would be done by. Where such dispositions are cherished, they will be continually prompting their possessor to the spontaneous exercise of the minor offices of disinterestedness and benevolence, and they will cause "the law of kindness" ever to dwell on his lips. These are the characteristics of the true gentleman; and it must be admitted, that they greatly enhance the sweets of social intercourse, and the comforts of human life. It may perhaps be thought too much, by some persons in the present day, to style the forms of address that have been adverted to, complimentary, unless in a negative sense, since they have been |