enough in the simple doctrines that are the foundation stones of our profession, to give standing room and space for service to this expanding life? Why should there not be, since to our homes it gives the graces of mind and heart, and unlocks treasures of thought and feeling in ourselves that we hardly dreamed of. Surely such wealth as this must be precious in the sight of Him whose own Divine intelligence, imparted by measure to the creature made in His own likeness, is the impelling force. There is quite as much danger of spoiling "the tender plants" as there is need of caution in respect to "the oil and the wine"

The reader will pardon this digression, charging it to the precious young faces whose intelligent appreciation of the words of loving counsel handed forth on that occasion, will not soon be forgotten.

The revent silence into which the meeting settled, was broken by the voice of Margaretta Walton in fervent supplication. John Parrish and Joseph B. Livezey gave loving counsel and encouragement, and Abigail Coates, in a brief testimony expressed the feeling of perhaps all there gathered, that the meeting had been a season of refreshment, from the Divine presence.

The business session was long.

The answers to the three queries responded to, at this time, showed much the same state of society that has existed for many years, and yet there is an underlying element of vitality in First-day school and Temperance work, that is worthy a place among the other factors of religious life. The reports of the Temperance and the Circular meeting's committees were interesting and met the joint approval of the meeting, both being continued. The advices sent down from the yearly meeting, were read in women's branch, and the matter contained therein referred for action to the several monthly meetings.

In men's branch it was proposed to consider the subject in joint session, but for some cause (not learned by the writer) it was not brought into women's meeting. During the time of waiting to hear from men's meeting, a friend present from another quarterly meeting called attention to the subject of holding the business meetings in joint session, as a means of increasing interest in the various affairs of the Society that claim the attention of such meetings; it being found that when men and women are brought together in the consideration of questions of discipline, a clear understanding of the views of each is better gained than through the report of a messenger, or the brief statement of a minute from the one to the other. It was stated that in those smaller meetings where the plan had been adopted, the most satisfactory results have followed, and that Genesee Yearly Meeting at its last session had agreed hereafter to hold all business meetings in joint session. Tenth month 21st., 1885. L. J. R.

Y. M. COMMITTEE IN CALN QUARTER. THE Yearly Meeting's Sub-Committee has been for eighteen days engaged in the duties of its ap pointment within the limits of Caln Quarterly Meeting. During the time engaged in the labor they have

attended six public meetings, one monthly and the quarterly meeting; have also sat with one hundred families in their homes.

Whilst being conveyed so kindly from house to house and receiving so much hospitality, sympathy and help from all with whom we met, we have sensibly felt the needs of our Society, and the importance of faithfulness; particularly on the part of committees engaged in the work. We have found here, as observed in all our meetings, when collected in the meeting-house to worship, that the aged, most of those who were actively engaged in the affairs of the church a quarter of a century ago, have passed on, and their seats are left vacant. There is not so much a lack of membership as there is a want of spiritual life.

How, then, is this life to be stimulated? How and where can we meet with the hungering and discouraged ones, that we may mingle in spirit, fan the spark of divine life into a flame, a glow of spiritual life, that will consume the love of the things of the world and the discouragements that have grown up amongst us? and from an erroneous view of the duties of life engendered by a cultivation of a season unenlightened by the inspiring light, or divine love, better than by sitting down in families where visited and visitors are alike at home in spirit? There will be a feeling, an understanding as to our individual needs, and a duty felt to stimulate one the other. Tenth month 23, 1885. J. P.

FRIENDS IN KANSAS.

Having been informed that Edward Coale and Abel Mills from Illinois were to be in Chanute on First-day, the 18th instant, in pursuance of their religious concern, I rode in the cars twenty-five miles from Parsons to Chanute in the morning, and found a meeting had been appointed for them at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, in the United Brethren's Church. Thomas Lamborn, Sr., and wife, from Yates Center, came down there to share in the spiritual feast; and an isolated family from near Piqua were also there. After cordial greetings and a welcome repast at a kind Friend's house, we rode through a cold rainstorm to the place of worship. A small company of Friends and others were spiritually refreshed by silent communings with the good Father and some gospel messages. The evening was profitably spent in social commingling with congenial minds.

On Second-day morning we were drawn together with one accord in one place-without special appointment and had a highly favored meeting with a centrally located family of Friends. After a time of solemn silence several vocal communications were offered, apparently in the life; and Edward Coale was remarkably led into near sympathy with that interesting family consisting of seven bright children from childhood to early womanhood, with mother and aged grandmother (the father being away from home.) Edward's very appropriate, practical and affecting discourse bore the impress of Divine authority upon it; and it was felt to be the gospel.

