The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-01
A REMARKABLE OCCURRENCE.
Quaker Devotion to Principle as Shown I'm
the Coffin Case.


the Coffin Case.
Cincinnati Enquirer.
What is doubtless to be regarded as one of the
most remarkable denominational and personal
occurrences that has taken place in the religious
history of this section for many years took place
at Richmond, Ind, day or two since. when the
orthodox branch of the Quaker Church formally
and solemnly disowned one of its members of
whom. perhaps, it is the exact truth to say that
he stood head and shoulders. at no very remote
date, above any other man in the denomination
in personal influence and in the almost absolute
trust reposed in him by his brethren in the
church.
The man thus signaly dealt with is Charles
+. Coffin, a man who in his palmy days was per-
haps as perfect combination of the suave gem
tleman and the methodical man of affairs as was
known in business circles. In financial circles
the name of Coffin was at one time q synonym
for all that is reckoned substantial and RESPONSE
bic in the transaction of business. We do not
now mention his name, however for the purpose
of recalling at any length either his successes
the sad breakdown that came more than year
ago. superinduced by causes that have never yet
been fully explained.
He is only named to illustrate this remarkable
spirit of devotion to principle that could have in
duced his fellow-church people, who for years
almost idolized him, to give their solemn assent
his father was for many years an influential
leader and of which he himself had been for
nearly or quite forty years most hospitable,
liberal and honored member.
No one who has missed the opportunity to see
the solemn proceedings of Quaker yearly meet
ing can have an adequate idea of the profound
solemnity of such a scene. 1t must have been
to many of the venerable men and women III the
separate meetings a silence oppressive beyond
previous experience when they sat there and
without word of protest or objection from any
source consented that Charles should hence.
forth be counted an outcast from the fold.
There certainly is no other community of
Christians than the Friend Quakers in which
such an event could have taken place without a
prolonged and, perhaps, excited debate and the
amusement of personal feelings to a degree that
would have produced violent outbreaks But
the Quakers are not made of infiammable stuff,
and so, when they became convicted in their
inner consciences that even Charles F. Coffin had
gone wrong and had refused to make the proper
acknowledgment of his fault, they could see no
other way than to irretrievably cut him off. We
doubt if there is any other denomination that
could have brought themselves so resoluteiy and
unanimously up to the radical measures adopted
in this Coffin ease. And, though we from our
standpoint must insist that sentiments of per-
sonal regard and the recollection of past iuyalu-
able labors in the interests of his Church ought
to have had large influence in the determine
ton OF his case. perhaps after all it was the most
consistent thing that the Quaker people could do
to visit the extreme penalty of communication
on their recalcitrant leader. This heroic style
Of dealing with man of high station is doubt!
less the best answer that could be made to the
oft-repeated sheer that the big men of church
are permitted to commit offenses and 60 unpun-
ished, while those who guilty of peccadilloes
are made subjects of severe discipline. At all
events, we think it must be conceded that in
this particular instance the Quakers have proved
their oldtime claim to intense devotion TO
principle, regardless of men or consequences