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Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Records: Discipline Revision Committees (1911-1996)
Notifications
Held at: Quaker Meeting Records at Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections and Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Quaker Meeting Records at Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections and Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
In 1911, a Committee of Men and Women Friends of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting (Hicksite) was appointed to Consider Propositions for Changes in Discipline from Concord Quarterly and Southern Half-Yearly Meetings. The revised discipline was approved by the Yearly Meeting in 1913. The next revision, The Book of Discipline of the Religious Society of Friends, Christian Practice, Business Procedure was published in 1927 as approved by Yearly Meeting.
When the Hicksite and Orthodox branches of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends agreed in 1950 to work towards an ?organic? unification, a committee made up of members of both meetings worked to create a single revised ?book of discipline.? Faith and Practice was published in 1955 and reprinted with minor revisions in 1961.
In 1964, concerns relative to membership, particularly the status of non-member children and the section on Worship and Ministry, became sufficiently pressing that a committee was appointed to revise Faith and Practice to address these concerns. It was some time until the committee was actually created: in 1965 the Yearly Meeting agreed that a revision committee ought to begin work within the space of a year. The volume was originally scheduled to be released in 1970, but was not published until 1972.
After another reprinting in 1978, a concern originating in the Committee for Education and Care of Members and reinforced by the Women?s Committee and the Worship and Ministry committee suggesting a general revision of Faith and Practice be undertaken was presented to the Representative Meeting. This was presented by the Representative Meeting at the 1986 Yearly Meeting, whereupon a list of names formulated by a previously appointed Nominating Committee was approved by the Yearly Meeting. This set of revisions included a major reorganization of the entire volume. It focused on removing sexist language and improving the representation of women?s voices in the section of Friends? quotations. The volume was finished in 1996 and published in 1997.
The records, 1911-1996, of the Faith and Practice Revision Committee of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends and its predecessors. They include minutes from the committees themselves as well as relevant minutes from the Yearly Meeting and Representative Meeting from the same time-periods, and other letters, memoranda, and budgeting statements. The bulk of the collection is made up of an extensive series of drafts which represent the progression of changes each time it was revised. The drafts demonstrate effectively the goals and actions of the committee. Further, the collection contains a few of the documents and publications used as references or models for the drafts.
Organization:
- Ser.1 Committee to Consider Proposals for the Revision of Discipline (Hicksite : 1911-1913)
- Ser.2 Committee on the Revision of Discipline (Hicksite : 1922-1927)
- Ser.3 Committee on the Book of Faith and Practice (Society of Friends : 1950-1955 : Philadelphia, Pa.)
- Ser.4 Committee on the Revision of Faith and Practice (1964-1972)
- Ser.5 Faith and Practice Revision Committee (1986-1996)
Deposit, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends
Organization
- Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of Friends (Hicksite : 1827-1955). Committee to Consider Proposals for the Revision of Discipline (1911-1913)
- Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of Friends (Hicksite : 1827-1955). Committee on the Revision of Discipline (1922-1927)
- Committee on the Book of Faith and Practice (Society of Friends : Philadelphia, Pa. : 1950-1955)
- Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends. Committee on the Revision of Faith and Practice (1964-1972)
- Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends. Faith and Practice Revision Committee (1986-1996)
Subject
- Publisher
- Quaker Meeting Records at Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections and Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
- Finding Aid Date
- 2004
- Access Restrictions
-
Collection is open for research. Access may be provided via digital or microfilm copy, per repository policy.
- Use Restrictions
-
Copyright has not been assigned to the Repositories. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to the individual Meeting or its successor. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Repositories as the holder(s) of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by reader.
Collection Inventory
The published version may be found at Friends Historical Library, BX7609 .P7 1913
Minutes, 1911-1913, and miscellaneous papers, 1912-1913. Papers include correspondence and drafts of changes.
Physical Description1 volume; 25 cm + 2 folders
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: Hicksite
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
A volume entitled The Book of Discipline of the Religious Society of Friends, Christian Practice, Business Procedure was published in 1927 as approved by Yearly Meeting.
The published version may be found at Friends Historical Library, BX7609 .P7 1927
Minutes of the Committee on Revision of Discipline, 1922-1927.
Physical Description1 volume
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: Hicksite
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Report of the Committee on Revision of Discipline of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting (Hicksite) of the text for the seven Yearly Meetings in Friends General Conference, 1927.
Physical Description1 volume
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: Hicksite
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Suggested revisions of the Rules of Discipline and Advices of the Religious Society of Friends by the Revision Committee of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting (Hicksite), cooperating with the Uniform Discipline Committee of Friends General Conference, 1923 and 1926.
Physical Description2 vols.
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: Hicksite
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
The published version may be found at Friends Historical Library, BX7731 .2 .A5x 1961
1 folder
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: United
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
1 folder
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: United
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Chronological
Physical Description1 folder
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: United
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Includes: 1/14/53 agenda with outlined proposal for work, 1/14/53 Section 1 table of contents, 4/15/54 outline, 6/23/54 letter (serving as preface to preliminary edition), Section 1, 1954 edition, expanded Section 1, 1954 edition, preliminary publication, miscellaneous and fragmented draft with typed revisions inserted.
