The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-12
SOCIETY OF FRIENDS.
Past and Present COnditiOn-0rigin OF the
Sect and Split Fifty Years Ago.
Doctrines, Government and Dis
cipline Of the Society.
YEARLY MEETINGS AND STATISTICS.

saries II is not very clear why broad and drab
should be conjoined in the public mind with wet
weather; but it seems to be Perhaps continued
observation Of the phenomenon for series OF years
has led TO that conclusion. The Friends have had
come very fine weather their annual gatherings In
New York; but the 'ssmal philosophers, as Joseph
Cook would call lhem declare that this is tho cxcep-
ton which proves the rule. But whether Friends
coming together Affects the atmosphere or II Affects
their coming Is stated. Nor is II known why dis
tnction should be made toward them BY .Od PROB,
and not toward Presbyterans, Reformed Ep:scopaans
and others who have been airing themselves here and
yonder for tho past week II ought 70 be matter Of
ratulation, however, that tho Friends are pre-
pared for any weather shat may come. Though net
very numerous IN this country or IN Great Britain,
whero thoy originated they are generally thrifty and
welt 10 do II not wealthy, some Of them are. In
the days OF American slavery their voice was always
heard In favor OF liberty and righteousness. They are
now as they ever have boon heartily opposed TO
and It's ravages and yet, whom the rebellion threat
ened disrupt this nation hundreds Of Thorn forgot
for q time that opposed 10 their religious
principles and they entered the Union Army IN de-
te nee OF their government.
QUAKER IRREGULARITIES.
But now slavery is dead and buried the Society Of
Friends Is no less earnest In their opposition 10 the
evils war; intemperance, vicious literature and the
like .nnn slavery. Since 1865, 100, the So
c,oty has devoted attention than usual to inter-
nal UNCONVENTIONAL affairs. especially to the instruc-
ton OF children First Day or Sab0sth schooa And
closer attentlon thcy have arrested process
extensively among the young people Of the dcnomina-
ton. who having discarded tho dress and manners OF
their foreathers were inclined 20 adopt the habits
and customs OF the churches and scots.
The peculiarly OF dress which makes FRIENDS moro
noticeable than others Is not an innovation OF therS
IL IS the style OF tue seventeenth century slightly
modified which they have preserved while the rest OF
us have be- changing and, as we think, improving
our attire. But couple centuries hence when the
people OF this country have adopted the costume
Nine. Tom on, our present style OF dress Will ap-
pear strange and remarkable TO our as
The .'QuaKer' garments now appear TO Us. Their PEE
cuarIy oil the use VI personal pronouns Is worthy
endcavor adapt Scripture phraseology 70 everyday
lie and business, ana their nomenclature oil months
and DAYS gets rid OF any recognition Of heathenlsm
., hoathcn mythology. The Friends are also saved
their hume rioaI system. Their Sabbath being simply
Firat Day they AFFORD 10 be indifferent TO the
petty squabDles that other churchmen have over tue
relative value relIg iously OF Saturday or sunday.
CALviXsrc ORIGIN or THE sEcT.
Tho Friends originally came OF Presoy terrain stock
ecclesiastical government bears some rescm-
bauce TO that though other respects Il IL more ko
the MethOdIsts, with whom perhaps more than any
other especially in tho West. Friends affiliate. George
Fox he iounoer OF the Society OF Friends. was .
Presbyterian, but in tho ttter iouds OF The Estab
shsl Church and the Dissenicrs George incurred the
displeasure OF tho former and he and his followers
were made feel the weight OF the civil arm when
propelled by religious spite HIS was the beginning
pay Tor q form Of religion which they would not
cept AZ gilt. ana which resistance has continued
down the present and has od 70 the discstablish
meut OF the Church IRELAND will eventually ana
long, accomplish the same result 10 Great Britain.
Fox was opposed to "nireIlng" ministry and
that there was any necessity Tor special
ministerial education. and bis descendants bold
most firmly to this article Of latin to this
day. He maintained that the only warrant for
Stunning The oincs OF Christian minister is The con-
sciousness OF the divine summons to upon tho
dutt III office. HiS followers of
modify this, however. in that ministerial asplrants
examined and Endorsed by the preparatory
monthly anu quarterly meetings before they
legately exercise thoir Office IN the pubic assem-
bles Fox also opposed war; swearing and the taking
property aud of his liberty also rather tnan yield
iota what he conceived 10 be according 10 tho spirit
just as obstinate III those days, and
would not accept an affirmation nor accommodate IL
self to the prejudces Jew Friend now.
