The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-11-27

order many years ago, remarked shortly
before his death, II wish l had died when l
was a good Quaker, for then l know it
would nave been well with my SOUL"
Those who like to act a thinking part in
life should find much to please them in the
religion of the Quakers. There Is an old
saying that the best way to tell a genuine
Quaker is to watch aud see which way he
twirls his thumbs. If he always twirls
them in the same direction, he is al ortho-
dox Quaker. If in both directions, it shows
that his thinking part has been interrupted
and that he is q Hicksite, a keithite or
some other pretender.
Time was when the Quakers were a pow
er in Whist was then a newly settled coun-
try. Coming as they did to these shores
from England, where they had been obliged
to dof their hats to every petty magistrate
of the realm, they determined that over
here they would not uncover their heads
even in the presence Of him whom they rev.
erence above king or potentate. Quakers
of the old school still sit with their hats on
throughout their Sunday meeting.
The modern days Of active and brusque
competition have rubbed away many Quak-
or lineaments. But in some localities the
Quaker influence Is still potent. Pennsyl-
vania is now erecting a bust of William
Penn upon the dome of the state capitol in
the Quaker City.
There are more Quakers in the United
States today than ever before. Many Of
the western states, especially Indiana. show
a marked increase in this sect. There are
at least $4,000 orthodox Quakers within the
pale of Uncle Sans religious tolerance, be-
sides 10000 Hicksites, keithites and men,
bers of other allied communities. In u plain
brick building the Quakers gather on the
Sabbath dsy. The men of the old school
wear well worn beaver hats, with We an
Gent brims and bell crowns; swallowtail
coats, colonial collars and c~ravats, and
knee boots concealed beneath broadcloth
breeches. The women wear the hideous
poke bonnets of a primitive age, plain jean
gowns and sbawls of somber hue. The
elders or appointed leaders sit upon four
straight backed wooden benches, which
stand upon d raised platform in the front
of the room. The men occupy seats on one
side of a broad aisle, the women IN the
other.
A Quaker family approaches the meeting
house and divides into two groups. The
mother and girls enter one door and take
seats together on one side Of the room,
while the father marches the boys in
through the other door to seats on the op-
posite side Of the room. The younger gen
GRAFTON is not so easily distinguishable from
those of other denominations. Some of the
young men take their hats off in meeting
like other people. Others even wear high
collars and part their hair in the middle,
while the girls are not averse to bright
gowns and bonnets a la mode.
The thinking part, however, begins as
soon az the congregation has arrived. II
continues for an hour Or more while all sit
and ponder over sins they imagine them
selves to have committed. One old Quaker
bctrays a lansuid, sleepy expression, be-
tokeniEg that he is scarcely conscious
whether he is in the body or out. His
broad brimmcd hat shades his eyes, how
ever, and he is safe from the observation of
the elders. Some one coughs, and u ripple
OF coughing goes through the congregation,
as when a Stone thrown into the water
causes ever widening eddies over the entire
surface. Two little boys sitting together
grow mischievous, and in an unguarded