USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > Extracts from the minutes of the yearly meeting of Friends held in Philadelphia, 1921 > Part 3
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3rd. That we look forward, when funds are available to the building of two dormitories, one for girls and one for boys-the one for girls probably to be built first.
The Meeting feels under great obligation to the Com- mittee and to the willing officers and helpers at the School.
The following nominations for a new Indian Committee were approved by the Yearly Meeting and the Friends appointed for a period of three years.
(For Committee see page 143.)
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The sub-committee of the Peace Committee to prepare essays of peace messages and to propose a plan of circula- tion submitted a report.
They suggested that four separate messages, now sub- mitted, addressed to different people and classes, be issued. These messages were read:
Ist. To other bodies of Friends.
2nd. To our fellow Christians in the United States.
3rd. To Chambers of Commerce.
4th. To Men and Women of the Labor Movement.
The Meeting accepts the judgment reached by the Committee and leaves with them the care of their proper circulation.
It also gives to the sub-committee, who prepared the messages, liberty to alter the verbiage of one or all of them in order to meet particular cases, and to abbreviate the letters where they can do so. The Clerks of the Yearly Meeting to be associated in the revision.
Nominations for a Committee to carry forward our concern for the encouragement of all right methods tend- ing to a better understanding between the white and the colored races were considered and the following appointed to the service. The Yearly Meeting expects a report from the Committee next year.
(For Committee see page 142.)
The following brief report from the Friends' Fiduciary Coporation was read and is minuted in full as a matter of record :-
The Friends' Fiduciary Corporation was incorporated Eighth Month 30, 1920.
A meeting of the Incorporators was held at which By- laws were adopted and the individuals appointed by the Yearly Meeting and Subordinate Meetings were duly elected members of the Corporation.
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The Board of Directors was then duly elected and there- after met for organization.
William T. Elkinton was elected President; Henry W. Comfort, Vice-president; M. Albert Linton, Vice-presi- dent; Francis R. Taylor, Secretary; Albert B. Maris, Treasurer.
The expense of incorporating together with sundry expenses connected therewith amounted to $309.14. The bill was approved by two members of the Executive and Finance Committee, and was paid by the Treasurer of the Yearly Meeting.
A schedule of charges and terms on which Trusts would be accepted was agreed upon and the information was mailed from our Secretary's office to the meetings and committees subordinate to or affiliated with Philadelphia Yearly Meeting.
Seven Monthly or Preparative Meetings in Pennsyl- vania now have the transfer of their real or personal property or both under way, and the Corporation stands ready to receive further trusts of real or personal property, from Meetings or Committees which desire to avail them- selves of its facilities.
The Committee on Organic Church Union presented a report and were continued as they suggest, it being ex- pected that they will make a further statement next year to this body. Their report is as follows :-
The Committee appointed to observe and study the movement for Church unity under the Council on Organic Union of Protestant denominations would report, that although there has been much activity elsewhere in favor of Christian unity, this movement has been largely quies- cent or in a waiting state during the past year, owing in great part to the elaborate character of the machinery of the large denominations who have it to consider. The plan of union was determined over a year ago, and has been presented to the governing bodies of the denomina- tions concerned for their acceptance; but the form of their government often requires prolonged consideration by
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subordinate bodies, or shows similar complications. Thus the Presbyterian body requires decision by its many presbyteries before settlement; the Methodist body may not be able to reach a decision until 1924; the Five Years' Meeting of Friends obviously could not decide upon the plan till it next meets and might then have to await decision of its constituent Yearly Meetings.
In view of this situation, and in accord with our former intention, to "proceed as far as we rightly could, and observe the nature and development" of the movement, the Committee feels best satisfied to ask to be continued.
We are not unduly sanguine of the outcome of the movement, or of the relation that the Society of Friends might be able to maintain towards it in view of some developments that we have observed; but we desire by continuing with it for the present to endeavor to exercise what little influence we may in favor of a spiritual view of the Christian religion and of its organized expression within these great bodies of our fellow Christians. That there is some hope of this may be seen from the following impressive words by a leader of the movement :-
"There are evidences indicating that in the mind and heart of American Christians, there is a spirit working for a union of the Churches closer than that of a council or a federation, nothing less than organic. Men feel instinc- tively that Christianity is a life that manifests itself in works of faith, labors of love and patience of hope. Where that life is, there is Christ, there is the Church, there are brethren. The basis for union, therefore, is not a system of doctrine, a form of church government, a mode of worship, or an initiatory rite, but a spirit of life wrought by God through Christ and His work in the hearts of men."
