The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-07-01

things which were once cardinal points of
discipline. If a Friend, fifty years ago,
married a woman not in the society. either
piano was q forbidden thing, and if a
Friend had one he was fit subject for Sc
we're reprimand- Now they are common
enough. At the great Quaker school in
Providence, r. l., music Is even now taught.
Dancing abomination and not to be
thought OF. The Quaker boys, however,
could not always resist the fascination,
and 1t is related that one scion of a we'll
known family used, after he was supposed
10 be abed, TO slide down the waterpipe,
which came from the roof near his win
dow, and go TO dancing school. But it was
somewhat startling few years ago TO find
on the list Of committees for ball in aid
OF hospital 10 an Eastern city, the names
OF several prominent Friends 1t must not
he inferred, however, that dancing is yet
countenanced by the sect
SINGING INTRODUCED.
Singing is now tolerated by the Friends,
but not in their services. 1t has been found
to be almost necessary adjunct Of their
missionary work. In some parts of the
West and in some of the interior and small
places in the East a hymn is sometimes
heard in meeting but it is generally only
the informal prompting of fervent
spirit, as happened in the recent yearly
meeting I'm Twentieth street, when Kan
sas Quaker, before the service began, sang
two or three verses of a familiar psalm.
The separation of the men and women
in meeting, once so strictly insisted upon,
is not yet given up, but there are signs
that it may be. In Philadelphia, where,
perhaps, conservatism is more marked than
anywhere else, and in this city, the rule is
adhered to. More latitude is allowed at
the business meetings. although in olden
days the sliding partitions were closed on
such occasions, so that the men ana women
met separately. They transact business in
different rooms, even now, in some of the
meetings.
Tbara 10 opa cturdxr trait of tho O,lakerS
of which many stories have been told, and
which has not been changed by their min
Cling more with world, and that is their
strict integrity in all business relations;
A Quaker never fails to keep all financial
obligations. How manfully he will struggle
to keep himself right was illustrated in the
experience of an Eastern Friend. Fortune
left him in the lurch one time, and, with
many debts he worked hard for years, de-
nying himself even the comforts, until he was
able to surprise his creditors, some outside
of the society, with checks for the principal
and interest due them.
For many years the Quakers were num-
bered among the inactive churches. While
the members were prominent in every good
work, little was done as an organization.
Recently, however, more aggressive spirit
has been shown. Their work among the
colored people of the South is the natural
sequence of the strong anti-slavery feeling
which, before the war, was often OF help
in those famous underground means of
escape Tor fugitive slaves. Ineir Work mas
been especially marked among the Indians,
and they now are very closely connected
with all the means of advancing the race.
In the Orthodox Society, in this city,
nearly all the members are engaged in some
one of the forms of evangelical work. So
quietly and unostentatiously is 1t done that
little public attention is called to ii. The
Colored Orphan Asylum is largely under
the control of the meeting. ~ mission school
in Forty-first street, on the East Side, has
been gaining in influence for many years.
a Bible and fruit mission also is conducted
by the society. The increase in the number
of Quakers In the West is all due to the
evangelistic spirit which has been becoming
strong in all meetings.