OF THE Pennsylvania Vearly Meeting OF PROGRESSIVE FRIENDS, HELD AT LONGWOOD, CHESTER COUNTY, 1873. "Serves best the Father he who most serves man, NEW YORK: BAKER & GODWIN, PRINTERS, No. 25 PARK Row. OLIVER JOHNSON, Christian Union Office, New York, CLERKS. RACHEL ANNA LAMBORN, West Chester, Pa., :> Minutes. THE TWENTY-FIRST YEARLY MEETING OF PROGRESSIVE FRIENDS convened at Longwood, Chester Co., Pa., on the 12th of Sixth month (June), 1873, at 10 Fifth day (Thursday), o'clock, A. M. MARGARET WATSON, one of the Clerks, read the call, as follows: THE PROGRESSIVE FRIENDS OF PENNSYLVANIA will hold their Twenty-first Yearly Meeting at Longwood (near Hamorton), Chester County, commencing on Fifth day (Thursday), the 12th of Sixth month (June), 1873, and continuing three days. With faith in the soundness and beauty of the principles of their organization, confirmed by twenty years of delightful experience, they affectionately invite to their Annual Assembly all those who seek for a bond of religious co-operation and fellowship, not in creeds and forms, but in those aspirations for progress and purity which God has implanted in every human breast, and who may desire to unite with them in their efforts to find for themselves and their fellow-men the way of truth and peace. The object of their meeting is not to indulge in theological speculations, nor to frame a creed for themselves or others; but, leaving each individual free to believe as he may or must in regard to what is unknown or mysterious, to inquire what needs to be done to lift mankind above all that is mean, selfish and degrading, and lead them to obey the law of God as revealed to their own minds and hearts, and beautifully illustrated in the life of Jesus of Nazareth. Differing widely from one another in many things, they yet seek to be of one mind and purpose in philanthropic and reformatory labors, in testifying against sin under all forms and disguises, and in efforts to usher in the happy day when the whole human race, in spite of all differences of nationality, temperament and creed, shall recognize their common relationship as children of the same Father, and be made one in a common love of truth, freedom and righteousness. The hymn, "Great God, the followers of thy Son," was sung, after which OLIVER JOHNSON made a brief introductory address, adverting to the history of the Society of Progressive Friends, its principles and aims, and claiming that the experience of the last twenty years had proved its great value as an agency of reform and progress. |