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    THV strenpth of nations b» Andrew THJti bXKJfiWfcrlH UJ> • WAriUATb.. uy Anarew JMssett

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    dependent ; , contingent life . ;; we can have little doubt of its ultimate decay ; we canhwe no certainty of its continuing life ; ' Whea- that which is perfect is come / the 4 > P ostle savs > ' that which is in part shall be done away . " * Putting these considerations together , it . seems only natural that Quakerism should decay . The real question at issue is , whether its decay be premature ;—whether it is about to die , by its own fault , before its mission be fulfilled , before its task is ended ?

    Mr . Hancock points with justifiable pcide to the fact that Quakerism has had its missiontand its task . It has borne successful witness against the world for the great doctrine of interior ifluuiLnation , and in the . seventeenth century established it as a theological truth , when the so-called orthodox had begun to doubt its validity . To this , it added the possibility of personal inspiration for every . man , in modem as well as in ancient that

    times . We may mention , by the way , Modern Philosophy g ives its sanotion to both these dogmas , and is now the main buttress of support to the Ancient Theology ^ The schools are in this more scriptural than the Church , and do their duty of keeping Watch on the latter , and of compelling her , by criticism , to correct her errors and omissions , sometimes from . interested motives , in her doctrinal enunciations . What says

    Chalybaus ? His words are very pertinent and most important . " Philosophy must , " according to him , " certainly look with , indifference at the so-called consequences of a system , even if the latter were to consist of discrepancies with the orthodoxy of the church ; for granted , even , that Christianity is the pure truth , who can answer for the orthodoxy prevalent at any one period beinir pure Christianity ? A philosophical system which opposes the latter may possibly be more Christian than the that it is

    latter itself ; and , in fact , history proves philosophy which has incessantly co-operated in the laboratory of the Church as . a most active servant in assisting to purify her dogmas . " Singularly enough , this mission has frequently been entrusted by Providence to rude and uninstructed minds , such as Jacob Bohme and George Foxj and by such despised instruments have the highest truths been the most enthusiastically and efficiently promulgated . Even such a purifying philosophy fe ll to the charge of Quakerism ; appealing , however , rather to the religious instincts than to the

    speculative reason . The courage of the founders has not continued to their successors , . , forming a body in secessipni have sought for traditions to guide them , instead of depending djn . divine illumination . They have regarded Fox and others more than the Word by which he and they were originally g uided , and which would have guided their followers also , had the . latter bravely claimed to be men , aa their predecessors did . Thus is it ever that superstition grows on true religion . The ancient Quakers , says 3 Vtr , Hancock , bore witness against every appearance of evil , in fact , against the evil principle ; the modern select certain ancient

    real and supposed evils . The Quakers witnessed to the presence pf the Divine Word in man ; the modem testify to certain duties . But , then , mariFthe essential difference in a few expressive words ; " the ancient Quaker witness does not necessarily involve Quakerism ;"— . while " Quakerism hinders and contradicts that witness . " George Fox was not himself a Quaker , but a man . in whose life and speech Quakerism had its origin and birth . Deep matter of reflection in that ! Had every Quaker since Fox been such a man as . , there ! would have boon no such ism ; butt the common truth so manifested would have shone with a pure light , and the number of men truly confessing it been much augmented .

    The error , howeyer , commenced with George Fox himself , who too strongly impressed hie own personal character on the body of believers , and thus generated the conditions of a eeot , and su b " etituted his own deductions and inferences for the principle in which they originated .. In proportion ns he aid this , he left the catholic basis on which he had originally stood * Iiwforajalisros and prohibitions had a , contracting tendency . Fox , for inetance , opposed'himselC to music . Now , music iftvanecd ox ! . man implanted by his Malcer . What ifl ^ ithe result ,, of this P Why » Quakerism must Q 3 fMludo nvueioiftl ; men ,, and da so fax no longer « atJw > Hc . MXt Qarnnpt bo ajkingdom for aU places ^ aauftuoe ^ fojp . ittfjQftUttot b 4 e * s ., ftnd sanctify , tho

