teacher of His people Himself. Upon this o'clock. A company sufficient to nearly fill fundamental principle we may rely, and in the house assembled, and gathered into that the light of Divine revealing perform what- precious quiet, known only to those who ever work our hands find to do, using the worship after the manner of Friends. implements of to-day and the materials of the present. W. H. For Friends' Intelligencer. FRIENDS AND THEIR MEETING HOUSES-III. By our mishap of the morning we arrived at Westbury too late for one of our party, entitled to a seat in the meeting of ministers and elders, to be present. The meeting was said to be smaller than usual. Samuel J. Levick and wife were the only strangers in attendance. One of the pleasant features of Quarterly Meetings in the country, is the social intercourse enjoyed in the intervals between the sessions, which makes them seasons of especial interest to all classes. Old and young mingle freely, and the evenings are passed in agreeable and often profitable conversation. Our experience in this particular will be recalled with pleasure. On Fifth day morning, the 26th, a friend came with his carriage to take us to the Jericho Meeting House, and the grave of Elias Hicks. The house was erected in the latter part of the last century, under the supervision of E. Hicks, who, like the Master whom he so faithfully followed, was a carpenter by trade. It has the same deep galleries found in all the old meeting houses, and is otherwise constructed on the general plan that prevailed a hundred or more years ago. In the graveyard lie the remains of the celebrated preacher, marked by a low stone bearing the simple name, and date of death. We are shown the house that he occupied, and can well believe that Elias Hicks left behind him a name worthily cherished by those who were most intimately associated with him. This ride gave us a fine opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the surrounding country. From an elevation of considerable height we had an extended view, and there could not possibly be a finer picture of field and wood and inviting homesteads in any part of our broad land. The country is broken, and in the valleys are numerous small lakes or ponds, fed by springs. This is a peculiar feature hereabouts, and adds greatly to the charm of the scenery. Some of the ponds are stocked with fish, one on a Westbury farm is devoted to rearing gold fish for sale, and is a profitable source of income to the owner. We return in good time to take our place in the carriage which conveys us to the Meeting House at Westbury. The Quarterly Meeting convenes at 11 The silence was broken by Samuel J. Levick, who spoke at some length on the object for which we had assembled, and the duties and responsibilites it involved. Other short communications followed, offering words of exhortation and encouragement, and the meeting separated. In the men's branch there was much exercise over the clause in the first query, relating to sleeping, which led to the timely exhortation that friends have a care not to weary themselves before going to meeting. The Committee on the Indulged Meeting at Kakiat made a report which was accepted, and the committee continued. The propriety of changing the place of holding the winter quarter was introduced, and a committee was appointed to unite with a similar committee of women Friends to take the subject into consideration and report at the next meeting of the body. Under the present arrangement the meetings are held once in New York city, once in Flushing and twice in Westbury. There is a strong feeling in favor of Brooklyn, as much more convenient and desirable for the winter session. In the women's meeting the answers to the first query called forth an exercise which spread over the meeting, in relation to the attendance of our meetings, especially those held in the middle of the week, that none allow little hindrances to interfere with their being present and mingling together in religious fellowship. All the queries were read as they came in course, and the four usually answered were responded to. This was also done in the men's meeting. The advices were read in both meetings, which seemed very fitting, and we could not but feel that there was much wisdom in continuing this as a part of the proceedings of the Quarterly Meeting. Bringing the excellent counsel of the Society to its members, thus frequently before them, must have an educating influence upon those who attend and familiarize them with the principles and testimonies upon which our organization is based. The report of the committee having charge of Kakiat Meeting was read and the proposition to continue the committee united with. The proposition to change the place of holding the winter quarter introduced from men's meeting, was considered and united with, and a committee appointed to join them. in the service. The words of the Apostle, "I beseech you brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, | ing was set up there in 1676. The present acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service," were revived with much tenderness and under the feeling which spread over the assembly, the meeting closed. It was a season of refreshment from the presence of the Lord, and we believe not a few were encouraged to greater diligence in those things that pertain to the spiritual life. On Sixth day, what is known as the "Youth's Meeting" was held. was held. The house was well filled below, but the large galleries, which were without occupants, would have held nearly as many more. Much excellent counsel was handed forth to the young people, who formed a considerable part of the audience. Samuel J. Levick spoke of our testimonies, dwelling particularly upon the freedom of the gospel ministry. He was followed by Thomas Foulke in an impressive testimony. After a few words from another friend, the meeting concluded. There were gathered on this occasion many who are not in profession with Friends, but the close attention paid to the plain and practical truths presented, was very