The Creator The Examplar The Holy Ghost to be otherwise; when mind, and body, and all outward circumstances, are bright and sunny. But the time when everything seems to go wrong, when the brain is weary, and the patience is overtaxed, is the very time. when we ought to keep our temper, and our words and deeds, under strictest control. If the surly word springs to the lips, and the The Still God The Journeying God The Returning God unkind act makes all around us unhappy, we The True I am Force The Good I Love Sat (Truth) Chit (Intelligence) The Beautiful Keshub Chunder Sen contrasts the Western with the Eastern conceptions of Christ, from which a few notes may be made. have no business to claim exemption from the THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS, COMMONLY "One of them is an elaborately learned man; versed in all the principles of theology. His doctrine is historical, exclusive, arbitrary, opposed to the ordinary instincts and natural common-sense of mankind. He insists upon plenary inspiration, becomes stern over forms, continually descants on miracles, imports Sir-With respect to this community of institutions foreign to the genius of the con- Christians, two statements have recently been tinent, and in case of non-compliance with made which have excited interest in the minds whatever he lays down condemns men to eter- of those who admire their principles and nal darkness and death. He continually appreciate their worth. One is," that as a talks of blood and fire and hell. He consid-denomination they are fast dying out, or ers innocent babes as the progeny of deadly sin. He hurls invectives at other men's faith, however truly and conscientiously held. No sacred notions are sacred to him unless he has taught them. Wherever he goes men learn to beware of him. He is tolerated only because he carries with him the imperial prestige of a conquering race." By his side place another figure. He is simple, natural, a stranger to the learning of books. Out of the profound, untaught impulses of his divine soul, he speaks, and when he speaks nations bow their heads. His voice is a song of glory, his sentiments are the visions of a heaven in which all men are united by love. His doctrines are the simple utterances about a Fatherhood which embraces all the children of men, and a Brotherhood which makes all the races of the world one great family. Babes and children he calls unto him. "Look at this picture and at that. This is the Christ of the East; that, of the West." Sylvania, Second month, 1884. E. M. IRRITABILITY is a state of mind into which almost everybody falls, or is tempted to fall, at one time or another; and it threatens the best and brightest people more often than those who are dull and apathetic. But no one has a right to think that "nervous irritability," or even genuine prostration from overwork or worry, affords a good excuse for petulance or ill-temper. Any one can be gentle and winning when nothing tempts him being, to a large extent, absorbed by the world." The other is, "that some of their number are earnestly endeavoring to restore their primitive mode of dress and manner, which for so many years distinguished them as a community. If the former statement has any truth in it, I most sincerely regret it; if the latter is true, I as truly rejoice; for although not a member of that Society, yet. brought up in their midst and tolerably well acquainted with their principles and polity, of which I am an admirer, I hold them in the highest esteem. One sentence in the writings of the Apostle Paul occurs to my mind which may fitly be applied to them: "A peculiar people, zealous of good works." That they are a peculiar people no one will deny. It may appear to some a needless peculiarity; but from their own standpoint it is not so; they can give a sound reason for all. Whatever may be said of their peculiarities, they have ever leaned to virtue's side, and in whatever direction their peculiarities have gone, they have never infringed upon the rights or the rightful peculiarities of others. Their attire if peculiar, could never be offensive to the most critical taste, and for neatness they have been proverbial. "As neat and trim as a Quaker," has often been spoken and heard. Always well dressed, according to their own pattern, they have been necessary as presenting a standing protest against the ultra adornment to which the current, ever-changing fashion tended. In their conversation there was and is the peculiarity of grammati cal correctness, even to the "thee," " thou," | most cherished ideas carried out, or being and "thine," and, whilst polite and plain, carried out. was ever free from the flattery, and the unmeaning and unmeant euphonisms of so-called genteel society. And whilst peculiar, the Friends were ever zealous of good works." No portion of society have, as a community done more for the amelioration of human suffering, ignorance, and want-not only have they ever preserved their own members from poverty and distress, but they have been as generous to others as to their own. Let the history of this people be read in the light of current thought and feeling, and what in times past may have been despised, through the ignorance of their foes and the bigotry of unfriendly critics, will be fully appreciated by the present generation. Religiously, they have tenaciously held to their own peculiar modes of worship, as was their right to do; and whilst zealous in their attachment thereto, they never in the least measure attempted to interfere with the religious liberty of others. It is true that they have refused to pay church rates and similar demands which have been made upon them but they did not in this resist the law; they passively submitted by allowing their goods to be distrained, and now for years church rates have been abolished, the public mind through the legislative assembly having thus admitted that the principles they advocated in their non-payment of these rates were sound and equitable. And