    coacert-room pr the singing party . " So of theatres , so of art exhibitions . Nevertheless , the Quakers have made some noble demonstrations , as very properly insisted on by Mr . Rowntree , whose prize essay is less philosophical than Mr . Hancock ' s , and deals more with the outer life of the sect ; witness the efforts of Clarkson and Wilberforce , how they were helped on . by the Quakers , and the general character of philanthropy earned for the sect by so many of its leading members . Mr . Rowntree principally refers the decline of the society to its severe discipline , particularly in relation to the

    article of marriages with non-members , and the growing secularity of many of its younger branches . All these are natural causes , and might have been expected . Mr . Hancock prefers to take a higher ground . The doctrines of Quakerism are no longer peculiar . The highest class of phil o sophical and theological minds , not excepting even the followers of Pusey , now admit and enforce the doctrines which the founders of Quakerism , so strenuously advocated . There is a general tendency to the catholic centre , into which Quaker dogmas , with others , are

    refunded . The need for the sectarian badge , therefore , no longer exists—nay , its continuance is injurious . The time has come when the conscientious Friend must reclaim for mankind , what he had given to a party . In that case the course of conduct is clear . The formalisms of a mere sect raay retain attractions for the narrow-minded or unthinking , but the larger spirit of intelligent men will repudiate them with instinctive propriety . The enquiries that have been made are designed , of courseto lead to some practical issue . What

    , more , practical than a public declaration , setting forth the real state of the case , and the abandon ^ - ment , therefore , of all mere sectarian peculiarities , repudiating the name Quaker altogether , and demanding recognition simply as a Society of Christian Friends , who interpret the doctrines of religion in the purest spiritual sense , and avoid all superstitious customs and bibliolatry on principle ? Such a society would have no chance of deoay , but would daily increase in number , power , and influence .

    Thv Strenpth Of Nations B» Andrew Thjti Bxkjfiwfcrlh Uj≫ • Wariuatb.. Uy Anarew Jmssett

    THE STRENGTH OP NATIONS , By Andrew JBissett

    —Smith , Elder , and Co . The apprehension of invasion has , at least , given us one good book—one , indeed , so good that we wish it were better . The wealth of nations has been argumentatively considered ; but the strength of nations , without which that wealth cannot be guarded , still wants its interpreter , the author states , and illustrates his opinions with reference to historical precedents . Hence , in discussing his subject , he brings forward as witnesses the Spartans , Athenians , Romans , would fail to

    Spaniards , and Turks . { Space us pursue him through the winding paths and entangled wildernesses of such a route as this . The gist of all this learned allusion is , that wit hout bodily training in the use of arms , a people must necessarily decline . Our forefathers instituted butts , and practised archery ; we must have militiamen , whp should practise the rifle and the bayonet . A nation , however brave , says Mr . Bissett , if totally unaccustomed to the use of arms , may be slaughtered like sheep . What follows is immensely important : — -

    In regard to the machinery for carrying out the substitution l * 0 f rifle target practice for the old shooting at the parish butts , the parish records of England , point out the course to be pursued . It appears from those records , that every pariah was bound to furnish butts and a certain supply of bows and arrows . So now every pariah should be bound by law to supply a certain number of rifles . From the extent of ground requisite , every parish will not

    be « able to have , a rifle target at least , in largo towns . But one thing is evident , that if this institution is to be p ( 3 rm « ne « t—and otherwise it will bo of no use—we cannot trust for its permanency to rifle clubs or to voluntary subscription . The institution must be made a part of those public duties of which the law enforces the strict , and rogular , and unremittcd performance , for the common woll-buing and safety of the . whole nation . "

    This system the author oalls " the cheap defence of nations , " and opposes to Adam Smith ' s theory pf u pstanding army , which ho clmraaterises as a pjanior , regarding the population of tv country an a flock of sheep with a pack of wolves to defend

