Evening journal., 1898-05-09
IN ANNUAL MEETING.
Interesting Assemblage oi
Quakers in Philadelphia.
DAVID FERRIS SPOKE FOR PEACE

DAVID FERRIS SPOKE FOR PEACE
WILMINGTON FRIENDS WE'RE
PREsENT-THE WEATHER WAS
TOO COLD AND STORMY FOR
THE USUAL SOCIAL GATHER
ING.
Friends Yearly Meeting opened in
Philadelphia yesterday. several VIII
mingtonlans being present. The at
tendance at Fifteenth and Race streets,
owing TO the very stormy day, Was
the smallest for years. The large mouse
on Race street was filled, although
there was here and there "a vacanb seat.
There was also a noticeable absence of
the older Friends in the gallery. The /
meeting opened at 1915 with a ser
mon by David Newport, who took as
his text. "What is 10 to he moved by |
the spirit?" He quoted the words OF
I.ucretia Mott. and said he endorsed
them. 81 believe in the divinity OF |
Jesus Criat because / believe in my |
cwn divinity"
gohn J. Cornell, Of Baltimore, spoke !
for three-duarters Of an hour, taking /
as his subject, "Will the Principles or
Friends Meet All the Needs of Man, |
and Will They. If Fully Lived Up TO- |
Bring HIim the Assurance of ETERNAL
Idfe?" What are The wants and needs
Of man? First, preservation from the
commission of sin; second, growth IN
spiritual life and attainment, and third |
restoration to harmony after we have
committed sim The vital principle OF
the Society of Friends is that God i'm
mediately reveals Himself to man and
directly reveals to each of us the laws
necessary for our guidance. Whero
does sin come from and what Is IL!
1t is the improper indulgence OF some
Of The good gifts of God. just as, for eX-
ample intemperance, which is tine
qualification of an appetite salvation
does not mean to wait until death to
be saved; IL we are daily preserved
from sin. we need have no fear OF eter-
nal life.
The second step above mentioned,
nreparing for a life Of usefulness, leads
to carrying cut the Golden Rule. II
this were carried out it would change
fhe whole course OF events. If Christian
nations observed this we would not
now be at war with Spain; men would
be faithful to their trust, and there
would not he a conflict between capl-
tan and labor The principles Of Friends
that lead to peace are based on these
ideas Sin is the transgression OF a
known. law. God holds NO man re-
sponslble for am unknown law. In case
OF sin. the successive steps after sin
ana repentance. amendment of life, and
then man atones and is received into
harmony again.
We do not need rituals or amy &C.
cleslastical authority built up by hui
man aid to say how We should act. We
need organization for mutual benefit,
that the strong may assist the weak,
but that is all.
Robert S. Eaviland. of ChappaQua,
New York. then spoke from the text
"Behold come quickly; hold fast 10
that which thou hast let no man take
THY crown" He said; We do not need
a priest or outward ordination, but the
quiet OF our own souls While we cam
worship apart there is strength IN
collective worship. Though mo words
be spoken. we have our hour Of silent
prayer and communion with the spirit
of God Let us consider carefully and
prayerhlly what things we shall hold
fast and what let go.
John j. Cornell spoke again for a
few minutes, after which the meeting
closed with a short invocation by David
Newport.
The Cherry street end Of the house
was about two-thirds full. exclusive
of the galleries. AT 1890 o'clock the
silence was broken by Isaac Wilson Of
Bloomfield. Ont, who spoke with much
earnestness for nearly an hour. He be
gan with the words, "TO him that
hath, more shall be given, and from
him that hath not shall be taken even
that which he seemeth to have" He
applied this especially to the spiritual
life. showing how Those who are Obed-
int to the Divine voice. however small
their gift. add constantly to their store
while those who let their greater tai
ents lie idle soon become spiritually
impoverished. The happiness that AZ
ways follows obedience MAY be ex-
perienced even by little child.
Franklin r. Haines, Of New Jersey
arose with the words, ''And except We
be converted and become as a little
child We cannot enter into the kingdom
of heaven" and added that the TRUE
test Of conversion is the cross and fol-
low Christ He then addressed those
classes Of people who need conversion
the young. who are Indifferent to re.
ligious matters, and are unwilling Z,
give up the theatre, dancing and carC
PLAYING for the Jcy that accompanie.
a Christian life: those OF all ages VIII,
are the slaves Of passion and appetite
and who neglect to go to the only tru'
source of strength. aud those who plac
the reason and intellect above spirit