as may be, trouble public miniftering friends. with being arbitrators in fuch cafes. 1697.

And that all perfons differing, be exhorted by the monthly-meeting to which they belong, when their cafes are referred, and judgment and award made, figned and given thereupon, as aforefaid, to ftand to and perform the faid award, which they have bound themfelves to perform And if any fhall refuse so to do, that then the monthly-meeting to which such person doth belong, upon notice thereof to them given, fhall appoint a fuitable committee to labour with him, and if he do not make it evident, that there is manifeft error or injuftice, they admonish him thereunto; and if after admonition he perfift to refuse, then the meeting to testify against him as before; but if fuch error or injustice be made to appear, then the matter be reconfidered by the fame or other arbitrators, as in the judgment of the monthlymeeting may appear beft, and fuch correcting judgment be final. And the bonds of arbitration are not to be confidered binding and final, where evident error or injuftice is made to appear, and it is advised that bonds be written accordingly; but where this is not manifeft, fuch bonds be conclusive and final.

It is the fenfe and judgment of this meeting, that if any person profeffing truth with us, shall arreft, fue, or implead at law, any other of our members, before he hath proceeded in the methods herein before recommended, that fuch perfon doth therein depart from the principle

of truth, and the known way thereof, and act contrary thereunto, and ought to be dealt with by the meeting he belongs to, for the same; and if he shall not give fatisfaction to the meeting, for fuch his disorderly proceeding, by condemning it, and himself therein, that then he be disowned by the meeting. 1697. 1692.

And if the party fo fued or arrested taking with him, or if under confinement, fending one or two friends to the person who goes to law, shall complain thereof, the said person shall be required immediately to stay proceedings; and if he does not comply with such requisition, the monthly-meeting to which he belongs fhall dif own him, if the cafe require it. 1782.

So much of the minute as doth relate fimply to the entering into bonds, and fo far as arbitrations may be refused on account of difputes and queftions in law, relating to executors or truftees, where the property is not their own, in both these cafes, that there be a particular and special regard had to the nature and circumstances of things, it not being either now, nor at the time of making the said minute, the intent of this meeting, in the above defcribed or other cafes, to lay any unwarrantable burthen upon any brother, nor upon the church of God, 1720.

THE following Method is to be observed in proceeding in Arbitrations.

I. Each party having chosen one or two indifferent, impartial and judicious friends, those fo chofen are to agree upon a third or a fifth friend, unless the parties first agree in the nomination, whofe name fhall be inferted with the others in the bonds of arbitration, or other written agreement.

2. The arbitrators fhould not confider themfelves as advocates for the party by whom they were chofen, but men, whofe incumbent duty it is to judge righteously, fearing the Lord. They fhould fhun all previous information refpecting the cafe, that they may not become biaffed in their judgments before they hear both parties together.

3. The parties to enter into written engagements or bonds, if either of them require it, to abide by the award of the arbitrators, or a majority of them, to be made in a limited time.

4. Every meeting of the arbitrators must be made known to the parties concerned, until they have been fully heard, nor fhall there be any separate private meetings between fome of the arbitrators, or with one party separate from the other, on the business referred to them; and no representation of the cafe of one party, either by writing or otherwise, be admitted, without its being fully made known to the

ohter, and, if required, a copy to be delivered to the other party.

5. The arbitrators are to hear both parties fully, in the prefence of each other, whilst either hath any fresh matter to offer, until a certain time, to be limited by mutual agreement. Let no evidence or witness be withheld or rejected.

6. If there fhould appear to the arbitrators, or any of them, to be any doubtful point of law, they are jointly to agree upon a cafe, and confult counsel thereupon.

The arbitrators are not required to exprefs in the award their reasons for their decifion. One. writing of the award is to be delivered to each party:

It is recommended to arbitrators to propose to the parties, that they should give an acknowl edgment in writing, before the award be made, that they have been candidly and fully heard.

Matters of defamation are not fubjects to be arbitrated, until the defamation is proved, and that fome injury is fuftained by the defamed, in his trade, calling, or property; and in that cafe the damage fhould be fubmitted to arbitration. 1782. But where damage is not proved to be fustained, the perfon defaming is liable to be dealt with, as provided under head Defamation.

BOOKS.

IT being recommended to the meeting for fufferings, to take the overfight of all writings proposed to be printed, which relate to our religious principles or teftimonies, our members who may have any fuch publications in view, are to lay them before the faid meeting for its advice and concurrence. And it is the fense of this meeting, that if any friend shall print or publish any fuch writing, without laying it before faid meeting, or against the advice of faid meeting for fufferings, fuch perfons fhould be complained of to the monthly-meeting they belong to, and if they cannot be convinced of the impropriety of their conduct, be testified against, as oppofed to the peace and good order of the fociety.

This meeting doth earneftly exhort all parents, heads of families, and guardians of minors, that they prevent, as much as in them lies, their children, and others under their care and tuition, from having or reading books and papers. tending to prejudice the profeffion of the Chriftian religion, to create the least doubt concerning the authenticity of the Holy Scriptures, or of thofe faving truths declared in them, left their in

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