Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1871-06-08
New seriesg=--;Yo1: II, Ne. 40.
Quaker. Reform:

-. lot Quaker Reform. -,-sTI se;;of
The great annual meeting of the So
eiety of Friends held last week in their
capital, Philadelphia, offered one or
two significant hints as to the present
status of that powerful body. PROPOSE
ton were made that the Governing,
Committe of General Council for the
year should hereafter be composed. of.
members of both sexes in equal pro-
portion. The Society also altered its.
discipline so as to forbid the nlauufaet-
ure or sale of all spirituoHs liquors by
its members, the prohibition: formerly
having made a. distinction, more nice
than wise, between distilled and fer
menteddrinks, Action was also take n
against the use of tobacco. gdf 9sfi /,
These late refOrmatOrY movements
ted since-its foundation for ITS temper.
ance and admission of the equality of
woman Butthe Quakers, though one
of the most progressive of religious
bodies, are paradOXicallyi one of the
slowest moving; taking their position,
as they did at first, in the pioneer line
mot only of free thought but of work
for humanity, and allowing the Wild
est liberty for individual belief, they
are not easily moved by outside pres
sure. Perhaps no body, either religious
or political, have ever exercised an in
huenee at theisame time 80 powerful
and noiseless in our social structure;
they have worked by.a silent, moral
vis isaertig, instead Of the vehement
propagandismn of other reformers.-r-
Their strength has been set still; yet
the truth they taught has been set he-
fore people with a curious .elearness:
an everyday proof of how nuch high
er elOquence lies in lives than words.
Beneath this yseetarian character are
the individual caution, ashrewdneSs,
and keen sense of justice, which stamp
the Quaker to be known of anmen, as
amid, good taste does, the Epispco-
palian, or an invincible hunger for ar.
gument, the Covenanter.. A man in q
shal-beilied coat will give you food q
year with his right hand, but you shall
nOtcheat his left ofa penny. These traits,
Insignificant in themselves, i assume
importance when the Society owns
the influence of outside popular move
ments. The heavy mercury, not vol
atile water Is the true index to the
changes of the weather. 80 .nniJu9VHa
p In the matter of wOman'sl equality,
the Society has made but slight
change; only making matter of pro-
fessed creed what it has always tacitly
taught by practice. But the action on
liquora and tobacco is more significant.
The shrewd Quaker has nOtonly struck
them all, but driven it into heart of the
subject. The manufacture and sale of
liquor are made matter of discipline as
well as its use, wilhelm other religious
ssects the wealthy tayern-keeper, dis
tiIler, or leader, of the whisky ring is
permitted to hold a praying, profitable
place in the sanctuary, while the poor
wretch, struggling vainly with his
hereditary thirst and weakened will
against the poison they put to his lips,
is driven from the fold into outer dark
ness with threats of unquenchable fire
and undying worms 1t is not temper
ance pledges, nor temperance .0ratOrsy
nor even inebriatea asyluns, that will
set this matter right among us. TThe
cure of its victims will not remove
malaria. =, When, the liquor-sellers as
we'll as the drunkard has his share not
only of promised hell-fireo in the next
world from his religious teachers, but
of effective punishment in this, tenn
perancei movement will be at last put
upon its proper basis. The Quaker,
standing on, the safe ground of truth
against ediency, with hisclear eye
and steady hand cut the first link.
of the Gordian Knot of aSlayefy..fcf
US. What ne will do with the. knotty
problems of Indian affairs or temper
ance remains to be proved. : His first
movements at1east indicates that the
tasks given him enot toogreat for him
to conquer.ANet YoTe Tribune. 81! $40
Young America at the Wheel. Is
( Awell known clergyman was cross
ing Lake Erie, some years ago. upon,
one of the steamers, and seeing asmaHl
lad at the wheel, steering the vessel,
he aceosted him as follows i'-sll 90 >"
+ ts.tMyl son, you appear to be, a small,
boy to steer SO large boat ?' fo.lia.,-
i Eyes. sir" was the reply, .tbut you
see. / can do it, though : 80 a., , "a, -ii.,
: ' aDo yoa think yy3 you understand @ your
eyes sir, Think do.'' I +, 81 -. 80 1
, aGan s. yop, box the eompassssn' sssn sIlii57a
t51fSS5't33hti, ~ t33hti sdt llliH, 9ti0.i s,S9d =ed i9y
tet nae aeaf you Don I,sSS,n,; sf q, 81
hHS IVY u q t 4uS'tss iMH.is iMiiieH ~ shi7 y
ltt1S,JI HWToiI s ar,, t4, y, ;+y, nc, :
J. Gn, Jeaay yoU o.; e''ii uo i'' Oan Jou
Dox ssYoI u oack%aros s;. !, e.
aes sirn sirn l1..c-..s. ,ft..gI,a;1 edV
Inc noy ald as Requested, wHen tne
minister ii4 remarked: W. " o,,I'.,i.... -
Il deciaIe my SON You 90 seem 10
understand your business; lGlli1- -
iPhe boy then TOOK ms turn at ques-
tionlng, and asked, beginning: a, i5i!
Pray sir, what might be your busl-
ness?" 80 - sll'..,as.il,i ~ ~, ',t