An interesting rumination by famous prison-reformer and Quaker Elizabeth Fry, who suggests that “The Mennonite, Dunkard, Shaker, Oneida Communist, Mormon and Quaker are all one people, varying only according to environment.”
An interesting rumination by famous prison-reformer and Quaker Elizabeth Fry, who suggests that “The Mennonite, Dunkard, Shaker, Oneida Communist, Mormon and Quaker are all one people, varying only according to environment.”
Their sexual/marital experiments were very different, though, with the Oneida communal marriage, Mormon polygyny, and Shaker celibacy. I am looking forward to adding this essay to my reading, since I’m interested in all of these groups (though it’s the first time I’ve encountered the Dunkards). Do you have any further reflections?
I believe Dunkards was a nickname for German Baptists, the main American branch of which is now called the Church of the Brethren.
Fry’s essay is very interesting. It is provocative and witty!