1

General advice.

2

Servants to be

ings.

MASTERS, MISTRESSES, SERVANTS, AND

APPRENTICES.

ADVISED, that servants professing the truth behave themselves in due subjection, humility, and plainness, as becomes their profession and places and likewise, that masters and mistresses behave themselves toward their servants, according to the apostle's direction. Eph. vi. 5, 6, 9. Col. iv. 1. 1 Tim. vi. 1, 2. Titus ii. 9, 10. 1 Pet. ii. 18, 19, 20. 1703. P. E.

A religious care is recommended toward our servants, that all encouraged to appearance of pride, idleness, and vain conversation in them may be attend meet- discouraged; and that they may be exhorted to attend First-day and week-day meetings, and have a sense of God's love upon their spirits, and therein partake of the sweetness of truth; and in the discharge of their duty to God, and to their masters and mistresses, know peace in themselves. 1718. W. E.

3

Advice to masters and

specting those under their

care.

We earnestly intreat, that it may be the constant care of all masters and mistresses properly to teach, restrain, and example those whom mistresses re- Providence hath placed under them, for their help, direction, and preservation, and for whom an account must be rendered; bringing them up in the fear of the Lord, and in that sobriety, moderation, and plainness of speech, apparel, and deportment, which become a people professing to be followers of our Lord Jesus Christ, the perfect pattern of humility and self-denial. 1760. P. E.

4

The situation of the offspring, and of the servants, of those who riches leads to neglect the due attendance of our religious meetings, is greatly to be

A trust in

as to the at

tendance of

meetings.

lamented; as is that even of some who, though frequently seen at indifference them, do not, by their conduct, seem to believe that it is required of them to allow their dependents also to attend ; but are leaving these still to pursue the world for them at home. For if any have, in a greater or a less degree, made gold their hope, or have said to the fine gold, "Thou art my confidence," it will be found that, in proportion, they will be slack in bringing their families to our accustomed opportunities for public worship. 1797. P. E.

5 Sympathy with servants

in their la

bours:

We request those who have the privilege of ability to employ servants, whether professing with us or not, to sympathize with them in their labours, to delight to render them happy, and to seek for that disposition that can lead them along as fellow-travellers in the road to the city of God. Various are the means by which this may be attempted. The principal one certainly is, the keeping of the mind attentive to the discoveries of Truth; and as, we doubt not, a perusal their attendof the Scriptures is the frequent employ of many families, we desire family reading of the that the servants may be made partakers of the benefits resulting from Scriptures rethe practice, and from occasional opportunities of retirement in spirit. 1805. P. E.-1833.

ance at the

commended.

6

Advice to

friends to

of our own so

ploy members

ciety:

This meeting has been impressed with the importance of the exercise of a due care towards young persons who are taken as apprentices by friends. It may be thought that an additional responsibility attaches into their emprefer taking to the taking of members of our society in that station, or as shopmen or servants; but this meeting trusts that if, from a sincere desire to protect such individuals, friends were willing to give a preference to our own members, a real satisfaction would arise from it; and we further desire that those who fill the station of masters, may endeavour to discharge the important duties which devolve upon them, in a moral and religious care of those who are employed in their service.

to manifest

We are comforted in the persuasion that the care and instruction which many in early life have received in our public schools have an interest in been a blessing to them, and we are anxious that both masters and

P

the welfare of young per

sons within their meet

ings:

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and to promote the attendance of servants, &c. at public worship.

other friends in the meetings in which these and other young persons reside, may watch over them for good, and be willing in various ways to show an affectionate interest in their comfort and welfare. A few kind expressions arising from a solicitude for their moral and spiritual good, offered in love as opportunities occur, may have more effect than is at the time apprehended. 1828.

This meeting recommends friends who have the charge of servants and apprentices, to extend kind attention and care towards them, and to make such domestic arrangements as may enable them to attend public worship duly and punctually, and to promote their employing the portions of the First-day of the week not so occupied, in a manner becoming the professors of the Christian name. 1833.

107

MEETING FOR SUFFERINGS.

AGREED, that certain friends of this city be nominated to keep a constant meeting about sufferings four times in a year, with the day and time of each meeting here fixed and settled. That at least one friend of each county be appointed by the quarterly meeting thereof, to be in readiness to repair to any of the said meetings at this city, at such times as their urgent occasions or sufferings shall require. 1675.

It is agreed to be sufficient, that the meeting for sufferings be held in course on the first Sixth-day in each month; subject nevertheless, on any emergency, to the call of any five of the members thereof.

1794.-1798.

N. B. It appears by the records of the meeting for sufferings, that the mode
of meeting every week was practised in the year 1676; and continued
until the year 1794.

The meeting for sufferings, (so called from the nature of its original object,) is a standing committee of this meeting, and is entrusted with a general care of whatever may arise during the intervals of this meeting, affecting our religious society, and requiring immediate attention; particularly of such matters as may occasion an application to the legislature for the relief of the society in regard to its Christian testimonies. 1833.

Agreed, that the meeting for sufferings do consist of correspondents nominated by the several quarterly meetings and approved by this meeting, and of those appointed by meetings in foreign parts corresponding with this meeting, and of foreign correspondents appointed by this meeting; and likewise of men friends in the stations of ap

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proved ministers and appointed elders. No quarterly meeting is to have more than four correspondents in London, and no friend is to be appointed for more than four places. 1702.-1717.-1770.-1833.

It is agreed that the following minute be read previously to the Qualifications calling over of the correspondent-book in this meeting.

of members.

6

Choice of

London correspondents.

This meeting having considered the nature and importance of the affairs transacted by the meeting for sufferings, and the continued necessity there is that they should be managed by grave and weighty friends, such as are themselves men of clean hands, and adorning the doctrine they profess, in their lives and conversation; it is the earnest desire of this meeting, that friends be particularly careful in their choice of such as are to act as correspondents, either in the city or the counties; informing themselves, as much as may be, of the qualifications of those who are intended for such services; and that such only may be nominated as are faithful in the several branches of our Christian testimony against tithes, bearing arms, and oaths, and are also exemplary in their conduct and conversation amongst men, and coming up in that plainness of speech, behaviour, and apparel, which highly becomes those in an especial manner, who are concerned in managing the affairs of the church. 1747.-1759.

The elders and overseers of the several monthly meetings in the quarterly meeting of London and Middlesex, are directed to take particular notice of those friends in their respective meetings, whose conduct and conversation appear to be agreeable to the description given in the last preceding minute, respecting the choice of correspondents.

And those elders and overseers are to meet together annually, at a convenient time before the yearly meeting, and make a list of such friends' names, as shall be by them approved for this service; and leave the said list with the clerk of the meeting for sufferings, for the information of friends in the country. Nevertheless, it is not hereby intended to restrain them from choosing any member of that meeting, provided he is not already a correspondent for more than three places. 1772.-1833.