Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-06-17

VERY INTEREsTINa oooAsIoN-THE TESTING
MES RENEwED-sPIRITED DEBATEs

A VERY IHTEREsTINa oCCAsIoN-THE TEBTIMo-
MES RENEwED-sPIRITED DEBATEs.
The annual gathering of the radical thinkers
who term themselves Progressive Friends +"
took place last week, at Longwood meeting
house, Chester County, about nine miles from
this city. The session commenced on Thursday,
and closed on Saturday. Oliver johnson, of New
York. one of the editors Of the New York weekly
Tribune, formerly of the Anti-SldUay Sand
ard acted as "Clerk," and was. a. usual, the
controlling and managing spirit Of the occasion.
A person OF good executive ability, imperturba-
BILE temper, and considerable force, is necessary
to maintain the order and progress OF business
in assembly Of radical earnest people, little
disposed to worship precedents, or bow to par
liamentary traditions.
The discussion continued during the three
days, on the Testimonies' presented from the
Business Committee, in reference to the Woman
Question, War, Liberal Christianity, and Tenn
perAnce. The speakers included Mrs. NJ A.Liv-
erpore, OF Bostos, who was the most promi-
nent OF the visitors from abroad Rev. Oscar
Clute of Vineland Rev. Mr.. Hinckley, Of WASH
lngton, d. O.; aud kev, Mr. Camp, OF Brooklyn.
These three reyerends are all OF the Unitarian
conviction. J. William Thorne, formerly OF
Chester county, but now Of North Carolina
Mr.. Moore OF Adrian, Michigan and Mrs. Laura
DeForce Gorden, Of California, were also gath
together from their distant abodes. Do
Mr. Thoine ID an inquirer, questioner, and
doubter on religious subjects, and views every
thing from that stand-point injecting his radi-
cal thoughts into every topic so that the audience
seemed to grow somewhat faugued with his
deverences. He is, however very worthy
man. Mr. Moore came all the way from his
Michigan wilds, every years, to sit with the Pro-
gressives, and is in deadly earnest on the To
baeco Question. He offered testimony about
it, but Oliver johnson announced that it's Ian
guage was worse than the evils Of tobacco, ard
30 squelched it, greatly to Friend Moores indig:
nation, who said the Michigan editors would
gladly print IL. (For the professions credit, we
trust this is an error.)
Mrs Gordon is . lively lady, with a pretty
hand, several rings on her fingers, fine head
Of hair, (all her own, as we are assured yici-
GUS style Of assaulting the 'men," very airy
manner OF speaking, aud great paucty Of orig
inal dea,. She doesn't pillow very deep mental
furrow, and the Longwood people, though they
admired her hand, yawned little, after hearing
her eighteen or twenty times.
On the subject OF Peace, there was quite
discussion, Testimony having been framed so
as 10 condemn by inference the War to suppress
the Rebellion. This displeased many while
there seemed to be disposition on the other
hand to have Peace, plain, pure. and simple, il
its friends had to fight for Il. Oliver johnson
admitted that he had not been consistent nom
resistance man, since the Rebellion broke out
That demoralized his previous strong conyic-
tions on the subject.
The Testimony wAs finally passed in favor Of
Peace, without invidiousy referring to any Of
the respectable Wars and hurting the fighting
peoples feelings. il.l
On the Woman Question, the discussions were
full, able, and interesting, Mrs. Lvermore taking
. prominent part. Not merely the Suffrage, but
Education and Employment for women, (as the
reform people say, "Wim-inn, " was argued for
and testified unto. f-A
The busine 50 meeting closed Saturday. Yesttr-
day morning, the usual religious service was
held, Mrs. Livermore and others speaking. A
number Of Wilmington people were present.