In the autumn of 1789, as the fledgling United States began to shape its national identity, the Religious Society of Friends, known as Quakers, gathered in Philadelphia for their annual Yearly Meeting. Representing communities across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia, these Quakers penned a heartfelt address to President George Washington. Their message was a profound plea for the new government to be guided by Divine wisdom, emphasizing the importance of religious freedom, moral governance, and peace in a nation still finding its way. The Quakers, steadfast in their pacifism and commitment to universal righteousness, implored Washington to use his esteemed position to foster a society where virtue and equity could thrive, laying the groundwork for a prosperous and just America.
