Another section of the 1806 Philadelphia YM discipline:
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                        CIVIL GOVERNMENT

     LIBERTY of conscience being the common right of all men, and
particularly essential to the well-being of religious societies,
we hold it to be indispensably incumbent upon us to maintain it
inviolable among ourselves: and therefore advise and exhort all
in profession with us, to decline the acceptance of any office or
station in civil government, the duties of which are inconsistent
with our religious principles; or in the exercise of which they
may be, or think themselves to be, under the necessity of
exacting of their brethren any compliances against which we are
conscientiously scrupulous.  And if any persons in membership
with us, notwithstanding this advice, shall persist in a conduct
so reverse to our principles and religious liberty, it is the
sense of this meeting that they be treated with, as in other
cases of offence; and if they cannot be brought to see and
acknowledge their error, that the monthly meetings to which they
belong should proceed to testify our disunity with them.

     And it is also the sense and judgment of this meeting, that
Friends ought not, in any wise, to be active or accessary in
electing, or promoting to be elected, their brethren to such
offices or stations in civil government, the execution whereof
tends to lay waste our Christian testimony, or subject their
brethren or others to sufferings on account of their
conscientious scruples.

     Believing that we are called to show forth to the world in
life and practice, that the blessed reign of the Messiah, the
Prince of Peace, is begun, and we doubt not, will proceed till it
attains its completion in the earth, when according to the
prophecies of Isaiah and Micah, "Nation shall not lift up sword
against nation, neither shall they learn war any more."
Influenced by these principles, we cannot consistently join with
such as form combinations of a hostile nature against any; much
less in opposition to those placed in sovereign or subordinate
authority; nor can we unite with or encourage such as revile and
asperse them, for it is written, "Thou shalt not speak evil of
the ruler of thy people." Acts 23:5.
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Next week: CONDUCT AND CONVERSATION

Licia Kuenning
Friends of Truth/Glenside Friends Meeting