Smyrna times., 1871-06-21
The Progressive Friends.

The yearly meeting of the Progressive
Friends was held at Longwood, Chester CO.,
a short distance from Wilmington, week before
last, and, as usual, attracted large cOngrega-
tiOns. Among the distinguished persons pres
ent we're VIM. Lloyd Garrison, Lucretia Mott
Mrs Celia Burleigh, Rev. John w. Chadwick
and Oliver johnson. Among the matters un-
der discussion were "the woman question,
the labor question" temperance, peace, &C.,
10 which the most advanced grounds were TAX
en-. Among the novelties for Quakers was
vocal and Instrumental music This is, per-
haps, the most intelligent and most radical as
semblage in this country. This, we believe,
is third branch Of the Quaker family, differ
ing from both the Orthodox and Hicksite
wings. The New York Tribune gives the fol-
lowing history of them:
The Society had its birth in 1853. Since
then its aim has been to abjure all creeds and
systems of theology. Every member is per-
mitted to cherish unmolested his own concep-
ton of God and Christ and to worship in what
form he thinks fit; the only bond between them
being a cordial cooperation in working for
Justice, Equality, and Fraternity. There are
no ministers or church officers. Sunday
schools are held every First-day, in which the
children are instructed in their duty toward
their neighbOr. In the church, afterward
form, and offer their individual religious
opinions, about which, we hope, for the con-
sistency Of their profession, no argument is
! permitted. So far as we know this singular
little band is the only body of Christians who
hold that mans dOctrinal or devotional re-
| ligion concerns only himself and his God and
that the sole basis of a church is the practical
work for humanity which grows out of his re-
lgion They take, as might be expected,
foremost ground on the subjects of woman and
negro equality, the Indian wrongs, the use OF
liquor, tobacco, ETC., and free education for the
people. AS their very existence as a religious
body grows out of the deeds and evils of the
present, they fight only living Satans, and
manifest disposition to snub and ignore not
only the Apollyons known to our forefathers
but the Christians and Greathearts who gave
them battle, paying not much more respect tC
Luther than to the hoofed and horned imp al
whom he threw the ink-bottle. They profess
to be tired of hearing of Abraham and Mo
ses, and David and Jesus, and want this per
petual incense to their memories taken out oil
their nostris." They, however, offer theil
own perpetual incense to the memory of Theo
dore Parker, he having preached in theil
meeting house several times.
For Progressive Friends are mortal after all
and must have their tangible saint and hero
1t is necessity of nature, we suppose. The
French atheist had his flesh and blood God
dess of Reason; just as John Chinaman sets III
his joss behind his chamber door. Our neigh
bors in Chester County have apparently
healthy and strong ideas on most subjects o.
human wrongs and the practical ways of rigf
ing them, and If they choose to set up as thu
model man who did good service to his gen
GRAFTON, we certainly are not inclined to quarre
with them. They have too much good sens,
and humility, we are sure, to fall into COM
mon error Of reformers who overlook the con
f1ict, as old as Time between Truth and Error
and fancy that God has waited half-cripple
a with world out of joint on his hands, unit
they came to his relief to set it right.
| Constable'a Blanks for sala at thia kSee