USA > Indiana > Washington County > Salem > Minutes of the Salem Peace Society, 1818-1826 > Part 3
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1 In editing these minutes every effort has been made to represent as closely as possible the actual handwritten document, but printing has necessitated certain changes. Liberties in spacing have been taken with such items as the centering of headings, the use of double spacing to mark a new entry, paragraphing, and-with one exception-the setting of lists in series rather than in column. Elevated letters have been brought down to the line; obvious repetitions and flourishes have been omitted. Periods have been substituted for flourishes and other marks and added where necessary. Commas and semi-colons in series of arabic numbers and proper names have been standardized throughout. With regard to spelling, [sic] has been used only when spelling is inconsistent within the document or when there might be a question of an error in transcription or printing. Proper names have been allowed to stand even though spelling is inconsistent; correct spelling of names has not been given because reliable sources are lacking. The plural of words ending in "y" varies between "-ys" and "-ies;" the vowel sequence after "c" is consistently "-ie" (for example, "recieve") ; and there are other non-standard spellings. Capitalization has presented many problems. Obvious capitals or lower case letters have been retained although they may be in- consistent with modern usage; but several letters are not distinguishable as capital or lower case: "c," "w," and "a" have definite capital forms, but the lower case form is used obviously as both capital and lower case; the same "s" and "y" are used for both capital and lower case in initial position. When there was a question of the writer's apparent intention because of inconsistencies within the document, modern usage was the final criterium for a decision. There has been no real attempt to identify the people mentioned except when pertinent information was readily available.
Xerox copies of the original minutes, which are in the possession of the Hobbs family of Plainfield, Indiana, were used in editing. Grateful acknowledgement is made to the family for permission to publish the material and to Professor Blake for first submitting it. The editor also thanks Miss Lulie Davis, Secretary of the Washington County Historical Society, and Miss Amy Hammersmith, Librarian of the Salem Public Library, for their help in preparing the document for publication.
2 2 Samuel 2.26. Although biblical allusions and quotations are often incomplete or slightly inaccurate, sources only have been provided throughout.
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rational creatures, as covetuousness, Pride, envy, Hatred & revenge, to be subjugated so far, that the Spirit of Love & a Pacific disposition may Predominate. We have no doubt of the Possibility of this, but believe that were Individuals and Nations actuated by the pure principle of Love, they would be willing to use their Efforts for the promotion & encouragement of Peace on Earth & good will to men; that the occasions of war may be removed and the blessings of Peace enjoyed.
Now as it hath pleased the Almighty Superintendant of the universe to Illuminate the understandings of many (which we mention with reverence and Gratitude) whereby they see in a clear point of veiw [sic] the evils of war, and several Peace Societies have been recently formed of divers respectable citizens of the United States, in order to unite in laboring that Peace & Harmony may be preserved ;- Therefore Fellow Citizens of this State, not only such as believe that all wars are contrary to the Precepts of the Gospel, but also those who think that offensive war only is wrong,3 we desire your attention may be turned to this very Interesting Theme; and divesting our- selves of any Preposs [ ess ]ion to the contrary may Judiciously consider whether it doth not behove us to make a proper use of the present time of favor, wherein Prospects so animating, open with such conspicuity; and from a sincere desire that the welfare & happiness of the human Race may be promoted, to institute a Peace Society in this State, for purposes similar to those of others already organized. Can this be incompatible with sound Policy ?-
Although those who engage in this good work, may meet with some opposition, yet those that are willing to be Instrumental according to their capacities under divine Providence, in diffusing a Pacific principle, & under a sense of duty, use their best Efforts that Love, Peace, & Harmony may prevail amongst mankind,-we believe such will recieve the reward of Peace in their own minds, and Participate of the Blessings granted to the Peace makers.
Of which the Meeting approves, & appoints Levi Munden, Willis McCoy, Samuel Lindley, Matthew Coffin, Joseph Moore, Nathan Trueblood, Robert Dennis, James White, Benjamin Albertson, William Hobbs, & Thomas Thornson to prepare a form of Constitution, for the Salem Indiana Peace Society & Produce to next meeting. On motion The meeting adjourns untill the 2nd seventh day in next month at the 12th Hour at the Court House in the Town of Salem, at which time & place all those who are friendly to the above institution are Invited to attend.
