The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-06-03
THE QUAKERs' YEiRLY MEETING.
what these I.ovabie Friends Doing In their
Quiet, Unobtrusive Way.

For week or more the Society OF
Friends sat in its annual meeting in this
city. Tho presence OF these persons was
hardly noticed among us; yet not long ago
the yearly meeting WAS one " the events Of
the season. In the days OF Elias Hicks and
George T. White the Friends generally lived in
the castcrly part of the city. and tho Hicks
iic branch held thcir meetings in Rose and
Hester streets. Their orthodox brethren met
in Orchard street. Tho last week in May al
ways brought 20 town troops Of the shining
ones" as Charles Lamb calls them. and East
broadway and tho Bowcry were alive with
broad brins and drnb coats. But the move
mcnt " population NJ town has broken up the
Quaker settlements the number of Friends has
not increased. and the younger folks havc
very generally discarded the peculiar hahli-
mcnts " their fathers aud mothers. Consider
ing that the Friends unlike almost every other
denomination. make no efforts to proselytiHe
| their organization Is Kept up in very remark
/ ailo manner and the meetings last week were
| attended 10y lgrgn plumbers. inc nrin.lnnl
meeting house Is in rutherford place. under tn"
/ shadow Of DR.. Tyng's stccpe. and II was there
! that the business meetings Of last week were
| held. These meetings are strictly private. ana
| Objection IL nude 10 the presence OF any not in
mcmbcrship ,,.,......... ,
| Quoted on democratic principles. There Is no
! presiding officer, nor ara any votes taken.
! When a subject comes up Tor discussion me
! brethren express their opinions AZ lhry lccl
/ moved. and the clerk gathers from these *
/ press lOu- the sense OF tho meeting. anu makes
the corresponding record. At the opening SOS .
/ sion ON Monday morning the clerk. Nathanici
| = Merritt. called the names ot the representa-
, tivcs. thrty-siN in number from inc seven
quart erly meetings within the jurisdiction ol the
1 New York yearly meeting. aud then read the min o
utos OF the visiting ministers from other yearly
| attendance. including Samuel y. Janncy. the
well-known historian and hiosrapher OF VII
| liam Penn. Epistlcs Hloundlng In aNhortation
10 practical righteousness and expressions Of
| lrothprly love from the yearly meetings ui lhil-
adephia. Baltimore. Ohio. Illinois. Indiana
and Genesce wore then read. and u committee
to answer these epistles was then appointed.
The business Of the next three sessions was
Of character thoroughly peculiar 70 this sori-
ETY.. II consisted VI a close and rigid cxnmina.
ton 10y the society into its moral and spiritual
condition; and into the manner N when It's trs'
tmonies have been maintained during the year
For the purpose Of facilitating thus examine
ton. certain queries are drawn up aud
! printed in its book Of discipline. These ar,
answered in writing 10y the subordinate meet
| ings. and the various answers are read at the
deep exercise, and many and iervent are ih'
celebrations. the lamentations the congratula
tions. according rs the answers develop weak
ness or strength in these vital matters.
On Wednesday afternoon there was vcr'
large gathering Of those Interested in Sundn'
These are an innovation in the society. am
have obtained recognition only within lev
Friends still regard them with uneasi ness hu
they have become firmly established IN tn
opinion OF the great body. and all the younge
and more active element is enlisted in the work
; The reports were considered very cncouragi ne
and confidence was oppressed that IN tines
, schools the means have been discovered 70
, checking the tendency OF the youthful member
. At the session Of Thursday afternoon the tom
pernnce question was discussed at length. Tn
/ Friends have always borne "a testimony agains
, ! temperance and they claim tho honor q
being the first religious body 10 lay down striI
! gent rules on the subject. 4 large committee 4
: | men and women was appointedto take the mat
: ter into consideration and report next yea
. | Of the soriety in behalf of Temperance.
The affairs Of the Indians the charge {
! the society We're then considered. From IN
I days Qf William Penn. close and unhroke
: friendship has existed between the Quakers an
the Indians. and the notion that the rcd m"
are incapable OF moral culture OF 81 ciVili2atip
has no adhcrents among the Friends. umde
4 the policy OF the last Administration the VIII
. | nebago tribe. on n reservation near Omaha
! was placed under the charge Of this bran'
) | of the society. The report OF the ngci
nj this reservation shows. On the whoh
, | a gratifying degree Of progress. Hlthoug
, much com plant il made Of want of co0perniio
: hy Congress and the Government in carryin
. out the stipulatiOns entered into at the time Oh
, ! work WAS undertaken. and of Outragcs infictr
: | upon the Indians 10y the lawless populati"
/ ! surrounding them. Nine years ago. when On
= | Friends took charge OF the agency. there wei
/ | between 800 and 400 acres Of land under ca
j uvation. Last year there were about 2oo9 nu
1 il Is expected that 1000 VIII Doe cultivated %
year. The total population il l4lU: oi th''
, 32l men WORK az oiNii1'd pursuits. there al
! l25 good dwelling houses on tho r"srrNiiio
= The rrop last year WAS of corn. 25.Vuu hu-hc.
, wheat 1000 bushels, potato, 4.ull bushels
Olt- ana hrnn- 400 bushels each, with wlnt'
u vegetables. amt 400 tons of hay: Tue Indian
- own about $50 horses - heal OF cattle. AMI II
swine" BlAeksmltq. carpenter. and shoe shoi
=, are carried on wholly 10y Indians, who "a
u skilled workmen. There Is an IN iu-tri 'ho
att audei hy 81 boys and glrs. FUNDS WgT@ "a
r proprated. and the agent Mr.. Barclay Whit
. was rtdppOInltd Tor year.