disciplines > philadelphia yearly meeting hicksite 1927

8/8/2019 Disciplines > Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Hicksite 1927

1/140


2/140

UNIVERSITYOF PITTSBURGH

LIBRARIESDAR. RM.BX76071927

FRIENDS'HISTORICAL SOCIETYOFSWARTHMORE COLLEGE

m


3/140

vc/; - '-*r- '


4/140

Digitized by the Internet Archivein 2010 with funding from

University of Pittsburgh Library System


5/140

THEBOOK OF DISCIPLINE

OF THE

RELIGIOUS SOCIETYOF FRIENDS

CHRISTIAN PRACTICEBUSINESS PROCEDURE

Adopted byPHILADELPHIA YEARLY MEETING

held at Fifteenth and Race Streets


6/140

"Dearly beloved Friends, these things wedo not lay upon you as a rule or form towalk by, but that all, with the measure oflight which is pure and holy, may be guided

:

and so in the light walking and abiding,these may be fulfilled in the Spirit, not inthe letter, for the letter killeth, but the Spiritgiveth life." Postscript to the Letter fromthe Meeting of Elders at Balby, near Don-caster', 1656, the earliest advice on Christianpractice issued by any General body ofFriends.


7/140

TABLE OF CONTENTSBIBLIOGRAPHY 4INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT 7HISTORICAL STATEMENT 9RELIGIOUS EXPRESSION 21

1. Silent Worship 212. Ministry 223. Preparation for Worship and Ministry 244. Prayer . 255. Scriptures 25

PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATION 271. Personal Life 282. Family Relations 363. Religious Fellowship 444. Educational Relations 465. Social Relations 496. Business Relations 527. Civic Relations 578. Peace and Cooperation 61

MEETINGS FOR BUSINESS 661. Establishment and Relation of Meet-

ings 672. General Business Procedure 733. The Monthly Meeting 754. The Quarterly Meeting Ill5. The Yearly Meeting 1126. Queries 1177. Friends' General Conference 1238. Discipline Revision 124

INDEX 125


8/140

BIBLIOGRAPHYPRINCIPLES OF QUAKERISM

What is Quakerism? Edward Grubb, SwarthmorePress, London.

The Quakers : Their Story and Message. A. NeaveBrayshaw, Yorkshire 1905 Committee, England.The Inner Life. Rufus M. Jones, Macmillan.Spiritual Energies in Daily Life. Rufus M. Jones, Mac-

millan.The Faith of a Quaker. John William Graham, Cam-bridge University Press.

Man's Relation to God. John Wilhelm Rowntree,Pennsbury Series.Faith and Practice of the Quakers. Rufus M. Jones,Doran.

HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHYStandard Quaker History Series

:

Studies in Mystical Religion. Rufus M. Jones, Mac-millan.

Spiritual Reformers in the Sixteenth and SeventeenthCenturies. Rufus M. Jones, Macmillan.The Beginnings of Quakerism. William C. Braith-waite, Macmillan.The Second Period of Quakerism. William C. Braith-waite, Macmillan.The Quakers in the American Colonies. Rufus M.Jones, Macmillan.The Later Periods of Quakerism. Rufus M. Jones,Macmillan.The Story of Quakerism. Elizabeth B. Emmott,Swarthmore Press.

George Fox, an Autobiography. Edited by Rufus M.Jones, Pennsbury Series.

William Penn. John William Graham, SwarthmorePress.A Quaker Experiment in Government. Isaac Sharp-less, Pennsbury Series.

John Woolman's Journal, Introduction by John Green-leaf Whittier.

Life and Labors of Elias Hicks. Henry W. Wilbur,General Conference Advancement Committee.A History of the Friends in America. Allen C.Thomas, Winston Co., Philadelphia.


9/140

WORSHIPSilent Worship, the Way of Wonder. L. Violet Hodg-kin, Swarthmore Lecture, 1919.The Quaker Ministry. John William Graham, Swarth-more Lecture, 1925.Fruits of Solitude. William Penn.

APPLICATIONSpiritual Guidance in the Experience of the Society ofFriends. William C. Braithwaite, Swarthmore Lec-

ture, 1909.The Christian Revolution. Henry T. Hodgkin, Doran.Social Service: Its Place in the Society of Friends.Seebohm Rowntree, Swarthmore Lecture, 1913.Friends and War. The Conference of All Friends,London, 1920.A Service of Love in War Time. Rufus M. Jones, Mac-millan.

Christian Practice, Vol. 2 of the Discipline of LondonYearly Meeting. Friends' Book Shop, London.


10/140


11/140

INTRODUCTORY STATEMENTThe Religious Society of Friends holds as

the basis of its faith the belief that Godendows every human being with a measureof His own Divine Spirit. He leaves no onewithout witness, but gives the light of Histruth and presence to men of all classes andraces.

This manifestation of God in man wasmost fully exemplified in Jesus of Nazareth.The Divine Spirit became so wholly Jesus'own that his teaching, example, and sacri-ficial life are the complete revelation inhumanity of the will of God.As within ourselves we become consciousof the same Spirit (the "Inner Light" or the

"Christ within"), and as we submit our-selves to its leadings, we also are enabled tolive in conformity to the will of our Heav-enly Father. Love, the outworking of theDivine Spirit, is the most potent influencethat can be applied in the affairs of men, andthis application of love to the whole of lifethe Society of Friends conceives to be thecore of the Christian gospel.


12/140

8 INTRODUCTORY STATEMENTThe immanence of God implies the divine

sonship and the brotherhood of all men. Itimplies the capacity in all to discern spiritualtruth, and to hold direct communion withHim. No mediator, rite, or sacrament is anecessary condition of worship. All that isnecessary is a seeking spirit on the part ofthe worshiper. Inspiration and guidancemay be realized by meeting with others inworship where the vision is made clearer bythe common experience of those present.The Society of Friends has no formal

creed. Each person must prayerfully seekindividual guidance and must follow his ownconception of God's leading. He will behelped by studying the developing interpre-tation of God in the Bible and especially bypondering the life and teachings of Jesus.All those who sincerely try to follow him inspirit and in truth, Friends welcome to theirfellowship.


13/140

HISTORICAL STATEMENT*The Society of Friends originated in

England at the time of the Puritan Revolu-tion (about 1628-1660). The overthrow ofthe monarchy was the result of a growingsense of personal independence among thepeople, which politically established OliverCromwell as protector and religiously pro-duced many revolts from the establishedchurch. The latter tendency resulted in manyquick-growing but often short-lived sectsand in a large number of restless, searchingspirits.

George Fox, the founder of Quakerism,was of this seeking type of mind. Born in1624, he began when nineteen years old asolitary, spiritual quest of truth. He recordsin his Journal that at last in 1646, "when allmy hopes in . . . all men were gone, sothat I had nothing outwardly to help me, norcould tell what to do, then, O then, I heard avoice which said, 'There is one, even ChristJesus, that can speak to thy condition/ and,when I heard it, my heart did leap for joy."*The material used in this sketch is largely taken fromThe Beginnings of Quakerism and The Second Period ofQuakerism by William C. Braithwaite, and from TheQuakers in the American Colonies and Later Periods ofQuakerism by Rufus M. Jones.


14/140

10 HISTORICAL STATEMENTIn 1647 Fox began to preach, convincing

many persons, and in 1648 a whole commu-nity in Nottinghamshire accepted his mes-sage and associating together, called them-selves Children of the Light, the earliestname by which Friends were known. Fromthis time the number of his followers grewrapidly.

Puritan ministers were then teaching thatGod's revelation to man lay in the Bible andin the work of the historic Christ, and that,until the judgment at the Second Advent, Hewould not speak again. Fox proclaimed thatGod speaks directly to each human soulthrough a present, living experience ofChrist. The heart of his great message wasthe gospel of this revelation, the Inner Light,requiring no human mediator to translate itsmeaning to the individual.

George Fox was a powerful personality.In him was "combined in a singular degreethe burning zeal of the enthusiast with themagnetic force of a born leader of men." Hewas his own best illustration of the truth hepreached, "that a single man or woman liv-ing in the spirit of the apostles and prophetswould shake all the country for ten milesaround."


