Another installment of the 1806 Philadelphia YM discipline. 
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            TESTIMONIES OF DENIAL AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

     IT is the sense of this meeting that offenders inclining to
make acknowledgment of their offences do prepare the same in
writing, and if, on consulting the overseers or other judicious
Friends, the purport appears suitable to the occasion, and the
situation of the party will admit of it, he or she may present it
to the meeting in person, and stay till it is read; when, after
time given for a solid pause, they should withdraw before that or
any other business is proceeded upon.  The meeting is then to
consider the case, and appoint two or more Friends to inform the
party of the result.--1743, 1806.
     When a disowned person removes out of the verge of the
meeting which disowned him or her, and applies thereto for
reinstatement, acknowledging their error, and if by reason of the
distance the applicant cannot be conveniently treated with in
person, the said meeting may correspond with the monthly meeting
within the compass of which he or she resides, and inquire into
their fitness for membership, and if satisfaction on that head is
received, a certificate for such person, directed to the said
monthly meeting, may be forthwith sent, acknowledging him or her
as a member of our society.--1806.
     As it may not always be necessary that papers of
acknowledgment should contain a recital of the occasion of
disownment as specified in the testimonies of denial, it is
agreed that monthly meetings be left to their discretion in this
respect; and that neither testimonies of denial nor
acknowledgments be read at the close of our public meetings for
worship.  In all cases where a meeting apprehends itself under a
necessity to disown a member, let such member, if the occasion
and his or her situation will admit of it, be previously informed
thereof: And when the judgment of the meeting is issued, let a
copy thereof be delivered to the party testified against, with
notification of his or her right of appeal.--1806.
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Next week: TRADE

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