The elders who assembled at Balby, in the north of England, in 1656 wrote twenty “advices,” which included the first detailed directions about what to do in certain circumstances such as when “any person draw back from meetings and walk disorderly.” Their epistle, which follows, prepared the ground for later books of discipline.

Dear Friends:

This is the message of our love.

We have been united with you this week in closer fellowship which transcended our diversity, as New York Yearly Meeting became again one body of Friends.

We wish to share with you our joy that the way to unity has been found.

We shall continue to share our differences, which serve a useful purpose. God does not ask us for conformity, but calls us to unity, in obedience to the leadings of the spirit.