15/140

HISTORICAL STATEMENT 11

He soon attracted around him a group ofthirteen young men who became inspiredpreachers of this new religious force andwere called Publishers of Truth. These werelater joined by other earnest men and women.They engaged in the heroic work of spread-ing the movement, travelling in twos andthrees through the length and breadth ofEngland, extending their labors also intoWales, Scotland, and Ireland, although oftenhindered by imprisonment and persecution.Undismayed by every sort of difficulty theyfed the inward spiritual flame of widely sep-arated groups, stimulated their zeal, holdingthem in the bond of group-consciousness, andproviding for them a channel of communica-tion.

The powerful preaching of these leaderswas supported by the daily life of the firstFriends. Along with an intense religiousfervor there ran a life of practical righteous-ness. Justice, temperance, commercial hon-esty, and the complete observance of all civillaws that did not violate their consciencewere vitally important matters. "None coulddispute the validity of a Christianity whichresulted in consistent and Christ-touched


16/140

12 HISTORICAL STATEMENTlives. In such lives, amid all their imperfec-tions, the Inward Light was justified of itschildren."A keen realization of the equality of allpersons before God led to the early recogni-tion of the spiritual gifts of women and tothe acceptance of their public preaching. Itbrought about the use of the "plain" lan-guage and the refusal to remove the hat tosuperiors, customs which caused frequentpersecution; and still greater sufferingresulted from the refusal to take oaths orlater to pay tithes for the upkeep of the statechurch.With the restoration of the monarchy, the

Anglican church was re-established and noother worship was permitted. An era ofpersistent persecution was inaugurated forall non-conformists, of which Friends borethe brunt. Until the passage of the Tolera-tion Act in 1689 Friends endured long im-prisonments, disastrous fines, and crueltreatment ; their meetings were often brokenup and the meeting-houses destroyed. Butbecause their consciences assured them thatresistance to the law was no sin, they con-tinued their way of worship openly and


17/140


bravely in spite of every effort to stop them.In some places when all of the adult Friendswere in jail, the children held the meetingsalone.

This faithfulness in persisting accordingto their religious conviction, with no evasionof the penalties of the law, was a factor ofimportance in finally winning for Englandliberty of conscience and religious toleration.But for the Society of Friends itself, the per-secution had some unfortunate results; itparalyzed the itinerant service of the Pub-lishers of Truth, isolated the meetings andhastened the necessity for organizing into asect what had been a glorious creative move-ment.From 1667 George Fox was active in help-

ing to organize the system of monthly, quar-terly, and yearly meetings and in arrangingmethods of procedure therein. Women'sbusiness meetings were set up in addition tomen's. A Meeting of Ministers and a Meet-ing for Sufferings were established.The earliest concerns of these business

meetings were for the poor and for prison-ers, checking the vagaries of individual judg-ment, admonishing delinquents, and also


18/140

14 HISTORICAL STATEMENTproviding for carrying on work at homeand for expenses of ministers travellingbeyond the seas, and for the keeping of rec-ords. While the discipline thus set up wasno equivalent for the compelling power ofwide-spread evangelism, it did foster well-ordered and noble lives.

Efforts at formulation of doctrine soonfollowed, and in this Robert Barclay (1648-1690) was the foremost figure. His mostcomplete exposition was his Apology. HisQuakerism was affected by current Puritantheology. The influence of his writings wasso great as to be felt as late as the nineteenthcentury when the various separationsoccurred.Yet this same period of development into

a sect and of formulation of doctrine alsosaw growing experiments toward improvingthe social order, including justice towardworkmen and employees, refusal of electionbribes, efforts to re-establish the poor inbusiness, plans for giving work to those inprison, and the establishment of work-houses. Temperance claimed attention aswell as the question of negro slavery, andin Pennsylvania and Rhode Island bold


19/140

HISTORICAL STATEMENT 15attempts were made to establish truly Chris-tian commonwealths.As early as 1655 the New World had

attracted Friends, and efforts were madeduring the following years to plant the seedsof Quakerism in Massachusetts, New York,and Virginia. In the last two colonies therewas some persecution, but the martyrs ofQuakerism in America met their test in Mas-sachusetts. Everything that the authoritiescould devise was tried to stop the publishingof the Quaker truth in this colony. Harrow-ing tortures were endured, many underwentpunishment again and again, and four suf-fered death. After ten years of persecutionthey succeeded in breaking down the intol-erant laws.

During this period a haven was found inRhode Island, where the first meeting in theNew World had been established. This col-ony became the center of New EnglandQuakerism. Its long line of Quaker Gover-nors and men in public places did eminentservice in the political life of the colony untilthe time of the Revolutionary War.A period of expansion followed George

Fox's visit to America in 1671-1673. Meet-


20/140

16 HISTORICAL STATEMENTings were established in New York, Mary-land, Virginia, and the Carolinas, and ingreater numbers in New Jersey and Penn-sylvania.These last two colonies had been opened

for settlement rather later than the others,but conditions were especially favorable.West Jersey was bought by a group ofFriends in 1674 and Pennsylvania byWilliam Penn in 1681, so that here theQuakers had freedom and peace and unpar-alleled opportunity to try out their abilityto conduct a Christian government. Wil-liam Penn was a statesman of high orderand he stands to this day a "vindicator ofjustice to native races, a framer of lawswhich presaged the Constitution of theUnited States, and a champion of liberty ofconscience." Friends maintained an almostabsolute control of Pennsylvania until 1740and were a power for fifteen years longer,when war-like measures forced them toresign from the Assembly.The successful policy of Friends towardthe Indians was the outcome of their senseof justice and of their conviction that beforeGod all men are equal, irrespective of their


21/140

HISTORICAL STATEMENT 17color, and these principles slowly formedtheir attitude on another great question, thatof Negro slavery. George Fox had advisedin 1671 giving slaves their freedom after aperiod of years. Philadelphia Yearly Meet-ing advised against the slave trade in 1696,and sentiment grew slowly until 1758 whenJohn Woolman made a moving plea for theliberty of the slaves, and began the greatwork of his life for this race. He arousedFriends both in America and England, manyof whom became influential factors and tire-less workers until slavery was finally abol-ished.

Friends' opposition to war largely tookthem out of public life during the Frenchand Indian wars prior to the Revolution, andthis fact together with an increasing quiet-ism caused a profound transformation inthe Society. More and more the Friends ofthe latter half of the 18th century withdrewfrom the outside world and centered uponperfecting their own spiritual lives andhedging their Society about with the rulesand customs of a peculiar people. This pre-served some valuable features, but it alsobrought a narrowing introspection that wasfertile ground for controversy.


22/140

18 HISTORICAL STATEMENTEarly in the 19th century very divergent

tendencies could be seen ; one toward a zeal-ous evangelicalism which was accelerated bythe popular rise of the Methodist movement,and one toward a reaffirmation of theInward Light as a sufficient basis for faith.Job Scott, a saintly man and a true mystic,was the chief spokesman for the latter, andthe former was fostered by a number ofprominent ministers, some of whom cameover from England. The chasm grew stead-ily wider until 1827, when, largely as a resultof the powerful ministry of Elias Hicks, aseparation occurred in Philadelphia YearlyMeeting. This tragedy, due to lack of his-torical knowledge, lack of spiritual under-standing, and lack of brotherly love, wasfollowed by withdrawals by one side or theother in many other Meetings, forming so-called "Hicksite" and so-called "Orthodox"branches. Further separations occurredwithin the Orthodox body.

Yet the 19th century did contain someadvances in Quaker development. A greatmigration of Friends to the new territory ofthe northwest took place, and new YearlyMeetings in Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois wereestablished.


23/140


The retirement of Friends from public af-fairs helped to stimulate their zeal for purelymoral causes, such as the abolition of slavery,the welfare of the Negroes and the Indians,the work for social purity, the suppressionof the liquor traffic, and prison reform.

Education has been a deep concern ofFriends from their earliest history, andMonthly Meeting schools, boarding schools,and colleges have been established.The testimony for peace has been a car-

dinal principle ever since George Fox saidthat he "lived in the virtue of that life andpower that took away the occasion of allwars." In all the years of their existenceFriends have maintained with a large degreeof consistency and often with much suffer-ing the belief that the power of love andthe spirit of justice are the only solutionfor international disputes. The conflict of1914-'18 questioned with startling sharpnessthe validity of such a testimony. Friendsnow found themselves faced with thenecessity for profound reasoning andactive work in the pressing of this greatprinciple, and their most cogent argumentwas fearless and impartial service to thevictims of war. During the course of the


24/140

20 HISTORICAL STATEMENTstruggle, all branches and all types ofFriends were brought together in the effortto convey help and a message of love to thepeople of Europe. The American Friends'Service Committee, which originated in1917, remains a powerful organ for theawakened social consciousness of present dayFriends.

