Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-08-18
i" Reform among the Quakers.n
SELMA, Clark Co., Ohio, |
9TH mo. 90, I649.


by David Evans, Of Waynesville, dated The
End inst, and transmitted it 70 me. am not
partial TO newspaper controversy, or undigni-
fled debate. believe, however, the cause of
truth demands that the public should be du-
~ aPPriseo Of the position those occupy who
have regarded a radical reform needed in the
Society Of Friends. OF the New Yearly
Meeting just organized ia the Stale of New
York, which has adopted the congregational
form Of church government, David writes -
Suffice it to say, that the large meeting of
members OF the Society Of Friends was COM
posed Of a few disaffected and disowned mem
oers OF different States, who, not being will
ing 10 conform to the established and whole
some provisions contained in the Discipline
OF said Society, seek TO form an organization
as set forth in said article, with a platform
broad enough to embrace infdelity and even
atheism, and subject to all degrees of anarchy
and Tanterism that can be named" Invec-
tive is not argument. When demonstration
is not on hand, men too frequently resort to
ungentlemanly and vulgar epihets. Wheth-
er this applies to David Evans remains to be
shown.
There has been for several years within
the Society Of Friends growing intelligence
which has demanded the abrogation of some
Of the narrow and exclusive disciplinary Pc
culiarities, as well as a wider field of benev-
client enterprise in the great reforms of the
age. On the part of the bigots these efforts
have been met with a chilling opposition.
In order 10 a correct understanding Of the
subject, it is necessary 10 state that a small
rupture occurred first in the Indiana Yearly
Meeting. In the limits of Green Plain Quar-
terly Meeting a considerable proportion favor
ed " reform among the Quakers." To cour-
teract their influence no inconsiderable
amount Of pious fraud was necessary. 1t had
become an established maxim among our d.
vision Of the Society that "no meeting should
be laid down without its consent" Our case
was referred to several committees, none of
which were united against US. During the
progress OF the case, DIR. John T. Plummer,
OF Richmond, Indiana, who was The Clerk Of
the Y. NJ, changed the face of the minutes
during the recess of said body, by the addi-
ton of ehren words, giving the committee
power no. conferred upon them. A member
Of the committee detected and exposed the out
rage, which produced a temporary reaction.
When Robert Hill and William Parry,
members of the revising committee, publicly
exonerated themselves from any participant
cy in the matter, the burden rested upon John,
who, with very solemn tone, declared, 81 be-
Eered il 10 be my duty TO do n"!! Inquisi-
tors, during the dark ages, burnt martyrs for
the glory of God. Whether DR.. Plummer
partakes of the same spirit, may be ascertain.
ed by the fact that he refused subsequently,
to administer medicine to a distinguished min
lister who was taken dangerously i'll while in
attendance at the Y. NJ, because the friend
is one OF the earnest and effective iaborers in
producing agitation and reform among the
Quakers, and had, with great plainness of
speech, protested against his injustice!
The fact of the mutilation Of the Yearly
Meeting journal has been Published and new
er yet followed by a denial, but has won for
its perpetrator an unenviable n~otoriety abroad,
even among many who sympathize with him
in his opposition to what they technically
call "Ihe popular movements Of the day.
After the final separation, however, a Part of
our meeting left US in possession Of our meet
lighthouses, books, records, &C., set up for
themselves, (Which was their undoubted
right,) and in The true spirit Of Orthodoxy,
commenced the work Of recommendation
Two of our number attended at Waterloo
Upon this fact is based the charge Of dis
owned persons " composing the Yearly Meet
ing in central New York. The body con-
shutting that Increment has never received
any kind of church decentralization, but
constituted much OF the original reputation
and strength of the meeting. Among them,
Thomas McClintock, extensively known as
a clear and logical writer and approved min.
lister; Lucretia Mott, of Philadelphia, who is
world renowned as one of The ab!est and most
gifted ministers of the Society, was also
there, and gave the movement her endorse
ment. Observation-Disclosures of The Society in
Michigan have taken higher ground and
adopted a ne,o form of Discipline. The Ohio
Y. NJ, held at Salem, when informed Of the
conduct OF the Indiana conservatives, refused
TO read the regular Epistle sent 10 them from
Indiana, or the certificates Of its ministers in
attendance. They are now on the eve of a
revolution. Al the New York Meeting, a let
ter Of encouragement and sympathy was read
from Samuel Myers, George GaHetson, Jesse
Holmes, and a number Of others, embracing
oacoa - tha 6rsf oYdar &c xenootoA.l;. Lz1I