Dorothy White

Dorothy White (c. 1630–1686) was an English Quaker and writer of religious pamphlets.

Life and work

Born probably at Weymouth, Dorset, White wrote her first pamphlet, A Diligent Search amongst Rulers, Priests, Professors, and People in May 1659, seemingly for local distribution. It was printed in the same year.[1] Another early pamphlet was A Lamentation unto this Nation; and also a warning to all people, etc.[2] These provide useful insight into Quaker beliefs in that period.[3] Some of her writings were in verse, for instance on the nature of what would be called today the Inner Light: "We must be subject unto Light within,/Wherein is known the Cleansing from all Sin;/Subject unto Christ, the Light alone,/Unto the Lamb that sitteth on the Throne;/To the Light within at first we were direct;/The way to Life, Sin to reject:/The True Light we must always obey,/Christ the Life, the New and Living Way/..."[4]

White's earlier period of activity came in a period when the Quakers were far ahead of other sects in assigning roles for women in their movement. This also brought on them added persecution that continued in some forms into the 18th century.[5]

After a silence of twenty years, White reappeared in 1684 with several appeals to the Quakers not to reduce their radicalism. These included A Salutation of Love to all the Tender-Hearted, Universal Love to the Lost and The Day Dawned both to Jews and Gentiles. She is said to have been the most prolific female Quaker pamphleteer of the 17th century, contributing twenty texts.[6]

Dorothy White died in London of a fever on 6 February 1686.[6]

References

  1. ↑ A Diligent Search amongst Rulers, Priests, Professors, and People; and a warning to all sorts high and low, that are out of the doctrine of Christ, and fear not God Put forth by Dorothy White living in Waymouth (London, 1659). See British Library Integrated Catalogue: Retrieved 20 March 2012.
  2. ↑ Signed: D W (London: Robert Wilson, [1660]).
  3. ↑ Catie Gill: Women in the Seventeenth-century Quaker Community. A Literary Study of Political Identities, 1650–1700 (Aldershot, Hampshire/Burlington, VT: 2005), p. 144. ISBN 0754639851
  4. ↑ Quoted by Ryan C. MacPherson in an essay "Quakers in America: From Persecution through Toleration to Domination": Retrieved 20 March 2012.
  5. ↑ For an early example of female "ministry" among the Quakers see Colleen Clark: "The Role a Female Traveling Minister Played in Spreading Quaker Beliefs": Retrieved 20 March 2012.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Orlando Project site: Retrieved 20 March 2012.

See also