Friends in America at present are groupedinto : Seven Yearly Meetings co-ordinated inthe Friends' General Conference, consistingof Baltimore, established in 1672; Philadel-phia, in 1681; New York, in 1695; Ohio, in1813; Indiana, in 1821; Genesee, in 1834;and Illinois, in 1875; twelve Yearly Meet-ings combined in the Five Years Meeting:seven conservative Yearly Meetings whichmaintain correspondence with each other:Ohio and Philadelphia (Arch St.) YearlyMeetings, which have no official affiliationwith the Five Years Meeting. All thesebodies, together with London Yearly Meet-ing and Dublin Yearly Meeting and othergroups of Friends throughout the world,were represented in 1920 in London at theAll-Friends Conference.

Since then a German Yearly Meeting hasbeen established.


25/140

RELIGIOUS EXPRESSIONThe essential purpose of religious organ-ization is to foster and encourage the spir-itual life and to bring the human spirit intointimate relation with the Divine Spirit.Our spiritual life may and should be devel-oped through works of righteousness andbrotherly kindness. It is also necessary toprovide definite organized opportunity forthe development of our spiritual natures andfor the constant renewal of our strength atthe Divine Source.

Silent WorshipThe Meeting for Worship is set apart

for congregate aspiration. Its basis is silentand direct communion with God. It affordsopportunity for a resolute fixing of the heartand mind upon that which is unchangeableand eternal, making it a time of holy expec-tation before our Divine Father.Gathering in an outward silence is notenough. Each individual must consciouslyand earnestly seek in humble reverence fora renewed sense of the inward power of the


26/140


27/140

RELIGIOUS EXPRESSION 23

arise out of a personal call to service. Sucha call may be a divinely inspired revelationof truth, or the sense of a need in the meet-ing which a member feels. Our conviction isthat the Spirit of God is in all, and thatvocal utterance comes when this Spiritworks within us. As we listen for His silentcounsel we become His willing messengers;as we receive the insurging power of Hislove we are consecrated to His service.Therefore we do not set anyone apart whosespecial duty it is to supply the spoken wordin our meetings. The varying needs of ameeting can be best supplied by differentpersonalities, and a meeting is enriched bythe sharing of any living experience of God.The responsibility rests upon every memberto be ready and willing to take part in thevocal service under a due sense of Divineprompting.The call to speak is a normal experience.

It will come at times to all earnest seekersfor Divine help, and is recognized by a per-sistent inner urge to share religious experi-ence or aspiration. One who is timid orunaccustomed to speak should have faiththat God will strengthen him to give his


28/140


29/140

RELIGIOUS expression 25

PrayerPrayer is the aspiration of the soul. It

is man's communion with God and is anessential to religious life. The result ofprayer becomes apparent in the nobler livesof those who are constant in its exercise.We, individually, should cultivate the habitof turning to God at all times, and of seek-ing Divine guidance in all things that wemay, in truth, be led by Him. Vocal prayer,when prompted by a deep concern and asense of human need, is a vital part of publicworship and often helps those assembled tocome into the consciousness of God'spresence.

ScripturesGod has spoken to men in all generations.

Prophets and teachers to whom His mes-sage has come with more convincing powerthan to other men have recorded theserevelations of truth. Many of these seersbelonged to a race in whose life religionheld the foremost place. The hopes andfears, the aspirations and trust of a devoutpeople, whose quest was to find God andobey His teaching, are recorded in the Bible.


30/140

26 RELIGIOUS EXPRESSION

The progressive development which itrecords leads us from the primitive concep-tions of an early religion to the culminatinggospel of forgiveness, love, and brotherhoodas taught and lived by Jesus.Though its various literary forms are

characterized by dignity, sublimity andbeauty, its spirit transcends the medium ofexpression, breathing through all the vari-ous books which compose the Old and NewTestaments trust and dependence upon God'scare and guidance.Men of all times have turned to the Biblefor consolation, for strength, and for hope.Our prayers are uttered in its speech andour ideals of social justice are found in itspages.We therefore earnestly recommend thehabitual, reverent, and intelligent reading ofthe Bible for the enrichment of the spirituallife, and we urge that children be taught tounderstand and value it.


31/140

PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATIONThe fundamental faith of the Religious

Society of Friends leads to a way of life. Inthe application of the principles of truth todaily life we acknowledge as supreme theauthority of the Divine Spirit in the individ-ual soul. No outward authority can replaceit. Each individual must be true to his ownunderstanding of his duty.

Each individual ought, however, to test hisconception of truth by comparison with theindividual and collective experience of hisfellow men. Such experiences are found inrich abundance in the Bible and in the livesof spiritual men and women in all ages.They find their highest expression in the lifeand teachings of Jesus.

Jesus lived a life of love. He taught thatlove is the motive power of life, and thatits application is the solution of all the prob-lems of life. To the challenge of this way oflife the spirit within us responds. We acceptand make the ideals of Jesus our own. Weaccept the application of the principle of loveas the practical way of life and the perfectgoal short of which we cannot be satisfied.


32/140

28 PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATIONThe bond of our religious fellowship is anexperience in the soul that God is love.

Truth is an ever opening pathway which,if followed, will lead us to higher levels oflife and conduct. Its applications varyaccording to the changing conditions of life.By the faithfulness of each individual inseeking for the truth and making it knownto others when found, we are able toadvance.

It has been our experience that the guid-ance of the Divine Spirit has in great meas-ure led us as a group to the same standardsof life and conduct. A statement of thesestandards is made as a guide for all who intrying to understand the will of God wish tocompare their individual revelations of truthwith those of their fellow men.We believe that a vital faith must have its

application in life. We would place theemphasis not on works alone, nor on faithalone, but upon the union of faith and works.

Personal LifeDivine Relationship

It is our common experience that com-munion with God is a fundamental need of


33/140

PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATION 29the human soul. Constant listening for thepromptings of the Divine Spirit and seekingto follow it in every relation of life will leadinevitably to spiritual growth.

If we are faithful followers of Jesus, wemay expect at times to differ from the prac-tice of others. Having in mind that truth inall ages has been advanced by the cour-ageous example of spiritual leaders, Friendsare earnestly advised to be faithful to thoseleadings of the Divine Spirit which they feelfully assured after mature meditation andconsideration they have interpreted truly.

Observance of special days and times anduse of special places for worship serve ahelpful purpose in calling attention at regu-lar intervals to our need for spiritual com-munion. They cannot, however, take theplace of daily and hourly looking to God forguidance. Nor can any custom of fasting orabstaining from bodily comforts take theplace of constant refraining from everythingwhich has a tendency to unfit mind and bodyfor being the temple of the Divine Spirit.The foundation for all our personal life andsocial relations should be the sufficient andirreplaceable consciousness of God.


34/140

30 principles and applicationSincerity

Integrity is one of the fundamental char-acteristics of the Christian. Friends believethat truth and sincerity are vital in all thedealings of life. Therefore we earnestlyadvise the observation of great care inspeech and the use of only such statementsas convey the exact truth without exaggera-tion or omission of essential facts.We regard the custom of taking oaths asnot only contrary to the teachings of Jesus,but as setting a double standard of truthful-ness. It is recommended that Friends takethe opportunity on all occasions where spe-cial statements are required, to advance thecause of truth by simple affirmation, thusemphasizing that their statement is only apart of their usual integrity of speech.Friends are advised to avoid pretence indress and deportment, as well as in speech,realizing that false impressions may be con-veyed by actions and appearance, no lessthan by words.

SimplicityIt is urged that Friends be watchful to

keep themselves free from self-indulgent


35/140

PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATION 31habits, luxurious ways of living, and thebondage of fashion. This freedom is thefirst condition of vigor in all kinds of effort,whether spiritual, intellectual, or physical.Undue luxury often creates a false sense

of superiority, causes unnecessary burdensupon both ourselves and others, and leads tothe neglect of the spiritual life.By observing and encouraging simple

tastes in apparel, furniture, buildings, andmanner of living, we help to do away withunwholesome rivalry and we learn to valueself-denial. True simplicity consists not inthe use of particular forms, but in foregoingover-indulgence, in maintaining humility ofspirit, and in keeping the material surround-ings of our lives directly serviceable to nec-essary ends, even though these surroundingsmay properly be characterized by grace,symmetry and beauty.

