Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-01-06

The subject painful one, and will bring my remarks
Your obi serv't., JAMES SINCLAIR
THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS.
Letter from the Yearly Meeting of the Religious
Society of Friends, held in London, fifth month,
1868, to Friends in North America
To Friends in North america:
DEAR FRIENDS During the progress OF this
Yearly Meeting wehsve been introduced into solemn
consideration Of the awful war now raging on your
Continent, and into deep religious exercise on &C.
count of our beloved brethren there. Under the
constraining influence of the love of our Lord and
Saviour, We would address to you the word of fra
ternal sympathy under the Affections which have
come upon you, in connection with this widespread
and deplorable calamity. We feel, indeed, that We
can but very imperfecy realize your present trials;
yet to the extent of ability, would yield our
hearts to those feelings which just perception OF
them would be so well fitted to awaken, reoognlz
ing our mutual relation as members of that body
concerning which it is declared, that if one men,
Der suffer, all the members suffer with it.
We reverently desire that under all the tribula-
tions which are, or may yet be- your portion, you
may be enabled SO to dwell in the secret place of
the Most High as to experience the blessedness OF
abiding under the shadow of the Almighty. 1t is
striking evidence of the power of that faith which
ove-cometh the world, that 1t enables the devoted
servant even in the midst Of tribuation, to REST
in the Lord"
May you, beloved Friends, be rich pa.takers of
this precious faith. Possessing your souls in
patience may you be strengthened to maintain that
testimony to the peaceable character of the Gospel
and the unlawfulness of all war, which has ever
been prominent feature in our Christian profess
sion. Firmly to uphold this testimony, at a time
like the present. at the cost of Misrepresentation,
obloquy, and even in some cases, of severe suffer
ing, involves the exercise of Christian fortitude,
which needs to be sustained by large measure of
grace and strength from on high. May our dear
young friends especially, be assured that true
courage can have no nober opportunity for its ex-
ercise than when called forth in maintaining hum
BILE yet unfateriug allegiance to the King Of kings
If We allude, with mourning, to those under our
name (by comparison very few who have let fall
this testimony, we would not be understood as
speaking without sense of the temptations incident
to their position. We can, to some extent under
stand how, under the pressure of popular excite
ment, they may believe themselves to be setuatcd
by a sense Of duty to government under which
they feel that they have been greatly blessed Yet
would We affectionatey remind them that the au-
thority of Christ must ever be paramount to the
Christian, and that no humanity imposed obligation
can countervail the duty Of obedience to his com
| mands.
" = HuNS UeSu greatly tSo ny ZIG o.
furnished to this meeting of the Christian care
evRcui by our dear friends in America fur the
faithful maintenance nf Ibis testimony. In all your
anu .aoor-in all your travail Of spirit be
sured, dear friends, you have our sympathy and
prayers. We crave for you that you may be made
and we should unfeignedly rejoice, if, with single
! eye to cur Lord and Master, He should open the
way for you to plead effectually for peace with
those on whom the awful responsibility of continu-
ing the more Immediately devolves.
We trust we shall not be out of our place in here
acknowledging the satisfaction with which we have
heard Of many under the general name of Friends,
though not in correspondence with this Yearly
Meeting, who have displayed much frrnness in up
holding the peacesbe spirit of the Gospel even
| when exposed to great difficulty and trial.
But our sympathy is far from being limited to
| those under our own name. We feel for the sor-
rows of multtudes Of our fellow Christians of other
denominations, whose religious views on the sub
ject of war do not agree with ours, and thousands
Of whom are now suffering the anguish of domestic
bereavement, or of torturing suspense and anxiety
1t is not for US to sit in judgment upon members
| OF other protesting churches, who may, under
nous influences and, perhaps, without any special
consideration of the subject have embraced the idea
that war is not inconsistent with Christianity
But confess to deep sense of the grave respon.
sibility incurred by those who in the protested
character of Ministers of the Gospel Of Peace have
exercised the influence belonging to their position
i'll stimulating passions which it would rather have
been their duty to allay, or in procaiming prnci-
pies not easily reconcilgd With the declaration,
"The weapons Of our warfare are not carnal."
In review of all that has occurred, we are enga-
ged to record our mistaken conviction that The pre-
cepts of our Divine Lawgiver are to be regarded as
of supreme authority, and that implicit obedience
to them is ever for mans best welfare in whatever
circumstances he may be placed. And let us re.
member that the peaceful principles of the Gospel
will ever prevail in the governments of nations in
proportion as the influence of these principles is
left and exhibited in the hearts and lives of the in
dividual citizens.
| Whilst thus giving expression to our convictions,
we are very sensible of our own inrmites and con.
scious that as nation, our hands are not clean,
And we earnestly desire that Friends both in this
land and yours may ever be the watch that their
influence whether in private, in conversation with
| Others or in more public ways, may always be on
the side of peace In the spirit Of true allegiance
to Him who is tue Prince of Peace, may we mutu
ally strive-to promote good understanding between
these two great nations, SO closely allied to one an
other by consanguinity, by commercial intercourse
and, above all, by common participation in the
blessings of the Gospel of Christ
In conclusion, we would desire to unite with you
and with all the true followers of our Lord whether
IN THIS land or IN yours, IN humoilng ourselves De-
fore God, and in beseeching Him, for His mercy't
sake, to stay the hand of the destroyer. And may
it be granted to you, dear brethren, through all to
repose with unwavering confidence in His unchan
ging fathfulness and love.
Signed in and by direction of the Meeting.
EDWARD BACKHOUSE,
ClerE this Year.
Passports.
DEPARTMENT OF ST ATE,
RICHMOND, Va, Dec 31st, 1868.
The prnpsdant hou 81. Gil