marked. Further research into the old records of the settlement of Friends on the island shows the first who took up his abode there was one Richard Smith, who was summarily banished from Boston in the year 1656. He settled at Oyster Bay in what is now Queen's County. The severity of the laws passed against the Quakers in Massachusetts, caused many who embraced their views, as well as many who sympathized with them, to leave the colony. Some settled in Rhode Island, and some came to Long Island. Many of the inhabitants were convinced, through the faithful labors of the ministry among them, and meetings were established at Oyster Bay, Gravesend, Jamaica, Flushing and Hempstead. In 1671 a Half Year's Meeting was held at Oyster Bay, this was the first meeting for discipline held in the State of New York. Monthly Meetings were held in 1672, in various places on the Island, and in 1676, a Quarterly Meeting was held at Flushing. All these meetings were subordinate to the New England Yearly Meeting, established in 1661 at Newport, Rhode Island. In 1692 a Yearly Meeting was held at Flushing, and three years later New York Yearly Meeting was set off from New England Yearly Meeting. It continued to be held at Flushing until 1777, when it was removed to Westbury. Seventeen years later it was established in New York City. The date of the first meeting house built in Westbury is not given. A Quarterly Meet edifice was erected in 1800. It is a large house, well preserved, built of wood and covered entirely with shingles, and looks as if several generations might yet gather under its venerable roof. The hand of improvement has done nothing for it, as yet. Benches, galleries and partitions are as at the beginning, but all are well kept, and the meeting seems to be in a prosperous condition.. There is much young, intelligent life in the membership of this and Jericho Meeting. At the latter, a First-day school has recently been started, with a promising outlook. Many Swarthmore students are met with, and the interest taken by these in the affairs of the Society is encouraging. As we say the parting word, we feel that the Society of Friends can look hopefully to its coming workers in this part of the heritage. May the time speedily come when the same can be said of every other section in our household of faith. Seventh mo. 28th. L. J. R. WORKING AND RESTING. De we not sometimes forget that the divine proprietorship over all creatures is a pledge of divine care for all? Is not that perfect and universal Providence, without which not a sparrow falls, quite as much concerned for the wayward and foolish myriads of our race as we can possibly be? Suppose we trust him with the management of affairs, at least a part of the time; will any harm come of it? But the divine method of managing affairs and caring for mankind must include all useful human agencies as surely as it 'includes the forces of nature. He who sends light and heat, wind and rain, sends also the law by Moses, and grace and truth by Jesus Christ. These are notable instances; they illustrate the method. Does he not provide for the welfare of the child by putting it in the arms and heart of the parents? Does he not open his hand to feed the world by teaching man agriculture, and inspiring those varied inventions and industries by which food is multiplied, prepared and distributed? Not angels. only, but all men and women who serve any useful purpose whatever, are ministering spirits." And he who sends us into this world on our various errands, comes with us, and "works in us, to will and to do, of his own good pleasure." Every one whose heart has been touched by the grace of a true life, may say with Jesus: "I of myself can do nothing; the Father, that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." What shall we say, then? If God has undertaken the care of the church and the world, what have we to do with it? Simply this: that we yield ourselves as the willing instru OUR JOACHIMS. ments of his wisdom and goodness; that we study to make the divine purpose ours, and to be "workers together with God." The worst a contribution to some charitable undertaking, Luther was applied to on one occasion for of men may indeed be used " for the best ends, but, upon consulting with his wife, found but they find no blessing in it; the best men himself bare of even the smallest sum that are they who "from the heart" make the will could be given away; going to a drawer of God their own, and who "apprehend that where lay his beautiful gold medal of for which they have been apprehended.' The "heavy end" of this business of plan- Joachim, given him by the Elector himself, he cried, "What art thou doing there, ning and doing good is not carried by any Joachim? Dost thou not see how idle thou human hands. The man who seems to do most and best is only most wrought upon. In witnessing noble deeds, and in reading of grand humam lives, we learn to glorify God who has given such power unto men. Nor can we even pray for strength to carry our own daily burdens without adding; "Thine is the power and the glory!" Forever it is and must be thus; it is the order of the world; nothing ever slips out of the Strong Hand. It is a bold word of Martin Luther, that "God needs good men almost as much as good men need God." And because he needs them we need not fear that the race of saints will run out. The busy First Cause of stars and souls continues unspent and creative, and is adequate to maintain and bear onward the spiritual Cosmos. The Everlasting Father will never be left childless, nor will he ever commit to merely human wills or mortal contingencies the consummation of his perfect pur; pose. In whatever sense man is a "free agent," he surely has not been set up with power to rival or defeat Omnipotence. Let men or angels do what little or large things they may, still and always is God over all, blessed forever, and his will is done among the armies of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth. Let us rest while we work. All our worry and fret about the wrongs and disorders art? Come