The Early Quakers: an Experiment in Freedom; F. Walker

THE EARL Y QUAKERS: AN EXPERIMENT IN FREEDOM t'J 5reJerict Walter THE POSSIBILITY that a minority will satisfactorily work out its own affairs, if allowed economic freedom, is sel dom tested today; yet that is exactly what. the early Quakers did in Great Britain. The Religious Society of Friends originally faced almost unanimous hostility from the ruling classes. The early Quakers were mercilessly persecuted by the established church and the Puritans. Many were imprisoned, and their property was seized or des troyed by the government because of their refusal to take oaths, their resistance to the imposition of tithes, and their insistence on freedom of worship. Despite religious and social ostracism, and restraint and persecution by the State, the early Quakers went their quiet way and flourished. This was possible at the end of the seventeenth century in England because economic freedom prevailed in large areas of the national life. The industrial revolution had begun, and the world of com merce was expanding. Because of their refusal to take oaths, the Quakers were barred from government service, the learned professions, and the universities. Their peace Mr. Walker is a public relations consultant and journalist much concerned with the methodology of freedom.

40 EARLY QUAKERS: AN EXPERIMENT IN FREEDOM 41 testimony prohibited service in the army or navy. Trade and industry were open to them under conditions which were free; and the beneficial results of their economic lives are still felt in Great Britain. The Quakers believed in a life unmolested, with a kind tolerance toward others. To this way of life their small minority dedicated themselves, and through energy, honesty, and native ability soon achieved a prosperity and influence far beyond the usual accomplishment of a numerically limited group. Drawn into a life of trade by the restrictions which barred them from other occupa tions, the early Quakers used to full advantage the free market of their day to contribute substantially to the commercial prosperity of Great Britain at the time of its greatest growth. Their history proves that, if economic freedom exists, any minority with energy, intelligence, and dedication can prosper despite well-organized and popular opposition.

Quakers are generally credited with the introduction of uniform pricing. Their one-price system, without dis crimination according to the status or class of the buyer, won the confidence of the public, greatly speeded the processes of trade, and brought Quaker tradesmen a large portion of the retail business. They were respected for their honesty in all matters, including business trans actions. Quakers who did not keep their word were the concern of their fellow religionists; they were quick to disown any impostors attempting to trade as Quakers. Expanding trade practices soon led to participation in industry. They became leaders in iron manufacturing, 42 FREDERICK WALKER for it was a Quaker who devised the smelting of iron ore by coal instead of wood and made possible the expansion of the industry. Quaker pre-eminence in iron manufac turing continued until increasing use of iron in arma ments barred their producing for that purpose. Quakers built the first iron bridge and financed the first railways.

They were active in copper and lead mining and in brass manufacturing. Far-flung operations were conducted by Quakers in diverse industries: weaving and textiles, shipping, pot tery, pharmaceuticals, scientific instruments, and clock making. Their widespread reputation for probity led many people to deposit their savings with them for safe keeping at a time when banks were virtually nonexistent. This factor, along with the increasing need for banking facilities in their own business operations, brought Quakers into the banking business. During the eight eenth century, when Britain was the banking capital of the world, most of the major banks were Quaker founded and controlled. The history of Barclays, Lloyds, and other great institutions demonstrate Quaker banking enterprise. A contemporary example of Quaker business opera tions is the British cocoa and chocolate industry domi nated by the well-known firms of Cadbury, Fry, and Rowntree.

The early Quakers were predisposed by their philoso phy and experience, not only to take advantage of the free market open to them, but also to oppose all trade restrictions. Special privileges and state prerogatives were EARLY QUAKERS: AN EXPERIMENT IN FREEDOM 43 the possessions of their oppressors. The Quakers, as be lievers and practitioners in the spirit of freedom, would not seek special rights at the expense of others. The eco nomic history of the early Quakers clearly demonstrates how the peaceful pursuit of personal interests in the free market harmonizes with and contributes to the national welfare. The primary concern of Quakers is voluntary action. Involuntary and coercive acts and restrictions by the State are resisted by them as antithetical to the spirit of Quakerism. It is true that certain trade restrictions were practiced by the early Quakers, but these were voluntarily self imposed and not matters of governmental interference.

Their peace testimony kept them from armament manu facture; their growing concern over slavery removed them from connections with slave owning, slave dealing, and even the products of slave labor; they refrained from en gaging in businesses which were questionable in the light of the principles of the Religious Society of Friends. Quaker records are filled with examples of people de liberately restricting their businesses because increasing prosperity interfered with spiritual objectives. Anyone who did not accept such procedures was free to withdraw from the Society of Friends and continue on his own. In social actions the early Quakers also practiced free dom. The Society of Friends provided for poor, unfortu nate, or sick members without recourse to the govern ment for aid; supplied capital and counsel to help young members get started in business or trade; maintained schools and educational programs; established hospitals, 44 FREDERICK WALKER institutions for the mentally ill, and homes for the aged; and accomplished all of this by voluntary efforts and funds, not with money levied from the taxpayer nor by "social" legislation imposed by the State. Many of these efforts were pioneering ventures long afterwards copied, and then perverted by compulsion, in the name of the Welfare State.

Early Quaker history proves by all kinds of results that freedom is a very practical matter. A philosophy of freedom, an openness to innovation, a willingness to ex periment' led them to outstanding achievements in eco nomic life despite the smallness of their numbers and an unrelenting public hostility at the time of the founda tion of their Society. They demonstrated to the world that, with a free market available, they were able to arrange and carryon their lives in a most substantial and satisfactory manner, even in the face of State and Church opposition which threw thousands of them into prison, caused innumerable deaths, and often brought economic ruin. Above this unconscionable opposition the Quakers moved in their quiet ways until they commanded respect, prosperity, and the right to live unmolested. As a result of their inner dedication and their beliefs in freedom, concern for their fellow men, and the full use of the eco nomic freedom available, they triumphed. Their record is a light to the inquiring spirit today when freedom everywhere is being threatened and enveloped. What the early Quakers did shows what can be done again if men will have faith in freedom and put it into practice.