8 The stand on defensive war was a point of conflict among members of peace societies. Salem followed the Massachusetts society in its willingness to accept members who believed in defensive war. The New York and London societies excluded those who held this belief. Merle E. Curti, The American Peace Crusade, 1815-1860 (Durham, 1929), 11-12.
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The Secretary is directed to have the above Published in the Salem Tocsin.“
By order
Benjn Albertson Secy
Salem (Indiana) January the 9th 1819
At a Meeting met agreeable to adjournment The Committee appointed at last meeting to prepare an Essay of Constitution for the Salem Indiana Peace Society, Produced the following (To Wit) Constitution of the Salem Indiana Peace Society,5 --
We the subscribers in forming this Society, think proper to make the following concise declaration of our motives & objects.
Having been impressed by considering the manifold evils & tremendeous [sic] calamities of Public War; we earnestly wish that men may be brought to view it in a just light, clearly to see its sad influence, on the Political moral & religious of communities, and its opposition to the design & spirit of the Gospel; and that the true dignity and Happiness of a People result from Impartial Justice towards all Nations, and the Spirit & Virtues of Peace.
Various facts and considerations have conspired in exciting a hope, that a change may be effected in public sentiment, and a more happy state of society introduced.
We believe that a majority of the People in civilized countries, when free from party passions & prejudices, have such an aversion to public Hostilities, that they would rejoice if any plan could be devised which would both secure their rights and absolve them from the burthens & sufferings of war.
The late Treaty of Peace between Great Britain and the United States, has suggested the Practicability of such a plan, and given us an admirable lesson on the subject.
For this ray of Pacific light we are gratefull and hope it will be like "the shining light which shineth more & more unto the perfect day."" It is clear that every popular custom must depend on public opinion, and it
+ The Tocsin was the first newspaper published in Salem and the initial number was issued on March 17, 1818. The founders were Ebenezer Patrick and Beebe Booth. The Tocsin was sold after four volumes, ran until 1826 under new management and a new name, and then was purchased by Patrick and renamed the Tocsin. Warder W. Stevens, Centennial History of Washington County Indiana (Indianapolis, 1916), 383-87.
5 The constitution is very closely modeled on that of the Massachusetts Peace Society which was published in the Friend of Peace, I, iv, 35-37. The Salem preamble has many passages identical with those of the Massachusetts preamble and the articles differ from those of Massachusetts only on a few points: several articles are altered by the Indiana society; an article concerning life membership is omitted; Article 5 is new; whereas Massachusetts specifies an annual meeting, Salem calls for a meeting every three months.
6 Proverbs 4.18.
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appears from History that many customs, which were formerly considered as honorable, usefull & even necessary, have since been abolished, as inhuman & Barbarous, and are now regarded with detestation & Horror.
The attention of the Europian [sic ] Nations lately appears to be unusually excited to the guilt and miseries of war; and with Joy we learn that Peace Societies are Established on the other side of the atlantic, as well as in the United States,-a cooperation in different countries is joyfully anticipated in this great work of promoting peace on earth, and good will among men.
We Intend that this Society shall be established on such principles as to embrace the friends of Peace tho, they may differ in sentiment on the question, whether war be not in all cases Prohibited by the Gospel, and may also differ in opinion on other subjects.
We wish to promote the cause of peace by methods which all Christians must approve ;- by exhibiting with clearness the pacific nature of the Gospel, and by turning the attention of the community to the nature, spirit, causes & effects of war,-we hope that by the concurrence of the friends of Peace in all Nations, and by the gradual Illumination of the Christian world, a Pacific spirit may be communicated to Governments ;- And that in this way under the divine Blessing, the occasions of war, and the belief of its necessity will be constantly diminishing till it shall be regarded by all Christians with the same horror, with which we now look back, on the exploded & barbarous customs of former ages.
On these principles, and with these hopes we adopt the following articles. Article, 1st The name of this Society shall be the Salem (Indiana) Peace Society.
2nd The Government of this Society shall consist, of a President, Treasurer, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, and six Trustees, who shall be annually Chosen, Three of whom shall constitute a quorum.