so in relation to tithes and church establishments, although their views are not yet endorsed by the nation, the public mind is gradually tending in that direction. Lovers of peace and order, they have pursued their way without noise or confusion. The force of character and the power of truth has been the influence they have ever brought to bear upon the minds and hearts of others, and hence their steady advancement and successful effort. Their sober, solid, and staid demeanor has ever been a steadfast bulwark against the frenzied excitement of noisy partisans and unprincipled demagogues; let a thing or principle be right, and they were its advocates and defenders; they were never moved by the jibes and jeers of their opponents, nor intimidated by the numbers arrayed against them. Our nation has yet to learn (but it will learn) how much it is indebted to the Society of Friends for the rapid strides which have been made in all legislative matters which have emancipated and blessed all classes of the people. Always to be depended upon in whatever would benefit society at large, by breaking down classprivileges, removing unequal burdens which hindered the progress of any, and in securing equal rights religiously, politically, and otherwise to all, every liberal statesman knew their value; and thus in relation to matters, both at home and abroad and through all circumstances, they have ever been the same. Generous, and yet abstemious; shrewd in business, yet scrupulously honest; clear and fair in judgment upon all matters within their ken (and, as a rule, they had knowledge of most matters, and mostly mastered the subjects upon which they formed opinion,) they have been able to turn the balance upon most Politically their views have ever been sound. moral questions that have been decided by In all the laws which have been made for the their worth and practicability. It would enlarged liberty of the subject, the lessening indeed be sad were this noble Society to deor removing of vexatious taxation, the cheap- part from their original habits and methods. ening of the provisions necessary to human and be lost in the multitude; the world needs life and comfort, the education of the people, their denominational testimony against the the removal of obstacles to cheap literature, evils that yet remain, and in the interests of and all kindred matters, the Friends, to a all that is right and true. Returning to their man, have ever been on the right side. For primitive mode of dress and manner, their years in the minority, yet faithful to their existence is recognized and their power felt; principles and loyal to all that was right and but by conforming to the world, their existtrue, they patiently and persistently held on ence would be lost sight of and their value their way until the minority became the unknown: for their influence for good in the majority and the good was effected. The past has not been exercised so beneficially quiet, unostentatious, yet persevering pursuit upon society by them as so many units scatof the objects they had in view being the tered amongst the human family, as by their result of intense conviction, became the pur- united action as a distinct body whose denomipose of life to them in so large a measure that national convictions have inspired the princithey might be said to be impelled by an in-ples by which their conduct has been actuated. spiration begotten of hope, which neither flagged nor ceased until success had crowned their efforts; and so their verdict upon all public questions ever being on the side of righteousness and truth, they have seen their History cannot, we believe, produce a case upon any moral or political principle upon which they have ever been divided, and hence their strength and usefulness. Given the moral bearings of any subject whatever, and their attitude in reference to it might ever be at once decided. No philanthropists in the world have ever surpassed them for patient perseverance and unswerving determination in any course they saw to be worth pursuing in the interests of humanity, and whilst they have most faithfully held to their own principles and brotherhood, they have never sought selfishly to secure liberty or benefit for themselves to the disadvantage or exclusion of others. One might easily refer to celebrated individuals of their number whose efforts for the public good, the emancipation of the slave, the amelioration of suffering, and the enfranchisement of men from the bondage of ignorance and tyranny, history is proud to admit. But my purpose is not so much to speak of individual effort, as of denominational influence and power, which has been the outcome of their religious principles, however peculiar to others may have appeared their modes of worship or their interpretations of Scripture. And most heartily do I desire that as a community, they may continue to exercise the beneficial influence upon society of which history furnishes so constant a testimony. The greatest authority in the universe said in reference to men, "By their fruits ye shall know them;" and judging the Society of Friends by this criterion, we hesitate not to say they will for good works be second to no denomination of Christians in the world.J. Birdseye, Congregational Minister, in the British Friend. CONDUCT OF LIFE. Plan your own life. Do not suffer yourself to be bullied by society or the general opinion of your friends. If you want very much to do something, and it is right and honest, go ahead and do it. You may fail at it; you may have judged unwisely; but, at any rate, you will have strengthened your will; you will have been yourself, and not the creature of other peoples advice; and yor will have earned in experience more than money's worth. This does not mean that you are selfish to avoid or reject your duty to others, rightfully dependent on you. It may be your part to deny yourself the gratification of even a very strong impulse toward a favorite career or occupation, to give up