, in reference to certain changes of principle and practice in the Society then beginning to be observable, but which have since more than justified the writer's fears and solicitude.
Amesbury, 2d mo., 1870.
To the editor of the Review.
Esteemed friend,—If I have been hitherto a silent, I have not been an indifferent, spectator of the movements now going on in our religious Society.
Perhaps from lack of faith, I have been quite too solicitous concerning them, and too much afraid that in grasping after new things we may let go of old things too precious to be lost.
Hence I have been pleased to see from time to time in thy paper very timely and fitting articles upon a
Hired Ministry and
Silent Worship.
The present age is one of sensation and excitement, of extreme measures and opinions, of impatience of all slow results.
The world about us moves with accelerated impulse, and we move with it: the rest we have enjoyed, whether true or false, is broken; the title-deeds of our opinions, the reason of our practices, are demanded.
Our very right to exist as a distinct society is questioned.
Our old literature—the precious journals and
