Continuing with the 19th-century Discipline:
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                              BOOKS

     IT being recommended to the meeting for sufferings to take
the oversight of all writings proposed to be printed, which
relate to our religious principles or testimonies; our members
who may have any such publications in view, are to lay them
before the said meeting, for its advice and concurrence.  And it
is the sense of this meeting that if any one shall print or
publish any writing against the advice of said meeting for suf-
ferings, or which tends to excite disunity and discord among us,
such persons should be complained of to the monthly meeting they
belong to, and if they cannot be convinced of the impropriety of
their conduct, be testified against, as opposed to the peace and
good order of the society.

     This meeting doth earnestly exhort all parents, heads of
families and guardians of minors, that they prevent, as much as
in them lies, their children, and others under their care and
tuition, from having or reading books and papers tending to
prejudice the profession of the Christian religion, to create the
least doubt concerning the authenticity of the holy Scriptures,
or of those saving truths declared in them; lest their infant and
feeble minds should be poisoned thereby, and a foundation laid
for the greatest evils.  And it is earnestly recommended to every
member of our religious society, that they discourage and sup-
press the reading of plays, romances, novels, or other pernicious
books; and printers and booksellers in profession with us, are
cautioned against printing, selling, or lending such books; as it
is a practice so inconsistent with the purity of the Christian
religion.  And Friends are desired to be careful in the choice of
all books in which their children and families read, seeing there
are many under the specious titles of promoting religion and
morality, which contain sentiments repugnant to the truth in
Christ Jesus.

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     A later Orthodox discipline inserts the following between
     the above two paragraphs:

           But if any Monthly Meeting, when a complaint is
        thus regularly made, neglects or refuses to administer
        the Discipline as herein directed, the Meeting for
        Sufferings is then to spread the case before the
        respective Quarterly Meeting, that the said Monthly
        Meeting may be proceeded with, as in the wisdom of
        Truth shall appear just and requisite.-- 1834.
           If any member of our religious Society shall be
        engaged in printing, selling, or distributing books
        or papers, which tend to the denial or laying waste
        a belief in the divinity, mediation and atonement of
        our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ--the immediate
        influence of the Holy Spirit, or the authenticity and
        divine inspiration of the Holy Scriptures, they are to
        be dealt with as for any other breach of our Discipline;
        and if they are not brought to a sense of their
        misconduct, so as to condemn the same to the satisfaction
        of the Monthly Meeting, they should be disowned.--1834.

     It also adds the following at the end of the section:

           In a day when pernicious publications and vain and
        corrupting amusements are multiplying, and presenting
        strong attractions to young and old, we believe the
        rightly disciplined and exercised parent, will feed the
        need of restraining the children from access to them;
        and while he directs their attention to the convicting
        grace of Christ Jesus in the heart, by which they would
        see the sinfulness of sin, and be led out of it, he
        would also encourage them in the frequent perusal of the
        Holy Scriptures, and the approved writings of faithful
        men who have been lights in the Society.--1851
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Next week:  CERTIFICATES


Licia Kuenning
Friends of Truth/Glenside Friends Meeting/Quaker Heritage Press