3rd The funds of this Society shall be under the direction of the officers, to be employed for the diffusion of Light on the subject of war & in cultivating the Principles & Spirit of Peace; The officers shall have Power to appoint an Executive Committee and Counsellars [sic ] to advise with the Corresponding Secretary & to make regulations for the dispatch of business.
Article
4th No book or tract shall be published without its being ap- proved by a majority of the members present at a Quarterly or annual Meeting.
5th Each subscriber of one Dollar annually shall be a member. 6th All donations to the Society shall be Recorded; and each member of the Society may recieve one half his annual subscriptions in such books or tracts as the officers shall approve, and at the lowest prices of the Society.
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7th The Society shall meet once in every three months and may be convened by order of the President at other times, when the officers shall deem it necessary; and reports shall be made to the Society by the Trustees & Treasurer annually on the 2nd Saturday of the first month in each year; and in case of the absence of the President at any meeting of the Society, the members present shall have power to choose another to officiate as President Pro. Tempore.
"
8th This Society will encourage the forming of similar societies, in other places by the dispersion of tracts, by correspondences, and by other suitable means; they will also encourage mutual aid and cooperation among all the friends of Peace of every denomination.
Article
9th Any body of men ten or upwards in number, living too remote to attend our Quarterly Meeting may be a branch of this by representing the state of theirs to this annually.
"
10th No Change in the objects of the Society shall ever be made; but the articles may be amended and new articles may be added as occasion shall require; provided that no alteration be made except at their regular annual meeting, and by the consent of two thirds of the members who may be then present.
Signed on behalf of the committee By Benjn Albertson Clk
Which after being repeatedly & deliberately Read was approved of, and the following Persons subscribe their names as members thereof.
Matthew Coffin
William Hobbs
Levi Munden
William Trueblood
David Denny
Benoni Morris
Samuel Lindl[e]y
Joseph Moore
Zachariah Nixon
John Cox
Jessee Stanley John Brassleton Joel Brown John S Chawner
Thomas Lindley Junr
William Lindley Senr
James Trueblood Senr
Caleb White
Micah Newby Henry Wilson
James Coffin
Robert Dennis
William R Denny Joshua Trueblood
Toms White
James Denny James R Higgins
Joshua Crow
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Jehosaphat Morris Nathan Trueblood Willis McCoy
Benjamin Albertson
William Hodgin
appoint, Beebee
Booth, President;
Aaron Morris Joshua Tatlock
James White
Secretary; & Burr
Ebenezer Patrick Jacob Cox
Bradley, Corresponding
Secretary ;- Matthew
Coffin, David Denny,
William Hobbs, Jonathan
Lyon, Samuel Lindley, & Zachariah Nixon Trustees.
Ordered that the Treasurer
Procure suitable Blank
Books for the Recording Secretary & for himself.
Ordered that the Corresponding Secretary have this Meeting Minutes, published in the Salem Tocsin together with two Hundred Copies of our Constitution printed in Hand Bills.
The Meeting adjourns untill the 2nd Saturday in April Next at the 12th Hour at the Court House in the Town of Salem.
Order,d that the Recording Secretary have Published the time of the setting of next Meeting in the Salem Tocsin two weeks previous thereto.
Salem the 30th of January 1819
At a meeting of the officers of the Salem Indiana Peace Society, ordered that the Recording Secretary give information to the Corresponding Secretary that this meeting directs him to write to all the Peace Societies within his knowledge as also any other societies of any kind which we deem friendly to our Institution, and procure copies of all the numbers of the friends of peace over & above the first Eight numbers, & also obtain any other Books or tracts or information otherwise usefull for us.
This meeting adjourns untill the next Emergency.
" "L Creek" probably refers to Lick Creek which was approximately twenty miles from Salem. Quakers from the Blue River and Lick Creek Monthly Meetings were closely associated according to information in B.C. Hobbs, Autobiography of William Hobbs (Indiana Quaker Records, Indianapolis, 1962), 8-11.
Thomas Lindley L Creek™
Who after being called
together proceed to
Elisha Hobbs
Nathan Trueblood,
Treasurer; Benjamin
Albertson, Recording
Miles Tatlock Jonathan Lyon Elijah Rawley
Beebee Booth
John Arnold Thomas Saint
Burr Bradley Aaron Cox Joseph Nixon
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Indiana Magazine of History Salem (Indiana) April 10th 1819
The Society met agreeable to adjournment.
