Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-08-27
DOMESTIC.
TRENroN. IN. ~ Aupu


tory and termination of this suit will Justify the space this
hiiei sai9men mt occupies in paper.
II is matter OF public notocty, that FROM the year
1928 TO 1877, difference OF sentiment either in relation
TO fundamental doctrines important articles discipline
had arisen among the Society OF Friends which in the
latter year produced separation OF the Society. Por
this separation the parties known by the appel
hons OF "Orth0doX" aud "liicksite." The first from
their alleged adherence to the filth OF the early Fens
aud the last from their parialy towards Elias Hicks
iavor'te speaker with ,hcn although they also c!acs
believe with early Friends Upon the separations dis
pues about the large property held by the Soceiy mat
rally TO determine Of which in 1928 this pre-
sent suit was brought in Chanccry
bill for relie was filed in the Court of Chanccrv by
Joseph Heudckson, complains ainst Thomas l. Shot
well, defendant, TO iorecose mortgage given by the de-
iendsnr, to the plaintiff Treasurer Of the Prcparaive
Meeting of Friends for Chesterfield, for the sum OF Two
Thousand Do'ials. This sum part Of Il trust fund
raised by contribution in 1890, by the members of the
meeting, and placed under the control of Trustees 10 be
appointed by IT, Hendickson was The Treasurer chosen
by the Orthodox; the Hcksics had since the separations
elected Stacy Decow Treasurer, who claimed payment OF
the money, the proper representative of the Trustees
Shotwell, who at that time member OF liner
Society, finding himself thus placed between two fires for
his safety in 1929 filed bill OF adcr desiring
that both Treasures might be brought into Court, uuJ
each party there he compelled 10 make his title TO the
money. This brought the dsputAmts face to face in Court
where the tight oil property be determined on the
question, (which IL the true Society OF Friends:"
In showing forth behalf of The Orthodox their cx
elusive rghto that title, Hendrckson their to
be in those doctrines always heland maintained by the
Society OF Friends people called QuakerS; 10 wiz
Fust-Though they have seldom used the word sTr
nifty" they believe in the existence OF the Father The
Son or Word. and the Holy Spiritthl the Son was God
aud became fleshthat there is God and Father of
whom are all tngshat there r. Lord Jesus Christ
by whom all things mate, who a. giorfed with
The Father before the world began who is God over all
oessed jreVer-that there Is one Holy Spirit the promise
OF the Father and the Son, the leader sancier and
comforter OF his people that these three are one the
Father the Word, and the Spirit
SecOnd-They believe in the atonement--ihat he d
vine and human natur, of Jesus Christ the saviour were
ued that thus united he Suffered; aud Iha though his
sulierings, death and aioued Tor Tic s,
OF men, hat the son OF God III the iuness OF time took
hesh became perfect man according the flesh descend
ed anu came OF the seed OF Atrdhain aud David: that
being wi h God from all eternity, hcug himseii God and
aso III time parlakiug OF the ua ue OF man foua HIM
The goodness aud love OF Co convey ed TO iaikn ana
That by him man receivsth an partakeh these
That he took upon IN tie seed at Abraham, AID his
sins of the whole world.
Third-They believe the Scriptures are given by i'm
spir"on and whenrghy Interpreted unslIing suIes
able to make wise unto salvation through Ai'h In Christ
Jesus-that the spirit stll operates s,uis o men
and IN so doing furnishes the primary rule OF faith; that
The scriptures must be secondary reference to this mi
mary source whence they proceed but the
spit are always true and uniform, all ideas and views
which any may entertain puguau the doctrines
oil me scriptures, must proceed from false lights"
These being the doctrines OF the present Orthodox and
by them alleged TO have been held by early Friend.
