USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > Extracts from the minutes of the yearly meeting of Friends held in Philadelphia, 1922 > Part 9
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With kind regards,
Written by direction of the Meeting. S. C. YANG, Chairman.
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LETTERS SENT
TO PRESIDENT HARDING :
From Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), Now in Session at Fourth and Arch Streets, Philadelphia.
Dear Friend :- We desire respectfully to call to the atten- tion of the President, the cases of the 100 or more persons still in prison for the violation of wartime legislation now repealed. There is not at our command detailed information as to each individual case, but we believe that many of these prisoners might be with propriety objects of executive clemency such as was accorded to the 27 prisoners of similar class who have been recently released.
We are not unmindful that the action already taken has brought upon thee a measure of criticism from certain of our fellow citizens. It is natural that in the aftermath of war there should be differences of views on this subject among the large population of our Country. But the sober judgment of the future is now forming and that judgment will, we believe, pronounce it to be not only a deed of human kindness but an act of wise statesmanship to release those now in prison for speeches or action during the war which would not have been illegal in time of peace. By releasing Eugene V. Debs, the best known of these so-called "politi- cal prisoners" the issue has been squarely joined, and the criticism of those most inclined to protest has probably been drawn.
We wish to make it clear that in presenting this request we are not defending the social theories of these men, nor are we maintaining that their speeches or actions have been right, wise or helpful. We believe, however, that we should distinguish sharply between offences against wartime laws, committed in the pursuit of political or social purposes on
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the one hand, and on the other hand, those of inflamed pas- sion, or of violence used for selfish ends. Public report has it that other Governments, our Allies in the War, have drawn this distinction, and have applied it more liberally than we have.
A nation that forcibly suppresses the expression of honest thought is doomed as a democracy. If it is successful, it imprisons not only men's bodies but their minds. If it is unsuccessful, it courts revolution. And always it is in danger that it is waging war against truth, and that it will "be found to be fighting against God." To us it seems that the greatest future opens before that nation whose govern- ment is too liberal to be intolerant, too generous to be vindictive, too wise to be tyrannical or oppressive.
We therefore respectfully submit that these considerations call for the most careful examination at this time of all the cases of these individual prisoners, looking to their. release if that can safely be permitted.
Signed on behalf and by direction of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of Friends.
TO THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST IN ALL COUNTRIES
AN APPEAL FROM THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS Fellow Christians and Sister Churches of All Lands:
The small fraction of the Christian Church which ventures to address this appeal to you, does so in a spirit of fervent hope that we may give our united strength whole-heartedly to uphold and advance the standards of peace which some followers of Christ have long cherished as a fundamental Christian principle.
Christianity seems to us to face a grave crisis and a divine duty. In this aftermath of history's most terrible war, we see two paths before us. One leads inevitably to another war by renewed preparedness of the most efficient military, economic, educational and religious means of waging it. The other begins with a complete rejection of war, and of all preparations for it, for any purpose and against any people; it demands definite organization for peace.
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These two paths lie in opposite directions; we cannot pos- sibly follow them both. There is no shadow of doubt on which of them are found the footprints and the sign-posts of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Christ would not send His dis- ciples where He Himself does not lead. "Follow me" has been forever His watch-word. Shall not then, the Christian Church follow its Leader with perfect loyalty along this path ?
Such loyalty to Christ is consistent with loyalty to one's native land. The higher loyalty includes the lower, and gives to it all its best and brightest substance. The Chris- tian's love of country finds its source, its inspiration and its direction in his love of God and his fellowmen. Christ taught the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man; His church transcends all divisions of nationality, all preju- dices and hatreds of nation for nation and of class for class. It must rise to the height of its divinely given mission. It must not depend on the leadership of generals or admirals, or financiers; nor await the changing policies of statecraft. In time of war, as in time of peace it must keep its eye single to God's commands, and must draw constantly its Founder's immortal and stupendous contrast between that which is Cæsar's and that which is God's.