Report says all orders passed at last meeting are complied with.
A Code of By Laws being produced for this Society, were Read & approved by the members present, (to Wit) Matthew Coffin, Levi Munden, David Denny, Samuel Lindley, William Hobbs, Joseph Moore, Joel Brown, James Trueblood Senr, Joshua Trueblood, Jehosaphat Morris, Nathan Trueblood, Benjamin Albertson, Aaron Morris, Jonathan Lyon, Elijah Rawley, Beebee Boothe, Thomas Saint, Burr Bradley, Joseph Nixon, James R Higgins, Caleb White, & Benjn Overman, which were ordered to be Recorded & are as follows.
By Laws of the Salem Indiana Peace Society
Article 1st Our meetings shall be held open for all who behave orderly to attend, though none Except members shall be permitted to speak without leave of the meeting.
2nd The President shall be the Speaker & may debate but have no vote, except when a tie, in which case he shall give the casting vote; he shall call to order when decorum is not observed, and shall sign all writings that go from the Society with one or the other Secretarys.
3rd The Recording Secretary shall make entrys and keep Records of all business the Society shall direct. The Cor- responding Secretary shall keep Copies of all letters that he sends to other societies, and file them together with all he recieves from them with the Recording Secretary.
4th The Trustees shall make moderate compensation to the secretaries for their trouble & expences.
5th When any person is about to speak he shall Rise on his feet and address the Speaker, neither shall but one speak at a time, and no one shall speak more than thrice to one subject, without leave from the meeting.
6th When a motion is made & seconded it shall be put to vote, and a majority shall decide it.
7th The Hour appointed to meet at shall be strictly observed, at which time the President shall take his seat and the Clerk proceed to business.
On motion it was ordered that Levi Munden, William Hobbs, & Benjamin Albertson, be appointed a committee to draft our motives & intentions as a Society & p[r]oduce to next meeting.
Ordered that the Secretary have our by Laws & the proceedings of the day published in the Tocsin,-also the time of the setting of next meeting two weeks previous thereto.
On motion the meeting adjourns untill the 2nd Saturday in July next at the 2 Hour in the afternoon, at the Court House in the town of Salemn.
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Salem July 10th 1819
At a meeting of the Salem (Indiana) Peace Society
The President being absent William Hobbs was called to the Chair as President Pro. Tem.
The Committee appointed last meeting produced a draft of our motives & objects as a Society which was read approved ordered to be recorded & Published in the Salem Tocsin (to Wit.)
A solemn declaration of the members of the Salem (Indiana) Peace Society, containing an explication of their motives & objects in forming this association.
The Institution of Peace Societies being of recent date, we are ap- prehensive, that some of our fellow Citizens, for want of more explicit information; may, from a cursory view of such an association concieve it to be a Phenomenon; and being moved with fear (that intellectual tyrant, to which mankind are too apt to be subservient) have brought this unpopular [topic?] before their own mental tribunal, and precipitately given Judgment against it, without hearing the evidence; however we hope they have the discretion not to adopt any measures discordant with the counsel of the wise doctor Gamaliel to the Jewish Sanhedrim [sic], the purport of which was,- If that counsel or work were of men it would come to nought (as had been the case in divers instances) but if its origin was of the divine power, the might of man could not overthrow it; therefore he advised, to let those men alone, lest perhaps they (that is the persecutors) should be found even opposing omnipotence.8
We deem it expedient to announce to the public, a succinct but un- equivical delineation of the motives of our Institution; also the object we have in view, and the means we are engaged to use.
We solemiy [sic] declare, that in this case we are free from any private sinister or selfish view; but being impressed with a deep conviction that there is a great deviation from the spirit of Christianity, which is a spirit of mercy, peace and kind affection; and being sorrowfully affected by the accumulated miseries & great desolations which war has spread over the fairest, most fruitful! and enlightened regions of the earth; and at the same time encouraged by many decisive proofs of the revival of Purer & more benevolent principles among Christian nations, we have formed this association, with the solemn & deliberate purpose of cooperating with the Philanthropists, of this and other Countries, in endeavoring to promote the cause of peace & Charity; that war may be stripped of its false glory, and different com- munities may be united in the bonds of amity & mutual good will. We are sensible that this object is chiefly to be accomplished by a silent and gradual influence on the minds of men; accordingly we intend to limit our operations to the circulation of usefull Treatises in which the Pacific spirit of religion
