The Times gives some curious statistics of the Quaker body,
or, as they call themselves, "The Society of Friends." They are now reduced to 17,977 members, or probably 7,000 families, a majority of whom, we believe, reside in Ireland, and 5,700 regular attendants who are not in full member- ship. They seat ten Members in the House of Commons, besides being represented by six or seven ex-Members, the best known of whom is Mr. W. E. Forster; and according to the Times, "the Society includes one baronet, Sir I W. Pease," and one knight, Sir J.. Barrington. Are they regular members ? A baronet might be, because he would inherit his title, and could hardly be expelled for circumstances of birth ; but a knighthood must be taken, and considering the tes- timony borne by the Society against "man-worship," is an in- consistent absurdity. We have Pagan knights and Mussulman knights in dozens, and probably knights who believe nothing, but a Quaker knight seems a contradiction in terms.
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