History
Thomas A. Crawford's 23 years of service as Clerk of Ohio YM of Ministers & Elders was the second longest term of service (second only to Benjamin W. Ladd's 30 years). Crawford was first appointed in 1901 to serve when John W. Smith was unable to attend. Throughout Crawford's service, the YM of M&Es maintained the same schedule. It is described below with highlights of his term of office.
The YM of M&Es held two sessions throughout this time. The first session was held on Sixth Day before the "general" Yearly Meeting assembled. Reports were read from the select QMs, and the Representatives were called. Next, travelling minutes were read and gathered to be handed to the YM Clerk. During Crawford's term, the following minutes were read: Philadelphia YM - 44; North Carolina YM - 15; Canada YM - 10; Kansas YM - 9; Western, Iowa, and New England YMs - 7. The text of the select Queries was read, along with the answers from the select QMs. The only other business minuted during the first session was taken up if a minister had a concern to travel outside of the United States. This happened twice: in 1911 when Esther Fowler had a concern to travel to London YM and in 1919 when James Henderson had a concern to travel to Germany, Austria, Hungary, Turkey, Bulgaria, and Romania. As soon as the session ended, the QM Representatives would meet.
The second session of the YM of M&E was held on Second Day morning. Ministers and Elders gathered at 8:00 until 1913, then at 7:30 from 1914 to 1918, then at 8:30 from 1919 to 1921, and at 8:00 beginning with 1922. The first item of business was the report of the QM Representatives. A leading Friend would report on the recommendation of the Representatives for Clerk for the coming year. Any additonal travelling minutes were then read. The major piece of business was the reading of the text of the Queries along with the proposed YM summaries. Last, any additiona business was considered. In 1908, two items of business were considered. Esther Fowler's minute to travel outside of the nation was endorsed, and the select YM decided that a local select meeting could recommend names of Friends to be recognized as minister or elder in another meeting. A committee was appointed in 1914 (which reported back in 1915) that allowed any minister with a concern to go outside of the Stillwater MH on First Day morning to worship with those who could not fit inside the building. In 1917, the select YM decided that it could only forward travelling minutes to the general YM for Friends officially in fellowship with Ohio YM. In 1921, Stillwater's select meeting notified the select YM that it had opened a select preparative meeting at Fairhope, Alabama. |
