USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > Extracts from the minutes of the yearly meeting of Friends held in Philadelphia, 1921 > Part 8
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The work of the American Friends' Service Committee, so closely allied at many points with that of the Repre- sentative Meeting, has necessarily engaged a portion of his time and services, and we are fully convinced that the establishment of the office has been justified and that the interests of the Representative Meeting, as well as the Yearly Meeting at large, have been faithfully and effi- ciently cared for. We hope that it may be the means of increasing public interest in the work of our Society and thereby secure the sympathy and co-operation of many of our fellow-citizens.
In view of the number of reports coming up to the Yearly Meeting, we deem it unnecessary to go into further details and would refer to our Secretary all those who are interested or who may desire further information as to the work carried on by his office.
We recommend the renewal of last year's appropriation of $9,000 towards the work of the Office and of the Book Store, which will include the expense of Indexing Records, etc.
On behalf of the Committee.
GEORGE M. WARNER.
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REPORT
OF THE LONDON ALL FRIENDS' CONFERENCE.
To OUR FELLOW MEMBERS OF PHILADELPHIA YEARLY MEETING.
Dear Friends :- The London Conference of All Friends was an unforgetable experience. Seventy members of this Yearly Meeting were in attendance, of whom forty- one were delegates appointed by the Yearly Meeting and twenty-nine were delegates appointed by the American Friends' Service Committee. To be present at the Con- ference was a privilege which we wish more Friends could have shared. Yet this great gathering was not the concern merely of those who attended it as delegates. It was an undertaking which sprang from, and an experience which belongs to the Society of Friends as a whole, and its fruits will be reaped only as the great body of Friends who were not present enter into that experience and feel its influ- ence.
Two notable documents were issued by the Conference: A Message "To Friends and Fellow Seekers," and a pa- per entitled "Friends and War-A New Statement of the Quaker Position." There was also issued a memorial to-the League of Nations pointing out certain important changes in the League which seemed to the Conference to be necessary if it was to realize the wonderful possi- bilities of a genuine League for peace. Sir Eric Drum- mond, Secretary of the League, in acknowledging the receipt of this document stated that a copy was being sent to each member of the League's Council and also to each member of the Assembly.
A brief memorial was addressed by the Conference to the Governments of all Nations, urging the abandonment of all support for attacks on the Government of Russia, the speedy re-establishment of the economic life of
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Central Europe, the remodelling of the League of Nations, and general disarmament. Steps have been taken to pre- sent this Memorial to President Harding.
To carry forward the work of the Conference a Continu- ation Committee was appointed. It was suggested that this Committee, among other things, should consider means for continuing and developing the contacts of Friends with each other, and should explore the possi- bilities of forming a permanent representative advisory council or commission which may give expression to the unity of spirit inspiring the varied international service of Friends.
That a Committee should be appointed to consider these matters is indicative of the way in which all Friends have been drawn toward each other during these recent years of world disaster. Our international service has been carried on with unity of spirit and with co-operation. The London Conference strengthened these bonds. As its closing Minute records, "During the time we have spent together old friendships have been strengthened and new friendships formed. We have seen how much we have in common, how strong the links that unite us." The Conference has impressed us with the need for a still larger measure of these two things which we have mentioned: unity of spirit and co-operation in service. We Friends, including all who bear that name, are but a mere handful in a world which does not yet accept our principles. What seems to us the true way of life, the one key to all the world's difficulties, is not yet taken very seriously by men in general. Can we expect to do as much as we should if we divide our efforts? If we are in earnest with our task shall not all Friends as far as possible co-operate in the endeavor to make Chris- tianity the vital force of the world?