The Committee to consider the quotas of the Quarterly Meetings made the following proposition which was ac- cepted by the Yearly Meeting :-
Philadelphia Quarterly Meeting 33 per cent .; Abington Quarterly Meeting 16 per cent .; Concord Quarterly Meet- ing 18 per cent .; Caln Quarterly Meeting 4 per cent .;
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Western Quarterly Meeting 3 per cent .; Burlington and Bucks Quarterly Meeting 6 per cent .; Haddonfield and Salem Quarterly Meeting 20 per cent.
The Committee to examine the Treasurer's Account, etc., submitted the usual statement.
Quarterly Meetings are directed to forward to our Treasurer their respective portion of $23,500, the same as last year.
For the Yearly Meeting's Secretary's salary, Book Store Expenses, etc .- $9,500; for Indian Committee- $4,000; for Educational Committee-$5,000; for West- town Committee-$5,000; for Peace Committee-$1,500. Total-$25,000. The $1500 in excess of the Quarterly Meeting's quotas to be charged to the Anna Cresson Fund as last year.
The Minute drafted by a small Committee, embracing some of the various exercises that have been presented during the week was read and approved.
Early in the sessions of the Yearly Meeting our atten- tion was called to the fact that we have a two-fold service -on the one hand, we have our life to live before the world as Christians; on the other, we have our mission to carry to the world as Christians. To many it has seemed suffici- ent to live our life as a testimony to our fellows, but if we are to follow the Master indeed, this is not enough. We must also carry our message and fulfil our mission to mankind. And in consideration of religion in the broader sense, we were cautioned not to lose sight of the special Gospel of the Saviour. The world at this hour is in dire need of help, but "there is nothing that can save the world except the Saviour of the world." Having helped to feed the bodies of hundreds of thousands of the children of men, the time is coming when we must, in equal amount and in an equally wide field, dispense another kind of food, and feed their souls. We must learn the art of "mending broken hearts."
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A golden thread which ran through several sessions was the sense of need for educating public opinion to realize that Christ's way of life is the only hope of the world. Those who were unable to see eye to eye during the war, were now able to unite in working for disarmament and towards some sort of association of nations, founded on a mutual trust instead of distrust. We tremble as we realize the magnitude of the tasks which may lie ahead. Our field is the world-but we do well to make use of the already open doors, rather than try to force those that still are locked.
In turning to the consideration of our own conditions, in. connection with the Queries, doubtless many felt a regret at the number of our meetings which have had to be discontinued. When meetings have to be laid down, we . should not neglect the neighborhood, but try to see whether the way does not open for the establishment of a new meeting in a more convenient and accessible place. The tide may turn. A judicious change of locality not far away may result in a larger meeting.
We were reminded that a commendable interest in our friends may easily degenerate into gossip, and this by easy gradations may become corrosive-eating at the good name of others and at our own best life. Criticism of our schools and other institutions, which springs from our great interest in their welfare, may become such a distortion of the truth as to be definitely detrimental.
We were urged to exercise care in our habits of news- paper reading.
Considerable apprehension was expressed in view of the increased attendance at amusements of a doubtful char- acter, by those who would appear to feel no conscientious sense of danger. Recreations that dissipate our spiritual power are many, varied and insistent in this period follow- ing the war, and our young people seem at times in danger of being carried away by them. But one perfect remedy is evident and is at hand: it was stated in an answer to our Query (deeper and truer counsel has seldom been heard among us): "We would stress the importance of so filling the lives of our young people with the spirit and service
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of Jesus Christ, that all their interests shall come to relate themselves to Him." Careful education along these lines, coupled with patience and a greater degree of trust, will accomplish more than fulmination.
