GATHERED MEETING

Thomas Kelly, 1914

Friends Journal

Courtesy of Haverford College

Thomas Kelly, a Quaker mystic, wrote this passage which was published in a tract available on the internet. Thomas Kelly, a birthright Quaker, lived from 1893 until 1941. He is best know as an author and professor of philosophy at Haverford College. 

The Gathered Meeting 

By Thomas Kelly

"The crux of religious living lies in the will, not in transient and variable states. Utter dedication of will to God is open to all, for every man can will. Where such a will is present, there is a child of God. When there are graciously given to us such glimpses of glory as aid us in softening our will, then we may be humbly grateful. But glad willing away of self, that the will of God, so far as it can be discerned, may become our own—that is the basic condition. In that steadiness of spirit one walks serene and unperturbed praying only “Thy will be done.” Confident that we are in His hands, and that He educates us in ways we do not expect by means of dryness as well as by means of glory, we walk in gratitude if His sun shines upon us, and in serenity if He leads us in valleys and dry places.

And as individual mystics who are led deep into the heart of devotion learn to be weaned away from reliance upon special times of vision, learn not to clamor perpetually for the heights but to walk in shadows and valleys and dry places for months and years together, so must group worshippers learn that worship is fully valid when there are no thrills, no special sense of covering. The disciplined soul and the disciplined group have learned to cling to the reality of God's presence, whether the feeling of presence is great or faint. If the wind of the Spirit, blowing whither He wills, warms the group into an inexpressible sense of unity, then the worshippers are profoundly grateful. If no blanket of divine covering is warmly felt, and if the wills have been offered together in the silent work of worship, worshippers may still go home content and nourished and say, “It was a good meeting.” In the venture of group worship, souls must learn to accept spiritual weather without dismay and go deeper in will into Him who makes all things beautiful in their time."

This is a hymn as sung by Mennonites. 'Where He leads he I will follow' expresses the sentiment of one who wills to take whatever path which is lain before one. As Kelly says praying only 'that the will of God, so far as it can be discerned, may become our own.' The conservative Mennonites use music as integral to their worship. Their only instrument of music is the human voice. The whole congregation joins in song in accordance with New Testament methods of worship in Spirit.

John 4
[24] God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Matthew 26
[30] And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. 

Colossians 3
[16] Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

I Will Follow