tion of youth, and a zeal for the advancement of truth and righteousness in the earth. Exciting amusements were strongly objected to, on the good ground of the great value of time, and of the sin involved in the waste of vital force. But the danger of moral deterioration was held to be far the most important consideration. The need of rest and recreation must be recognized, but such recreation as profits the bodily frame, and does not dissipate pure spiritual influences, should alone be sought after by the Christian. The subject of the free education of all such of our children as have not the means of their own, and the care that all such have proper training in business which will give them honorable independence in future life, was dwelt upon. It was felt that while Friends had ever maintained the boundless scope of christian charity, they believe it a first duty to extend faithful and tender care to those of our own household of faith. Young men who are seeking employment in the city were mentioned as particularly in need of the guardian care of faithful Friends. An upright and prudent business life appears to be the rule with our members, so far as is known. The influence of women in the conduct of business is felt as a counsellor, and as an economist. The moderation of desires tends to moderation in business, and justness in the payment of debts comes of due forethought in regard to expenditures. Here the wife and the mother is potent for good, and here rests deep responsibilities. In regard to the dealing with offenders it is claimed that Friends have been faithful, and that they have acted in the spirit of restoring love. One Friend spoke with much concern of the non-attendance of our meetings, on the part of many whose names remain upon our record books. It was asked if such should retain the right of membership; when they decline to contribute to the maintenance of the work of the Society, either educational or benevolent, and refuse to co-operate with us in the regular attendance upon public divine worship. Greater works than those of our fathers should the inheritors of their labors and their testimonies be accomplishing. It was felt by some, whose views found no vocal expressson, that a proper means of holding the children of the church to their allegiance is to call them into its service, and permit them to feel, with the more experienced, that they are a power for good among We need a revival of life and energy in this Society. us. Professing as we do, and endeavoring to practice, the highest and purest phase of christianity; claiming the advocacy of every righteous reform which the needs of mankind have brought into prominence; and aiming as we do to promote every educational effort which tends to the enlargement of the best life, both spiritual and intellectual, we should be able to enlist the warm sympathy and cordial co-operation of generous young minds that have enjoyed the advantages of culture, and that material good which comes of the business prosperity, which has so abundantly blessed later times. Our cardinal principles and our testimonies are enlisting the advocacy of philosopher and sage, and the general religious world is no longer indifferent to the doctrines and testimonies of the Society of Friends. Neither does it, as of old, hold toward us an antagonistic attitude. Shall we not be able to enlist our able, intelligent and conscientious youth in the well-being and the maintenance of this house of their fathers, and in joining hands with more experienced workers for such aggressivs and progressive action as our times demand? Mere quietism does not meet the needs nor satisfy the aspirations of the bright young spirits of our religious household. We believe they covet earnestly the best gifts, and desire to be found clad in the whole armor of God. Youth, like "Spring is strong and virtuous, Broad sowing, cheerful, plenteous, The large and solemn meetings held at the several Friends' Meeting Houses of Philadelphia, on the 13th of Fifth month, were occasions of deep interest. Many ministers addressed the gatherings, calling the attention of the people to the views of Christian truth of which Friends are the exponents. In the afternoon, the Youth's Meeting at the Race Street Meeting House was also very large, and was of a deeply interesting character. Deputations from the various Firstday Schools in and near Philadelphia were present, and appropriate exercises were given by each, which showed the careful training and judicious instruction they have received. It was felt that the work of the First-day School has now grown to such importance among Friends that it must have a great influence on the future of this religious body. Many of the teachers are the fathers and mothers of the children, and the parental is thus joined with the school influence in this culture of the religious principle