In the afternoon an appointed meeting of about two hours duration was held in the house of a dear

Friend residing most remotely from the town. This seemed to be the crowning one of our series of little meetings. The silence was blessed and the speaking was blessed. The gospel flowed through different channels, but all from the same great source. One young woman of the family was moved to arise and say a few words—perhaps for the first time upon such an occasion,—which proved very acceptable and afforded encouragement to others. All of those present appeared willing to do their respective parts, whether in silent meditation or vocal expression; and all seemed to feel that it was indeed good for them to be there. The petition went forth that these two servants of the Master who had left their Illinois homes to labor in gospel love," without money and without price," among the scattered members of the flock in this part of the vineyard, might at least receive the reward of peace and their labors be blessed to the visited ones.

In the evening we had a very comfortable religious sitting with a Friend's family in the town. On the following day we separated; I coming to my Parsons home feeling that the time had been agreeably and profitably spent.

I hope and trust that other concerned Friends will occasionally be rightly commissioned to go forth as the two above named ones are doing, to gather together the scattered fragments of our religious Society, and sow good seed in the many receptive hearts to be found in this western country. Quakerism is is not dead even here in this geographical center of our large country.

WILMER WALTON.

Parsons, Kansas, Tenth mo. 22, 1885.

CAMDEN FRIENDS' MEETING.

ON First-day morning, the 25th of Tenth month, a large assembly gathered for the first time in the newly altered meeting-house at Camden, N. J. Early in the meeting a friend arose with the remark, “The essence, spirit and power of the Christian religion as given by the apostle 'Love God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man' is the fundamental principle of the Society of Friends." Mary S. Lippincott followed with "God is a God hearing and answering prayer," enlarging upon the subject in an impressive and edifying manner. If we draw nigh unto Him and rest in perfect faith and confidence in His all-sufficient love He will be with us to the end. Elizabeth Plummer was with us most acceptably, and arose with the quotation, “Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you," exhorting parents not to entrust their young children to the care of others, and to be very careful that nothing hurtful be allowed to enter their minds, and spoke particularly to a state which she felt to be present,which was under the preparing hand of the Heavenly Father, and urging to faithfulness. I. C. Martindale gave a brief sketch of the early establishment of a Friends' meeting at this place. After a precious season of vocal prayer by E. P. the meeting closed. A conference was then held for the purpose of inciting our members to a greater diligence in the attendance of our meetings. A committee was appointed to take the matter into consideration and bring for

ward some plan by which it could be accomplished, to report the result to a similar conference to be held at the close of the next First-day morning meeting.

T.

CONCORD QUARTERLY MEETING. THIS was held at Darby, (Delaware county, Pa.), on Third-day, 27th inst. The attendance was large, the women's end of the house being quite full. In the first meeting there were several speakers, including Samuel S. Ash, John Parrish, Lydia H. Price, Matilda E. Janney, Sarah Hoopes, Ezra Fell, Allen Flitcraft, Amos Jones, and others. The meeting for business was not prolonged. The first, second, and eighth queries were read, and their answers sent up by the several monthly meetings, were considered. The present clerks-Wm. P. Bancroft and J. Hibberd Bartram, for men's meeting, and Priscilla T. Speakman and Matilda Garrigues, for women's-were continued in service for another year.

Previous to the gathering of the meeting, the members of the Yearly Meeting's committee for Concord Quarter had a conference with the Quarterly Meeting's committee, (appointed at Concord, in Seventh month). There was nearly a full attendance of both committees, and the conference was decidedly encouraging.

MEETING OF THE FRIENDS' LIBRARY ASSOCIATION OF PHILADELPHIA,

ON Tenth month, 23rd, the Library Association of Friends of Philadelphia held its annual meeting at the parlor of the meeting-house at 15th and Race. This was also the Semi-Centennial of the organization of the Library. After the reading of the minutes of last meeting, the annual report was read, stating the steady growth of the institution during the past year.

The gift of an educational and pedagogical depart ment, and of a suitable case to contain them,by Isaac H. Clothier, was gratefully acknowledged; and a gift of a series of valuable books by Samuel Jeanes was likewise noted thankfully.

A detailed and very interesting historical account of the fifty years' progress of this library, from its first inception to its present condition, was read by Joseph M. Truman, and was the subject of much comment and interest. The publication of this paper was fully approved by the meeting, and by some Friends present it was recommended to the INTELLIGENCER AND JOURNAL as suitable for its columns. The consideration of re-cataloguing the library according to the now approved card system was discussed, but the fear was expressed that without special provision of funds for this purpose it cannot be accomplished at present.

