Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-10-30
Friends XearIy Meetings.

The Baltimore Yearly Meeting of the Society
of Friends, at Lonbord Street Meeting House,
was continued yesterday, and will remain in
session until Thursday. At ten clock the rel
reseltativcs from the constituent Quarterly
Meetings Of Baltimore, Warrington, Fairfax.
Nottingham aud Centre, Duuberiog about so,
and macy members in addition, assembled in
tn, old fashioned room of the venerable meet.
ing house end proceeded to the transaction of
busioess. There were present about thirty min
listers and elders, Including Samuel }. LsVick,
David Newport, W. =. Sharpless, Benjamin
Kent, Samuel Shalpess, Rhoda 0. Lamb and
John J. Cornell. The representatives aud
elders presented minutes from their respective
Quarterly Meetings accreditipg them. Epis,les
from the corresponding Yearly Meetings Of
Philadelphia, New York and Genesee were
read. At the afternoon session proposition
looking to a change 10 the discipline 10 the
matter of marriage. coming up from Fairfax
Quarterly Meeting, was referred to joint com
nlttee of the men and women's meetings, to
be considered aud reported upon hereafter.
The Homens meeting was held 10 separate
apartment The clerks Of this meeting were
Mary &. Cutter, OF Pennsylvania, and Lydia e.
Saber, OF Baltimore, Nd.
II any result should come from the proposed
change !n the discipline in regard to marriage
it would be in some respects the most impor
!aDt action taken by the meeting 10 several
yeas sessions. AS the discipline now stands
10 regular member Of the Society, man or
woman, is privileged to marry any one who is
not member Any one contracting marriage
uutcr such circumstances fortels membership
in the Society ty falling to c)nfJrm 10 the sys
ten Of government. A petition, coming from
| ,he Fairfax q lartcrly Meeting, is now before a
i,iut committee OF tn, Yearly Assembly, which
asks FIR Md &c alton Of the discipline, where.
by meu bcrS may be allowed to marry with oou-
members uader certain restrictions. Ii /. q: "a
that where the non. member processes reli
gions faith which harmoniz:s aud is in accord
with the spirit Of the Society Of Friends, mar
| liage my take place with a menber, with the
concurrence OF The overseeing elders, after
proper iCquiry. There is Sd ad1eudum, how
ever, which says that this marriage relation Is
net luten1"l 10 admit the non member to mem.
hcrshlp, uor does It Intend that children OF
| such unIna shall necessarily be 10 regular
membership. The first part ct the proposed
change is regarded With manifest favor By very
missy mcGiUeIs, but the proviso 10 the adden-
dunn is Dot SO well received. 10 case the int
| committee should report favorable to the
change ali or 10 part, as asked, II Will theD 70
ma!u Ter The m@ctlDg to coincide or not. 1t Is
evidently an important matter, and has rela-
tive hcar;ug On the ulure Of the Society. From
all accounts il is a sut:ct whch must come up
Ultimately for settlement. Ia the Society as at
present constituted women seem to prcpOn
dcrate, ani il is we'll knowo fact that 10 many
Instances young women 10 membership have
withheld from protfercd matrimonial offers
4 4 10 ;oh have
cd no drawback except the non cooformauce OF
him who made the Offer Owing to their care
iu rearing, practical education, excellent par
cn.agc and almost unexeeptioDable geDtlencss
Of manners and true, houscwifeIy natures, the
young women of the Society Of Friends are zeal
cusy sought after by such as have the charac
ter TO command their recognition. Hence the
result of the petition under consideration VII
be locked for with 20 small amount Of interest,
even among many who are not members of the
Socirtv.-BuN. Am.