in the youth. We hold it to be of paramount importance that so great a responsibility as that of the the path of simple obedience by the spirit instruction of the children of our Society, of criticism which is too much indulged should rest partly at least on the shoulders of the wisest and most experienced of its amongst us. members, and not be delegated too largely to the hands of the untried young disciples who have sometimes deep need of the aid of the veterans in the service of the Highest. The voice of prayer was raised as the exercises of this meeting closed, and the divine blessing was invoked upon both the teachers and the pupils who had been here so pleasantly and profitably together to day. The value of the blackboard as a means of imparting instruction was illustrated, and its importance proved practically. S. R. FRIENDS' INTELLIGENCER. PHILADELPHIA, FIFTH MO. 19, 1883. PHILADELPHIA YEARLY MEETING.-The meeting of ministers and elders belonging to this body convened on Seventh day the 12th inst, and held a morning and afternoon session. Daniel Foulke was appointed clerk, and Clement Biddle assistant. The usual number appeared to be in attendance. Several minutes for Friends from other Yearly Meetings were read, and words of welcome extended. There was a harmonious labor in both sessions, though some regret was expressed that the vocal expression which was called out by the answers to the queries, came, with one or two exceptions, from the ministers. Some of the answers to the first query, used the word "generally," in regard to the attendance of religious meetings, which caused much exercise, and those who draw up these answers were counselled to be more exact in the use of words, and that the absence of any from feebleness or sickness did not require an abatement in the answer. The presence of so many on whose countenances the lines of age are seen to be deepening year by year, called forth a pensive, almost sad feeling, which found expression in the fear that the meeting was growing old, and that it needed to be revived by the addition of concerned spirits among the younger class. The qualifications of a true “elder" were dwelt upon, which were needed to enable these to sympathize with those coming forth in the ministry, who, it was believed, were sometimes discouraged and turned aside from In allusion to the renewal of gospel fellowship, and the warmth of feeling experienced by contact with congenial minds, the counsel was lovingly and earnestly extended, that they who had been the receivers of that blessing should not rest satisfied until they had conveyed to those left at home some of the fragments that remained. The feeling of tender solemnity which marked the close of the meeting moistened the eyes of many. THE QUERIES. "The answers are just the same year after year," is the comment sometimes made after our queries have been answered. Coming up for consideration in our Preparative, Monthly, Quarterly, and Yearly Meetings, there must necessarily be a repetition, nor can we expect much variety in the answers from one year to another, but if we compare one generation with another, a marked change will certainly appear, and we shall find that there has been a steady advance along the line of more correct living. As we grow out of the sensational in religion, the ethical takes a more important place, and right living is justly given the precedence over an abstract belief in any dogma. From the beginning of our organization as a Society there has been a growing desire that we should be known by our fruits, for like every tree of the Lord's planting we should produce good fruit, therefore the queries which investigate the lives and conduct of our people, collectively and individually, have been cherished as one of the means of developing the better and gentler qualities of our natures, encouraging a higher moral tone, a keener sense of justice between man and man, and a tender care for the unfortunate and the needy. Can it fail to be of advantage to us to consider seriously whether love and unity are maintained among us, and will that feeling of concord stop at the limits of our own Society? Are we not restrained from detraction, in its largest sense, by the query which apparently looks only to the few who bear the name of Friends? Do not the recommendations to an honest and straightforward manner of living and conducting business, need deep consideration in this day of extravagance, and are they not worthy of the widest acceptance? The queries and answers may seem monotonous to the uninterested ear; any sentiment, however good, would become so by repetition, if the heart felt no stirring to kinder action or truer feeling. But as each generation takes them up, interpreting them according to the better light which the advance of time gives, earnestly seeking to apply them, they prove a spur to nobler and better things. The largest intellects which our Society has produced have found in this code of moral laws instruction and unfailing interest, an interest which the listless hearer can never enjoy, and a help to truer living, which the indifferent mind does not embrace. MARRIED. DOWNING-SPENCER-At the residence of the bride's father, under the care of West Branch Monthly Meeting, Joseph J. Downing, of Warren co., Ohio, son of Jane and the late 'Jacob_ Downing, and Almina J. Spencer, of Clearfield co., Pa., daughter of Joseph M. and the late Lydia Ann Spencer. JOHNSON-REEVES.