This week's installment of the 19th-century Discipline is a long one, due to the Orthodox branch's having added several lengthy sections. The basic text is from the 1806 Philadelphia YM discipline, with the additions between dashed lines. _________________________________________________________________ DISCIPLINE AND MEETINGS FOR DISCIPLINE THE institution of our meetings for discipline having, on experience been found very beneficial, it is earnestly recommended they may be maintained in that authority, wherein they were established: Where any have been negligent in attending them, or opposed to their usefulness, carnality and spiritual death have been the consequence. The connection and subordination of our meetings for discipline are thus: Preparative meetings are accountable to the monthly; monthly to the quarterly; and the quarterly to the yearly meeting. So that if the yearly meeting be at any time dissatisfied with the proceedings of any inferior meeting; or a quarterly meeting with the proceedings of either of its monthly meetings; or a monthly meeting with the proceedings of either of its preparative meetings: Such meeting or meetings ought with readiness and meekness to render an account thereof when required. It is agreed that no quarterly meeting be set up or laid down, without the consent of the yearly meeting; no monthly meeting without the consent of the quarterly meeting; nor any preparative or other meeting for business or worship till application to the monthly meeting is first made; and, when there approved, the consent of the quarterly meeting be also obtained. -------------------------------------------------------------- A later Orthodox discipline here adds the following section: "If at any time the Yearly Meeting shall judge it right and expedient to lay down or dissolve any of its Quarterly meetings, and join the Monthly and other Meetings thereof to another Quarterly Meeting, the said meetings are with readiness to submit to such decision and junction.--1834 "And if any Quarterly Meeting shall, upon deliberate consideration, judge it is right and expedient to lay down or dissolve any of the Monthly or Preparative meetings, it is authorized so to do, and the members of those dissolved meetings are to be accepted and recognized as under the care of the said meetings to which they are joined.--1834 "And if any Monthly Meeting should, upon deliberate weighty consideration, conclude that any of the Preparative meetings belonging thereto had better be dissolved, and the members joined to another Preparative Meeting within its limits, or that any of its meetings for worship should be laid down or discontinued, it has the right to state its sense and judgment to the Quarterly Meeting, and when the concurrence thereof is obtained, the proposed dissolution, junction, and discontinuance is to take effect.--1834 "Wheresoever it appears that Monthly meetings, through the smallness of their numbers, or the want of sufficient qualification for the due maintenance of the Discipline, are under difficulty in fulfilling the various obligations devolved upon them, it is recommended that they claim the sympathy and brotherly care of their respective Quarterly meetings, which should appoint committees to be so incorporated with Monthly meetings, as to render the needful assistance in transacting their business, and in treating with offenders in order to their right restoration; or where the labor is ineffectual, that judgment may be placed upon them in the authority of Truth. This extension of aid to continue until the Quarterly Meeting shall judge that a different arrangement is requisite.--1828 "The necessity of continually maintaining the connection and due subordination of meetings, having always with much solicitude and care been enjoined as indispensably obligatory upon all our members in their several places and stations; it is therefore the concern of this meeting renewedly to declare, that it is repugnant to the harmony and subversive of the order of our religious Society, for any Preparative or Monthly Meeting to assume any right or to attempt to dissolve its connection with its respective Monthly or Quarterly Meeting to which it has regularly belonged. No Preparative Meeting can therefore transfer its subjection or join itself to any other Monthly Meeting, nor any Monthly Meeting to any other Quarterly Meeting, than those of which they are a constituent part: but if at any time it should be evident, that it would be more convenient, or tend to the promotion of the cause of Truth, for the members of any Preparative Meeting to become a branch of any other Monthly Meeting; or a Monthly Meeting to be placed under the care and jurisdiction of a different Quarterly Meeting than the one they belong to; the said Preparative or Monthly Meeting so situated, is to make application to, and by minute of the Monthly Meeting, clearly represent the case to its respective Quarterly Meeting, and if there approved, the said Preparative Meeting may be transferred to such Monthly Meeting as may be designated, within the limits of the said Quarter; but if the proposal of either a Preparative or Monthly Meeting extends to, and is comprehended within the limits of a different Quarterly Meeting, the Quarterly Meeting where those subordinate meetings belong, after carefully considering the said application, and concurring therewith, is to consult the Quarterly Meeting proposed to be united to, and when it is there also approved, the contemplated change and junction may be finally settled.