The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-06-21

delightful spot gathering of Friends to ao honor to Willlam fenn and other early followers of the faith, who sleep peacefully in this Gods acre. Al other times the place is almost de- serted, save for the few tourists who make piIgrimages to this out-of-tne- way corner of the Home Counties. So remote Is 1t. and so ordinary is the ap- pearance of the red-brick meeting house. that the wayfarer arriving at the crossroads for the tirst time may be forgiven if nothing very remark able is seen. The lover of the cohn- tryside may well stop, attracted by the peaceful beauty of the hollow. and glance over the wooden palins at the house nestling amidst 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 1t this famous meeting house IS likely to pass annoticed.
 All around are beech woods. and the tiny burial ground Is overshadOwed by the fine Hines that throw gratefu. some 300 Friends. But uttle trafic passes by the crossroads. and the spot is one of those quiet havens of rural peace not uncommon in the country side, and all the surroundings make fit resting place for those sturdy old Quakers who made so gallant a fight for sconscience's sake. Yet it is only within comparatively recent times that the place has been rescued from neglect. and 1t was mainly owing to the efforts of American visitors that it has been put In order and care- talSer maintained.
 Some say the Quakers chose this out t-of -the-way corner as the site of their meeting place to be free from ob- yhA hoN NFA Eliwood's autobiography know they were far too independent and upright to do things in the dark. and the real reason is undoubtedly because Wil- liam Russelrs farmhouse of Jordans made a very central meeting place for the Quakers of the surrounding dis- trict
 This little farm where the Friends originally held their services is still in existence close beside the present building and is very similar in ap- pearance. It was at meeting at this farmhouse that the perjured witnesses, Aris and Lacy, swore that the Quaker, Thomas Zachary, was present. although really in London at the time, and even when this aiibi was proved the Magis- trate, Sir Thomas Clayton, of the Vache, Chalfont St. Giles, who cordially hated the Friends, refused to release the un- fortunate man. OltlHdtely Adcndfy was asked to take the oath of al- legiance, and on refusing from the con scientious motives of his sect was sent back to prison. where he was kept until a general amnesty was granted. Ell wood prosecuted the two spies, but Clayton again interfered and allowed them out on bail. Aris left the country to escape prosecution. but Lacy threw himself on zachary's mercy and begged forgiveness, so the magnanimous Quaker promised to let the matter drop provided the informer behaved well for the future.
 A portion of the ground was first purchased from William Russell in 1871 for a graveyard, and it was not till 1888 that more land was bought and the present meeting house erected. At least some of the cost of this was de- frayed by money left by Mary Pening- ton. the widow of the stout old Quaker Isaac Pennington, who spent no small portion of his life in Aylesbury prison. perhaps because he was the son of the reEicfde Judge and so was supposed to possess a double dose of original sin. The bare. whitewashed walls and brick tiled floor remain practically unalter- ed. An unvarnished oak wainscoting runs round the room and the bare wooden benches remain, while at one end is a narrow platform for the elders