LIFE THOUGHTS. Be what thou seemest; I've thy creed; Sow love, and taste its fruitage pure; Bonar. Talk not of this or that subject being too sacred for investigation! Is it too much to assert that there is but one ob. ject beneath the skies that is sacred-and that is man? Surely there is no government, no institution, no order, no rite, no day, no place, no building, no creed, no book, so sacred as he who was before every government, institution, order, rite, day, place, building, creed, and book, and by whom all these things are to be regarded as nothing higher or better than means to an end, and that end his own elevation and happiness, and he is to discard each and all of them I know of nothing to give unfailing when they fail to do him service, or min-moral energy to the mind but a living ister unto his necessities. Wm. Lloyd Garrison. faith in a Being of infinite perfections, and who is always with us to aid, strengthen, reward, reprove, chasten, and guide to immortality Channing. Religion consists not in knowledge, but in a holy life. Bishop Taylor. We speak of snow as an image of lasting life under its robes, the life is to death. It may be this, but it hides everbe revealed in due time, when all cold shadows melt away before the ascending sun, and shall not be unclothed, but clothed upon, and mortality shall be swallowed up of life. Robert Collyer. OF THE PENNSYLVANIA YEARLY MEETING OF PROGRESSIVE FRIENDS, HELD AT LONGWOOD, CHESTER COUNTY, 1881. "Serves best the Father he who most serves raan, ADVANCE PRINT, MINUTES. THE TWENTY-NINTH YEARLY MEETING OF THE PROGRESSIVE FRIENDS Cconvened at Longwood, Chester Co., Pa., on Fifth-day, (Thursday,) the 2nd of Sixth-month, (June,) 1881, at 10 o'clock a. m. Charles D. B. Mills, one of the Clerks, read the Call of the meeting, as follows: The object of thls meeting is to promote religion, construed broadly as embracing all good, physical, moral and spiritual. Untrammelled by dogma, we fraternally invite to meet with us all those who desire to make the world purer and better, and who hold the truth in higher honor than any creed or sect. We would meet upon common ground as brethren, to consider by what means we may labor most effectually to lift humanity to higher levels. In a reverent spirit we would examine the religious institutions which have grown out of the wants and convictions of the past, accepting them so far as they commend themselves to our conscientious judgment, and rejecting them freely when we must. Our supreme allegiance is due, not to the decrees of men, but to Truth itself. Mr. Mills then spoke in congratulation and encouragement of the auspicious circumstances under which the Society had convened, and impressed upon his andience the importance of individual faithfulness in the work of progress and reform. J. WM. Cox, ISAAC MENDENHALL and ANNA B. FOGG, were appointed a committee to audit the Treasurer's account, and to nominate a Treasurer and Clerks for the ensuing year. A Committee to prepare testimonies were appointed as follows: MARY F. EASTMAN, REV. ANTOINETTE B. BLACKWELL, OLIVER JOHNSON, REV. PHEBE A. HANAFORD, SIMON BARNARD, and CHARLES D. B. MILLS. On motion it was agreed that the sessions be held from 10 to 12 a. m., and from 2 to 4 p. m., and that speakers be limited to ten minutes, and no one be entitled to speak a second time on any Subject while any other person might wish to be heard. Brief letters were read from JULIA WARD HOWE, Rev. HENRY C. BADGER, and SARAH T. PEARSON. The 41st hymn was sung, beginning: Earth's busy sounds and ceaseless dın.” FIFTH-DAY AFTERNOON. The meeting was opened by singing the 214th hymn, beginning: "God of the earth, the sky, the sea." J. WM. Cox, on behalf of the Committee on nominations reported the names of CHARLES D. B. MILLS and PATIENCE W. KENT, Clerks, and AARON MENDENHALL Treasurer for the ensuing year; the meeting concuring by vote, they were appointed. The Committee also reported the Treasurer's account correct, and a balance in the treasury of $47.73 Memorials of three friends who had died during the past year, were then presented, viz: SARAH DARLINGTON BARNARD, ELIZABETH YARDLEY LINTON and LUCRETIA MOTT. After the reading of these memorials much tender feeling found appropriate expression. OLIVER JOHNSON thought LuCRETIA MOTT especially remarkable for two things, gentleness and courage, and in a short address paid a fitting tribute to her memory. REV. PHEBE A. HANAFORD, Spoke earnest words on the character of LUCRETIA MOTT, and then read the following poem suggested by her last audiable words, and composed while in attendance on the meeting: |