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Society for the Reformation of Manners

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167: 38: 294:, demonstrated by a declaration of support signed by 36 of the members. While there were undoubtedly MPs that shared the society's viewpoint and some which were members, there was little relevant legislation passed during the period of the society's activities and the society paid little attention to the 262:...the great square of VENUS, and its purlieus are crowded with the practitioners of this Goddess. One would imagine that all the prostitutes in the Kingdom had decided on this neighbourhood... 311: 305:
The society also brought lawsuits against playwrights whose plays were perceived to contain insufficient moral instruction. The new attitude to the theatre may be judged from the
217:, to gather information about moral infractions. The central committee of "Original Gentlemen" collected the information with a view to passing the information to the local 407: 354:, a "thief-taker" and Under City Marshal. He acted as a "finder" of stolen merchandise, negotiating a fee for the return of the stolen items, while extorting 17: 221:, so the malefactors could be prosecuted and punished. The society would pay others to bring prosecutions, or bring prosecutions on its own account. 382:
for one hour, and then to serve six months in prison. He was badly beaten while in the pillory, and died soon after being released from prison.
642: 193:) along with the original founders, provided the expertise and financing to enable prosecutions to proceed. The next tier was the " 647: 302:(1709), that while the project began with excellent intentions, it had grown into a means of enriching corrupt informers. 520: 399: 155:. Although inspired and fed by the moral excesses of London, branches were set up in towns and cities as far afield as 609: 408:
For the Encouragement of Piety and Virtue, and for the Preventing and Punishing of Vice, Profaneness and Immorality
403: 201:" employed a blacklist which they published annually to shame the alleged offenders. Below the tradesmen was the " 127:
It was one of many similar societies founded in that period, it reflected a sea-change in the social attitudes in
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The society flourished until the 1730s, with 1,363 prosecutions in 1726–7. There was a series of raids on "
283: 197:" which consisted mainly of tradesmen, and whose role it was to suppress vice. Among other methods, the " 391: 366:
their stolen goods through him. His business may have been undermined by the success of his competitor
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The Societies for the Reformation of Manners: A Case Study in the Theory and Practice of Moral Reform
295: 271: 319:, from 1698, who attacked the lack of moral instruction contained in contemporary plays, such as 209:. Finally the fourth layer consisted of informers: a network of "moral guardians" throughout the 579: 506: 250: 148: 140: 571: 229: 190: 166: 119:
in particular. The society flourished until the 1730s and was briefly revived during 1757.
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Perseguitati/persecutori: dissenzienti, delatori e movimento per la riforma del costume
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Wits, Wenchers and Wantons - London's Low Life: Covent Garden in the Eighteenth Century
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for 50 years in the early 18th century. He was noted for his enthusiasm for raiding
481: 326: 233: 431: 205:" who took a more active role in arresting the miscreants who offended the public 351: 245: 622: 374:(a capital offence) and attempted sodomy. He was sentenced to a fine of 20  147:
to a more moral and censorious attitude of respectability and seriousness under
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series of paintings and engravings. In around 1770, the society denounced
350:" (homosexual brothels) in 1725. One prominent victim of the society was 347: 331: 300:
A Project for the Advancement of Religion, and the Reformation of Manners
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between 1691 and 1694 actively encouraged the society and his successor
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The society sought and gained the patronage of both Church and Crown:
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The society was revived for a period in 1757, and was recognised by
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was a member, though the societies never flourished in rural areas.
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at the society's urging. The society also had influence within the
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of 1688, and a shifting from the socially liberal attitudes of the
472:(April 2007). ""Sex and Societies for Moral Reform, 1688-1800"". 439: 379: 312:
Short View of the Immorality and Profaneness of the English Stage
241: 128: 112: 604:, Rome: Edizioni di storia e letteratura, 2006, pp. 79–86. 443: 371: 214: 189:" at the top. These eminent professionals (lawyers, judges and 100: 363: 355: 42:
An account of the Societies for Reformation of Manners, 1700.
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Conservative group in London, England during the 17th century
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to prevent arrest, and leaning on the thieves to make them
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and for passing harsh sentences, and was depicted twice in
