Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-21
Special Correspondence Of The Star


RICHMOND, Ind. June 90 la0S.
X II EMBERS of the Society OF Friends
M who are returning to the United
H'c States from the yearly meetings
held at Birmingham England. report a
fairly satisfactory condition of the de-
nomination abroad. though the number of
members in this country is nearly five
times what il is in Great Britain and Aus
tralia. The latest figures for this country
show over 5000 members in good stand
ing while abroad the best reports show
but 1850 members. though there are up
ward OF 1900 regular attendants at the
meetings who have not yet been received
into full fellowship
The Birmingham meetings were more
largely attended than when the gather
ngs are held in London. and this year
conference showed a marked deliberative
advance over the meeting at Leeds of
last year. In 1909 assembly will be in
London once more. but the inclination is.
according to the American visitors. to go
to some Quaker stronghold outside the
greatest city. However. this year there
were about loo Friends in attendance
from Great Britain. the United States.
Denmark and Australia. and fraternal
greetings were sent from Ireland.
One of the most marked features of the
meeting as IL struck the Americans was
the declaration in favor of a place of
study and training for the Quaker minis
try, though the Friends still hold TO their
principles. which allow the preaching OF
men and women as they feel themselves
divinely influenced thereto. In connection
with this determination to take up mis-
sion and chuEh work more actively a
settlement has been estd blished at Wood
brooke. Selby Oak, Birmingham, where
young men may be instructed in the re-
ligion Of the Society of Friends
A good deal of attention was paid TO
the historic side of the society during
the meeting and great progress was re-
ported in the work of correlating and
preserving the documentary records of
the denomination. In connection with
this some very pretty stories are being
told by the American visitors Of the lit
tie building known as Jordans, which lies
tucked away in one of the beautiful
leafy bottoms SO characteristic Of Buck
inghamshire. a little place that might
we'll be called the Westminster Abbey
of the Quakers.
Once a year there is held at this de-
lghtful spot a gathering of Friends TO
do honor TO William Penn ard other
early followers of the faith who sleep
peacefully in this Gods acre. At other
times the place is almost deserted. save
for the few tourists who make pilgrim
age to this out-of-the-way corner of the
home counties. So remote is il and
so ordinary is the appearance of the
red brick meeting house that the way
farer arriving al the crossroads for the
first time may be forgiven if nothing
very remarkable is noticed by him. The
lover of the countryside may well stop.
attracted by the peaceful beauty of the
hollow. and glance over the wooden pal
ing at the house nesting amid the trees:
but even then the insignificant little tomb
stones and the rows of graves may not
catch the eye, and unless actually in
search of il this famous meeting house
is likely to pass unnoticed.
All around are beech woods. and the
tiny burial ground is overshadowed by
the fine lines that throw grateful shade
over the unmarked graves of some 300
Friends. But little traffic passes by the
crossroads and the spot is one of those
quiet Ravens of rural peace not uncom-
mon in the countryside. and all the sur
roundngS make fit resting place for
those sturdy old Quakers who made so
gallant fight for consciences sake. Yet
1t is only within comparatively recent
times that the place has been rescued
from neglect, and il was mainly owing
to the efforts of American visitors that