gambler to usurp the place of the brotherly | a record of deaths, not elsewhere recorded· love that characterizes a Christian.

Bucks Quarterly Meeting, held at Middletown, on Eleventh month 29th, 1883, was a very large gathering of Friends and others. The commodious meeting-house was pretty well filled at a little after ten o'clock, but people kept on coming until nearly eleven, by which time every seat was filled and a considerable number was obliged to stand.

After transacting all the business necessa-
rily claiming attention, the meeting closed
with the evident feeling that we had had a
very satisfactory religious opportunity, and
the hope that such meetings may continue to
be held for an indefinite period of time, as
they do most certainly tend to renew our
religious devotion and make us feel our de-
pendence on the Almighty Sovereign from
whom all blessings flow.
I. E.

FRIENDS' INTELLIGENCER.
PHILAD'A, TWELFTH MO. 8, 1883.

THANKSGIVING. That the Society of Friends declines generally to yield special observance to the days formally set apart by observance to the days formally set apart by the civil authorities of our country for the giving of solemn thanksgiving and praises to the Author of our Being, is too well understood to need re-affirmation. Our schools

remain in session, our houses for public worship remain unopened, unless it happens that the appointed day occurs on the stated day of customary worship. But we desire that it should be understood that the reason which

As the State and National executives have fixed on the same day on which this Quarterly Meeting has been held for the past 149 years, as a day of Thanksgiving, many persons who are not members of any religious society, embrace the opportunity of attending the meeting for Divine worship at this place, and Friends are very glad to have them come and partake of the heavenly blessings that are so liberally bestowed by the actuates Friends in the action or non-action Author of all good; but they would be glad is very far from being a disapproval of that to have them come earlier, so that the meet-attitude of the mind which finds expression ing could get settled into the quiet in more in joyful thanksgiving for the manifold good seasonable time. There are also many of the members who are late about coming who gifts which crown the year and bless our would do well to be more careful to observe mortal lives. the hour of 10 o'clock.

It was fully half-past ten before the meeting was sufficiently settled for the public service of the ministers present, several of whom were from other Quarterly Meetings.

After the partitions were closed, the ordinary business of the Quarterly Meeting was proceeded with.

The 1st, 2d and 8th queries were read and answered. As the answers to the 1st query, in men's meeting, showed much deficiency in the attendance of week-day meetings, quite extended remarks on the subject were made, which called forth a diversity of sentiment.

When the minutes of the last meeting were read it appeared that the minute-books that have been deposited in the fireproof at Race Street Meeting-house, in Philadelphia, for safe keeping, are comprised in three volumes and embrace all the minutes from the first establishment of the meeting, in 1685, down to 1875, a period of 190 years. Two other books were deposited there, one containing records of certificates of early date, and one

But we stand as perennial objectors to any and all interference of the civil authorities in regard to matters of worship and of religious

observance.

The experience of this people has been such as to lead us to dread and avoid any entering wedge, however apparently harmless, which may in time be damaging to perfect liberty of conscience-our precious inheritance from faithful confessors and fathers. If the civil magistrate can enjoin one religious observance he may enjoin another, and, by small degrees of aggression, a foothold may be gained which will be found to be a vantage ground for oppression.

But voluntarily, without let or hindrance from ruler or priest, we feel that from the altar of the devout and reverent heart the incense of praise and thanksgiving must ascend continually. Neither can words of

acknowledgment compass the vastness of our debt to the beneficent and all-wise Creator and Guardian of our lives. His ways are truly not as the ways of finite man; for we are unable to see the end from the beginning, and unless Perfect Wisdom guides mortal action, we may be only like children toying with things beyond our scope, and rather marring than aiding the Divine Beneficence. But, according to their conceptions of need and their aspirations after good, the prayers of mankind are poured out continually to the Source of all power and the Fountain of all blessing. We may well pause in overflowing gratitude in view of the delights and blessings which make life a joy, and lure us onward from youth to old age in happy progression from duty to duty until life's work is ended, and the rest from conscious existence

seems near.

riches the duration is eternal. For is it not a truth that God throws immortality into the background of consciousness? Our author adds: "In the eye of Him to whom the future is as the present, we are even now the blessed creatures we shall be hereafter, pure and good and strong beyond our highest aspirations.” In the background of human consciousness lies, it may be dimly, this blessed hope of immortal life, and it is in human nature to repose upon this hope. This is the supreme reason for all thanksgiving. Virtue's ways are ways of pleasantness, and her paths are paths of peace, and these paths we have faith to believe lead to eternal blessedness. The trials, pains and sorrows that beset life's pathway at times have ever been gravely accepted by the wise as a needful portion of the soul's experience as it rises into heights and descends into depths, fitting it for a being above and beyond the present.

