New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-06-16
PROGRESSIVE FRIENDS.
NINETEENTH YEARLY NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF
ADVANCED THINKERS IN A PENNSYLVANIA
VALLEY.


be found more heathfu sweeps Of valley and upahu
Summer gran-felds, or wider spreading chestnut anu
oak trees than in Chester County Penn Win ts snug
homes plethoric barns, sleek cattle and trim iehces
the whole region has weltodo air that makes one ieei
If the millennium after all, might not De 80 iar away
while the calm, unhurried manner OF the nnapl'aVs
that here the primal curse has been ted ana
labor accented as one of good angels To this favored
region come year after year. reformers bold thinkers,
poetic dreaners the wisest and sometimes the most
cratic the sage philosopher and the man with bee
in his bonnet" to attend the Yearly Injecting of Pro
gressiye Friends. Are you going TO Longwoodf Is
asked by one and another during anniversary week in
NewYork and Boston, while the faces Of the initiated
glow with pleasant anticpatons and those of the unhi
tiated with eager curiosity "Why Rookeryl" the
pertinent question Of Besey Trotwood in regard to the
naming Of her brothers house, and Why Longwoodi
asks the visitor finding that he is set down at Kennett
Square, and that Longwood instead Of being atown,
station or grove, as he had supposed is only building
the Progressive Friends meeting house.
But we cannot hope TO find everything just as we
pect in this world discover the for every
fact of existence, and the slight feeling Of dsappont
ment lost sight OF we trundled along the
country road, under the great trees, the
brow Of hill that revealed reaches Of luxuriant
beauty and past clover fields drowsy with the hum
Of bees, where cows standing kneedeep in bloom and
fragrance, turned upon their mild eyes, eloquent with
reghted with the rich treasure of the rain for which all
the earth athrst while the wind whispered among
the leaves to the cornelds and the waving grapes 1T
Is coming coming" And presently it came, in great
flashing drops at first and then gently the falling dew
all through the night. Preparations for keeping the
Passover hardly have had interest for the Jew
sh housewife than getting ready fol- Yearly Meeting has
for the Quaker matron and considering the number of
guests that entertained and the ample accommOda-
tons provided for them, wonders where the families
are bestowed and howit is that such influx OF visitors
makes little commotion. The problem Of reducing do
nestle friction 10 its minimum, Of carrying forward all
the varied activities Of household without noise fuss,
and Of making housekeeping Of the fine arts, seems
to have been fairly solved by the Quakers Coming from
the rush and of the city where conveyance
fast enough for the public impatience, where life and
limb rsked rather than wait for the boat where
day is long enough for its activities and time flies If
hoty pursued by the grim phantom Death there some
thing inexpressby resfu in the unhurried movements
slow speech and placid countenances Of the Frends in
the near song of the Birds the soft of the wood
pigeon in the distance and the perfect beauty of the
bright June days.
Through Thursday Friday and Saturday, with large
audiences growing larger each day, held the
siOns OF the meeting Nothing could be simple and
at the same time more impressive than the manner in
which the business was conducted. On calling the
meeting order the Chairman Oliver Johnson referred
the formation Of the Society, nineteen years ago.
handful Of earnest and women, he said desired a
platform which could be uttered the most advanced
thought upon all subjects relating to human progress.
He spoke of the interest that had attended the meetings.
Of the noble uerances In behalf of reform that had
forth from them reaching and exercising influence
upon the whole country; OF the old workers who had
passed aud the younger but not earnest ones
who had come to take their places In concluding, he
paid touching tribute to the members of the Society
who had to their rest during the past year After
he sat down. for minutes the silence in which each
communed with his thoughts was broken only by the
song of bObolink swinging gaily on the bough OF
great chery-tree visible through the open window.
