A Brief Account of the Rise and Progress of the People Called Quakers (ePub)

William Penn (1644-1718) was an English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker, and the founder of the Province of Pennsylvania, the English North American colony and the future Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was an early advocate of democracy and religious freedom, notable for his good relations and successful treaties with the Lenape Native Americans. Under his direction, the city of Philadelphia was planned and developed. In his prose, Penn articulated his Quaker faith and the principles that underpinned the establishment of a colony based on religious tolerance and pacifism. One of the seminal texts reflecting his religious and social ethos is 'A Brief Account of the Rise and Progress of the People Called Quakers' (1694), wherein he thoroughly explains the tenets of the Quaker movement, their persecution, and the spiritual insights of their founder, George Fox. The book serves as an essential document in understanding both the historical context of Quakerism and Penn's personal advocacy for a society structured around the principles of equality, liberty, and peaceful coexistence. His literary style is marked by a fervent and evangelical tone, expressing the urgency and righteousness of the Quaker message while also employing a reasoned and frequently polemical approach typical of the religious and philosophical debates of his time.