8 Acts 5.34-39.
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has been exhibited with clearness, & we hope with success .- In using these means it becomes necessary for the Society to have some funds, which are to be employed for the diffusion of light on the subject of war, and in the cultivating the principles and spirit of peace, agreeably to the Constitution we have adopted .- On this subject we belong to no sect, no party. As lovers of our Country, as friends of mankind with the spirit of peace in our breasts and with a deep impression of the miseries of war, we are solicitous that the Effusion of human blood by human hands may be prevented, and that men may be recalled to the conviction that they are brethren .- On the same principles & for the same benevolent purposes peace societies are established in several of the United States; also several are formed in great Britain .- These societies with the many others9 which are in existence for pious & humane purposes, it is believed may be auxillary to each other, in promoting the cause of humanity, and in diffusing the principles of love, peace and amity, so essential to the true happiness of mankind .- Among the members of the Massachusetts Peace Society there are many respectable Characters, of which there are ninety six ministers of the Gospel of different denominations, the Prince Galitzin of Russia, and Thomas Jefferson of Virginia (former President of the United States.) 10-Further we are authorized to state, that several of the illustrious powers of europe have united in a solemn league, wherein they declare before "the universe their unwavering determination to adopt for the only rule of their conduct, both in the administration of their respective states, & in their political relation with every other Government, the precepts of Christianity, the precepts of Justice, of Charity and Peace."11
These facts, with others which are apparent, indicate that, through the interposition of divine Providence, the influence of the Gospel of Peace is progressing amongst men in various stations, & in different parts of the
9 Curti discusses the peace movement as a "part of a general humanitarian develop- ment" which found direction in the "general disgust with the train of social woes which came with the wars." Organizations were formed for temperance, antislavery, prison reform, the mentally ill, and the physically disabled. See Curti, The American Peace Crusade, 1815-1860, pp. 18-20, and references given there.
10 Prince Alexander Galitzin of Russia became an honorary member of the Massachusetts Peace Society as the result of some correspondence with that society. Correspondence between the society and the Prince and Emperor Alexander of Russia is printed in the Friend of Peace, I, x, 24-27. Correspondence from Thomas Jefferson is also printed, ibid., I, xi, 24-25.
11 The quotation is probably taken from a newspaper account of the formation of the Holy Alliance which was signed in 1815 by the leaders of Austria, Russia, and Prussia. The pertinent portion of the preamble of the Act of the Holy Alliance states: "They solemnly declare that the present Act has no other object than to publish, in the face of the whole world, their fixed resolution, both in the administration of their respective States, and in their political relations with every other Government, to take for their sole guide the precepts of that Holy Religion, namely, the precepts of Justice, Christian Charity and Peace, which, far from being applicable only to private concerns must have an immediate influence upon the counsels of Princes, and guide all their steps, as being the only means of consolidating human institutions and remedying their imperfections." Walter T. Phillips, The Confederation of Europe (London, 1914), 301. The preface was reprinted in the Friend of Peace, I, x, 18, in late 1817 or early 1818.
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world; and we are induced to hope, that, by the well directed efforts of the friends of peace under the blessing of Heaven, a Change in public sentiment may be effected, which shall become conspicuous in the moral conduct of Governments to the dereliction of war & violence, and the establishment of peace on earth and good will to our fellow Creatures .- All sanguinary customs, Hostile passions, violence, war & revenge, are evidently incompatible with the precepts of the Messiah, who came not to destroy mens lives but to save them12_therefore we are solicitous that all who assume the character of Christians, may by their conduct evince, that in meekness & love, they are true followers of him, whom we acknowledge to be the author of our faith; and in particular that the ministers of the Gospel of every religious denomination (whose influence with the members of the community is so universally acknowledged) may through divine aid be Preachers of Righteous- ness, both by precept & example, and ministers of peace by Jesus Christ; solemnly considering the importance of their vocation, and remembering their responsibility, they may avoid that glaring inconsistency of holding forth the design of the Gospel for the salvation of repenting sinners, and yet encourage a spirit of war, diametrically opposite to the spirit of the Gospel, which is that of love, peace and harmony.
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