A Portraiture of Quakerism, Volume 1: Taken from a View of the Education and Discipline, Social Manners, Civil and Political Economy, Religious Principles and Character, of the Society of FriendsClarkson, Thomas
Religion
A Portraiture of Quakerism, Volume 1: Taken from a View of the Education and Discipline, Social Manners, Civil and Political Economy, Religious Principles and Character, of the Society of Friends
Clarkson, Thomas
Society of Friends
The clerk of the quarterly meeting, when they come to this part of the
business, reads the first of the appointed queries to the members
present, and is then silent. Soon after this a deputy from one of the
monthly meetings comes forward, and producing the written documents, or
answers to the queries, all of which were prepared at the meeting where
he was chosen, reads that document, which contains a reply to the first
query in behalf of the meeting he represents. A deputy from a second
monthly meeting then comes forward, and produces his written documents
also, and answers the same query in behalf of his own meeting in the
same manner. A deputy from a third where there are more than two
meetings then produces his documents in his turn, and replies to it
also, and this mode is observed, till all the deputies from each of the
monthly meetings in the county have answered the first query.
When the first query has been thus fully answered, silence is observed
through the whole court. Members present have now an opportunity of
making any observations they may think proper. If it should appear by
any of the answers to the first query, that there is any departure from
principles on the subject it contains in any of the monthly meetings
which the deputies represent, it is noticed by any one present. The
observations made by one frequently give rise to observations from
another. Advice is sometimes ordered to be given, adapted to the nature
of this departure from principles; and this advice is occasionally
circulated, through the medium of the different monthly meetings, to the
particular congregation, where the deviation has taken place.
When the first query has been thus read by the clerk, and answered by
the deputies, and when observations have been made upon it, and
instructions given as now described, a second query is read audibly, and
the same process takes place, and similar observations are sometimes
made, and instructions given.
In the same manner a third query is read by the clerk, and answered by
all the deputies, and observed upon by the meeting at large; and so on a
fourth, and a fifth, till all the queries, set apart for the day are
answered.
It may be proper now to observe, that while the men in their own
meeting-house are thus transacting the quarterly business for
themselves, the women, in a different apartment or meeting-house, are
conducting it also for their own sex. They read, answer, and observe
upon, the queries in the same manner. When they nave settled their own
business, they send one or two of their members, as they did in the case
of the monthly meeting, to the apartment of the men, to know if they
have any thing to communicate to them. When the business is finished in
both meetings, they break up, and prepare for their respective homes.
CHAP. IV.
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