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fellowship under the system of our Society. It is authorized to draw upon the Treasurer for necessary

expenses.

To the Yearly Meeting:

The Committee appointed to take into consideration the state and condition of our absent members in their isolated homes, especially those in the States and Territories west of Illinois," report they have given attention to that service. They have held five meetings, which have been attended by most of the members. They have addressed their efforts mainly to procuring information, through the Monthly Meetings, as to the names and post office addresses of those members who are situated in distant and isolated localities. Circulars sent out, asking the information, have been replied to by forty-two out of the forty-nine Monthly Meetings, and the names of 369 persons have been furnished us, mostly with their post-office addresses. An analysis of

the reports has been prepared, and is at the disposal of the Yearly Meeting in connection with this report. Of the 334 members whose probable address is given, most are in the States and Territories between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains, but some are in still more distant localities, including California, Oregon, Washington Territory, and Texas. The addresses of these Friends are at 182 different places. There are, however, twenty-one places in which four or more members are reported, several of them having eight, nine, ter, and even twelve, each.

The labor of obtaining these names and addresses has been considerable, but the Committee deemed it the first appropriate step in order to secure a proper understanding of the extent and nature of the work. It is evident, however, that this Yearly Meeting, proceeding alone, cannot make a complete list. It is impossible to learn how many isolated Friends there are in localities beyond the reach of meetings without a coöperative effort by all the Yearly Meetings.

The other Yearly Meetings have, of course, some members in the same places reported to this Committee, as well as elsewhere, and a complete list of the isolated membership of our body can only be secured by a joint effort and a tabulation of the returns procured from all the Yearly Meetings. If this were obtained it would, no doubt, appear that in many places there are several members situated, sometimes unknown to each other, some of whom might feel encouraged to revive in meetings, indulged or otherwise, the public profession of the truth, as held by our religious body.

The Committee are conscious that the work of caring for absent members depends primarily upon the monthly meetings, and it is hoped they will feel encouraged to correspond with them, and to extend such care as may be practicable. We believe, however, that the collection of facts as to their numbers, their circumstances, their inclination concerning membership, etc., in addition to their names and post-office addresses, may materially aid the monthly meetings' work, and be an encouragement to its due performance,

So far as this Yearly Meeting is concerned, the preliminary labor of procuring the list of members is substantially completed. Whether the Yearly Meeting will desire to take steps to encourage and sustain as members these scattered and isolated ones, and to encourage or even to assist, as way may open, concern for the establishment of new meetings at places where life may be manifested, is now submitted to the consideration of the meeting, such labor as was placed upon the present Committee, under their minute of appointment, having been, we believe, about concluded.

The Committee have experienced throughout their labors a deep feeling of concern for the preservation to the Society of those who are placed in situations where they have not the company and support of other members, and whose religious principles are exposed to sharp trials. Communications have reached us in some cases, expressing the anxiety of the writers to maintain their position as Friends, and lamenting the hardship of their distant and isolated situation. For all these, and for the many from whom no word has reached us, our sympathy has been strongly aroused, and the hope is entertained that a way may open to extend them a helping hand. On behalf of the Committee.

HOWARD M. JENKINS, Clerk.

Then adjourned until 3 o'clock this afternoon.

Sixth-day-Afternoon.

The Joint Committee on Indian Affairs presented a report, which was read, adopted, the recommendation

therein contained united with, and the Committee continued.

For report see page 75.

A memorial for our deceased friend, Sarah T. Betts, prepared by Abington Monthly Meeting, approved by Abington Quarterly Meeting, and introduced by the Representative Committee, was read, approved, and directed to be recorded and published with the extracts. For memorial see page 57.

The Committee on Epistles produced an essay, which was read and united with. A copy thereof signed by the Clerk on behalf of the Meeting, was directed to be forwarded to each of the Yearly Meetings with which we correspond.

The following minute, embracing some of the exercises of the Yearly Meeting, was read and approved, and directed to be published with the extracts.

During the several sessions of this meeting we have felt that the Master of all rightly gathered assemblies has been with us, and have realized the truth of the declaration of the spirit unto the angel of the church of Philadelphia of old,—that thou hast yet a measure of strength, for thou hast kept my word and not denied my name.

We were reminded that the religion taught by Jesus of Nazareth, and believed in by this people, consisted in love

to God and love to man; and as we dwelt in and under the influence of this love, it would lead us to a fulfilment of all outward duties, and we would know that it was a higher power than our own that qualified us for the work assigned to us by Eternal Goodness, and that the grace of God, the unspeakable gift spoken of by the Apostle Paul, is still sufficient for our salvation.

From the answers to the queries we find our week-day meetings continue small. The testimony of those who had borne the heat and burden of the day, and were now gathering the sheaves, was to the value and strengthening influence of these smaller meetings, feeling they had made no sacrifice in attending them, but instead had received the assurance that where two or three are gathered in His name, there He would be in the midst of them.

We were reminded that all true love and brotherhood must be derived from the same source from which Ananias received the command to go unto Saul, when he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hast sent me."

It was enjoined that this love should be manifest at home among our children, and those under our direction; then would we be concerned to preserve them from corrupt conversation, and to discourage them from the reading of pernicious publications, that are so abundant; and so walk, that by example we should say unto them, follow us, as we follow Christ.

Our testimony in regard to a hireling ministry was thoughtfully considered, and its importance strongly set

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