New-York tribune., 1879-05-29
THE YEARLY MEETINGS.

Somehow Yearly Meetngp suggests the
Yearly Quaker Meeting the most naturay-we
speak of the Annual Meetings of other societies. but
yearly Is the palmer homeler and we may say,
friendlier word Nor must we be Thought unoivIl
if we say Quaker instead of Friend for even the
members of the meeting sometimes speak of them
selves as the people called Quakers' Whether
the title was bestowed in derison not, it has for
more than two centuries been associated with
patient endurance for the sake Of belief with lives
of exemplary purity with constant charity and
boundless good will, and with peculiar and un-
common control of the passions. Quakerism has
history of which its professors might be proud if
it were consistent with their principles to be
proud of anything 1t is the history of a
Church maintaining itself without a regu-
larly established ministry and without q
ritual-Of a body substantially well gov
erned without any recognized governors-of an ad-
hereuce to discipline without coercion or any pun
ishment which those in danger of it would be likely
to fear. COnceding the largest liberty Of speech
and OF action 10 its members in theory, by some
silent and hidden influence it long maintained ITS
orthodoxy, aud from 1917 to 1927 kept the even
tenor Of its way without schism. Other sects NAV
have had the same persistence but hardly an equal
opportunity for its exhibition. The first Quakers
were perhaps not cruelty Prosecuted than
the soberest independents might regard as trivial
or non-essential; for not taking of their hats;
for disturbing congregations which they might
have left at peace; for refusing to pay
church rates or frequently because they pleased
TO wear IL coat and to use forms Of speech which at
once betrayed them to the constable. SO long as
they were prosecuted they maintained of the
most beautiful traternities upon record; they liter
ally bore each Others burdens: and whether Il
Friend sick. unfortunate IN temporal affairs,
or consigned to a dungeon for rishteousness' sake,
he was of the sympathy and assistance, of the
hand aud OF the heart of tho brotherhood 1t was
in America, whore there had been no persecution
worth mentioning since Mary Dyer was hanged on
Boston Common, that about fifty years ago differ
ences arose, sngulary enough upon doctrinal points
of the divinity of Christ aud the nature of the atone
ment Whoever would know how bitter was the
controversy, and how much OF human infirmity
was found to be still lurking under broad
brim hats and drab coats, must seek for the nOrma-
tlon in the Lives of Elias Hicks and Of Thomas
Sbillitoe tho lattor an English Friend. who visited
us at this unfortunate time and who exercised his
Gifts as a peacemaker with but little success The
meetings, according to bis testimony, were some
times turned into mObs. The disruption was wide,
and seems to have been final. Six of the ten yearly
meetings were divided; and since that time various
subdivisions have come four or five in number.
There has never. however, been anything like
repettion of the excitement of the Hcksito cOntro-
yer,y; and Friends of ell kinds at present appear
to have settled down into solid, steady, comfort
able state, and to De working in their own way
without troubling other Friends whose ways are
different.
A good deal has been said of changes which have
taken place in the manners aud discipline of tho So
cety; but little observation will show that these
are by no means numerous as has been supposed
As rule Friends still stand by their ancient views
of the personal pronoun Most of them yet decline
use the names days and months derived from those
OF heathen gods. On the great point of what they
call " hIreling ministry" they are yet OF the mind
of George Fox; nor are they wanting in fidelity to
his fundamental doctrine of special and immediate
inspiration. If they have made any modification
in their costume it certainly has not been sufficient
to disguise them for. whatever they may wear.
they are still 80 rgdly plain Of dress to be
cognized at first sight. They have yet their
| Queries" their Meetings for Discipline their
Weekday. First Day, Preparstive, Monthly, Quar-
terly, Yearly, and perhaps other gather
ings. As to worldly affairs, while they are
somewhat more liberal in the matter of music or Of
| art. wo do not see that thoy have undergone any
important change. They still non-resistants to
the letter. They have not ohauGsd in regard Ia