The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-06-09
PROGRESSIVE FRIENDS.

Nineteenth Yearly Meeting at Longwood,
Chester County-"Testimony on Reli-
giOn and Discussion.
HAMERToN, Chester CO., Pa. June S.-This
morning, at the Longwood Meeting House,
one mile distant from this place, was held
the nineteenth yearly meeting of the Pro-
gressive Friends.
The Society of Progressive Friends was
founded in the year 1853, having originated
in division among the original Friends or
Quakers upon the abolition and other reform
questions. The distinctive tenets of
the body, comprising among its men,
bers many of the leading minds of the
country, are an entire ignoring of creeds and
systems of theology. 1t concerns itself with
the practical things of life, with the reforms
of every sort, both in the political and social
fabric, the questions upon which are dis
cussed from Sunday to Sunday in the local
meetings, and from year to year in the gene
raj meetings, at which time also ''testimo-
MES" or the foundations of the principles of
the body are presented, and adopted as the
expression of its opinions.
The mornings session commenced at II
o'clock, Oliver Johnson, chief clerk, presid-
ing
According to appointment, the Rev. John
w. Chadwick, pastor of the Second Unita-
rian Church of Brooklyn, read a lengthy
paper upon ''the life and character of Theo-
dore Parker" This has been delivered upon
previous occasion, and so an abstract of it
is, on that account, not necessary 1t was
one of the most eloquent eulogies which we
have ever heard, and was listened to with the
paper formed the topic of the afternoons
discussion, which proved very interesting and
spirited.
William Lloyd Garrison said that he did
not know whether there were any in the audi
ence who would be shocked at the eulogy of
the great man, Theodore Parker. Few ap-
preciate the grandeur and magnifcsnce of
thinking for oneself. Theodore Parker was
an infdel, was he? Jesus of Nazareth was
SO called, and it was even said she has a
devil" Jesus went about doing good, and
Theodore Parker did the same. Jesus bore
the shock of imposition without fear, and 80
did Parker. spoke of courage in express
ing ones thonghts freely, and meant this to
apply to Christianity. 1t is an age of con-
formity. We have left Rome, and yet we
repudiate the doctrine that we adopted when
we left her.
Every man must be as free to think as 1
am, and when the time for this comes, there
will be no persecution, no prescription. We
find in history times of new departure. That
which is heresy springs up, grows, and de-
feats the dogma at last, in spite of all.
The distinguished speaker then eulogized
Parker as a rare man among men, a champion
for the liberties of the world. He was no
dogmatist but strove to enforce the apostolic
rule, Let no man judge you in meat or in
drink" No man labored more abundantly
and industriously on the political reforms of
the time.
He made himself famous and infamous at
an early day by the espousing OF the cause OF
Abolition. / differed from him in the fact
that he took part in the formation of the Free
Soil party. / could support no party which
countenRnced a constitution which had
slavery in ii as provision. Theodore Par
ker was intensely patriotic-a thorough
American-yet his love OF law never made
him lose sight Of the principle of the right
of revolution. But although we have SO
much light, there is still much to learn and
10 contend for. And, meanwhile, let us
honor those who suffered for righteousness
sake.
The speaker then related some interesting
anecdotes in relation TO PsFkers dealings
with the poor and needy and sorrowful.
The Business Committee, through theil
chairman. William Lloyd Garrison, presented
the following testimony on religion
At q time when the religious world Il
undergoing the most important changes
and when the hearts OF many people are
failing them for fear lest these changes
should weaken the hold of religion itself upoI
| the human soul, We rejoice to believe tina
no such danger is upon us, but that, instead
the cause Of true religion was never SO pros
porous as at the present time. For We recog
nize and affirm that true religion does no
consist in any particular belief about God o
Jesus or the Bible or the Churchi not in an,
particular form Of worship, but in love 4
God and man; a tender trust in our inhnit
Protector; a strong desire and will TO max
our own lives pure and true, and, in so far a
we can, TO do away with error and injustice
and advance the cause Of truth and right upo
the earth.
William Lloyd Garrison, referring {
creeds, contended anew that they were uss
less, and worse than useless in judging
mans character. Did the ereeds in the da
Of slavery stand against slavery? Did the
not keep on the side OF power? The creed
were all found wanting, aud those who wei