The Beautiful Soul of John Woolman, Apostle of Abolition

by Thomas P. Slaughter

A biography of the famous eighteenth-century Quaker whose abolitionist fervor and spiritual practice made him a model for generations of Americans John Woolman (1720–72) was perhaps the most significant American of his age, though he was not a famous politician, general, or man of letters, and never held public office. A humble Quaker tailor in New Jersey, he became a prophetic voice for the entire Anglo-American world when he denounced the evils of slavery in Quaker meetings, then in essays and his Journal , first published in 1774. In this illuminating new biography, Thomas P. Slaughter goes behind those famous texts to locate the sources of Woolman’s political and spiritual power. Slaughter’s penetrating work shows how this plainspoken mystic transformed himself into a prophetic, unforgettable figure. Devoting himself to extremes of self-purification—dressing only in white, refusing to ride horses or in horse-drawn carriages—Woolman might briefly puzzle people; but his preaching against slavery, rum, tea, silver, forced labor, war taxes, and rampant consumerism was infused with a benign confidence that ordinary people could achieve spiritual perfection, and this goodness gave his message persuasive power and enduring influence. Placing Woolman in the full context of his times, Slaughter paints the portrait of a hero—and not just for the Quakers, social reformers, labor organizers, socialists, and peace advocates who have long admired him. He was an extraordinary original, an American for the ages.

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, Religion

464 pages, Hardcover

First published September 16, 2008

Reviews

[Tim Stafford · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Woolman was a Quaker lived in New Jersey before the Revolutionary War. Best known for his effective advocacy of anti-slavery among Quakers (who banned it among their members not long after his death). He was also a mystic and a remarkable St Francis type. This bio is gentle, slow moving, thoughtful.

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a penetrating study to say the least. This humble Quaker from New Jersey had a domino-like influence on Quakers and then on society as well. Great movements for social justice had to begin somewhere and Woolman was a starting point for many of them. Slaughter does a good job of analyzing his inspirations, which can be linked to Jesus Christ and the early Christians.

[Michael Greening · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes gentle slow and thought provoking, just as a fine bio should be. A book to be savored.

[Thomas Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the course of reading this biography I came across 'King, A Life' the new MLK biography by Johnathan Eig. I found that this was much easier reading than the Woolman biography. In fairness, Woolman lived between 1720 and 1722 - so there is much detail that needs to be translated to our current time.

I first came across Woolman in Robert Handy's class on historical figure which he taught at Union Theological Seminary. Later, because of that class I visited John Woolman's hometown, Mount Holly, New Jersey where at the home of his daughter I found this particular biography for sale. This was a number of years ago - finally got around to reading it.

It has been a spiritual blessing. Yes, I'd known that Woolman had taken on the slave trade of his day - both owners of slaves.

What I didn't know was the extent of the self-work he'd done upon himself. For instance, it was his habit to walk everywhere - rarely using horses to travel as he felt a sympathy for the terrible way horses were treated.

A project I'd be interested in working on is a screenplay of Woolman's life. I'm imagining it focusing on the last days of his life. He'd traveled to England to share the gospel in Quaker meeting houses across the country. It was his intention to return to Mount Holly - but at one point he comes down with Small Pox - which kills him. This would be accompanied by a number of flashbacks to his time in America - his formative years in Mount Holly, and the New Jersey/Philadelphia time - as well as his controversial trips south. His gentle critique of his fellow Quakers who had grown accustomed to a finer life. A life which Woolman felt kept them from the desire of God.

Its weakness is also its strength. Yes, Slaughter has to translate an earlier time to us - there is real value traveling with someone who was part of the early days of our New Jersey/Pennsylvania region.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

In my readings about the Abolitionist movement and the Quakers in the last few years John Woolman was often cited as one of three American Quakers who were instrumental in the mid 18th century efforts by the Society to formulate, articulate, and advocate for the end of slavery.  Thus, it was with interest that I read this book.