The meeting was brought into sympathy with our smaller meetings and with what they feel to be their special needs. Our members everywhere are encouraged to draw near to God, the source of all strength to meetings small and large, and our subordinate meetings are desired to guard against the introduction of any practice which at all partakes of pre-arrangement or is calculated to supplant - a true, living, waiting worship.
Our meetings should be approached in a way suggested by the words set up before a certain church edifice "Enter: Rest: Pray." To enter the rest that belongs to the people of God; to engage in secret prayer so solemn as to become sacramental, when we partake of the body and blood of our Lord; to realize His presence so truly that we can almost trace His footsteps in our midst-this is the spirit of our worship. As each is faithful in self-dedica- tion, we shall find the way wide open for greater spiritual power amongst us.
The answering of the Query relating to ministers and elders deceased during the year made us realize our loss, sustained in the going on before of several devoted servants of the Master, including the oldest of our ministers, our beloved Samuel Emlen, and also (though his name was not on the report for this year) of one of those whose gift had been most recently acknowledged, together with a third who laid down his life in service abroad. Yet in each in- stance we believe we can truly say that "death was swal- lowed up in victory."
Now the God of Peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that Great Shepherd of the Sheep, through. the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever.
.. . We feel as the Meeting now draws to a close that we have
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known, during the week, many periods of refreshment from on High; that we have been truly blessed in our coming together, and as we now separate we crave that the same Power and Presence which has been manifest among us, may go with us to our various homes, and may enrich our lives in the common duties of every day as they open before us.
Thankful for the favors thus manifested, the Meeting now concludes, to meet at the usual time next year, if con- sistent. with the Divine Will.
DAVIS H. FORSYTHE, Clerk.
EXTRACTS FROM THE MINUTES OF THE WOMEN'S YEARLY MEETING
At a Yearly Meeting of Women Friends, held in Philadel- phia by adjournments from the twenty-ninth of Third Month to the first of Fourth Month, both inclusive, 1921.
(For Minutes of Second-day see page 3, Minutes of Joint Session.)
Reports from the Quarterly Meetings inform that Abby C. Brantingham and others were appointed a committee to promote the comfort of those attending Yearly Meeting. The quotas from the Quarterly Meetings, amounting to $351.50, have been forwarded to the Treasurer of the Wom- en's Yearly Meeting. Mary E. Stratton and Phebe N. Votaw were appointed to audit the Treasurer's account.
A report of the Committee on Lynching was read and they released as they requested. Esther Morton Smith explained to the Meeting that while the Committee wished to be released, its members felt that further ser- vice toward the colored people was called for. Bitterness of feeling among many Negroes toward white people be- cause of a sense that they are suffering injustice and deep prejudice on the part of many whites toward the Negroes, has brought about a situation that calls for effort on our part to substitute Christ's spirit of love and fellowship and mutual helpfulness, for that of unreasoning hatred and prejudice. This concern took hold upon the meeting and the following were appointed a nominating Committee to bring to a future session the names of Friends to form
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a Committee for this service: Esther Morton Smith and others.
The foregoing Minute was sent to the Men's Meeting with the inquiry whether they would wish to hear Esther Morton Smith open this concern. Men Friends united with her concern and appointed a Committee to join with ours in bringing to a future session the names of men and women to serve on a Committee to endeavor to promote better relations between the colored and white races in our country. This Committee was empowered to add to its members others than Friends if this course should seem best.
The report of the Committee charged with the reading of communications addressed to the Yearly Meeting was presented and the following documents were read: A cablegram from Alfred G. Scattergood, letters from Dublin Yearly Meeting, Szechwan Yearly Meeting in West China, the General Meeting of Friends in Australia, from Mount Lebanon Three Months' Meeting, from the Society of Friends in Germany, and a letter from Hijirizaka Monthly Meeting addressed to the Representative Meeting.
The reading of these letters linked us in bonds of Chris- tian love with American Friends working in Europe, and with Friends in Ireland, China, Australia, Syria and last and latest, in Germany. Each epistle interested us in its own particular way. The letter from Germany revived an expression of Barclay, "the discovery of the Day Spring from on high. Asia, Australia, Europe and America all need the love of God and in each place are some of his own."