-On Fourth month 30th, 1883, at the residence of Edgar G. Thomas, by Friend's ceremony, Alba B. Johnson to Lizzie T. Reeves, daughter of the late Biddle Reeves, all of Philadelphia. THORP-GRIEST-On Fourth mo. 19th, 1883, at the residence of Ann Packer, under the care of Green Plain Monthly Meeting of Friends, Clark co., Ohio, Thomas Thorp to Sarah Griest, both members of said Meeting. DIED. In the removal of this dear friend, a life of pain has ended. For nearly forty years a sufferer an invalid for thirty years-she was not able to move from the position in which she was placed, or to feed herself, unable to raise her hands to wipe a tear from her eyes, so completely had the whole frame become disabled through disease. Very gradually the vital forces gave way, and for seventeen months she was confined entirely to one position in bed, enduring much suffering and weariness with submission and patience. Possessed of a genial nature and quick, intelligent mind, her company was interesting, instructive and enterwith an excellent memory, her mind was taining; she loved poetry, and being gifted richly stored with pure and beautiful literature, which was often shared with those who visited her, and her recitations were impressive and touching. She was remarkable for a readiness in conversation, both of a playful and serious character. Three days before her departure her friends had no thought that her lease of life was so nearly over, but death came so gently there was no sting, so peacefully and quietly her spirit took its leave of the poor suffering tenement. Her funeral took place on the 27th, attended by a large number of friends and relatives, and was an occasion of deep solemnity and Divine favor. REEVES.—On First-day morning, Fifth month 13th, 1883, at his residence, near Richmond, Ind., Mark E. Reeves, in his 72d year. WEBSTER.-On Fifth month 2d, 1883, in Harrisville, Ohio. Jemima, wife of Naylor Webster, and daughter of the late John Vickers, of Lionville, Chester co., Pa. STOCKHOLDERS' REPORT. The annual meeting of the stockholders of Friends' Book Association of Philadelphia, was held in the Meeting House, Race street above Fifteenth street, on Fifth month, 14th, at 8 o'clock. Henry Bentley occupied the chair, and S. Raymond Roberts served as BEDFORD.—On Fifth month 9th, 1883, in secretary. The following report of the Board Philadelphia, Isaac T. Bedford, aged 72. COHU.-Passed away suddenly, on the morning of Fifth month 4th, 1883, Henry S. Cohu, in the 62d year of his age; a member of New York Monthly Meeting. HILLBORN.—On Seventh-day, Fifth mo. 5th, 1883, Samuel T., youngest son of Isaac H. and the late Caroline B. Hillborn, in the 10th year of his age; belonging to the Monthly Meeting of Philadelphia; formerly of New town, Bucks co., Pa. HUEY-On Third-day, Fifth mo. 8th, 1883, in Birmingham township, Abram Huey, in his 77th year. MELLOR.-On Fifth mo. 10th, 1883, Esther Wharton, daughter of Edward and Deborah Wharton Mellor. PLUMMER.-On Fourth month 25th, 1883, in Baltimore, Joanna Plummer, in the 75th year of her age. of Directors was read and accepted: Tenth Annual Report.-To the Stockholders of Friends' Book Association. Your Board of Directors offer the following report : An account of stock was taken 3d month, 31st, 1883, and we found the amount on hand at that date to have been $10,918 13. It is the purpose of the Board hereafter to begin the fiscal year 4th month, 1st, instead of 7th month, 1st, as has been the practice. By this change a more satisfactory statement of the finances of the association can be furnished at the annual meeting. The money subscribed at the last Stockholders' meeting for the purchase for gratuitous distribution of such pamphlets and tracts as exemplify the doctrines and testimonies of YELLOWSTONE PARK. Friends has been so applied, and a department | A LADY'S VISIT TO THE GEYSERS OF THE provided at the store for its accommodation which is under the care of two members of the Board, assisted by the superintendent, John Comly. BY H. W. S. The following narrative in Friends' QuarThe work of publishing has somewhat in- terly Examiner of a visit to a region of our creased, and 5,000 copies of "Dr. Gibbons' Doc- country not often visited by tourists is so trine and Discipline of the Society of Friends" lively and interesting that we give it to our have been issued. The summary of the history, doctrine and discipline of "Friends," » readers entire.