your own will and wishes for the sake of those dependent on you. Do that with a cheerful and manly spirit; count yourself the happier, as you will be the better man, for having your duty so plainly marked out for you. With men as with machines, it is never economical to work up to the full power. It is a strain to do so. Hence it is an unwise, though a common ambition which carries men into work which they can do only with difficulty. Seek a career where you can do your best easily. It is better that the man should be too big for the place than the place for the man. Better, in part, because he needs leisure; he ought to be many-sided; he cannot hope to know any one thing well, unless he has had leisure and desire to know many others: Try, however, to learn some one thing thoroughly. No matter what it is, you will find that, when you do know that one thing thoroughly, you will have a satisfactory knowledge of many others. All knowledge is closely inter-related. The mischief is that so many people only "know a little something.' Thoroughness of work is honesty, and honesty is the best policy even for this life. If God had made it otherwise, he would have introduced constant confusion into our lives. Hence, what you do, do with a will; put your best thought and skill into your work, and try early to acquire the habit of doing this. It is not easy to fix yourself in that, but nothing is more worth your while. cheapest thing you can do is to pay your debts and do good work. Your best is what you owe to the world, and to yourself even more, no matter how humble the work may be. The Therefore, value your work for the work's sake, and not for the reward or success it is to bring you. The laborer is worthy of his hire, but he is a poor creature if he works only for the wages he is to get; and he will never do good work on that condition alone. A man, if he is really a man, values and honors his work, takes pride in it, and does it well and thoroughly for its own sake, and for his own sake, and not for the wages. Hence, a good mechanic or farmer is always an intelligent man-very often the most in-. telligent and the wisest man in the community. He has found it needful for his own satisfaction to know one thing thoroughly; and, to do that, he has necessarily to know something of a good many others. No kind of work is so low that this is not true of it. I knew a gardener's laborer who earned his daily bread with a spade, but who had made himself a good florist, and no mean botanist. Nor is any work so high in the scale but that he who does it for the reward alone, be this money, or place, or power, will become a narrow and stupid soul.- Charles Nordhoff, in God and the Future Life. HE upon whom religion possesses its proper influence, finds that it enables him to endure with resigned patience, every calamity of life. -Dymond. LOCAL INFORMATION. Concord Quarterly Meeting, held at West Chester, Pa., on the 29th ult., was well attended, though the morning was stormy and the earth shrouded in a covering of new fallen snow. The silence of the public meeting was broken by a voice in supplication, for guidance and protection. This was followed by an earnest appeal from Darlington Hoopes, of Baltimore Yearly Meeting to his hearers, that if any one there be amongst them at variance with another to let the spirit of love lead them to be reconciled, so that each one might become fitted to worship the Father, beautifully alluding to the customs of the past ages, when men brought offerings to the house of worship, thereby hoping to make amends for wrong doing, but now the desirable offering was an humble and a contrite spirit, putting aside the desire to appear to advantage among men, seeking to prepare the heart for the blessings the Lord has in store for his obedient children. Isaac Hicks, of Long Island, then spoke, comparing the beautiful covering of snow that enveloped the earth, to the mantle of righteousness that should robe the Christian, cautioning all against the contaminations of sin, lest this purity be lost as the snow loses its whiteness when it becomes covered with earth, and besought them to live so near the Father that their lives shall show forth his wisdom. the coming spring, will supply the lack of biological instruction, which has been the subject of much comment in academy circles. Dr. Sharp is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, and a grandson of Benj. J. R. Leedom, lately deceased. The Educational Committee of New York Yearly Meeting of Friends, held an interesting meeting on the evening of First mo. 23d, 1884. The labors of the committee, which was appointed at the last annual meeting, have been chiefly directed to securing information of the number of schools under the care of Friends within the limits of the Yearly Meeting and the amount of funds devoted to educational purposes. At the last meeting, however, questions of interest for advancing the cause of a guarded education of Friends' children claimed attention. Reports were received from the four schools especially under the care of meetings, showing their condition, courses of study, methods. of instruction and manner of discipline. The condition of these schools as shown by the reports is encouraging, both in the attendance and interest felt in their maintenance. Marshall Academy, at Easton, especially appears to have secured a revived interest in its neighborhood and needs only a moderate increase in the support to place it upon a substantial footing. The committee and Friends in attendance were led by these reports to consider many questions of deep interest. Enoch Hannum of the Western Quarter was impressed to speak the word of good cheer to certain conditions present laboring under discouragement. Other communications, of an interesting character, mostly from Friends within the Quarter, were well re- Friends schools, wherever practicable, were ceived. The business meeting was short and considered valuable, not only in affording the lively, the