RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OR "QUAKERS" - "Christian and Brotherly Advices Given forth from time to time by the Yearly Meetings in London." [?London: c. 1738-1771]. Folio. c. 400-page manuscript (many leaves lacking), contemporary reverse calf.

RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OR "QUAKERS" - "Christian and Brotherly Advices Given forth from time to time by the Yearly Meetings in London Alphabetically digested under proper Heads." [?London: c. 1738-1771]. Folio (320 x 205mm). c. 400-page manuscript on paper, with entries dated from 1672 to 1777 (lacking pages 7-8, 19-24, 33-34, 55-62, 71-78, 87-88, 91-94, 97-100, 103-106, 119-120, 123-124, 129-132, 145-148, 169-172, 175-176, 209-212, 219-220, 227-228,  231-232,  235-236,  239-240, 251-252. 267-272, 283-288, 291-292, 307-310, 321-324,  329-332,  335-336, 349-356,  359-360, 363-364, 367-368, 371-372, 379-382, 387-390, 407-412, 415-416 and 427-432, with stubs apparent). Contemporary reverse calf (corners rubbed, joints split, some ink staining). Amongst the earliest official records of the Quaker Movement are these manuscripts, a compilation of "advices" previously issued piecemeal by "Yearly Meetings". With its contents listed under 51 headings, the manuscripts were distributed to meetings around the country and were, effectively, maintained as a "work in progress", which may account for the many leaves removed from this copy as and when they became obsolete. The first printed edition appeared in London in 1738 but was not susceptible to addenda as are the manuscript versions. The subjects covered are wide-ranging and include "Conversation", "Fighting", "Love", "Persecution", "Plainness", "Prisoners" and "Tomb-Stones." In keeping with the Quakers' commitment to equality and social justice, entry 25 on page 221 sets out their approach to slavery a century before the Abolitionist Movement in Britain and the United States: "Concerning Importing Negroes. 1727. It is the sense of this meeting That the Importing of Negroes from their Native Country and relations, by friends, is not a commendable nor allowed practice, and that Practice is censured by this meeting. 1761. This meeting taking into Consideration the former advice of this Meeting particularly in 1727 and 1758 against dealing in Negroes; and having Reason to apprehend that [?]owners under our Name are concerned in this Unchristian Traffick, do Recommend it Earnestly to the [?]law of Friends Everywhere, to discourage as much as in them Lies, a practice so Repugnant to our Christian Profession, and to deal with all such as persevere in a Conduct so Reproachful to the Society, and disown them if they desist not therefrom." Provenance: old ink library shelf numbers to front pastedown; some later pencil annotation and underlining (on page 156, for example, the note: "The parts underlined with pencil are left out of the second printed Edition").