New-York tribune., 1871-05-31
QUAKER REFORM.


Friends held last week in their capital, Phila-
delphia, offered one or two significant hints
as to the present status of that powerful body.
Propositions were made that the Governing
Committee or General Council for the year
should hereafter be composed OF members of
both sexes in equal proportion. The Society
also altered its discipline so as to forbid the
manufacture or sale of all spirituous liquors
by it's members, the prohibition formerly hav-
ing made distinction, more nice than wise,
between distilled and fermentcd drinks
Action was also taken against the use Of
tobacco
These late reformatory movements strike us
oddly, coming from sect noted since its
foundation for its temperance and admission of
the equality of woman But the Qnkcrs,
though one of the most progressive Of re-
ligious bodies, are paradOxically one of the
sowest moving; taking their position, as they
did at first, in the pioneer line not only OF free
thought but of work for humanity, and allow
ing the widest liberty for individual belief,
they are not easily moved by outside pressure.
Perhaps no body, either religious or political,
has ever exercised an influence at the same
time so powerful and noiseless in our social
structure; they have worked by silent, moral
ris inertiG, instead of the vehement prOpa-
gandism of other reformers. Their strength has
been to sit still yet the truth they taught
has been set before the people with curious
cearness: an everyday proof OF how much
higher eloquence lies IN lives than words. Be
meath this sectarian character are the indi-
vidual caution, shrcwdness, and keen sense Of
IA, 10 h.. l-nn sD
of all men, as mild, good tatse does, the Epis-
copalian, or an invincble hunger forargument
the Covenanter. A man in shad-bellied coat
will give you food for year with his right
hand but you shall not cheat his left OF
penny. These traits, insignificant IN them
selves, assume importance when the Society
owns the influence of outside popular move
ments. The heavy mercury, not volatile water
is the true index to the changes OF the
weather
In the matter of womans equality, the Society
has made but a slight change; only making a
matter of professcd creed what it has always
tacitly taught by practice. But the action on
liquor and tobacco is more significant. The
shrewd Quaker has not only struck the nail,
but driven it into the heart of the subject.
Inc manufacture ana sdlc OL LquOI dIc hiuO
matter of discipline as well as its use. while
in other religious sccts the wealthy tavern
keeper distiller, or leader of the whisky ring
is permitted to hold praying, profitable place
in the sanctuary, while the poor wretch,
struggling vanly with his hereditary thirst
and weakened will against the poison they
put 90 his lips, is driven from the fold into
outer darkness with threats of unquenchable
fire and undyng worms. 1t is not temper
ance pledges, nor temperance orators nor even
incbriate asylums, that will set this matter
right among us. The cure of its victims will
not remove malaria. When the liquOr-seller
as well as the drunkard has his share not
only of promised hell-fire i'll the next world
from his religious teachers, but of effective
punishment in this, the temperance movement
will be at last put upon its proper basis.
The Quaker, standing on the safe ground OF
truth against expediency, with his clear eye
and steady hand cut the first link of the
GOrdian Knot of Slavery for us. What he
will do with the knotty problems of Indian
affairs or temperance remains to be proved.
His first movements at least indicate that
the tasks given him are not too great for him
to conquer.