1861

From SUMMARY ANSWERS TO THE QUERIES

Friends appear to be mostly careful to maintain our testimony against a hireling ministry, oaths, military service, clandestine trade, prize goods, and lotteries. Yet some deficiency is acknowledged by several of the reports to exist, in the support of our important Christian testimony against war and military services, some cases of which are under care.

Baltimore – 10^th Mo 30^th

The Committee appointed at a former sitting to endeavor to embody some of the exercises of this Meeting, produced the following Minute, which was read and united with, viz:

During the consideration of the state of our Religious Society, as reported from the Quarterly Meetings, this Meeting has been solemnly impressed with the great responsibility that rests upon us as professors of the Christian name, that we should manifest in our life and conversation, the fruits of a Christian spirit, devoting our hearts without reserve , to the service of God.

In view of the present unhappy condition of our country, we have been reminded of the circumstances by which George Fox, and his companions in spiritual labor, were surrounded when in a time of civil war, they went forth as ambassadors for Christ, to proclaim and exemplify his peaceable kingdom. The false rest of the people had been broken–their confidence in their spiritual guide had been shaken–and finding in ceremonial observances no spiritual sustenance, they were induced to seek in the inner sanctuary of the heart, for that communion with the Father of spirits, which alone can satisfy the longings of the immortal soul.

And so we trust, when the tempest, and the earthquake, and the fire shall have passed by, that the still small voice–the word of the Lord will be heard, and that many will be found who have not bowed the knee to Baal, nor kissed his image.

Even if suffering should be the portion of those who are called to labor in the cause of righteousness, to uphold, by example, the Testimonies of Truth, let us remember for our encouragement the language of our Lord, "Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you, falsely, for my sake: rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven." . . .

We have at this time felt the necessity of digging deep, in order to secure a foundation on the rock of everlasting Truth, and may we ever bear in mind, that he only who heareth the sayings of Christ and doeth them, hath built his house on this rock, against which the winds and waves of human passion will beat in vain. . . . .

The consideration of our important testimony against war, brought a deep exercise over the meeting, accompanied by a desire, that this righteous testimony may be faithfully maintained by our members. The times we live in call loudly on us to abstain from everything calculated to encourage this desolating evil now sweeping over our land, mingled with the wail of the widow and the orphan, and the groans of our countrymen.

We were reminded that we have fallen on troublous times in regard to the welfare of our Religious Society; for the deep interest manifested by many of our members in the contest now unhappily raging in our beloved country, may gradually alienate their minds from the peaceable principles inculcated in the precepts of Jesus, and exemplified in his life. While we cannot be indifferent spectators of things passing around us, and in which we have so deep an interest, we earnestly desire that Friends everywhere may give evidence that they are followers of the Prince of Peace–that they have an abiding faith in the protecting power of our Heavenly Father, and that he will not suffer his dependent children to be tried farther than he gives ability to sustain.

The right education of our children, and their preservation from the corrupting influences too which they are too often exposed, have again claimed our attention . . . .

From the Epistle of New York Yearly Meeting, included with the Baltimore Minutes:

Dear Friends,

The condescending goodness of the Great Head of the Church has again permitted us to meet together, at a time of great outward commotion and strife, when the war cry is heard in the land–when brother is arrayed against brother in deadly strife–where the children of one common Father, (the workmanship of his holy hand,) whose watchful eye never slumbers, whose ear is ever open to the cries of the poor and needy, and whose arm of power is continually stretched forth to save all who put their trust in Him, are contending together.

At a time like this, of outward agitation, we thankfully have to acknowledge a belief that all who wholly trust in this Power, will experience the truth of the declaration of the Prophet when addressing the Most High:–"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is staid on thee, because he trusteth in thee."

While we do not assume to interfere with other men’s matters, or sit in judgment upon those not of us, to mark out their path of duty–remembering the answer of the Divine Master to the question, "what shall this man do?" "if I will that he tarry until I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me" –it is with earnest and affectionate solicitude that we fervently desire that all who bear our name may rally to the standard of truth, and enlist under the banner of the Prince of Peace, who will assuredly lead us unto victory; not by the battles of the warrior, which is of confused noise and garments rolled in blood, but by that warfare which is spiritual, designed to overcome all evil, to eradicate every germ of bitterness fro the mind, and to introduce into that kingdom wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Might not the inquiry be made of us, individually, whether the perusal of the war news of the day, unless guarded against, is not calculated to excite and foster those passions in our breasts which are in direct opposition to the blessed precepts of our Saviour, as expressed in his most excellent Sermon on the Mount.

It was the declaration of the Prophet formerly, that when the judgments of the Lord are in the earth, the inhabitants thereof learn righteousness. Are not his judgments now in the earth? and will he not turn and overturn until his purpose is accomplished? "I will shake not only the earth, but he heavens also," was his declaration by the mouth of his Prophet, clearly showing that all false rests will be removed, and our tent will be only place of safety. "God is our tent."

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