ModerationThings lawful in themselves may becomeharmful when used to excess. Friends are

advised to observe moderation in everythingand to abstain entirely from that which maybe the occasion of stumbling to others^/


36/140

32 PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATIONIn particular, Friends are urged to observe

simplicity and moderation in the conduct ofsocial gatherings, marriages, funerals, andpublic occasions.

Alcohol and NarcoticsFriends have long borne vigorous testi-

mony against the use of all alcoholic liquors,not indulging in them as a drink, nor allow-ing themselves to be in any way concernedin their manufacture, transportation, sale, oruse, either as medicine or for culinary pur-poses. Continuing labor in this importantfield is urged upon all members.

Believing that the use of tobacco is notonly injurious in its effect upon the humansystem and an economic waste, but that itspublic use is a cause of offense and discom-fort to others to which the habitual user soonbecomes insensible, Friends are advised toabstain from its cultivation, sale, and use.The habit-forming character of narcotics,which leads to the degradation of the mindas well as debilitation of the body, and to thedeadening of the individual to spiritualvalues, is such that caution is enjoinedagainst the use of these drugs, even as medi-


37/140


38/140

34 PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATIONforms of recreation are most helpful, them-selves indulging, and encouraging thoseunder their care to indulge, only in the typesthat will better prepare them for the dutiesof life.Those engaging in athletic sports in

schools, colleges, or elsewhere, should enterthem in a spirit of friendly competition, andeither in defeat or success give generousrecognition to the opposing side.

All Friends and particularly parents shouldearnestly discourage by precept and exam-ple the attendance of their children and oth-ers at places of unprofitable amusement,especially such as teach false ideas of lifeand duty, or bring harmful associations.Amusements or diversions that cause need-less suffering to any of God's creaturesshould not be considered harmless; neithershould those that cannot be rememberedwithout regret or remorse.Although the first day of the week affords

for many people valued opportunities forrest and recreation, these should be arrangedat a time that does not conflict with the First-day School and the Meeting for Worship.


39/140


40/140

36 PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATIONunjust conditions, intensified perhaps by ourown thoughtless conduct.The Christian will consider how his way

of spending money affects others. He willendeavor to share his advantages and willguard against pursuing a mode of life thatministers only to his own comforts.

Purchasers who buy articles that are use-ful, well made, and produced under righteousconditions help to direct industry into chan-nels beneficial to society.Owners of property, whether in the form

of land, houses, stocks, or securities, arecounselled to be mindful of the responsibilitywhich their ownership imposes for the man-agement and uses of their property. Inves-tors of money should keep in mind not onlythe security and rate of interest, but the con-ditions under which the income is produced.

Family RelationsFamily Life

As the family is the foundation of humansociety, every home needs for its cornerstonethe highest ideals of love. We look to thehome for that serenity of mind in which thefruits of the spirit may develop. When hus-


41/140

PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATION 37

band and wife share each other's aims, helpeach other in achieving them, and worktogether in sympathy and mutual confidence,their influence is felt by all who come in con-tact with them. In such a home both par-ents share with joy the responsibility for thecare of the family, while the children grownaturally to be helpers and companions inthe family circle.

Parents and ChildrenParents are admonished to consider with

reverence the marvel and mystery of God'screative work, and to realize that parenthoodis a grave responsibility as well as a highprivilege. All parents should constantlyseek Divine help in the guidance of the younglives entrusted to their care.

Children are especially susceptible to theinfluence of their surroundings, and earlyimpressions are most lasting; therefore loveand harmony in the home during their for-mative years are especially necessary. Aschildren acquire much by imitation andabsorption, parents should carefully watchtheir actions and words, curb their indulg-ences, practice forbearance, choose worthy


42/140

38 PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATIONcompanions and permit only worthwhilebooks and publications in their home.

Child TrainingThe method used by Jesus with his dis-

ciples is a worthy guide for parents in train-ing their children. Precept, reinforced byexample, is the keynote of this method. Achild tends to become what we honestlyexpect him to become, if we constantly keepin his mind the ideal picture of himself, get-ting him to share our faith that he can growinto it.

Obedience is the foundation on whichcharacter is built. At first the obedience mustbe to the parents' will, but as intelligencedevelops, the rights of others and the laws ofGod should become the motive force com-pelling right actions. Loving counsel anddirection, rather than compulsion, should bethe basis of development. Sacrifice of thefamily life to an uncontrolled child is harm-ful both for the child and the family. Con-trol should be founded on love, consideration,and service.

Parents should foster a confidence betweenthemselves and their children in which there


43/140

PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATION 39should be absolute candor on every subject.This will create an enduring companionshipbetween parents and children and will resultin a growth of ideals for the homes of thesucceeding generation.

Parents who feel deeply the beauty, pur-ity, and holiness of life, and the marvel ofthe Heavenly Father's love as shown in allparts of His creation will desire that fromthe earliest impressions their children'sthoughts of life and the formation and func-tions of their bodies and the manner of theircoming into the world shall be true andennobling. It is our earnest conviction thatboth parents should share in the duty andprivilege of this teaching, which can be grad-ually given in a simple and natural way,according to the growing intelligence of thechild.

Family Religious TrainingParents and guardians should be watchful

that their children may early have a sense ofthe nearness of God and of His loving guid-ance. As they are ready they should beacquainted with the wealth of hero story,poetry, and high aspiration in the Bible.


44/140

40 PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATIONSelected passages may well be learned. It isdesirable that passages be carefully explainedthat they may have meaning and reality.Regular family readings from the Bible andshort opportunities for religious quiet beforemeals and at other times are recommendedfor observance in every home.

Parents should carefully instruct theirchildren concerning the principles held byour Society. Their regular attendance atour First-day Schools and Meetings forWorship is an important factor in theirreligious education. The habit of quiet wait-ing upon God tends to strengthen and developtheir religious character.

MarriageMarriage has ever been regarded by

Friends as religious in nature, being a cove-nant made in the presence of God and notmerely a civil contract. It is therefore earn-estly advised that those contemplating thisimportant step seek for Divine guidance inmaking their decision and carrying out theirintention.As marriage affects all the relations of

life, parents or guardians and trusted


45/140

PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATION 41Friends should be consulted early so that theunity and harmony of families may be pre-served and hasty and improper connectionsavoided.Members contemplating marriage are

earnestly advised to give serious considera-tion to the importance of harmony and sym-pathy in religious convictions, since from thelack of such harmony and sympathy unhap-piness often results.

Friends are cautioned against the mar-riage of the physically unfit, or of those whomay transmit a tendency to mental disorder,or of those related by a close degree of con-sanguinity, since such marriages often entailserious consequences to their offspring.

Since marriage is a solemn covenantbetween two persons with each other, wit-nessed by friends and made in the presenceof God, it requires the participation of noadditional person in the ceremony. Theaccomplishment of marriages should beunder the care of the Monthly Meeting.The recommendations for procedure are tobe found on page 99.

It is affectionately advised that marriagesbe accomplished reverently and thoughtfully,


46/140

42 PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATIONand that the parties themselves, their parentsand others concerned take care that modera-tion be observed and that the occasion becharacterized by the dignity becoming agroup of religious people gathered for aserious purpose. A fitting simplicity shouldbe observed in the marriage procedure, indress and surroundings, and in the otherproceedings of the wedding day.As the real enjoyment of life is far more

effectually secured by contentment with sim-ple habits than by a mode of living whichentails anxiety and risk, our younger mem-bers should be encouraged to begin marriedlife in a manner suited to their circumstancesrather than to defer their union until theycan imitate the style of living of those whopossess larger resources.

Marriage established in love should laythe foundation for happy and useful lives.Such difficulties as will inevitably arise fromdifferences in ideas and in temperamentsshould be met with patience, mutual forbear-ance, and a common will to build a true home.The bond of husband and wife is so intimateand involves so many other lives that thebreaking of it is certain to produce lasting


47/140


suffering. Moreover, the weakening of thefamily tie must inevitably carry with it ageneral deterioration of society and a lower-ing of the moral tone of its individuals.

Divorce

Marriage is a covenant for life. The ful-fillment of its obligations is essential to thewelfare of the family and to the maintenanceof society. Therefore Friends are cautionedagainst the consideration of divorce underany circumstances. Escape from domesticunhappiness through the all too commonpractice of divorce repudiates an agreemententered into for life, and gives countenanceand support to a usage demoralizing to homelife. Friends should rather strive, throughmutual forbearance, to reconcile differencesif they arise, or, if entirely irreconcilable, tolive separately without resorting to legalmeasures. Though sacrifice may be requiredto follow this course, the peace and satisfac-tion resulting from adherence to our Chris-tian profession will greatly outweigh tem-porary relief from disturbing conditions.


