Virginia Yearly Meeting Minutes, 1779 [extracts]

              Extracts from the Minutes of our Yearly Meeting, held at Curles in 
Henrico County by Adjournment from 15th of the 5th mo. to 19th of the same inclusive 1779. 
No. 6 transcribed. 
Upon considering the Trials and sufferings which many of our Brethren 
have been subjected to, a not that we may have to experience a Time of 
encreasing Difficulty divers instructive Remarks were made tending to 
promote Resignation and submission to every dispensation alloted for the Exercise 
of our love and obedience: and for promoting the cause of Truth and 
Righteousness. Under this Exercise a lively concern appearing to revive 
and spread amongst us that we may be preserved in a consistency of Conduct 
"walking bu the same Rule, and minding the same Thing;" it is advised 
and recommended that judicious and well concerned Friends be nominated 
in each Quarterly and Monthly Meeting to advise and assist any of our 
members who may be brought under suffering for the Testimony of a good 
conscience; endeavoring to feel after and know the Direction of best 
Wisdom; and to administer councel in the opening thereof; encouraging the 
honest hearted and uniting with overseers in extending timely care to our 
Youth and others who may be in Danger of missing their way: earnestly 
exciting all to a religious watchful Care to bear and suffer with Humility 
and Meekness and in that Disposition of Mind, as the way clearly opens 
to lay before thouse by whom they are oppressed the Evil of their Conduct 
and the grounds of our Christian Profession and Practice. 
The seisure and sale of a negro girl being taken under consideration 
of the meeting it appeared to be the general sense of Friends that all prudent 
and necessary means, (which may be consistent with our principles) 
ought to be used to restore the said Negro to her former Master in order 
to her Extrication from a state of Slavery. 
The Committee appointed yesturday made the following report viz. We 
have proceeded to consider the deeply afflicting subject referred to us 
by the Meeting yesterday; and after a free Communication of sentiments 
thereon witnessing a degree of that love which is in its Nature 
Universal to attend we do give it our clear sense and judgement, 
that we are loudly called upon in this time of calamity and close 
Tryal to Minister justice and Judgement to Black & White, Rich & 
Poor, and Free our hands from every species of oppression Least the 
Language made use of by the Almighty thro' his prophet should be 
extended to us. "The people of the Land have used oppression, and 
exercised Robbery" & I have vexed the poor & needy: Yea, they have oppressed the 
stranger wrongfully: therefore have I poured out mine indignation 
upon them: their own way have I recompenced upon their own 
Heads, saith the Lord God." We do therefore most earnestly recommend 
to all who continue to withold from any their just Right to Freedom 
as they prize their present peace & future happiness to clear their Hands 
of this iniquity, by executing Manumissions for all those held by them 
in slavery who are arrived at full age also for those who may be yet 'in 
their Minority to take plave when the females attain to the age of 18 and