social mingling pleasant and profit-right kind of an education, but also as an able, and the general expression from old and important influence in guarding the interests. young was that the occasion had been a of the religious concerns of the Society itself. happy one, evidencing an increase of interest Our schools must of necessity keep close to in our Society. those branches of study that are useful and Darlington Hoopes also attended the First-practical, or which afford solid mental trainday Meeting at West Chester, on the morning of the 3d inst, and his loving, earnest words in favor of righteous living and the universality of the love of Christ fell upon the ears of attentive listeners, who with tendered hearts felt that his visit had been as a blessing unto them. L. Our young friend, Dr. Benjamin Sharp, of Germantown, has been recently elected to the Professor's chair of "Lower Invertebrata" in the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. Dr. Sharp has had rare opportunities for study, in the famous museums of Europe, and the course of lectures, on the lower forms of life, which he will deliver at the Academy, ing. Whatever is merely ornamental and fit only to cater to the tastes of fashion can have no place in a consistent Friends' school; and if controlled by earnest, conscientious teachers the instruction must harmonize with the nature of the studies. One of the speakers in a few earnest words showed the especial value and importance of teachers, who taught from a recognition of the influence of spirit upon spirit in the discipline and management of pupils. The highest type of manhood and womanhood can only be found in the development of the best spiritual inspirations. Brute force, nor even impatient and harsh language can ever bring these out. If we educate our teachers to strive to train those committed to their care in this spirit, we may reasonably expect continued and even renewed devotion to the principles of our faith. It is an influence in discipline we cannot safely delegate to those not in sympathy with us-to those who govern by inflexible rules and look only to the outward conduct. Recognizing that the springs of action are within can we expect any but believers in the doctrine to be faithful, or indeed aim to seek these sources as the lever of the youthful mind may best be guided by and fortified to remain unspotted before the world, yet to labor in it for the noblest ends? The committee adjourned to meet in Fourth month, at the time of Quarterly Meeting to be held in Brooklyn, and hope to arrange for a general conference on the subject during the next Yearly Meeting. B. I trust, the coming year will bring to us the rich experience of such growth in Christian character as will enable us to bear with cheerful submission whatever may be dispensed. I find it is no light matter to meet properly the various disabilities attendant now on the passage of each twelve months. I remember it is said, "As thy day, so shall thy strength be;" here I try to rest my care. Not strength to do, but strength to bear even the realization of the fact that I am altogether nothing. With thee it is strength to do. I can only say keep close to the master, then will His blessing rest upon all thy doings, and thou wilt realize the truth of the familiar saying, "Use strength and have strength." I am growing old and therefore cannot expect to be much; and I shall try whatever may be my lot the few years that may remain for me in this mode of existence, to be resigned. I hope to brush out my house and dust the little furniture that may be there, every day, so that it may be ready to receive the precious visitor whenever he may condescend to make a call. Oh, it is these precious seasons when we feel and know His presence to be with us that I long for, that so I may have the evidence that when the last call shall be made, I may be ready to enter a more perfect habitation not made with hands, nor polluted by the work of men's hands, but eternal in the heavens. And thou when thou offers up thy morning and evening sacrifice remember the poor pilgrim that now addresses thee. Let our souls cleave to each other for good, that the bond of our friendship may become more perfect, and that separated as we are, the assurance may be furnished that we have but one common interest in time and eternity. FRIENDS' INTELLIGENCER. PHILAD'A, SECOND MONTH 9th, 1884. RELIGIOUS LIBERTY AND PROGRESS. Under the proper conditions, we hold perfect religious liberty to be the best possible condition for human progress. This is one of the axioms of Quakerism which has been steadily gaining in acceptance with the people for more than two hundred years. There never was a time when each sect or body of believers did not claim for themselves liberty of conscience, but many reasons seemed to shut out those deemed unorthodox from corresponding liberties. The civil magistrate must bear the sword in matters of divine worship as well as in secular matters, and in the work of upholding certain views as orthodox, and suppressing certain other principles, deemed heterodox, much bloody work was done, to the sorrow and shame of after times. Civilized mankind has at length reached a level of greater freedom of thought and utterance, and looking back over the perilous paths trodden by the faithful, we may realize the importance of holding fast to the principles of tolerance and Christian charity which were only attained and acknowledged practically, after they had been baptized in the blood of many martyrs. The sufferings of our own Society were far out of proportion to its numbers, and one result from this dread experience has surely been an extra vigilance lest our precious privileges and our release from the yoke of a formal and ceremonial religion be again a matter of question. We decline to observe Days and Times" at the request of the magistrate, because we hold that in this mat ter he has no right to lay down the law for us. We look for guidance and direction only |