Изображения страниц
PDF
EPUB

point, and is covered with shingles, as are all | rich man becomes a centre of influence in his the houses erected by the first settlers. We neighborhood, and the blessings that are his, read the date, 1695, and suggest another bi- in a large measure flow out to others. centennial twelve years hence. It would meet the uprising wish of our hearts, to enter its lowly portals, but the lock is turned, and we pass on a little beyond, where a comparatively new structure, further from the street, accommodates the other branch of the Society.

In the garden of a florist opposite, the last half hour of our stay in this historic centre passes swiftly by, and we return to the station just in time to put ourselves on board a train bound for Great Neck. It is filled with a motley crowd of the sable-hued residents of the Island, off for a pic-nic upon the banks the Island, off for a pic-nic upon the banks of one of the numerous bays or inlets that fringe the shore-line of the Sound. We pass near enough to see the shipping and get an occasional glimpse of the steamers that ply to and fro, connecting the towns and cities on the New England side with the great commercial metropolis of the nation.

It is only about a half hours' ride to Great Neck. We find vehicles to take us two miles, to the residence of an aged Friend who has passed his ninety-three years in the same locality. We engage our drivers to convey us to Westbury, and while they feed their us to Westbury, and while they feed their horses we partake of a plentiful dinner to which our friends were just sitting down, with no thought of the raid that five hungry men and women were about to make upon their larder.

It was worth all the disappointment of the morning to be dropped down amid so much hospitality and the beautiful surroundings of a home that under its roof-tree shelters the eighth generation, and to take the hands in ours, that by three-quarters of a century of diligence and industry had made his inheritance such a paradise of earthly good.

Enfeebled in body from the effects of an attack of pneumonia a year or more ago, and unable to take his rides of supervision over the large and fertile fields as formerly, the mind of the master is still clear, and he is kept well posted in all that is going on about him, directing the movements of his workmen, as wisely from his arm-chair as when he was able to lead them to the field in person. We see the words of the wise man exemplified, "The hand of the diligent maketh rich," and where the riches are used wisely, and their getting has not been at the expense of the better and higher life, has not cut the man off from sympathy and helpful interest in the struggling efforts of the less successful, where there has been a recognition of mutual dependence upon the one abiding Power, to whom rich and poor, alike, must bow, the

The pure and true life of the man of peace and good-will, is an illustration of the efficacy of the gospel when it is made the rule of conduct.

Our ride to Westbury leads away from the shore-line, bordered with charming homes, the lawns reaching down to the water-line, and blooming in the beauty of floral decorations.

After tea we ride three miles further to

Jericho, which is twenty-seven miles from New York city. It was called by the Indians Lusam, and was probably the site of an Indian village. By referring to ancient records we learn that it is part of a large purchase made by one Robert Williams in 1650, and settled by Friends. It is said that the pioneers, not wishing to interfere with the Indians whose lodges were in the valleys where springs were abundant, began their digging their first well they were waited upon settlement on the hills. While they were by a delegation of Indians, and invited to build near the springs. This kind offer was the homes of the settlers could be erected at gladly accepted, and the land so laid out that the adjoining corners of the grounds, thus forming little centres of social life. For a long time the settlement was known as The Farms."

The time of the establishment of a meeting at Jericho is known only by tradition. An Friends of "the Farms" to observe their midold record is preserved which " requests week meetings with diligence." In 1678, Mary Willets, a minister and a widow, opened her house for meetings, and for the entertainment of Friends traveling in the ministry.

In 1690 a First-day meeting was appointed to be held every fifth First-day, the week-day meetings were held regularly, alternating between Jericho and Westbury. In 1683 it was "agreed that Friends' papers be read at the Farms, in the Twelfth month of every year, that our children may come to understand the order of Friends in their marriage and other relations."

Do we not trace, in this wise and excellent arrangement, the means by which for two centuries "The Farms" have been the centre of a Friendly influence, which has kept the descent unimpaired for so many generations.

Seventh mo. 28th.

L. J. R.

BLESSED is the man whom eternal truth teacheth, not by obscure figures and transient sounds, but by direct and full communication—Thomas à Kempis.

