MORAL EDUCATION.
CHAPTER I.
Amusements distinguishable into useful and hurtful—the latter specified and forbidden.
CHAPTER II.
SECT. I.—Games of chance forbidden—history of the origin of some of these.
SECT. II.—Forbidden as below the dignity of the intellect of man, and of his christian character.
SECT. III.—As producing an excitement of the passions, unfavourable to religious impressions—historical anecdotes of this excitement.
SECT. IV.—As tending to produce, by the introduction of habits of gaming, an alteration in the moral character.
CHAPTER III.
SECT. I.—Music forbidden—instrumental innocent in itself, but greatly abused—the use of it almost inseparable from its abuse at the present day.
SECT. II.—Quakers cannot learn instrumental on the usual motives of the world—nor consider it as a source of moral improvement, or of solid comfort to the mind—but are fearful that, if indulged in, it would interfere with the Christian duty of religious retirement.
SECT III.—Quakers cannot learn vocal, because, on account of its articulative powers, it is capable of becoming detrimental to morals—its tendency to this, as discoverable by an analysis of different classes of songs.
SECT IV.—The preceding the arguments of the early Quaker—but the new state of music has produced others—these explained.
SECT V.—An objection stated to the different arguments of the Quakers on this subject—their reply.
CHAPTER IV.
SECT I.—The Theatre forbidden—short history of its origin—and of its state and progress.
SECT II.—Manner of the drama objected to by the Quakers—as it personates the characters of others—and it professes to reform vice.
SECT III.—Contents of the drama objected to—as they hold our false sentiments—and weaken the sinews of morality.
SECT IV.—Theater considered by the Quakers to be injurious to the happiness of man, as it disqualifies him for the pleasure of religion.
SECT V.—To be injurious to the happiness of man, as it disqualifies him for domestic enjoyments.
SECT VI.—Opinions of the early Christians on this subject.
CHAPTER V.
SECT. I.—Dancing forbidden—light in which this subject has been viewed both by the ancients and the moderns—Quakers principally object to it, where it is connected with public assemblies—they conceive it productive, in this case, of a frivolous levity, and of an excitement of many of the evil passions.
SECT. II—These arguments of the Quakers, on dancing, examined in three supposed cases put to a moral philosopher.
SECT. III.—These arguments further elucidated by a display of the
Ball-room.
CHAPTER VI.
Novels forbidden—considered by the Quakers as producing an affectation of knowledge—a romantic spirit—and a perverted morality.
CHAPTER VII.
SECT. I—Diversions of the field forbidden—general thoughtlessness upon this subject—sentiments of some of our best poets—law of the Quakers concerning it.
SECT. II.—Consistency of this law examined by the morality, which is inculcated by the Old Testament.
SECT. III.—Examined by the morality of the New—these employments, if resorted to as diversions, pronounced, in both cases, to be a breach of a moral law.
CHAPTER VIII.
Objections to the preceding system, which includes these different prohibitions, as a system of moral education.
CHAPTER IX.
SECT. I.—Reply of the Quakers to these objections.
SECT. II.—Further reply of the Quakers on the same subject.
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DISCIPLINE.
CHAPTER I.
SECT. I.—Outlines of the discipline of the Quakers.
SECT. II.—Manner of the administration of this discipline.
SECT. III.—Charges usually brought against the administration of it—observations in answer in these charges.
SECT. IV.—The principles of this discipline applicable to the discipline of larger societies, or to the criminal codes of states—beautiful example in Pennsylvania.
CHAPTER II.
Monthly court or meeting of the Quakers for the purposes of their discipline—nature and manner of the business transacted there.
CHAPTER III.
Quarterly court or meeting for the same purposes—nature and manner of the business there.
CHAPTER IV.
Annual court or meeting for the same purposes—nature and manner of the business there—striking peculiarities in this manner—character of this discipline or government.
CHAPTER V.
Excommunication or disowning—nature of disowning as a punishment.