PROCEEDINGS OF THE Pennsylvania Pearly Meeting OF PROGRESSIVE FRIENDS, HELD AT LONGWOOD, CHESTER COUNTY, 1 8 6 5. "Serves best the Father he who most serves man, NEW YORK: JOHN F. TROW, PRINTER, 50 GREENE STREET. 1865. OLIVER JOHNSON, 5 Beekman St., New York, Clerks. ISAAC MENDENHALL, Treasurer, Hamorton, Chester Co., Pa. Minntes. THE THIRTEENTH YEARLY MEETING OF THE RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF PROGRESSIVE FRIENDS assembled at Longwood, Chester Co., Pa., on Fifth day, the 8th of Sixth month, 1865, at 11 o'clock A. M. OLIVER JOHNSON, one of the Clerks, read the call of the meeting, as follows: THE THIRTEENTH Yearly Meeting of Progressive Friends will be held at Longwood (near Hamorton), Chester Co., Pa., commencing at 11 o'clock a. M. on Fifth day (Thursday), the 8th of Sixth month (June), 1865, and continuing probably, three days. To this meeting, as usual, are invited all persons who feel attracted to a Religious Society which sets up no theological condition of membership, and neither demands nor expects uniformity of doctrinal belief; which has no ritual, discipline, or priesthood; which recognizes a Divine revelation in the unperverted instincts of the human soul, and the duty of every one to keep his mind and heart open at all times to receive the truth and follow its guidance; and which finds its bond of union in a common recognition of the brotherhood of the human race, and a common desire and purpose to labor diligently for the uprooting of every system of injustice, fraud, and oppression, and the upbuilding of the kingdom of righteousness and peace throughout the world. The wonderful history of our beloved country during the past year, as seen in the complete overthrow of the rebellion, the sentence of utter extermination pronounced against slavery by the Government and the People, the dawn of peace, after four years of retributive and bloody war, and the prospect of a speedy re-union of the States upon the principles enunciated by our fathers in the Declaration of Independence, will furnish cause for grateful exultation, and at the same time afford encouragement to do our share in the work of national reconstruction and regeneration. After a few introductory remarks by OLIVER JOHNSON, the hymn, "One hand that is warm, one heart that is true," was sung by JOSHUA HUTCHINSON. WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON then addressed the meeting in a very impressive manner, and at considerable length. After referring to the mighty change in the condition of the country since the meeting of this body last year, as seen in the overthrow of slavery, the suppression of the rebellion, and the dawn of peace, he introduced obituaries of THOMAS WHITSON and JENNIE KNIGHT SMITH, and paid a fitting tribute to their moral, social, and intellectual worth. In closing he read the following lines: THERE IS NO DEATH. There is no death! The stars go down And bright in Heaven's jeweled crown There is no death! The dust we tread Shall change beneath the summer showers To golden grain or mellow fruit, Or rainbow-tinted flowers. The granite rocks disorganize To feed the hungry moss they bear; The forest leaves drink daily life There is no death! The leaves may fall, There is no death! An angel form He bears our best loved things away, He leaves our hearts all desolate He plucks our fairest, sweetest flowers; The bird-like voice, whose joyous tones Amid the tree of life. And where he sees a smile too bright, Born into that undying life, They leave us but to come again; With joy they welcome them-the same, And ever near us, though unseen, The dear immortal spirits tread; Is life-there are no dead. JOSHUA HUTCHINSON then, in a very touching and impressive manner, sang the song "It is well." The obituaries were then unanimously adopted. A letter was read from ALFRED H. Love, who, at the last moment, to his deep regret, found himself unable to attend the meeting. His words of earnest counsel and fraternal sympathy were welcome to his fellow laborers in the cause of Freedom and Progress. The following persons were appointed a Committee to settle with the Treasurer, and to nominate a Treasurer and Clerks for the ensuing year: EUSEBIUS BARNARD, CHANDLER DARLINGTON, ALICE ELIZA HAMBLETON, DINAH MENDENHALL, ALLEN AGNEW. The following persons were appointed a Committee to prepare Testimonies for the consideration of the meeting: WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON, THOMAS MCCLINTOCK, CHARLES G. AMES, FRANCES D. GAGE, OLIVER JOHNSON, ELIZABETH JACKSON, ELLEN SMITH, MARY C. WILSON. AFTERNOON SESSION. The Treasurer's Report was presented and accepted. Receipts, including balance on hand last year, $136 49; expenditures, $99 01; balance in the Treasury, $37 48. The Committee appointed to nominate Clerks and Treasurer for the year ensuing made the following nominations: For Clerks, OLIVER JOHNSON and ANNIE M. STAMBACH; for Treasurer, ISAAC MENDENHALL; and these nominations were confirmed. The same Committee suggested the appointment of a Chairman, naming WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON for the place, and he was appointed accordingly. |