CHESHUB CHUNDER SEN.

The following is taken from a report of one of the Boston lectures of Joseph Cook, who last year visited India, and had several interviews with Cheshub Chunder Sen, who, as our readers are perhaps generally aware, is identified with the remarkable religious movement which began in that country about 50 years ago, and in which Rammohun Roy was a laborer. The Brahmo Somaj (God Society) was established in 1860.-Eds.

The lecturer says:

"Chunder Sen holds a certain doctrine of inspiration which has often startled his British and American readers, so far as they have attended to his English utterances. He believes that, at certain moments, he is himself inspired; but, after cross-examining him again and again on this theme, I am convinced that by his inspiration he means very little more than we mean by illumination of the Holy Spirit. He grants, however, that the reality of his inspiration must be tested by the accord of his teachings with those of every inspired authority in religion. It is reassuring to find that he holds, in as many words, that the spirit of the prophets must be subject to the prophets. He regards the Christian Scriptures as incomparably the most important sacred books of the world. Familiar with all the sacred books of Asia, he and his followers find in the Bible only that which satisfies their deepest spiritual wants. All their study of comparative religion brings them back with unabated hunger and enthusiasm to the study of the Christian Scriptures.

"Chunder Sen would not trust any inspiration of his own that should seem to be opposed to fundamental biblical truth. Nevertheless, he believes that supplementary truth may be discovered through prayer, and that it has been revealed to him that a new dispensation of the Holy Spirit is to come into the world; and that his Church, which is named the Church of the New Dispensation, is to lead this movement; and that it is to unify all the religions of the earth-Christian, Mohammedan and Pagan, so far as they agree with the inmost voice of conscience."

In the issue of his paper for Fifth month 14th, 1882, he says:

"Our doctrine and principles of faith and practice are not derived by processes of reasoning; but excited in our hearts by prayer and inner experiences, so that we cannot but view them as directly dispensed unto us by the Spirit of God. For a long time the Brahmo Somaj has ceased to believe in reason as

the source of religion, and professed to look up to God for the direct revelation of truth in the soul. The Brahmo Somaj has always held the faculty of faith to be the organ for the discernment of spiritual realities and assigned in such matters a subordinate place to reason. He

[ocr errors]

"Chunder Sen was born an orator. has a splendid physique, to commence with; excellent quality of organization, capacity of sudden heat and of tremendous impetuosity, and lightning-like swiftness of thought and expression, combined with a most iron selfcontrol. You cannot throw him off his balance before any audience, with a manuscript or without one. He is unquestionably the most eloquent Asiatic I ever heard. He speaks English as perfectly as any man in this assembly; he seems to have learned it from the pages of Addison or Macaulay, and not from colloquial usage. His English is extremely pure, and is pronounced without the slightest foreign accent. Six feet in height, with bronze complexion and quite regular features, he is a commanding figure, in his Asiatic costume, whether seen in public or in private.

"He has a theological school, quite well patronized. The examination papers used in it include many Christian books, and the questions are very keen on the topic of providence and prayer and inspiration. In his own dwelling, the Lily Cottage, on Circular road, in Calcutta, a mansion with deep verandas on both lower and upper stories and standing in large, open grounds, among graceful and stately palms, he has what he calls a sanctuary. I must introduce you to this holy of holies of Chunder Sen's home, if you are to understand this theistic reformer of India. He showed the room to me with a manner of intense reverence for it, and I could but feel it to be a sacred place.

