New-York tribune., 1870-01-31
THE BOSTON RADICAL CLUB.

|
| LOW, DIR. BARToL, MRS. EDNAH d. CHENEY,
| MR.. r. b. sANBORN. MR.. RICHARD =. HAL
| LOWELL, MIR. POWELL, AND MRS. WM III.
| CLAIMING.
| BOsTON, Jan. 27.-The representatives Of ad-
vanced thought, who constitute the Radical Club, held
another meeting yesterday forenoon, at Mrs. John T.
Sargents. The peg which the ladies and gentlemen
hung their ideas admirably thoughtful and preg
nant essay by Mr. Aaron NJ. Powell. on "The Quakers"
Mr.. Powell reviewed their past and present condition.
their doctrines, and praiseworthy characterstc and
traced the results OF their early enuncation OF unwe
come truths which universally accepted, as will
be seen by the subjoned abstract:
TIE ESSAY.
Mr. Powell said that the distinctive doctrine OF Quaker
ism is the affirmation Of tho immediate teaching and
influence of the Holy Spirit" in the human soul 1t has
elaborately wrought creed articles OF faith Or
thodox Friends while they do not have the outward COM
munion service Of bread and wine, differ little from other
so-called orthodox Christians In their teaching Of the
plan Of salvation through Jesus their literal accep
taton the Bible Hicksite Friends laudina-
rian Emphasizing the doctrine OF the Inner Light
they. class less strenuous outward and techni
cal in relation TO Jesus Savior and the literal author
ity the Bible There many Of the latter class how
VINO have been appropriately called orthodox HICKS
Friends he early interested in their simple. humanl
tarlan phase of religious life But his interest III the Anil
little concern in merely secaiian religion, except TO as
sist to relax it's hold men ard women. Added years
only served to strengthen his faith the fundamental
doctrine which distinguishes Quakerism The inner
doctrine" necesstaes an exalted estimate OF human ma
ture and logically subordnates everything else. "The
witness" within sits in Judgment upon every message
action. There LEFT for Bible OF absolute
authority for the functions OF an exclusive Mediator
and Savior Az children OF tie Father and joint heirs
IN his diyinely human household
The capacity to "the Immediate teaching and
influence OF the Holy sprlt Is h3t limited 10 Ine ,no
human nature. Acting upon tins belief Friends have
practical missionary and benevolent enterprise OF
the past two hundred years Judged by Their fruits
nearer than any other denomination Of professed Chris
tians himself reappear here In person.
the popular churches or even in Friends meeting. In
deed, were he to Join the Radical CUB MS advance
thought social problems would probably outrank the
average OF its radicalism. To hold up Jesus as an
example for mankind is we'll To worship Him as the
only Mediator and Savior oascrbe to Him character
which He did not claim for himself ana Whcn III inc
nature OF things cannot belong TO any finite soul;
Ouakerism had been called " the heightened shadow OF
George Fox" and Mr. Powell proceeded 10 show that
the shadow had more substance than shadows usu
ally supposed to possess Quakerisn had its martyr pc
ROD. The legend OF "Cassandra southwlck, and more
recently the New England Tragedies, have told the
painful story in modern phrase; reminding those who
read Of The great cost at which our present religious
Tsu the always timely lesson Of toeTaton TO Judge
tree Tel gous movement by the fruit II Yields Is
safe rule Quakersm has produced few books has but
limited literature. few biblical commentaries no theo
logical seminares or ministerial coleges Dn s record
in the sphere S % s sOGG SSndn TGEas of Challenges
led the SHAREHOLDERS Of Barbadoes make law to
vent their negroes from attending the mee9gs OF tne
the West Indies paid hearty and aeconae tribute to
The Friends for their faithful and help in the
Anti-Sayery struggle in England. In our country.
