Early American History: Quakers and Tolerance

The Dutch Republic of the 17^th century, also known as the Republic of the United Netherlands, had early settlements and outposts in the New World of North America. The colonial province was known as New Netherland that extended from the Delmarva Peninsula to southwestern Cape Cod which now are the states of New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Connecticut that had small outposts in Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.

The colony was the result of a private business venture created to exploit the North American fur trade. New Netherland was established and settled at a slow pace because of mismanagement by the Dutch West India Company and conflicts with eastern coastal Native Americans. On the southern flank was the settlement of New Sweden, its northern border would become New England.

In the 1650s the Dutch colony grew dramatically and became a major port of trade. In 1664, Fort Amsterdam surrendered to England, which began the Second Anglo-Dutch War. The Dutch retook the area in 1673, but lost it under the Second Treaty of Westminster, which ended the Third Anglo-Dutch War in 1674.

Descendants of the original settlers played an important role in the development of colonial America with the Dutch cultural influence continuing for two centuries in the area of Albany, Hudson Valley, western Long Island, northeastern New Jersey, and New York City (1664) which was originally New Amsterdam that was a settlement outside of Fort Amsterdam. The Dutch gave up their claim upon the area in exchange for the island of Run in the East Indies which controlled the Spice Islands.

Society of Friends, known as the Quakers, established themselves in this area of North America after leaving persecution in England between 1651-1660. The earliest missionaries of the Quakers was founded by George Fox, led from England, but did not escape persecution when the Massachusetts Bay Colony executed four Quakers. The most famous Quaker in colonial American history was William Penn of which the name of the state of Pennsylvania gets its name.

During the period of history known as the Reformation, the

Quakers were active in the Dutch colonial settlements between 1656 and 1657, after which the leaders of New Amsterdam issued proclamations forbidding the practice of their faith. Such treatment was answered by a letter dated December 27, 1657, addressed to Peter Stuyvesant and the colonial authorities asking them for religious tolerance. The letter also addresses persecution of Jews.

You have been pleased to send up unto us a certain prohibition or command that we should not receive or entertain any of those people called Quakers, because they are supposed to be, by some, seducers of the people. For our part we cannot condemn them in this case, neither can we stretch out our hands against them , for out of Christ, God is a consuming fire, and it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. We desire, therefore, in this case, not to judge lest we be judged, neither to condemn lest we be condemned, but rather let every man stand and fall to his own. …

We are bound by the law to do good unto all men, especially to those of the household of faith; and, though, for the present, we seem to be unsensible of the law and the lawgiver, yet when death and the law assault us, if we have not our advocate to seek, who shall plead for us in this case of conscience between God and our own souls?

The powers of this world can neither attack us neither excuse us, for if God justify who can condemn, and if God condemn, there is none can justify; and for those jealousies and suspicions which some have of them – that they are destructive unto magistracy and ministry – that cannot be; for the magistrate has the sword in his hand and the minister has the sword in his hand, as witness those two great examples which all magistrates and ministers are to follow – Moses and Christ, whom God raised up, maintained, and defended against all the enemies both of flesh and spirit. And, therefore, that which is of God will stand, and that which is of man will come to nothing. …

The law of love, peace, and liberty in the states extending to Jews, Turks, and Egyptians, as they are considered the sons of Adam, which is the glory of the outward state of Holland; so love, peace, and liberty, extending to all in Christ Jesus condemns hatred, war, and bondage; and because our Savior says it is impossible but that offense will come, but woe be unto him by whom they come, our desire is not to offend one of His little ones in whatsoever form, name, or title he appears in, whether Presbyterian, Independent, Baptist, or Quaker; but shall be glad to see anything of God in any of them, desiring to do unto all men as we desire all men should do unto us, which is the true law both of Church and state; for our Savior says this is the law of the prophets. Therefore, if any of these said persons come in love unto us, we cannot in conscience lay violent hands upon them, but give them free egress into our town and houses as God shall persuade our consciences. …

It is interesting to note that in 1640, Miantunnumoh, a native of Narragansetts, addressed Governor Dudley concerning tolerance:

When your people come to me, they are permitted to use their own fashions, and I expect the same liberty when I come to you.