The 18^th Century Discipline and Queries of North Carolina Quakers

by David Haines

North Carolina Quakers developed their disciplines and practices in relative isolation from other communities of Friends. They were at a significant geographical distance from the organizational centers of the young Society of Friends (London and Philadelphia), and, for many years, neither wrote to nor received regular epistles from these established Friends. The early discipline of North Carolina Yearly Meeting therefore was based on their lived experience of the Spirit working in their community.

Much of their early work in supporting “good order” within their meetings was built around the query “Are Love and Unity preserved amongst us?” While this query could cover a wide variety of behavioral and spiritual concerns, it also served as an explicit reminder that the work that they were doing was centered in care for the community.

The work presented here includes the texts of many of the probable early written influences on the early Noth Carolina practices of discipline, as well as examples of some of the advice and encouragement that they received from traveling ministers who came to visit. The processes of the development of the queries demonstrated their steadfastness, forthrightness, and fortitude, as they sought to find their way forward together.

Paperback: 133 pages

ISBN:  978-0-9979848-6-6

Dimensions: 6” x 9”