The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-08-31
THE QUAKERs.

Quaker Given by DIR g. Is. Weeks.
Especial Correspondence.)
Messenger Bureau, Park Hotel,
Raleigh, N. C. August q.
Mention was made a few days ago
of the finding by Secretary Of State
books in the state, so far as known, Il
being a record Of the monthly meetinEz
of the Friends or Quakers at Symond's
meeting house in Pasquotank county
The book contains 804 pages. The pa
per is quaint, and yellow with age
The writing is in many hands. and
some of it is very good indeed. All the
earlier part is queerly written in suoa
characters as are not now used, each
letter at the end Of a word ending in a
curl upward. The record begins on the
7th day of the fifth month, MAY 7th3.
1888, and ends with the 10Th OF the first
month January 19th), 1855. 1t covers
948 meetings. 1t is one of the earliest
records of the Quakers in North Car
Dina.
There is a fascination in this old
manuscript. The first entry is as fol-
lows:
Il AT a monthly meeting held at the
house of Henry Whites the 7th of the
nth month, 1899, it is concluded BY
Friends that charging two Friends to
attend the monthly meeting be refer
red to next monthly meeting and that
ct have notice thereof"
The third is: AT a monthly meeting
Ralph Pierce and Damaris Nixon laid
their intention of marriage before the
said meeting. Also Joseph Overman
and Sarah Nicholson aid their inten-
ton Of marriage. 1t being the first
time none having aught against it, re-
FER the same to the Perquimons month
5iy meeting"
Here is another: "At a meeting at
Stephen SCOTS the 2Sth day of the 4th
month, 1901, John Newly by Henry
White opened his intention to marry
with Elisabeth Nisholson. Friends hav-
Ing nothing against it orders Henry
White, Thomas Symonds n Calub
Bundy to give them a certificate and
leave them to their liberty to take
each other in the order of truth"
AT a meeting in April, 1902, Robert
White and Tabitha Afford declared
their intentions Of marriage. Friends
appoint Thoma Symonds and Calub
Bundy to inspect into their clearness
n to make reports" Accordingly at
the next meeting 1.-The Friends appoint
ed to make inquiry make report that
they have so done and find nothing to
the contrary, but that they are clear,
therefore Friends leaves them to their
liberty to take each other in the order
OF truth" Then appears this entry:
"AlsO this meeting having under con-
sideration the scandal that Ostran
Scarborough hath brought upon the
blessed Truth professions and himself,
in that he hath contrary to principle
and the doctrine of our blessed Lord,
swear not at all, taken the oath ap-
pointed by law, wherefore Friends in
tenderness to him and for the clearing
of our holy profession think proper to
appoint Thomas Symons and Henry
HeatOn to visit him and to admOnish
him to own his fault, to repent or else
we cannot w him as a member of our
society, and to bring their report to
the next monthly meeting"
Eat a meeting held at Caleb Bundy's
in the precinct of ~PasquOtant on the
LIST of the LIST month, 1923, Friends
being met to inspect into the affairs
of the church. A little book was e
amongst Friends, also testimonies are
given forth by Friends at the said
meeting containing several things
which we are against and deny" At
the next meeting: 1T is agreed by
fT1enUS CndC d meeting mouse SndlI ne
built at Pasquotank, with as much
speed as can be and it is left to said
meeting to consider about the time and
place."
Whereas, there appears to be a diff
ference between Joseph Jordan and
Mary Clark, Friends taking the same
into consideration, appoints three men
to discourse with Joseph and make
their report" At the next meeting the
~ voc y.ooniyaI Suyhich io fhof thu
said Joseph doth not seem to be sorry
for what he hath done, nevertheless
Friends in tenderness to him do ap-
point two men to visit him again and
to report"
There appearing some disorder in
Stephen Scott, Friends thinks proper to
remove the meeting from his home to
Henry Keaton's Whites next monthly
meeting by reason some Friends were
missing"
ct is the general mind Of this meet
ing that Stephen Scott do bring a paper
of his condemnation to the next month
Iy meeting and also publish it at the
court house door in full of all he hath
DONE"
At a monthly meeting there was a
pape signed for the clearing OF
Friends Principles concerning fighting
wars and shedding of blood n to be
set up at the court JUS door during
the time of the courts sitting, ETC., n
also some things under it of Stephen
SCOTS own putting out and giving
forth"
In 17O5 Friends having under con-
y SideratiOn the ill-cOnveniancy that
10th attend Friends being to late in
coming to public meetings, therefore
Friends do appoint to meet between
the hours of ten and eleven O'Clock. 1t
is also concluded that a meeting house
be built at the charge of Friends be-
longing to Pasquotank upon the plan
&ation of Joseph Jordan, also to make
Il suitable bridge over the little creek
&c maintain it."
"It is also generally agree by Friends
OF this meeting that a general cOllec-
Ion be made for any occasion that
z may happen amongst Friends. Also it
is concluded on that it be in silver
money twice in a year, Wit, on the LIST
and 7th month, and Friends appoint