--1834" -------------------------------------------------------------- Also, that no meeting for worship intended to consist of Friends belonging to two or more monthly meetings shall be set up, until the proposal be offered to and approved by both those monthly meetings, and the consent of their respective quarterly meeting or meetings be obtained: when the meeting proposed, is opened, it should be attended by a few solid Friends, deputed by each of the said monthly meetings. And, if at any time, it is thought expedient, that a preparative meeting should be held at the same place, the consent of the said monthly and quarterly meetings should be, in like manner, applied for and obtained; and the said preparative meeting should be annexed to either one or the other of those monthly meetings, as may be most likely to conduce to the benefit of the individuals who compose it, and the advantage of society. It is directed, that a book be provided by every monthly and quarterly meeting, and fair minutes be kept therein, of all matters which shall come before and be determined by them. = Monthly meetings, particularly, are advised to attend to and finish all such business with care and dispatch, that it may, at no time, suffer by improper delay. And, if any case under consideration proves too weighty or difficult for them to determine, they should apply to their respective quarterly meetings for assistance; or, if the circumstances are such as to require it, refer it thereto by minute. It is the sense of this meeting, as a general rule in all cases, that where any monthly or quarterly meeting has occasion for, and requests copies of any of the papers, minutes, or records of another monthly or quarterly meeting, the same may accordingly be granted. Where any differences happen among Friends, and the same be entered in any monthly or quarterly meeting-book, it is agreed, that if the parties, or either of them, think that copies of such entries may be useful and necessary for them, and request the same, such monthly and quarterly meetings shall have a discretional power to give or refuse such copies, according to the circumstances and motives attending. It is agreed, that a suitable number of men and women be appointed in each monthly meeting, to attend the service of the quarterly meeting, with such reports in writing, signed by their clerks, as may be given them in charge: also, that at least four of each sex be appointed in each quarterly meeting, to attend the yearly meeting. And it is earnestly advised and desired, that all Friends who submit to these, or any other services of society, may be punctual in their attendance thereon; or, if prevented by sickness, or any other unavoidable occurrence, that they be careful to send information thereof; also, that those who are under appointments to meetings, do not withdraw therefrom before the conclusion, without obtaining the meetings' consent. And when proposals of marriage are made, if any near relations of the parties (who are not in membership) are permitted to be present, they should withdraw before the meeting proceeds to any other business. It is advised that if a member under dealing removes into the compass of another monthly meeting; or, if previous to or after such removal the conduct of him or her has been such as to require their being dealt with--and their residence be at so great a distance as to render it inconvenient for the monthly meeting to which they belong, it should request that into which they are removed, to treat with them according to our rules, and to report the effect of its care; when, if it is satisfactory, the party should be recommended by certificate; or if otherwise, and a testimony of denial is issued, a copy thereof should be sent to the monthly meeting within the limits of which he or she resides, and that meeting is to appoint two or more Friends to inform them thereof, and of their right of appeal. -------------------------------------------------------------- A later Orthodox discipline adds here: "If the individual is a female, the women's Monthly Meeting is by minute to transmit to the Monthly Meeting of women Friends within the limits of which the person resides, clear information of the state of the case, and request its care in dealing with her on their behalf; and when the Monthly Meeting removed from, has received a report of the effect of this labor, they are then to give due information thereof to their respective men's Monthly Meeting, in order that the business may be finished as before directed.--1834" -------------------------------------------------------------- After a charge against a member for disorderly conduct is entered on the minutes of a monthly meeting, he or she should not be permitted to sit in any of our meetings for discipline, till the case is issued, and the monthly meeting satisfied. -------------------------------------------------------------- A later Orthodox discipline adds the following: "In all cases thus introduced from the Preparative to the Monthly Meeting, a committee should be appointed to deal with the offender, in order to the convincement of his or her understanding and right restoration; and if, in the prosecution of the service, it should come to the knowledge of the committee, that there has been any other violation of our testimony and Discipline than is stated in the minute of the Preparative Meeting, they should treat with the individual thereon, and make report accordingly to the next succeeding Monthly Meeting, and of the effect of their labor; their report, or the substance of it, is then to be entered upon the minutes, and if a ground of hope is furnished that further dealing may be beneficial, the case should be continued; but whenever the meeting, after deliberate, weighty consideration, is satisfied that a continued extension of care and labor would be unavailing, and that the due maintenance of the Discipline requires the case to be issued, the committee, or such other Friends as may be judged proper, are to be appointed to prepare a testimony of disownment, to be produced at the next Monthly Meeting for approbation; and that the necessary care be taken for delivering the party a copy of the said minute or testimony of disunion, with information of his or her right of appeal.