The Quaker Colony

From the INTRODUCTION. The colony of William Penn thrived and prospered solely through the efforts of the founder and the justness of the principles which he avowed. The final outcome and growth was but to have been expected when is considered the principle involved: As a congregation -The Society of Friends- sought a new home like unto the Pilgrims who came to Plymouth, that they might find a haven for their church. Persecution and oppression had but spurred them on to establish their faith; it could not fail to advance and prosper, provided they were not antagonized, nor subjected to adverse circumstances or conditions, and so, they were assured by the power vested in the proprietary rights of William Penn. That they should have secured the aid and influence of one so steadfast and honest as this brave man, was indeed fortunate; and to his earnest effort and financial aid is due the credit of that which even right and enthusiasm often availeth not. The later attributes of the colony, and of -The City of Brotherly Love- in particular, but reaffirm the assurance that the colony was founded upon lines which bespoke from the start equality and liberality, and in which the city of Philadelphia today, occupies and sustains a place unique among cities throughout the world, as a city of homes and homemakers. The distress and troublous visitations of the infant Colony were not by any means infrequent, nor did they, in any sense, lack severity, but throughout its career the perplexities were the comparatively peaceful ones of finance and territorial boundaries and rights, and warfare, riot and bloodshed were conspicuous only by their absence, which in view of the principles of justness and equality professed by the Quakers made of the Red Man a friend instead of a foe. As prominent as was the religious feeling and motives of the -Friends, - they sought not to coerce liberty and freedom of conscience in others, but rather to encourage a union wherein freedom of religion and a simple avowal of Christianity was all that was required of the community.