As Christians, we are striving for a "a warless world." We are firmly convinced that this can be achieved only by refusal to participate in war, simply and sufficiently because war is by its very nature at variance with the message, the spirit, and the life and death of Jesus Christ. We unite in supporting treaties of arbitration and conciliation, limita- tion and reduction of armaments, international courts of justice, a league or association of nations for the preserva- tion of peace. This is well; it is a great achievement for statesmen to accomplish these things; but it is not sufficient for the Christian Church.
A principle is greater than any or all of its applications. The fundamental peace principle of Christianity demands the utter rejection of war, unequivocally and without com- promise. With this principle in its charter the Christian Church can always utter a clear and unmistakable verdict
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on any specific measure of statesmanship that is proposed; it will not be misled or coerced, by argument or by force, into participating in any kind or degree of preparation for war, or into lending the sanction of Christianity to the wag- ing of any war whatsoever.
The achievement of all the great moral reforms in history has awaited the development of a deep religious conviction in the hearts of the people. Vital, uncompromising Chris- tianity when applied to great moral issues, has never failed to bring the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth another step nearer to realization.
The most pressing reform of our time is to abolish war, and to establish exclusively peaceful means of settling dis- putes and promoting co-operation among the nations. These peaceful means cannot prevail until the nations beat their swords into plowshares and learn war no more. To accom- plish these results the Christian Church in practice and pro- fession must condemn the whole system of war unequivo- cally and finally, relying not upon armed preparedness, but upon the awakened conscience of mankind.
Fellow Christians, we can scarcely exaggerate the loss and suffering of the Great War. There is a bitter Macedonian cry in our afflicted time for physical help and healing, but far more for the things of the Spirit-for faith, and hope and love. What greater message of cheer and reconstruction could be brought to mankind today than the assurance that all who bear the name of Christ in every land have solemnly resolved to have no part in war or in preparation for war, but henceforth to work unitedly for peace by a peaceful means alone? Shall we not make this venture of faith together in the love that beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things and that never fails? Shall the torch of spiritual heroism be borne by the Church of the living Christ, or shall leadership in the utter rejection of war pass from our hands to men of braver and truer spirit? Which Master shall we who call ourselves
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Christians be known by all the world to serve, the God of Battles or the Prince of Peace?
With love and greetings to you all, we are your sincere friends and brothers,
The Religious Society of Friends, (sometimes called Quakers), of Philadelphia, Orthodox Branch.
To OHIO AND OTHER CONSERVATIVE YEARLY MEETINGS OF FRIENDS IN AMERICA AND FRITCHLEY GENERAL MEETING, ENGLAND.
Dear Friends :- Gathered in our Yearly Meeting we have been afresh impressed with the weight and complexity of the problems presented to us. You also in common with us have doubtless felt the pressure of a world in distress and a civilization shaken to its foundations. But our hearts - have been comforted and our minds refreshed by epistles received from bodies of Friends in other lands-from Dublin, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and West China, as well as by the presence and services of visiting Friends from England, Canada, and various parts of our own coun- try. This has impelled us to look upon the diverse groups of our beloved Society with a little sense that however wide the gap which has seemed to separate us, there is a common bond of unity in the name of Friend, and that in some such unity the bitter need of the world is more surely to be met. Mindful of the fellowship in service and suffering which so many bodies of Friends were favored to experience during the Great War, and yet more broadly to perceive at the great London All Friends' Conference of 1920, we have felt it right to extend a hand of fellowship to Friends in our own and other lands. Many years ago this Yearly Meeting, in a desire to avoid a critical and dividing spirit, closed all correspondence with other bodies of our name. We are not drawn now to propose a renewal of the exchange of formal epistles, but feel thus to offer kindly greeting to our kins- men in the faith; for we believe that in this our day, the Ark of God moves forward, and that we must follow.
