The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-10-17
AGAIN A FIELD IS
OPENED FOR THE
QUAKERS, He SAYS
Rufus M. Jones Reads a Pa
per Before Five Years
Meeting on "The Present
Opportunity for Friends"
BY SELLING CHANGE
CHURCH WILL BE SOUGHT
History of the Denomination Is
Reviewed in a General Way,
Showing Why the Early Op-
portunities Were Lost.

1.-TWO hundred years ago there was
fair prospect that Quakerism, through
its establishment everywhere, wUu4d
become the prevailing religion of
America, and after many lethargetic
years have passed by again field has
opened which. II the Quakers but sieze
it, the church can not but be sought.
This field is the adoption of soul
religion. satisfying belief. A new
enthusiasm has been awakened and
has quickened us and this opportunity
has more than ever before opened up
the way for progression
This statement, in substance, was
made by Rufus NJ. Jones. editorial
writer for the American Friend, who
spoke before the Five Years meeting
of Friends at it's opening session today.
t1is subject was the Present Opportu-
nifty of Friends" and his paper on the
subject ELECTED much comment and
commentator.
Chance to Dominate.
In his opening argument, Mr.. Jones
said that by virtue of the enviable po-
inal colonies, their rapid spread into
new territories made very plausible
the belief that the Quakers would one
day dominate the religious ideas Of
the country. The Quakers, from the
very first had control of Pennsylvania,
then the keystone state of the United
States. Slowly they scattered into
both the old and new fields and were
one of the main factors in the rapid
advance of the colonies. The little
Quaker meeting houses scattered ev-
erywhere, formed a chain of religious
forts. Quakers were intrenched ev-
erywhere. I.obust and active, they
were the opponents of the strenuous
life, but used only the spiritual weap-
ons in building up the colonies. Fox
undoubtedly had the vision that Qua
kerism would be the leading religion
of the new world.
Period of Inactivity.
of the Quakers varied, although they
rapidly spread from one limit of the
inhabited country to the other Ev-
erywhere the Friends shaped the
spiritual development. They settled
in the famous northwest territory, Sc
curing the best lands and seemed to
hold the key to the west Then came
the internal petty .'trifes over the
question of garb and other trivalities
and the Quakers, instead of keeping
to their path of progression, remained
quiet and let others pass them. All
they asked was to be let alone.
New Opportunity Opens.
The present generation has seen a
great transformation, said Mr.. Jones
A new enthusiasm has quickened us
and opportunity has once more open
ed up. Friends should have the feel
ing that ought to bear witness to the
truth. Opportunities are now being
siezed with much the old time vigor
People generally are standing in the
outer fringe of a revival of religion.
| Friends are the natural leaders of this
revived spiritual movement and by
the adoption Of an inward first hand
religion of conviction. as it We're
Friends are bound to lead. Such a
religion must be grounded on perso.
nal experiences; one standing firm
against the mass of higher criticism
and scientific investigation. A sound
religion is what Mr.. Jones plead for
| There is an opportunity for the
Friends to grasp this and father it.
thereby taking the lead over other de.
nominations. There is a crying need
| for this all satisfying religion in this
| day, when more attention is paid to
dogmatic beliefs, fine music and beau
tiful architecture Creeds and emot-
| ionai revivals cannot satisfy the
many seekers after God 1t is not a
thrill Of emotion they are seeking
They want the evidence of a compan.
| ion, friend, Savior, father, a tender,
warm and personal spirit.
Following the remarks of Mr.. Jones
who are visiting the family for a ferU