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Archiver > QUAKER-ROOTS > 1999-09 > 0936373414


From: "Keith/Connie Street" <>
Subject: Re: [Q-R] Under Care of Meeting
Date: Fri, 3 Sep 1999 10:43:34 -0500


Dear Judith, Friends and friends,

I might suggest another meaning, also, for "under care of". Some of
the early Friends were urban dwellers, although the most appeal later was to
rural residents. Rural residents usually took care of their own; urban
residents were less liable to be able to. There were no welfare programs or
government pensions. At times, therefore, there were needy people, such as
the elderly, a widow with several young children, orphan children, etc. that
would unofficially be provided with food by individual members. Once in a
while, depending on the type of meeting, that person or persons would be
"officially adopted", and the meeting would form a committee to care for
that person's needs, and this would be recorded in the minutes of the
meeting as "under the care of".

As others have stated, "under the care of" is a generic term that
was widely used for a variety of things, another of which was the sense of
the meeting in trying to encourage leadership. There were times when a
member of a particular meeting would feel a "call" to go give a testimony
to another meeting far away, and he/she had no funds with which to undertake
the journey. Requests like this were handled by the individual meetings, and
sometimes the official entry might state "under the care of" as a way of
using meeting funds to aid the person who had received a "call" from God.

From Keith
Keith/Connie Street

325 Franklin Ave, Wapello, IA 52653-1515
319-523-8164

-----Original Message-----
From: Judith W. Heald <>
To: <>
Date: Friday, September 03, 1999 10:07 AM
Subject: [Q-R] Under Care of Meeting


>Dear Friends and friends,
>
>Another meaning comes to mind for me. Weddings were often done in homes,
>but under the care of a meeting. This would mean that the intent to marry
>went to and was eventually approved by the MM, the Oversight Committee for
>the wedding was designated by the MM, and the legal ramifications of the
>marriage were handled by the MM. Basically "Under the Care of. . ." refers
>to the structure that administers to the need (then and now). (As Thomas
>Hamm said "under dealing" is quite correct, but realize this could be very
>positive, not necessarily negative dealing.)
>
>Then and now, Friends may request that a certain concern be "under the
>care", or that a committee be formed to address a particular concern. One
>might request that for one's self, or for others. A less "structured" but
>equally important phrase is "holding in the light" which is a LITTLE bit
>similar to "pray for resolution/understanding of this issue." Someone
>might be "held in the light" during an illness, while traveling, while
>coping with a difficult decision - then and today. The "Light" is a
>beautiful reference to the "light within" or as is often said "that of God
>within each of us." (And we jokingly sometimes say, "It's in there, it's
>just awfully hard to find!)
>
>I could not resist beginning this note with "capital F Friends and little f
>friends", as a phrase used today to refer to Friends who are officially
>members and friends who are just that! :-)
>
>Judy (Friend and friend)
>
>At 08:45 AM 9/3/99 -0500, Thomas Hamm wrote:
>>>Can someone please explain the Term Under Care of Meeting?
>>>
>>>Thank you
>>>
>>>Joy in Wisc.
>>>
>>
>>I've seen it used in two different contexts:
>>
>>1. Interchangeably with "under dealing." A Friend has been charged with
>violation of the Discipline, and a committee is laboring with him, trying
>to bring him to repentance and a condemnation of his misconduct.
>>
>>2. More often, it meant that a non-Friend showed an interest in joing
>Friends and so was "under the care of the meeting" until a final decision
>was made by the meeting on an application for membership.
>>
>
>Judith W. Heald, MS, RD
>Program Manager
>Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program
>401 Ag Admin, University Park, PA, 16802-9601
> PH: 814-863-3447 FAX: 814-863-7776
>
>
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