Esther Tuke sermon

This unpublished exhortation was delivered to the York Quarterly Meeting in the period between 1765 and the 1770s. During this period, there was a debate among Quakers regarding their commitment to pacifism. In the American colonies, some Quakers were involved in the revolution through indirect non-violent ways such as embargoes. In England, Quakers on the other side of the revolution were similarly engaging in non-violent ways to exert pressure against the Colonies. In addition, due to their origins and close ties with Britain, many Quakers felt torn between the two nations therefore largely stayed out of the conflict. Tuke argued in her sermon that being involved in the American Revolution and the British opposition violated Quaker theological principles of non-violence (and financially benefiting from war) and unity of the Quaker community. As a result, a great number of Quakers were disciplined for their involvement in the war effort, including being disowned by their communities.