The official report which has been published gives an excellent and detailed account of the proceedings of the Conference and we shall not here repeat it. But no printed report, however complete, can adequately convey the atmosphere, the spirit and the inspiration of the actual experience itself. One thousand Friends from fifteen or
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more countries, we met together earnestly, day after day, in devotion to a common purpose. In such a gather- ing there were, of course, wide differences of opinion, but the way in which these differences were surmounted by patient consideration and by waiting before God ex- emplified in a notable manner the reconciling power of the Spirit. The results strikingly illustrated the advantages of our Quaker method of reaching group decisions. Through our fellowship and worship we sought deeper insight into the faith upon which our peace principles are grounded in order that Friends everywhere might be better able to make that faith effective in the world about us. The call to us as individuals and as a Society became clearer. As we heard and talked of conditions in Europe and elsewhere, of Ireland's distress and Europe's tragedy, the sufferings of our fellow-men became more real to us and we gained a fresh sense of the world's need for a new way of life. Then, out of our meetings together with so many kindred spirits, earnestly seeking God's guidance, came new inspiration and strength. We hope and pray that this clearer call and increase of power may not diminish with the lapse of time, but may spread and deepen throughout our whole Society. They are likely to be dissipated if we do not put them into action. The need for action is obvious and everyone of us should help in some way.
In contrast to the peace we seek, events at home and abroad are evidencing how strongly the idea and spirit of war have taken hold upon the minds of men. Forces are in motion in our country which are making for ill- feeling against Japan and Mexico and Great Britain and at the same time our big navy program is being carried out. What the United States does will have tremendous influence on other nations. The world is in sore need of those who will whole heartedly put themselves behind constructive education for peace and positive action ex- pressive of good-will.
The close of the war ended the physical conflict, but there is another kind of warfare which it did not end. It did not end the warfare which every good man and woman
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feels bound to wage against the forces of evil. It did not end the warfare of Christ's followers for the conquest of war by the powers of reason and love and brotherhood. It has intensified rather than diminished this warfare. There is that in the present situation which may well arouse in us, particularly in the blood of our youth, the thrill of Christian adventure. Here is a time, a day, that has a challenge to our finest powers. Here is a world that needs the best we have to give. Here we can follow a Leader of whom we can say:
"He hath sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat; He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment seat; Oh! be swift, my soul, to answer Him, be jubilant, my feet; Our God is marching on."
Signed on behalf of the delegates, members of Phila- delphia Yearly Meeting.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa., Third Month 26, 1921.
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REPORT
OF THE PEACE COMMITTEE.
To the Yearly Meeting :-
Report of Wm. B. Harvey, Treasurer of Peace Com- mittee, for year ending Third Month 12, 1920.
RECEIPTS.
Balance from last year $ 2,585.07
Yearly Meeting Appropriation 1,500.00
*Contributions 121,458.79
Interest on Deposits
296.51
Cut Garments Sold
589.31
London Conference Contributions 5,747.82
Mexican Survey Refund 1,066.41
$133,243.91
EXPENDITURES.
American Friends' Service Committee
$108,058.47
Relief Work in Syria and Armenia.
1,211.50
Peace Education Work, Printing, &c. 826.26
Militarism Committee.
1,083.85
International Relation Committee.
286.64
Yearly Meeting Supper Contribution
200.00
London Conference Delegates' Expenses.
6,134.25
Cut Garments. .
2,265.39
Salaries, Rents, &c. 4,582.85
Cash Balance. 8,594.70
$133,243.91
*Members of our Yearly Meeting also contributed $13,839.33 DIRECT to the American Friends' Service Com- mittee, MAKING A TOTAL TO A. F. S. C. of $121,897.80.
The Peace Committee asks that the appropriation of
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$1500, which the Yearly Meeting has granted it annually since its appointment, be made again this year.
During the past year Philadelphia Yearly Meeting has been trying, by deeds, to help bring "peace on earth," and by words, to urge that Christ's way of good-will to. all, under all circumstances, is not only practical now and here, but that it offers the only promising solution of the world's present troubles. About a score of our ablest young men and young women, along with others, under the direction of the American Friends' Service. Committee, have been in various parts of Europe, chiefly in our "ene- my" country of Germany, directing the feeding of the undernourished children, giving such medical and other assistance as they could, and in all things showing those among whom they worked that they really cared for them and wished to help them.