-EDS. written at the request of London Yearly Meeting in 1790, has been stereotyped and an edition of 1,000 copies printed. An edition of the "Advice of William Penn to his children" being called for, the Board directed that a true copy of the same be stereotyped and an edition printed. The stereotype plates of both pamphlets are the property of the Association. The "Bi-Centennial" edition of the "Life of Wm. Penn of 1,000 having been nearly exhausted, a second edition of 1,500 copies was issued. The publication of the autobiography of Benjamin Hallowell is in progress, and will soon be ready for distribution to subscribers. From the foregoing it will be seen that your Board is pushing forward the work of publishing quite as rapidly as the funds at its command will justify. The sending forth of the works enumerated, with the weekly publication of the Friends' Intelligencer, make 1020 Arch street a centre of Friendly influence which it is hoped those of our profession here and elsewhere will fully appreciate, and that they will continue to do whatever lies in their power to still further increase its usefulness. The store continues under the management of John Comly. Nearly all the employees are members of the Society of Friends. The small capital invested in the concern limits greatly its power for good in many directions. The necessity that exists to make the store self-supporting, and the competition with others that have large moneyed interests, leaves the margin of profit on some of the goods sold very low. It is hoped the friends of the association will devise some plan to increase its capacity for business. The lease of the store expired in Fourth month last; a new lease has been taken for three years at $1,500 per annum. HENRY BENTLEY, President. Upon an election being held, the following Friends were chosen to serve as directors for the ensuing year': Henry Bentley, Dillwyn Parrish, Clement M. Biddle, T. Ellwood Chapman, John Saunders, Jeremiah Hayhurst, Lydia H. Hall, M. Fisher Longstreth, Louisa J. Roberts, Amos J. Peaslee, Matilda Garrigues, S. Raymond Roberts. In the summer of 1880, while traveling in California, we conceived the idea of taking a trip the following year to the National Yellowstone Park. This celebrated region is 55 miles by 60 in extent, and in 1872 was set apart by Congress as a "National Park" for ever. It is beyond Sait Lake, and is, roughly speaking, from 33 to 34 west longitude from Washington, and from 44 to 45 north longitude. Our party consisted of myself and three children, two young collegians, two gentlemen from Philadelphia, and a young cousin. As we had learned that our journey would have to be largely made on horseback, we condensed our baggage as much as possible, and packed it in some admirable canvas saddlebags we found in an outlying store at Salt Lake. Our "proud clothes" we left in Ogden, to be picked up on our return. During our previous camping-out trip in Colorado, we had discovered that an oval hole dug for the hips relieved the strain on the body, and made even the hard earth quite bearable. And if to this was added a small pillow to place under the back or side, it became luxurious! We therefore purchased pillows at Salt lake, and I supplied myself with a private trowel to carry in my own knapsack for these digging purposes. The three ladies of the party (myself and my two daughters) wore short flannel suits, with Turkish trousers. The gentlemen wore flannel shirts, and winter coats and pants, with brown duck overalls for protection from rents and holes. These latter garments were bought at my especial request, as I strongly objected to the risk of spending all my spare time in mending. On July 27th we started for Camos on the little narrow gauge railroad, our road lying through the dreariest of all dreary alkali plains. As far as the eye could reach there was nothing to be seen but the burning sand and the sad gray sage brush, which is the only thing that will grow upon it. Prairie the people called it, but desert it is, and desert it used to be called, I am sure, in the geographies of my childhood. I remember well how I used to be interested and excited in those far off days with the vague descriptions given us of this mysterious "Great American Desert," and how I used to long to penetrate its dreary wastes, but never hoped to have such good fortune bestowed upon me. And now here I found myself, feeling as natural and almost as much at home as on a New Jersey sand-flat, and could hardly wonder how it came about. I believe it is the tin cans that have done it-tin cans and Yankee push and grit, but chiefly tin cans, for without them I do not see how these deserts could have been traversed or settled. The altitudes are so high, and the