out, and make thyself useful!" and seizing the medal, he gave it as his contribution to the object in question. Is there not in our possession some idle Joachim that might come out and go to work? I know a family from which has been taken by death in quick succession, several grown sons and daughters. Their books and for the moth and rust, because those who are clothes are locked away in chests and drawers, left cannot bear to think of anybody else touching what was once used by the beloved dead. And yet those things might be doing good somewhere. where books are comparatively scarce, a dear There lives to-day, in a part of the country sand volumes. There is not an idle Joachim invalid whose library contains several thouby private messenger, they go forth; and if among them! By mail, and by express, and by private messenger, they go forth mits cheerfully, because of what they have they come back the worse for wear, she subaccomplished. hours, and our several aptitudes for this or Let us search our homes, and our unused that kind of work, and call forth to glad service these idle Joachims.—Elizabeth P. Allen, in S. S. Times. ATION OF FRIENDS IN AMERICA, AT RICHMOND, INDIANA. of the world must have its root in unfaith and in forgetfulness of God. As a familiar CONFERENCE OF THE EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIstory teaches, he managed the world before we came into it; he will take care of it after we quit it; and it is even possible for him to get along with it while we are here. Indeed, our own impulse to do right things is "a part of his ways." The old writers have hit it. They say: "Let us do our duty, as if everything depended on ourselves; yet let us trust God for strength and give him all the glory, as if we of ourselves could do nothing, but he must do it all." Precious paradox: two faces of one fact! Taken together, do they not constitute in every man the new heavens and new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness? The Sower. WHAT we can do is a small thing; but we can will and aspire to great things.-John Tauler, A late number of Friends' Review contains an abstract of an address before the Educational Association of Friends (Orthodox) at Richmond, Indiana, by Francis T. King of Baltimore, from which we extract the following: The period through which we are now passing is one of remarkable development in material wealth. Great systems of international communication have been opened, immense corporations have sprung into existence, and agricultural and mineral wealth, together with manufactures of all kinds, have been developed. These inducements and resources have attracted emigrants of all nationalities, who have stimulated industries and populated new sections of the country. The result of all this has been the rapid accumulation of wealth without parallel in the history of the world. A class of men have sprung up who, having personally acquired it, and having employed and benefitted thousands in its accumulation, are peculiarily fitted for a public-spirited employment of their money. Untrammeled by tradition, few of these care to found a family, but, having made their fortunes out of the resources of the country, many feel the impulse to return them to further enrich the people, by munificent foundations to promote religion, education, and humanity. George Peabody, after making a fortune in America, with his mind thoroughly imbued with the spirit of its constitution, moved to London, and, as a banker, greatly increased his estate. From that great centre he devised the most comprehensive schemes for benefiting his fellow men simultaneously on both sides of the Atlantic. Since then institutions of all kinds have received large endowments from private sources, and our legislators have caught the spirit of the day, and, are more liberal in their appropriations. As an example of private bequests, I will mention what my own city, Baltimore, has received in the past twenty-five years: John McDonough, $700,000 and a farm of 800 acres, to found a school for the higher education of bright poor boys. Samuel Ready, $500,000, to found a school for the practical education of orphan girls. George Peabody, $1,400,000 and buildings: reference library of 90,000 volumes, departments of art, music, and lectures. Enoch Pratt, free circulating library with four branch reading halls, $1,250,000. Moses Sheppard, $700,000, and a farm of 600 acres, an asylum for the insane. Thomas Wilson, $500,000 and a farm of 160 acres, for the benefit of the sick children of the poor; and $100,000 for the benefit of sewing women. Johns Hopkins, $3,500,000 and an estate of 350 acres near the city, to found a university. Johns Hopkins $3,300,000 to found a hospital, nurses' training school, dispensary, and an orphan asylum for colored children. Miles White, $100,000, the interest to be applied to promote religion, education and charity. I am sure you will hear with added interest that Sheppard, Wilson, Hopkins and White were members of the Society of Friends, and their bequests amount to $8,200,000. LOCAL INFORMATION. Philadelphia Quarterly Meeting.—A beautiful, clear morning was enjoyed by the company, that occupied two well-filled cars, especially engaged for the accommodation of Friends, on the day of Philadelphia Quarterly Meeting, held in the Valley. Perhaps on no former occasion had so many of different ages and experiences left the city for the purpose of mingling in religious worship with the kind, hospitable Friends of that section of country. The richness of nature was strikingly portrayed on every side as this happy looking company of Friends was rapidly borne onward to its destination. Social and religious converse filled the passing hour, and when the termination of the ride was reached we felt there must have come to every heart a fresh inspiration for purer, holier thought, brought to us from the elevating influence of God's goodness and wisdom, manifested in the beauties of nature around us. As the hour for meeting arrived, a large company, composed mainly of the young and middle aged, assembled