and of salvation. Then our hearts will turn to love the true and the good, and then, too, the hearts of the people and the government will be turned in goodwill towards us, to give us aid and succor among other nations who live securely under the shadow of European laws, which have been given and written in the spirit of our brother, who gave his life to make the world blessed, and remove evil from the earth. Amen." It is more than a year since these Christian Jews first attracted the attention of the religious world. What the outcome of the movement is to be is in the future, but the earnestness of the leader and the apparently right direction it is taking, give promise of a healthy christian development, untrammeled by the sectarianisms of western theology. THE PENNSYLVANIA MARRIAGE LAW. THE attention of those of our readers who are residents of Pennsylvania may very properly be called to the new law of this State, requiring the procurement of a license before a marriage is accomplished. This act goes into effect the first of next month, and in the monthly meeting of this city, held at Race street, a committee is now considering what procedure, if any, it would be proper for Friends to adopt, in order to secure a due attention to its provisions. The new law requires that before a marriage be performed, application shall be made to the clerk of the Orphans' Court of the county where it is to take place, for a license, and this, upon proof (the oath or affirmation of the party applying), that no legal obstacle exists, and that the contracting parties are of age, or if not, have the consent of parents, the clerk will issue, together with two blank certificates of marriage, one of which, after the wedding, must be returned to him for record within thirty days. These provisions, it will be seen, are simple, and they do not disturb the usage of Friends, except by imposing some additional formalities. The law is little needed so far as our religious body is concerned, the discipline amongst us having always been directed to the result of preventing hasty, improper, or irregular marriages of any sort, and of securing their orderly accomplishment and careful record; but that it is very needful and desirable to establish a better order than now exists generally is quite undeniable. The law is therefore worthy of respect, independent of that formal attention which is required by it. It may be safely said, we think, that there are two particulars in which meetings should act with regard to the law. The first is that the committee appointed by the first monthly meeting, to make inquiry as to clearness," etc., should see that the required license is procured, and should mention in their report to the second monthly meeting that it has been; and, second, the committee of oversight of the marriage should see that the certificate is duly filled up and returned to the clerk of the court for record, and in their report should state their attention to this additional duty. The whole record in the monthly meeting's minutes would thus be perfected, and the evidence of full compliance with the law would be complete. MARRIAGES. MASON-BROWN.-Eighth month 29th, by Friends' ceremony, in Philadelphia, Benjamin E. Mason and Ella C. Brown, both of Chester county, Pa. THOMAS-LYNCH.-Ninth month 3d, 1885, at the residence of the bride's parents, Nottingham, Chester county, Pa., under the care of the monthly meeting of Friends of Philadelphia, Harry C. Thomas, of Chester Valley, son of Ellwood and Anne L. Thomas, and Ella W. Lynch, of Philadelphia, daughter of James and Philena C. Lynch. DEATHS. BAILY.-Near Newport, Perry county, Pa., Eighth month 25th, Joseph Baily, in his 75th year, originally of Chester county, Pa. BRINTON.-Ninth month 3d, Anne, widow of Jacob L. Brinton, aged 82; a member of Green Street Monthly Meeting, Philadelphia. CHEYNEY.-Ninth month 3d, at Cheyney Station, Pa., Mary Cheyney, aged 74. FOGG.-Ninth month 2d, at Elsinborough, Salem county, N. J., Thomas Fogg, aged 83; a member of Greenwich Monthly Meeting, N. J. GRIEST.-At New Castle, Lawrence county, Pa., on the morning of the 29th of Eighth month, 1885, Nathan Griest, aged 82 years, 2 months and 11 days; a member (I believe) of Salem Monthly Meeting, Ohio. Interment took place on the 1st of Ninth month, in Friends' burying ground at Bald Eagle (Unionville), Centre county, Pa., where he formerly resided. Firm in the belief of a higher life, and of being able to meet and commune with loved ones who have gone before, he frequently expressed himself as willing and waiting to pass over the river." He believed in progression while here, as a duty, and hereafter, as a privilege. Taking the golden rule for his guide in the affairs of life, he had no reverence for creeds or confessions of faith, differing therefore with many, yet respected and beloved for his honesty and purity of purpose. His wife survives him. J. HAIGHT.-On Sixth month 2d, 1885, in Yarmouth, Ontario, Canada, Margaret L., wife of the late Edward Haight, in her 33d year; a member of Norwich Monthly Meeting of Friends. HOOPES.-At the residence of his parents, New Garden township, Chester county, Pa., Eighth month 19th, Townsend W. Hoopes. MARTIN.-On Fifth-day, Ninth month 3d, at Marlboroughville, Pa., Hannah, wife of Isaac Martin, in the 82d year of her age; a member of Kennett Monthly Meeting. MORRELL.