New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-05-28
TIE FRIENDS yEARAY MEETING.

terday the meetings for public worship of the Hcksite
Branch were held at the Westinghouse in Hester and
Twenty streets, and in Schermerhorn street
Brooklyn, and Were, as usual attended by crowded
audiences, drawn together 10y the various motives of
Devotion Of curiosity and Of admiration forthe proven
bal beauty of the young Quaker damses who attend on
these occasions in great numbers from the rural DIS
trics. To these were added many the large class of
our citizens who inherited infusion Of Quaker blood
sufficient 10 inspire interest in the traditions aud
progress of the sect which leads them to join with
those in strict communion on these anniversary
sions The business meetings will be held during the
present week commencing this morning.
The yearly meeting though still an event of much
importance to those of the "househod of faith and
their intimate connections has been Of late years sadly
shorn of its ancient gores. In the first three decades
Of the present century vast the influx of Friends
into streets at yearly meeting time all being dis
tngished by the peculiar and primitive garb Of the Sect
that the very character Of population seemed 10
dergo changeihe resident inhabitants of all elias es
perfectly familiar with the period of its occur
rence and looked forward to it with eageness in time
of drouth and with apprehension in wet season, and
il is well authenticate fact that the prices of edbes
An our markets. through the sudden accession to the
number of consumers, and the bouniful hospitality
with which city Friends have always entertain ther
country cousins experienced at this time oeeided ad
vance.
Now all this is changed. The large, busting, pro-
vncsl town, increasing at a ratio which Babylon, or
Thebes, or Rome, never approached, has become
mighty metropolis vast multitude of every kindred,
tongue and people Thong thorou. hfres, tn nsands
of our inhabitants know not Of these annual invasons
of the Quakers and the yearly meeting, sadly dImn-
isled in numbers since the palmy DAYS of which we
have been speaking is scarcely numerous enough to
make even a monetary impression upon the mighty
masses Of humanity about us.
Nor is the change altogether external the society.
Friends themselves longer cling with their ancient
tenadty those pecuhaiites Of garb Of address and
of demeanor which gave The sect It's distinctive
character in the eyes Of the world at large and which
tie members in their own quaint phraseoogy were
wont TO speak of as 4" a hedge about them which
could not he thrown down without exposing them TO
the threads Of worldly spirit certain in toe end to
wither and destroy thu r ancient and precious estmo-
MES The strict surveillance which the elders and
overseers maintained il these matters has of late
been much relaxed Many Friends in good standing
some even Of those exercising gift in the ministry
no longer gard it Indispensable preliminary TO
assume the traditional broad brim and straight coat
Long boards, and even an occasional mdstache, are
seen in alarming proximity to the high seats in the
synagogue. and the surviving ancient Friends, who
were brought up in strict observance Of the external
order. and whom the progress of innovation has not
Immediately reached look sadly about them at their
annual gatherings, as if vanly seeking TO discover
some traces Of the wel-remembered yearly meetings
of their youth.
We suppose there are few Of our readers who have
not at some time attended Quaker IueetI G, or who
have not an idea more less defined Of the history
and general poliy of the society yet we aprrehehd
few remarks upon these subjects will not be without
interest
The Society Of Friends was Of the sects having
their origin in the period of extraordinary religious
activity which ensued upon tie outbreak Of the Prot
estant Reformation. Denying alike the authority OF
Pore of Epscopacy, Of the synod aud Of the clerical
order and procaiming as its Fundamental article OF
faith the doctrine that God himself Of old, reveals
his viii directly TO every human heart Quake1sm
seems to be the Protestant idea carried out to It's last de-
veopment Macauay for some uuaccouutabe reason has
abused the office ofthe historian. and portrayed the char
acter Cf The early Quakers in terms Of moged fcrocy
and sarcasm; some Of them whom the common oplu-
ion of mankind has long since placed among its purest
bcnefactors lie has singled ont as the object OF the
most persistent Misrepresentation but the iact Is Wen
known Notwithstanding tie SANDERS of this powerful
and remorseless assaant ha' no hiher examples exist
anywhere Of fidelity TO principle, or Of patient ana
loDg-suGering beroism, combined with spirit OF Chris
tan forgiveness Of injuries, than are 70 be found IN
the annals Of this peaccabe people.
The proselyting spirit which the early QGakers pos
seesed. in common with all scots, soon sent Its
ministers forth into every part Of the world and tie
American continent became at an early period the
home Of numbers of The adbereus Of the ne" faith
Tley continued for more than century to Increase
with much fapdty The fierce persecud ms and occa-
sional marryrdom which they experienced at the hands
The puritans Of New-Eugand are well known, but
il "a not 80 well known that they filled important posts
in the early history Of many of the Colonies ana we
aupreLend that most Of our readers VIII learn WIN
surprise that the turbulent state oil SCUM Oaro-
nina WIS az long ago as 1893 under the mild sway OF
q Quaker Governor John Archdale In 1872, the Gov
ernor Deputy Governor and the entire Migstracy oil
Rhode Island were chosen from among Friends Inc
frst yearly meeting established in America was That OIL
England founded a. Is supposed, IN 1901; that oi
Harrington since transferred 10 PHILADELPHIA, followed
n 1881. The Writ and labors Of George Fox Ia Amer
lea in 1872. contributed greatly 70 The gathering TO-
petter Of the members scattered III great numbers
throughout the country, ana their organization mo
sulary-estaLsL he'd he, tugs, AID at the beginning o.
etipeeeutb century there az many ar l'' large
ss,lv ,o,,tpos ON The continent. These yearly meet
hgs are entirely independent q each DINER ino"s"
autailng the most fratcrnal relations and confidence
each j. supreme within the limits Of ITS own Juf'u'
don and has fun control Of the subordinate quarter!
and monthly meetings Of which il is constituted. Inc
yearly meeting is held for the purpose Of RECEIVING re-