PA-QUAKERS-L Archives

Archiver > PA-QUAKERS > 2006-09 > 1159360595


From: "Daniel W Treadway" <>
Subject: Re: [PA-QUAKERS] Disownment
Date: Wed, 27 Sep 2006 07:36:35 -0500
References: <bd2.41bc5c5.32449b12@aol.com><9b74508d0609262141l481cabdcp71c74f3590afaea5@mail.gmail.com>
In-Reply-To: <9b74508d0609262141l481cabdcp71c74f3590afaea5@mail.gmail.com>


On Tue, 26 Sep 2006 21:41:24 -0700
"Alice Allen" <> wrote:
> I'd like to add a quick comment on this subject as well. When
>reading
> the abstracts, the disownment process seemed very harsh, as the
> abstracts would only show that someone was disowned on a particular
> date, and often the reason why. What the abstracts don't show is
>that
> the disownment usually came after months of trying to get the member
> to change his or her ways. After reading some of the minutes (not
>the
> abstracts), I came away with a better sense of the love our Quaker
> ancestors had for their fellow members in trying to work with them
>to
> change their ways.
>
> Alice Allen
>

If you put the phrase "old discipline" (with the quotes) into Google,
among the top hits is an online copy of the 1806 Philadelphia Yearly
Meeting /Discipline/ at www.qhpress.org.

Most sections of this document have mention of the actions to be taken
if a member transgresses, and always disownment is the last step in a
series.

The basis for Quaker disciplinary procedure is always this passage in
Matthew 18:15-17:

15Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him
his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast
gained thy brother.

16But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more,
that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be
established.

17And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but
if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen
man and a publican.



--
Dan Treadway
P. O. Box 72 Gilbert IA 50105

http://showcase.netins.net/web/treadway/

This thread: