Fun and games among the Quakers: "Rogerene", 1768; interdates OED (2010) 1754--1784

[Jonathan Lighter]

And we all know what "roger" means.

I believe there was at least one similar, very early Christian sect in
Anatolia, but the name escapes me.

JL


On Sun, Apr 27, 2014 at 1:28 PM, Joel S. Berson <Berson at att.net> wrote:

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> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       "Joel S. Berson" <Berson at ATT.NET>
> Subject:      Fun and games among the Quakers: "Rogerene", 1768;
> interdates OED
>               (2010) 1754--1784
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> You must have read of the vast variety of religions and different
> persuasions in practice in this country. I heard the other day of a
> new sect, who call themselves Rogerines, [sic] from their principal,
> whose name is Roger. They run about stark naked, men and women, and
> profess to live in the state of primitive innocence. In this country
> they go into churches and other religious meetings, where they dance
> about in an extraordinary manner, Billy to Betty, and cry out
> constantly, "Who can do as we do, and yet be pure and undefiled?"
> This is a fact; but pray do not read it to any women.
>
> 1768 Alexander Mackraby, Letter to Sir Philip Francis, 20 January,
> Bristol [Pennsylvania].  In Pennsylvania Magazine of History and
> Biography 11 (1887), 278.  GBooks.
>
> The article is titled "Philadelphia Society [sic!] before the
> Revolution".  Bristol, Penn., is just across the Delaware River from
> New Jersey, about 22 miles from Philadelphia.  Mackraby wrote "I am
> at an inn, where I put up on my return from a visit to Mr. Franklyn,
> governor of the province of Jersey, to whom I was introduced yesterday".
>
> "Rogerene" interdates OED3  1754--1784.
>
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