Although most of the financing of this has been done by the Hoover Relief Fund, American Friends have heartily supported the work, and the members of Phila- delphia Yearly Meeting have contributed more than $100,000 toward this mission of international relief and good-will. This response on the part of our members to the needs of the suffering victims of war is a cause for gratitude, and we earnestly hope that we may constantly keep in mind the lesson that Europe has taught us during the past few years, that the way of hate and force never succeeds and the way of loving-kindness in the long run never fails. The method is clear; are we able to follow it out?
The American Friends' Service Committee, by whom this relief work in Europe has been directed, continues to act with efficiency and with a broad understanding of the needs and opportunities of the time. The Peace Committee has been the agency by which nearly all of the funds mentioned above have been collected in our different Monthly Meetings, and the results of recent efforts to increase the funds to tide the needy children over till this year's harvest were quite gratifying.
Arthur J. Vail, who acted as executive secretary for us last year, was obliged to return to California at the end
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of the year, and we record our appreciation of his earnest, untiring efforts in the cause of Peace. He is succeeded by William F. Wickersham.
Sewing and knitting for those in need in different parts of devastated Europe have been kept up by groups of interested Friends and others in nearly all of our Monthly Meetings. Four thousand seven hundred and forty gar- ments have been made and forwarded, indicating a great amount of devoted time and labor on the part of our women, and a still greater amount of comfort and satis- faction to the recipients. The need for articles of clothing remains very great, and our sewing groups are encouraged to continue their labors.
Peace can be "waged" as well as war, and your Com- mittee should like to contribute to bettering the feeling between our people and those of Mexico and Japan. The American Friends' Service Committee has definite plans for following up the survey of Mexico's needs made one year ago by the two committees, and at the request of Gilbert Bowles, missionary in Japan, we have contributed to the support of the Japanese Publicity Bureau, which is trying to promote good feeling between Japan and the United States by spreading the truth about matters which might cause misunderstanding.
A few weeks ago sub-committees of the Representative Meeting and the Peace Committee prepared a letter urging disarmament, which was sent to members of Con- gress and widely distributed otherwise; and a joint dele- gation was sent to Washington which had satisfactory interviews with a number of leading Congressmen, but action on the subject was held over for the new adminis- tration. While we advocate the abolition of all armaments as being unchristian, unnecessary, expensive and provo- cative of war, we are glad to join in the nation-wide move- ment for a limitation of army and navy to relieve the burden of taxation and reduce the likelihood of conflict.
We are trying to develop an intelligent sentiment in opposition to militarism and in favor of reliance on fair dealing and kindly treatment, by means of posters in the Philadelphia subway stations, by using a "Peace Page,"
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kindly offered us by our religious weekly, The Friend, and by the circulation of handbills and leaflets, of which more than 100,000 copies have been distributed in dif- ferent ways. Arrangements were made for the publica- tion in the Educational Review this month of Dr. Kil- patrick's admirable address on "Our Schools and War," given a year or more ago at Friends' Select School, and for a wide circulation among teachers of a reprint of the article. We have also given financial assistance to the American Union Against Militarism at Washington, which is probably doing the most effective work against militarism of any organization in the country.
In our smaller Yearly Meeting Schools, talks on peace are being given, a study of the subject is being made and competitive essays are to be prepared by the pupils this spring. Westtown has for years had its Peace Essay scheme, and it may be that one or two of the other large schools can find time for something similar.
In looking forward to the work for next year, we be- lieve the Yearly Meeting, through its Peace Committee, should aim to do three things:
First-To develop as many as possible of its members into intelligent, consecrated workers for peace.
Second-To join other bodies in working for peace along economic and humanitarian lines.
Third-To present in religious, educational and other fields our special contribution to the campaign for peace -an unbounded confidence in the power of good and a conviction that war and Christianity cannot be reconciled.
