A system of free schools, early established by a law of the commonwealth, is naturally referred to their common influence.
Meanwhile a series of events of the highest consequence to the future of the American church had been in progress in the western half of the province.

Passing from hand to hand, the ownership and lordship of West Jersey had become vested in a land company dominated by Quakers.

For the first time in the brief history of that sect, it was charged with the responsibility of the organization and conduct of government.

Hitherto it had been publicly known by the fierce and defiant and often outrageous protests of its representatives against existing governments and dignities both in state and in church, such as exposed them to the natural and reasonable suspicion of being wild and mischievous anarchists.

The opportunities and temptations that come to those in power would be a test of the quality of the sect more severe than trial by the cart-tail and the gibbet.
The Quakers bore the test nobly.