Evening star., 1928-06-19
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL =. COLLINS.

In the coming presidential campaign
there is more than one provision OF the
Constitution which NAV come under
discussion, inclusive of the first amend
ment, no less than the eighteenth
That first amendment forbids Congress
from enacting any law affecting reli-
gion. but it does not forcsee a campaign
in which such extremes of ritualistiC
and non -ritualistic faiths may be con-
trasted. Could there be wider diver
gence than that between the faith OF
Gov. Smith and that of Friend Herbert
Hoover? One is expressed almost solely
In ritual. the other is absolutely without
ritual or other fixed form of ceremony
1t is quite outside Of the limits OF
this column To discuss the merits OF
any religion, but today so little is really
known. popularity, Of the Quakers that q
cursory outline of their history and
characteristics will be found timely.
Comparatively few Washingtonians
perhaps, have ever attended meeting
In the little church OF Quakers. To
which Friend Hoover belongs and which
he attends regularly. Certainly the
general conception of what the sect
really is, and what are Its character
istics, Is hazy. Thomas Hood called II
The sedate. sober, silent. serious sad
coiored sect"-just as II he knew Her
bert Hoover himself
Memory OF the present writer con-
tains two experiences in tine with the
Friends. one OF which came some years
ago when visiting the First Quaker
Meeting House built in America"-or
rather successor TO that first house.
tad hn q atytatSAGAA ~ Aha
writer--at Burlington. NJ. J.
It was a Sabbath morning, and enter
ing the meeting house somewhat early
before many Friends had arrived, the
visitor and wife were ushered into sepa-
rate sittings-the goats apart from the
sheep-on opposite sides Of the aisle
A few minutes later as the people be-
gan to gather venerable gentleman
came In and he had gotten half way to
the front when he senSed the presence
Of stranger sitting near the rear. and
hastily returned to invite him to come
up in front"
Thank you, had better remain
here" was the response.
"No--no" urged the Friend come
up In front; thee Is first. and entitled
to front seat"
Finding the visitor too retiring to
nGGNDl btlG tuJuklCbtOH 10 CQIIlC up
higher" the white haired Quaker seated
himself upon the high seat"--a tier oi
seats facing the body OF the church
There we're two or three others also
upon the high seat" facing. but never
seeing, the assembly
There was no singing. no preaching
ana not even word from any one
moved by the Spirit. Not q word was
spoken. as the hour slipped by. Once
bird flew through a gallery window
but only one pair of eyes was raised To
glance at IT as II few about the church
eyes OF demure maiden which
were quickly dropped again. After an
nour ot meditation and silent prayer
,, The white-haired man upon the high
seat suddenly shook hands with a young
Friend seated beside him. and then
everybody did likewise with seatmates
as signal that the service was over
SO the young man came down from the
high seat and opened Sunday school. oi
which he proved TO be superintendent
But there were no children in that
Sunday school. Where are the Quaker
children today?
*&* ~
Some years later, with the recollec
ton OF the tradition that William Penr
had sent that ancestor of this writer
across the waters TO build the FIRST
| Quaker Meeting House in New Jersey
| before Penn himself crossed the ocean
the writer had wonderful day In visit.
| Ing Windsor Castle and nearby Stoke
Pogis. England. where Gray Wrote hi:
"Elegy In a Country Churchyard"
IL was just the right time OF day
when arrived at the latter shrine, anC
orays description fitted the occasion
Now fades the glimmering landscape
on the sight,
And all the air solemn stillnes;
| holds,
Save where the beetle wheels his dron.
Ing flight.
And drnwsy tinkling lul the distant
folds"