There are

"Chunder Sen meets his theological pupils and his chief religious associates in his sanctuary nearly every day, except Sunday, when he is usually engaged in preaching at his tabernacle. The room is fitted up in Asiatic style. C. Sen has a little platform, not more than three or four inches high, on which he is seated in the Asiatic manner. mats scattered about the floor for the seats of pupils and apostles. Musical instruments stand in the different corners-not elaborate instruments, but of the simple ancient Hindu patterns, sometimes one-stringed lyres, such as the Hindu saints and recluses were accustomed to use in their meditations in the solitudes of the Himalayas. After music, seated on this platform, he enters into a very long prayer. His pupils and followers, devoutly believe that in the best parts of his prayer he is inspired. They note carefully, not

merely his language, but his intonations. | Hindus. The criticism which many acute When the divine afflatus seems to come to missionaries make upon him is that his comhim in his devotions, they feel that they are posite set of ceremonies and religious doccommuning through him with the Holy trines has in it so many appeals to ancient Spirit. They actually believe this and are Hindu prejudices that it never can lead the correspondingly solemnized. They hold in mass of the Hindu populations out of their reverence, however, not the organ, but the attachments to hereditary misbeliefs. Chundivine influence that plays through it. der Sen replies that he is anxious only that Christian truth should be presented to India in an Oriental dress, and that there should be something national left in the religion of Hindustan. At times he exclaims, Blessed Jesus, I am Thine. I give myself, body and soul to Thee. Let India revile and persecute me, and take my life-blood out of me, drop by drop, still Thou shalt continue to have my homage!'

"In the religious services in the tabernacle, where Chunder Sen, when his health permits, presides, there is a most impressive ceremony, in which the whole congregation stand up and petition God for light. There is then a silence of several minutes, the whole of it occupied, presumably, in secret devotion. Every member of this Church of the New Dispensation seems to be a man of prayer. Remember that these persons do do not profess to be Christians. They say little against Christianity. Except by asserting the sufficiency of his form of theism, I could not find that C. Sen now ever says a

word against Christianity. He wishes to absorb into his system of faith and practice all those parts of Christianity that can be made to accord with his theistic principles. In moving the vote of thanks at the last address I had the honor to give in Calcutta, Chunder Sen said that India is ruled by Christ. On another occasion, in that massive Town Hall, holding more than 3,000 people, he said, 'The crown of India does not belong to Great Britain. It belongs only to Jesus Christ our Lord.' He is almost constantly uttering things that are nearly Christian in their tone, and yet at frequent intervals he utters things that lean far over toward mere Hinduism.

PROHIBITION IN LIVERPOOL.

BY M. L. H.

A curious and little known instance of the successful prohibition of the liquor traffic exists in Liverpool, England. Something like a quarter of a century ago D. Roberts & Son and the Earl of Sefton owned a very large tract of land in the southern part of Liverpool, which was required for building purposes. They had it laid out into town or city lots, and resolved that a clause should be inserted in all leases for plots for building prohibiting the sale of liquor in any shape. This arrangement, which was very simple, and which was introduced quietly, initiated a social experiment the results of which have been quite remarkable, so much so that they have often been quoted in Parliament and in the discussions on licensing the sale of liquor "He has introduced into his Church sev- elsewhere; and doubtless the results of proeral ceremonies imitated from old Hindu hibition on a large scale in the centre of a practices. You know that there is a great city next to London in size, and with, perreverence for fire among many Oriental haps, as much commerce, and having the sects, and Chunder Sen has endeavored to "first port in the world," may in the end contransmute one of the old ceremonies, in tribute in a marked degree to help settle the which the use of fire is very prominent, same question elsewhere. The extent of the into an impressive theistic symbol. He prohibited district He prohibited district is about two miles square. brings before his worshipping audience a New streets and buildings are being added to vessel of metal, filled with oil, and places at it every year. At the present time fifty thouits side sticks of scented wood. He lights sand people dwell there under the despotism the oil and takes the wood, and, before the of a prohibitory edict enacted by the owners whole congregation, throws it, stick by stick, of the land, which some of our American into the flames, saying, 'Thus perish our would-be politicians would consider as saplust, our pride, our worldliness, our unjust ping the very foundations of free institutions. anger, all our divergencies from God.' The Let us see if it has done this there. The ceremony is exceedingly impressive, for at death-rate of Liverpool has always been very the end of it the congregation cries out re- large, ranging from 25 to 35 per 1,000 yearly, peatedly, 'Victory to God!' and then he while London is only 23, and New York pronounces over them or invokes upon them about 26. In this district, where prohibition the benediction, Peace, peace.' Several rules, the death-rate is only 12, and some ceremonies of this sort, introduced by him, years only 10, per 1,000. The number of with slight changes from the old Hindu paupers in this district is less than 1 for each ways, appear to be intended to conciliate | 2,000 population, and these are found on the

border, across which license and free liquor casts its baneful shadow. In one district adjoining this, where grog-shops are thicker by far than places for the sale of bread, there is 1 pauper for every 30 inhabitants, and the death-rate is something appalling. Legislators would not need statistics to convince them of the value of prohibition if they only had a chance to look on these two communities with open eyes.

