The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-26
Ancient Practice OF silent Prayer Has
Its value, a Leading Quaker
Family Believes.
DETAILS OF THE FEDERATION
STANDING COMMITTEE WILL PLAN
FIyE-YEARs' MEETING.
Friends VIII End Their Conference
To-Morrow with Important Session
Services Arranged To-day.


Worship was the title OF papers read by
Rufus ". Jones. OF New York. and Presi-
dent Edwin McGrew, Of the Pacific Col
lege. Of oregon. at last nights session OF
the Five-Years Meeting OF Friends, be-
ing held in the First Friends Church. The
discussion OF worship occupied the entire
evening and was participated in by many
Of the Friends present. William Cadberry,
OF Philadelphia; Sophia Frye. of London;
Charles Z. Tebbetts, Of California; John
w. Woody, OF North Carolina, and many
others made hve-minute speeches In the
discussion OF the thoughts brought out in
the papers OF the two leaders on the sub
Ject.
In this discussion the methods OF the
old-time Friends in this silent worship and
the present day worship with the use OF
organs and other church paraphernalia
was brought out. The church has in the
last ten years worshiped like churches OF
other denominations and in the majority
OF meetings which do not recognize these
as necessary to a proper worship Of God
according TO the articles of faith and dec
larations OF the orthodox Quakers. On
this Prof. Edwin McGrew in his paper said:
If the Friends has stood for anything
that has characterized US as a body, II Is
spirituality of worship. This is sought.
in part. by casting aside formalitiss, by
great emphasis of the doctrine of the
priesthood Of believers. II some things
have been put aside other things have
been allowed, nay more, encouraged.
These possibly may constitute our prac-
tees Shall we notice some of the Friends
practices? In the first place silence in
worship has not been uncommon. You may
49,
In Friends meetings has gone well over
into theory. and to a degree L regret l am
forced TO admit il, but am convinced that
a spirit-filled, silent worship has not lost
its power and should not lose its place
Perhaps il was never quite the Friends
theory that there should be an hour or
two of silence. sleepy drowsy meeting,
whatever may have been some of our
practices. but 1 appeal to you, have you
not known times when the only way for
our meetings to come into true plane of
worship was through a brief period OF
silence? Have We not sometimes been
found singing time away simply to con-
sumo time? In my judgment a Friends
minister ought TO prize the privilege TO
Ience In which they may be strangely fitted
by the Spirit himself, to receive his mes
sage through the minister
PLACE FOR PRAYER.
I'm the second place. we recognize that
prayer should nave place in public wor-
ship. 1 speak especially of the larger pub
lie meetings. For should we include the
prayer meetings in this subject | would in
sist that a prayer meeting is a place to
pray. Prayer certainly does have an i'm
pOrtant place in our public worship. GER
tainly not formal. cold, unfeeIing prayer
but that which comes Of a warm. deyout
heart; that effectuaI, fervent PRAYER of
righteous men and righteous women
that availeth much. 1t is most desirable
that the minister. the pastor be very gifted
In prayer, but ought we not retain the
theory and the practice under the Holy
Spirits direction of prayer from the body
of the congregation? Perhaps some may
take undue advantage of such oppbrt,,nftv
but without il some soul would for want OF
an expression. grow lean and powerIess
seeks Him and His blessing through tbe
medium of spirit-filled prayer
i have referred To all of the practices
or worship which exist in some Friends
meetings, and TO all but one which usually
\ are found in others This one is the nraC-
tice OF singing. i have no discussion to
enter upon concerning II: none Is needed
II through the ages God has been pleased
with the songs OF His children. If DsalrnisrS
and prophets and Jesus and His disciples
sang, TX the founders of our church sang
and If song full of gospel truth has cheered
the lives and strengthened the souls of
tOiling and weary women and has
brought conviction TO the singer perhaDs
the practice Of singing has yet a place in
worship Let us apply TO ii. however what
I'VE nave required IN the other practices
that ii be spirit filled \ song that is
merely To fill up time is no more i'm line
of worship than preaching or praying or
dead silence merely 70 ill up time. 1t is
very pleasant for US sometimes 10 sing inst
To while the time away. but that singing
Is not necessarily worship"
~ oil of he
and practice in worship a resolution vas
introduced and passed which discouraged
the efforts OF ministers and others in
:, meetings IN praying for the benefit of the
congregation rather than TO God The habit
OF noWery workings OF prayer end oratOri-
cal effort In this line was discouraged. and
the Friends are urged to avoid these sDec-
tacular methods as much as possible
Yesterday afternoon the place and frnC-
lions or the tve-year meeting was argued
by the Friends, and il was decided TO place
in the hands OF the standing committee
the task OF working out the scope and
breadth of the meetings conduct of the
church's affairs. In the informal business
talk which followed this action general
subjects OF interest TO the Quakers were
brought up and disposed Of. Among these
was the report OF the committee on bust
ness affairs. which Incorporated many
questions which were noted when they
were referred 10 the committee Charles
+. Newlin. Of Indianapolis was appointed
general railway agent of the society and
20 him was given the task Of securing rates
Five-Year Meeting. \ committee corn
posed OF Rufus NJ Jones New Fnglana
Yearly Meeting; James Wood. New York
Allen G. Thomas. Baltimore: Mary r Cart
land, North Carolina; Timothy Nicholson
Indiana; Peter W. Raidabaugh. Western
Indiana; Cyrus Y. Dixon. Kansas: iona
than u. Wright. Wilmington o.: Edwin
n McGrew oregon. and r. Esther Smith
or California was appointed 10 arrange for
the next Five-Year Meeting.
ALL FRIENDS INVITED.
The meeting ordered that an expression
y OF greeting and good will TO the fraternal
delegates present be spread upon the min
lltes and the resolution inviting delegates
frSm other branches OF the Society of
Friepds in North America not members of
the meeting was adopted. The committee
on publication OF the report OF the meet
Ing. appointed Tuesday. was found to be
OF little use and dissolved The re-
ports will be published under the direction
OF the secretary. Elwood o. Ellis. OF Rich
mOnd. Expressions OF commentator of the
two Friends papers The American Friend
and Missionary Advocate. were voiced 4.
resolutions. plan for uniform blanks and
reports for church and meeting work .yas
discussed and the work OF formulation OF
definite forms was given 10 the business
committee. The finances OF the Five Years
Meeting and a plan 20 arrange for the rails
Ing and keeping OF the money OF the meet
Nrnr wsral al Ina If ~. -.