The need for intelligent, aggressive peace work was never greater than at present. The. opportunity seems unlimited. Greed, fear, and hatred threaten the peace of the world; and the relation of our own country with Japan, with Mexico and with Great Britain calls for the steady influence of all people of good-will. The present affords an unprecedented opportunity to advance the cause of international disarmament. We believe that the United States should lead the world in this movement and should invite the leading nations to attend a conference at which plans for world disarmament could be perfected.
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We urge that all who feel that they have a part to take in the work of disarmament, should volunteer their services to our Secretary at 304 Arch Street.
Within the Society of Friends, the great event of the past year was the "All Friends' Conference" held in Lon- don last summer to consider "the nature and basis and application of our testimony against all war." In prepa- ration for the occasion a series of meetings was held by delegates of the two Philadelphia Yearly Meetings at which various aspects of the question were presented and discussed, so as to clarify peoples' ideas. Seventy members of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting were present at the con- ference, forty-one representing the Yearly Meeting itself, and twenty-nine with credentials from the American Friends' Service Committee. Our Secretary, Arthur J. Vail, by request, filled the useful post at London of advance agent for the entire American delegation of about three hundred and fifty people.
Many brief impressions of the Conference by returned delegates have appeared, and the official report or at least the new statement of our peace position (either of which may be obtained from the Service Committee or at our Book Store) should be read by every Friend.
The Conference has deepened our conviction that war is absolutely incompatible with the Christian way of life; that the teaching of Christ is to rely upon spiritual means, to overcome evil with good, and good only; that Christ's method alone points the way out of the present world confusion; that those who have this understanding can do naught else but try this method here and now, re- gardless of consequences. It is in this way human society gains ground. We are convinced that with all our fail- ings and weaknesses, special light on these truths has been granted to the Society of Friends, and that therefore a tremendous opportunity opens to us and a tremendous responsibility rests upon us to strive for a clearer and deeper understanding of them; to live them out in all the details of our lives, and humbly but fearlessly and vig- orously to spread as widely as we can the message of the
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efficacy of good-will and peace. Shall this be our pro- gram?
On behalf of the Committee. M. ALBERT LINTON. . Acting Chairman. WM. F. WICKERSHAM, Secretary.
PHILADELPHIA, Third Month 25, 1921.
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PEACE MESSAGES (see page 13).
FOURTH MONTH 8, 1921.
TO THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE :-
Gentlemen :- The present critical world situation is a matter of grave anxiety to men of affairs everywhere. The stupendous problems created by the war, and the continuing inability to find their solution, constitute a menace of the first magnitude. One thing, however, is becoming more and more clear. The world cannot much longer endure the burden placed upon it by international armaments. Unless some move is made to limit them we may well ask ourselves,-to use the words of General Pershing,-" Whether civilization does not really reach a point where it begins to destroy itself and whether we are thus doomed to go headlong down through destructive war and darkness to barbarism." The words sound ex- aggerated, but men are coming to realize that they are profoundly true.
Former Assistant Secretary Leffingwell of the United States Treasury recently made the emphatic statement that unless steps were taken to bring about disarmament, "The future of America, of that western civilization of which we are a part, is in gravest peril." He also pointed out that America was in the position and had a unique opportunity to lead the way.
Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends, which was in session for several days last week, gave this subject earnest consideration. Realizing the great influence your organization can have in moulding the public opinion of your community and knowing your vital interest in the economic welfare of this nation and of the world, the Yearly Meeting encourages you to give vigorous and immediate support to the movement for the limitation of armaments. The saving of hundreds of millions in taxation is in itself an important consideration,
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but more important than the mere matter of taxation is the economic well-being of the world at large.
Finally, transcending all other considerations is the fact that war and its horrors can never be eliminated from the world unless we eliminate the fear, suspicion and hate that armaments invariably engender. We earnestly urge your support, through the medium of public opinion and through contact with the new Administration and your Senators and Representatives at Washington, of two proposals :-
1. That the United States take the lead in calling an international conference on disarmament, and
2. That pending such conference further military and naval appropriations be postponed.
Could anything be more urgent than that America, a great Christian nation, should initiate this practical ap- plication of Christian principles, supported as it would be by economic considerations of life-and-death import- ance?