--1834" -------------------------------------------------------------- It is advised, that where any transgress the rules of our discipline, they may, without partiality, be admonished and sought in the spirit of love and divine charity, so that it may be seen by all that the restoring spirit of meekness and christian love abounds, before church censure takes place, and that a gospel spirit is the spring and motive to all our performances, as well in discipline as in worship. -------------------------------------------------------------- A later Orthodox discipline adds here: "And in all cases when a minute or testimony of disunion against a member has been produced and approved in a Monthly Meeting, endeavors should be used that the individual be furnished with a copy thereof, and with notification of his or her right of appeal.--1834" -------------------------------------------------------------- It is earnestly recommended, that in conducting the affairs of the church, Friends endeavour to manage them in the peaceable spirit and wisdom of Jesus, with decency, forbearance and love to each other. It appearing by the minutes of the meeting for sufferings, that on inspection of some of the accounts of sufferings sent up by the quarterly meetings, considerable difficulty has been occasioned by those accounts, not expressing with sufficient clearness, what the sufferings mentioned were for; it is now desired that the monthly and quarterly meetings may in future leave out of their reports any instances which do not appear to be clearly consistent with the sense of this yearly meeting; and that they continue to collect and send up their accounts of sufferings annually as heretofore directed. -------------------------------------------------------------- A later Hicksite discipline adds here: "and that they be preserved and recorded agreeably to the practice of our ancient Friends; reciting the sums demanded,-- the kind and amount of property taken,--by whom the distraints were made,--and the authority under which the officers acted." -------------------------------------------------------------- As to the rights of children, whose parents have been married contrary to the rules of our discipline; it is agreed, that where either of those parents remain out of membership, their children should not be esteemed members, till application for their admission is made, either by themselves, or by their parent, parents, or guardians on their behalf, and the monthly meeting applied to, on a solid consideration of the case, is easy to admit them, or any of them. The rights of children, born of parents who have been married according to our rules and disowned after their birth, are not intended to be affected by this rule: neither the rights of such minor children as are not of an age to judge for themselves, whose parents have both condemned their outgoing in marriage, while either of the said parents retains his or her right of membership. If any member of our religious society, shall apply to those called jugglers or fortune-tellers, or those who by colour of any art or skill whatsoever, pretend to a knowledge of future events, hidden transactions, or where things lost or stolen may be found; or if any of our members shall use, or pretend to such art or skill, it is advised that they be speedily dealt with, and if they do not manifest a due sense of their evil conduct, that they be testified against. A committee should be annually appointed in each of our quarterly and monthly meetings, for the nomination of clerks; which may afford opportunity for their being seasonably changed, and more of our qualified members exercised in those services. -------------------------------------------------------------- A later Orthodox discipline here inserts the following: "The love, power, and peaceable spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ, being the alone true authority of all our meetings, it is the fervent concern of this meeting, that they may be held under the sense and influence of that holy unction. We affectionately recommend, that it making appointments in meetings for Discipline, care may be taken to judge of the qualifications of those who are employed in the church. "The more we experience a preparation of heart for the exercise of our respective gifts, the more amply shall we evince the expression of the tongue to be seasoned with that living virtue and divine power, which proceeds from our Holy Head; and thus in conducting the important concerns of Society, we shall be enabled to example the beloved youth in a manner which will demonstrate to them, that neither tradition nor a mere outward education, can fitly prepare them for successors in the church of Christ. "In some places there may have been a want of care, rightly to distinguish and seasonably to bring into action, the talents bestowed upon some in the early stage of life; but we believe, that many who were evidently under the forming hand, have been suddenly laid hold of, and introduced into service, before that preparation of heart hath been sufficiently experienced, which leads to a reliance upon Divine direction, and redeems from a confidence in the natural understanding: it is therefore desired, that by a just discrimination of times and seasons, and of the qualifications bestowed, every gift may be rightly exercised, and a succession of useful members preserved in every rank in the church. "We are concerned that the management of our Christian Discipline be not committed to hands unclean; particularly of such who allow or