Friends hold their meetings for worship unplanned; with no constant jumping up to do this or sitting down to do that; in a plain room without distracting influences, trying to find in a silent communion, enfolded by His presence, the spiritual guidance they seek. And so I find it well to come For deeper rest to this still room, For here the habit of the soul Feels less the outer world’s control; The strength of mutual purpose pleads More earnestly our common needs, And in the silence multiplied By these still forms on either side, The world that time and space have known Falls off and leaves us God alone. _Whittier._ Sources other than acknowledged in the text: Henry B. Taylor, Howell S. Brown, Mabel N. Lybolt, L. H. Taylor, for minutes, notes, articles, manuscripts, and consultation; _Landmarks of Old Prince William_; Briscoe Goodhart, _The Loudoun Rangers_; James Head, _The History of Loudoun County_; Loudoun Historical Society _Bulletin_, 1958; Samuel M. Janney, _Memoirs and History of Friends_; Hopewell Friends, _History of Hopewell Friends Meeting_; Hinshaw, _Quaker Genealogy_; Frederick Gutheim, _The Potomac_, from “Rivers of America” series. The Uses of History A Lecture Delivered Before Members of the Society, January 15, 1965 By Col. Trevor N. Dupuy At the outset I should make clear that I have no credentials in historiography. In fact I do not have even have the so-called Union Card for the professional academic historian—a Ph. D. degree—but I do believe that I have enough practical experience in the writing of history, and in teaching it at three universities, to warrant having some thoughts on the nature of history, and of its uses. And I have another reason, as well, as you will see. Let me start by explaining how I intend to treat this important topic: The uses of history. First I shall give you my interpretation of what the _nature_ of history is. Next I will offer some very _general_ thoughts on the _uses_ of history. Then I would like to make one or two comments on how I visualize history being currently useful for Loudoun County. Finally, I shall tell you a little bit about my own day-to-day involvement in several very specific uses of history.