He may bring forward
new matter. He may approve or object to what others have proposed before
him. No person may interrupt him, while he speaks. The youth, who are
sitting by, are gaining a knowledge of the affairs and discipline of the
society, and are gradually acquiring sentiments and habits, that are to
mark their character in life. They learn, in the first place, the duty
of a benevolent and respectful consideration for the poor. In hearing
the different cases argued and discussed, they learn, in some measure,
the rudiments of justice, and imbibe opinions of the necessity of moral
conduct. In these courts they learn to reason. They learn also to hear
others patiently, and without interruption, and to transact business,
that may come before them in maturer years with regularity and order.
I cannot omit to mention here the orderly manner in which, the Quakers,
conduct their business on these occasions. When a subject is brought
before them, it is canvassed to the exclusion of all extraneous matter,
till some conclusion results. The clerk of the monthly meeting then
draws up a minute, containing, as nearly as he can collect, the
substance of this conclusion. This minute is then read aloud to the
auditory, and either stands or undergoes an alteration, as appears, by
the silence or discussion upon it, to be the sense of the meeting.
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