Evening star., 1928-11-20

sons of the most dive Sc theological be-
liefs 1t is religion not of doctrine.
but of behavio" Ihe privilege of the
floor ordinarily is allowed to any one in
the congregation.
Might Embarr at.
Now. If some restrictions are not i'm
posed, the governing body of the church
feels, this condition will afford an url-
rivaled opportunity to persons who want
to preach to the President or to bring
to his attention all sorts of personal
appeals and appeals for movements OF
one sort or another. Not only would
this be entirely out of harmony with
the meeting, 1t Is felt, but might place
the President in an embarrassing posi-
ton.
At the church of almost any other
denomination this would be impossible,
because there would be pastor as pre-
siding officer, the order of the service
would be determined in advance, and
any one who presumed to speak from
the floor automatically would be out OF
order. and would be dealt with in what
ever fashion usually is employed for
keeping order.
Furthermore, it was explained by a
member of the committee on ministry
and council, the governing body of the
society, the significant Of the opening
period of silence is understood by mem
bers and is an extremely important
part of the service. Nothing Is sup
posed to interfere with the reflections
of the worshiper. This would not be
understood by non-members, accus-
toned to the procedure in other
churches. Many might come In after
the period of silence had started, whis-
per among themselves, and crane their
necks with obvious worldly curiosity at
the entrance of the President or some
other distinguished member. Thus the
significance OF the period of silence
might be lost.
One Other Friends House Here.
The o~'-- other communion of the
Society of Friends in Washington Is
that of the Five Years Meeting branch,
one of the two branches of the orthodox
wing of the church, whose meeting
house is at Thirteenth and Irving
streets. This church usually has a
minister, who acts as presiding officer,
just as does the clergyman In any other
church. Its communicates also have a
more definite doctrinal position.
Both Mr.. and Mrs. Hoover have at
tended most frequently the Hicksite
meeting house, although Mr.. Hoover
belongs to another group Of Friends,
which Is not represented by a congre-
cation in Washington. Mrs. Hoover is
not Quaker, but usually has accom-
panied her husband, and IS very popu-
lar with the local congregation. AL
though the President-ele has made no
announcement regarding the church he
will attend, the committee on ministry
and council feel that he will attend the
services in the lit'I, Hicksite church
quite frequently in the future, as he has
in the past, varying his church attend
ance by going sometimes to other
Quaker meeting houses In the vicinity
of Washington. One of the two Quaker
congregations at Sandy Spring, Md, is
Hicksite. and has been attended by Mr..
and Mrs Hoover.
Committee Adopts No Plans.
The committee has not adopted yet
any definite plans for dealing with the
situation which they feel is bound to
arise. Even If there were no other OBJ
jections, they do not desire to crowd
the church beyond its comfortable ca
pacity. The first consideration will be
to care for the regular members and
these non-members who frequc tly have
attended the services in the past and
have built up intimate social relations
with its membership, such as Mrs.
Hoover. The possibility of issuing cards
to such persons has been discussed.
The committee, however, does not wish
to adopt any plans at this time which
would seem to forecast difficulty which
they are not sure will arise--if, for ex-
ample, Mr. Hoover should decide to
make some other Quaker meeting house
his church home, although this is by
no means probable.
Furthermore the committee wishes
to avoid any step which might seem
inhospitable. The church always has
held out the hand of fellowship to al.
It's membership has been open to any
one who has expressed desire to join
and whose character has been approved
bv the committee, without regard to the
persons religious or secular opinions.
Thus great variety of doctrinal opin-
tAVN &c fvx TO-