We devoutly recognize that it is good at all times to strive to realize our indebtedness to the Infinite Love. Grateful recognition should be a customary attitude of the heart in view of all material and for uncounted spiritual benefits. Frances Power Cobbe reminds us finally of the crowning gift of Divine Wisdom and Love: "Over the chaos of our conflicting will and desires His Spirit broods, moving on the face of the deep," and stilling into sunniest calm the night storm of the howling waves. For the inspiration which has enlightened the conscience, for the grace which has melted and purified the heart, who shall thank God enough?”

Frances Power Cobb, in one of her later essays, asks us to imagine a world in which the conditions of life are such as to convey no pleasure to the brain through the senses-in which fragrance, sweetness, color, harmonious sound, are all unknown. We may conceive of a sort of life in a great sunless, silent, loveless, Godless world. From such a life conceive of a conscious creature, being brought to "our radiant earth some summer morning, while the sun was rising over the sea, and the woods were glittering in the dewy light, while the birds were pouring forth their songs, and the fragrance of the grass and flowers filled the air with sweetness." The wondering creature is shown the joys of family life-parental and fraternal love, intellectual and religious life-the joys of the higher nature and the sacred privilege of Divine Communion. By considering the sense of gratitude which this vast influx of happiness "LESSON HELPS" FOR FIRST-DAY SCHOOLS must arouse, and wondering joy which must-The attention of our readers is called to an fill the soul of an intelligent creature thus transferred from the negative to the positive side of joyful life we may see somewhat of the vastness of our obligation to the Creative Wisdom.

But we go a step further and convey to the imagined being a sense of good things to come, of which these present joys are only a symbol and a type, an assurance that of these

"I will bless the Lord at all times," said the Psalmist King, "His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

article in another part of our paper, that places the subject of "Lesson Helps" in its true light, and is worthy a careful and impartial consideration.

Not only to those engaged in the work of First-day schools are the earnest words of the writer addressed; they commend themselves to every concerned Friend who desires to see our children and youth well grounded in the

having an intelligent understanding of the Scriptures.

principles and testimonies of the Society, and | again to the school at Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. The appeal for funds to carry it on to the completion of the present term has not been responded to with the promptness of former years, and the Treasurer, H. M. Laing, is in pressing need of liberal aid.

There are comparatively few of the schools of our religious Society that have not felt the need of some systematic course of study, such as is afforded by the various "Lesson Helps" that are in use in the schools of other professions. The effort made by our General Conference to furnish lesson papers based upon the cardinal doctrines of Friends and free from the objectionable theology against which our existence as a Society is a standing protest, has only in part accomplished its purpose.

That some of our schools are using the International and other series of lessons in preference to those prepared by the General Conference is cause for regret. It is the belief of many amongst us that the doctrinal teaching thus presented from week to week to our children will in time lead away from the simple faith of our Society.

If the First-day school is to be the nursery of the Church, as its most devoted advocates and workers have claimed for it, then it behooves all who engage in its service to be hooves all who engage in its service to be very sure that whatever is put into the hands of the children as " Lesson Helps" is indeed helpful in the right direction.

The faith we profess is so free from dogma and so easy of presentation to the thought of the intelligent child, that we need little else beside the simple truth of the Indwelling Spirit to awaken in his susceptible mind a desire to live in obedience to its teachings.

It is mainly in the study of the Scriptures that "Lesson Helps" are of value, yet there are many who hold the view that such study is not important and that there is danger of resting in the letter of truth, rather than reaching after the spirit that dictated it, but

when we remember it is to the Bible that every Christian denomination goes to establish its creed or dogma, it becomes a very important matter to us to be able “to give a ” for the faith we hold that is based upon the teaching of the same inspired

reason

volume.

FRIENDS AND THE FREEDMEN.-We have been requested to call the attention of Friends

Another religious society is quite willing and anxious to take the school under its care, but it seems a great pity for Friends to abandon the work after having won the confidence of the community, and been so helpful in uplifting the colored people.

In a recent paper published at Mount Pleasant an interesting account of this school is given which shows the estimate in which it is held. The writer says:

"The teachers have done a good work among the rising generation of this vicinity. These are brought within the limits of civilization by the free use of soap and cleanly apparel, and are taught in the "three Rs" at no cost to the county or State.

"The principal has manifested energy and zeal in all this work and for years past. The enterprise is fostered by a 'Society of Friends' in Philadelphia, and their liberality amounts to a permanent endowment of about $1,200 a year. This, aided by a precarious tax on the patrons, keeps the school open 8 months of the 12, with an average attendance of 150 in the winter months and 75 in summer.