-At Johnstown, Pa., Eighth month 20th, Daniel J. Morrell, in his 65th year, formerly member of Congress; a son-in-law of the late Powell Stackhouse, of Philadelphia. WATSON.-At Langhorne, Bucks county, Pa., Ninth month 6th, Anna B., wife of Mitchell Watson, and daughter of the late David and Margaret B. Bacon, of Philadelphia, in her 60th year: a member of Middletown Monthly Meeting, Pa. A NEWS OF FRIENDS. OHIO YEARLY MEETING. LETTER from Wm. W. and Charlotte W. Cocks, of Mendon Centre, N. Y., gives some details concerning the recent session of Ohio Yearly Meeting. Their letter says: "On the 29th of Eighth month, we arrived at Salem, O., with the view of attending the Yearly Meeting, which is held alternately there and at Mt. Pleasant; and were most cordially received by Friends. We attended the public meeting on Firstday; the house was well filled with an attentive audience, and communications were delivered from both sides of the house. On Second-day the meeting opened by the reading of a very impressive minute, and the spirit of prayer ascended that we might be guided by the power of love in the transaction of the business. Epistles from sister yearly meetings were read to the comforting of many minds. On the third of the week, the reading of the queries and answers was entered into with interest. In the afternoon at 3 o'clock, the Temperance Committee gathered, and those present were much interested in the discussion of the temperance question. THE MEETING IN CHICAGO. THE Christian Home, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, in a recent issue has an account of the meeting of Eriends of Chicago, Ill. sent to it by a visitor, a minister, T. F. Thickstun, of that city. He attended the regular meeting for worship, held in the Athenæum Building, and his impressions as given in the newspaper mentioned, seem to have been quite favorable. As some of our own members are sometimes known to complain of our meetings as not being attractive, it is interesting to know what an outside observer has to say on this point as to one of them. He says in his letter: I attended service at the Athenæum Building last Sunday. The Friends met there for divine worship. The order of exercises developed as follows: 1st. A very cordial greeting of one another as personal Christian friends. 2d. A half-hour of quiet, prayerful waiting before the Lord. 3d. A good, plain, earnest talk by Mr. J. W. Plummer for thirty minutes. Mr. Plummer's appearance is that of a good, intelligent, earnest man. He is a wholesale druggist, and carries his religion through his daily business. 4th. There was then another rest of ten minutes -time given for reflection and mutual benefit. 5th. Mr. Plummer then led his brethren and sisters in a very reverent and importunate prayer. 6th. The prayer was followed by another ten minutes' silence, after which the speaker extended his hand to the one on his right. This seemed to be the signal for a warm-hearted hand shaking all round, and a cordial breaking up and dismissal from the services. Though a total stranger to every one present, several spoke cordially to me, with the simple inquiry, Thy name?" Then followed an invocation of blessing upon me. I am sorry to add that most of the churches which I have visited are far behind the Friends in this respect. Mr. Plummer found in the statement of Christ, "Ye are my friends, if ye keep my commandments," occasion for the name which they take to themselves as a company of believers. His second thought, and the one upon which he chiefly dwelt, was the necessity of living in their homes and in society so that God and His truth would be demonstrated to the people. This he held to be the true way to reform and convert the world. Without this there would be lack of success. With this, socialism, schisms, shibboleths would cease, and the nations of earth would turn to our Lord Jesus Christ. I was greatly instructed and benefited by my visit to the Athenæum. EASTON AND SARATOGA QUARTERLY MEETING. EASTON and Saratoga Quarterly Meeting, the most northerly of the meetings of New York Yearly Meeting, was held at Granville, N. Y., on the 25th, 26th and 27th of Eighth month. The select meeting held on the afternoon of the 25th was very small. A few aged Friends only are left to constitnte this meeting with but one or two younger ones introduced into this service; it leads to the inquiry: Why we do not bring into the service of this meeting younger and more active and interested members of our Society? This meeting was established for service; we do not place upon the shoulders of the old and infirm the hard work of the world; why should we expect them to bear the bnrden and work of the church? Whilst we retain those who have born the burden and heat of the day in their earlier years, for their wisdom and experience, let us add to our number those who may assist in the more active work and service of the church if we would see our branch of the Christian Church fruitful as it should be, in the full enjoyment of the divine life. At the business meeting on the 26th there was a good attendance, many coming in who were not members. But few of our members from other quarterly meetings were present, and only two of the yearly meeting's visiting committee. A pleasant feature, and one to be commended