New-York daily tribune., 1854-05-29
Yearly MEETING OF PROGRESSIVE FRIENDS

Correspondence OF The N Y. Tribune
KESYErT SQUARE, Chester Co., Pa, May %, 1854.
The Pennsylvania Society Of Progressive Friends held
Ia Second Yearly Meeting at Old Kennett two miles
east of this village, commencing Sunday last and
closing on Tuesday. This is the religious society
whose exposition Of sentiments published at length in
The TRIBUNE one year ago. and which has been hailed in
many parts of this country, and also in Europe, as the
harbinger of in the history of the Christian
Church. take it for granted that your readers whom
you keep well posted up in the dongs of other religious
bodies will be glad TO brief account Of the proceed
inps Of society which is striving TO realize the benefits of
rel eious association without building ecclesiastical
hierarchy or infringing the rights OF the individual man.
Starting from the simple idea of God Universal
Father and Of the human race as brotherhood, and
avoiding the controversies in respect TO dogmas and rites
which have long existed among those who claim the
Christian name, il seeks TO draw men together by the
power of love and through of spirit in respect to
the practical duties of life taught and exemphhed by
Jesus of Nazareth Not that it regards correctness of heo
logical sentiment unmpOrtentfar from it-bu because
believes that identity of spirit aud purpose, and not
identity of opinion the true bond of Christian union;
and also because il believes that sound theology, how
ever important il subopnate TO practical righteousness
and be attained only as the fruit OF obedience to
Chiists precepts.
ohappens that the majority of those who have enlisted
in this new movement have grown up chiefly under Qua
ker influences though of its most influential men,
bers were originally from other secs They mostly
persons who have found in the prevailing socaranism the
formidable obstacle to reforms which they regard
absolutely essential TO mans highest welfare In this
County perhaps the most nteigentin the State the
ment has great moral and by no means feeble in
respect numbers. II claims equal right with the Qua
kes this neghborhood TO three houses ofworshp which
were built before the division. 1t in of these
houses viz: that at Old Kenneth that the Progressive
Yearly Meeting last year organized This year the
old-side Quakers determined that its walls should not be
thus used and at the close of their meeting on Sun
fTcmo entering: but one OF the latter, having been
present at the first meeting, refused to 60 ON
when bid, and suffering himself to be locked up
l.f tho
TO enter the hour appointed The first session being
over however the Progrcssiye concluded for the sake
peace to meet the two following days in Hamort0r
Hail. OF these meetings could speak at length but cir
cumstances compel me TO be brief They character
xedbya deep and earnest religious spirit an unfaering
faith in human progress sentiment OF fraternity as broad
a. the whole world supreme regard for fundamental
truth spirit OF broihery condescenson and kindness
and singular freedom from can't Men aud women par
eipated equal terms in the proceedings, and although
there President and no effort to enforce parlsmen
tary rules but only two clerks to make record OF wha
done the meeting might well serve as model in res
pec Of order and courtesy No celebrated orator wa
present butrhere lack of good speakng-good be
from the heart and indicated earnest anC
benefeent purpose The clerks were JostPh A. DrGDMi
and Miss SIDNEY PIERCE Those who took promisen
part in the discussion of the various topics that intro
auced, were TnoNAs CURTIS and CYRUS NJ BURLEIGH o
Philadelpha, WILLIAM and EusEDiUs BARNARD, ELIZA
BETH 4. WRIGHT, ROWLAND and OLIVER JOHNSON o
New York, MARY and SUSAN Cox sisters OF the Rev. DIR
Cox late of BROOKLYN Isaac Flint, and others Slavery
intcmperance VAR capital punishment the duty of socie
TO criminals ihe moral law Of amusemcnts the evils
see,arianis and other topics, discussed with grea
earnestness On the Slavery question especially there Wa
much bold and indignant speech. The Nebraska fraud
lis causes and probable results were duly considered
Mr. OLIVER JOHNSON of New-Ycrk, called attention Z
the Universal Christian Alliance, recently organized
France and based upon the same radical principle that un
deres the Society OF Progre Friends He read tn
Appea Of the Alliance to Chrisansot all eommunions, 70
Cether with its Address and Constitutions and on hs me
on nternal letter prepared and directed to be sen
10 its officers inviting further correspondence bewee
the two bodies.
The audiences in attendance at the various sessions wer
large intelligent and deeply interested and the hospa
OF the people toward those from adsance was unbounded
The closing scene was marked by sclemny and ten
derness OF fraternal feeling worthy OF Christian an
phanthropc assembly. The voice of prayer aliernsts
with the tones of melody and words of parting counsel an
(hr;stiap hone Yours tfuIy OBSERVER.