GROWTH or THE SOCIETY.
During the nrst tour years OF Foxs ministry he
could count upon ono solitary follower. But be
had better success the three years following, when
tcnets and gone forth preaching them. William Penn
ana Roocr. Barclay were the noted OF his early
us ss,ants or, indeed OF his later followers. For
forty yeats OF his lie Fox and his adherents suffered
terrible prosecutions. which did not cease when ms
mortal remains were consigned 10 tho grave IN lGvl
Moro than Tour thousand persons, nicknamod
QuaKers Dy their Prosecutors, were British pris-
ons time for conscience sake. On the Friends
OF the city oil Bristol alone there levied nj
time fines amounting TO $685. 00 and the property be-
longing 10 The sect throughout lne Kingdom which
was destroyed by vengeiui hands was valued at
s., 900, 600 and over. Fox was cody man and
bensnt preacher In his day 1ut he lived IN ouoous
times, and did not enjoy 1.-THE OF tho rest, esteem
anu quiet which his followers IN America and Europe
enjoy to-day.
PERSECUTION II AMERICA.
Tho Ola World spirit OF persecution crossed the
ocean IN same ship aud with the same mon who
brought religious hper,y over to this continent
The QuaKcrs were SECT, ike the carly Christians,
everywhere spoken agaInsto Hence they wcro rs
cruelty prosecuted IN New England ana other colo
IL Ittll
lam Penn used hrs influence with the colonial and
home govern ana procurod the release oil 400
prsoncd Friends IRON the jails OF Boston aud other
towns IN the Old Colony. And between 1858 ana 1901
many otEer hundreds OF the sect were despoiled Of
their properly and OF their liberty aud lew even
OF life. Three mon and ono woman were hanged
Massach ussetts; tho DacFs and bodies oil others
were burned and Scared and inaignites OF various
xmas heaped upon them. And all ths by Chris
people IN nomihaiiy Christian colonies Virginia
anu Mary land joined hands with Massachusetts, in
hunting imprisoning ana dcgpoling tho despscd ana
lated sect. Rhode Island was tho only colony that
aid not n,crierc with tncm. Her people had suffered
persecution and affection Tor consc,cncc sake aud
stranger and tho prosecuted. The history oil tho So
ciety oil Friends IN those days Is strange reading In
vi history OF some tribe in Central Africa than tho
records of that Justly pridcs itself To-Day In
bcing The frccs,s wefihsst most cultured anu gen
erous on the earth.
In 1871 Georgc Fox visited America and preacned
In FLUSHING unaer an oak which had stood tue blasts
OF centuries, but dos royca by rc In October
1878. On hrs return 10 England, IN 1878, he
sailed ~ the prosecuting sp,r anu alter few years.
In 1917, he lied 10 Holland, then tho refuge and
oil tue prosecuted OF all lands Alter bret there
he returned again to England ana In los4 made
Qua TRIP TO Holland has was his last VISIT abroad,
Tor alter his return he settled London, where, as
already stated, no dicd In 1891.
RELIGIOUS DEi.Kr or FRIENDS.
The Friends are divued IN their rongious opinions
and belief chiefly on the doctrine Of the TRINITY.
The Orthodox, o. frnitaran Friends, mold TITO evan
scoa articles Of Christian iai.h substantially as tho
majority oil Christians accept them THIS undoubtedly
was The latin OF tnc founder oil the sect
In 1877 Elias HICKS leu secession movement from
the old stock. lie preached socinianisn aud carried
with him about sevcn-cghths Of the entire member
ship. Not that they all denied the doctrines OF the
TRINITY. the DEITY vi Christ, the vlcarious atone
ment &C., but that they would not be dogmntically
held 10 those DOCTRINES In both branches OF tue do
nomination those dogmas have long ago been role
gated to the Individual conscience that whilo
separate existence still maintained there are IN
both sects individuals who hola religious views that
are NOT strictly compatible with those ncd by the
jority. Neitner brancn OF the denomination
recognizes tho sacramcnts rs other Christians
do BY symbols. The only baptism they
hold TO Is that OF Christ, who bapsses
His people with the Holy Ghost Christ abolished
the types by HIS death, and hence baptism
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