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Especially have we felt a desire to strengthen the bonds which have in large measure and for many years united in spirit, the membership of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting with your own. Our hearts go out to you in warm sympathy and love because of our spiritual Kinship. You and we are one in the great fundamentals of our faith-especially in the interpretation of our mode of worship; and we look to you to help conserve with us that mode of worship in all its purity and power. Unity in this and other important respects will help to advance the cause of Truth amongst others much more than if we present a divided front. We need your counsels of moderation also; for there are many influences drawing us in new directions. If we could but magnify the essentials in which we agree, and minimize those things in which we differ, true Christian fellowship might more abound among us. It cannot be that the Head of the Church designs that we should always remain oblivious of each other. We have therefore ventured to hope that out of the turmoil of recent years there may grow a truer con- ception of that unity which is the bond of peace. We crave the strengthening of the pure life in you; we crave also your interests and desire for the strengthening of the pure life in us; that we may all be knit together in Christ Jesus our Lord and may glorify Him upon the earth. Thus may our hearts and yours together be kept in "The Love of God and the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit"-"till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a full grown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ."
With sincere love we remain your friends.
PHILADELPHIA, Third Month 31, 1922.
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THIRD MONTH 31, 1922.
TO DUBLIN YEARLY MEETING OF FRIENDS.
Dear Friends :- The reading of your letter addressed to this body, has brought you afresh to our remembrance. Our desire is to be a strength to you in the fellowship of the gospel, under the renewed promptings of Divine love.
The expression in your letter :- "All our business is over- shadowed by the thought of sin and suffering in our coun- try," has touched our hearts. We are happy to note, how- ever, that in the months which have elapsed since your epistle was written, God has in large measure granted your desire-that He would "guide your country into the way of peace."
The trying situation in which you have been placed on account of the civil commotions in your country, has doubt- less in many ways brought you to a close trial of your faith. We believe that where you have remained true to your sense of justice, mercy and forbearance, according to the spirit of the Lord Jesus, though amid the clamor of tongues and the clash of arms, you have experienced that Divine protec- tion which in an earlier period of your country's history fur- nished one of the most remarkable examples on record of a literal fulfillment of the prophetic utterance:
"When thou passeth through the waters, I will be with thee; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee;
When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned;
Neither shall the flame kindle upon thee."
It may be of interest to you to know, that the reading of your letter took place in a highly inspiring moment of our meeting. The assembly numbering about a thousand of our men and women Friends, was in joint session, having as visitors many others, some from your own and your sister body, London Yearly Meeting, and others from various Yearly Meetings on this continent. All were baptized together in the love of God, as we listened to the reading of your letter together with others from our brethren in Ger- many, China, Australia and New Zealand.
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It is from hearts bathed with the spirit of thankfulness to our Heavenly Father, for these evidences of an enlarged ingathering into the household of our faith, and of a broadened Christian brotherhood towards suffering human- ity everywhere, that we bid you farewell, commending to you the language of the Apostle:
"But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life."
With love unfeigned, Your friends.
On behalf and by direction of the Yearly Meeting.
THIRD MONTH 31, 1922.
TO THE GENERAL MEETING OF THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS IN NEW ZEALAND.
Dear Friends :- Your letter of 1921 was read in a joint session of our present Yearly Meeting, and our hearts respond cordially to your message of Christian love. It was the more welcome to us because, as you suggest, our outlook upon the world seems to have been greatly widened by the events of recent years. While maintaining the essen- tials of our Christian testimonies we would enter whole- heartedly into every open door of service, and join hands with all men who are doing constructive work for Christ's kingdom. The field is the world and it is white unto harvest.
We were especially interested in the part of your letter that referred to your school at Wanganui. We trust that it may prosper and bear much fruit in the life of the rising generation.
We are grateful for your reference to the recent visits to you of some of our members. It will rejoice you to learn that we have again liberated our Friends Wm. C. and Eliza- beth C. B. Allen with minutes for religious service among you. We trust that our every communication, in person or
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by written word, may serve to strengthen "the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love."
During recent months we have given our united effort to aid those influences that seek to maintain peace in your quarter of the world. We pray that the results of the Wash- ington Conference may serve to this end, and we know that you join us in this prayer.
With desires for your continued prosperity in the Master's service, and our mutual growth in the Grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, we remain with love unfeigned, your friends.
