The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-30
THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS.
Report of the Years Progress i'm that
Religious BODY.

Rufus NJ. Jones, in New York Independent.
The great event of the year in the Society
of Friends has been the holding of a quin-
quennial conference at Indianapolis. IT is
the third of the kind held in this country,
and it was attended by delegates from
twelve yearly meetings in the United states
and from one in Canada.
Among the subjects discussed the one OF
most historical importance was the propo-
sition to establish conference with legis-
lative authority, as a central body, COM
posed of representatives from all the yearly
meetings. Coupled with this, proposition
was made to adopt uniform discipline
for all the yearly meetings, thus bringing
the thirteen coordinate bodies into greater
uniformity and a closer union.
After much discussion both propositions
We're approved, and a committee was APP
pointed to draw up a plan for such legis-
of discipline. The work of this committee
will be passed upon by the yearly meetings
themselves, as all these bodies are autono-
nous, and it is not to be expected that any
plan will be successful which vitality aftect5
that autonomy The discussion on the sub
ject of singing in religious meetings showed
conclusively that the Friends west of the
Alleghenies very generally have singing in
their meetings, as is also the case in some
meetings in the East. This is radical
change from the unvarying customs of
Friends previous to 1860. On the subject of
Higher Criticism" the great majority of
Friends are conservative. The conclusions
of the conference on this subject are care
fully formulated. They advocate scholarly
research and investigation, hut they caution
the members against accepting any change
Of the canon of Scripture until there is
consensus of the opinions of Christian
Another noteworthy event of the year was
the decision of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting
to open epistolary correspondence. The
question of correspondence was a vital
one in the period of the so-called Wilburite
separation, and for over thirty years the
Philadelphia Yearly Meeting neither re-
ence with any of the other coordinate
bodies This year it sent an epistle to the
CWiburite) Yearly Meeting in Ohio, and a
general epistle to all bodies or Friends or
every branch on this continent.
London Yearly Meeting. which in an I'M
official way is regarded as the parent body
reaffirmed this year its decision to corre-
spond only with the bodies with which 1t
has maintained unbroken correspondence. l.
e.. with the SO-called ORTHODOX" Yearly
Meetings of the larger branch.
The year has been one of growth and adj
vance in almost all lines of active work, re-
sulting in a substantial increase of men,
bers. In the new fields of the West meet
ings have been built up, and many new
members have been added. All the Yearly
erL M are carTyLng on mss1on
for higher education have been steadily adj
vancing in efficiency and influence, and the
past year has been one of marked progress
the most influential Friends in this country
DIR. James Carey Thomas, who was ~
trustee of many institutions and man who
has contributed much to our religious his
tory in the last thirty years. The so-called
'Hicksite" Friends are very much awake to
present-day movements in thought, and
they are growing more active in religious
and philanthropic work Their members arei
studying the Bible diligently in Bible schools
connected with the meetings, and the young
er members have formed successful associa-
tons for cooperation and study. They have
strongly equipped educational institutions,
an ably edited paper, and d united and ear
nest membership.
During the past winter Friends of this
branch Joined with Friends of the "Ortho-
doX' branch in holding a public meeting in
Philadelphia to arouse public sentiment in
favor of the arbitration treaty, which is be-
lieved to be the first united effort of this
kind since the separation of 1873.