Briefer Notices

Briefer Notices On September29, 1994, the West River Quaker Burial Ground, site ofthe first meetings of what would become Baltimore Yearly Meeting, was returned to the Religious Society of Friends. For some 150 years the Burial Ground had been under the control ofcommunity trustees and they had approached the Chesapeake Quarterly Meeting to see if once again Friends would take responsibility for the site. The Quarterly Meeting approved and appointed three Friends and a previous local trustee to become the new Board. Appointed were Frances Palmeri, Annapolis , Marshall Sutton, Gunpowder, Ronald Mattson, Baltimore-Stony Run, and Charles Tucker from the previous Board. Mary Dunlap of Baltimore-Stony Run was appointed Archivist. The West River Quaker Burial Ground., located near present day Galesville, Maryland, was the site of the "General Meeting of Maryland Friends" in April, 1 672. It was at that gathering, called by John Burnyeat and also attended by George Fox, that Baltimore Yearly Meeting came into existence. In the 2nd Month, 1 672, 1 appointed a meeting at West River in Maryland, for all the Friends in the Province, that I might see them together, before I departed, for I was determined to go as soon as I could after that meeting. And when the time appointed came and Friends from all parts began to come, George Fox, with several brethren, came from Jamaica, and landed at Pertuxon, and fromthence came straighttothe meeting, . . . and wehad a very large meeting, which did continue for several days; and a Men and Women's Meeting for the settling ofthings, that Men and Women's Meetings might be established in the Province, according to the blessed order ofthe Gospel of Christ Jesus, which Friends by the power thereof, were gathered into in most places. And George Fox did wonderfully open the service thereofunto Friends, and they with gladness ofheart received advice in such necessary things, as were then opened unto them, and all were comforted and edified. 7Vie Truth Exalted in the Writings ofthat Eminent and Faithful Servant ofChrist, John Burnyeat The new Trustees will be meeting quarterly at the Annapolis Friends Meetinghouse and have chosen Frances Palmeri to be the Clerk of the Trustees. ...