in the meeting-house, and the Father's love was felt uniting us in the nearness of one family. One The quiet of the spirit worship was broken by the language of a brother, who, with a fulness of faith in that form of worship, impressively called the attention to its meaning and its simplicity, and without confusion of doctrine told us of the gentle leadings of the Spirit, the guiding power within, which was the Father's love calling to a life of devotion and obedience. The ever-near Teacher, speaking in each heart, could not be misunderstood, and when heeded leads all aright. Friend tenderly addressed the young, and was followed by others whose voices were raised in earnest solicitude for th● preservation of that germ of Divinity in the soul which, if nurtured, must grow. As it operated upon the heart of the Prodigal in the past, bringing him back to the Father's house, it will continue to lead and protect each one of us now. Faithfulness to the little duties clearly made known to us was emphatically portrayed, and the effect of obedi ence in one person made manifest in the influence exerted over others. An unmistakable assurance of the Father's presence came in that morning hour in the blessing vouchsafed to many if not every heart, and when the time for the transaction of the business of the meeting was announced we seemed held, to receive still more of the overflowing love. Another Friend, referring to this Quarterly Meeting says: "A sweet and solemn stillness rested upon the assembly when our Friend John Parrish arose with the query, 'Why have we thus gathered?' In gentle tones, so in harmony with the peaceful surroundings, he clearly showed us where the peace was to be found which was of most value, assuring us that it was possible for others, like Enoch of old, to walk with God. As God translated Enoch, so will He lift out of the bondage of the natural into the freedom of the spiritual every one of His creatures whose experience it is to walk humbly with the infallible guide. Ministers of our own Quarterly Meeting followed, and impressive and earnest calls were made to those who were yet afar off from the Father's house to 'come, taste and see that the Lord is good.' "The in-speaking word of God in our hearts is heard now as it was when Samuel was instructed by Eli to say, 'Speak, Lord, Thy servant heareth.' This passive condition, in which there is a hush of the active, struggling human nature, is the season when the visitations of the Most High are experienced; at such times it is shown to us what is good and what the Lord requires of us, and ability is given to 'do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with our God.' ” As is usual at the Quarterly Meeting held in Eighth month, there was little business transacted besides the consideration of the Report of the Quarterly Meeting's Committee on Temperance, which was read and very generally united with, and the committee were continued and encouraged to labor therein as way may open. They were authorized to draw $50 from the Treasurer of the Quarterly Meeting. "Second Annual Report of the Committee appointed to co-operate with the Yearly Meeting's Committee on the subject of Tem perance : "The Committee have met regularly once a month, and have distributed several thousand tracts on Temperance, which have been furs nished by the Yearly Meeting's Committee, also a number of the address by Aaron M. Powell, entitled "Temperance Work Among Friends," published by a member of this Committee. "We have held two conferences at Schuylkill, two at Frankford, and one at each of the following meeting-houses: Haverford, Radnor, Green Street, Spruce Street, Race Street, Girard Avenue, Merion and Germantown-twelve in all. Most of these have been well attended and satisfactory, and we trust have tended to awaken a deeper interest in the subject of Temperance, for which we were appointed to labor. "The attention of the Committee has been directed to the use of Tobacco, especially by the young, feeling as we do that it has increased to an alarming extent within the past few years, and that it is destructive to the mental, moral and physical development of those who indulge in its use in their earlier years, and that it strengthens a desire for the use of intoxicating drinks, hence we believe that its cultivation, manufacture and use should be entirely abandoned. "Our Committee has collected for our necessary expenses, during the past year, $59.05, mostly from our own members, and we have expended $56.19. "If a committee is appointed to continue the co-operation, as is desired by the Yearly Meeting's Committee, we think they should be authorized to draw $50 to meet necessary expenses, as the Yearly Meeting has continued its committee and authorized it to draw upon its funds for their expenses. "Signed by direction and on behalf of the Committee. HENRY T. CHILD, Clerk." Philadelphia, Seventh mo. 27th, 1883. FRIENDS' INTELLIGENCER. PHILADELPHIA, EIGHTH MO. 18, 1883. INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY. It has been said "that the world recognizes the fact that every human being should be a factor, and a steady factor, in the progress of mankind," and that this is necessary for the "purposes of the higher development of the religious life." This may be so as regards "the world" at large, but unfortunately it is not so generally as regards individuals, and therefore the progress towards a divine life continues to be slow. It has also been recently said that "never before did so many people make their religion their own individual business.” This, too, is well, but too many stop here, and retard their own growth and that of the to their neighbors and to the church. church by not recognizing their responsibility to their neighbors and to the church. In our own religious organization, what life would spring up if each member felt to share the burden of the proper carrying out of the rules by which all well-conducted assemblies must be governed. A valued correspondent, touching this point, writes: "It is so strange that our people cannot un |