Physical Description1 folder
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: United
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Includes: ?Two Recommendations from Friends to Consider?, Suggestions for Anthology from Rufus Jones? 2/18/54, ?Review of Responses from Friends, Feb-July 1953?, ?Review of Responses from Friends, Study Groups, and Monthly Meetings since July 1953?.
Physical Description1 folder
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: United
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Includes: 2/25/53 draft, 5/20/54 draft; Historical Introduction, F. Tolles draft, 12/10/50, Undated (later) draft, draft published in ?Friends Intelligencer? to elicit suggestions, 1952 (?); The Basis of Our Faith and Unity, 12/17/53 draft, 1/21/54 draft, undated draft, abstract of ?What is Our Faith??, fragment of ?Friends Witness to the Faith? from FGC 1952, full ?Friends Witness to the Faith?; The Society of Friends and Christian Thought, Undated draft, Doctrinal Statement (not included in final publication); The Light Within, 2/4/54 draft, 5/20/54 draft, extract from Harold Brinton text, N.D., extract from Rufus Jones text, N.D.; The Value and Use of the Bible, 6/16-6/21/54 revisions, 4/3/54 draft, Brinton text, extracted 1952.
Physical Description1 folder
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: United
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Includes: Introduction: (NB: this is called Part III introduction, but the segments discussed match up better with what the contents of the later drafts designate as Part II - what went where must have been changed around) 9/8/53; Worship & Ministry, ?The Meeting for Worship? 3/4/54; The Meeting for Business, 5/13/54 draft, 5/27/54 draft; Prayer, 5/26/53 draft, 4/15/54 draft; Simplicity 10/15/53 draft, 11/6/53 draft; Recreation, 4/29/54 draft, 6/3/21 draft, undated draft; Marriage, 9/8/53 draft; Home and Family, 1/21-1/28/54 draft, marked, undated draft; Education, 2/11/53 draft, 1/17/54 draft; Temperance, 9/8/53 draft, ?Notes of the Leon J. Saul Seminar [On Alcoholism?]? 12/22/53; God and Human Diversity, 1/28/54 draft.
Physical Description1 folder
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: United
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Includes: Introduction and Complete Copies, 10/29/53 complete (as of then) copy, marked draft of the previous, marked Introduction only, 1/14/54: Peace - A Positive Testimony, 5/16/52 draft, undated draft; Religion and Science, 7/7/54 draft; Intergroup Relations, 12/8/53 draft; The Individual and the State, 1/16/52 draft, revisions, 12/17/53 draft, 3/11/54 draft; Social Customs and Individual Responsibility, 4/22/54 draft
Physical Description1 folder
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: United
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
1 folder
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: United
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
The published version may be found at Friends Historical Library, BX7609 .P4 1972
No minutes, 1965-1967; gaps.
Physical Description1 folder
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: United
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Minutes of the Committee on the Revision of Faith and Practice, 1965-1972
Physical Description1 volume
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: United
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Chronological.
Physical Description1 folder
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: United
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Includes: Introduction, 9/15/69, Introduction, 10/9/70; The Inward Light, 8/1/60 draft, 10/20/69 draft; Concerns 5/10/69 revisions of 11/29/67 version; Value and Use of the Bible, suggested changes to ? ?, 9/15/69; The Sacraments August 1969 draft; Prayer, 11/16/69 draft. 12/1/69 draft; Simplicity and Integrity, undated draft; Recreation, 8/25/69 draft; Marriage, August 1969 draft, 10/20/70 draft; Education, ?Religious Education? 6/9/69 draft, ?Education? 11/7/69 draft, ?Education? 12/15/69 draft, 1/17/70 draft; Social Customs and Individual Responsibility, ?Alcohol and Drugs,? 5/3/69 draft, ?Alcohol and Drugs,? November 1969 draft, ?Gambling,? 5/19/69 draft, ?Gambling,? 6/9/69 draft; God and Human Diversity, 12/15/69 draft, 1/5/70 draft; Human Relations, 1/20/70 draft; The Peace Testimony, 11/1969 draft; The Individual and the State, 9/22/1969 draft
Physical Description1 folder
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: United
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Includes: Meetings for Business, Business Procedure: ?Monthly Meeting Minutes and Yearly Meeting Decisions,? N.D., ?The Yearly Meeting:? ?Committees to Plan for Yearly Meeting Sessions,? 4/26/69, ?Representative Meeting:? 5/19/69 revisions, Duties of the Representative Meeting,? No. 9 revised 9/25/69; Worship and Ministry, ?Meeting on Worship and Ministry,? 5/10/70, ?Meeting on Worship and Ministry,? 1/19/70; Committee of Overseers, draft, 1/11/69, revisions to the previous, 4/14/69; Membership, ?Transfers of Membership,? 12/16/68, ?Transfers of Membership,? 4/26/69; Funds, Property, and Records, ?Meeting Funds,? 6/9/69, 12/1/69 revisions to the above, ?Property,? 12/12/69. ?Property,? 12/15/69.
