The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-25
LARGE BODY OF FRIENDS
INDIANA YEARLY MEETING CON-
vENEs THIS WEEK AT RICHMOND.
Radical Changes In the Workings OF
This Society That Have Resulted
in Its Rejuvenation.


Special to the indianapolis Journal.
RICHMOND Ind, Sept. 24-This city en-
joys the distinction of being the annual
meeting place of the largest body of Friends
in the world-Indiana Yearly Meeting. The
session of 1855 will open Sept. 2S and con-
tinue until Oct 3, being held in the Yearly
Meeting House, erected here twenty years
ago, and which is the largest place of wor-
ship in the city. The meeting will bring to-
gether members of the society from Indi-
ana, Ohio. Kentucky, Michigan and several
other States. The Indiana body is probably
the most progressive of any of the Quaker
meetings and in the estimation of the more
conservative meetings further east is really
too progressive. Nearly all the customs PEE
cuiar TO the society in former years have
disappeared. The broad-b rimmed hat and
Quaker bonnet are almost entirely rele-
gated to the past; silent worship is prac-
ticed but little; the 'hireling' ministry is
growing in favor: separate meetings for
men and women are likely to be done away
with; the monotone of voice in which
prayers and talks were once made is
scarcely ever heard, and the society is taxi
ing hold OF the plans of organization nee
essary for effective work, made use of to
such great advantage by other Protestant
denominations. For years the question OF
using musical instruments in the services
was argued, the older class opposing such
an innovation, and the younger favoring 1t.
The latter have triumphed, and musical in
struments arc now in general use
The members of the society, who have
lived long enough to remember the good old
times of from twenty to fifty years ago,
view these changes with dismay. They
would hold to the old customs. and 1t is a
frequent thing to hear a plea for greater
| conservatism from this class of members.
But this is not to be. change is coming
over the Friends Church. and it is a change
that will put it in condition to work shout
ger 10 shoulder with other denominations.
ana take possession of territory that would
g1eSSive body.
For d long time no special effort was mado
70 enlist the children in the work of tne
church, and the silent worship, grave faces
ana nonrnuSIcal services drove the young
people 10 churches that offered something
more pleasant-where there were young peo-
pie societies and where every effort was
put forth to enlist the young in the re-
HglouS llfe, thus preparing them to take
up the burdens later on. 1t has not been
long since the Friends Society was made
up almost exclusively of adults, and few
men and women in each church were doing
all the work But this has changed The
young are being held by the organization
OF christian Endeavor societies. by the fire.
quent giving OF sccials and by giving them
considerable of the actual church work to
DO. me change in tactics in this regard Is
succeeding admirably. One evening of the
session of the Yearly Meeting is given over
to the Christian Endeavor work.
There will be some interesting reports
come before the Yearly Meeting. One of the
nelds IN which the Indiana body is doing
especially good work is Mexico. There, for
twenty-five years, the missionaries have la
bored until hold has been secured on the
country that will probably never be lost.
Inc headquarters of the mission work is
at Victoria. where Rev. w. l. Kelsey and
ms wife have charge. They have been there
three years, succeeding Samuel Purdy de-
ceased. They are now back on a visit and
will attend the Yearly Meeting giving an
account of their work. A paper is pub
IN Mexico. but in Central America and the
west Indies. The publishing house supplies
not only religious works, but also print(
textbooks for use in the public schools OF
mexico, furnishing them much cheaper han
they can be bought through the ordinary
channels.
Another encouraging report will be the
one from Earlham College, the Friends in
stitution located here. The past year was
school having opened with fair attendance.
During the last two or three years the
support, and large additions have been made
TO the endowment fund.- Earlham, since liz
corporated as a college, has graduated
nearly nve hundred Students who are now
occupying prominent places in nearly all
the professions. Changes were made previ-
Gus to the opening of this school year that
will prove beneficial.
There are two other things in which this
society is deeply interested. One is Whites
industrial Institute, at Wabash. Ind, where
number of orphans are being cared for.
This was formerly an Indian school, and
from fifty to sixty Indian children were
there all the time But few years ago
this work was abandoned. The society
came to believe that ii was not right to ac-
cept money from the government to carry
on sectarian work, and declined to accept
1t further. So the Indians were sent back
to their reservations or to other schools.
The other work in which such great inter-
est is taken is at Sutherland College, near
Helena, Ark. an institution devoted to the
maintained this school for many years. It
was originally intended only for the educa-
ton of the children of freedmen, but this
specific purpose has been lost sight of in
the demands made on the school. The in
duStrial feature is prominent, large farm
having been purchased.
There will be some matters of consider
able Importance before the Yearly Meeting.
The most important of these is the question
of comforting on the general conference
of Friends Legislative authority. This ques-
ton has been left to the yearly meetings TO
decide and Il is believed they will all favor
it. AS the general conferences now stand
it has no authority each yearly meeting
only making the general conference into
legislative body but also of having drawn
up a discipline to be adopted by all the
yearly meetings. 1t is believed that these
two things will work wonders for the so
ciety.
zOTA EOr A nEGENIR ATE