A Quaker in low
circumstances, but of unblemished life, has been occasionally chosen as
one of the deputies to the metropolis even for a county, where the
Quaker-population has been considered to be rich. This deputy has
scarcely been able, on account of the low state of his finances, to
accomplish his journey, and has been known to travel on foot from
distant parts. I mention this circumstance to shew that the society in
its choice of representatives, shews no respect to persons, but that it
pays, even in the persons of the poor, the respect that is due to
virtue.
The day of the yearly meeting at length arrives. Whole days are now
devoted to business, for which various committees are obliged to be
appointed. The men, as before, retire to a meeting-house allotted to
them, to settle the business for the men and the society at large, and
the women retire to another, to settle that, which belongs to their own
sex. There are nevertheless, at intervals, meetings for worship at the
several meeting houses in the metropolis.
One great part of the business of the yearly meeting is to know the
state of the society in all its branches of discipline for the preceding
year. This is known by hearing the answers brought to the queries from
the several quarterly meetings, which are audibly read by the clerk or
his assistant, and are taken in rotation alphabetically.
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