Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1908-06-27
HOPEWELL MEETING HOUSE
Historic Edifice Where ouakers, or
Friends, Have Worshipped Many
Years.

Friends, Have Worshipped Many
Years.
Scattered here and there through
out the country may be found old
places of worship, whose antiquity
makes them objects OF considerable
interest.
Among these may be mentioned the
old Hopewell church of the Friends,
or Quakers, situated six miles from
Winchester, in Frederick county, Va,
built in 1882. and which still stands
today, in good state of preservation,
as place of worship for the repre-
sentatives of this religious sect in the
community.
The old Hopewefi meeting house
has passed through the trying times
of two great confiicts--tne Revolution
airy and the Civil wars. 1t has, for
many generations, been the place for
the quiet meditations of those who
have gone within its sacred walls 0
worship, in the peaceful shade of its
country situation in the fertile valley
of "Ole Virginny;" but in addition to
this, it has been the place for the
kindly administrations of mercy to
those who were wounded in the cause
for which they fought. The old
church was used as hospital during
both wars.
The building stands today, plain,
unpretentious and unassuming, in the
quiet of this pastoral neighborhood,
serving its purpose nobly, from meet
ing time to meeting time, for those
whose ancestors, for generations wor-
shipped there, and where generations
to come will Likely continue in the
same simple and devout way. This old
church has for many years been
conspicuous landmark in the commu-
nifty.
The Quaker church in this section
of the country has four places where
annual meetings are held. viz. Balti-
more city, and three places in Vir-
ginia--Hopewell, Purcellville and
Waterford. The annual meeting was
| recently held at Hopewell. These
meeting are attended by adherents to
the faith from long distances. and by
men prominent in the church. Among
these may be mentioned John J. Cor
| nell, of Baltimore, and Isaac Wilson,
of the Dominion of Canada.
The church is stronger farther
north, particularly in Pennsylvania,
which commonwealth, it will be re-
membered, was settled by William
Penn. of Quaker faith.
The church is astride of the times
in intellectual advancement, having
some fine institutions of learning,
Among them may be mentioned
Swarthmore College, at Swarthmore,
Delaware county, Pa; Park Avenue
school, Baltimore; Friends Central
school, Philadelphia, and George
ScnOOi, NtWtoWH, q.
The Friends, or Quakers, is a re-
lligious body which took its rise in
England about the middle of the sew
enteenth century, and thence spread
into the En. slish colonies in North
America. George Fo is regarded as
the founder, but Penn and Barclay, az
ter the Restoration. remodeled their
principles and reduced them to more
regular form. They believe in the
doctrin4 of the Trinity and repel the
charges of Socinianism. Prominent
among their beliefs is that divine wor-
ship must be performed Immediately
between the soul and its maker;
therefore the worship of the Quakers
IL conducted in silence. Those who
feel moved by the Holy Spirit to
speak are free to do so, women as
we'll as men. The call to . preach
comes to all persons and not to any
particular class of men. War is OPP
posed as contrary to the spirit and
teachings II the Gospel and oaths OF
all kinds are forbidden. Temperance
and utmost simplicity in all things
are enjoined. They have no regularly
salaried preachers.
Some years ago the Quakers We're
divided into two branches, the Ortho-
dox, and those called "EIicksites,' the
latter established by Elias Hicks prior
to the year 1880. He advocated doc
trines of decided Socialism tenden-
cy, and caused great discord among