connive at undue liberties in their own children or families. "If a man," said the Apostle, "know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?" "Dear Friends, be patient in the exercise of your gifts and services, and take no offence at any time, because what seems to be clear to you is not presently received by others; let all things in the church be propounded with an awful reverence of Him that is the head and life of it; who said, "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Therefore, let all beware of their own spirits and keep in a gracious temper, that so they may be fitted for the service of the house of God, whose house we are, if we keep upon the foundation that God hath laid; and such He will build up, and teach how to build up one another in Him. And as every member must feel life in himself, and all from one Head, this life will not hurt itself in any, but be tender of itself in all; for by this one life of the Word, ye were begotten, and by it ye are nourished and made to grow into your several services in the church of God. It is no man's learning, nor artificial acquirements; it is no man's riches, nor greatness in this world; it is no man's eloquence nor natural wisdom, that makes him fit for government in the church of Christ: all his endowments must be seasoned with the heavenly salt, his spirit be subjected, and his gifts pass through the fire of God's altar, a sacrifice to His praise and honor, that so self being baptized into death, the gifts may be used in the power of the resurrection of the life of Jesus in him." -------------------------------------------------------------- As the use and design of preparative meetings is in general to digest and prepare business as occasion may require, which may be proper to be laid before the monthly meeting, Friends ought to be careful therein, not to occasion unnecessary delays, or undertake to decide on any business which claims attention and care in monthly meetings. And when cases are agreed to be carried forward, they should be entered in writing, and some suitable Friend or Friends named to produce them to the monthly meetings; and proper notes thereof should be carefully preserved by clerks of preparative meetings, as to said meetings may appear useful and right. But no preparative meeting shall take cognizance of proposals of marriage, this being exclusively the business of monthly meetings. -------------------------------------------------------------- A later Orthodox discipline adds the final closing section: "We believe there are seasons wherein the Master, were we sufficiently watchful for his coming, would bring Monthly Meetings under a right concern to seek the wanderers, and endeavor to draw them from an inordinate love and pursuit of this world, to sit down with their friends to worship the God of their lives, in spirit and in truth. In this way those who water should be watered themselves, and a united travail for the Lord's honor, and the growth of the church in the life and power of godliness, would more abound in our borders.--1859 "In all cases of the descendants of those who separated from our religious Society in the year 1827, who have not been dealt with and disowned, and who do not attend our religious meetings, it shall be a sufficient discharge of the duty of the Monthly Meeting to which they belong, in treating with them, to give to each one information of his or her existing right of membership, and that if they desire to retain such right, and intend renewing their connection with the Society, by attending its meetings, they must so inform the Monthly Meeting, or its overseers, within one year from the date of the information thus furnished them. "In the event of any such person so notified, not giving the Monthly Meeting or its overseers, the information required within the time specified, the Monthly Meeting, (if it feel itself clear in the case,) may make a record of the facts, and that such individual has thus forfeited all claim to a right of membership in the religious Society of Friends. "Where the residence of any of the descendants of those who separated from our religious Society in 1827, is unknown, and from this, or any other circumstance, such have passed out of the knowledge of the Friends of the Monthly Meeting to which they belong, and the Overseers of the Meeting find it very difficult or impracticable to communicate with them, they may represent the case to the Monthly Meeting, which, at its discretion, may either appoint a committee to give further attention to the case, or make a minute reciting the circumstances, and declaring that the individual no longer retains a right of membership in our religious Society. "Should any person thus ceasing to be a member of our Religious Society, afterwards apply to the Monthly Meeting of which he or she had been a member to be received into membership, and the meeting after careful inquiry, believe him or her to be prepared for religious fellowship with Friends, he or she may be received into the Society without any acknowledgment being required for former association as a member with those who separated in 1827. "That the right of membership in our religious Society, acquired by birth, shall not attach to the offspring of the descendants of those who separated from the Society in 1827, born after the present time, unless the parents of such shall have been reinstated.--1869 "When the parents of an infant are members of different Monthly Meetings at the time of its birth, the child is to be recorded as a member of the Monthly Meeting to which the mother then belonged.--1879" _________________________________________________________________ Next week: DONATIONS AND SUBSCRIPTIONS Licia Kuenning Friends of Truth/Glenside Friends Meeting/Quaker Heritage Press