In Memoriam

4 BULLETIN OF FRIENDS HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION ON FEBRUARY 26 Friends Historical Association held its first midwinter dinner at The Whittier, in Philadelphia. We say first because the attendance of two hundred and twelve members and guests suggests that it should be repeated in the future. Accommodations were taxed to their utmost, but everyone seemed contented as the company listened to the four speakers who informed us in delightful fashion of their hobbies. President W. W. Comfort called first on Charles F. Jenkins, a former President of the Association, who told of his historic stone walk and read some of the appropriate sonnets he has written to commemorate it. Next came J. Stogdell Stokes, President of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, who told of his experiences in collecting old Pennsylvania furniture. Then Rufus M. Jones made us all wish that there existed a collection of classic Quaker stories such as those he told us from his own rich repertoire. Finally, Francis R. Taylor gave us a mental glimpse of his large collection of Quakeriana and exhibited his precious first American edition of Sewel's History which had belonged to an ancestor two hundred years ago and which he recently purchased in the open market. It was a satisfaction to find that such pleasant and profitable entertainment could be furnished without going outside our own membership. 3to Jïlemoriam James H. Atkinson died at Moorestown, New Jersey, on Third Month 19, 1943, aged 90. He was the honorary Treasurer of Friends Historical Association from the time of the merger with Friends Historical Society on Twelfth Month 1, 1923, to the time of his death. Prior to that time, he was Treasurer and one of the founders of the former organization from its inception on Twelfth Month 4, 1873. He had been a Director from the beginning. The long and faithful service of this concerned Friend has been an example that is outstanding. He was an Overseer and the Recorder of Green Street Monthly Meeting of Friends for many years, Treasurer of Friends Central School, of the Girard Avenue School, and of Friends Central Bureau at Fifteenth and JOHN NEAL5 Cherry Streets. He was Superintendent of the First Day School at Moorestown, where he led the men's Bible Class. His interest in social improvement in the community of Moorestown, New Jersey, was noteworthy. He was very active in Friends General Conference, which he served in various official capacities, being a member of its Central Committee. The Directors of Friends Historical Association make this Minute in grateful remembrance of his useful service to the Society of Friends and to this Association in particular. JOHN NEAL, DOCTOR OF AMERICAN LITERATURE By John A. Pollard JOHN NEAL,* man of many facets, was generous, and he was also patriotic. He had, moreover, some literary discernment, and the critical judgments which abound in the Yankee,1 particularly in relation to younger American authors, were not ?John Neal (1793-1876), "author, editor, man of affairs, was the son of a Quaker schoolmaster of the same name" of Falmouth, now Portland, Maine. His early novels, referred to in the following article, had considerable sale. After some wandering, and after having been disowned from the Society of Friends, according to his own account, "for knocking a man who insulted him head over heels; for paying a militia fine; for making a tragedy ; and for desiring to be turned out, whether or no," he went to England for four years, returning in 1827 to New York, where he intended to settle and practice law. Hearing of threats because of supposed insults in his novels, he removed to Portland, his birthplace, where he established himself as author, editor, and business man. He was of a fearless but kindly and courteous disposition, a man of great energy and facile ability; but he is judged to have written too hastily and with too little restraint. Seventy-Six (1823) and Randolph (1823) are accounted the best of some thirteen novels credited to him; Brother Jonathan (1825) was published in Blackwood's Magazine during his English residence. He also wrote One Word More (1854), a religious treatise; an autobiography , Wandering Recollections of a Somewhat Busy Life...