nights so cold, and the water so scarce, that nothing fit to eat grows naturally, and very little can be raised artificially, and therefore if it had not been for the ease of carrying food in these cans, civilization would, it seems to me, have met with an impassible barrier in these desert plains. We were met on the little railroad platform, at Camos. by our guides, three fine looking mountaineers, who informed us that they had a train of twenty-six horses and mules ready for our trip. We had also engaged a Chinese cook at Ogden, named Tin Lee, a very obliging fellow, and excellent in his profession. So far things looked promising, but it was perfectly hot, and the the wind blew almost a hurricane all the time, and the sand was. whirled in through every crack in such quantities as absolutely to necessitate closed doors and windows, and all day long it was simply unmitigated discomfort. They told us it had only rained twice there in four years, and we could almost believe it, though we could not but suspect that this was one of the stories told to "tender feet," as all new comers in the West are called. We wore through the day, somehow, however, and at night were repaid for all our troubles. The storekeeper allowed us to spread our bedding in his hay-yard the air cooled off rapidly with the going down of the sun, and with the sweet, soft hay beneath us, and the glorious clear sky above us, we felt we had beds that a monarch might envy. No physical sensation in the world appears to me to be more delightful than that of sleeping in the open air on a clear, cool night, with plenty of blankets and buffalo robes around and underneath one. To have all the wide universe to breathe into, and the infinite sky to gaze upon, seems to lift one out of this ordinary every-day world into a region of glorious possibilities and undreamed of triumphs. Next morning the guides brought the riding horses up to the store, and we all went out and tried them, in order to find out those which would best suit our individual likings. This was fun to the young people, but I am free to confess it was misery to me, for I had not been on the back of a horse for years, and had long ago 1 decided that, being in my fiftieth year, and rather stout, my time for horseback riding was over. I tried several, but found them all so slippery that I experienced a great tendency to fall off their backs the moment they undertook to go out of a walk, especially as we had to use Spanish saddles, with only a high peak in front. The prospect began to look very dreary to me, as the guides said we should have five or six hundred miles to travel in this way. I began to ask myself if even the "Mystic Wonderland" would pay for such a journey. But of course the party could not be stopped by any whim of mine, so I made up my mind to say nothing, and just grin and bear it." However, at last we found a light two-seated wagon in the town, which we bought with the hope of selling it again on our return, and two of our pack-mules were found to pull it, so that this difficulty was surmounted for the time, though our guides seemed to think it very doubtful whether a wagon would be able to travel over the rough trails into the Park. We made an imposing appearance as we started off with our long train of three guides, ten packhorses, nine horseback riders, the wagon with its occupants, two dogs, and three little colts, who were accompanying their mothers on the trip. The next morning, however, we were greeted with the intelligence that our horses and mules had strayed away during the night and were lost! The search for them occupied several hours, and after we had resumed our journey, the wagon made our route much more perplexing on account of the difficulty of fording the streams. The sun seemed to scorch like a fire, and the wind, which might have been a comfort had it been moderate, seemed to take away our breath by its fierceness. We wondered if there was any comfort possible in a country that is both hot and windy at once. No one can have an idea of these winds who has not felt them. They seem to blow you back in your life somehow, and you have to use all your energies to catch up again. Our night experiences were peculiar. We had to go to bed and get up in the midst of a vast airy space, with no shelter for anything. Of course no one thought of undressing much, but the little we did need to do for comfort's sake was an affair of, highest art, as may readily be imagined. Though the days were so sultry, the nights were bitterly cold, and it was quite a common thing for us to find ice half an inch or an inch thick in our basins or buckets when we woke in the morning; and this in August! This extreme change of temperature is caused by the excessively dry air, which does not retain heat like a moist atmosphere, in consequence of which it cools off the moment the sun's rays leave |