600:, in: Marina Formica & Alberto Postigliola (eds.), 574:
Governing Morals: A Social History of Moral Regulation
625:, extracts from 18th century newspapers, compiled by 547:, "Literature and History", III 1976, pp. 45–64. 185:The society was arranged in four tiers, with the " 634: 538:A Proposal for a National Reformation of Manners 432:Reformation Necessary to Prevent Our Ruin, 1727 111:, and other lewd activities in general, and of 402:, founded following a royal proclamation by 278:commended them to his bishops, while Queens 468: 339:, signalling the end of the popularity of 103:in 1691. Its aims were the suppression of 36: 224:A prominent supporter of the society was 427: 425: 423: 165: 578:. Cambridge University Press. pp.  550: 14: 635: 174:". The caption on this engraving is a 93:Society for the Reformation of Manners 420: 602:Diversità e minoranze nel Settecento 569: 400:Society for the Suppression of Vice 24: 18:Societies for Reformation of Morals 31:Society for Reformation of Manners 25: 659: 643:Organizations established in 1691 616: 543:T. C. Curtis & W. A. Speck, 530: 648:1691 establishments in England 500: 462: 453: 13: 1: 413: 187:Society of Original Gentlemen 213:, with two stewards in each 170:"A woman of all trades from 7: 540:, John Dunton, London 1694. 75:Suppression of prostitution 10: 664: 623:The Reformation of Manners 474:Journal of British Studies 385: 288:Proclamations against Vice 122: 203:Association of Constables 79: 71: 63: 55: 47: 35: 394:. A later successor was 272:Archbishop of Canterbury 551:Burford, E. J. (1986). 459:Burford (1986), p. 192 264: 182: 555:. Hale. p. 260. 521:Literary Encyclopedia 260: 169: 470:Dabhoiwala, Faramerz 232:and Chairman of the 230:Justice of the Peace 570:Hunt, Alan (1999). 396:William Wilberforce 378:, to be put in the 251:A Harlot's Progress 238:City of Westminster 133:Glorious Revolution 95:was founded in the 32: 341:Restoration comedy 183: 30: 512:Conjugal Lewdness 89: 88: 16:(Redirected from 655: 593: 577: 566: 524: 504: 498: 497: 466: 460: 457: 451: 429: 327:William Congreve 296:House of Commons 234:Quarter Sessions 40: 33: 29: 21: 663: 662: 658: 657: 656: 654: 653: 652: 633: 632: 619: 596:Clegg, Jeanne, 590: 563: 533: 528: 527: 505: 501: 467: 463: 458: 454: 430: 421: 416: 388: 352:Charles Hitchen 246:William Hogarth 125: 82: 43: 28: 23: 22: 15: 12: 11: 5: 661: 651: 650: 645: 631: 630: 618: 617:External links 615: 614: 613: 594: 588: 567: 561: 548: 541: 532: 529: 526: 525: 499: 486:10.1086/510889 480:(2): 311–312. 461: 452: 446:" rather than 442:" then meant " 418: 417: 415: 412: 387: 384: 317:Jeremy Collier 292:House of Lords 276:Thomas Tenison 268:John Tillotson 211:City of London 199:Second Society 195:Second Society 131:following the 124: 121: 87: 86: 83: 81:Region served 80: 77: 76: 73: 69: 68: 65: 61: 60: 57: 53: 52: 49: 45: 44: 41: 26: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 660: 649: 646: 644: 641: 640: 638: 628: 627:Rictor Norton 624: 621: 620: 611: 610:9788884983404 607: 603: 599: 595: 591: 585: 581: 576: 575: 568: 564: 558: 554: 549: 546: 542: 539: 535: 534: 522: 518: 514: 513: 508: 503: 495: 491: 487: 483: 479: 475: 471: 465: 456: 449: 445: 441: 437: 436:Rictor Norton 433: 428: 426: 424: 419: 411: 409: 405: 401: 397: 393: 383: 381: 377: 373: 369: 368:Jonathan Wild 365: 361: 357: 353: 349: 344: 342: 338: 337:John Vanbrugh 334: 333: 328: 324: 323: 322:Love For Love 318: 314: 313: 308: 303: 301: 297: 293: 289: 285: 281: 277: 273: 269: 263: 259: 257: 256:Covent Garden 253: 252: 247: 243: 239: 235: 231: 227: 222: 220: 216: 212: 208: 204: 200: 196: 192: 188: 181: 177: 173: 172:Covent Garden 168: 164: 162: 158: 154: 150: 146: 142: 139:period under 138: 134: 130: 120: 118: 114: 110: 106: 102: 98: 97:Tower Hamlets 94: 85:Great Britain 84: 78: 74: 70: 66: 62: 58: 54: 50: 46: 39: 34: 19: 601: 597: 573: 552: 544: 537: 531:Bibliography 517:Daniel Defoe 510: 502: 477: 473: 464: 455: 438:. The term " 389: 348:molly houses 345: 330: 320: 310: 307:anti-theatre 304: 299: 287: 286:both issued 265: 261: 249: 223: 202: 198: 194: 186: 184: 161:Daniel Defoe 126: 117:prostitution 92: 90: 67:Moral reform 536:Anonymous, 519:, from the 360:pickpockets 332:The Relapse 226:John Gonson 219:magistrates 149:William III 137:Restoration 637:Categories 589:0521646898 562:0709026293 515:(1727) by 507:Commentary 414:References 406:in 1787, " 404:George III 335:(1696) by 325:(1695) by 180:prostitute 141:Charles II 109:immorality 56:Founded at 494:145661721 448:etiquette 392:George II 309:pamphlet 176:euphemism 157:Edinburgh 105:profanity 48:Formation 242:brothels 236:for the 207:morality 159:, where 145:James II 113:brothels 99:area of 440:manners 386:Revival 380:pillory 153:Mary II 129:England 123:History 72:Purpose 608:  586:  559:  492:  444:morals 376:pounds 372:sodomy 356:bribes 270:, the 215:parish 178:for a 101:London 59:London 490:S2CID 364:fence 358:from 606:ISBN 584:ISBN 557:ISBN 329:and 284:Anne 282:and 280:Mary 258:as: 151:and 143:and 115:and 91:The 64:Type 51:1691 580:272 509:on 482:doi 410:". 398:'s 315:by 248:'s 191:MPs 639:: 582:. 488:. 478:46 476:. 434:, 422:^ 343:. 228:, 107:, 629:. 612:. 592:. 565:. 523:. 496:. 484:: 450:. 20:)

Index

Societies for Reformation of Morals

Tower Hamlets
London
profanity
immorality
brothels
prostitution
England
Glorious Revolution
Restoration
Charles II
James II
William III
Mary II
Edinburgh
Daniel Defoe

Covent Garden
euphemism
prostitute
MPs
morality
City of London
parish
magistrates
John Gonson
Justice of the Peace
Quarter Sessions
City of Westminster

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