Phillips P. Moulton

This pamphlet, by the editor of The Journal and Major Essays of John Woolman, explains Woolman's message and mission, with his emphases on slavery, opposition to war, and economic oppression. It then addresses the question of why Woolman was so outstanding among Quaker ministers and other religious leaders, and ultimately why he can be ranked among the great spiritual leaders of humankind. Moulton's answer is illuminating and profound. This is an invaluable introduction to or conclusion on show more Woolman and his relevance to us today. show less

This pamphlet presents a brief discussion of the various issues around the choice of violence vs. nonviolence: the benefits and drawbacks of violence, the causes of violence, alternatives to violence, active nonviolent resistance, the ethics and philosophy of nonviolence, and the practical effectiveness of nonviolent resistance. It is generally a good treatment of these issues, although it is slightly dated on various points where more research has been done and methods developed since 1971, show more such as the history of successful use of nonviolent resistance, and conflict resolution. His word "aggressive" with nonviolent resistance would now be replaced by active or assertive. The philosophy of nonviolence and the effectiveness of nonviolent techniques are well expressed. Moulton cites M. L. King's observation that nonviolent resistance combines the strengths of both persuasion and active resistance, avoiding the inadequacies of either one alone, and resolves the dilemma of those who want to support the oppressed but cannot conscientiously engage in violence.
This is a graceful, thoughtful, and brief statement on this matter, and thus is helpful to include among the various published statements, each of which has its own particular value. It has a bibliography of good resources, though not up to date. show less

John Woolman was born in 1720 of Quaker parents in Burlington County, New Jersey. His call to preach the Quaker way happened when in his mid-twenties and journeyed extensively throughout the American colonies. His Journal—a recognised American classic-- portrays an ethical sensitivity comparable to that of St Francis or Albert Schweitzer, and his keen sense of social justice speaks directly to today’s affluent and increasingly divided mass society. His essays widely influenced social show more thought both in the United States and in England where he was much esteemed by figures such as the essayist Charles Lamb and Samuel Coleridge.
Woolman’s analyst of the roots of social evil carefully trace individual responsibility from motive to action and follow the ever-widening consequences of that action. In his essay ‘’ A Plea for the Poor’’ (published posthumously in 1774), he relates poverty to wasteful consumption, bringing the rich and powerful to account and calls for simplicity as a style of life. Published in 1754, his ‘essay ’Considerations on Keeping Negroes’’ published in 1754 and one of the earliest attacks on slavery, he confronts the corruption of the oppressors and the demoralization of the oppressed, and he even raises the question of reparations to the Blacks. This edition of the Journal includes Woolman’s discussion on tax refusal as a form of anti-war protest and civil disobedience. An edition of Woolman's Journal is also published by Pendle Hill (pamphlet 357). show less

Arguments for peacemakers for those who claim a strong militaty ensures peace.