The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-09-27
Editor of American Friend
Compares Five Years Meet
ing in Richmond to Confer
ence Here 20 Years Ago.
HAS BEEN MARKED AO-
VANCE BY THE CHURCH.
Gathering Here Will Be an 0c-
casion of the Very First I'm
portance---Denomination at
Incubation Time. s


Commenting on the general confer
ence of American Friends, soon to be
held in Richmond, Rufus M. Jones
says in the American Friend:
The Five Years Meeting will open IN
Richmond Ind. at 7:30 o'clock on the
18th of next month. 1t will be CON-
posed of official delegates from New
England, New York, Canada, Balti-
more, North Carolina, Wilmington, In
diana, Western, Kansas, Iowa Oregon
and California yearly meetings with a
fraternal delegation from London and
Dublin yearly meetings. and group Of
Friends from Philadelphia, who will
undoubtedly be welcomed by the meet
ing. as has been the custom in the past.
1t will thus be the most august gath
ering of Friends since the Richmond
conference, twenty years ago.
Since that date there has been q
marked advance in all that concerns
our branch of the church. Our spir-
itual message is clearer and stronger,
our practical work more adequate. our
meetings, both in city and country, are
more vital and dynamic. Our educa-
tional institutions have more than
doubled their assets. and their influ-
ence and power have increased In like
proportion Our missionary work
was then in the infant stage; now It
has grown to be one Of the most virile
features OF our spiritual activity. Our
bible-schools have gained enormously
in their effectiveness and are now gen.
uine feeders to the life and growth OF
the church Our young people are in
terested in the affairs and concerns OF
the church to an extent hardly equaled
since the days of primitive Quaker
ISM There has been a decided ad-
vance In concentration Of forces. In uni
ty of work and purpose. The Five
Years Meeting. organizing these many
yearly meetings into one body, In itself
is a distinct step ahead; for American
Quakerism from Atlantic to Pacific
feels itself one in a sense quite un-
known twenty years ago.
There Is, to be sure, a debit side to
the account, but on the whole the gain
is clear. The Five Years meeting Of
1907 meets on higher level than tho
conference of 1897 It's task Is not so
critical and ticklish; its problems are
OF a more practical nature, and the
controversial element is much less In
evidence.
But nevertheless this Five Years
meeting will be an occasion OF the very
first importance, as momentous, and
as big with significance as any gath
ering of Friends on this continent.
Those who are watching the signs
know perfectly well that we have come
to one of those mysterious incubation
times which appear in the history Of all
people when the issue is settled. wheth-
er the body is to contract or expand
its functions and powers.
There are many young Friends who
are wondering whether there is any
large future for our branch of the
church. whether they can with hope
and confidence give their faith and al
legiance without reserve to its cause,
whether. with SO many chances open
where they can make their lives count,
they can afford to devote themselves
and their all to this church and its
mission. They are eagerly watching
to see how this meeting, made up OF
the very flower of American Quaker
ism. will rise TO the occasion, whether
it will prove equal to the demands OF
the times with its face to the front. or
petty and halting with its face turned
backward We have ourselves good
hope and faith that the meeting will
mark an epoch in our generation, and
that 1t will open vista toward larger
possibilities.
But if that hope is to be fulfilled ev-
erybody must go to IL in a large and
consecrated spirit. Fortunately there
are no parties and no sectional jealous
les. There will be no need for poll
tics and scheming. The best and wis.
est person for the position in the list OF
delegates should be chosen clerk, and
he should have the loyal support Of the
entire body. The impact and power
of the meeting on the church and on
the world should be uppermost in the
thought and prayers of all. Let us
make the we Years meeting OF 1907
date to reckon by.