"ndrlckson proceeded TO state what where the doctrines
oil The opposing party. He ascIibes to them,
@ FTst-rhey believe Jesus Christ was a mere man
dviney inspired, Fartaking largely hat uspira.
uon tan other mrn, bu that others, by resorug the
same means and exertions may great
OF divine insPrdiion-tha he the apostles and prophets
caneot be aud have not been above other ucn-hey
dsoe'eve his partaklng OF the divine welt human
nature; that he Is one and the with Cod
Second-They deny the Ioctrino OF The atoucncn and
contend That man my have his God without N
medaIor-tley contend hat the cruciyon aud -nerings
oil Christ, II aonement at all were an aunecnt only
for the legal sins Of the Jews.
Third They deny the divine inspiration of the UoIv
Scriptures, aud hold that they conlain doctrines and in
functions which are incorrect, and that ley are mere
StacyDecow, behalf of the Hcksite party i'm his an
swer to the bill OF mtergeader filed by Shoiwc sludous-
~ avoids detailed exposition of doctrines alleging hai
tne Society OF Friends acknowledge head hut Christ
and principle OF authority government in the Church
but Tie love aud power Of Cod operating on the heart and
thence influencing the Judgment producing unity Of
feeling, hrolheiy sympathy and conlcs,ensicn each
other The great fundamental principle of the Society
the divine light and power operating on the soul brine
acknowledged ty all tsmembers the cfrcina bond OF
union; Che right OF each Indi,IuA To inqe of The trc
meaning OF Scripture testimony ela,ng TO tic ri
Christianity according 10 the test whence in his mind
Uncontrolled Ivy tie arhary dctaon Of lis equally aiii-
BILE fellow man, hath been we'll acy a. explicitly ac-
knowledged by the society,"" lie alleges tha tho first
difficulties and final grew out Of nm attempt v
few individuals, [now OF the Orthodox partyl WHO had
long been conunued IN important stations gradually and
covcriy attempting 10 aud arrogac an authority
over brethren never delegated them and atreinpted 10
impose upon the Yearly Meeting a document in form,
designed TO operate Jrrifc crftd adapted 10 er pc.
cular views and believed also to have been intended
az an instrument of attack upon faithful, worthy Eel.
IpNnemOefs, against whom they bad conceived person.
al offence and sub,cr7iyo Of that freedom OF ough and
individual opinion which The Society OF Friends had al.
ways cherished and maintained uuaicnable Iioht
DeCow further insists, that he Quescus and facts set
forth by HeudIlckson ia the original bill in rlUnn o
the schsn in the Society of Friends and discrepancies
among them in regard TO matters OF faith aud discipline
they exist, as is slated which he by no means admits
cannot lawfully or equaby effect the right to the iund
belonging 10 the said Chesterfield prcparalive Meeting
That the legitimate inquiry before the Court respects The
right Of property, and that Court have righ 10 lns.
iute an inquest into The COnscences filth Of
II religious societies associations, or subject them 10 be
ordeal Of creed prepared by those claiming advcrrv
lie further describes The poty Of the Society Of Fncnds
being that OF ga pure democracy, a is members ha
wing equal rights brethren AMI si.tcrs; neither minis.
ters, elders Overcers Clerks other officers hlvnp any
eminence over their brethren, either i'm right authority
rank or privege"and carries tls principle of e1nalii
That all proportions questions other matters property
submitted TO any meeting. 10 be determined by Tie
voice OF the majority present"
Each party gives HE rersiop q the transactions
Immediately preceding and subsequent 10 ie separation
Of the Yearly Meeting OF Philadelphia in 1927, in which
there is less collision about facts than about The motives
and views that led 10 The facts.
Upon The matter thus presented 10 The Chancellor tho
parties were referred 20 Master before whom al the
facts considered material in the TO he made
manifest IN gaucing nearly thousand pages Of
evidence taken before hc Master gather, t1t the
principal points endovorcd to be maintained by the paf
ice, were:
By me Orfiodor-Thcir belief az Sc, forth in the an
and original bill Of Hendricksonts identity with
The belief Of early Frendthe spurious character Of ,hs
Hcksiie doctrines and their repugnancc 10 those enter
iaiuod by eary Fendsthat The separation Of the Socie
~ grew ont Of the attempt 10 spread these spurious scn
cnts the ono baud and 10 suppress them on The other
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