to each of our smaller meetings, was the holding of the quarterly meeting in joint session. I fail to see the advantages of separate sessions in our business, more than in our religious meetings, unless that in our larger meet ings a better opportunity is offered for expression by thus dividing the meeting into sections. A feeling allusion was made to the band of noble and earnest women who had for so many years]labored in the cause of truth, amongst whom Hannah Rogers, a loved minister, and Ruth Dillingham, a valued elder and frequent testimony bearer in the Granville Meeting, have been recently removed from works to rewards. The memory of these dear Friends, with that of Otis and Stephen Dillingham, and others who might be named, now reaping the rewards of well spent living, induces the earnest desire that the promise may be verified, not only of rest from their labors, but that good results from their works may continue to follow. A large and in the main satisfactory public meeting followed on the 27th, disturbed somewhat by what was felt by many to be unfeeling and uncalled for remarks from one not in membership with us, which brings to our consideration at what point in a regularly constituted meeting of our Society, forbearance ceases to be a virtue, and the rights and feelings of the many cease to be subordinate to the persistency and fancied concern of an individual, especially of one who has no membership rights amongst us. The social visiting which holds no insignificant şervice in our Society, the warm greetings and kind hospitality of the Granville Friends dwell pleasantly in the memory, with the earnest desire that there shall long be preserved in this beautiful village a Society whose members, as in the earlier day, shall be known as earnest seekers after truth. Chappaqua, Eighth month 31st. R. S. HAVILAND. TEMPERANCE MEETING AT CONCORD. AN interesting all-day temperance meeting, under the oversight of the Temperance Committee of Concord Quarterly Meeting, was held at Concord, (Delaware Co., Pa.), on the 1st instant. The exercises consisted of speaking, essays, and recitations. At the morning session, which continued about two hours, Allen Flitcraft, Clement Biddle, and others spoke, and Joseph Shortlidge gave an illustrated lecture, showing, by means of an automatic figure, the evil effects of drink. A poem by Henry S. Kent was read, and an essay by Phebe Griffith. Jonathan K. Taylor, of Baltimore, addressed the meeting at some length, making an earnest and forcible appeal in behalf of Temperance, and urging the feasibility of controlling the evil of drink by legislation. Other addresses were made by Joshua L. Baily, of Philadelphia, Dr. Mowry, and Dr. Graham, of Chester, and others. There were interesting exercises by classes of the First-day schools of Concord, Willistown, and Goshen. At noon, in the recess between the morning and afternoon sessions, a substantial dinner was provided for all, under the trees upon the lawn. NOTES. -Our friend Hugh B. Eastburn advises us that the date given in the Intelligencer and Journal, (19th inst.), for the meeting of Bucks First-day School Un ion was not correct. It will meet a week later, the 26th, at Wrightstown. -Nathaniel Richardson, an approved minister of Byberry, Pa., with his wife, expects to attend Illinois Yearly Meeting, which convenes at Mt. Palatine, Illinois, on Second-day next. THE FIRST-DAY SCHOOL. WHAT IS NEEDED IN BIBLE CLASSES. FROM ROM an exchange paper, (Unity), we extract an article on Bible classes that contains some observations that apply well to the needs felt in our own schools. Speaking of things especially needed, it says: "Best mind, thought and culture in the teachers. This is a vital point. Empty hearts, giddy heads, superficial lives, unstable characters, dress, show and society people are not to be chosen as teachers; nor yet the too sober and severe sort. Pleasant faces, magnetism, love of teaching, love of the child, imagination, attractiveness, a touch of the student, a religious bias, high character, good breeding, a perfect battery of inspiration and good nature, that can teach by presence as well as by precept, and can use manual or no text book at all, and yet educate, inspire, make men and women of the boys and girls-that is the sort of teacher to seek, and find if you can; and when found let officers and parents take some pains to know them and thank them for the very best thing ever done the child, outside, or perhaps inside the home. "A word in particular to parents: Help your child get his lessons, send him early that he may be prompt. Don't keep him home at every little mist or cloud, or when you have company, or want to go out to ride, or haven't got for him the new hat, or coat, or dress, or shoes. That is bad for the education of the child. Go into the school and sit as a visitor, or go into the Bible class and encourage your superintendent and the school, and so help the society and the spread of the truth. Don't leave everything in the school to officials. Don't think it a trifling matter to have your children go to other Sunday schools, where they must learn error; see that they have good teachers, and examine the question books, and talk over many things with the teacher and the superintendent. "Parents send your children to Sunday-school, know who teaches