George Keith (1638 - 1716), a prominent Quaker leader and schoolmaster in
Philadelphia, was an early opponent of slavery and
criticized the close relationship of the leaders of PYM and the provincial
authorities in Pennsylvania.
Followers, sometimes called Christian Quakers, accused Philadelphia Quaker leaders of spiritualizing
religion, making anything physical or fleshly nonessential. Keithians
considered the bodily resurrection of Jesus to be a crucial aspect of Christian
doctrine, while the majority within PYM considered the resurrection to be purely
spiritual. Keithian Quakers ceased to meet
early in the 18th century. This schism, the first, is generally
overlooked among Friends, perhaps because the "Keithians," calling
themselves "Christian Quakers," were successfully suppressed by
Friends holding the reins of power in Penn's colony. At a key juncture, they had
George Keith and several supporters arrested and prosecuted for sedition.
Although the jury failed to convict on the most serious charges, the Keithians
were never able to build up their momentum again. Not much later, Keith went to
London Yearly Meeting and asked them to endorse his position, but the Friends in
London disowned him, and a few years later Keith joined the Episcopal Church.