Welsh Journals

An example of Quaker Discipline: The case of Dr Charles Allen Fox and the Cardiff Quakers" Richard C. Allen From the second period of Quakerism (c. 1660 onwards),2 the Society of Friends was determined to ensure that no member of its organisation brought shame upon the Society by acting contrary to its wishes. Although the emphasis of the Society was on divine guidance and the 'inward teacher',3 Friends nevertheless produced a code of discipline which had a dual purpose. It gave members some guidance in their lives while also curtailing the actions of members who could bring the Society into disrepute with their neighbours and the authorities. Glamorganshire Friends, in conjunction with other meetings in Wales, stressed that members ought to accept this code,4 and various procedures were employed to ensure good conduct. These included charging overseers, within the monthly meeting and from other Welsh meetings, with examining the behaviour of Friends and to dispense judgements on those felt to have brought the Society into disrepute. These overseers would attempt to reform members who had strayed, allowing them the opportunity to explain the reasons for their 'fall from grace'. Throughout their lives, Friends were counselled and reproved if they neglected meetings for worship or business. Usually an individual's absence from meetings was due to other misdemeanours such as fraternisation with non-members or actions that were deemed contrary to Friends' code of conduct. If the member refused to condemn his or her own behaviour, he or she was testified against by the meeting to which he or she belonged. A copy of this testimony would be sent to the offending Friend, and it would also be read to the meeting for business. If no change could be effected through this testimony, the meeting would draw up a paper of disownment which, in effect, barred the offender from membership of the Society, unless he or she repented to the satisfaction of the meeting.5 In her study of Glamorgan Quakers, Fay Williams drew attention to a scandal which, between c. 1892 and c. 1 90 1 caused great unease among Cardiff Friends. She observed that during this period Welsh Friends felt compelled to take action against Dr Charles Allen Fox (1849-1929), a member of the