Young Friends' Manual: Containing a Statement of Some of the Doctrines and Testimonies of Friends and of the Principles of Truth Professed by That Society

Young Friends' Manual: Containing A Statement Of Some Of The Doctrines And Testimonies Of Friends And Of The Principles Of Truth Professed By That Society by Benjamin Hallowell. This 1867 publication serves as a catechetical introduction to the Society of Friends (Quakers), aimed at teaching youth about their beliefs and testimonies. The work gathers biographical sketches of George Fox and early contemporaries, then articulates the Friends' Fundamental Principle—the inward manifestation of the Spirit, the Light, the Word, and Conscience—and explains how adherents are to be guided by divine influence rather than outward creeds or ceremonies. It surveys the sufferings of early Friends, the development of key testimonies (simplicity, nonviolence, truth, equality), and the practical application of these principles in worship, ministry, and discipline. The volume emphasizes the universality of grace, the need for personal labor in salvation, and the aim of primitive Christianity as taught in the Sermon on the Mount. Rich in historical and scriptural references, it outlines a life of obedience, love, and social justice within the Friends tradition.