By direction and on behalf of the Yearly Meeting,
FOURTH MONTH I, 1921.
To OUR FELLOW CHRISTIANS IN THE UNITED STATES :-
The Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends, in session from Third Month 28 to Fourth Month 1, 1921, makes a solemn appeal to. all Christians of the United States to do their utmost at the present time to bring about disarmament. We urge as an act of loyalty to Christ that Christians individually and through their Churches and other corporate bodies; bring all possible influence to bear upon the President of the United States and his Cabinet to call without delay, an International Conference for the Limitation of Arma- ments, and also upon Senators and Congressmen to post- pone consideration of military and naval appropriations, and to make disarmament and the establishment of world peace the most vital issue of the new Congress.
Since the Armistice our Government has spent largely for war costs, almost $1,000 for every family in the United
.
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States. More than four billion dollars have been ap- propriated for this year. Of this amount sixty-eight per cent. pays the expenses of past wars, twenty per cent. prepares for future wars, and twelve per cent. remains for constructive work.
General Pershing said in New York Twelfth Month 29, 1920 :-
"The world does not seem to learn from experience. It would appear that the lessons of the last six years should be enough to convince everybody of the danger of nations striding up and down the earth armed to the teeth."
Republican Floor Leader Mondell recently told the Com- mittee on Naval Affairs :-
'If an agreement is not reached for the limitation of armaments and warlike expenditures, in the near future the fault will be that of America, as in former days the fault was that of Germany."
Says Herbert Hoover :-
"There is no more inconceivable folly than this con- tinued riot of expenditure on battleships at a time when great masses of humanity are dying of starvation."
The war is over. During that period of darkness men saw their duty in many different ways. But now the duty of all is clear. From the travail of the war there has come to millions a loathing of the brutality and the futility of the whole war system; yet we go on perpetuating it. Another war seems inevitable unless men of good- will the world over, take steps to prevent it.
Has not the time fully come for Christians everywhere to unite on the platform that Peace is not a loose garment for them to put off or on as governmental policies and complications dictate, but that it is a vital, essential teaching of Christ to be lived out by His followers in all their human relations? To acquiesce in an international policy based on competitive armaments is to deny the Master whom we claim to be the way, the truth and the life.
The building up of huge armaments means two things :- that we regard other nations as potential enemies, and
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that we expect to train the youth of this and coming generations to destroy their fellow-men. These ends can- not be reconciled with the Spirit, the life or the teaching of Jesus. If we were blind to the international situations and tendencies that brought on the great war, our eyes should be wide open now for the present and the future. If we Christians do not walk by the light given us, the responsibility for the failure of Christian ideals rests upon us. On one hand lies the road to international suspicion, antagonism, warfare, and ruin; on the other to mutual interest, good-will and co-operation. The emergency is upon us. It must not be evaded. No more real and press- ing enterprise challenges the loyalty of the Church of Christ.
In the love of Christ that " Is full of trust, full of hope, full of patient endurance," and that never fails those who really practice it, the Society of Friends would unite with their fellow Christians everywhere in accepting the chal- lenge of the present world need, and in establishing with- out delay a national policy that recognizes God as our Father, and all men as our brothers.
By direction and on behalf of the Yearly Meeting,
FOURTH MONTH I, 1921.
TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE LABOR MOVEMENT IN . THE UNITED STATES :-
Dear Friends :- This Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends, representing a membership of about 4500, at present in session in Philadelphia, has given earnest consideration to the preparations for war now going forward in our country.
We recognize with thankfulness that large sections of the Labor World maintain the ideal of internationalism and brotherhood with men of other nations. We welcome such evidences of this as the resolutions of the Inter- national Association of Machinists calling for a conference of machinists of all nations for the purpose of effecting an agreement for concerted action against war in the future. The Labor Movement, if it holds fast to this
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