The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1883-06-27
QUAKERISM.
The Firm, Honest, Little Old Sect
Dying at the R00ts-fhe Quak.
ers' Children Refuse to
Join It.
From the New York Tribune.

From the New York Tribune.
The Friends this week are holding
til II great yearly meeting in Philadel-
phia. A Quaker meeting is always earn
est and practical, and there is no want of
earnestness and practical sacred common
sense in this congress of keen-faced,
middle-aged men, and placid, middle
aged women. There are some things
lacking, however-the enthusiasm, force,
and energy which belong to the growing
bodies, physical or social a want which
is explained by the simple fact that the
members of this and all the other six
yearly meetings are almost invariably
middle-aged or venerable old people,
Most of the time this week was occupied
in discussing the causes Of the universal
decline in attendance at First Day meet
ings and the general decadence of the 60
ciety, decadence reluctantly acknow-
ledged, but too apparent to be longer
ignored. The cause is evident the sect
is literally dying out for the want of
young blood. All over the country the,
sons of daughters of Friends, even of the
most eminent preachers, have assumed
the worlds garb. They are seen in the
theatre and ballroom, they hang pic
lures on their walls, are musicians, artists,
good or bad, and either remain outside of
any religious body or slip quietly into
some Protestant sect; usually those
whose ritual appeals most strongly to the
senses and imagination. Even in the
stronghold of Quakerism. Philadelphia,
where it once held absolute possession, a
young man or woman in the plain dress
is now so rare sight ON the street as to
attract remark.
Not only in this country are the chill
dren of Friends deserting the Meeting,
but in England this dcsertion is so marked
that revision of the large volumes of
doctrine, practice, and discipline of the
society has been ordered for this year.
In this revision the remonstrances with
backsliders are energetic with note of
despair. Friends are urged mot to seek
help in forms or modes of worship incon-
sistent with their own;" to "call the
months and days by Scripture and not
heather names )" to adhere to "plainuess
in speech, dress and BEHAVIOR" and to
abandon the pursuit of music, dancing,
vain sports, and theatrical entertain
ments." The rules of the society are re-
laxed in regard to the report which was
enacted of the individual condition of
each member, the ceremonies preceding
marriage, etc.
There is something pathetic in the
sight of this old falling church, compos-
ed almost wholly of old and failing peo-
pie who watch their children 60 from
them and awake feeble, useless efforts to
keep them in the faith that has strength
ened and comforted themselves. If they
would face the issue with the keen hard
sense that they bring to secular affairs,
they would see why it is impossible that
the young man and woman of the present
day should remain in the society, as it is,
and also the concessions which if made
by it would probably keep them. Quak-
ERIN consists of two parts-the spirit or
so it is fine pure devotion to the
sin rplicity, the brotherly charity, the
truth of Christ; but the body of it is an
adherence to certain costume and pre-
judice against music, art, land all the soft
nesses, courtesles and beauty of manner
or surroundings which refine and gentle
ayervdav life