The difference being that in the early years, being Quaker got people whipped, exiled and/or mutilated.
Now, not so much.
Here’s the other difference: an audio only recording of an unprogrammed meeting has almost no chance of containing personal identifying details. A hand-written account does.
History is an exercise in preserving the flame of the principle, not worshipping the ashes. We also have given up using straight pins to fasten clothing, boycotting sugar, white organdy bonnets and beaver-fur felt hats. We also gave up ecstatic dancing (which is irritating, because ecstatic dance is both fun and a deep connection with other people and the numinous) and keeping our problem members from public office. (Yes, we’re still sorry about Nixon.)
