The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-06-21
THE PROGRESSIVE FRIENDS.
THE PENNSYLVANIA YEARLY MEETING.


Correspondence Of the " Y Tribune.l
KENNETH CHESTER Co., PA,
May "A, 1855.
The Third Yearly Meeting of the Religious
Society of Progressive Friends adjourned sine
die last evening, after a session Of three days
The Society convened on Sunday morning, in
spacious and elegant edifice just erected for its
use on beautiful site two miles east Of Ken
nett-square. The house was dedicated to reli-
gious, moral. literary, and scientific purposes,
on the Saturday previous. The services of the
occasion consisted of the reading of select pas
sages of Scripture by Joseph A. Dugdale ;
prayer by Theodore Parker of Boston; address
es by Oliver Johnson of New York, Professor
Harvey Of Philadelphia, and Theodore Parker;
and music by the Hutchinson Family. Chand-
Ter Darlington presided, and Edward Webb and
Mary p. Wilson acted as Secretaries.
In spite of the pouring ran the house was
crowded to its utmost capacity. Mr.. JohnsOns
address was designed only to present history
of the erection of the new house. and an ex-
PLANTATION of the objects to which it would be
devoted. Prof. Harvey spoke of the divine law
of Progress in the material universe as ex-
employing the operation of a similar law in the
mental, moral, and religious development of the
human race. The address was we'll delivered
subject of Mr.. Parker's discourse, as near as |
can recollect, was, "The Relation of Ecclesiasti-
cal Organizations to the Religious Conscious
ness of Man." He spoke for two hours and
quarter, in way that commanded the closest
attention of the whole assembly. The theme
at first seemed somewhat abstTuse, but his
manner OF treating 1t was such as to bring it
within the comprehension of even the least
cultivated portion of his audience The dis.
course, understand, will be printed with the
proceedings of the Yearly Meeting.
The songs of the Hutchinson Family were a
great delight to all. The Quakers, you know,
have always discountenanced music, regarding
it as "carnal diversion" mere tickling of the
ear altogether unworthy of Christian. The
Progressive Friends have for the most part dis
carded this false idea; still, there is among
them, as yet, very little of musical culture, and
singing consequently is quite rare in their reli-
gious assemblies. Il was interesting TO watch
the effect of the singing on this occasion. The
Hutchinsons selected such pieces as were ad-
mirably adapted to touch the feelings and move
the hearts of the audience and the tears that
were seen coursing down the cheeks of many
venerable Friends showed that they felt as
they had never done before, that music has
power over the human soul, to inspire it with
noble thoughts and fill it with holy aspirations.
The Yearly Meeting, as l have said, com.
menced its sessions on Sunday morning. Not
withstandiDg the fast-falling raip, the meeting
house was crowded. It seemed as if the people
for miles around were all astir, and many
persons from distance were present On the
platform were many venerable and well-known
Friends, of both sexes. The proceedings of the
meeting were conducted in most respects ike
those of other bodies of Friends. There was
no President and cnly two Clerks Joseph A.
Dugdsla and Sidney Pierce Curtis) to keep a
record of what was done. The utmost liberty
of speech prevailed, and little regard was paid
to Parliamentary rules; and yet the debates
were as courteous and gthe proceedings as or