REPORT. 1902. SIXTH-DAY; MORNING SESSION. The meeting opened with singing by the congregation, of the hymn: "O, Life that maketh all things new." The Presiding Clerk, FREDERIC A. HINCKLEY, after welcoming those assembled, remarked: I remember many years ago near the close of the anti-Slavery struggle-sitting in a large audience listening to Wendell Phillips. His speech made us, the young people then, feel that we had been born too late; that the heroic work for humanity had been accomplished; that those of us who had come upon the stage near the end of that struggle, were left with nothing of the heroic to do. Looking back, we see this was a mistake. The antiSlavery work, vital as it was, was only one phase of a grand, world movement leading toward a realization of the brotherhood of man. Year after year we are learning that human reformation, the uplifting of mankind, is never done. Humanity, from its earliest history, has been meeting obstacles and climbing through them. We who are absorbed along one line of effort make a great mistake if we suppose all will be accomplished in the realization of our particular purpose. In this day also are questions hard to deal with, some of them more intricate, perhaps, than was that of Chattel Slavery. It has been demonstrated that the one great power in the solution of all social and economic questions is agitation. The agitator creates public opinion; which must be done before the practical man to come,-the Executive-can crystalize the sentiment so created, bringing the work to final completion. As soon as we have settled one problem another, and per haps a larger and more difficult one, arises for us to solve. We have now awaiting solution a most difficult one, if we would keep time to the ideals of our fathers. It is :-"What shall be our course in treating with those for whom we have recently made ourselves responsible; the people of the Philippine Islands?" To this question the term "burning" may be most aptly applied. The Labor Question, too, stands as threateningly as did that of Chattel Slavery. It involves issues more intricate and that requires more delicate handling than did the Slavery question. The Liquor Problem too, is, yet as ever, awaiting solution. And so, this is not a time for the heroic element in us to become dormant. There is to-day as grave a need of careful study of the situation, and as urgent a demand for heroism in standing up to our convictions as ever there was. Of all the places I know, outside the New England "townmeeting," Longwood stands most for this agitation, this searching after truth. Our attitude in coming here is that of seekers after the truth. We are trying to discover what and where is truth. And we have a tremendous advantage in not being hampered with other and lesser considerations. It seems to me that with such a life-purpose Longwood can never say its work is done. The Call of Longwood is, to agitation, to the study of human progress, and the application of moral principles to the solution of our problems. We are not administering to a dead past, but considering the live issues of the present. In one thing our hearts are made sorrowful every year as we come together, in missing the presence of some of those whose faces we have been accustomed to see amongst Therefore, is it the more incumbent upon us to diligently do the work of our day, earnestly and faithfully, with a heroism as devoted as that of our predecessors. us. BUSINESS. The Recording Secretary read the minutes of the last Yearly Meeting, which being approved were adopted. CATHARINE HANNUM, THEODORE PENNOCK and MAUD DAVIS were appointed to nominate officers for the ensuing year and to audit the Treasurer's account. The Business Committee, according to custom, was composed of the Clerks and Treasurer of the Yearly Meeting, exofficio, of all the invited speakers in attendance, and others nominated by the meeting, as follows: FREDERIC A. HINCKLEY, ELIZABETH B. PASSMORE, Aaron Mendenhall, HERBERT WELSH, ANNA H. SHAW, JOHN S. DURHAM, EDWIN D. MEAD, EDITH PENNOCK, CATHARINE Hannum, ELIZABETH C. HINCKLEY, GEORGE MARTIN CLOUD, M. LOUISA PENNOCK, SALLIE P. MARSHALL and WILLIAM WEBSTER. CATHARINE HANNUM was reappointed on the Memorial Committee and EDITH PENNOCK served for the time, in place of HENRY S. KENT, Chairman of the Committee, who was unavoidably absent from the meeting. In view of the fact that in 1903 will come the fiftieth anniversary of the inauguration of the Pennsylvania Yearly Meeting of Progressive Friends it is deemed appropriate to celebrate that event with such fitting observance as shall worthily emphasize and advance the principles and ideals upon which the Association is founded. Therefore, G. MARTIN CLOUD, CathARINE HANNUM and EDITH PENNOCK, members of the present Representative Committee, were appointed to make selection of persons properly qualified to co-operate with the Representative Committee in making suitable preparation for the occasion, and to report such names to the meeting at a later session. The time alloted to each session was voted upon, and the ten minute rule adopted for all speakers except the invited guests. MEMORIALS. The following Memorials were read and by unanimous consent accepted for publication with the proceedings of the Yearly Meeting. JOHN DARLINGTON. "Mark the perfect man and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace." |