48/140

44 principles and applicationBurials

In all things pertaining to funerals,Friends should keep to true moderation andavoid ostentatious display, or extravagantexpenditure, as well as the custom of wear-ing mourning ; for the latter practice is oftena vain display of grief detracting from theemphasis upon the faith in immortality thatis our Christian profession. In the conductof funerals we commend the simplicity ofour usual form of worship.

Religious FellowshipResponsibility op Membership

Fuller spiritual life can be fostered bymembership in a religious organization. Lib-erty to choose his religious affiliation existsfor every individual. When the choice hasbeen made responsibility for service follows.

Attendance at MeetingsRegular attendance at meetings for the

promotion of religious interests, such asmeetings for worship, First-day Schools,and meetings for business, will enable us toavail ourselves of the opportunities for serv-


49/140

PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATION 45ice which exist in such organizations. Itwill also enable us to become more firmlygrounded in the faith and principles uponwhich our Society is founded and will resultin our spiritual growth.Advancement op Principles Held by FriendsOur separate existence in the community

of Christian churches is justified by our tes-timony to the truth as revealed to us. Itdevolves upon us therefore to be faithful inthe expression of those principles for whichour Society stands. Beliefs become vital onlywhen translated into life and conduct. Thefaith of our members should therefore findexpression in work for spiritual, moral, andmental education, and in the improvement ofsocial and economic conditions.

Christian UnityCo-operation with those of other religious

views in work for the good of the commu-nity and mankind everywhere, promotesmutual understanding and unity among allthose who endeavor to follow the teachingsof Jesus and the will of God, by whatevername they are called.


50/140

46 PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATIONEducational Relations

The purpose of education is to build char-acter and to make the individual a more serv-iceable instrument in bringing about thekingdom of God. While inspiration, oftenthe stimulus for this effort, is the direct giftof God to the human soul and not a productof education, yet God's revelations are morelikely to be perceived and can be used to bet-ter advantage if the body has been trainedfor health, the hand for work, the mindfor thought, and if the attention has beendirected toward spiritual truth. Powers ofobservation, thought, and expression needtraining that we may do well our work.Many of us require teaching to overcome aprejudiced and passionate attitude towardsothers and to meet humanity with the rever-ence that is due the children of one lovingFather.

Education op Children

We regard the educational process as pri-marily the development of character throughthe acquisition of knowledge, the trainingof the mind to think, and the growth of theindividual's capacities for appreciation,


51/140


social fellowship, and worship. The firstand most important education of the indi-vidual is received in the home circle. Later,the home and the school should work inclose conjunction to perfect the work of edu-cation.

Public EducationSchool education is primarily a public

function to be carried on by the State for thebenefit of all children. Friends historicallywere among the earlier advocates of uni-versal free public education. We urge ourmembers to continue to use their influence ascitizens to elevate the standards of our pub-lic schools.

Friends' Schools

Besides giving support to the public schoolsystem, Friends may make an important con-tribution to education by maintaining schoolsand colleges in which their ideals are espe-cially exemplified. When such schools aremaintained, they should be leaders in thefield of education. The best schools renderconspicuous service to our Society and to thepupils whom they train. It is desirable forour children to receive at least a part of their


52/140


53/140


54/140

50 PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATIONChristian ideals need no concealment, nor

can the brotherhood which Jesus taught berestricted by any secret ritual or creed,therefore Friends are cautioned againstmembership in any organization which willdirectly or indirectly diminish sympathywith any portion of mankind, or which maylead to the condemnation of the people ofany religion, race, or nationality.

In all human relationships our professionof God's universal Fatherhood should pre-vent our making any distinctions of class,station, wealth, color, or race, which mightbar us from friendly intercourse.

Social MinglingBy friendly mingling and contact with

those of all conditions of life, we are enabledto learn the inspiration which God has givento them, compare it with our own, and pre-sent our ideals for their consideration. Wecan best understand and co-operate with oth-ers when we know their conditions and aspi-rations. Especially is this true regardingthose less fortunate than ourselves, or thosewho feel themselves oppressed by the socialand economic system under which they live.


55/140

PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATION 51By coming into close and friendly relationswith the restless and discontented of allclasses we may assist in making the adjust-ments which are necessary for their wel-fare and for the welfare of society.

Social WorkMany openings exist for those who are

willing to devote themselves to social better-ment in the improvement of living and hous-ing conditions, the extension of public edu-cation, the improvement of public health,penal reforms, and other important mattersfor the advancement of the social order.Changing social and economic conditions areconstantly creating new problems of read-justment which require careful study fortheir proper solution. Disease, disasters,and human strife create conditions requiringthe devoted service of those who are able toextend care to the sick, the suffering, and theneedy.

Voluntary ServiceSocial service as a vocation can best be

undertaken by those especially qualified bytraining. But there remains for every will-ing individual an opportunity for service in


56/140

52 PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATIONdaily life and at special times. All our mem-bers should carefully consider what form ofservice they may best render to mankind.Our younger as well as older members areurged to consider seriously devoting a defi-nite portion of their lives to service at homeor abroad under the care of our own or sim-ilar organizations which exist for thepromotion of human welfare.

Business RelationsFriends are urged in all their business

and professional relations to make themotive of service superior to that of profit,and to endeavor by the application both ofreligious and economic principles to obtainthe most equitable division of the results oftheir efforts.

Industrial RelationsUpon those who are placed in the position

of employers rests the responsibility ofseeing that this control is not exercised tothe detriment of their employees. Allemployees should be assured of reasonableworking hours, freedom from arbitraryrequirements, safe and sanitary working


57/140

PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATION 53conditions, wages permitting them and theirfamilies to live in self-respect and comfort,and to obtain adequate facilities for educa-tion and wholesome recreation. Carefulconsideration should be given to the need ofemployees for protection in cases of unem-ployment or sickness.Those who are employed as workers,whether with brain or hand, are urged to

work in the spirit of service to mankind.Effort should be made to render full equiv-alent for the compensation received. Itshould also be the endeavor of everyworker, whenever opportunity exists, bymeans of industry, thrift, and foresight, tomake provision against disability and cessa-tion of income, in order that he and thosedependent upon him may not become a bur-den upon the industry of others.

Co-operationRecognizing that in the proper conduct of

trade and industry the highest interests ofemployers and employees are mutual andinterdependent, adequate means should beprovided for understanding and co-opera-tion. Having faith that only fairness and


58/140

54 PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATIONgood-will provide the means for the perma-nent settlement of economic differences, weurge Friends to place their dependence uponthese principles and to be willing to act asmediators in bringing these methods beforeothers as a better way than force andviolence.

CorporationsFriends, in their relations with corpora-

tions, whether as stockholders or otherwise,should be governed by the same high stand-ards as in their relations with individuals. Ifthe conduct of a corporation is inconsistentwith high standards of individual conduct,it should be the duty of Friends, if protestsdo not avail, to refuse to retain ownership ofthe stock, or be the recipient of income in anyform from such a corporation.

Trust FundsWhen Friends are placed in positions of

trust, whether as trustee, assignee, treasurer,or other fiduciary capacity in which they areresponsible for the administration of prop-erty of others, they should exercise greatcare to discharge their duties with diligence,good judgment, and the strictest integrity.


59/140

PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATION 55For this purpose it is advised that any suchmoneys be kept strictly apart from their own,that separate accounts be maintained, andthat a careful audit be made at least yearlyof all accounts, including the verification ofall investment securities.

WillsFriends are urged to make their wills in

time of health and strength of judgment inorder to prevent the inconvenience, loss, andtrouble to their beneficiaries of dying intes-tate. Wills should be made with strictregard to justice and equity, with properprovision for dependents and in accordancewith legal statutes.

PromisesFriends are urged to be scrupulous in

abiding by the spirit as well as the letter oftheir promises, contracts, and agreements, inbuying and selling and in all other matters.

DebtsFriends are earnestly advised to make

prompt payment of just debts at the timeagreed, and to avoid undue delay in payment


60/140

56 PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATIONwhen no time is stipulated. They shouldrecognize it as a moral duty to avoid incur-ring debts beyond their ability to pay, andeven when legally discharged of any debtshould feel that the obligation remains.

