seen, lead to such a character. Those, therefore, who do not,
will see their own deficiency, or how much they have yet to attain,
before they can become Quakers.]

The epithet of benevolent has been long given to this society. Indeed I
know of no point, where the judgment of the world has been called forth,
in which it has been more unanimous, than in the acknowledgment of this
particular trait, as a part of the Quaker character.

The reasons for the application of this epithet to the society, may be
various.

It has been long known, that as the early Christians called each other
brethren, and loved each other as such, so there runs through the whole
society of the Quakers a system of similar love, their affection for one
another having been long proverbial.

It has been long known again, that as the early Christians extended
their benevolence out of the pale of their own society to others who
lived around them, so the Quakers manifest a similar disposition towards
their countrymen at large. In matters of private distress, where persons
of a different religious denomination have been the objects, and where
such objects have been worthy, their purses have been generally open,
and they have generally given as largely in proportion to their
abilities as other people. To public charities in their respective
places of residence, they have generally administered their proper
share. But of late years, as they have mixed more with the world, this
character of the society has become more conspicuous or better known. In
the cases of dearth and distress, which happened a few years ago, it is
a matter of publicity, that they were among the foremost in the
metropolis, and in same other towns in the kingdom, not only in
pecuniary contributions, but in frequent and regular attendances for the
proper distribution of them. And if their character has ever stood
higher for willingness to contribute to the wants of others at any one
time than at another, it stands the highest, from whatever cause it may
happen, at the present day.

It has been long known again, that as the early Christians extended
their love beyond their own society, and beyond those of the world who
lived around them, to those who were reputed natural enemies in their
own times, so the Quakers do not confine their benevolence to their own
countrymen, but extend it to the various inhabitants of the globe,
without any discrimination, whether they are reputed hostile