Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-04-25
FRIENDS YEARLY MEETING
Devoted to Educational Mat
tiers Thursday.
IMPROVEMENTS AT WESTTOWN
Communication from the Lon
don Yearly Meeting.


ciety of Friends, ut Fourth and Arch
streets, Philadelphia. Thursday afternoon,
the verbal committee appointed to con-
slider communication addressed TO the
meeting reported that 1t was an epistle
from London Yearly Meeting, and the |
report was then read from the committee |
in the case of an appeal. They had all |
met and heard the appellant and the re-
respondents, and they believed the 1udg-
ment OF the Quarterly Meeting should be
sustained. This conclusion was adopted
by the meeting.
The report of the standing committe on
education was then read. This committee
had its origin 20 years ago in wish 70
provide schools for Friends children IN
isolated situations. They now have ~
schools of this character, attended by 80
children. The work during the year had
been made more efficient by the employ
ment of visiting superintendent, who
had been in most of the schools more than
once and had collected a circulating
library OF educational works for the bene-
fit of the teachers. The appropriation to
the committee was increased to 81, OOO, and
the members were encouraged in their
efficient methods.
The report of the committee OIL the
civilization and Improvement of the IN
dams next claimed the attention ot the
meeting The school at TunEesassa hat
been conducted during the year upon the
policy of previous years. The school
accommodates 40 pupils, and all the places
are filled, and q list of applicants are IN
waiting. Instruction is given in farming III
addition to the ordinary branches of school
education. About 81, 900 had been expended
| in the management of the school this year
Some attention had also been given to the
holding of land in severa.ty Dy the Indians
| in New York State. A Friend informed
| the meeting that the present president OF
the Seneca tribe was formerly pupil OF
the school at Tunnesassa, and that be is a
young man of promise and intelligence.
| The report of the committee to examine
| the treasurer's account was then read. 1t
| showed balances in his hands aggregating
| SS,O00 and named 81, 900 as the sum to be
raised for the use of the meeting the pres
ent year. This, with other amounts APP
| propriated by the meeting would make
81, 500 to be raised by the various meetings.
The concluding business of the session
was the reading of the report of the COM
mittee having charge of Westtown Board.
ing School. During the year there had
been an average OF 30 pupils in attend
| ance. improvements had been made to
the buildings, a new cellar had been built
and steam heat had been introduced into
Industrial Hall. boardwalk through
the grounds is projected by the committee,
to cost about 81 900. The transactions of
the farm showed a profit of about $4,000,
and the total disbursements of the school
had reached the sum of $4,000 during the
year, 5000 less than the receipts from all
sources.
These receipts include the income of en-
dowment funds. The moral and religious
objects of the school had been promoted
during the year, and parents were encour-
aged to have their children yield ready
compliance with all the rules of the school.
A young Friend introduced the subject
of club life again, and the clerk informed
the meeting that the minute oil the state
of society would refer to it and give some
timely counsel.
woMEN's MEETING.
In the women's meeting the educational
committees report and the report OH in
toxicants were read.
A memorial of the late Phoebe Roberts
presented by the meeting for sufferings
was the concluding business. and ELECTED
many testimonies to the sweet simplicity
of her character, her cordial hospitality in
her home and her faithfulness 10 the
duties of the church.
The Society of Friends concluded the
, business of its Yearly Meeting at Fourth
J and Arch streets, Philadelphia, ON Fri
day, and adjourned, in the well chosen
} language of the closing minute, ito NEE
again at the usual time next year if con
sistent with the Divine Will" The time
Of the session had been largely taker
up by the reading and consideration o.
! the minute embodying the exercises oI
the meetings. This minute gave affec
= tionate counsel to the members OF
several subjects of Christian duty ans
, practice. The grounds of true spiritua
4 worship, as being an individual exercise
4 of the soul before its Maker, were clearly
! set forth. Christ is the great head of tn,
y church the one mediator and high priest
" and direct communication with til,
n Father through Him is at once the dut,
s and privilege of mankind. So also the,
can only be rightly qualified for servic
s. as ministers who yield themselves to b
n prepared and led Ivy Him, and Friend
!. were affectionately cautioned not to los
. sight of this essential OF Quakerism no
!, to sacrifice their principles through asso
citation with those who believe it RICH
to prearrange aud announce religion
exercises These generally are the NOR
n sober members of the community, an
II they have always been found ready :
respect honest conviction on the part G
q any when it is clearly expressed.
p 1t was declared that Friends would b
y out of their places if they were foun
where they could not maintain thei
a. principles in their integrity.
20 Some exception lad been noted in
y, few places in regard to the MAINTENANCE
., of the society's testimony against oath
10 presumably in connection with member
n. ship in secret societies. The teaching {
M the sermon on the Mount is directly OF
ii posed to all oaths, and Friends shoul
II not be satisfied with any standard othe
Ill than this. The effect of secret societit
r. was represented as opposed to rigt
principles in both their social and relig
Gus aspects, and the judgment of III
liz meeting was emphatcally against then
So also club life was condemned as
as very plausible temptation calculated
es appeal to the interests of the young, bl
ne OF very certain evil tendency. The eXai
~ gcrated importance of the subject of il
',s tellectual education was referred {
re The society believes in promoting rigl
ad education in every approved way, b
there is danger in supposlng that
ng can take the place of other qualiiic
PHI tions in the preparation for the respo
N; sibIlities of life. The minute conclude
'u by commencing the members to b
nil "Word of Grace" that is able to bui
ire them up in everything good.
ers Much unity was expressed with Il
work of the clerk and the committee
preparing the minutes, and it W
adopted by the meeting. 1t will
printed in a convenient form for circ
,ry latioG.
,as The assistant clerk read the memoir
cat of the late beloved minister, Phcbe Y
ca Roberts. She had been a minister mo