The Walking Purchase

Abstract

More than thirty boxes of these manuscripts have been gone through in this manner, leaving some thirty more, bringing the work down to the year of the unhappy separation of well nigh one hundred years ago. Many important manuscripts, throwing light both on the doctrinal controversy and its unfortunate by-products, have been cataloged and made available for the student of that disturbed period of Friendly history. Then there is the Meeting for Sufferings Library. More than 1030 separate pamphlets and books have already been put into shape. These deal with such subjects as Indians, Negroes, War, Keithian controversy, Revolutionary War, Friends' Sufferings, Hicksite Separation, Beaconite Secession, Wilbur Separation, Ministry, Worship, Discipline, Exhortations, Epistles, Law, Tithes, Education, Doctrinal Matters, Sermons, Memorials, Controversial Subjects, Baptism, Lord's Supper, Jews, etc., a perfect treasure trove for historical research. There remain yet several thousand pamphlets and books to be indexed, the contents of the bound volumes of important publications, patiently collected by departed Friends, such as the elder Joseph Elkinton, Joseph Kite, George Scattergood, and others, and bequeathed to the Meeting for Sufferings. Many of these publications bear the signatures of honored names, their former owners, such as those of Pemberton, Benezet, Dillwyn, Fothergill, Emlen, Evans, and many other ancient worthies of fragrant memory. We are grateful to those Friends who had the concern of providing a modern receptacle for these priceless treasures, in the large Fire-proof Room attached to Friends' Book Store at 302 Arch Street, Philadelphia.