Every minister in the Quaker society takes off his hat, either when he preaches, or when he prays.

St Paul[55] enjoins this custom.

But if they take off their hats, that is, uncover their heads, as an outward act enjoined in the service of God, they cannot with any propriety take them off, or uncover their heads to men, because they would be giving to the creature the same outward honour which they give to the creator.

And in this custom they conceive the world to be peculiarly inconsistent.

For men go into their churches, and into their meetings, and pull off their hats, or uncover their heads, for the same reason as the Quaker-ministers when they pray (for no other reason can be assigned) and, when they come out of their respective places of worship, they uncover them again on every trivial occasion, to those whom they meet, using to man the same outward mark of homage, as they had just given to God.
[Footnote 55: 1 Cor.Chap.