Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-11-03
From Friends Weekly Intolligcncer,
Yearly Meeting at Salem,
spnrNeDA1r, Va, Ninth mo, 81, is49.

Ield ut Salem, Ono.
The meeting of ministers and elders, held
9TH day the 25th of 9Th month, was small,
here being two ofthe Quarters, Redstoue and
Salem, which do not appoint elders. This de-
ration from our congratulated order is TO
De regretted, for / think it has contributed to
increase the weakness in which it originated.
On Second day morning,the Yearly Meeting
commenced Mt the usual hour,
There being a number of persons present
who were not members, they were informed
that Friends desired to transact their church
business, as usual, without the presence of
others, and that all who were not in member
ship with us wouldbe expected TO withdraw.
This being repeated by several persons, a few
withdrew, but it was believed that a number
remained and attended all the sittings.
Some made application for the privilege of
sitting with us, which / think was granted to
two or three, Before l proceed further with
my narrative, | must premise that shall have
TO designate the two parties into which the
meeting was divided by the names which
have generally been given to them. The
conservative party are the friends of the dis
ciplinc as it now stands, and in favor ofkeep-
ing up the old landmarks and usages of the
society, The reformers are those who think
the society has been too exclusive and station
airy. They generally lean towards the con-
gregational form of church government,
where each particular meeting makes its
own discipline without being subject to the
control of the superior meetings. The reior-
mers would prefer to meet with open doors
for the transaction of church business, and it
was through their influence and countenance
that Joseph A. Dugdale, a congregational
Friend from Green Plain, Ohio, was present
and took an active part in the meetings both
Ca k.-..I.X o,I I..n,p1.nn He cottrGn in
this particular was ~disapproved by many,
and appeared to me to be Inconsistent with
good order, and a due respect for the rights
of others.
The assistant clerk being absent, one Of
the Reform party nominated a person TO
serve in his stead, but before the meeting had
time to express a sentiment, a Friend on the
opposite side proposed John II. Price, which
nomination being united with by several, he
was invited TO the table.
The clerks informed the meeting that epis-
ties were on the table from the Yearly Meet
ings with which we correspond, and also two
communications from other bodies with
which we have not corresponded. After
some discussion it was agreed TO read first
the epistles from the yearly meetings i'll con-
nection with us which was done, and L think
q minute made of their acceptance. We
were then informed that the other documents
were epistles from the congregational Friends
of Genessee and the Friends of Green Plain,
Ohio. There being much desire manifested
by the R~eforiners to have them read, and a
warm discussion apprehended, a proposition
was made by a Friend that they be read, and
no further action taken on them.
He said that he saw no principle involved
in merely reading them he wished to treat
with kindness and courtesy the bodies who
ant tha,o xat ba x.,aS coticfa1 TINT w. could
not open a correspondence with them to any
advantage, as their organization was entirely
different from ours, and must be considered
a distinct society. He expressed his full APP
probation of our discipline, and his hope that
Friends would not be drawn off by the new
organization.
This proposition met with considerable ia
vor from many of both parties, yet there were
some of each who could not agree to it.
After a painful conflict of an hour or two,
the meeting, not being able to agree, adjourn
ed to meet at 10 o'clock next day.
On third day, after reading the opening
minute, one of the representatives informed
that they had agreed to nominate Benjamin
Marshall as clerk, and Amos Wilson for as
%sistant; which report was agreed to, without
much, if any objection being expressed. The
question pending i'll relation to the two docu-
ments, was again taken up and discussed at
much length by q large part of the meeting,
the young. as well as the old, and middle
aged, taking an active part.
Although much was said that was inappro-
pirate, and some expressions used on both
sides that had better been omitted; yet there
was little or no unkindness of feeling mani
tested.
1t was an earnest, but generally q courte-
GUS debate, though not adapted to a yearly
ytNooftnn of ErianIo Da.f 81 tho ItZc.t1e,au
related to the principle OH which questions
ought to be decided in our meetings.
Some asserted that a majority of the meet
ing had expressed themselves in favor o fread-
ing the documents, others said that our meet
ings are not governed by majorities, but by
weight, or by the influence of those who
have most religious experience.
The Clerk said he thought the principle
had been settled by the action of Ohio Year
ly Meeting in 1914, when it adopted and sent
down with the extracts, an epistle from a
Friend in Virginia, in which it was stated
that the decision of our meetings for disci-
pline, are not controlled by majorities, but
arrived at by general consent, and when this
consent cannot be obtained with tolerable
%unanimity, or when a considerable number
of Friends will not relinquish their objec-
tons, the meeting must wait for them, by
postponing or abandoning the proposed mea-
sure. He then proposed that the considera-
ton of the two documents be postponed, and
that the meeting should proceed to other
business. This was objected to by the Refor-
mers, and could not be adopted. A Friend
then proposed to adjourn the Yearly Meeting
Until next year; another was in favor of APP
pointing a committee to bring in a plan of
separation; but neither of these propositions
found much favor and the meeting could
agree upon nothing but to adjourn to 10
O'Clock next day.
On Fourth day morning, after the opening
minute was read, a Friend from another
Yearly Meeting gave his views on the subject
of church government, and pointed out the
excellency of our discipline. Then the dis