Then william Lloyd Garrison, whose benignant face
rests the peace won from so many hardought battle
and paid noble tribute to the memory OF Thomas
Garrett referring 10 his lfework and the benedctions
of the 1850 slaves whom he helped to liberty. Many
eye mOistened and hearing again the DID, sad story
OF wrong and oppression thinking of all that had come
and in the last eighteen years. it not strange
that when Mr. Garrison sat down. again the silence fell
like a benedictiOn, and more eloquent than any
speech, Why should we consider incessant chatter
indispensable condition OF social intercoUsef Why in
public meetings do make such frantic eOits to
keep up the talk without moments respitef Have we
really persuaded ourselves that talk Is the motive power
Of the universe and that If for single instant 1t were
allowed to stop, chaos would come agani Our Quaker
friends free from any such fear tranquil and self
contained, they wait pe mOving,of the spirit and dare
to Be Silent uhtil they have something to say.
To one who has attended the anniversaries OF New,
York and Boston, who has sat upon the platform and
looked into the faces Of the audiences which the various
how this meeting of Progressive Friends differs from and
yet represents them AL On The gatSrm TsTS W nag
John W. Chadwick. Celia Buregh, Isaac and Dnah Men
denha and others whose names are more or less fami
lar to the public. Among the subjects brought forward
for by means Of set Of resolutions but I'M
der the quaint title of religion, woman
suffrage temperance the rights of children, peace, the
rights Of animals and labor reform TO all OF which the
audience close attention. though was evident that
each cause had its special adherens Now one might
suppose himself at the free religious meetings in Boston,
now at womans Suffrage Convention, and again at
temperance festival There were the old topics, the
familiar speakers but an audience so individual and dis
tnctive that found my eyes constantly drawn to it.
interesting than either. Sturdy hard-handed farmers;
sensible. sweefaced women country beaus and bellies IN
IN the occasion IL seems difficult TO understand Hour
after hour Milling every seat packing KIN a9e galleries tns
this curiously mixed assembly paying the closest aten-
ton every SPEAKER hanging upon every WORD Ihefe
they listened and looking into their faces no one could
donbt that they would wegn ana I'm nTSay dges po
ion offered by Mr. Chadwick was followed IN the after
noon by the able lecture on theodore Parker which Mr.
Chadwick delivered in his course OF last Winter II con
stuted Of the notwithstanding features OF the meet
on "TRe Ministry Of sn" which was listened to with
close attention. but by no means unqualified assent Not
few pronounced il dangerous doctrine, and Edward NJ.
Davis designated it "string of paradOxes" which he
could best describe by comparing 1t to deliberate light
the matter Of the discourse. Lucreta Mott followed,
and spoke in her usual sweet and happy manner giving
many interesting "reminiscences OF the AntSlayery re-
FORM and of the beginning of the agitation for Womans
Rights Between the sessions dinner served under
the trees and guests exchanged friendly greetings
continued the discussions OF the morning Here moving
among the Quaker bOnnets and PREDETERMINED hats,
Robert PurVls, wearing an expression OF gentle
gravity; Mrs Turner with features indicative OF
CONSTITUENCIES; Margaret Bureigh, pure and santlike,
and scores Of patrarchal men and fine comely women.
Certain IL s that the Friends faith has in it some beauty
evolving power for nowhere else is so large proportion
OF the whole number OF faces characterized by sweet
ness dignity, aud intelligence, among the Quakers.
Looking at their spOtess costume Is ready TO for
swear fashion inelegan and listening to their plain
speech, rhetoric seems an mpertinenee
ON Saturday morning Mr.. Chadwick gave discourse
on the Darwnian theory followed by the transaction of
some business that closed the session. In the afternoon
Mrs. Rureigh presented Testimony" followed by a
disconrse on the rights Of children Mr. Garrison pre-
senfed testimony" aud spoke very ably the recent
Treaty with England and the desirabeness OF peace.
After this she labor question was taken up and discussed
with much animation The hour for adjournment having
arrived Mr. Chadwick made few valedictory remarks,
offered prayer followed by the doxology, and the meet
ILL lint Nrna or hn