El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-08-27

w FROM august 20 uh h.S sep
grounds of the Chautauqua Association
at Chautauqua Lake, New York. will be
occupied by thousands of members of
the Socity of Friends, called there for
attendance upon their annual confer
ence. Their quaint quaker costumes
and their softly spoken Thee" will
harmonic well with the surroundings
of this famous resort and be an added
attraction to the resident cottagers
present and will also give them a bet
ter understanding of the breadth and
scope of the work undertaken by this
quiet denomination of people to whom
the nation is indebted for much of its
progress in philanthropy and education
Religious Education
The conference program will include
many subjects Of general interest as
well as those pertaining to the growth
of the Society of Friends. One of the
leading addresses will be made by
John William Graham, principal Of
Dalton Hall, Manchester University,
England, who will present some of the
latest findings regarding moral and
religious education A number Of
prominent educators from leading
American institutions will discuss the
subject under different standpoints
Considerable time will be devoted to
philanthropic matters and the latest
progress in prison reform and Juvenile
court methods will be presented by
experts.
Industrial conditions, the educational
value of recreation and the promotion
of peace will receive consideration and
several other branches Of civic work
will be presented. The Friends as a
body have long been firm believers
in woman suffrage and a conspicuous
rade held last May was the Quaker
CARRIED marchers led by two men who
carried gray and white banners. Equal
suffrage therefore will be brought
a
and the subject will be presented by
Miss Leonora O'Reilly of New York
Modern Mission of Quakerism.
interest there viii be consideration
given to matters pertaining to their
faith. The discussion Of the modern
mission of Quakerism, the Young
Friends movement and the feasibility
Of certain innOva lions in their form of
service will give the Friends from all
parts of the country ideas to carry
home to their different meeting houses
1t is doubtful if there is any other
religious denomination in the world
of the same numbers that is able to
exert quite so strong an influence for
do the Friends or Quakers. There are
probably less than 100000 professed
followers Of this faith throughout the
world and yet there is not move
ment for progress along any philan-
thropic, educational or moral line in
which they have not a conspicuous II
not a leading place It was the Quak-
er influence which first started the
movement for the abolition Of slavery
They are valiant advocates of the tenn
perance and have good grounds tor
claiming TO be the first active peace
organization in the world
Several Branches of Order.
There are several branches OF
Friends or Quakers scattered through
out the United states although only
two are recognized as important and
the general conference includes them
all The Quakers are nothing II not
progressive and the modern feeling OF
the Hicksite and Orthodox Friends so
that there is no longer the bitterness
OF feeling between them that used TO
exist despite the outward peace.
Friend recently. u say to my Htck-
site Friend. Thee may not believe in
the atonement but il thee ever gets
TO heaven theeli find that 1t was the
atOnement that got thee there and
am content to leave it at that"
The original Society OF Friends was
founded between 1913 and 1856 by
George Fox and their confession OF
faith does not differ materially from
the apostles creed The declaration
of Christian Doctrine put forth by
the society in 1893 had for its distin-
gushing doctrine the Light OF Christ
in Man. In 1927. a Friend named Elias
Hicks promulgated opinions denying
the accepted Interpretation Of the di-
Nlnlly OF christ Inc dIOneMenl anu
several other matters included in the
Christian Doctrine" This led to
division in the society. one party
being known as Hicksites and the
other as orthodox Friends. The two
parties are now uniting their efforts
in many philanthrOpic measures, al
though in Pennsylvania and other 10
calities in which the Hlcksites are well
established they still maintain separ-
ate meeting houses The English
Friends are all considered orthodox
although there are different degrees Of
faith III their different meetings.
Give Literally to Missions.
In numbers the Friends do not seem
to be increasing although in wealth
and the number of their institutions
there is a steady gain One reason
is that they never make any attempt
at PROSECUTING and do not hesitate 10
give their aid to any other Christian
church They are like the Unitartans
in this sort of hberality. They give
literally 10 foreign missions and have
established many of their own, espec-
tally among theAmerican indians with
whom they have held kindly relations
since the time of William Penn. but
they also give literally to help the
missions established in foreign ma
tions by other denominations
There are 10000 members of the So
ciety of Friends in England and last
year they contributed 10000 pounds
sterling to the support of foreign mis-
SiOnS, larger sum than is on record
for any other denomination of the
same numbers. They are especially
interested IN China and there are
number of Chinese Quakers enrolled
in their membership.
Young Friends Movement.
During the past 30 years there has
sprung up the Young Friends Move
ment v hich is doing much to modern
re the characteristics Of the Friends.
The Young Friends association has
erected modern buildings in which are
carried on many branches Of work
which are Of value in moral progress
although not sufficiently religious to
be carried on in the regular meeting
houses There are educational classes
and lecture courses, athletics and So
cial gatherings similar in scope to those
of the Y NJ c. A. activities which
bring the young friends in line with
the work of other religious denomina-
lions.
The Young Friends will have charge
If the devotional exercises of several
of the meetings of the general confer
ence and thus prove that their spirit
ualit,- has not suffered BY their having
conformed to some of the worldly
customs" which their fathers would
have tabooed.
Quakers Are Thrifty.
ba phf1a n hrOOfaS of the Friends