    S f-, "J * - such a state of things it is manifest that the lives and properties of the sheep must enjoy but small security , either against their own , or against foreign wolves . " He quotes Mr Pulteney , as saying . in Parliament , in 1732 , that "by means of their standing armies the nations around us have every one lost their libertiesit is , indeed , impossible that the liberties of the people can be preserved in any country where a numerous standing army is kept up . " With this cheap defence Mr . Bissett contrasts the " dear defence , "—namely , the system which for the last two hundred years has been hurrying England to her fate , and on which it is how drifting with a constantly increasing velooity . The fundamental constitution of England has been fatally abandoned In favour of new and dishonest schemes for the benefit of the landowners . According to the former , England now , instead of having a debt of more than eight hundred millions , would , allowing for the increased population , and the increased value of the land , have the power of raising , at twenty-four hours' or twelve hours ' notice , an army of six hundred thousand of the beat soldiers , and a navy in proportion of the best sailors in the world . The relative condition of England and France enhances greatly the value of Mr . Bissett ' s remarks ; and his work , oh the whole , though in some parts inclined towards pedantry , deserves careful perusal and ; serious attention .

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    COLUMBUS ; OB , ME NEW WOKLD . A 1 ' oera , By BritanniCus . —Alfred W . Bennett-This poem is an ambitious attempt at , the heroic in a new style— -namely , the familiar ! The different cantos , amounting to ... thirteen , are in various measures , the ballad' form prevailing . We select a passage , from a canto in a more emulous vein . It will be seen , however , that Britannicus sticks to facts as they are chronicled , and rises very little above the plain historical statement : —• The morning- rose upon a boundless sea ; On every hand deep only called to deep ; No other Bail the dome around enclosed . As gazing forth from their unquiet sleep The sailors thought but on their woes to weep . Not so did be who led the bold emprise . His faith grew stronger as euch wave was crossed ; He summoned them caoh morn and eve to prayer , And in the future all the past he lost , Whilfithis good ship was on the billows tossed . Nothing was left undone which could ensure Success to Iii ' a long-cherished enterprise ; lSach » atar was marked , from the great cynosure Which did entrance tho common seaman ' s eyes . Down to the humblest , in the northern skies . And soon he noticed what , unknown before , Is now received , and as a world-wide fact , The needle vary from its steady polo , And then the cause his busy reason racked , Which soon he found ns ho the bright star tracked ! At least , he thought that ho had found tlio cause , And tills BulHcedhls fears to set iitivutt So when the pilots noticed the sumo tiling , Ho said " tftc star did more . "—resolve thi- liftft . Since for the cautiedoop thought is still In quest . Now food for wonder was each day mippliid , As onward still the daring lluct udviiuui-d ; Now in the air , then in the sky or Hood , A's to each clement in turn they glanced , Whilst o ' er the rolling wave their light ship * danced . To-day a bank of cloud , as llko the land As anything so aerial could bo , A meteor , a lightning atroak , a band Of porpoises upon thu distant hcii , Pugzliug the sailors much what I hoy might bo . And thon n plank , ront like a plrco of raw . From Bomo strong bark , or . elBO a broken spur , To nourish tiioughtw of danger yet . to come How near they could not . tell , nor yet how far , But Hunt by hCAVon their further vuuivn to bar , Wo reasoned all , sovo but a few at mjouI , Upon oaoh fragment of the ( loop cast up ; Thoy wore , thoy thought , but court ing comilii uoatu , And IllUng for thoir draught Its bitter cup i Why not give thuir rash leador IiIm liiwt sup ? Who among all the orow IiIh Iosh would mourn , If overboard the Admiral tlioy hurled t Ills body by no ohauco could e ' er bo bornu . Upon the Atlantic watorw , smooth or ourlcd , To toll tho tale of blood to thu old world . And thon Homo bettor thoughts bocamo Hiipremo , And their wornt nature lor n timo laid by i To evil drawn If iu tho ttoa thoy looked , To bettor things 11 ' gazing on tho sky , Ah U thoy saw therein the Omuiiuuout eye . And 8 P on , according to the ' letter of the record . Tho reader will perceive , from nomo iiusao « contufttions , that the author baa yot the art oi writing in , metro to learn .

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    1422 T H 3 E LE ABE B . [ No . 510 , T > ec . 31 , 185 < -.

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 31, 1859, page 1422, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2327/page/18/