Flushing reminds me greatly of Sydney, Australia, which also has become home to communities of Asians from South Korea, China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia. Above and below, a Pentecost procession of Asian Catholics.
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Flushing Monthly Meeting has a long history of visitors. Above, 2 visitors from Holland on a week's vacation in New York City in May 2014. Below, the founder of the Society of Friends, George Fox, spoke under a tree to a large group of New Yorkers in 1672. The rock marks the spot.
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Remonstrance of the Inhabitants of the Town of
Flushing to Governor Stuyvesant,
December 27, 1657
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Right Honorable
You have been pleased to send 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.
Wee desire therefore in this case not to judge least we be
judged, neither to condemn least we be condemned, but rather let every
man stand or fall to his own Master. Wee are bounde 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 for the law and the Law
giver, yet when death and the Law assault us, if wee have our advocate
to seeke, who shall plead for us in this case of conscience betwixt God
and our own souls; the powers of this world can neither attach us,
neither excuse us, for if God justifye who can condemn and if God
condemn there is none can justifye.
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And for those jealousies and suspicions which some have of
them, that they are destructive unto Magistracy and Ministerye, that
cannot bee, for the Magistrate hath his sword in his hand and the
Minister hath the sword in his hand, as witnesse those two great
examples, which all Magistrates and Ministers are to follow, Moses and
Christ, whom God raised up maintained and defended against all enemies
both of flesh and spirit; and therefore that of God will stand, and that
which is of man will come to nothing. And as the Lord hath taught
Moses or the civil power to give an outward liberty in the state, by the
law written in his heart designed for the good of all, and can truly
judge who is good, who is evil, who is true and who is false, and can
pass definitive sentence of life or death against that man which arises
up against the fundamental law of the States General; soe he hath made
his ministers a savor of life unto life and a savor of death unto death.
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The law of love, peace and liberty in the states extending to
Jews, Turks and Egyptians, as they are considered sons of Adam, which
is the glory of the outward state of Holland, soe love, peace and
liberty, extending to all in Christ Jesus, condemns hatred, war and
bondage. And because our Saviour sayeth it is impossible but that
offences will come, but woe unto him by whom they cometh, our desire is
not to offend one of his little ones, in whatsoever form, name or title
hee appears in, whether Presbyterian, Independent, Baptist or Quaker,
but shall be glad to see anything of God in any of them, desiring to doe
unto all men as we desire all men should doe unto us, which is the true
law both of Church and State; for our Saviour sayeth this is the law
and 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
egresse and regresse unto our Town, and houses, as God shall persuade
our consciences, for we are bounde by the law of God and man to doe good
unto all men and evil to noe man. And this is according to the patent
and charter of our Towne, given unto us in the name of the States
General, which we are not willing to infringe, and violate, but shall
houlde to our patent and shall remaine, your humble subjects, the
inhabitants of Vlishing.
Written this 27th of December in the year 1657, by mee.
Edward Hart, Clericus
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| Tobias Feake |
Nathaniell Tue |
| The marke of William Noble |
Nicholas Blackford |
| William Thorne, Seignior |
The marke of Micah Tue |
| The marke of William Thorne, Jr. |
The marke of Philip Ud |
| Edward Tarne |
Robert Field, senior |
| John Store |
Robert Field, junior |
| Nathaniel Hefferd |
Nich Colas Parsell |
| Benjamin Hubbard |
Michael Milner |
| The marke of William Pidgion |
Henry Townsend |
| The marke of George Clere |
George Wright |
| Elias Doughtie |
John Foard |
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