To join with a Committee of Men in nominating Friends to answer these letters and the London Epistles, and to frame a letter to Friends in South Africa, Julia Cope
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Collins and others were appointed. They withdrew and later brought in a report. Thereupon Alice Balderston, Jane W. Bartlett, Margaret Whitall Rhoads and Frances Tatum Rhoads were entrusted with this important task.
We are greatly favored in having with us during this Yearly Meeting a number of visiting Friends, with Min- utes and some without Minutes. Ella Newlin, a Minister, and Abner Newlin, an Elder of Iowa Yearly Meeting, have a prospect of extensive service in Great Britain and. in Germany. Emma Maria Bishop comes to us from London Yearly Meeting with a special concern for our smaller meetings and to enter into our family life. Alfred C. Copeland, a minister of North Carolina Yearly Meet- · ing, feels the meetings of our Yearly Meeting laid upon his heart. Gurney and Elizabeth J. S. Binford, at home on furlough from their life service of love in Japan, draw us closer to that nation in which we already feel a deep interest. These Friends are all welcomed by this Yearly Meeting with a feeling of gratitude to our Father in Heaven that He has sent them to us.
A report of a sub-committee of the Book Committee, which was a part of the Minutes of the Representative Meeting read in joint session yesterday, but not acted upon, was now brought to our attention by a Minute from the Men's Meeting, conveyed by our Friend, Alfred C. Garrett, who explained to us this concern for the wider spread of the views of Christian Truth held by us, as it appeared to that meeting. Our meeting united in the judgment of the Men's Meeting and appointed the fol- lowing our representatives on a nominating committee to bring to a later session the names of Friends to assist the Book Committee: Anna S. Hoag, and others.
Answers to the first four Queries were read and their
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summaries adopted. Then adjourned until ten o'clock tomorrow morning.
Fourth-day, Third Month 30th.
The meeting convened at the appointed hour.
The answers of the Quarterly Meetings and the Sum- mary Answer to the Fifth Query, and the Summaries only to the Sixth, Seventh, Eighth and Ninth Queries were read and adopted. As a result of the discussion of the Fifth Query last year a group of men and women were asked to call a conference of parents upon the subject of amusements. This committee now reported upon the hold- ing of such a conference and further laid stress upon the duty of providing wholesome amusements and recreation to displace those that are doubtful.
The Committee was released.
The Indian Committee presented a full and clear state- ment of the work carried on by them among the 2,400 Indians at Tunesassa. The Meeting responded by in- terested attention and by expressions of encouragement. The recommendations of the Committee were approved and their request for an appropriation of $4,000 again this year was granted.
Then adjourned to meet in joint session at two o'clock this afternoon.
(For Minutes of this session see page II.)
Fifth-day, Third Month 31st.
At the appointed hour the session opened.
A Minute from Abington Quarterly Meeting, suggest- ing certain changes, chiefly verbal, in our discipline upon marriage, was read and referred by the meeting to the Representative Meeting.
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The following were appointed to nominate a committee to have charge of the Indian School at Tunesassa, viz: Sarah W. Elkinton and others.
The Committee appointed on Second-day to fill a va- cancy in the Representative Meeting were directed to bring to the meeting tomorrow the names of not more than ten Friends who shall represent the Yearly Meeting in the Representative Meeting in addition to those now under appointment.
The Educational Statistics of the Yearly Meeting showed that we have 815 children between the ages of five and twenty years, an increase of sixteen over last year.
Our attention was next directed to the conditions in the small schools under the care of the Committee on Educa- tion. In the schools there are now 408 children, an in- crease of 126 in the last five years. It is increasingly diffi- cult to find Friends to teach in these schools. The Com- mittee appeals to our young people, when deciding upon their life work to consider the claims of the vitally import- ant calling of the teacher. The following were appointed to serve as the Yearly Meeting's Committee on Educa- tion for the ensuing three years: Esther W. Thomas and others.
A feeling of encouragement pervaded the meeting as it listened to the assurances of the Westtown Committee that they can report for the past year, "improved health of the pupils, better housing conditions, greater success in college entrance examinations, improved morale and increasingly religious interest." The aim of a Quaker school should be to bring about in teachers, staff and pupils the acceptance of Christ as Master and Leader. This will find expression in a loving and lovely life. To serve as the Committee in charge of Westtown School for the next
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three years, or until their successors are appointed, the following were appointed: Anna Moore Cadbury and others.
