Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1900-06-03

Coming
1--WE differ as the stars Of night"
exclaimed our own divinely optimistic
Phebe Cary, who was nev hostile but
always h~ospitable to every conviction
of the human mind, without subjecting
the convictions of another to the test
by which many are prone to judge of
the opinions of others.
A theological quarrel is a deplorable
thing! And all the more when on on
sidering that every shade of human
belief, from the worship of idols to the
silent communion with the Central
spirit, is a reaching out after the Christ
life. Hence it seems a sharp criticism
upon our opportunities that in the be-
ginning of the twentieth century after
the delivery of the ermon on the
Mount, the story of a theological quar-
rel nearly three quarters of a century
old should be given especial promi-
hence in the announcement of a GEN.
tenniai celebration among the Friends
at Mt. Pleasant. o,
The society name Friends" was as
Sumed because of the loving service
each gave to each, as we'll as to all the
world. A difference in the faces of
men can be no occasion for a quarrel.
And as regards theological beliefs
who shall say Il am right and thou art
wrong"
The dragging into public notice all
the details of a disgraceful struggle for
the Clerks table In the Society of
Friends i nthe veal 1928 so lately sent
from Mt. Pleasant to the newspapers,
must be characterized as remarkably
out of place since for many years the
two branches of Friends have peace
fully owned the property where the old
house still stands. Also the said ac-
count is taken from the diary of one
Thomas Shillitoe, who, with two 9TH
ers, came from England for the pur-
pose OF compelling Elias Hicks and
others to cease from preaching accord
ing to the light that was in them a
spirit very much in accord with the ac-
ton of the mother church of England
at the time of the Quaker resistance to
an "hireling ministry"
These extracts bear the u~nmistakable
index of a bitter partisan. The putting
of guards at the doors of the meeting
holse to exclude members because they
were not in sympathy with a certain
faction tells too much. From the mar
ration itself 1t is plain to be seen that
tne parties were nearly equally divid-
ed and that there was a regularly Or
ganized plan on the part of those in
sympathy with Thomas Shillitoe to ex-
dude nearly or quite half of the as
sembled members, many of them re-
gularly appointed representatives from
their quarterly meetings.
Is it any wonder that there was
something of a turbulent spirit indulg-
ed in by the scores of Friends left out
in the cold? The historian will plainly
read between the lines a spirit of in
tolerance by those inside that had quite
as much to do with this disgraceful
affair as the aggressive course of the
other faction as handed down by this
faithful account" which found its way
into the history of Belmont and JEFF
ferson counties some years ago. 1t
may freely be admitted that many
things were done by the friends of
Elias Hicks that would better have
been lent undone, but this was no one
sided affair, and there is no doubt but
that many Friends in both branches
look back to it with more sorrow than
bitterness.
Here let it be added as a matter Of
history that the author of this preJu-
diced narrative, Thomas Shillitoe, but
a few years later vas out of harmony
with certain prominent ministers and
leaders of that date (1S37), and left as
a part of his dying testimony, the writ
ten statement, that they knew not the
baptism of the Holy Ghost and of fire
to cleanse the floor of their hearts," and
signed the same in the presence of wit
nesses the day before mis- death.
Pleasant it is to feel that this fire
of discord has nearly burned out and
the old historic house has outlived all
the strife and bitterness. 1t is held
in trust by six trustees-three appoint
ed by each branch Of Friends-who
work in entire harmony, neither desir-
ing to dispossess or encrOach on the
other. And both branches use it as a
yearly meeting house.
If a centennial celebration be held
it is our earnest prayer that it be held
in the spirit as well as the honor of
Friends emigration, as the beloved
Joseph Jew said, ito a land where hui
man slavery can ley come
rt.~ $1,000 ~ $500 @A-,a- 1.---I-