Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-02-22
saIsm QuarlerIy aI,.lIng Of RrI.nd..

of Friends, held in Columbiana I'd mo. 4th,
ls5l Under ordinary circumstances should
not feel inclined to make the proceedings of our
Society the subject Of newspaper comment, but
the extraordinary efforts now making to sup
press the spirit Of reform end progress, or, failing
in that to distract and divide the body, certain
ly deserve public notice and while all manner |
Of reports arc in circulation, some true and
others false, it would seem no more than justice |
to The friends of reform generally that they
should be furnished with correct account Of
octual occurrences. Such an account shall
cndeavor to give. If, owing to prejudice or
party feeling, should misrepresent any thing,
thy columns will be open to q reply. For my
part think It Ear more honorable to tell our
story of these occurrences in The Buglc, where,
if incorrect, it can be refuted than to spread it
through more private channels, where no refu-
tation or correction can ever come.
Joseph A. Dugdale, from the Green Plain
Yearly Meeting, was present on the occasion
referred to. In the early part of the meeting
he commenced speaking of the religious nature
of man, assuming that the pure religious SON
timent is made up Of the Godlike elements of
Justice, Mercy and Truth, while scctism, with
its creeds & rituals, is but base counterfeit of
the Divine reality. Cassandra Nichols, minister
opposed 70 the reforms Of tho age. arose and
made open and rather fierce opposition. Joseph
paused until she sat down, and then proceeded
without the least allusion to any thing she had
said. lie was illustrating the Divinity of the
Love principle and the utter powerlessness Of
Force, when William Nichols, another minis
ter, under good deal of excitement, mand-
ed him to be silent, and declared he was not
member of the Society of Friends. CThis was
passing strange, seeing that Ohio Y. NJ, after
three days discussion, decided upon the reading
of the Epistlc from Green Plain Y. NJ, and its
members present remained without farther mo-
lestation.) William Nichols continued to speak,
and was requested to desst by some of the
members. Joseph remained standing. William
finally sat down, but soon rose again and (agrec-
ably to O suggestion made by Benz. Hanna
proposed closing the shutters, and, suiting the
the action to the word, he brought them togeth-
or with considerable violence. Others, on the
floor, proceeded to carry out his proposition
although several friends demonstrated against
it. Joseph remained standing during this tu-
multuous scene, but took not the slightest part
in it. Quiet being again restored, he resumed
his discourse, its thread being entirely unbro-
ken. Robert Battin, vory ofilcious member
from tho Western Quarter, and one who has
been very active in producing division, now
came to the help of the disorderly but he was
| promptly desired by several members of Salem
| @. NJ, to take his scat, and he did 30 without
a..;.ii.rg wnar ne had intended to Myv Joseph
again proceeded with his discourse, making
himself audible on both sides of the partition.
He was not interrupted farther, but calmly and
firmly proceeded, presenting his views on War,
Slavery, Intempcrance, &C., but especially on
the subject Of religious associations, and the
great essential doctrine Of Divine Revelation,
as the basis and source of the practical testi-
monies of the gospel. m h-rl4r
The Clerk being absent, Samuel Nichols was
selected to fill his place. The opponents of Re-
form utterly refused to proceed to business un'
! til the meeting should be select by which
they meant the exclusion of Joseph Dugdal'
and Isaac Trcscott. One of their number al
luded to the latter os having brought certif
. cate to Salem NJ. NJ. of Orthodox Friends, bu
D not being satisfied with them on account o
. their doctrines, as having concluded to cast il
r his lot with our part of Society. Isaac replies
D to this briefly, explaining his true position.
q The Clerk for the day announced his judg
{ ment that the time had come for division q
the Society, and said he had made minute 70
those who could unite with his proposition, viz
that they should take upon themselves the re
a sponsibility of meeting in the Fifth month q
= Columbiano, instead of Beaver Falls, the plac
4 appointed by the Yearly Meeting. IIc the
i read the following minute, and proposed tha
those who united with it should withdraw fror
n the meeting.
y "In view of the painful state of affairs thi
now appears to exist in this meeting, it is th
n Judgment Of those who feel themselves calle
c upon to observe and carry out what they bt
f lievc to be the order of Society, and wish
: preserve a unity with Ohio Y. M.--we there
fore adjourn to meet at Columbiana at the usu
. time in the Fifth mo. next, ii SO permitted
The Reformers agreed to let them depar
J provided they would erase inc Worus 7" pr
n serve unity with Ohio Y. NJ" and substitu
i for them tho words, that part of Ohio Y. N
ut which directed Salem Monthly Meeting to G.
l. punge its minutes in the case of Oliver job
ie son." This the Clerk refused to do, but agre
+ to erase the place Of meeting, intimatng that
III would not be present at Beaver Falls, but mt
's, in some place they might agree upon amo
by themselves. Samuel Nichols then proceeded
to sign the minute he had made.
nd ]. A. Dugdalc did not interfere in any ma
a ner until the Clerk had framed his minute.
in then remarked, as near as 1 can recollect, Il
neither in his acquaintance with Orthodoxy
90 '27-s nor yet in its later manifestations. had
- ever witnessed such display of magnanim
:. on the part Of Clerk who identified hims