Fourth Month 3, 1915, to Third Month 27, 1916.

Caln Quarter..

17.50

Western Quarter.

22.50

REPORT

OF THE COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER OUR CHRISTIAN DUTY TOWARD THOSE JUST OUTSIDE OUR MEMBERSHIP.

To the Yearly Meeting.

The Committee, appointed by the Yearly Meeting in 1913, and reappointed in 1914 and 1915 to consider our Christian duty toward those just outside our membership and to help Monthly Meetings as way might open, along this line, makes the following report:

In pursuance of the reappointment the Committee has held three meetings during the year, at the first of which it earnestly considered the best method of furthering the concern re-committed to it. In view of the fact that the Committee had been originally appointed for deliberative purposes, and that the reappointment involved a concern of an administrative character, the Committee delegated five of its members to carry out in detail a plan of action which the Committee discussed and approved.

It was felt that the care and attention due to those closely affiliated with us should be made a recognized part of the Meeting's work, and that it could not be permanently fostered to the best advantage, either by a Yearly Meeting's Committee or by Monthly Meeting Committees appointed for the special service. The Committee felt that such a concern should rightly rest with the Overseers, being in reality a part of their shepherding of the flock.

Practically all of the work of the Committee has been, on that account, in co-operation with the Overseers. A letter was addressed to all the Summer Quarterly Meetings requesting the appointment of three Overseers in each, to act with the Committee in local conferences, and in a general conference of all Overseers in the Yearly Meeting.

With considerable variation in detail, the local conferences of Overseers were held in six of the Quarterly Meetings. In some, prepared papers were presented, prior to general discussion, and in others no formal pro

gram was attempted. In all there were seasons of silent or vocal worship, with earnest seeking after the true source of spiritual power, upon which to base the concern for pastoral care both within and without our membership. After completing the series of local meetings a general meeting was held at Fourth and Arch Streets Meetinghouse, on Second Month 5, 1916. To this all the Overseers of the Yearly Meeting, and all members of local Committees especially entrusted with this particular concern, were invited. The attendance was large, and the assemblage greatly favored with the presence of the Great Shepherd of the sheep who gently led us into a true spiritual unrest and a holy dissatisfaction with present things accomplished, and instilled into us a longing for greater earnestness, devotion and consecration in the work of the Church.

Much excellent advice was given and many practical suggestions were made at these meetings, and in all of them was evident a spirit of charity, a spirit that desires the welfare of all, that can sympathize with various states and conditions and that can, if need be, forgive "until seventy times seven."

This care rightly devolves upon all thoughtful members and not merely upon the Overseers. So far as the meeting is concerned the regular oversight, and the special care over affiliated persons are one in kind, requiring the exercise of a watchful and tender Christian care over those within the reach of our influence, interesting them, building them up, and fostering the best in them with the solicitude of a parent for his child.

We have a grateful impression that the general membership of the Monthly Meetings is responding to the concern of the Yearly Meeting, and assuming the charge of carrying it on. We therefore feel that the time has come to recommit it to their tender Christian care, and to request that our Committee be released.

On behalf of the Committee,

THOMAS K. BROWN,

ELIZABETH S. SMEDLEY.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa., Third Month 22, 1916.

ANSWERS TO QUERIES.

First.-One authorized meeting for worship has been omitted except on a few occasions when appointed meetings have been held in the meeting-house. Another, with the sanction of the Monthly and Quarterly Meetings, has been omitted during the Seventh and Eighth Months.

Attention is called in each Quarterly Meeting report to a few cases of omission of some of their smaller meetings, due in some cases to the illness of the members or to the inclemency of the weather; excepting these, all our meetings for worship and discipline have been held.

The First-day meetings are well attended by the members and in many of them several non-members are drawn to worship with us.

Our mid-week meetings are much smaller than those held on First-day.

Attention is drawn in two reports to the helpful presence of school children at these mid-week meetings; this is felt to add to the best life of the meetings.

The hour for gathering has been pretty well observed, and we feel that a reverent attitude of worship has been maintained.

Second-Christian love and unity are maintained to a good degree.

While we may not always be free from tale-bearing and detraction, an honest endeavor is exercised to discourage such weaknesses.

We record with thankfulness that the spirit of love so animates the membership, that if differences arise and become apparent, this same spirit of brotherly love endeavors to end them.

Third. Our members generally are concerned faithfully to uphold our testimony to a waiting, spiritual worship and to a free Gospel ministry, exercised in dependence upon the Head of the Church and under the authority and prompting of His Holy Spirit; our testimony

also against that system which requires that the ministry be exercised at stated times or for pay, has been in large measure maintained, except that some of our members occasionally attend at places where such a system is practised.

Fourth. We are blessed with the comforts of life, and find the way of self-denial and simplicity at times difficult to follow, but we believe most Friends attain in good measure to the high standard set by this Query.

The reverent reading of the Holy Scriptures is thought to be the practice in very many of our families, but the fear is expressed that the privilege is too often neglected by some of us.

Care is exercised on the part of many parents and others to shield the children from the hurtful practice of pernicious reading and from corrupting associations.

Fifth. An increasing number of our members are actively engaged in efforts to entirely abolish the use of intoxicants, but a few fail to feel it a duty for them to abstain from their occasional use as a beverage.

Harmful diversions, we acknowledge, are not sufficiently avoided by some. One report states: "the feeling prevails that we are lowering our standard in this particular and that there is due our younger Friends kindly instruction and entreaty on this important matter."

Simplicity is manifested at marriages, burials and on other ocacsions.

Sixth. It appears that the aims of this Query have been met in all our meetings.

We are watchful to assist those whose cases seem to call for help. Their children's education is being cared for, and no child, we believe, has been placed beyond the care and influence of Friends.

Seventh. One report states that a subordinate meeting makes some exception to our testimony against militarism. It is apparent, however, that our meetings through committees or otherwise have been active in presenting and advancing our testimony for peace and against militarism.