CHAPTER I.
Communication,—The Roads[63]
CHAPTER II.
Economic Changes[69]
CHAPTER III.
Religious Life in Transition[79]

PART III.
THE MIXED COMMUNITY
From the Founding of Akin Hall To the Present Time, 1880 To 1907.

CHAPTER I.
Demotic Composition[88]
CHAPTER II.
The Economy of House and Field[98]
CHAPTER III.
New Ideals of Quakerism, Assimilation of Strangers[112]
CHAPTER IV.
The Common Mind[118]
CHAPTER V.
Practical Differences and Resemblances[130]
CHAPTER VI.
The Social Organization[135]
CHAPTER VII.
The Social Welfare[141]

PART IV.
ORIGINAL APPENDICES
Family and Church Records.

Appendix A:—Heads of Families in Oblong Meeting, 1760[155]
Appendix B:—Names of Customers of Daniel Merritt, 1771[158]
Appendix C:—Deeds of Meeting-House Lands[167]

INTRODUCTION.

Fourteen years ago the author came to Quaker Hill as a resident, and has spent at least a part of each of the intervening years in interested study of the locality. For ten of those years the fascination of the social life peculiar to the place was upon him. Yet all the time, and increasingly of late, the disillusionment which affects every resident in communities of this sort was awakening questions and causing regrets. Why does not the place grow? Why do the residents leave? What is the illusive unity which holds all the residents of the place in affection, even in a sort of passion for the locality, yet robs them of full satisfaction in it, and drives the young and ambitious forth to live elsewhere?

The answer to these questions is not easily to be had. It is evident that on Quaker Hill life is closely organized, and that for eighteen decades a continuous vital principle has given character to the population. The author has attempted, by use of the analysis of the material, according to the "Inductive Sociology" of Professor Franklin H. Giddings, to study patiently in detail each factor which has played its part in the life of this community.

This book presents the result of that study, and the author acknowledges his indebtedness to Professor Giddings for the working analysis necessary to the knowledge of his problem, as well as for patient assistance and inspiring interest. The gradual unfolding of the conclusions, the logical unity of the whole, and the explanation of that which before was not clear, have all been the fruit of this patient field-work.