About Manuscripts Profiles Maps Map Gallery Credits

Journal of Joshua Evans 1795-1796 (E)

SW_JE1796E_Page_39

At one Sitting of the select Meeting, on 4th day morning, The truthappeared to have comfortable dominion: My mind in the liberty thereof wasemboldened to inform my brethren and Sisters of my exercise on observing acustom to prevail in the City which I thought was not right; and if I differed fromall my friends in Sentiment I hoped I might be excused; It was that of employ-ing men to do women's Work in houses, &;c: That I did not doubt there being wo-men enough, healthy, &; capable of business if their minds were appliedthereto, to do all that was necessary in Families: And as provisions were dear,and men's labour high rated, they had better be imployed in the fields, orout door business, than at Womens work; If the young Women were to bebrought up in a course of family industry, and to rise early in themorning, I believed it might contribute to health, and tend to fit many ofthem better for business, &; the managing houshold affairs, if they shouldcome to need that, than if brought up in an easy delicate Manner: havingseen some such in my time who have been reduced to great hardship andunable then to minister to their own necessities; and perhaps there may be instances of this kind proceeding out of Families where men hadbeen employ'd to do women's Work, and children indulged in a delicate idlelife. Tho' my testimony on this head seemed to go hard with some to whom it might seem applicable, Yet I found it had the concurrenceof many friends who expressed unity therewith. It was also proposed byone friend that a Minute of the substance of the concern be taken ontheir book which was also agreed to. -- This was a memorable time, thePower of Truth in dominion, lofty Spirits chained down, the rich &;great having to submit to the simple discipline prevalent in the present sea-son