This introductory chapter provides an overview of the book's main themes. It first discusses the origins of the Quaker antislavery movement and how the Quaker response to the problem of slavery was deeply affected by their shared religious tenets, formal structures, disciplinary procedures, and decision-making process. It then defines some key terms such as the Inward Light, which is the Quakers' source of inspiration and personal knowledge; and the sense of the meeting, which is the judgment of a Quaker meeting. It goes on to discuss the reasons why the Quakers' engagement with slavery needs more scholarly attention. It concludes with a description of the subsequent chapters.
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