AccountsBy means of clear and accurate accounts

of their business transactions, Friends willbe the better able to keep themselves wellacquainted with their resources and toarrange their expenditures with due regardto their income. Frequent inspection of busi-ness affairs and a balancing of accounts atleast once a year are recommended.

Engaging in BusinessIt is the duty of every person to select

some form of useful occupation. Care shouldbe exercised in making this selection and theadvice of those of mature judgment shouldbe obtained. Friends should be cautious instarting in business without requisite cap-ital and experience, and engaging in hazard-ous ventures because of prospective abnor-mal profits.


61/140

principles and application 57Accumulation op Wealth

Habits of industry and thrift, importantas they are, sometimes tend, unless carefullywatched, to degenerate into habits of lovefor wealth and its accumulation.

Friends should seek to discern how muchof their income or property can be spared,and in what manner it may be wisely dis-tributed for the benefit of others. It shouldnot be a burden but a privilege to be able tocontribute when appeals are made to us forthe support of our religious society and forworthy educational and philanthropic work.

Civic RelationsDuties op Citizenship

Believing that the Kingdom of God onearth is advanced by those who devote them-selves with unselfish public spirit to thebuilding of a high national character, andto the shaping of a righteous policy of gov-ernment both at home and abroad, we urgeFriends to be active in the performance ofall the duties of good citizenship.


62/140

58 principles and applicationVoting and Public Office

Every opportunity for participation indecisions of public matters by ballot shouldbe used, and when exercising their duties asindividual voters, Friends are urged to main-tain a clearness of judgment which willenable them to act upon principle.By the participation of men and women of

intelligence, calm judgment, and high prin-ciple, in the direct responsibilities of govern-ment, much may be done to form a healthypublic opinion which will lead to purity ofadministration and to a wise solution of themany problems of city, state, and nationalgovernment. When called to serve in publicoffice, Friends should consider the publicgood rather than personal preference andconvenience, and having accepted such office,they should serve with diligence and integ-rity, without regard to the gratification ofpersonal ambition or to pecuniary gain.

Voluntary Public ServiceWhile the number of those who are able

to serve in public office may be compara-tively small, there is a wide field for volun-tary public service in the several agencies


63/140

PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATION 59and organizations which exist for civic bet-terment. Friends are urged to be faithfulto their responsibilities as citizens by takingpart in such service.

Treatment of Civic Offenders

Enlightened treatment of civic offendersby constructive methods rather than bymerely punitive action is a reform challeng-ing those who endeavor to follow Christianprinciples. While condemning unrighteousacts, we should at the same time seek to haveoffenders treated in a manner conducive tothe strengthening of their moral character,the maintenance of their self-respect, andtheir reclamation as useful members ofsociety.

Friends are opposed to capital punishmentbecause it is contrary to the Divine law oflove. The application of the death penalty isbrutalizing and degrading to the public mind.It leaves no room for the reformation ofcharacter, which should be the principal aimof criminal law, nor for the revision of thesentence in the event of a miscarriage ofjustice.


64/140

60 principles and applicationObedience to Law

The first allegiance of mankind is to thewill of God. It should, therefore, be theendeavor of a Christian citizen to influencethe making and changing of man-made lawsso that they may more nearly accord withDivine laws. It is the duty of every citizento uphold and obey all legal enactments,unless they directly violate his deep convic-tion of the dictates of God. If conditionsarise in which national or civil laws appearto be absolutely at variance with Divine law,Friends should take prayerful counsel toarrive at a decision in accordance with Chris-tian principles. They should also sustain anduphold with spiritual encouragement thosewho are impelled by allegiance to Divine lawto take a difficult stand. Special care shouldbe given in such instances to make clear thatthe action is not taken in disrespect of thelaws of man nor with the intent to evadethem, but in accordance with the dictates ofthe higher law. Whoever thus acts on theprinciple of obedience to God rather than toman, must be prepared to suffer willinglyand fearlessly for the sake of his convictions.


65/140

PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATION 61Peace and Co-operation

Our PositionGod's law of love, as fully exemplified by

the life of Jesus, is applicable to nations aswell as to individuals. Because of this appli-cation, war as a means of settling differencesbetween nations becomes morally unlawful,just as are feuds between groups and duelsbetween individuals. We cannot recognize adouble standard of morality, one for indi-viduals and another for nations. The moral-ity which Christianity requires of men intheir dealings with one another is equallybinding upon them when called upon to actfor their nations.From its earliest days the Religious So-

ciety of Friends has held that war is contraryto the spirit, the life, and the teachings ofJesus, who renounced the weapons of worldlypassion and used methods of love and self-sacrifice in their place. We restate our con-viction that no plea of necessity or policy,however urgent, can release either individ-uals or nations from their duty to follow thelaw of love. It is a serious and solemn thingto stand as the advocate of an inviolablepeace. To carry out such a profession con-


66/140

62 PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATIONsistently will, at times, require the highestresolution, perseverance, and courage. Suchshould, however, be the devoted effort ofevery Friend.

Prevention of WarIf war is to be prevented, the spirit fromwhich war proceeds must be eliminated, and

the beginnings of strife must be as watch-fully guarded against between nations asbetween individuals. To give occasions ofoffense or jealousy to the inhabitants or tothe governments of other countries, whetherby imputing evil motives, by trade or otherdiscrimination, by needless alarms of inva-sion, by the accumulation of armaments orby anything approaching a hostile attitude,is inconsistent alike with Christian duty andwith the best interests of any nation.

History provides evidence that armedpreparedness is not only futile in preventingwar but is actually conducive to it. Friendsare urged to uphold the better preparednessof a public mind ready when differencesarise to grant justice to other nations exactlyas we desire justice for our own country.


67/140

principles and application 63Creating a Peace Spirit

It is very important that young people beso imbued with the spirit of love and broth-erhood as manifested by Jesus that they willbe enabled to take their stand for peace andinternational good-will under all circum-stances. We, therefore, encourage parentsand teachers carefully to instruct their boysand girls in the principles and practice ofpeace, and of the numerous successfulsettlements of disputes between nations byarbitration. We also recommend thatFriends exert their influence toward the useof text books in the schools that give empha-sis to the peaceful achievements of thenations, and that tend to create a sympa-thetic understanding of their conditions andproblems.

Friends should endeavor to eliminate fromschools all military drills, and to avoidconnection with military organizations ofall kinds. Such associations have a seriouseffect on those who take part in them bycreating a spirit of militarism whichdestroys calm judgment on internationalissues and retards the growing sense ofbrotherhood in the world.


68/140

64 principles and applicationPatriotism

We greatly desire that the children of ourcountry shall be imbued with the true con-ception of patriotism and service to thenation and to humanity. He is a true patriotwho exerts himself at all times to make hiscountry a potent factor in the advancementof the world. He who works to improve thecivic, economic, social, and moral conditionof his country is more truly patriotic thanhe who exalts his own nation at the expenseof others or supports and justifies its actionirrespective of right or justice.International Co-operation and ArbitrationBecause the Fatherhood of God is uni-

versal, the higher interests of all nations areclosely allied. Friends should work for thepromotion of such association among thenations as will consider and settle inter-national problems in the interest of allwithout regard to size or power. Friendsshould vigorously advocate arbitration as apractical step toward maintaining peace.We recognize it to be our duty as Chris-tians to inform ourselves regarding those ofother races and nationalities within our own


69/140

TWELFTH QUERYand the Accompanying

ADVICES CONCERNING PEACEApproved by Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of Friends, 1940

and directed to be used by the Monthly Meetings.

QUERYAre you faithful in maintaining our testimony in

favor of the peaceful settlement of all differences andagainst all war and preparations for and incitements toit for any purpose whatever? Do you live in the lifeand power which takes away the occasion of all wars?

ADVICESFrom its earliest days the Religious Society of

Friends has held that war is contrary to the spirit, thelife, and the teachings of Jesus, who renounced theweapons of wordly passion and used methods of loveand self-sacrifice in their place.George Fox 1651

"I told them (the Commonwealth Commissioners)I knew from whence all wars arose, even from the lust,according to James' doctrine; that I lived in the virtueof that life and power that took away the occasion ofall wars; . . . and was come into the covenant of peacewhich was before wars and strife were." (Journal)Declaration to Charles II 1660"We utterly deny all outward wars and strife, and

fightings with outward weapons, for any end, or underany pretense whatever; this is our testimony to thewhole world. The Spirit of Christ by which we areguided is not changeable, so as once to command us


70/140

from a thing as evil and again to move unto it; and wecertainly know and testify to the world, that the Spiritof Christ, which leads us into all Truth, will never moveus to fight and war against any man with outwardweapons, neither for the kingdom of Christ nor for thekingdoms of this world." (A Declaration from theHarmless and Innocent People of God, called Quakers.)

A Statement Adopted by the Philadelphia Yearly Meet-ings of the Religions Society of Friends 1934"We declare our faith in those abiding truths taught

and exemplified by Jesus Christthat every individualof every race and nation, is of supreme worth; thatlove is the highest law of life, and that evil is to beovercome, not by further evil, but by good. The rela-tionship of nation to nation, of race to race, of classto class must be based on this Divine law of love, ifpeace and progress are to be achieved. | We believe inthose principles, not as mere ideals for some futuretime, but as part of the eternal moral order and as away of life to be lived here and now. War is a colossalviolation of this way of life. If we are true to our faithwe can have no part in it.

|"We affirm the supremacy of conscience. We recog-nize the privileges and obligations of citizenship; butwe reject as false that philosophy which sets the stateabove the moral law and demands from the individualunquestioning obedience to every state command. Onthe contrary, j we assert that every individual, whileowing loyalty to the state, owes a more binding loyaltyto a higher authority the authority of God andconscience." ;

God's law of love, as exemplified by the life of Jesus,is applicable to nations as well as to individuals. We


71/140

cannot recognize a double standard of morality, onefor individuals and another for nations. The moralitywhich Christianity requires of men in their dealingswith one another is equally binding upon them whencalled to act for their nations./ We restate our conviction that no plea of necessityor policy, however urgent, can release either individual,or nations from their duty to follow the law of low-It is a serious and solemn thing to stand as the advocateof an inviolable peace. To carry out such a professionconsistently will, at times, require the highest resolu-tion, perseverance and courage. Such should, however,be the devoted effort of every Friend. /

History provides evidence that armed preparednessis not only futile in preventing war but is actually con-ducive to it. Friends are urged to uphold the betterpreparedness of a just and generous national policy.We encourage parents and teachers to instruct theirboys and girls carefully in the principles and practiceof peace, and of the numerous successful settlement-of disputes between nations by arbitration and otherpeaceful means.

Friends should endeavor to eliminate from schoolsand colleges all military drills, and to avoid connectionwith military organizations of all kinds. Such associa-tions have a serious effect on those who take part inthem by creating a spirit of militarism which destmwcalm judgment on international issues and retanl> thegrowing sense of brotherhood in the world.

Since there may be conflict between our ideals andthe commands of the State, we urge that each memberconsider in advance his duty and plan his conduct OurMeetings should sustain those who are in difficulty be-cause of loyalty to our peace testimony./


72/140


73/140

PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATION 65country, and regarding other nations havinga civilization different from our own, thatwe may be qualified to exert our influence inestablishing a high standard of individualand national conduct toward them. Friendsshould rise above prejudice and unjust dis-crimination in dealing with persons of otherraces and in speaking of them either as indi-viduals or as nations.Above all, while other races either within

or without our borders remain in economic,mental, or spiritual bondage, we cannot betrue to the obligation which our commonbrotherhood imposes upon us without doingour utmost to remove the burden from themand to give them assistance and co-operationin obtaining an opportunity equal to our own.


74/140

MEETINGS FOR BUSINESSThe Society of Friends is a religious fel-

lowship based on common religious idealsand experiences rather than on commoncreed or liturgy of worship.Although each person must follow his own

leading as to truth and duty as the finalauthority for himself, experience has dem-onstrated that in the united worship andactivities of a religious group the spiritualdiscernment is sharpened by the stimulus,counsel, and judgment of all, so that the finalknowledge or decision of the group is usuallysuperior to that of the individual.

Since Friends hold the belief that Godgives His presence and guidance to all whoseek Him, it behooves them in their meet-ings to hear with attentive and tolerantminds the messages and views of all mem-bers present. This is applicable no less inMeetings for Business than in Meetings foiWorship.


75/140

MEETINGS FOR BUSINESS 67Establishment and Relation of

MeetingsIn addition to Meetings for Worship,

Meetings for Business have been organizedto provide for the orderly care of such mat-ters as are essential to maintaining a relig-ious society. These meetings afford oppor-tunity for the appointment of members tospecial service; for hearing reports of mem-bers or committees thus appointed, forencouraging Friends to plan together, underDivine guidance, for carrying on workwhich will assist in bringing about the com-ing of the kingdom of God on earth.For the effectual support of good order,

the various business meetings have theirseveral allotments of service. Both our indi-vidual members and the corporate groupsare strengthened in faith and practice byprompt and regular attendance at thesemeetings.

Meetings and their relation to one anotherare as follows: first, Monthly (meeting oncea month), or Executive Meetings, in whichmembership is recorded* and which report*In this book the term Monthly shall cover all types

of executive meetings which record membership and allreference to Quarterly Meetings shall apply to Half-YearlyMeetings.


76/140

68 MEETINGS FOR BUSINESS

to Quarterly (sitting four times a year) orHalf-Yearly Meetings [Monthly Meetingsmay be sub-divided into Preparative Meet-ings, comprising the members of a particularMeeting for Worship, and certain businessmay be referred to them if this course seemsbest adapted for effective work] ; second,Quarterly and Half-Yearly Meetings, con-sisting of one or more Monthly Meetings,which report to the Yearly Meeting (sittingannually) ; third, the Yearly Meeting, com-prising all the above Meetings.

The Establishment of Meetings( 1 ) A Preparative Meeting may be estab-

lished by a Monthly Meeting if sufficient rea-son seems to exist for so doing. A definitelist of Monthly Meeting members should beselected to assume the responsibility oforganizing the Preparative Meeting andreporting frequently to the Monthly Meet-ing.

(2) A Monthly Meeting may be estab-lished, either upon the initiative of theQuarterly Meeting, or by its concurrence ina request made by a group of persons desir-


77/140


78/140


their request before the Quarterly Meetingwith which they wish to be associated, and,if the request be approved, these membersmay proceed to select officers in accordancewith our Discipline. The Quarterly Meet-ing which approved the request is directedto appoint a committee to be present andassist, if necessary, in the organization ofthe new meeting. Each member of themeeting shall request his certificate of mem-bership from his Monthly Meeting to be for-warded to the newly appointed Clerk.

(c) If a group of persons, not Friendsnor resident in the neighborhood of anyFriends' Meeting, become interested in theprinciples of Friends and believe it wouldbenefit their religious life to be organized asa Friends' Meeting, and affiliated officiallywith the body, the following procedure isadvisedThey should lay their request before the

most convenient Quarterly Meeting foradvice and counsel. If this meeting, afterdue investigation, believes that it would besuitable for the group to be organized intoa Monthly Meeting, it should appoint a com-mittee to assist in forming an organization


79/140

MEETINGS FOR BUSINESS 71

according to our Discipline. After the offi-cers are chosen, the clerk shall record thenames of those desiring to be members. Itis advised that at this meeting suitable por-tions of the Discipline be read and that thenew members be admonished to study care-fully the Book of Discipline in order thatthey may be familiar with our regular pro-cedure.

(3) A Quarterly Meeting may be estab-lished either upon the initiative of the YearlyMeeting, or upon approval by this body ofa request from one or more Monthly Meet-ings, or from a Quarterly Meeting whichdesires to be divided into two QuarterlyMeetings. The Yearly Meeting, in eithercase, should appoint a committee to be pres-ent and assist if necessary in the organiza-tion.

(4) Friends are encouraged to hold Meet-ings for Worship whenever a sufficient num-ber of interested persons can be gatheredtogether for this purpose. If it seems desir-able regularly to hold Meetings for Worshipat places where no Meetings for Business areheld, they should be placed under the careof the most convenient Monthly Meeting


80/140


(or Meetings, if thought desirable, whenmore than one is represented in the group).Committees of oversight should be appointedby the Monthly Meeting (or Meetingsjointly), to assume such official duties as arenecessary for its orderly conduct and toreport its condition to the Monthly Meetingor Meetings. Meetings thus organized arecalled Indulged Meetings.