On behalf and by direction of the Yearly Meeting.
THIRD MONTH 31, 1922.
TO THE YEARLY MEETING OF FRIENDS IN JAPAN.
Dear Friends :- As we have gathered in our annual assem- bly, our hearts have been drawn with especial tenderness toward the Friends of Japan Yearly Meeting, and we send you a friendly and sympathetic greeting.
We realize that yours is a country old in its history and tradition, but new in its ambitions and problems. We lov- ingly desire that amid these perplexities, you may find Divine guidance; that your faith may be firm, and that in quietness and confidence may be your strength.
We have an earnest hope that the Christian tie which unites our hearts to yours, and our joint efforts to proclaim the gospel of peace and good will, may help to bring our two nations together in better understanding and closer friendship.
To this end we hail the peaceable intentions your country . manifested at the recent Conference held at Washington on the subject of disarmament.
That your small group may grow in strength and useful- ness is the desire of your friends. Knowing that this growth can only come from a deeper knowledge of Jesus Christ, our Lord, we commend you to Him and remain with love your friends.
On behalf and by direction of the Yearly Meeting.
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THIRD MONTH 31, 1922.
TO THE GENERAL MEETING OF THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS IN AUSTRALIA.
Dear Friends :- In a feeling of love toward those of our Society and others who are in sympathy with our religious faith, we desire to send you a message of fraternal greeting at this time of our annual assembly.
Your letter of last year was very welcome to us. Our hearts have been stirred and made thankful by the great work which, we believe, has been of the Lord, in regard to the recent proceedings at Washington. The results of the Disarmament Conference, are, we fervently trust, the begin- nings of a union for brotherhood the world over, and an international understanding leading us forward toward the Kingdom of God.
The great events of recent years have brought to us a penetrating sense of the sufferings of others, while our fel- lowmen have been afflicted and have died in many lands. We have found that others besides Friends have a testimony to bear for peace. We can now sympathizingly co-operate with God's people in many lines of work; and while we desire to hold our testimonies as closely as ever, we are joy- fully entering upon a wider field of service.
We rejoice to think that the visits of our friends to you in gospel love have been so acceptable, and our blessing goes with them should they come to you again. May all of our future dealings with each other be in a spirit of sym- pathetic love and mutual aid, which distance cannot break. We remain with love your friends.
On behalf and by direction of the Yearly Meeting.
THIRD MONTH 31, 1922.
To FRIENDS AND ATTENDERS AT POTSDAM AND (ELEVEN) OTHER GERMAN GROUPS OF FRIENDS.
Dear Friends :- At our Yearly Meeting just closed our hearts have turned toward you and we have felt drawn to
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salute you in that love and fellowship which must knit together those who are of the same household of faith.
We have received three Epistles from three groups of Friends in your country and we know there are several others; we are glad that it was the privilege of some of our fellow-members to meet with you and to worship with you when visiting in Germany during the period close following the war.
It is with solemn joy that we learn of this arising and spread of Truth in your land.
We believe there is something very fundamental in the " simplicity of the Quaker faith, as preached in England in the 17th century and carried by the Quaker missionaries of that day into many parts of the Continent, your own father- land included.
At our Yearly Meeting we have been brought into touch with the ends of the earth. A new vision has come to us of a world suffering for want of the bread which only Christ can give.
We want to be a part with you, in the divine plan of bringing others into union of spirit with the One Who alone can speak to their conditions and heal them of their spiritual disorders.
We speak not as those who have attained, but we desire to press forward with you toward the mark of our high calling.
Dear Friends-May we all know a close abiding under our Divine Master's Will and then we shall experience in some measure the quickening of His Holy Spirit in our hearts and shall grow in grace as we yield to His tender promptings, inwardly revealed.
With love unfeigned, we are your friends.
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THIRD MONTH 31, 1922.
TO THE SZECHWAN YEARLY MEETING OF FRIENDS, CHENGTU, WEST CHINA.
