Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-11-21
From the Gssensborough Tiuuue.

THE FRIENDS YEARLY MEETING.
The Friends, or Quaksrs of North. Carolina, bold
yearly meeting. including ths 6rst Sabbath Of No
vember in each yesr, aENew Garden in this county.
This meeting taking place during the past week has
suggested the propriey Of collecting together some
Of the rules and doctrines of this Society Of Chris
tians, for the edi6cacn Of such Of our readers rs
may be edited thereby.
The Society of Friends or Quakers arose in Eng
land about the middle of the seventeenth century
The Reformation was producing commotion in the
religious world the letters in which priestcraft had
long held the human mind were beginning to be
loosened; and many, painting after nearer acquan'
lance with God and dominion over their apPetites
and passions, which they could not obtain by tho
observance Of the ceremonies of religion, were ear.
nestly enquiring, What must we do to be saved
Among other jealous ministers that rose as leaders
in these troublous times, George Fox, as the &C.
knowledged founder of the Quaker church, stands
very prominent.
the Reformers and the Priestcraft, doubtless had
much influence in shaping the crude notions Of the
new sects The nation was torn BY intestine STRIFE
Civil war; with it's attendant evils, ragged throughout
England and the lives and the properly OF the SUBJ
iecfs were at the mercy ofa lawless soldiery Many
were stripped Of their possessions, reduced from az
huence ease to poverty and want and often oblig
ed to abandon their homes and fee for their lives
This melancholy state Of affairs had tendency to
loosen their attachments from the world, by show.
ing the precarous tenure Of all earthly enjoyments,
and to induce them to press after .those substantial
consultations which are only to be found in . re.
gious life.
The rapid spread of the doctrines preached by
George Fox was surprising; and among those who
embraced them were persons esteemed OF the best
families; several priests Of the Episcopal denomina.
ton and ministers Of other societies. besides many
other learned and substantial men. large num-
Der of ministers, both men and women, were soon
raised up in the infant society who travelled abroad
as they believed themselves divinely called, spread
ing the knowledge Of the truth, and Strengthening
and comforting the newly convinced. In few years
meetings were settled in nearly all parts Of The Uni
ted Kingdom and Notwithstanding the severe per-
secution to which the society was subjected, by
which thousands were locked up in jails and dun
geons besides being subjected to barbarous person.
Al abuse, its members continued to increase. Their
| suferings seemed only to animate them with fresh
ardour.
As early as the year 1866, some ministers trav.
elled the continent of Europe and settled meet.
ings in Holland and other places some travelled in
to Asia, some were carried to Africa; and several
were imprisoned in the Inquisitions Of Rome Malta
and Hungary. About the same period the FIRST
Friends arrived in America, at the port of Boston.
Many ths side Of the ocean embraced their doc
trnes, but the spirit of persecution, from which
they had suffered deeply in England made its ap.
pearance in America with increased violence and
cruelty, naicting upon the peaceable Quakers var-
Gus punishmcnts; and finally four of them were put
to death by the gallows at Boston. Notwthstand
ing the opposition they continued to increase many
eminent ministers Joined them from England and
in 1852 large number, under the patronage Of Will
liam Penn, settled the Furnishing colony of Penn
sylvani At that time meetings were settled along
the Atlantic coast from Boston to North Carolina;
and at the present day the largest body of Quakers
is to be found in the United States
As society they possess many peculiarities. Our
limits, however, will permit US merely to notice
he If he nhrac Cour
grades of meetings First the p eparative meetings;
second, the monthly meetings third, the quarterly
meetings fourth, the yearly meetings. The yearly
meeting embraces the highest authority known in
the society," and its decisions final. There are in
existence now only nine yearly meetings-two in
keep up regular correspondence, by means Of de-
legates to each meeting from all other meetings.
The doctrine of the immediate presence of Christ
with his church, whether assembled for the purpose
of Divine worship for the transaction of its dis
cplinary Affairs is the foundation of all its authori
ty. Hence they have to act in the capacity
of q chairman, Christ Jesus alone ought to pre-.
side, and his spirit and wisdom only to govern
The person appointed as clerk il to gather and
cord the solid sense and judgment of Truth man.
ifested in the meeting but vote is ever taker nor
is any question decided by numbers.
Owing to the civil war and persecution in the first
days OF the Society, great care was taken Of the
poor and destitute and this has been kept up,
no one Of them ever being thrown upon the public
for support. They also make special provision for
the education Of all poor children by providing good
seminaries of learning, taught by members Of the
society, where the moral and religious training Of
the pupils, well their literary instruction may
be attended to, and to which the children of all their
members may have free access.
In reference to Marriage. the Society believes that
it is divine ordinance and that but the Lord
alone can rightly join any in this solemn covenant.
1t has therefore, always had conscientious scruple
against acknowledging the authority of priests, min
listers, or magistrates in the solemnzaton of mar
rage Those intending to marry, appear before
monthly meeting, with their parents or q certificate
OF consent committee is then appointed to ex.
anime into the matter and report at the next meet
ing If n" objection is reported, the parties have
the consent of the meeting to accomplish the mar.
riage. This is done in public meeting for worship,
where the parties stand up and solemnly take each
other for husband and wife,
Burias are conducted in simple and unostenta.
tious manner. To avoid unnecessary expense,
which might be oppressive to the poor, they wear
no mourning apparel-their collins are plain-they
discourage long professions of carriages and the
erection of tomb stones.
In reference to the Society believes it is Who'll
y at variance with the spirit Of the Gospel, which
continually breathes peace earth and goodwill to
men, They receive in their full Specification the
plain and positive command of Christ say unto
You that ye resist not evil :" 'Iove your enemies,
you, bless them that curse you, and do good to them
that hate you," &c.
They bold, Also that under the gospel dispense
ton there is no inherent holiness in any one day
above another, and hence they observe the sabbath
| merely as necessary for rest to man and beast
As to slavery, the Friends believe it a crying sin,
entirely at variance with the commands Of Christ
and the spirit of the Christian religion
In conformity with what the Society believes the
preceps and examples Of the apostles and primitive