The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-29
BUOADBRIM AND SUNBONNET
UERE AND THERE AMONG MOD
rEN GEAR AT FRIENDS MEETING
The Non,inatiye Thee Figures In Friendly
salutations. but Is so, II Dropped When
eetn; Il Oe.-Eider Burton bids
brethren Not Despair Of the state.

The Nonlnatye Thee Figures In Friendly
Salutat ions, but Is so, II Dropped When
cctn; Il Ne"-Elder Burton Bids
brethren Not Despair Of the state,
In the old meeting house in Rutherford
nlace the Quakers of New York State held
their annual meeting yesterday. 1t would
I've called a conference in any other church,
Tho nine quarterly meetings Of the State,
COMPRISING about twenty-five congrega-
tons. sent delegates. The meeting house,
which is rather large church, was packed
to its full capacity by II o'clock
The meeting house Is as bare within az a
harm There is not an ornament except
the metal work of the gas chandeliers,
The pews are Of wood, painted yellow.
There is no pulpit; the platform holds in
stead a double row Of benches. Here sat
twenty elders and ministers, ten men and
ten women. These kept up the old Quaker
tradition Of separation Of the sexes.
Five of the women wore the Quaker
bonnet of tradition, and one Of the men held
on his knees venerable broadbrim, Other
wise there was nothing about the dress OF
the congregation to set it off from any
other fold OF the plain people OF New York.
People began to drift in by half-past TO-
They kept absolute silence. None spoke
~ his neighbor. even in whisper. Here
and there man sat with his eyes closed
in meditation, or a woman shaded her
forehead with her hand. This speaking,
oppressive silence continued until the
clock Of st. Georges across the street struck
H. and still the spirit moved no one. 1t
was five minutes later before Elder Samuel
r h0 hall tho
Of the bench" in Quaker phrase, rose and
said
when God said Let there be light
there was light George Bancroft, the
historian, has told us how there Is an inner
light which illumines the understanding
Of common men AZ we'll as Of the wise This
light, said he, is characteristic Of the
people called Quaker"
Several minutes more OF silence, until
one of the sisters in the old fashioned
Quaker bonnet arose and prayed almost
inaudbly, Perhaps, remembering the Straits
minutes Of silence followed before a stall
wart young eder-Joel Borton Of Phila-
delphia-was moved by the spirit to de-
liver a speech which was almost a sermon
for length.
let us live in the presence OF God"
he said. THAT Ia the only way to he strong
in resisting temptation. 1t is p easure
thus to live. 1t Is the only path to the
height which God intended US to reach.
II we live in the presence of God, We
will do all things as He intended. We will
take care Of our bodies, for example, trying
There's no reason why men should not
live 100 years, as our ancestors did; as many
do now"
Elder Borton admonished the young peo-
pie Of the Friends to hearken to the ooun-
Eel of their parents in the matter Of mar
vic ho md Gni
moved several speakers In rapid succession.
One elderly brother showed that Quaker
doctrine Ia not at variance with the doc
trines Of modern science.
Men have thrown mist Of superstitio ion
over the divine work OF creation he said.
created and then the process ceased. But
We know that the work of creation is still
going on. New worlds are being made.
Ours Is still in the process of creation and
recreation. We're : part Of the work OF
creation. Grasp this and hope perennial
much pessimism in the world to-day. We
doubt il there's enough moral strength in
citizenship to revive the State. All we need
is to put ourselves in harmony with the IN
finite purpose OF creation. When this
creative fervor wakes in the human heart
prevail against the State. The divine power
will make us divine citizens as well as divine
men. The barrier between class and class
will disappear. and we will hear no moro
senseless prate about capital and labor"
Out Of the silence that followed came
voice from the benches, quoting:
Rcmcmscr It pays TO do right
IN pulpit ard IN pew,
In politics too.
REM NJ Der II pays to do right
No one seemed moved to speak further,
90 Elder Haincs rose and said
There will be meeting for worship
this afternoon in this room at half past ~
and the meeting was over.
The Friends rose and circulated and mixed.
The sisters saluted one another with kisses
on the check. and all fell back into the
speech of their ancestors.
Il am very glad to see thee. Will thee
dine with us to-day? No? How is thy sister,"
Il cannot recall thy name, hut think
met thee last year-oh yes thee are Mary
Smith. How is thee, Nary"
young woman, who wore spring hat
end tailor made gown, approached a
gro n of young men.
Thee is John Carpenter. believe she
said Il saw thee in Buffalo. And thy
iri'nd?'
This is William Jones' said John.
How ia thee, William" said the young
woman as she extended her hand,
When they got away from. the church I,
however. these Quakers Of the twentieth
century fell back into the you Of the outer