FRIENDS' INTELLIGENCER. PHILADELPHIA, EIGHTH MO. 11, 1883.

VALUE FOR VALUE RECEIVED.-There is one subject that should claim the earnest attention of all interested in the carrying out of our testimonies as a religious organization, and that is, a care that we preserve our spirit The poor-rate tax has been reduced to a of independence as regards our mutual obliminimum, and the population here are reap-gations to the church, as well as to each ing the benefit, with the prospect of wiping other. It should be the pride of each one of us it out altogether. The managers of this estate say they have never had any complaint on account of the prohibition clause in the leases. Houses are in good demand at high rentshigher than in other districts adjoining. Many houses have been deserted in the regions where liquor is sold, the deserters preferring

to live here with restricted liberties!

When a big brewer attempted to plant his beer-engines just within the prohibited area, so as to reap the benefit of this unoccupied field, he was driven out by a popular uprising of the people on four occasions.

Americans visiting this city may be shown this district by addressing a note to A. B. Popular, Central Office, Whitechapel, Lord Street, Liverpool, a few days before, if pos

sible.

LOCAL INFORMATION.

to contribute our own share to all the needful expenditures of society and benevolent works. What if our neighbor is possessed of greater wealth? Let him contribute in proportion to it, but not our share as well. We are the recipients of the blessings of religious organization, and we should be only too glad to aid in sustaining it. We should ask in all humility how much can I give that this cause shall prosper? Where can I deny myself so as to be more able to spend for that which benefits the society?

But are these the queries that generally arise when the subject of finance is approached? We fear it is often "Where are the rich? This shall be their care?" Let us

The Proposed School at Abington.-Abing- all remember it was the "widow's mite" that ton Friends are still moving in the proposed in the olden time won the Master's comschool. They have appointed for Treasurer of the "Abington Boarding and Day School mendation, and it remains a truth to-day Fund," Benjamin F. Penrose, Shoemakertown that those who freely give from their small P. O., Montgomery co., Pa. earnings, realize the blessedness of true giving.

Although they have not nearly so much money subscribed as they would like, at the last adjourned Monthly Meeting they conThen, too, the young should be trained in tinued the committee "to procure plans and this spirit of independence. Do they desire specifications," and instructed them "to go a good education? Let them feel the value on and erect a building on the ground previously designated, to cost about $12,000; and they are authorized by the Meeting to appoint a Building Committee from within themselves and report progress to a future meeting."

The "committee to procure subscriptions was authorized to collect ten per cent. of the present subscriptions and to receive the whole amount subscribed when preferred by subscribers and to pay the amount into the hands

of the Treasurer.

Thus Friends will see that the concern still lives and is likely to bear fruit in due season. L.

THE profession of Christianity is good; the possession is better.

of it by self-denial somewhere. Let the wardrobe be less elaborate, that the mind be better stored. Let them wait for the delights of travel, or the recreation of the seaside or the mountain resort; but do not let them (except in rare cases) depend upon the wealth of the rich to make the pathway easy for them. It is the character that is crippled by this want of independence. That for which we labor and deny ourselves, we value and love, and this may be one of the causes for the weakness we so deplore. We have not given to our Society enough of time, enough of thought, and it may be, enough of our money, and so it has lost its hold upon our affections, and

we fail to get all the good from it that should | large proportion of nursing and ailing mothers be ours. Life is many-sided, and character and sickly infants, means care in the selection, help in serving the beneficiaries with the food which they crave, protection to the emaciated and crippled, medical service and medicine to the invalids, all requiring much self-denial and effort by those in charge.

is made up from many points all tending to one centre, and this centre the immortal soul. Let us then watch with a jealous eye anything that robs us of our characters, and guard well our footsteps that they tread only in clean pathways, then, though our purses be light, we will feel in true humbleness of spirit that we have that nobility of soul that shall enable us to "stand before kings."

