12. On their Church Government or Discipline.— They have monthly, quarterly, and yearly meetings, so called from the times of their being held. A monthly meeting is usually composed of several particular con gregations, situated within a convenient distance. Its business is to provide for the subsistence of the poor (for they maintain their own poor) and for the educa tion of their offspring; to judge of the sincerity and fitness of persons appearing to be convinced of their re ligious principles, and desiring to he admitted into membership ; to excite clue attention co the discharge of religious and moral duty, and to admonish disorder ly members, and if they should prove irreclaimable, to disown them. The society has always scrupled to ac knowledge the exclusive authority of the priest to mar ry. All marriages amongst them are proposed to the monthly meeting fir its concurrence, without which they are not and are solemnized in a public meeting For worship. Of such marriages the monthly meeting- keeps a record, as also of the births and bu rials or the 11.embers.
Several monthly meetings compose a quarterly meet ing, to which they send representatives, who produce, at the quarterly meeting, written answers, from the monthly meetings, to certam queries respecting the conduct of their members, and the meetings' care over them. The accounts thus received are digested into one, which is sent also in the form of answers to que ries by representatives to the yearly meeting, and thus the state of the body is laid before the society at large. Appeals from the judgment of a monthly meeting are brought to the quarterly meeting, whose business it is also to assist the monthly meeting in any difficult ease, or where they appear to be remiss in their care over the individuals who compose then.
The yearly meeting has the general superintendence of the society in the country in which it is established; and, therefore, as particular exigencies arise, it gives forth its advice, makes such regulations as appear to be requisite, or excites to the observance of those already made. Appeals from the judgment of quarterly meet
ings are here finally determined. There ate, in all, nine yearly meetings, one in London, to which c( me representatives from Ireland, and eight in America.
Those who believe themselves required to speak in meetings for worship are not immediately acknowledg ed as ministers by their respective monthly meetings, but lime is taken for judgment, that the meeting may be satisfied or their call and qualification. And in or der that those who are in the situation of miniato•a have the sympathy and counsel of those of either sex, who, by their experience in the work of religion, are qualified for that service, the monthly meetings are ad vised to select such, under the denomination of elders. These, with the ministers approved by their monthly meetings, have meetings peculiar to themselves, called meetings of miaisters and elders, in which they have an opportunity of exciting each other to the discharge of their several duties, and extending advice to those who may appear to stand in need of it. Such meet ing are generally held in the compass of each monthly, quarterly, and yearly meeting. The members of them unite with their brethren in the meetings for discip line, and are equally accountable to the latter for their conduct.
The foregoing account is principally compiled from the following works: " J &win ary the History, Doctrine, &c. of firiend, ;" R. Claridge's " We and Posthumous IV9dcs ;" William Pean's !Yorks;" R. Burelay's "rlpokgy ;" and Seweles " History of the Quak, rs."