Major Problems in American Business History

From Major Problems in American Business History Pages 38-40

John Woolman’s Christian Conscience Impels Him to Leave Retailing, 1756

This reading was written by John Woolman who recounted his history in retail sales. Today, retail sales encompass any good sold in a store excluding food and hardware. However, in 1756, retail sales only accounted for linen, garments, cloths, etc. Woolman stated that “In merchandise it is the custom where I lived to sell chiefly on credit, and poor people often get in debt; when payment is expected, not having wherewith to pay, their creditors often sue for it at law. Having frequently observed occurrences of this kind, I found it good for me to advise poor people to take such goods as were most useful, and not costly” (Page 39). He also laments those men who drink and become reliant on alcohol to be happy in their lives. “Every degree of luxury hath some connection with evil; and if those who profess to be disciples of Christ, and are looked upon as leaders of the people, have that mind in them which was also in Christ, and so stand separate from every wrong way, it is a means of help to the weaker” (Page 40).

 

I found this reading really interesting in that Woolman only spent one to three paragraphs describing what he does and who he is. The majority of the work is Woolman offering his opinions on his customers and people in general. For Woolman to be truly invested in the general welfare and financial health of his customers I found to be truly inspirational. This was during a time where capitalism was starting to plant its seed and everyone was out for themselves. One would assume that Woolman would have been the classical “salesman” to survive during this time, especially considering that credit was already an option for payment during this time, which I truly found to be interesting. “Then I lessened my outword business, and, as I had opportunity, told my customers of my intentions, that they might consider what shop to turn to; and in a while I wholly laid down merchandise, and followed my trade as a tailor by myself, having no apprentice” (Page 39). Secondly, he spent many paragraphs describing his opinions of people who drink. He truly felt sad and sorry for those who felt the need to drink alcohol to be successful or happy in life. “And where those whose lives are for the most part regular, and whose examples have a strong influence on the minds of others, adhere to some customs which powerfully draw to the use of more strong liquor than pure wisdom allows, it hinders the spreading of the spirit of meekness, and strengthens the hands of the more excessive drinkers. This is a case to be lamented” (Page 40). He did admit to sometimes giving into this vice, but not very often. “As I have sometimes been much spent in the heat and have taken spirits to revive me, I have found by experience, that in such circumstances the mind is not so calm, nor so fitly disposed for Divine meditation, as when all such extremes are avoided….a selfish spirit takes place in the minds of people, which is attended with darkness and manifold confusions in the world.” Denouncing drinking I felt was quite common at this time, but to admit to one’s problems I felt is quite uncommon. I found it truly brave for Woolman to accept his own problems and mistakes and care about the nature and welfare of his customers and other people more than he ever cared about his own.