Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1872-08-02
The Coming Friends General Meeting
at Bristol.

~ EXPLANATION BY A VOLUNTEER.
The Society of Friends. small body Of
Christian professors in Vermont, With larger
numbers in New York and other Ststet, have de-
ciiel Zee sdyertisemenO to hold General
Meeting for Gospel Service at Bristol CON-
1lencing on The 18th Of AuguIt, and probably
continuing three or four days. The Committee
having charge Of the meeting invites the inhabi-
taats to attend. Several Of their ministers from
other States being expected.
But come may inquire, who are these Friends?
And WHIT are their princlplesl If they sre
orthodox in their religion, why cannot they
miugle with other orthodox churches that have
been long at work in that section, inEteGl Of
holding meetings in their own vSyl The
snswer is In their religious principles, they re-
gard themselves orthodox strict,y-Snd yet
not more so thsn their ChristiSn brethren in
other bIsuches Of the church; believing with the
apostle, "that there ia diversity Of gifts but the
same Spirit" they feel bound to express, as
opportunities Offer for it, their conviction thst
the influence Of the Holy Spirit is much more to
be desired than pscaliqr gift by which lie
the Holy Scriptures a, their outward rule Of
faith sad practice, they may seem to attach more
importance 10 certain portions Of the Glsd It'd
ings. while other believers sre concentrating
their attention on other portions and this
the Friends aim TO do give their Interpretation
not in a dictSting or controversial spirit, but in
that g liberty " when tie Gospel gives and the
q" plsinness Of speech - it requires.
Under the impression that the spectacle the
Church Militant is presenting to the world .es-
pecisly unbelieving men, produces much le;s
conviction and still less conversion in beholGers
from the less unity conspicuous in it.
than it il designed to and lr0uld &C
complfh if it we're more thoroughly unit
81, the Friends are imbioing the sentiment
which il gaining favor in other congregations,
that it it the unQue.tiouable duty Of tie mem
bers Of the church at lsrge to search for ground
on which they can agree rather than for tast
On which 10 differ. And without entertaining
doubt Of the soundness Of their own principles, !
they are willing to put shoulder to shoulder
siih other Christian believers, in the Lords |
vineyard, and as the Lord may please to direct,
under the conviction that g God is no respector
Of persons, " and that " the harvest indeed is
great, but the lsborers are few
IN essentials unity; IN noa-csScRiials l5er-
y; IN al things ohaTify;-in this epirit let US
labor and pray for the bringing souls 10 Christ;
snd the Lord will assuredly pour out his Dless-
ing On our efforts. Remembering, too, that
" the better we do Christ's work, the more IN
educated, neglected, or debased minds will be
drawn to try 70 serve Him with ur. He sought
out the lame, the halt, the blind, the rough as
vel as the equsbie, the intelligent and the
refined" The work Of the Christian workers
Of the present day cannot differ widely
from that; leading the anxious soul to higher
plain that of an earnest Christian in human
Life. With the Lords favor these general meet
ings are designed to operate in the .ame direc-
ton. Many genera, meetings have been held in
other States, and it is believed that all of them
have been profitable seasons. Men and women
have attended them to their comfort-going with
hearts oppressed and sching under sense of
doubt that the Lord could possibly pardon such
rebellious sinners, have come away rejoicing
in the belief that the Lords ear il not grown
heavy that il cannot hear the prayers of repent
ing tinners, nor has his arm shortened that it
cannot save all that so approach him.
Under the belief that the risen Lord is daily
fulfilling his promises, and that where two or
three or many sre gathered together in bis name,
looking to him for instruction, there be is in the
midst of them; under the assurance that il we
conform to his conditions, we also will be partak
ers Of the same blessing. And under this afsur
snce let Us attend this general meeting.
HENRY MnEs.
Monkton, July %, 1872.