Dear Friends :- Your letter from the eighteenth Annual Gathering of your Meeting dated Seventh Month 3rd, 1921, has been read in our Yearly Meeting now in session with great interest and sympathy.
We rejoice with you over the establishment of your five Monthly Meetings and are glad that you can contribute a share of the funds necessary to carry on the work of these meetings. Thus you can help materially in the spread of the Kingdom of God in your great country which with us so sorely needs Christ's message.
We are glad that you had the inspiration of having Dr. Hodgkin and his wife with you at your Annual Gathering.
We sorrow with you in the great loss which has come to you through the death of Margaret L. Simkin, and we extend to you and to Robert Simkin, her husband, our deep sym- pathy. He is acceptably with us at this time. We hope that later he may return to continue his labors among you and that the Lord of the harvest may send forth other laborers into the fields of China which are ripe unto the harvest.
We are thankful that you realize the importance of the Christian testimony for peace, and that you feel, with us, that all men ought to be as brethren. We hope that we shall all be strengthened to spread Christ's message of peace on earth, good will to men. We rejoice most of all, that, in your Annual Gathering you felt the guidance of the Holy Spirit, making the meeting excellent. We are grateful that in our Yearly Meeting, now in session, we, too, have felt the presence of this same precious Spirit which knows no boundary of country or race or condition of people. Where hearts are open to receive Him, there He enters in. Thus does God bring all men unto Himself as they learn to know the Saviour. May God favor us richly with the outpourings of His blessed Spirit which can unite us fully into one spiritual body of his Friends.
We are, in Christian love,
Your friends.
On behalf and by direction of the Yearly Meeting.
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To AMERICAN AND ENGLISH FRIENDS WORKING ABROAD UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE AMERICAN AND ENG- LISH FRIENDS' SERVICE COMMITTEES.
Dear Friends :- At our Yearly Meeting which recently adjourned, our friends engaged in the relief of suffering abroad were most lovingly held in remembrance.
We, who are quietly pursuing our home duties are very often reminded of what you are facing.
The conditions which surround you are made as real as possible to us through the weekly bulletins in our Friends' periodicals.
We crave that the work to which you are called may con- tinue to receive our Heavenly Father's blessing, that your faith in His power to over-rule all things to His honor may not fail you, and that you may receive a full share of that Peace which passeth all human understanding.
"Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God even our Father, which hath loved us and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through Grace, Comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work."
In a large measure of that love we salute you and com- mend you to His protecting care.
Signed for the Meeting.
Fourth Month, 1922.
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REPORT
OF THE AUDITING COMMITTEE.
To the Yearly Meeting :-
We have examined the accounts of William T. Elkinton, Treasurer. The vouchers in his possession correspond with the charges in the several accounts.
The total balance as of Third Month 21, 1922, was $26,353.45. Of this amount $2,000.00 were in the hands of the Secretary of the Yearly Meeting as a working balance, and $24,353.45 were on deposit with the Provident Life & Trust Company and represented balances as follows :-
Uninvested Principal
$800.41
Income:
General Fund $7,760.94
Fund for Office of Secretary of Yearly
Meeting
2,170.52
Yearly Meeting of Women 1,001.59
Extension Committee Fund. 186.53
Anna Cresson Fund. 2,396.18
Funds Available for Publication and Dis-
tribution of Friends' Writings. 1,545.86
Income Belonging to Other Trust Funds 8,491.42
$23,553.04
$24,353.45
GEO. BAILEY, JR. J. PASSMORE ELKINTON.
We have examined the securities belonging to the respective Trusts, now in the hands of the Provident Life & Trust Company, and found them to agree with the list submitted to us, which we verified by comparing it with the list audited one year ago, and the changes made in the investments during the year.
ANNA P. SHARPLESS. ARTHUR N. LEEDS.
Attached is a Summary of the Treasurer's Account for the year ended Third Month 21, 1922, as presented to the Committee. SUMMARY ACCOUNT. WILLIAM T. ELKINTON, Treasurer, for year ended Third Month 21, 1922. TRANSACTIONS IN PRINCIPAL ACCOUNT. RECEIPTS.
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