But then we have, on the other side, the well-
ascertained fact, that whilst in the community at large, the registered
births exceed the deaths, by 45 per cent; in the Society of Friends, the
registered deaths actually exceed the births! The cause of this fact is
to be found, not only in connection with the number who marry out of the
Society, but also in the operation of that prudential check on entering
into the married state, which will always prevail amongst a moral people,
where the means of subsistence cannot easily and with certainty be
obtained. But to whatever we may attribute the cause, the fact itself is
a complete answer to the question--Why we are a diminishing rather than
an increasing people?
It may be said,--Why are not our religious principles aggressive?--Why,
if they be true, do they not find converts among the various Christian
communities of our land?--Why, as in the early times of our Society, are
there not numerous conversions, and fresh bodies of warm-hearted, and
sound-minded believers, added to our numbers?--These are deeply important
and very interesting questions, and we are willing to offer a few
thoughts upon them, with the seriousness and modesty with which it
becomes us to speak on the subject.
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