82 QUAKER ASPECTS OF TRUTH 



I have no hesitation in answering these questions in the 

 affirmative* The Society of Friends has produced^ and 

 still does produce, such men and such women* Indeed, 

 if the object of a religious organisation is to produce 

 men and women of saintly character and unselfish life, 

 then indeed the Society of Friends was not founded in 

 vain. 



Moreover, whatever measure of success has been 

 achieved in this particular has, I feel sure, been due 

 very largely to the way in which our meetings for 

 worship have been held. 



There are many just now who seem anxious to alter 

 the character of our meetings for worship, in order to 

 make them more attractive and entertaining. But our 

 meetings for worship are, in my opinion, the backbone 

 of our whole organisation. They are that from which 

 everything takes its character, and upon which every- 

 thing depends. It is impossible to materially alter the 

 character of our meetings for worship without altering 

 the character of the Society itself, and if we do this, then 

 the Quakerism of the future will be an entirely different 

 thing from the Quakerism of the past. 



Not that I wish to plead for any want of elasticity 

 in our methods. What I do dread is the introduction 

 of innovations which must, of necessity, curtail the 

 perfect liberty which, at the present time, we enjoy. 

 Let us remember ** how easy it is to adulterate ; how 

 difficult to refine.*' 



Nor was there ever a time when our Quaker protest 

 in favour of simplicity and reality in the worship of God 

 was so much needed as it is needed to-day. Thus when 

 we look at the Anglican Church we see the Ritualistic 

 party daily gaining ground, and the simple Gospel of our 

 Lord and Saviour is lost in an ornate sacerdotalism. 



When I think of this, I am reminded of that beautiful 

 domestic scene, when our Lord visited the quiet home in 



