The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-09-14
H YEARLY MEETING
THIRTY-FIFTH ANNUAL GATHERING
OF QUAKERS AT PLAINFIELD.
Logansport Presbytery at Mishawaka
Decides On a Plan To
an Indiana C~hautauqua.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
PLAINFIELD, Ind, Sept. 13.-Periodical-
ly this quiet town is the center Of Quaker
ism. For more than thirty-five years the
disciples Of George Fox, having formed
the organization known as Western Yearly
Meeting of Friends, have made this the
Mecca of their pilgrimage. From a small
body of worshipers that formerly belonged
to the Indiana Yearly Meeting, held at
Richmond. the church has grown to a
mighty force, with a membership Of 1900,
resident in central and western Indiana
and eastern Illinois. The decades have
brought multiplex changes in manner and
customs. The straight-cut coat and broad
brimmed hat have taken on modern forms,
while the ~''plainneSs of dress OF the
mothers has given way to the more con-
v~enient, if not more beautiful. styles gen.
eral to the sex. The changes in custom
have far outstripped the changes in belief,
however. and to-day the church practically
holds TO the doctrines as taught by Fox,
Barclay and Penn. There have been many
attempts at diversion by individual mem
bers, some of modern and recent date, but
against them all the church has been as
adamant, and to-day the old-time religion
of the fathers, who taught as did the
the formalities Of three decades ago the
church has felt the sweep of the revival
spirit, until within the last six years the
converts will number more than as many
thousands. With this kind of a record the
representatives of the various meetings
are now coming up TO the annual feast,
and already are filling the houses of the
hospitable people of Plaintield.
To-day was devoted to the preliminaries
Of the work, the representative meeting
holding a session at 10 o'clock. At 2 o'clock
about two hundred of the ministers, elders
and overseers Of the church assembled in
the spacious house of worship for a bust
ness session Rev Nathan III Clark Of
Westheld, and a brother Of DR.. Dougan
Clark, of Richmond, who has served the
meeting long and faithfully as its clerk,
was in his seat as usual, and managed
the business with skill.
Among those in attendance as visiting
ministers is Rufus M. Jones, editor of the
American Friend, the new church organ,
of Philadelphia. that recently took the
place of the Christian Worker, of Chicago,
The editor has been practically unknown
in the West, and it must be said that the
first acquaintance with him Is altogether
satisfactory. His service in the session
Thursday afternoon won him many friends,
and consequently the new church paper
has likewise won many friends who will
attendance are Rev. Noah Mcciain. col.
ored, of Ohio, who has a reputation as an
evangelist; Rev. Frederick j. Cope. of
Thomas j. Holding, of Hancock county
Indiana; Rev. Charles Hiatt, of Fair
mount; Rev: James II. Morgan. of Miami,
Of knightstown; Rev: Joseph Peele, OF
Cleveland, and Rachel Bailey, of Spice.
land. All of these ministers Of Christ. who
are worthy young people. have been given
a. hearty welcome In Christian love, and
already there are manifest tokens of a
rich harvest of blessing to the Yearly
Meeting.
Tomorrow the first business session OF
the church will convene. at 10 o'clock. A
concern the meeting this year, in addition
to the routine business of the church.