TO BE HAD AT FRIENDS' BOOK STORE,
No. 304 Arch Street, Philadelphia.
1885.
At a Yearly Meeting of Friends held in Philadelphia fromthe 20th of the Fourth Month to the 24th of the same, inclusive,1885.
An Essay on Singing and Music contained in the Minutes ofthe Meeting for Sufferings was now read, setting forth the spiritualnature of true worship, the danger of depending on outward formsin religious meetings, and the disadvantages connected with thepractice of singing and music as an amusement. Much unitywas expressed with the essay, and it was concluded that it shouldbe published and distributed for information and warning to ourown members and others. Desires were felt that in thus issuinga renewed testimony to the principles of our Society, we may beindividually aroused to the necessity of so living in communionwith the Father of Spirits, and in subjection to the revelations ofhis Light in our hearts, that our meetings may truly be heldunder the overshadowing of the Divine Power.
Taken from the Minutes.
Joseph Walton, Clerk.
On Singing and Music.
We have been brought under a feeling of religiousconcern that the ancient testimony of the Society ofFriends to the true nature of spiritual worship may befully maintained by all who claim that name; and thatthey may be watchful against the introduction of practiceswhich will undermine the support of this testimony,and thus lead those who profess to be the children of theLight, back into a dependence upon forms, out of whichtheir forefathers in the Truth were brought by that remarkableoutpouring of grace and spiritual power whichmarked the rise of Friends as a distinct people.
The fundamental doctrine declared by our Saviour,when He said, “It is the Spirit that quickeneth, the fleshprofiteth nothing,” was steadily kept in view by GeorgeFox and his fellow laborers. They clearly saw thatChrist had ended the Jewish law, with its outward andceremonial observances, and had introduced a spiritualdispensation, under which He, by his heavenly and eternalLight or Spirit, was to be the Leader, Guide and Helperof his people; that all was now to be done in and by Him;and that this was especially true of religious worship, whichdepends upon the enlightening, quickening power of hisHoly Spirit.
All confidence in the flesh,—in the natural abilities of4man,—was removed; and they were taught to distinguishbetween that which is of man and that which is of God,—betweenthat stirring up of the natural feelings whichcan be produced by the skilful use of outward means, suchas music, pictorial representations and architectural graceand grandeur; and that solemn covering of the heartwhich is a fruit and an evidence of the extension of Divinehelp and power.
Hence these divinely enlightened men and women laidaside the forms in which they had been educated, andwhich many of them had sincerely and zealously practised,and, in their private retirements before the Lord, and whenthey assembled for the performance of public worship, theysat in silence before Him, seeking to draw near in spirit,in living exercise of mind, that they might feel the arisingof his power, and be enabled to offer acceptable worship.
As that power arose in any, and under its influence,they were led to utter words of prayer or praise to theAlmighty, or exhortation to their fellow believers; theywere comforted or edified in proportion