DIED.

BURROUGH.-On Eighth mo. 6th, 1883, at Mickleton, N. J., William Burrough, in his 59th year.

HAINES.-On Seventh-day, Eighth mo. 4th, 1883, in West Chester, Addison Haines, aged 73 years; a member of Philadelphia Monthly Meeting, held at Race street.

HAINES.-On Seventh month 17th, 1883, Rachel E. Haines, wife of Timothy Haines, in the 64th year of her age; a member of Little Brittain Meeting.

LEEDOM.-On Eighth mo. 4th, 1883, at his residence, Newtown, Delaware co., Pa., Jesse Leedom, in his 83d year.

It was my privilege recently to accompany one of these excursions, and I found it exceedingly interesting and instructive. It was one of the days allotted to the colored people, and there were about twenty-three hundred of them, which it required two steamboats to carry. A pleasant sail of an hour and a half brought us to Chesterwood, a beautiful place on an arm of the Patapsco river which was purchased by a merchant of Baltimore a few years ago, and presented to the Society on the conditions that it be used for no other purpose, and that his name should not be made public.

The ground is firm and dry, and well shaded by oak, chestnut, sycamore, holly and a few pine trees. A large pavilion has been erected for shelter and amusements. A hospital for the sick, a chapel for religious services, a doctor's tent and three large tents, desig nated as the red, white, and blue tents, rePAXSON.—On Seventh mo. 29th, 1883, at spectively, where the provisions are distrithe residence of Blakey Bunting, in Middle-buted. Tickets bearing corresponding colors town township, Bucks county, Pa., William Paxson, in the 94th year of his age; a member of Middletown Monthly Meeting.

It was truthfully said of him on the occasion of his funeral, "that he had studied to be quiet, minding his own business."

For Friends' Intelligencer.

FREE SUMMER EXCURSIONS.

The free summer excursions, as now conducted by the philanthropic of some of our larger cities, are of comparatively recent origin. They vary somewhat in the manner in which they are carried on, but the general oject seems to be the same, that is to afford pleasant and healthgiving change and recreation during the hot summer months to such deserving poor as could not otherwise obtain these blessings.

are given out, and the holders are thus divided in order to avoid crowding, and to facilitate the serving of meals. There is also a large

kitchen and a handsome and commodious cottage for the board of managers. This last was the gift of a distinguished Frenchman, by the name of Say, and is called "Say's Cottage."

The land is nearly surrounded by water, and thus the excursionists are easily kept within bounds. The company embraced all ages, from a few weeks to nearly one hundred years, and on landing it was interesting to see how they all took to the woods, and sought enjoyment according to their various tastes and conditions. Plenty of benches, stools and even a number of rocking chairs, for the aged and infirm, were scattered throughout the shady grove. Some of the benches were quite familiar to me, they having done service in Friend's meeting-house, Lombard street, for about seventy years, until it was refurnished a few years ago; these benches were then given to this Society, for whose purposes they are well adapted.

The Free Summer Excursion Society of Baltimore was established in 1873, duly incorporated under the laws of the State in 1875, and is one of the best organized charities in the city. In these ten years there have been regular weekly excursions during the hot months of summer, and each season upwards of fifteen thousand needy persons, While the excursionists sought rest and without regard to creed or color, have been recreation the Committee in charge proceeded provided with an excursion and its accesso-to the work of preparing the food for the day, ries a day in the country, plenty of whole- which included both dinner and supper. Two some food and medical treatment. To feed, men were cutting bread by a machine which to entertain, and to give medical aid in one one of them had invented for the purpose, summer to so great a number, embracing a | and which did its work neatly and with great

« ПредыдущаяПродолжить »