Guilford-Statewide-Randolph County NcArchives News.....Friends' Yearly Meeting 1893
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/nc/ncfiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Guy Potts http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00017.html#0004214 December 22, 2007, 8:53 pm

Daily Charlotte Observer 1893
16 Aug 1893

Friends' Yearly Meeting - The Event Coming To A Close

High Point, August 15 - Sunday was the day of all other days in the year for 
High Point. Yearly Meeting Sunday is looked forward to by all classes of 
people in this vicinity as a sort of holiday, a day on which everybody can see 
everybody's friends. The immense crowd present Sunday was fully as large as 
usual. The people came pouring in from all directions, by rail, in carriages, 
wagons, carts, on bicycles and on foot. The hotels were crowded all during the 
day and it is estimated that not less than 5,000 people were assembled on the 
Yearly Meeting House grounds by 11 o'clock. Only a small proportion of this 
number could hear any of the services held in the meeting house and under the 
large tent.

Services were held at 9 and 11 a.m. and at 3 and 8 p.m. All the prominent 
ministers mentioned in previsous reports took part in the various services and 
a number of very able sermons were preached during the day, a synopsis of 
which cannot be given here.

The hotels are to be commended for their courteous treatment of their large 
number of guests. Although a fine rain fell on Saturday evening, the streets 
were very dusty on yesterday.

Several ministers of other denominations were present.

Monday Morning's Session

The usual devotional meetings were held Monday morning, preceding the business 
meeting, which convened near 10 o'clock. The opening minute was read by the 
clerk. This was followed by the reading of a minute of advice from the 
committee on ministry and oversight. The report was favorably received and 
brought up the subject of attendance at Friends' meetings.

Cyrus W. Harvey, a minister who has no minute to this Yearly Meeting, gave 
some reasons why he thought North Carolina Friends did not attend their 
meetings better. He said they did not like the manner in which they were 
carried on oftentimes and that singing and emotional exercises kept those away 
who were opposed to such things.

Rufus P. King said he thought the friend was mistaken - that the non-
attendants referred to were the deadest members in the Yearly Meeting. They 
are not hungry - if they were they would eat.

Thomas E. Anderson thought that if adult members would "keep awake" better 
during the meetings they would revive and be of greater interest. This closed 
the discussion on the subject, which was out of order in the first place.

A report was read from the representatives, saying they had audited the 
accounts of Dr. J.J. Cox, treasurer of the Yearly Meeting, and had found them 
correct. The report showed that the Yearly Meeting had expended something over 
$1,500 during the year and that $470 remained on hand. Several of the quarters 
were reported to be in debt to the Yearly Meeting. This statement brought up a 
discussion on debt-collecting money, etc.

E.P. Parker said these debts could easily be paid if the right steps be taken. 
He showed that it cost less to be a member of the Society of Friends than any 
other denomination in the world. Eliminating women, and children under 21 
years of age, it should only cost each man 21 cents per year to supply the 
Yearly Meeting with requisite funds.

Joseph Potts said debt, except under peculiar circumstances, was a disgrace, 
and urged that steps be taken immediately to free the different quarters from 
debt. About three quarters are already out of debt.

The report on the committee on peace was read, showing that $50 had been 
expended in the work during the year.

The annual report of the Peace Association was also read and was full of 
encouragement.

It is a fact that the Friends are at present, and always have been, since 
their organization as a religious body, the greatest peace agitators in the 
world.

Rev. R.P. Troy, a prominent minister of the North Carolina Conference, was 
present and expressed a desire to say a few words and the liberty was heartily 
extended. Among other things, he said, "I have for many years had a desire to 
attend Friends' Meeting. This year I have had the pleasure and before bidding 
you farewell, I wished to say that there is not a man in the State, outside 
your Society, that thinks as much of the Friends as I do. It sometimes puzzles 
me to know whether I am a Methodist or a Quaker. I am certainly united with 
you on the subject of peace. I go away from you a better man."

These appreciative remarks were followed by a report of the committee on 
Indian affairs. The Friends have always shown an intense interest in the 
welfare of the "red man." An appropriation was made for the work during the 
coming year.


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/guilford/newspapers/friendsy156gnw.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ncfiles/

File size: 5.3 Kb