Another valid reason for not ris mences immediately on kneeling, much is lost before quiet is restored, and frequently the hearer in endeavoring to make the connection loses much of the spiritual food that is dispensed. The same disturbing element comes in frequently toward the conclusion of a prayer, when it is evident that the suppliant is about closing, many of the congregation commence sitting down and thus again disturb the meeting. reason, why a form so disturbing should be continued. The solemn ing, is that when the suppliant comand simple mode of worship in the society of Friend, should be conducted free from forms, without there is some real advantages to result from an observance of them. The writer of this, has painfully witnessed the unbecoming and irreverant attitude of many of the congregation when standing-some turning round and partly resting on the back of the seat, others with a foot on the seat, frequent changes of position, &c., all tending to unsettle and disturb the solemnity of the meeting. Many in- During the last two years the wriconsiderate ones, seem at those sol- ter has conversed with a large numemn seasons to take the opportuni- ber of ministers from our own and ty to look about the house, which is other yearly meetings and with a sinstrikingly irreverant and unbecom- gle exception, they were of the opining. If the supplication is lengthy, ion that an advantage would result many sit down before its conclusion. from the congregation remaining The advice of Robert Barclay might quietly in their seats during supplicabe followed with great benefit when tion, with heads reverently bowed he recommends, "that the attitude of before the Lord. the congregation should nearly correspond with that of the supplicant." This can be attained by the congregation uncovering the head and inclining it forward, so as to shut out eyerything of an outward nature, and then endeavoring in this quiet, devotional position, to receive the spiritual offering of the minister. Many have deeply felt that a great loss is sustained by our practice in this respect. At the close of a solemn supplication when all should be bowed in secret prayer, that the words spoken might be sealed upon every heart—at this very moment when all should be hushed into silence, the devotional feelings are disturbed, and in many minds dissipated by the noise and THE following minute, setting forth confusion attending the sitting down. the early action of the North Carolina At a recent quarterly meeting where Yearly Meeting on the subject of there was a remarkable outpouring slavery, will perhaps be interesting of the spirit, where prayers were fre- to many of our readers: quent, a minister from another year- "At Čane Creek Monthly Meeting, ly meeting finally suggested that held 1st month 4th, 1777, the followFriends had better keep their seats, which they did, and thus the solemnity of the occasion was preserved. Where the suppliant is in the body of the house the voice is confined by those standing around him and thus indistinctly heard. Where ministers have appointed meetings in families, in schools, in public institutions, &c., the practice of rising has generally been discarded; and, for the reasons briefly given it seems to the writer, that great benefit would result from a uniform practice upon the subject under notice, and that the congregation should remain quietly seated with heads reverently bowed under the offerings that may from time to time be made in the name of Jesus. POUGHKEEPSIE, N. Y. F. EARLY ACTION OF NORTH CAROLINA YEARLY MEETING ON SLAVERY. ing minute was received from the Yearly Meeting held at Old Neck, in Perquimans county, N. C., by adjournments from the 25th of 12th month, to the 29th of the same, inclusive, 1776. The meeting took under solid consideration the report of the committee appointed to consider the slave to any person who makes a matter brought up in the reports from practice of buying and selling for Eastern Quarterly Meeting respect- the sake of gain." Again, "in 1775 ing buying and selling slaves. After the Western Quarter desired the a time of weighty, deliberate conference on the subject, and feeling persuasion that keeping our fellow men in bondage is inconsistent with the law of righteousness, in which Divine goodness was felt to be near. and by the seasoning power thereof several were enabled very affectionately to express their sentiments, and to declare their willingness and resolution to set all their negroes fully free; it was the unanimous sense of the meeting that all the members thereof who hold slaves, be earnestly and affectionately desired to clear their hands of them as soon as they possibly can. And in the meantime, that none of the members of this meeting shall be permitted to buy, sell or clandestinely assign for hire any, in such manner as may perpetuate or prolong their slavery. The Monthly Meeting to which they belong, after due laboring with them, if they refuse to take such steps