The Journal and Essays of John Woolman

AUTHOR: Woolman, John

In her Preface, Amelia Mott Gummere notes that John Woolman had “two great aims in his rather brief life: – the abolition of slavery, and the readjustment of human relations for the relief of the laboring classes” (v). He also advocated on behalf of animal welfare. As early as 1746, in the first part of his two-part Abolitionist essay on “Some Considerations on the Keeping of Negroes,” Woolman attributes to nonhuman animals “Natural Affection” in the same way that he does to humans (335). On this shared natural affection, in combination with the authority of the Bible, he subsequently builds his argument for universal love: “To consider Mankind otherwise than Brethren, to think Favours are peculiar to one Nation, and exclude others, plainly supposes a Darkness in the Understanding. For, as God’s Love is universal, so where the Mind is sufficiently influenced by it, it begets a Likeness of itself, and the Heart is enlarged towards all Men” (338).

In Woolman's Journals he makes explicit the kindness and compassion that nonhuman animals deserve. He writes that he “was early convinced in my mind that true Religion consisted in an inward life, wherein the Heart doth Love and Reverence God the Creator, and learn to Exercise true Justice and Goodness, not only toward all men, but allso toward the Brute Creatures” (156). Similarly, after recounting an incident from his childhood in which he thoughtlessly killed a nesting robin, he insists that humans must “exercise goodness towards every liveing creature” (153). The two testimonies of Friends of 1773 and 1774 likewise testify that Woolman “was fully persuaded that as the Life of Christ comes to reign in the Earth all abuse and unnecessary oppression, both of the human and brute creation, will come to an end” (327), and that he was “desirous … that we might use moderation and kindness to the brute animals under our care, to prize the use of them as a great favour, and by no means to abuse them” (331). A short passage from his “A Plea for the Poor” provides a vivid description of such abuse:

Oxen & Horses are often seen at work, when through Heat & too much labour, their eyes, and the emotion of their Bodies manifest that they are oppressed. Their loads in Wagons are frequently so heavy, that when weary with halling it far, their drivers find occasion in going up Hills, or through mire, to raise their spirits by whiping to get forward. Many poor people are so thronged in their business, that it is difficult for them to provide Shelter sutable for their animals, in great storms (402).

The following passage from the Journals, reflecting on the plight of animals during a sea voyage, is typical of Woolman's understanding of compassionate stewardship:

In Observing their dull appearance at Sea, and the pineing sickness of some of them, I once remembered the Fountain of goodness, who gave being to all creatures, and whose love extends to that of careing for the Sparrows, and believe where the love of God is verily perfected, & the true Spirit of government watchfully attended to a tenderness toward all creatures made Subject to us will be experienced & a care felt in us that we do not lessen that Sweetness of life in the animal Creation, which the great Creator intends for them under our government (301-302).

Woolman argues for general frugality, simplicity, and restraint in life, as “such Buildings, Furniture, Food and Raiment, as best answer our Necessities, and are the least likely to feed that selfish Spirit which is our Enemy, are the most acceptable to us.” “In this State the Mind,” he continues, “is tender, and inwardly watchful, that the Love of Gain draw us not into any Business which may weaken our Love to our Heavenly Father, or bring unnecessary Trouble to any of his Creatures” (393). As the 1774 testimony reports, towards the end of his life Woolman “was remarkable for the plainness and simplicity of his dress, and as much as possible avoided the use of plate, costly furniture and feasting, thereby endeavouring to become an example of temperance and self-denial, which he believed himself called unto; and he was favoured with peace therein, although it carried the appearance of great austerity in the view of some” (330).