Then adjourned until ten o'clock tomorrow morning.
Sixth-day, Fourth Month Ist.
At the hour adjourned to the meeting opened. Upon nomination by the committee appointed for that purpose the following were appointed to form a Committee to promote better relations between the white and colored races in our country: Jane W. Bartlett and others.
The following Friends nominated by the Committee appointed yesterday, were appointed a Committee in charge of the Indian School at Tunesassa for the next three years: Anna Walton and others. It is recommended that two years hence a nominating committee be appointed to give a year's consideration to the choice of Friends for this service.
Upon nomination the following were appointed to assist the Book Committee of the Representative Meeting in carrying out a concern for extension work, viz .: Anna Cope Evans and others.
The Representative Meeting was authorized to add to the membership of the Committee on Publicity and the Committee is given authority to ask Quarterly Meetings to appoint committees to co-operate in spreading the fundamental messages of the Society of Friends.
To represent the Yearly Meeting at large in the Rep- resentative Meeting, Mary Ward, Stanley R. Yarnall, Agnes L. Tierney and Harold Evans were appointed upon nomination by the Committee to whom was entrusted this important selection. Since the Committee was able to bring forward but four names at this time, it was con-
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tinued to give further attention to this matter and to report next year. It was also instructed to consider whether appointments to the Representative Meeting should be for a term rather than for life.
Letters to London Yearly Meeting, to Dublin Yearly Meeting, to Mount Lebanon Three Months' Meeting, to Friends in South Africa, New Zealand and Australia, to the Japan Yearly Meeting, to the Szechwan Yearly Meet- ing in West China, to our members sojourning in Europe and the Near East, to Friends and those in sympathy with them in Germany, prepared by the Committee appointed on Second-day to answer certain letters addressed to this Yearly Meeting were endorsed by the meeting and it was directed that they be signed by the clerks and by the Secretary of the Yearly Meeting. The Peace Committee presented drafts of letters addressed to other bodies of Friends, to our Fellow Christians, to Chambers of Com- merce, to men and women of the Labor Movement. These were approved and the Peace Committee authorized to distribute them as may seem best. It was directed that they be signed by the clerks and by the secretary of the Yearly Meeting.
The report of the Committee appointed to audit the accounts of the Treasurer of the Yearly Meeting and to prepare a budget was approved.
The report of the Treasurer of the Women's Yearly Meeting, duly audited by the Friends appointed, was read. A report of the Committee apppointed last year to re- adjust the quotas paid by the Quarterly Meetings to the Yearly Meetings was approved. The meeting endorsed a recommendation from the women on that Committee that hereafter no special collection be made for the Wom- en's Yearly Meeting, but that our members should con-
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tribute as generously as may be to the general collection, that the office of Treasurer of the Women's Yearly Meet- ing be abolished and the Treasurer of the Yearly Meeting be drawn upon as funds are needed for the use of the Lunch Committee or for other purposes.
We now direct that our Treasurer, Lydia Wistar Rhoads, pay over to the Treasurer of the Yearly Meeting, William T. Elkinton, the balance, $625.58, remaining in her care, after which she is released from further duties as Treas- urer.
The report of the Friends' Fiduciary Corporation was read.
The Committee on Organic Union of the Churches was continued in order that for another year at least it might watch the progress of the movement as it has during the year just ended.
Our hearts are stirred by the call to Gospel service sounded in the. report on Christian Labor in Foreign Lands. We long for a deeper baptism of the Holy Spirit that we may press forward into greater ventures for God.
The five Additional Queries were read and theAnswers prepared by the clerks endorsed. Two of the Friends, who have left us during the past year, Samuel Emlen and Joseph Elkinton, were brought vividly before us, the one by a Minute of his Preparative Meeting of Ministers and Elders, the other by a letter written by his wife, Sarah W. Elkinton, and by Minutes from London Yearly Meeting, from the London Meeting for Sufferings and from Fritchley Monthly Meeting. Our friends abounded in faith, hope and greatest of all in love.
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