as their friends may think necessary, and condemn their conduct to the satisfaction of the meeting, shall testify against them as in other offences against the Church." Yearly Meeting to revise the query respecting slavery, and to make such alterations therein as would relieve some distressed minds," which resulted in its being ordered "that Friends in unity shall neither buy or sell a negro without the consent of the Monthly Meeting to which they belong." Next year the Eastern Quarter finding this order too difficult for them to manage, submitted it again for advice and assistance. A committee of 31 was appointed to consid-er thereon, and the result was the adoption of the above minute. E. J. For the "American Friend." In looking over the report of the Committee on First-day schools, as given in the minutes of our last Yearly meeting, I find several meetings reporting no misionary labors. A number of questions come up as to the cause of this. Is it because there is no field of labor, no place · where the missionary may engage JOSIAH WHITE, himself? Surely not. In every land Clerk this year. the fields are white unto harvest; in Since the above was put in type I every place there are evils to overhave received a very interesting nar- come, and souls to turn unto God;. rative of some of the proceedings of and can it be possible that there is a N. C. Yearly Meetings on the subject single community of Friends where of slavery within its own limits, there are no endeavors made to save published by order of the Meeting the sinner? It is very much to be for Sufferings in 1848. From this it feared that it is the tendency of too appears that the first distinct action, large a portion of our Society to live on that subject, was in 1740 in regard in an idle condition in reference to to "using negroes well." In 1768 the such kind of labor. When we resubject of buying and selling slaves member that our profession to the was brought before the Meeting by world is much more than that of any the Western Quarter, which resulted other Society, we think in order for in 1770, in the adoption of a query on us to aprear consistent, our labors the subject, and two years later it should be so marked. We, as a Sowas agreed "that no Friend should ciety, have not been, and are not at buy a slave of any other person than the present time aggressive enough a Friend in unity, except it be to pre- in our labors. Since we believe that vent the parting of man and wife, or we are nearest the truth, why do we parent and child, or for other good not use all our strength to draw the reason approved by the Monthly unprofessing world to ourselves. Meetings; and that none shall sell a One thing is true, we must go to them and all others in this country, interested in the Society of Friends. They will find many questions of vital importance to us as a people, ably discussed in its columns. Perhaps the following extract from the opening remarks, page five, will sufficiently indicate the high purpose of this periodical. After commending the active part that Friends in Great Britain have taken in the philanthropic movements of that country, the editor says: "Valuable and notable as the service of the Friends has been in most of the philanthropic schemes of this country, we cannot believe that the high level of Christain evangelization on which our forefathers stood is We have received the 4th and 5th Nos. of the 4th vol. of the "Theological Electic," a Repertory chiefly of Foreign Theological Literature, edited by George E. Day, D. D., of Yale destined to finish it career in the Theological Seminary, assisted by comparatively low level of popular six others, amongst whom we may philanthropy. We arose as a relig mention Drs. Schaff and McClintock, and published bi-monthly at Cincinnati, Ohio, by Moore, Wilstach & Baldwin. The contents of the fourth No. for January and February are 1. The Orthodox Doctrine of the person of Christ; 2. Scottish Presbyterianism as it is: 3. Ecce Homo; 4. The Moral View of the Atonement. The fifth No. for March and April, contains the following articles: 1. Rev. F. W. Robertson-what Gospel did he preach? 2. The Military Metaphors of St. Paul; 3. Spurgeon as a Preacher; 4. Origin and Significance of Bible names; 5. Luther's Theology. FRIEND'S EXAMINER.