St. Landry democrat., 1888-05-05
THE YEARLY MEETING.
The Most Import ant Religious Event OF
the Year i'm Quaker Life.

| The Most Import ant Religious Event Of
| the Year i'm Quaker Life.
Often on First Day the Friends as
sembled at the appointed time for
worship and sat for more than an
hour in absolute silence. until one old
gentleman in the high SEATS would rise
and shake hands with another, this
being the signal that meeting had
"broke." as it was expressed among
them. The Q uaker young folks were
a jolly, happy lot. but the moment
they entered the meeting g-house door
they seemed imbued with the spirit
Of devotion and were al grave and
sedate as their elders. They are
gradually discarding toe peculiar
garb which William Penn and his fol-
lowers wore. have never seen
in any audience SO many women
of middle and old age whu
have preserved smooth. plump
faces and clear compiexions as
here. Their belief that peace on
earth and good will to msn'' should
govern all our lives is surely a good
rule to live by, If we may believe the
impress it has left upon their counte-
| nances. OF course there were excep.
tions, and here, as elsewhere. were
features distorted by evil passions, or
svrinkled and scanned by sickness and
trouble.
The great event of the summer was
the yearly meeting. The men worked
early and late that their folds of grow
ing grain might be free from weeds
and present beautiful thrifty appear
ance to visiting Friends. Women
occurred and scrubbed. although it
aeemed impossible to make houses
cleaner than these homes already
we're; tinware must glitter like silver,
linen be white assnow. The choicest
yeung chickens, the finest prod
ucts of garden and fiel d.,
were reserved for this occasion,
and such remarks as these were heard
daily: Sarah. thee must not cut that
nam; I will boil that whole for meet
ing day." Samuel. bring home
lag of that finest flour; thee knows we
must have extra nice bread while the
meeting lasts" 1t seemed as if an
army with prodigious appetites must
be coming, so generous were the
preparations.
The opening day arrived and the
small edifice would not contain the
people who came. but every window
and both doors were thrown open, so
that all could hear if the Spirit should
draw near and inspire any to speak.
Friends were here from far-away
Maryland and Virginia. Soon one of
these Quaker women, with lovely
countenance. who had come from the
South, and whose drab garments were
of the finest material. showing wealth,
and whose language betokened edu-
cation and refinement, began speak
ing. Such eloquence was rarely heard
within these walls. Her rich. full
tones made the sublime truths she ut
tered seem grand indeed. She con-
cluded, when an old gentleman on the
other side of the house was moved to
deliver message. At first his words
were spoken smoothly and distinctly.
but soon he glided into a sing-song
tone, putting a final 'ah'' 10 nearly
every utterance. 1t is impossible to
describe the sound OF it's effect; so
quaint and so earnest was it that all
were impressed. He finished. and an
other grave, dignlfied gentleman Of
fered up prayer, and soon the first
session closed and the happy crowd
scattered away to the various farm
houses to enjoy the feast prepared for
this time. Such merry, bantering and
joking are seldom heard, such happy,
smiling faces are seldom seen. and
such spitable 1homes are found no.
where in greater profusiou than in a
Quaker settlement. Ella T. Green.
in Detroit Free Press.