Fortunately, it was satisfying in many respects.  Slaughter reviewed a large number of primary and secondary sources about this man.  Probably the most important were Woolman’s own Journal written over the course of his adult life and some pamphlets and essays that he wrote in his later years.  Through a meticulous analysis the author provided a comprehensive presentation of Woolman’s spiritual development.  By explaining Woolman’s beliefs in the context of Quakerism, the Old Testament, early Christian theology, and Enlightenment philosophy the author provided a highly textured account of how he both fit into and yet also diverged from the beliefs and practices of many of his peers.

Of particular interest to me as a retired psychologist was the inclusion of dreams which Woolman disclosed in his Journal. To his credit, Slaughter discussed and interpreted these competently.  

The prose in Beautiful was serviceable and the text was well documented with footnotes.  There was also an epilogue in which the author discussed Woolman’s legacy.  While Slaughter included some notes on sources at the end of the book, there is no bibliography. The other modest flaw in the book is that its nuanced approach means that it is slow going at times.  But for those with the patience to persist it is a very informative read. Ie, Woolman as an individual came to life.

This book can be read without much prior knowledge of the doctrines and history of The Society of Friends because Slaughter provided enough information about that.  For those who want a more general introduction to Quakerism and Abolitionism I would recommend the following:  Quakers and Slavery in America by Thomas E Drake.

For those who want a detailed study of how various subgroups of Quakers dealt with the abolition of slavery in the middle of the 18th century the following would be informative: Quakers and Slavery:  A Divided Spirit by Jean Soderland.

For those who want to read about one of the other three Quakers I noted above:  Let This Voice be Heard:  Anthony Benezet, Father of Atlantic Abolitionism by Maurice Jackson.   I read and enjoyed this book a few months ago.

Next on my list will be a book about the third of these men: Benjamin Lay.

[Joann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought I was going to love this book. I did not. I thought it would be inspiring, possibly life altering. For me, it was not. It wasn’t awful, but it was meticulous to the point of tedium. Also, I’m not sure I would have liked John Woolman very much. He was an ascetic, and he seems to have tried to deny himself the love of particular people in favor of a love for mankind. I’m not sure I admire that or believe it is elevating. I also kept wondering how his wife and daughter felt about his impossible standards (and how they felt about this guy who thought it wasn’t good to love individuals too deeply.)

[Eric Lindner · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Quaker it's helpful and sobering to see how the term - like all metaphysical ones - is crude, at best

Like Heschel - 200 years later - Woodman was a bona fide prophet - only far less grounded

Lived a Kantian Imperative Life - with some funny aspects, including how he made "unsociable" Thoreau and Jefferson seem like party animals

[Dan Gorman · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Woolman was an interesting man — an itinerant man of all trades who hated the institution of slavery. He made coded overtures that slaves were right to resist unjust masters, but mostly Woolman preached about slavery as a moral evil. So you get sort of a portrait of abolitionism without actual abolition. Still, Woolman put his beliefs into practice on a personal level, rejecting any substance produced by slave labor. This is a very thorough analysis of Woolman's writings and life story, although I would have liked additional context about the British Empire and Atlantic seaboard in which Woolman lived. Slaughter to a great degree skims over Woolman's belief that whites and blacks were unequal, which detracts from a full analysis of Woolman. For more on Woolman's racial beliefs, see Geoffrey Plank's 2012 book on Woolman, or Maurice Jackson's biography of Anthony Benezet, Woolman's friend and collaborator.

[Jed · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was interrupted for a long time while reading this book. I need to read it again to write a thoughtful review.

Two things I enjoyed learning about: Woolman's ministry and Quakers generally in early 18th century America. Boring genealogical: my mother's forebears lived in Burlington at the same time Woolman did. As I read, I wondered what contact they had with him.

[Philip · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book spends far too much time recounting Woolman's theological arguments. If I'd wanted that, I'd have read the Journal.

The book is at its best when its giving us the theological and historical context for Woolman. More of the latter would have been an improvement.

[aCertainMan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book does a thorough job exploring likely cultural and spiritual influences on a devout and influential 18th Century Quaker American.

[Anna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring. Tons of historical context and analysis, very skimpy on actual life story. Needed an introduction. Failed to convince me of Woolman's significance. I gave up halfway through.