A committee was appointed to nominate a new Committee of Management. The Friends named were appointed to the service and the new committee held their first meeting and organized for work on the rise of the annual meeting. This collection of books is rapidly approaching 10,000 in number. The annual report was ordered to be printed.

COLORED INDUSTRY IN THE SOUTH.

THE view suggested by Rebecca Harding Davis, in

her paper in the Atlantic Monthly, (from which we give an extract, elsewhere), that industrial training is one of the vital needs of the Southern colored people, is not only most true, but deeply important at the present time. It is a fact that under the old system of slavery, manual labor, being regarded as degrading by white men, was 'left principally to the negroes, and they secured at the same time the possession of a large part of the mechanical, and even of some artisan occupations. Many were blacksmiths, carpenters, stone-masons, bricklayers, coopers, etc., etc., and received through these trades a compensation materially greater than the earnings of the ordinary "field hand." But Freedom makes labor honorable to the white man in the South, and leads him to take up those avocations that are most remunerative.

He crowds aside the colored man-both because of race feeling, and because he is the better trained and more experienced mechanic. The prejudice of race might be overcome, if thecolored man was very industrious, very willing, and at least equally skillful, but his disadvantage is too great, while he is untrained, for him to hope to contend on equal terms. If he is both black and unskillful the reason for preferring his white competitor is conclusive to the mind of the average employer.

The partial loss of the Slavery opportunity for acquiring trades is therefore a serious misfortune at the present time. So few occupations are open to the colored people at the best that each one to which they can gain admittance is precious. Their future depends on their industry, their thrift, and their virtue; and these three are so knit together that not any one of them can be spared. They must work,

they must work so as to save something, and they must build upon their savings a clean and creditable life. This will raise them to a higher level, and no other process will do it. But if they are to be left only the rudest sorts of labor, the menial services, the occupations that are esteemed most degrading and consequently least entitled to compensation, how are they to thrive? What encouragement is there for their industry? How is it to be successfully urged upon them that they renounce idleness and vice, if the labor offered them is the very meanest and poorest?

While the work of scholastic education must go on-without it hand training would itself be imperfect-the industrial feature is the chief key to the Southern problem. To deal with it successfully should be the effort of all who feel a friendship for the colored people-of every one, indeed, who loves his country, for the colored people are part of it, and their degradation must be always a mill-stone around its neck. The problem in the South is to supplement the teaching in the public schools by other schools, such as that at Hampton, where patient sympathetic teachers will instil into the boys and girls the habit of industry, and will show them the way to use their hands to good advantage. This is a great work. Its claim upon philanthropic Americans is enormous; its magnitude is enough to stir the enthusiasm of the most self-sacrificing. All the testimony which we get from the South proves convincinglyboth its need and its practicability: on one hand, we are told of the vast mass of indolence, incompetency, and unthrift, the temptation to vice, the want of moral standards; while on the other hand, from these conditions there emerge examples of sobriety, perseverance, honesty, fidelity, and worth that are very remarkable. This last, indeed, is the touchstone of the Southern problem: who does not know at least one black man or woman that in all the good qualities of character honored the human family? In the South there are such, and many. The white people, even in the slavery era, testified to this, over and over-to slaves whose rule of life, under the most trying conditions, was that of the clean-handed Christian. Uncle Tom was drawn from life, and who surpasses Uncle Tom? At the present time, while the white" ruling classes" in the South assert strongly the want of industry and virtue among the colored people, they still admit― perhaps we should say they candidly declare that they do know remarkable exceptions to their general description, and they thus make us sure that successful work is possible.

It is peculiarly appropriate for those who are habitually readers of these columns to turn to this great subject. Looking back at the spirit of two score

years ago, when the fetters had just been broken, and remembering with what enthusiasm hundreds addressed themselves to the helping of the freed peo

COMMUNICATIONS.

THE SOCIETY FOR INCREASING INTEREST. Editors INTELLIGENCER AND JOURNAL:

the need for practical, systematic, wise effort is as great as ever, the missionary spirit has so declined, and the workers in the field are so few. It is a field so very suitable for Friends and friendly people. Their simplicity of faith and practical application of Christian doctrine are precisely the foundations needed. If it is open for Friends to become missionaries, it is open in this way. They can carry George Fox's religious system into the South-or anywhereby beginning to lift the downtrodden and to teach them the better way, line upon line, precept upon precept. The habit of work, the capability of success, the virtue that rests upon thrift, is a sure structure—under God's blessing—and these stones we dare to declare, a true Friend knows how to lay.