"The upper story of the building is an industrial school for both sexes and is in operateachers is one principal and two assistants, tion about half the time. The corps of all white women from the North."

Let us not abandon the work, the sum of $1,200 is not large when we remember that

Friends from far and near are afforded an

opportunity to contribute, and in what be

nevolent work to which our attention is called

can so much good be accomplished at so little colored race, and is unable to give largely, cost. If every one who desires to benefit the would contribute but one dollar a year regularly, to its support, there would be no lack of means to continue the school.

It is quite remarkable that of all the scholars that have been educated in the school,

there is scarcely one who has not made a fair record, while many are occupying positions

of trust and honor.

Contributions may be sent to H. M. Laing, Treasurer, No. 30 N. Third st., Philadelphia.

There seems to be, unfortunately, a too | tured, who visits all or nearly all, frequently, prevalent idea in the public mind that the and having their confidence as friend and House of Refuge is a place for the punish- protector, learns of their condition and treatment of bad children, but such was not the ment, and if they are not doing well, from thought which controlled the benevolent indi- any cause, applies a remedy by either returnviduals who originated the Institution, nor ing them to the House, or finding a better has it been the principle upon which the home for them. "His report for 1882 shows Board of Managers have conducted it. Their from his statistics for the previous three years, first lesson to the unfortunate children, when that out of the discharge of 940 children they enter, is forgetfulness of the past, and who had been on the roll in the years of the building up of a new life upon the foun- 1879, 325 names, 1880, 372 names, and 1881, dation of truth and honor, and every possible 243 names were erased, and classified the reeffort is made in that direction by the employ- sult as follows: Reports favorable, 486; rement of strong and competent teachers in the ports fair, 108; reports unfavorable, 87; unfifteen schools, which are made a powerful heard from, 63; returned by the court to instrument, operating upon the minds of the magistrates, 65; returned to the Institution children, who, when they enter are generally from indenture, 41; returned to the Instituvery ignorant and degraded, and destitute of tion voluntarily, 39; in the Insane Asylum, moral restraint. 1; deaths, including those in the House, 34; total in three years, 940. The large number unheard from is due to the fact that it is difficult to follow such children whose parents remove frequently, and those who, after serving on their indentures for a time, and abscond to their homes or elsewhere beyond the reach of the agent, and those who wander away from homes to sea, or elsewhere, and whose parents and friends have no knowledge of them.

It would surprise those who are not familiar with the work of training such children, under sixteen years of age (over that we do not, except under very favorable circumstances receive them), to learn how readily they are amenable to a kindly treatment for their reformation. They generally promptly accept the situation they find themselves in, and improve rapidly under the restraints necessarily imposed upon them.

Children are very much alike, the world over. With proper care, under wise discipline, exercised during their tender years, mature life opens to them with fair prospects of success; subsequent influences and temptations frequently turn them in the wrong direction.

The children in our House of Refuge turn out not very different in that respect from others, if they are received in the House at an early age; by their treatment it is made plain to them that their good is alone sought in the restraint placed upon them. Their instruction is judicious, their moral training of the right character, their surroundings pleasant, their life made comfortable by good food, good beds, and good clothing. Time for exercise, recreation, and sports, is allowed them, which all children crave and must have to be happy. Thus the neglect of their early lives, which led them into incorrigible and vicious habits, may be readily overcome, and after a period of twenty-four months in the House, our experience has shown that the boys and girls do about as well as the average of other children of their class, or perhaps of any class, who have not come under.such restraint.

The report of Dr. John S. Boyd, our visiting agent (than whom there is none more reliable) who gives nearly his whole time to the care of those children who have been discharged, given up to their parents, or inden

"Since those representing the first three numbers in the record are all upon whom a report can be properly based regarding their present deportment and welfare, the percentage of those deserving commendation is as follows: 486+108-594 divided by the sum of the three numbers 681, gives a quotient of 87 per cent. for the aggregate of three years dismissals.

"The record of the past single year, ending Ninth mo. 1st, 1881, is nearly 91 per cent., which is the highest ratio yet attained since the present system, of a continuation of history subsequent to discharge has been adopted.”

It is certainly gratifying to all who are engaged in the great project of diminishing crime, by rescuing, instructing and reforming, the neglected and vagrant children in this great city, to feel that their work is producing such encouraging results, and if we reflect upon what would probably have been the course of life of most of the 15,000 children and their progeny, for nearly two generations, of which I have spoken as coming into the House of Refuge, in their neglected, igno. rant, and degraded condition, without its intervention, we cannot fail to see how great its work has been, and that it is one of the most important institutions in the State, and should receive the support and encouragement of all good citizens.

Eleventh mo. 29th, 1883.

J. V. W.