The New York herald., 1872-05-29
THE QUAkERs.
Proceedings Of Their Yearly Meeting-The Con-
dition Of the Church-Discussion Of Intemper-
ance and Advocacy Of Prohibition-The
Worst Enemy Of Indian Civilization.

The Conference OF Quakers at the Rutherfurd
place Meeting houses began its business on Monday
morning at hafpast ten O'Clock. The men gathered
In one building and the women In another, and
each assemblage, as is the custom, proceeded with
affairs upon its own responsibility with the excep-
ton OF asking In most of Its enactments for the con-
currence of the others. Most OF the important
transactions originate In the sessions Of the men,
however, after which they are approved by the wo-
men. The executive officers Of each meeting con-
sst OF two Clerks whose duties include both those
OF a moderator and OF o secretary. In
THE MEETING OF THE MEN
on Monday the Clerk, Nathaniel s. Merritt, opened
the proceedings by calling the names of the dele
gates from the subordinate meetings. An epistle
from the Friends of Pennsylvania was then read
and created profound impression by its reference
to political subjects. 1t especially called attention
to the movement whose object was the ENGRAVING
OF certain religious belief in the constitution by
the Introduction Of the name OF God and strongly
urged the necessity Of opposing such an innOva-
tiOn. The rest OF the morning hour was entirely
consumed In the discussion of a proposed change
In the discipline of the Church, by which
liberal ideas were to be made a part of the tradi
tions Of the society. The debate proved quite an
exciting one for 30 sedate and solemn q gathering
as q Quaker meeting; but the slow, calm and de-
speaker. A committee was appointed to have the
consideration OF the matter, upon which there were
Jointly with one to be appointed by the women.
The afternoon session OF Monday was almost wholly
engaged with the reading Of epistolary communl-
cations from the 'yearly meetings" In other parts
OF the country, in all OF which
THE ALABAMA CLAIMS
that thew Would be- peacefully ' settled H 4 new
clerk Of the meeting and his assistant were also
elected. The Indiana Quakers recommended me-
Alc I'm ant and iat
committee was appointed on intemperance, and the
subject Of sending an address on the abolition OF
the death penalty to the International Penltentiary
Congress was referred to the Committee OF
Representatives
Yesterdays PROCEEDINGS.
There was much larger attendance yesterday
than the day before, but the morning session was was
Of the msn 2 Charles haas Macy 1
assembled, at half-past ten the regular IN
49, THE CONDITION OF THE SOCIETY
was begun by considering the replies to the dis
ciplinary queries received nom the quarterly meet
ings. From these 1t appeared that, while the rei
ally observed by the members Of the Church, it did
not increase in numbers or prosperity. The re-
sponses to the query relating to intemperance In
the use Of liquors were commented upon by. Aaron
N. Powell ct some length. 80. n.
PROHIBITION OF INTEMPERANcE.
He thought that the influence Of the Friends
should extend somewhat further than the protec-
ti0n OF the Church from the evil Of intemperance.
lie was In Cne Legislature OF the state aG Albany
last winter, when Representative read before that
body that portion Of the discipline of the Quakers.
1t was proposed there as tit measure to be
would be II that rue were embodied in the statutes
of the nation, making the terrible traffic illegal
He thought the yearly meeting should not only ask
the sale OF sprituOus liquors. but also Of Congress
to forbid both the manufacture and the sale. In
journey acEOSS the Continent through the Terri
tories, he mad found II the chief enemy of Indian
civilization.
suffered from no evil as much as from this. He de-
sired that the voice Of that body should be heard In
an appeal to Congress- asking special protection of
been said formerly that the nation had two great
enemies--slavery and intemperance. 1t must yet
witness the same transition OF sentiment in dealing
with the one as had taken place with the other He
asked for the prOhiton or restriction of the traf
fc, from which misery and misery alone could h0w
While he was speaking stir was produced in the
assemblage by the arrival OF two ministers from
Dorsey and samuel J. Levics. william Dorsey % Is Of
very impressive appearance, looking like the
famous nameless head painted by Titan, with a
sunken and dark, and an expression OF intense in
ward meditation like that OF some old priest OF the
covenant who pondered deeply on the mysteries of
his religion He is one of the most eloquent of the
Quaker minister's.
SAMUEL KEYS favored a committee to prepare
something In the form OF memorial to be for
warded to the Congress of the United States and
the Legislature. He was afterwards reminded that
bIc suDJeCJ WAS dlTcduy UeloTc IL COIulnlIIec
SAMUEL M. JANNEY spoke upon theSubject and
RUDOLF GoERcK; then German Friend arraigned
the members of the Society for loving more them
selves than God George Fox had said 1--WE are
nothing, Christ Is ALL" The preacher then argued
pithily for
THE DIVINITY OF CHRIST,
and his words had so much the tone of soemnity
and earnestness that he was listened to with an
almost dramatic ram intensity Of attention 49,
ing, Of missionaries through their churches
society, but had failed. He now counselled
tnat ~ they u submit +, TO me event, % ana II
away they could not help 1t by human devices
and must accept what Providence ordained. But
them If they looked to the Spirit for direction.
The session was then adjourned until Friday
morning. To-day there will be public worship in
all the meeting houses at hafpast ten O'Clock A.
NJ, at which there will undoubtedly be preaching
by eminent ministers The New York First Day
Sunday School Association has It's anniversary
this evening in Rutherford place. and the exercises
will probably be of much interest to the public.