Continuing to post the nineteenth-century Discipline in
installments:
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                           ARBITRATIONS

     IF occasions of differences arise between any of our members
about their property, it is recommended that the parties proceed
in the following manner:

     Let the party who thinks him or herself aggrieved, calmly
and kindly request the other to comply with the demand; and, if
this be disputed, the complainant, or if he or she lives at too
great a distance, some Friend whom they may authorise, should
take with him one or two of the overseers, or other discreet
Friends, and in their presence repeat the demand.

     If this step also fails of the desired effect, the parties
should be advised to choose a suitable number of Friends as ar-
bitrators, and mutually engage by bond, or other written instru-
ment adapted to the occasion, to abide by their determination.

     Should this proposal be acceeded to, and arbitrators accord-
ingly chosen; they ought, as speedily as circumstances will
admit, to appoint time and place, and attend to the business
without unnecessary delay; giving the parties a fair and full
hearing in the presence of each other, but listening to neither
of them apart, nor suffering their own sentiments to be known
abroad till they have fully digested the subject, and come to a
clear decision, which they should be careful to do within the
time agreed on.

     But, if either of the said parties shall refuse to submit
the matter in dispute to arbitrators; or, when that is done,
neglect to give his or her attendance when desired, without a
sufficient reason being assigned; or not abide by their award
when issued; in either of those cases, the offender should be
complained of to the monthly meeting of which he or she is a
member; and if they cannot be brought to a sense of their error,
the said meeting should declare its disunion with them, unless
such person make it evident to the satisfaction of the said
meeting that the award is erroneous or unjust.  In which case the
matter in dispute may be referred either to the same, or other
arbitrators as the meeting shall judge best; and their award
shall be final.  After which if either of the parties at vari-
ance, prove so regardless of peace and unity as not to acquiesce
in such corrected determination, the monthly meeting they belong
to should proceed to issue a testimony against him or her so
refusing.

     Where arbitrators are at a loss for want of legal knowledge,
it may be proper for them, at the joint expense of the parties to
take the opinion of counsel learned in the law, in order to come
at a proper judgment in the matter referred to them.  And that
they may the better answer the end of their appointment, and be
helpful in conciliating the minds of the parties, they ought not
to consider themselves as advocates for those by whom they are
chosen, but as men, whose duty it is to judge righteously, fear-
ing the Lord.  They should, as much as may be, shun all previous
information respecting the case; or, having heard any thing on
it, stand unbiassed thereby.  They should reject no evidence or
witness proposed; nor receive any but in the presence of both
parties; and in their award, they need not assign any reason for
their determinations.

     And whereas there may be some circumstances even in disputed
matters, wherein the foregoing wholesome method of proceeding
cannot be complied with; such as, 1st. The party absconding, or
leaving the country with design to defraud his or her creditors;
or, 2d. That the going through the meetings, by the time it must
necessarily take up, might be a manifest damage, to the creditor
or claimant, by other peoples postponing him or her, as in cases
of apparent danger of bankruptcy, or the party being overloaded
with debts, and other creditors generally coming on; or, 3d. That
there may be danger of future damage to such as submit thereto,
as in the case of executors, administrators, or trustees; it may
therefore be necessary, and it is advised, that the monthly
meeting where such cases happen, do hold excused such as shall in
the two first mentioned circumstances in this paragraph, appear
to them to be really necessitated to proceed at law; and in the
latter case of executors, administrators or trustees, where it
shall appear to the meeting that our friendly way would be un-
safe, such may be permitted to have the matter tried at law, with
this caution, that the parties n both sides do behave towards
each other in brotherly love, decency and moderation, without
anger or animosity, which will be a becoming testimony even in
courts, and show that nothing but the nature of the case, and our
station in common with others, under the laws of the land, bring
any of us there.

     As it may sometimes occur that a member, either for want of
a clear understanding of the business, or through an improper
influence may present a complaint against another member, wherein
the overseers, after fully hearing both parties, being decidedly
of opinion that the case does not require a reference, they are
to advise a speedy settlement thereof; which being ineffectual,
and the complainant remaining dissatisfied therewith, he may have
liberty to inform the preparative meeting where the other party
is a member (without mentioning any name) that having a matter in
dispute with one of their members, he is desirous of their assis-
tance in order to a settlement thereof;--the said meeting is then
to appoint a judicious committee to inquire into the propriety of
the matter being left to arbitration; if they should judge that
the complaint ought to be referred, they are to advise that it be
submitted accordingly; but if the said committee concur in judg-
ment with the overseers, the complaint is to be dismissed.

     It is desired that persons differing about worldly affairs,
do as little as may be, engage friends in the ministry as arbi-
trators in such cases.
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Next week:  BIRTHS AND BURIALS

Licia Kuenning
Friends of Truth/Glenside Friends Meeting/Quaker Heritage Press