them, and what is being taught. Know the teacher, and in various ways remember her, to show her that you are grateful for her unpaid services, and the help she may be in building up in the child a true and noble character." THE GREAT NEED OF FIRST-DAY SCHOOLS. THE question is now upon us, Can we in our day follow the example of our forefathers in adopting such disciplinary changes as time and altered circumstances may require, without impairing the vitality and life of our meetings for worship? It has long been my belief, founded on the observations of many years, that, after the use of tobacco and other intoxicants, the omission of furnishing children and young people with facilities suited to their capacity; to initiate them into a fitting sense of the value of our principles has been the third great cause of our decline. From the effects of the two first propositions, I have seen entire families of sons among Friends swept away, and in my opinion for want of the third (for want of semi-religious meetings to provide "Milk for the babes," [Hebrews, v.: 12] in which they could mingle on familiar terms with the aged-wherein the lessons of experience, the tender solicitude for the preservation of the young, could flow with unrestrained affection), I have seen multitudes of promising Friends' children of both sexes grow up comparative strangers to the Society. I desire to leave on record the above humble testimony behind me. Possibly, in future times, it may meet the eye of some earnest laborer in the cause of the “religious education of Friends' children,” as a them, and encourage the teachers by our presence. And if anything is required by the Master let us be found ready and emptied of all prejudice; then if we are not used and can not feel at liberty to assist further, we are in our place. Though those who are called to feed the lambs in this way should query as to what we should do, the same spirit that has called them is able to answer. And, O, that we may all seek to attain that which is greater than even faith or hope; that charity which will enable us to work together in harmony, exercising our different gifts in that love which is the badge of true discipleship. Harveysburg, Ohio, Eighth month 13th. THE LIBRARY. M. J. U. "gleaning grape left in the outer branches." [Isaiah, UNDER the heading, "Temperance Text-Books: 17; 6.] JAMES TRIMBLE. Fairville, Chester Co., Pa., Eighth month 25th. ENCOURAGEMENT FOR WORKERS. Editors INTELLIGENCER AND JOURNAL: THE Communications which we receive through the INTELLIGENCER AND JOURNAL are a great source of encouragement; to know the good work is progressing in other places, and that stronger instruments are being used, will serve to lift our drooping spirits, and in the night-time, or when the cloud is resting on our tabernacle, and we can only review the feeble efforts we have made individually towards accomplishing the great work before us, as a society, it will enable us to wait patiently until we have received strength, and under the preparing hand are fitted for the work which He who knows us better than we know ourselves will in His own good time call us to perform. I am gratified that the subject of First-day schools is being brought more particularly before the readers of this paper, and I wish to express my impression of this work. I feel the greatest interest in the establishment and progress of these schools in our Society, and with those who are called and are faithfully laboring in the ministry, but after trying for years to work in the cause and finding it brings darkness, and that my efforts are in vain, I have come to the conclusion not that First-day schools are wrong, but that others are called to this work, and if they are faithful it will go on; notwithstanding that those called to the ministry may not be able to take an active part. We each have our allotted task. It seems strange to me that I have been tending tender plants in the nursery, that I love as my own life, and now they are ready to be transplanted to a wider field for more expanded growth, that I am not called to help to prepare for their reception; yet I hope the soil from which they are taken will be moistened with love, and will not require so much pains on the part of the workers, as it will cleave to the little rootlets and not let them get out of place. And while I can only desire that laborers may plant and water, I know that God will give the increase. And though not called to take active part as superintendents or teachers, we who are parents will surely feel that we should go with our children and read the Scriptures with Safe and Unsafe," A. H. Plumb, D. D., of Boston, Dr. Daniel Dorchester, of Boston, and other officers of temperance organizations, have sent out a circular, "solely in the interests of temperance," as they state, indicating certain text-books on physiology and hygiene, which they think suitable for use in schools under the laws recently adopted by a number of states. The circular says very justly that it is of vital importance that the instruction to be given to the children under these laws should be right instruction, and that “ even ambiguous teaching upon a matter of such great moment may prove more pernicious than no teaching." It adds that "the textbooks for the purpose should answer to these tests: "First. They should be scientifically accurate. "Second. In size and style they should be adapted for use in the school-room. The law requires every pupil, in all grades of all public schools, to pursue this study. "Third. The tone of the books should be calculated, in accordance with the latest teaching of scientific truth, to educate the sentiment of the young in favor of the strictest temperance. In the presence of the alarming dangers now threatening the nation from the enormous consumption of stimulants and narcotics, no suggestions that they may be safely used should be made to the young." The books which are recommended are "Hygienic Physiology for High Schools, by Joel Dorman Steele, Ph. D.," "Hygiene for Young People, for Intermediate schools: Prepared under the direction of the Scientific Department of the National Woman's Christian Temperance Union, and endorsed by A. B. Palmer, M. D., LL. D.," and "The Child's Health Primer, for Primary Schools. Prepared under the same direction." Several other books are enumerated in the circular, as not covered by the above endorsement, though "embodying generally sound temperance instruction." We do not think it needful to reproduce the titles of these, and we wish to remark very explicitly that we give the recommendations of the circular without any endorsement of our own, not having examined the books, or compared them with the requirements of the law. A NEW edition of a book well known to historic students, but which has become very rare amongst ordinary readers, is issued and can be had of Friends' Book Association, 1020 Arch street. This is "New England Judged by the Spirit of the Lord," origin ally written by George Bishop, of Bristol, England, and first published in 1661. George was a captain in Cromwell's army, during the Civil War, but became a Friend through the preaching of John Camm and John Audland, at Bristol, in 1654, and this book, reciting with great force and with much fulness of detail, the hardships and sufferings of Friends in New England, is believed to have had a powerful influence in obtaining redress. It is much referred to in the discussion of the subject, in later times, and will be found frequently cited in Richard P. Hallowell's work, "The Quaker Invasion of New England." The present edition is a reprint of one issued in 1703, in London, by T. Sowle, except that in some instances obsolete and archaic words and phrases have been replaced by those of the present day. "Special care has been taken to preserve the exact meaning of the author, and no part of his narrative has been omitted." The book has been well printed by T. W. Stuckey, (for Friends who have interested themselves in the new edition), and is nicely bound in sheep. It has a place in every collection of Friends' books making claim to reasonable fulness. THE late T. S. Arthur, famous for his domestic and moral writings, was probably most widely known by his authorship of the temperance story, "Ten Nights in a Bar-Room." It is a graphic, indeed a dramatic, portrayal of the changes which a happy family underwent, from the day when the husband and father began to keep a new tavern, the "Sickle and Sheaf," in Cedarville. The tale as told is of course fictitious, but the facts that it represents-the progressive misery due to intoxicating drink-are true to life, and have occurred a multitude of times. Before the author's death he had arranged with the present publishers for this new edition, which is printed from new stereotype plates, and is a handsome volume. From the Atlantic Monthly. A. D. 1209. AMIDST Thuringia's wooded hills she dwelt, A high-born princess, servant of the poor, Sweetening with gracious words the food she dealt To starving throngs at Wartburg's blazoned door. A blinded zealot held her soul in chains, Cramped the sweet nature that he could not kill, God gave her gifts of beauty and of grace, She followed meekly at her stern guide's call. So drooped and died her home-blown rose of bliss In the chill rigor of a discipline That turned her fond lips from her children's kiss, And made her joy of motherhood a sin. To their sad level by compassion led, One with the low and vile herself she made. While thankless misery mocked the hand that fed, And laughed to scorn her piteous masquerade. But still, with patience that outwearied hate, She gave her all while yet she had to give; And then her empty hands, importunate, In prayer she lifted that the poor might live. Sore pressed by grief, and wrongs more hard to bear, And dwarfed and stifled by a harsh control, She kept life fragrant with good deeds and prayer, And fresh and pure the white flower of her soul. Death found her busy at her task; one word Alone she uttered as she paused to die, "Silence!"-then listened even as one who heard With song and wing the angels drawing nigh! Now Fra Angelico's roses fill her hands, And, on Murillo's canvas, Want and Pain In manhood's reverence, woman's prayers and tears, Slow ages passed: and lo! another came, No sackcloth robe, nor ashen-sprinkled hair, In Earlham's bowers, in Plashet's liberal hall, Her ear was open to the Master's call, Tender as mother, beautiful as wife, Amidst the throngs of prisoned crime she stood, In modest raiment faultless as her life, The type of England's worthiest womanhood! So wheresoe'er the guiding Spirit went |