anedating any AntiSavery record so far as he knew
Th6u Coleman and other Friends Nantucket, early
as I7GO2O and Friends in Pennsylvania at about the
same little later date. commenced tho preliminary
cplinary ofense a Friend TO or hire slave
there nS 06aT nnd o ho Holy P
irrespective Of SEX immense gain to have had tho
Friends As vet no other denomination has (as yet what
other is worthy y Lucretia Mott The womens 9usl-
Of man I'm others conony havo developed in the aver
age Of Quaker women something Of that superiority
over the generally subjected womanhood OF to-day. An:
other outside illustration OF the Denenceht lhnuenee Oh
Quakerlsm is in their past and present Ielpons
With the Indians and the Friends are successful with
and wrong Their pecuiarity Of speech conscien
asains; the caste %qG % %res OF ws so a!6 l%s
protest caust the desposm Of fashion and they have
borne valuable testimony against supersutous teVef'
ence The speaker portrayed an ideal winch must be at
aned and concluded: Seeking the right earnestly ana
conidgly to the Inward Light, may we not all hope
u i0"NA0 Strength the Eyl for'.Eo
AID love and re'erent fear to make
daily lives a paJeh'
MRS HOWE BREAKS THE ICE.
Mira Juia Ward Howe said that could not
philosophze about religion without feeling our oDlga
tion TO Quakerism The maintenance OF the right OF
woman TO speak. by the Quakers was an instance OF
unnaraeed courage As to the revolutionary tendencies
OF Quakersm must be remembered that Jesus was te
| great reyolutonlst.
| "APosTLE OF HEREsY," No-oYE SPEAKS
The Rev. John Weiss had gladly heard the clear ana
candid statement Of Mr. Powell. The radical error OF
the ouakers was that, believing in the Inner Light"
they undertook to organize 1t into system. He had
been acquainted with the best form Sf QIaksTsT In ~
NewBedford and felt competent 10 Judge H. ns 0u S f
sustaining the burdens and Losses Of lfe They know
bursts of grief which are found in that sect You feel
the spirit aud presence OF God among the you near
not hrenr preachers they are not inspired ones They
have fallen back into way OF preaching the biood OF
charm of onakersm They are people who tell you your
faults to your face. Socrates was born Quaker lie
had the same but he had than restraining voice
an intutye consciousness OF right as well as wrong
HOW WILLIAM PENN ESCAPED BEING DouGHPAcE.
Mr.. Wendell Phillips said he had no such Intimate
! knowledge OF Quakerism Mr. Weiss had had. He
might have had something 10 In regard to the limit
atons and Of Quakers, only Mr. Powell had can
ddly covered both sides of the question To him the
Ouakers like all sectaTians, showed the mpereoons OF
| human nature. George Fox man OF decided relig
| ious genius william Penn different sort OF man,
| New.England The decline OF Quakerism had begun
earlier than Powell had said Josiah Foster was Pope
| among that people. Eliza Frye was "A narrow-mlnded
bgot who would not stay in the house with Lueretla
Mott because she did not believe ~ the lty leo %eOiSo
| Fox was the moving power OF the systeni when no
ceased TO move. Quakerlsm fell back Ihefe was some
thing 10 be SAID OF the treatment OF the Quaker ny our
forefathers Mary Dyer was glorious Apostle oi w.
but the Quakers afterward really became nuisance py
their eccentrictes, and needed restraining force
,gas mentoned as a paiation for the conduct OF the
| PurItaus though IL was not an excuse
| MORE sPoSTASETY FOR YOUNG ouAKERs'
| Mr. Samuel Longfeow had hoped to hear some GOOD
silence follow the essay, in imitation of the Quakers He
thought the Quaker selfcOntro and tranquility ad'
mrabe things in the old. but spontaneity was de-
sirabe among the young people than they cultivated
/ The doctrine Of immediate hspHauon "Ss n netS -
nrecous one and great the faith Of the Quakers III
ibe poWer of bearing testimony against wrohS, Simply
saying how looked TO their conscehceS anu pe''"s