Women's Yearly Meeting at Arch St. Meeting House, 1805

WOMEN'S YEARLY MEETING AT ARCH STREET, 1805. 57 day next. The moment of his arriving at John Paul's door from the vessel is said to have been one of much interest. Stephen Grellet was among those awaiting him. He leaped from the carriage exclaiming, " My dear friend Stephen Grellet ! " when they embraced with much emotion and affection. On entering the house he fell on his knees sweetly returning thanks to the Almighty power who had preserved him." WOMEN'S YEARLY MEETING AT ARCH ST. MEETING HOUSE, 1805. " Had you staid another day with us you would have been fairly in the Yearly Meeting bustle, as the Uncles, Aunts, and Cousins flocked in that morning by dozens. In the afternoon we all assembled at the new House,1 and I very much doubt whether modern times ever witnessed so large a collection of females; many attended through curiosity on that day, that have perhaps not attended a meeting house this seven years before. It would scarcely hold the half of us, and poor James Vaux bustled about till he was quite in a perspiration to find seats, but all in vain, it would «oí hold us. And it has been extremely crowded through the week—the gate-keepers say 17 hundred have attended and that Market St. house will not contain 16 [hundred] seated. However every body has found fault, and a very partial vote of thanks for our new accommodation has reached our Masters. To give thee my own opinion, I cannot see what is now to be done, but divide the Yearly Meeting, and raise more of the benches so that we can see as well as hear what is going forward. But R. Jones [Rebecca Jones] (our Queen) has commanded us not to say anything more about it, lest the Men should be discouraged from attempting to please us again." Ann Shoemaker to her sister Rebecca (Shoemaker) Cope, Philadelphia 4 mo. 21, 1805. 1ThIs was the eastern wing, now occupied by men Friends at Yearly Meeting. 58BULLETIN OF FRIENDS' HISTORICAL SOCIETY. In connection with the above letter the contemporary notices by Rebecca Jones will be interesting. "Fifth month ist, [1805]. Since the last note our Yearly Meeting has been held. . . . The women's meetings were held in the new house, built for that purpose, in Arch street burying ground, and was very large. It was said by some Men Friends who took the account, that sixteen hundred were accommodated in it. . . . The meeting ended on Seventh-day about 11 o'clock, but not so soon as we wished, and hoped it would. . . . " Seventh month 8, [1805]. Friends of High Street (Market St.), last Fifth-day, removed their week-day meeting to the new house on Arch Street. . . . " Ninth month 23, [1805]. To Mary Bevan, wife of Joseph Gurney Bevan, England. Our late Yearly meeting [women's] was held in the new house, built for the accommodation of women Friends, which is found convenient, and will be more so when our brethren shall build one for themselves, as contemplated, on the same lot, in unison with it." Memorials of Rebecca Jones, 2d edition [1849] PP- 3^S. 31^, 321·2 ITEMS FROM OLD ALMANACS. The following items from old Almanacs throw considerable light on the opportunities for travel somewhat over a hundred years ago. The stages in the Middle and Southern States ran at still less frequent intervals, and inns, and even what were considered in those days the requisites of travel, were sadly lacking. The journals of the Friends give some information on these points, but much less than we should like to have. Most Friends travelled by private conveyance or on horseback. They went from one Friend's house to another, and as it was considered a privilege to entertain " public " Friends, including their horses, long distances could be covered at a trifling cost, except of time, which was abundant. Travel was not confined to " public " 2The western wing was added in 1811, and the women's meeting first occupied it Third-day, the 16th of Fourth month, 1811 ; on the same day the men first occupied the eastern wing, hitherto occupied by the women...