PECULIAR CUSTOMS.
CHAPTER I.
SECT. I.—Dress—extravagance of the dress of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries—plain manner in which the grave and religious were then habited—the Quakers sprang out of these.
SECT. II.—Quakers carried with them their plain dresses into their new society—extravagance of the world continuing, they defined the objects of dress as a Christian people—at length incorporated it into their discipline—hence their present dress is only a less deviation from that of their ancestors, than that of other people.
SECT. III.—Objections of the world to the Quaker dress—those examined—a comparison between the language of Quakerism and of Christianity on this subject—opinion of the early Christians upon it.
CHAPTER II.
Furniture—the Quakers use plain furniture—reasons for their singularities in this respect.
CHAPTER III.
SECT. I.—Language—Quakers have altered the common language—substitution of Thou for You—reasons for this change—opinions of many learned men concerning it.
SECT. II.—Various other alterations made—as in titled of address—and of honour—reasons for these changes.
SECT. III.—Another alteration—as in the names of the days and the months—reasons for this change—various new phrases also introduced.
SECT. IV.—Objections by the world against the alteration of Thou for
You.
SECT. V.—Against that of titles of address and honour.
SECT. VI.—Against that of the names of the days and months.
SECT. VIII.—Advantages and disadvantages of these alterations by the
Quaker language.
CHAPTER IV.
Address—common personal gestures or worldly ceremonies of address forbidden—no exception in favour of royalty—reasons against the disuse of these.
CHAPTER V.
Manners and conversation—hospitality and freedom in Quakers' houses—their conversation more limited than that of others—subjects of conversation examined in our towns—and in the metropolis—extraordinary circumstance that takes place occasionally in the company of the Quakers.
CHAPTER VI.
Customs before meals—ancients made an oblation to Vesta—moderns have substituted grace—account of a Quaker-grace.
CHAPTER VII.
Customs at and after meals—Quakers never drink healths or toasts—various reasons for their disuse of these customs—and seldom allow women to retire after dinner and leave the men drinking—Quakers a sober people.