Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1845-08-29
The Society of Friends.

The Society of Friends.
We are not amoag those who regard a schism in a
religious body, as an event necessarily TO be deplored;
but on the contrary, we believe it is often an evidence
of returning health aud vigor, and we regard the com.
motion which generally precedes it, as essential to
publication. 1t is the tendency of power TO corrupt;
and we have accordingly found, that in all ages oil
the world, the organizations in which ii has been yes
ted - civil and rellgious-haye become more or less
corrupt and tyrarnical. And in proportion TO their
power, other things being equal, has always been
their corruption. 1t mattered not what form they as
sumed, or by what name they were known; it mat
,ered not whether that power was concentered IN one,
or difrused through a Council Of Ten, the develope
ment of The principle was ever the same. The Pope
The Conference, the Assembly, the Association, and
the Yearly Meeting, are but different names for dill
(erent manifestations of the same principle, acting
through the medium Of Bulls, Resolutions, and Ad.
vices. Probably all of the organizations whose va.
riuus heads we have jus, mentioned, were pure, or
comparatively SO, when they were first established,
but as they became corrupted by the requirement Of
power, tyranny and persecution we're the result.
The page of history bears record Of those who
might with considera BILE degree Of truth have been
called The "Hely Fathers of the early Catholic
Church. The zeal and devotedness of Wesley and
his coAaborers, their seif-denying and God-like spirit,
stand as testimonies Of The purity of early Metho
dism. Luther, and others, who aided in appearing
the PRESBYTERIAN Church, we are told had their eye
single 10 The glory of God, and the good Of their fell
low men. Roger Williams and his Baptist followers,
were hunted and prosecuted for the Truths sake, and
were made pure in the fiery furnace of affhctiou.--
The early Quakers we're ga peculiar people, jealous
in good works" going cheerfully to The prison and
the gallows, rather than violate their impressions Of
duty. All Of these ecclesiastical bodies were The
result of discussion, contention for the Truths sake,
and schisn,, and all Of them have departed very far
from the standard which they first set up. None Of
Friends, and none are more Inconsistent in their &C
tion.
The Society Of Friends as il paS, is very differeE
from the Society Of Friends as IL Is. This degeneracy
is not unfrequently alluded to by their speakers in The
gallery, and lamentations are uttered that i ii is so; ye
we doubt whether it will not be considered out oil
place for US 10 re-afirm that which we have heard lht
older members oil the society assert. We shall no
\ here speak particularly Of the tenacious adherence o
8 It's members to forms after the spirit has departed, @
, their love Of wealth and Quaker splendor, of thei
: longing for The good opinion Of the world, of thei
q aversion to mix with i, in works Of benevolence, ant
their avidty TO join it ia matters Of pecuniary interes
: 10 themselves, of their disposition to glorify lhei
r fathers that they may build up a reputation on tn
j.. deeds of their ancestors, claiming a moral nobility b.
n virtue of their descent. The object Of this article is
D to request The attention of our readers 10 a brief con
sideralion of some of the points we have enumerated
The Quaker Of olden time was not afraid of a goo
healthy agitation ;'lhe quiet" thath lived in, was tn
quiet Of spirit which ia ever attendant upon the con
s sciousnoss Of duties well performed, but The worl
around him, and in which he moved and mingled wa
q tossed with tempestuous ~agits,ion lashed into mOuT
tain waves by the outpouring Of the truth he uttere'
o These staunch old Friends we're real agitators.-
u George Fox used to say, that a good Quaker wouI
r shake tho country for ten miles round; and when b
was scen going toward q "steeple house" the cry