The Washington times., 1920-12-24
FRIENDS SOCIETY
DATES FROM 1903
First Meeting Organized Here
III Years Ago-SpeciaI
DisCOurSes Planned.

Several members of the Society
OF Friends were among those
who came from the Quaker City TO
Washington when the Government
was moved in 1902. These organized
into meeting early in 1903, and in
1908 bought the lots on ! street, be-
tween Eighteenth and Nineteenth.
where they built a meeting house.
which was used until 1879. During
these years many prominent mem
bers of the sect attended and spoke
here. During the ssven years that
Thomas Wetherald was at the head
of the meeting, the house usually
was crowded
The present Westinghouse was
completed on the same property as
the first one, in 1850. The architec-
tNre Of this building is as modest
and unobtrusive as the belief OF those
who worship here. According to their
belief. the church is the entire body
Of Christian believers. so they call
their places of worship meeting
houses. George Fox, who was the
founder OF the society. always re-
ferred to other churches as steeplc
houses.
NO SET OREER OF WORSHIP.
Through their belief in the abso-
Lutte individual guidance of the Spirit.
there is never any set order OF wor-
ship in Friends meeting. They
take only the spiritual observance OF
the ordinances and other religious
ritual Their meeting is first for the
quiet. Individual spiritual communion
and only as one of the members feels
led to take any active part is there
anything said Some branches OF
prt nf
the service and others do not These
beliefs preclude the possibility of a
paid ministry. although those who
give their entire time to preachin :
are supported by free-will offerings.
DR.. Jcsse II. Holmes, of Swarth-
more College, who preached here last
Sunday. said: 1--WE do not want bar
gain counter religion where we can
perform a few ceremonies and have
il all finished until another set date
but a religion which costs much in
daily application and Conscqucntly~ls
Of much value in business, political
and International. and every aCtlVlt!
Of life. If the church accepts the
present challenge to put the power
of love into worldwide action, it Will
rid the world of every reason to go to
war;
FNIENDS' "ohN ~ " An
The stand which the Society OF
Friends has taken in regard to war
has called for much comment and
some persecution. In the recent
world war the unselflsh and fearless
part which they took in reconstruc-
ton and saving life brought the high
est approval They have also been
prominent since the war in that most
dangerous occupation of clearing the
North Sea of mines.
The reconstruction work is still be-
ing carried on and the local Friends
have sent in more than $4,000 Tor
that purpose, in the past hfteen
months, in addition to their regular
local and missionary work.
The Rev. Rufus NJ. Jones, of Haver-
ford College, is expected to visit the
meeting soon and the Rev. Ebert
Russell, of Swarthmore, is to give a
series of special discourses soon after
the first of the year.
THE Madness the Gladness and the
Sadness of Christmas" will be the
Christmas Sunday morning topic OF
Dr. John f. Briggs, at the Fifth Bap-
list Church. The annual evening
with the choir" on Sunday evening