MARRIAGES.

CRAIG-CADWALLADER.-At the residence of the bride's father, at Yardley, Pa., by Friends' ceremony, Tenth month 22d, George Francis Craig, of Philadelphia, son of Emmeline G. and the late Thomas Craig, formerly of Lockhaven, Clinton county, Penna., and Sarah Yardley Cadwallader, daughter of Algernon S. and the late Susan J. Cadwallader.

JAMISON-BALL.-At Quakertown, Pa., by Friends' ceremony, Tenth month 22d, Allen S. Jamison, of Philadelphia, and Ella Ball, of the former place.

JANNEY-WEBB.-Tenth month 22d, at the residence of the bride's parents, William B. and Rebecca T. Webb, under the care of the monthly meeting of Friends of Philadelphia, Annie B. Webb and Oliver Edward Janney, M. D., of Baltimore, Md., son of Henry Janney.

DEATHS.

ALLEN.-At her residence, Germantown, on the morning of Tenth month 24th, Elizabeth E., widow of Josiah J. Allen, aged 63; a member of the monthly meeting of Friends of Philadelphia.

BONSALL.-Tenth wonth 22d, near Fernwood, Delaware county, Pa., Rachel, widow of B. Warner Bonsall, aged 82 years.

CHASE.-On Fourth-day, Tenth month 21st, Amanda H., wife of Dr. R. H. Chase, resident physician at State Hospital for Insane, Norristown, Pa., and daughter of Charles and Amanda M. Adams, of Philadelphia.

GORDON.-Near Waynesville, Ohio, on Sixth-day, Tenth month 16th, Flora, daughter of Harrison Gordon, and grand-daughter of Stephen Burnett, aged 25 years.

PYLE.-Tenth month 19th, in Philadelphia, Phebe M., daughter of the late Jonathan Pyle.

STILES.-Tenth month 21st, at Moorestown, N. J., Reuben M. Stiles, in his 79th year.

THORN.—At Greenville, Delaware, Tenth month 22d, William B. Thorn, aged 53; a grandson of the late Abraham and Susannah Lower; a member of Green Street Monthly Meeting, Philadelphia.

for Increasing Interest was held at Race street, in Sixth month last, it was decided to meet again in Tenth month, upon a date to be fixed by the Clerks. I hope they have not overlooked the duty confided to them. How other Friends may feel, I do not know; but it seems to me that as we look back to the meetings held last season, we must feel that they were fruitful, as well as interesting, and that notwithstanding the apprehensions that were said to exist amongst some who did not attend, their proceedings were conducted with abundant caution and conservatism. If at any time the line of proper discussion was transgressed it would have been a rare instance.

These meetings, at the time of their beginning, were hailed as the evidence of reäwakening life in our society, and by this very fact they encouraged those faithful Friends who have been hoping to see it increased in religious strength. Apart from whatever the meetings were able to actually accomplish, the simple fact that there were so many earnest members, of all ages, and in many localities ready to signify their devotedness to Friends' principles, was cause for substantial encouragement.

That the meetings did help to increase interest there can be no reasonable doubt. Some share,—how much I do not undertake to say, but doubtless much, —of the good feeling, the earnestness, the hopeful and energetic spirit shown in the Yearly Meeting, was due to the work which had been done in the Race street meetings. They provided an opportunity for maturing thought, for a free and candid interchange of view, for which the Yearly Meeting, overloaded with business and cumbered with unprofitable routine, does not afford an opportunity.

I had not, however, intended writing at length; but simply to express my conviction of the usefulness and value of the Association and its meetings, as shown last Spring, and my hope that they will be encouraged again, in order to promote the increase of the vitality of religion amongst us.

Tenth mo. 26.

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FREEDOM OF THOUGHT AND EXPRESSION. Editors INTELLIGENCER AND JOURNAL:

I FEEL very thoroughly in sympathy with the editorial in the last issue of the Intelligencer explanatory of an article written by a young woman in Vassar College. It seems very evident that the world is advancing, and that Friends as a society must advance with it if they desire to maintain their high position. There was a time in our history when we had no testimony to bear against liquor, but that is no reason why Friends of that age were all wrong and to be shunned. They lived up to the light of their times. A time also existed on the other hand when we considered it a moral wrong for a man to marry his deceased wife's sister, but in the light of later events the custom in relation to such marriages has changed.

I have never thought that the early testimony of Friends against gay clothing was directed against the color so much as it was a protest at the extravagant spirit which prompted it. Yet in the present day we see many of our people occupying the leading positions in our society who wear garments of the beautiful drab, brown or gray colors far more expensive than those that were protested against by our forefathers, and very neat and becoming they appear.

