Footnotes have been collected at the end of the text, and arelinked for ease of reference.
OBSERVATIONS ON THE SERMONS OF ELIAS HICKS
PHILADELPHIA1826.
TO THE JUNIOR MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS.
The situation in which the Society of Friends has of late beenplaced, has, I have no doubt, attracted the attention of all itsmembers; and that even those among you who have not been inthe habit of attending its meetings for discipline, are no strangersto their proceedings, although you have not yet felt it your dutyto take any part in them. And to you more especially I submitthe observations contained in the following letters.
When in my early days I sometimes attended these meetings,my mind was filled with admiration at the harmony and prudencewith which their affairs were conducted, and that genuine christianforbearance, one with another, which enabled them to triumphover all the difficulties which are imposed by conflicting opinions,and generally to unite in the adoption of such measures as truewisdom dictated; and it was gratifying to me to observe that itwas, to other sects, a subject of wonder, how any numerous associationcould conduct their business without the intervention ofvotes or other substitutes, to ascertain the opinions of the majorityof the assembly.
The form is, I have no doubt, yet preserved, and the languageof forbearance and humility retained by many who in their heartsentertain far different feelings; and the proceedings have in severalinstances proved, that the spirit which formerly pervadedthese assemblies, no longer prevails in some of them.<