Resource 12: Quakers, Women, and Reform Women in Quaker Doctrine

Lucretia Mott, ca . 1860–1880 . Library of the leading antislavery orators of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, As we dare not encourage any ministry but that Washington, D .C ., 9750024 . her day, was attacked by a mob at Pennsylvania Hall (see Resource 13) . which we believe to spring from the influence In 1848, the first women’s rights of the Holy Spirit, so neither dare we attempt to the start, they played a much convention was organized in Seneca greater role than women in Falls by five women:Elizabeth Cady restrain this influence to persons of any condition mainstream Protestant sects . Stanton, Lucretia Mott, Martha in life, or to the male sex alone; but, as male and They wrote and spoke, served Wright (Lucretia’s sister), Jane on committees, and were Hunt, and Mary Ann M’Clintock . female are one in Christ, we allow such of the involved in decision-making . With the exception of Stanton, In New York State and all were Quakers or, in Wright’s female sex as we believe to be endued with a right Pennsylvania in the 1830s, case, a former Quaker who had there were slightly more been expelled for marrying outside qualification for the ministry, to exercise their women Quaker ministers the faith . Susan B . Anthony did gifts for the general edification of the church . than men . Lydia Maria not attend the meeting in Seneca n a spiritual quest Child, who lived among Quakers Falls, but she was a Quaker who in England in for a period of time, noted that became Stanton’s great partner in 1647, George Fox Quaker women were independent the long fight for women’s suffrage . encountered people because they shared “equally with Owho believed that women have men in the management of all no souls, “no more than a goose ”. the business of the society ”. Discussion Questions He challenged the idea by quoting ✮✮ Why did the Quakers allow Scripture . Five years later, he Independent Quaker women were women more rights than general founded the Society of Friends, also indispensable to the abolition American society? known as the Quakers . The new movement, but not without faith held that God was present opposition . Lucretia Mott spoke ✮✮ Why do the actions of a small in every human soul, regardless of at the 1833 convention that religious sect matter to the larger race or sex, and it quickly spread founded the American Anti- story of women’s rights? to the American colonies . Its Slavery Society . But when women egalitarian attitude toward women were not permitted to join—a Sources: Christopher Densmore, “Radical Quaker created both leaders and workers position that would evolve and Women and the Early Women’s Rights Movement,” for the great reform movements splinter the group by the late Quakers & Slavery, http://trilogy .brynmawr .edu/ speccoll/quakersandslavery/commentary/themes/ of the nineteenth century . 1830s—she and others formed the radical_quaker_women .php (accessed by M . Waters, Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery 11-28-2016); Judith Wellman, The Road to Seneca Falls: Elizabeth Cady Stanton and the First Women’s Women were not men’s full equals Society . Angelina Grimke Weld, a Rights Convention (Urbana and Chicago: The [Joseph Gurney Bevan?], Summary of the History, Doctrine, and Discipline of Friends: Written at the Desire of the

© Copyright 2017 New-York Historical Society Historical © Copyright 2017 New-York in Quaker communities, but from convert to Quakerism and one of University of Illinois Press, 2004) . Meeting for Sufferings, London: 1790 .

Saving Washington: The New Republic and Early Reformers, 1790–1860