Several deductions I think, can fairly be drawn from these facts, and first I would say that when our society becomes so nearly perfect that it causes no hostile criticism and can stand none, that then it is in a condition far from satisfactory. And secondly that what might be right for one age or for one person might be very wrong for another. The Vassar article I think had many excellent ideas in it.

Phoenixville, Pa.

THE

ROBERT P. SHARPLES.

From the Christian Union.

READING FOR WINTER EVENINGS. HE long evenings have come again, and after the delightful and re-invigorating leisure of the summer twilights the returning opportunities for reading are full of the keenest enjoyment. The open fire is already blazing on many hearths, and around the evening lamp family groups are returning with zest from the summer wanderings. There is an influence, however, which is more permanent and more persuasive than any special plans or efforts for enriching the common life of parents and children; it is the unfailing influence which flows from a full, rich intellectual life on the part of the parents themselves. Better than all courses of reading for the children is the atmosphere of the mother whose interest in the best things of literature and art is sustained and genuine; whose daily habits familiarizes the children with the best music, whose hourly fellowship with books makes the greatest writers friends from early childhood of every growing boy and girl, whose ordinary conversation has the elevation, the correctness, the breadth and charm of genuine culture. Fortunate the household where such a mother imparts a more than liberal education to her children in the years when the seed falls silently into the waiting soil, and springs up in the beauty of unconscious growth.

In the latest chapter of Mr. Ruskin's characteristic account of his early years there is a charming picture of the family life which produced one of the most brilliant and masterly writers of modern times; it may be quoted at length as an eloquent enforcement by example of the truth just stated: "At six punctually I joined my father and mother at tea, being, in the drawing-room, restricted to the inhabitation of the sacred niche above referred to, a recess beside the fire-place, well lighted from the lateral window in the summer evenings, and by the chimney-piece lamp in winter, and out of all inconvenient heat or hurtful draught. A good writing-table before it shut me well in, and carried my plate and cup, or books in service. After tea, my father read to my mother what pleased themselves, I picking up what I could,

or reading what I liked better instead. Thus I heard all the Shakespeare comedies and historical plays again and again; all Scott, and all Don Quixote-a favorite book of my father's, and at which I could then laugh to ecstasy; now it is one of the saddest, and, in some things, the most offensive of books to me. My father was an absolutely beautiful reader of the best poetry and prose-of Shakespeare, Pope, Spenser, Byron and Scott; as of Goldsmith, Addison and Johnson. Lighter ballad poetry he had not fineness of ear to do justice to; his sense of the strength and wisdom of true meaning, and of the force of rightly ordered syllables, made his delivery of Hamlet, Lear, Cæsar, or Marmion melodiously grand and just; but he had no idea of modulating the refrain of a ballad, and had little patience with the tenor of its sentiment. He looked always, in the matter of what he read, for heroic will and consummate reason; never tolerated the morbid love of misery for its own sake, and never read, either for his own pleasure or my instruction, such ballads as Burd Helen, the Twa Corbies, or any other rhyme or story which sought its interest in vain love or fruitless death."

The unconscious training of such a habit of reading on the part of parents, the genuine education of insight and thought and speech, are beyond all price in the history of every child who has had such good fortune in childhood as to know Shakespeare and Scott in the sweet familiarity of the evening assembling before the open fire. It will be found that almost every master of English style has had some such early training as this, and has felt in the most impressionable years the intimate influence of the great writers who have made our language at the same moment a transparent medium of thought and a rich and sonorous harmony of sound. The truest culture of children, the most permanent influence which can be exerted upon them, are atmospheric; they are breathed in with the earliest life. The fathers and mothers who would have sons and daughters rich in the resources of the intellectual life can give them no inheritance so valuable as the unconscious influence of their own full lives of fellowship with the best books, the best music, the noblest works of art. Do not leave to schools and colleges a work which you can do far better than the best teachers if you are only wise enough to see your opportunity and strong enough to use it.

MA

MOTHER OR NURSE?

ARION Harland, in the course of an article on this important topic in Babyhood says : The mischief wrought by an incompetent nurse is beyond calculation by earthly standards of gain or loss; the wrong accomplished by the deceit, unsoundness of moral principle, or vicious temper of a woman in this position outlasts our generation. The awful sum-total is known only to the Omniscient Father, who knows and pities all.

In admitting these truths, which no parent will deny, a direct question opposes the further discussion of our subject: Ought not every mother to undertake the sole charge of her infant?