Physical Description1 folder
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: United
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Includes: 1) draft, 4/17/68; Answers to Queries, New Queries, and Monthly Meeting Responses, 5/7/68, Second Query, Third Query, Fourth Query, Fifth Query; ?Third Draft of Queries,? 10/21/68, ?Fourth Draft of Queries,? 1/11/69, ?Combined Queries,? 2/11/69, ?Suggested New Queries from Schuylkill Monthly Meeting?, ?Supplemental Queries,? 4/14/69, ?Seventh Supplemental Query,? 4/21/69
Physical Description1 folder
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: United
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Includes: ?On Being a Friend,? n.d.
Physical Description1 folder
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: United
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Prulished version may be found in Friends Historical Library: BX7609 .P4
Some gaps in the minutes.
Physical Description1 folder
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: United
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Assorted budget slips, some bills, etc.
Physical Description1 folder
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: United
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Chronological.
Physical Description1 folder
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: United
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Includes: responses to Questionnaires sent by Committee to Monthly Meeting and individual Friends.
Physical Description2 folders
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: United
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Includes: 4/6/94 table of contents, undated outline; Draft Checklists, 9/10/94, marked and unmarked undated versions; memorandum and outline, 5/27/88, letter & minute from Haverford Meeting, 7/30/1995; Suggested Changes August 1996, 8/28/96, 10/11/96 & two undated
Physical Description1 folder
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: United
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Includes: Parts I and III: 1995 version for approval at 1996 YM; Part II: final revised draft, after review of suggestions, September 1996.
Physical Description1 folder
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: United
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Includes: Foreword, 12/20/94 draft, 1/13/95 draft (marked), 1/24/95 draft; Preface, 3/24/94 draft, marked version of the above, 9/23/94 draft; Historical Introduction, undated ?First Draft,? 8/25/95 draft, draft of ?Recent Growth and Change,? August 1995
Physical Description1 folder
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: United
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Includes: Combined Draft: Friends and The Bible, Friends and the Sacraments; Worship & Meeting for Worship, drafts approved 1992, 1992, 1991 (respectively) at YM called sessions; The Light Within, 4/6/94 draft, 6/21/94 draft; Worship and Meeting for Worship, 4/16/89 draft, 11/9/91 draft, undated editorial note; Decision-Making/The Good Order Used Among Us, 2/3/90 draft; Committees for Clearness, May 1991 draft, 5/31/95 draft; Friends and the Bible, 1/2/92 draft, 2/29/92 draft; Prayer, 1/6/92 draft, 6/24/92 draft; Friends and the Sacraments, 3/29/92 draft.
Physical Description1 folder
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: United
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Includes: Membership, 6/3/89 draft, 11/3/90 draft; Friends and Education, 12/14/91 draft, 5/30/94 draft; Quaker Marriage Procedure, 6/24/94 draft, 5/6/95 draft; Intervisitation, 2/5/94 draft, May 1991 draft; Death and Bereavement, Nov. 1993 draft, revision of the above; Funds, Property, Burial Grounds, 11/9/91 draft; Opportunities for Wider Religious Fellowship and Action, Fall 1994 draft, 1/14/95 draft
Physical Description1 folder
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: United
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Includes: complete draft of section, 11/18/94; Living with Ourselves and Others, handwritten notes, October 1986, Spring 1995 draft; Living in the World, draft of ?Peace,? N.D.
Physical Description1 folder
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: United
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Includes: Advices, September 1996 draft; Other, Author file, ?Quotes from Hicksite PYM Faith and Practice of 1927? (added 11/7/95)
Physical Description1 folder
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: United
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Includes: Introduction, 1/13/89 draft, 10/19/91 draft; Monthly Meetings, ?Winter 1988-1989? draft, 11/3/90 draft; Annual or Biennial Checklist for Monthly Meetings, undated draft; Quarterly (Regional) Meetings, 6/11/89 draft, undated draft; Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, 1991 draft, Fall 1994 draft, ?Committees of PYM,? 8/12/95, August 1995 draft; Meetings: Growth and changes in Formal Relationships/Changes in Established Meetings, 4/8/88 draft, 5/19/89 draft, 2/29/92 draft; Revising Faith and Practice, 11/17/94 draft, 1/21/95 draft.
Physical Description1 folder
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: United
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Includes: 6/17/89 draft, February 1992 draft, 1994 draft, queries 9 & 12 redraft, supplementary queries, feedback 1994, feedback 3/3/95.
Physical Description1 folder
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: United
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Includes: 8/15/94 draft, 3/5/93 draft, 5/27/96 draft, 8/4/96 draft, undated draft.
Physical Description1 folder
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: United
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Includes: miscellaneous model and/or referential texts used by the committee.
Physical Description1 folder
Material Specific DetailsAffiliation: United
Physical LocationFriends Historical Library of Swarthmore College