-A religious, social and miscellaneous review. No. 1 first month, 1867, London. A. W. Bennett, price seventy-five cents. A few copies for sale at this office. We are highly pleased with the character and the able articles of this Review, and hope the plan proposed of making it a Quarterly instead of a Semi-annual periodical, will be adopted. The wants it proposes to meet are so similar to those felt by us to be of the first importance that we most cordially welcome it as a co-laborer, and feel that we cannot too highly recommend it to the attention and support of our readers, ious, not as a philanthropic society, and if we would be true to our vocation, the lower must be kept in subjection to the higher. "It is not rea son that we should leave the word of God and serve tables," but rather that in the days of old, we should “give ourselves more continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word." Such was our origin; such our first works; and if we would again display the fresh vigor of youth, such must be the secret wherein strength lies. Without this we shall, like Sampson, be grievously shorn of our strength, and be weak as others; but with it, neither green withs nor new-spun cords can bind us, or check our purposes." Our WE take pleasure in calling atten tion to the following papers, the representatives of our society in different localities. We return our thanks for their notices of us, many of which have been highly gratifying and encouraging. THE FRIEND-A religious, literary and miscellaneous Journal, published at London, and giving considerable latitude to the discussion of 'open questions', now in its seventh volume. THE BRITISH FRIEND-A monthly Journal chiefly devoted to the inter ests of the Society of Friends, published at Glasgow, Scotland, and now in its twenty-fifth volume. THE FRIEND-A weekly religious and literary Journal of eight quarto pages, now in its 40th volume, published at Philadelphia, at $2 50 per annum. This is regarded as the conservative organ of Friends in America. THE FRIEND'S REVIEW--A religious, literary and miscellaneous Journal, published weekly at Philadelphia, by Alice Lewis, at $2 50 per annum, sixteen pages large octavo, and now in it's 20th volume. We are much pleased at the fresh life manifested by this valuable paper. copies of the Annual Moniter for 1866 and 1867, the latter just published. Price for 1866, 25cts., 1867, 50cts. They may be obtained by addressing M. E. Shearman Actuary, 501 Cherry street, Philadelphia, enclosing price and Scts. each additional for postage. BOOKS RECEIVED and to be noticed in a future number. From Charles Scribner & Co., New York, Day's Elements of Logic; Perry's Elements of Political Economy, De Vere's Studies in English. From Roberts Bros., Boston. Ecce Deus. H. B. Fuller & Co., Boston, "Thoughts selected from the writings of Horace Mann." For sale by Nicholson & Bro., Richmond, Ind. SPURGEON'S LECTURE ON GEORGE Fox has been reprinted by Henry Longstreth, of Philadelphia, and can be had at the book and tract deposLIFE INSURANCE.--We call attention itory Richmond, Ind. H. Longstreth to the advertisement of the Mutual also publishes THE OLD BANNER ES- Life Insurance Company, of this city, SAYS, both separately and in a bound in another column. It has been in volume. This series consists of four- existence nearly an entire generation, teen essays written during the last and is the oldest and largest Mutual three years on various subjects by Life Insurance Company in the coundifferent Friends in England. We try. commend them to the careful perusal of our readers. Also. THE SURE FOUNDATION, by Wm. C. Westlake of England. a pamphlet reprinted by the same publisher. WOODBURN GRANGE, by Wm. Howitt, 12 mo. pp. 400. Published by T. B. Peterson & Bros., Philadelphia. This seems to be a pleasant tale of English life in which many phases of it are described. It is an attrac tive, readable book, well printed and got up in good style, and the popularity of its author will doubtless give it a large circle of readers. fairs will find thousands of interested The statement of the Company's afhamlet in the Northern, Western and readers. In every city, town, and Middle States policy-holders--copartners in this great corporation-will be gratified by a report so remarkable and so satisfactory. ceed nineteen millions of dollars, of The assets of this company now exwhich over two millions and threequarters is a surplus fund, to be divided among its policy-holders.When such immense and sacred interests are at stake, the manner in THE SABBATH AT HOME.-An illus- which large sums are invested betrated religious Magazine for the comes a matter of the first importfamily, published by the American ance. The list of securities held by Tract Society, No. 28, Cornhill, Bos- the company may safely challenge ton, at $200 per anumn. Volume criticism. During the past year new 1st, Nos. 1, 2 and 3. This is a very risks have been assumed on 15,672 interesting, beautifully printed lives for nearly $55,000,000, and the monthly of 64 pages. For sale by cash receipts have been over $6,000,book sellers generally. 000. This is a larger business than THE ANNUAL MONITOR. The was ever done in a single year by any Friends' Freedmen Association of life company in this country or in EuPhiladelphia, have for sale a lot of rope.-N. Y. Independent. Paid in Liquidation of Future Commissions.. 455,606 78 Exchange, Postage, Advertising, Taxes & Medical Examin'rs.. 137,707 46 Salaries and Legal Expenses.. 98,538 11 Printing and Stationery, and sundry Office Expenses. 84,088 42 Office Rent for Real Estate Sinking Fund... Profit and Loss..... 20,000 00 49 98 $2,690,088 76 |