1888. FIFTH-DAY MORNING. The Thirty-sixth Yearly Meeting of Progressive Friends convened in the Meeting-house at Longwood, Chester County, Penna., on Fifth-day, the 7th of Sixth Month, 1888, at 10.30 o'clock, a. m. The Meeting opened with singing by MISSES TURNER and LAW, after which the Call was read by the Recording Clerk as follows: The Thirty-sixth Yearly Meeting of Progressive Friends will be held at Longwood, Penna., near Rosedale Station, on the Philadelphia and Baltimore Central R. R., on Fifth, Sixth and Seventh-days, the 7th, 8th and 9th of sixth-month, (June), 1888. Following the worthy example of the noble men and women who have made Longwood historic ground, the seekers for "Sweetness and Light," are again summoned to take counsel together, concerning deep and vital themes of life. In the love of Truth and the enthusiasm of Humanity, all are cordially invited to attend and take part in the discussions. For the Meeting, FREDERIC A. HINCKLEY, Clerks. The Presiding Clerk, FREDERIC A. HINCKLEY then made a brief address of welcome. We meet, he said, under conditions very different from those which summon many bodies of thoughtful people together for the consideration of great themes. We have no cast-iron organization, we have no set of principles to which all must subscribe before they can take part in our deliberations. Our chief object in coming here is not to find that we are all agreed, but to learn from each other the latest thoughts which have come to our innermost consciousness, and to increase the spirit of a broad and universal fellowship. It is not intellectual but moral agreement which is vital; that is the unity in variety which it is our purpose to seek. Not therefore in the name of any creed or system, but in the name of the manhood of the men, the womanhood of the women, and the humanity of us all, we dedicate the coming hours to the discovery of Truth, to the cultivation of the sense of Beauty, and to the promotion of the spirit of Love. On motion of Henry S. Kent a Business Committee consisting of the following persons were appointed by the meeting: HENRY S. KENT, Chairman; ABBY MORTON DIAZ, LEWIS MARSHALL, ELMA PRESTON, MANGASAR MANGASARIAN, WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON, FRANCES FISHER WOOD, MRS. HAMMER, BENJAMIN P. KIRK, T. P. GALVIN, and the Clerks ex-Officio. On motion of Henry S. Kent all speeches were limited to ten minutes on any one subject except the opening addresses of the invited guests. On motion of Mary Ivins the Presiding Clerk was instructed to appoint a committee on Memorials whose business it shall be to make mention of those who have passed away. It was also voted to refer all Memorials to this Committee. The Presiding Clerk said that he would announce the committee later. The Chairman of the Committee on Nominations made the following report: For Clerks for the ensuing year, FREDERIC A. HINCKLEY, MARY M. BAILY. For Treasurer for the ensuing year, AARON MENDENHALL. On motion the report was adopted. The Presiding Clerk announced as committee on Memorials: MARY T. IVINS, FRED. M. PENNOCK, SALLIE T. MARSHALL. On motion of Fred M. Pennock the time of holding the sessions of the meeting was fixed as follows: Morning sessions from 10 to 12, afternoon sessions from 2 to 4. On motion of Mary T. Ivins the following Finance Committee was appointed: SARAH CHAMBERS, Chairman, SALLIE C. TAYLOR, ALICE MARSHALL, WILLIAM DAVIS. After singing by the congregation the usual noon recess was taken. FIFTH-DAY AFTERNOON. The session opened with singing by Miss LAW. The Presiding Clerk said :-The evolution hypothesis has revolutionized human philosophy both as concerns theoretical questions and practical questions. We have with us this afternoon a disciple of evolution who has studied the subject deeply and who is to speak to us on "Scientific Charity." I have the pleasure of introducing to you Mrs. Frances Fisher Wood of New York City. SCIENTIFIC CHARITY. MRS. WOOD said:-An eminent English philanthropist has declared that "every shilling which is bestowed upon the poor contains eight pence of harm and four pence of good." Another declares the object of all his Christian endeavor to be the abolishment of all benevolent societies and eleemosynary institutions. Everywhere the methods of our charity work are passing under the tribunal of an enlightened public opinion, and adverse criticism manifestly predominates. Indeed, our present irrational system of applying to ills we do not comprehend remedies whose action we do not understand is on a par with that old time principle of medicine an apt illustration of which was given me by an eye witness. It happened not fifty years ago that one of the laborers on the threshing floor of an English farm became entangled in the machinery and was so badly cut that before medical assistance could be secured. the man was already unconscious from loss of blood. When the expected doctor presently arrived he immediately went to work to resuscitate the man by bleeding him. Sɔ, we have attempted to abate pauperism to-day by means that augment pauperism for to-morrow, and have banished crime by methods that do but multiply criminals for the next generation. The wide-spread disposition of popular ridicule has not, however, been directed at the really weak point, and has for that reason, so far been inefficacious to induce reform. The volley of criticism that should be aimed at methods judged by results has wasted itself in attacking motives. When we strike at motives we never hit any one man but always that man's neighbors. We cannot, it is true, entirely ignore the prevalence of selfishness and we are forced often to doubt the motives of the fine lady who dispenses gifts, not less than the worthiness of the poor woman who receives them. We cannot shut our eyes to the fact that the costumes at a charity fair usually cost more than the whole sum realized. That which is contributed for self exhibition could not be obtained for the same cause, however good, if solicited directly. We know that those charities that are duly published in the daily press can command the largest contributions; that the churches that are most thronged are those, which for the moment, are counted most fashionable; that charity organizations are more popular in proportion as they become conventional machines for social elevation. As a lady said to me "You really ought to interest yourself in this work. You don't know how many of the members of the association have called upon me since I took it up." Instances of fraud perpetrated by those who thereby aim to obtain assistance are so common we need not consume time to multiply examples. Indeed, who would not be glad to forget a part already settled rather than to be reminded of more. But cases of imposition, though they were in number like the sands of the sea, can in no measure weaken the claims of the worthy poor on our sympathies. The petty motives of some few who engage in charity for personal aggrandizement is quite apart from our question of personal responsibility in the matter. Indeed, those elements which commonly invite ridicule and generate discord cannot justly be counted among those mistakes which have been committed in charity's name. They must rather be recognized as errors common to all organizations where a personal equation is the powerful factor, which cannot be entirely eliminated even under the inspiration of the noblest enterprises. But lurking in the problem there is an element more foul than any fraud, more disheartening than the exhibition of the |