The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-28
QUAKERISM.
Plain Statement of the Belief of the
Orthodox and the Hicksites.

To the Editor of the indianapolis Journals
Loyalty to the body of Friends in the
United States. well known as the "Ortho-
dox branch causes the undersigned to
write for the Journal full and correct views
of the two different branches of that re-
ligious society. and prove the same by ref
erence to frst-class encyclopedias. The
criticism offered in the Journal Aug. "a by
Mary Lupton Janney first needs attention
she stating that Elias Hicks did believe in
the divinity of Jesus Christ. From Elias
Hfcks's preaching came separation in the
society. In the Encyclopedia Britannica,
under the heading "Quakers," Volume 20,
Page 149, this is found: About the years
1926 and 1897 an American Quaker named
Elias Hicks openly denied the divinity of
Christ, deprecated the value of the Scrip
lures and recognized no other Savior than
the inward light" See in International En-
clopedia, Volume VII, Page 524, the follow
ing: clicks, Elias, a celebrated American
preacher of the Society of Friends His uni
tarianism or denial of the divinity of Jesus
Christ brought him into disfavor with or
thodox Friends. The result of his labors
was a schism Of the society into two divi-
sions known as orthodox and Hicksite
Quakers."
Also sec New American Encyclopedia,
Volume Z, Page 49S: 'In 1927 rupture oc-
CURED in the Society of Friends, caused by
the preaching of Elias Hicks. He was
charged with denying the belief in the true
divinity of Christ, and in the atoning,
cleansing, saving efficiency of His blood,
which was shed for us. A Mr.. Janney, of
the Hicksites, prominent man, also denied
the atonement of Jesus Christ. Six of the
ten yearly meetings then in the United
states were rent asunder, about one-third
of the whole society forming six new meet
ings, and called 'Hicksites:, The separation
did not extend out of the United States
The above are quotations ad verbatim
from such good historical books, and are
plain, substantial facts not to be disputed.
Hicksite Friends had the same discipline as
the orthodox, from 1927 to 1894, but it was
not enforced, on the subject of belief.
In 1893, at the worlds fair in Chicago,
committee Of Hicksite Friends met at the
Worlds Parliament of Religions, and in Vol.
II, Page 1853, which was published of their
proceedings, is condensed article by How
their belief, but the atonement and resur-
rection are not named. In 1894 the Hicksite
Friends Of Philadelphia made new dis
of Jesus Christ is easily seen. There are,
doubtless, some Hicksite Friends who hold
orthodox belief, and that being So, why do
they not join that branch Of Friends?
Now, permit me to give the sound. clear
and full doctrine of the orthodox Friends,
as body, relative to Jesus Christ, written
Richmond, Ind, one Of the ablest Quaker
authors OF this century. found In an article
entitled, "A Plea for Orthodoxy" published
by Rev. P. w. Raidabaugh, of Chicago, ILL.,:
I'VE believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is
the Son Of God; that in Him dwelt all the
fullnesS of the gOdhead bodily; that He is
both divine and human: that He is true
God and perfect man; that He exists as one
person in two natures. undivided and indi-
mystery, but We can believe, and rejoice,
and adore, and love- We believe in the vi
carious atonement; that Christ died for our
sins according to the Scriptures; that He
bore our sins in His own body on the tree;
that He took our place on the cross that
we might share His place in glory: that
He took what we deserved, that we might
share in what He deserves; that He was de-
livered for our offenses: that He was
wounded foT our trans;gfeSsttofns; t tnat ne ne
chastisement of our peace was upon Him,
and with His stripes we are healed. The
sacrifice of Christ was eXpiatory, because it
was an offering for sin; it was vicarious
because it was an offering for the sin of
another, and this is the whole matter in
| nutshell. And there need be no shrinking
from the blessed doctrine that Christ died
on the cross to make reconciliation between
God and man, and that this reconciliation
which was God, and the offending party,
which was man."
! The orthodox Friends are great workers
in Sabbath schools, Christian Endeavor. So
| ceties home and foreign missions and all
| charitable and philanthropic work.
Relative to yearly meetings and numbers
| the orthodox Friends have thirteen yearly
| meetings in the United States, $50 churches,
| 1,29S ministers and 90,921 members. The
| Hicksite branch has seven yearly meetings
| POI churches, lis ministers and 1882 MEM
| bers. These items of figures are taken from
| the New York Independent, which publishes
! in January of each year complete table
! of all the religious denomina tons in the
United States, and these figures are cor
rect as near as can possibly be D6tai1 pdn
| Knightstown, Ind, Aug. q.