The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1859-03-17
The society OF Friends in England.

lNo OF three weeks q p q para apl Went
round the papers giving some account of an
important conference then recently holden IN
London, by leading members OF the Society
of Friends, to consider the expediency OF
modifying certain points OF their internal dis
cipllne as a religious body. Most Of our con
temporares have taken advantage of this in
cident to discuss At some length, the charac er
peculiarities, and prospects Of this remarkable
sect Of our fellow Christians. For the most
part these dissertations have been distin-
guished by nothing so much their singular
ignorance of the subject ii hand. and the
hippant and superficial spirit with which it
has been treated.
Scarcely any Of the writer's we refer to
seem TO have the least conception that there
was anything in Quakerisla beyond those
outward eccentricities of dress and speech,
which are in fact mere accidents, or, at most,
symbols OF the creed they represent. Ac-
cordingly, they never attempt to touch any
thing deeper The changes rung. Of
course, with ednying uniformity on strait
coats. broad brims, coal-scut;le bonnets, and
the tut0ienent of the Quaker vernacular, re-
lieyed occasionally By a very tsrvid burst Of
yir,uous Indignation against the atrocious in
difference OF the sect to bright colors and
worldly pleasures lady in drab or slate
color IS evidently 70 these scribes as great an
abominaton the lady in scarlet, for they
cannot conceive how it = possible there
should be intelligence, accomplishments,
social cheerfulness, domestic happiness, or
religious consolation enjoyed by people who
are lnsensible to the charms OF pink and pur
pie, and do not fad pleasure in dancing and
music.
We cannot expect newspaper philosophy
to be very profound. Bat 1t is a little hu-
initiating. certainly, that our public writer's
can penetrate SO little beneath the surface as
to be able TO discover nothing in the exist
ence OF body which has borne SO conspieious
aud in some respects SO influential a part in
the social life of England for more than two
centuries. except protest against lace, and
rutfles, and crinohne, and other pomps and
yanities OF this wicked world, Very evident
ly our contemporaries have not paid much
heed 70 Professor Teufelsdroch's lecture on
the Philosophy of Cloths, otherwise theg
consists in broad brims and drab than Eng
llsh justice consists OF powdered horse hair
and ermine. or the religion OF the Church Of
England consists Of lawn sleeves aud silk
aprons.
What then, are the characteristics of the
Society of Friends? So fsr as they may be
Judged and appreciated by those without
their own circle, we should say they were
such a. these. TheologicaIly, a very pro
found conviction Of the necessity OF a direct
and living spiritual power, beyond all forms
and dogmas to guide men to truth and holi-
ness. Practically, a recognition more vivid
than has, in our judgment. been attained to
By any other body OF Christians. Of the true
sptr3t of Christianity Ia its human aspect as a
system Of universal love and active phiIan-
thropy. Their pecuiagities seems TO us as
admirably described IN the extract from one
Of the letters Of Mrs. SchimmelPennick, which
appeared in our pages day or two ago
This lady associated much and intimately
with them IN her earlier wears, and this IS her
testimony.
Never can l sufficiently express my deep
obligations % the Friends l met al my grand
fathers. They did not, indeed. bring forth
dogmatic truth, as | have heard many do
since; possibly there was enough OF this; but
still further were they moved from the irrey-
eEent habit of bandying about the most sacred
truths as subjects Of superficial and colloquial
discussion. Deep and reyerent were their
feeling tha: the truth OF God can only be
taught to the heart OF man by the Spirit OF
God-hence they loved the truth, instead of
taking about 1t. Their habitual recollection,
II it did not announce the dogma, inspired 8
living sense Of the Divine onnipTesence and
0mniscienee. Their chasEened language and
voice. and peaceful placidity Of manners,
spoke sense of their accountability to that
Supreme Power in whom they conhded The
caution and gusrdedness. and yet definite
correctness. with which they declare their
sentiments, bore with in an impression OF
humble consciousness of tallibiIity, and
feeling OF the prec:ousness Of truth Their
seasons of silence seemed 70 utter with 81
lent tongue Acquaint thyseH with God
and Be in peace The indefatigsble Industry
and real with which they pursued plans Of
benevolenee, told that their hesrts recognized
that God had, indeed, made q one blood all
the children OF men"
Those who have obtained confidential ac-
cess 70 the inner circles Of Quakezism can