Discontinuance or MeetingsIf it becomes desirable, in the judgment

of the constituent members of any meeting,to discontinue it, or to unite with another,the request should be laid before the meet-ing to which it reports. The request shouldbe considered and, if approved, a committeeshould be appointed to assist in making nec-essary business arrangements, and in thecase of the closing of a Monthly Meeting, toarrange for the proper transfer of individ-ual memberships to another meeting. Infor-mation of such action should be forwardedpromptly through the proper channels to theYearly Meeting. For example:A Preparative Meeting should not be dis-continued, nor suspended, without first con-


81/140

MEETINGS FOR BUSINESS 73suiting the Monthly Meeting of which itforms a part; a Monthly Meeting should, inlike manner, obtain the approval of theQuarterly Meeting, and a Quarterly Meet-ing should refer a similar request to theYearly Meeting.For the proper disposition of meeting

property when a meeting is discontinued, seesection Reversion of Property, page 108.

General Business ProcedureThe Society of Friends believes that rightand satisfactory decision is dependent upon

full mutual understanding and agreement.Therefore it transacts its business by uniteddecision rather than by divisive majorityvote, striving to reach its conclusions in aspirit of reasonableness and forbearance.For the furtherance of this purpose the

method is as follows: When a matterrequiring decision is placed before the meet-ing, either by the clerk or any other mem-ber, time should be permitted for carefuland deliberate consideration. All memberswho feel concerned to express a judgmentor to present any helpful view-point should


82/140

74 MEETINGS EOR BUSINESS

be heard. When it appears to the clerk thatthe meeting has reached a judgment basedon mutual consideration of various views,he shall write a minute embodying theapparent decision of the meeting. He shallat once read the minute and ask whether ittruly represents the judgment of the meet-ing. When approved in its original, ormodified, form, it becomes a part of thepermanent record of the meeting, and shouldbe accepted by the members as final unlesscalled up for reconsideration. It is theprivilege of any member to offer a substitutefor the clerk's minute if he desires, and themeeting may concur in, modify, or reject it,in exactly the same manner as if the minutewere submitted by the clerk. In order toarrive at a decision when those present holddifferent views, members are cautioned toseek for Divine guidance, to exercise mutualforbearance and, having expressed theirviews, to refrain from unduly pressing themwhen the judgment of the meeting obviouslyinclines to some other view. When a meet-ing cannot unite upon a minute, the oldpolicy remains unchanged or the new busi-ness is not taken up as the case may be and


83/140

MEETINGS FOR BUSINESS 75

the subject is dropped for the time being toallow more careful deliberation. In ordernot to delay or obstruct the transaction ofbusiness, the clerk should make a minutewhen the meeting seems generally united.

This method of procedure has been sat-isfactorily followed by Friends since theorganization of the Society. It has its basisin a deep-seated conviction that religiousmen and women should come to decisions ina spirit of unity. It is more than a plan ofprocedure; it is an expression of somethingfundamental in the attitude of a Friend inmeeting other Friends in business relation-ship. Proven by experience to be both effect-ive and satisfactory, its use is commended toFriends both in conducting business meet-ings and in committee meetings.

The Monthly MeetingFunctions

The Monthly Meeting is the fundamentalworking unit of the Society. It receives andrecords members, extends spiritual care and,if necessary, material aid to its membership.It provides for the oversight of marriagesand funerals; for treating, in a spirit of


84/140

76 MEETINGS FOR BUSINESSrestoring love, with those who fail to live inaccordance with our principles and testimo-nies ; for removing names from the member-ship list, if this course seems necessary; forthe collection of funds required to carry onthe work of the meetings, and for holdingtitles to property and the suitable adminis-tration of trust funds. The concern of anymember for extending the work of the Soci-ety of Friends into any new field, or for tak-ing up specific work under the care of a par-ticular meeting, may be suitably introducedinto a Monthly Meeting. A Monthly Meet-ing is free to undertake any work and toassume any function consistent with - ourprofession, and not specifically referred tosome other meeting.The purpose of a Preparative Meeting

was originally to prepare and digest businessfor the Monthly Meeting. In some cases thisoriginal need still exists. It is advised that,as far as practicable, business be centered inthe Monthly Meeting.

Special sessions of the Monthly Meetingmay be called by the Committee of Over-seers.


85/140

meetings for business 77Organization

Each Monthly Meeting shall annuallyname a suitable person to serve the meetingas Clerk. The duty of the clerk shall be toconduct all business sessions of the meet-ing, to see that a full and correct record ofall proceedings is kept, and to carry out theinstructions of the meeting on all matterspertaining to the complete accomplishmentof its business.

Assistants to the clerk may be appointedif needed.A Treasurer shall be appointed to perform

the usual services expected of such an officer,and shall be governed by such rules as meet-ings think suitable for the safe and orderlyholding and disbursement of funds. He shallreport regularly to the meeting and hisaccounts shall be audited annually.

Each meeting shall annually provide forthe transmission, reception, and acknowledg-ment of communications sent from, or to,the meeting. This need may be met, eitherby naming the clerk as Correspondent, orby the appointment of a separate officer. Thenames of correspondents of each Monthly


86/140

78 MEETINGS FOR BUSINESSMeeting shall be forwarded annually withthe report to the Quarterly Meeting.One or more Recorders shall be appointed

to keep a record of membership and trans-fers thereof, births, marriages and deaths,according to the forms furnished by the Rep-resentative or Executive Committee of theYearly Meeting.Each meeting shall at regular intervals

appoint a Committee of Ministry and Coun-sel of not less than four suitable persons, anda Committee of Overseers of not less thanfour suitable persons, whose duties are out-lined on pages 88 f f. and 94 f f.

It may also appoint other standing com-mittees, each charged with particular serv-ice. All appointments should be for definiteterms and may be so arranged that only aportion of each committee need be appointedat one time.

All the persons appointed members of theCommittee of Ministry and Counsel by thevarious Monthly Meetings of each Quar-terly Meeting shall constitute the QuarterlyMeeting's Committee of Ministry and Coun-sel, which shall select its own clerk. In sim-ilar manner all the members of the several


87/140

MEETINGS FOR BUSINESS 79Quarterly Meetings of Ministry and Counselshall constitute the Yearly Meeting's Com-mittee of Ministry and Counsel, which shallalso select its own clerk.

MembershipThe Society of Friends desires to admitto its fellowship all persons who find

that its fundamentals meet their religiousneeds. Those inclined to join with us shouldreview carefully our entire Book of Disci-pline and try to gain a sympathetic under-standing of our mode of worship and ourmanner of transacting business.

Application for MembershipThose desiring to become members of theSociety of Friends should make application

to the Monthly Meeting through the Com-mittee of Overseers. The committee shouldmake such inquiry as may be deemed neces-sary, and hold serious conferences with theapplicant, in order that there may be fullmutual understanding and assurance of thewisdom of the proposed action. The Com-mittee of Overseers should, without unduedelay, report the application to the Monthly


88/140


89/140

MEETINGS FOR BUSINESS 81Removals

It is very desirable that a member livingbeyond the reasonable limits of his ownMonthly Meeting should have his member-ship recorded in a more conveniently locatedmeeting, in order that he may be able toassume the responsibility resting upon mem-bers. Failure to do so means a loss both tothe individual and to the meeting. A mem-ber moving his place of residence beyond thelimits of his Monthly Meeting is advised toapply thereto for a certificate transferringhis membership to the Monthly Meetingwithin whose limits he proposes to live.When a Monthly Meeting receives such arequest, careful inquiry should be made bythe Committee of Overseers to ascertain theconditions of his religious and temporalaffairs and if, on such inquiry, it seemsproper to do so, the requested certificate ofremoval should be issued by direction of themeeting and promptly forwarded throughthe correspondents to the Monthly Meetingaddressed. When such a certificate isreceived by a Monthly Meeting, it should bereferred to the Committee of Overseers,and unless upon inquiry sufficient objection


90/140

82 MEETINGS FOR BUSINESSappears, it should be accepted by the meet-ing and the Friend recorded as a member,Until this be done he shall remain a memberof the former meeting. It is advised thatMonthly Meetings should appoint one ormore Friends to visit any whose certificatesare thus received and to extend to them awelcome.

Responsibility of MembershipMembership implies obligation to bear

faithful testimony to the guiding principlesof the Society of Friends, to attend its Meet-ings for Worship and for Business, to giveservice through its committees and other-wise according to individual ability and thejudgment of the meeting, and to share in itsfinancial responsibilities. These obligationsrest equally upon birthright and convincedmembers. Those who

disciplines > philadelphia yearly meeting hicksite 1927

Documents