Stand Up

Prologue

Jennifer sat at a long table at the historic society in her county in Pennsylvania. She was looking up her Quaker ancestors. Just as seen in the index of the Philadelphia Minutes (Arch Street) 1686-1727 her 7x grandmother's name, the lady at the desk announced they were closing. Jennifer would have to come back tomorrow.

The next day, Jennifer was there as soon as the lady unlocked the door. She had her legal pad with her and her sharpened pencils. Jennifer grabbed the minutes off the shelf and turned to her 7x great grandparent's names, Sarah Wood and Issac Pillar. On page 156, she finds the marriage declaration of her 7x great grandparents! It occurred on September 24th 1725, and she had to know more. She then finds the marriage certificate declaring their union on November 1726 in Lancaster, PA. Jennifer kept digging and found a scandal.

July 1, 1727

Sarah noticed the whispers. She noticed the quick looks away from Friends. Issac had sudden cancelled orders from Friends. At dinner that night, after their moment of silence, they talked about what they had noticed, and neither of them could think of anything that would cause this.

July 10, 1727

Issac came home.

"Sarah," Issac said in an escalated voice, "They are saying we cohabitated before we were married. Richard has come to me and quietly said it will be discussed in the next Meeting."

"Issac," Sarah said in a calm voice, "that is the most ridiculous claim I have heard. Who is accusing us of this?"

"This I do not know," said Issac.

"Issac," Sarah said in her strong, calm voice, "there is no evidence. If someone comes forward, we know what we have done and so does the Spirit."

July 27, 1727

The Friends in their Meeting talked about going to the Pillars, Sarah and Issac, and they were saddened to report they couldn't get Issac to come to Meeting and confess the "Scandalous Reports" of the two of them "cohabitating before marriage."

August 25, 1727

At the monthly meeting, the Friends assigned Richard, Israel and the two Samuels to go to Sarah and Issac and get them to repent because they had "cohabitated" together before marriage, it was said.

September 9, 1727

The Friends knock on Issac and Sarah's door to discuss with them the "Evil." Issac opens the door. They all shake hands.

"Come, come in please," said Issac to the four men.

They entered the house, and as Issac was a carpenter they each had a seat in front of the fireplace. Sarah sat with the men. The Friends had a moment of silence, and when Israel felt the spirit he spoke.

"Friends," Israel said, "Let me speak plain. We have heard about your cohabitation before marriage. As you know, we must all confess evils and repent before the Friends. The Friends have sent us to speak."

Sarah spoke.

"Friends, we appreciate the concern, but we have nothing to confess. We did no wrong, and we are happily married as all the Friends know and have clearly seen. The Christ knows of everything we do and have done. Please relay this to the Friends at the next Meeting."

Issac sat quietly. Issac was a somber man, a conformist. Someone who respected the Friends and required their approval for his ability to feel peace in the world.

Sarah believed in the importance of truth before the Spirt and would never lie just receive approval from others. She was strong and self-assured.

They all had a moment of silence and reflection. The four men sent by the Friends nod their heads, shook hands, and retreated from the Pillar household.

September 29, 1727

Richard, Israel, and the two Samuels report their hope that Issac and Sarah will come to the next meeting and give the Friends satisfaction.

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Israel arose to address the Friends.

"Friends, we have been to the Pillars. They have both claimed they are innocent of this.", Israel said. "They refuse to come into us. We were unable to convince them otherwise."

The two Samuels nodded their heads.

The crowd was saddened that the "Evil" continued to hang over all over them.

October 27, 1727

The Friends reported that Sarah and Issac haven't yet come forward.

December 29, 1727

At the monthly Meeting, Sarah and Issac still haven't came forward.

January 13, 1728

"Sarah, I cannot live like this. My business is struggling. This winter has already been hard. We need the Friends. I have not been at peace these many months. We know what we have done. The Spirit knows. We will not convince the Friends otherwise. It's easier to repent. Then all will be forgiven, and we may move on." said Issac.

"No, Issac, I cannot and will not lie. I will not commit an Evil in order to find this peace you speak of, because then I will not be at peace in my soul. You must do as the Spirit directs you, but I feel in my heart the Spirit commanding me to stay firm."

January 26, 1728

Issac sends Sarah to the Meeting with his confession, but when asked Sarah refused to admit that they had cohabited. It is announced that Sarah is considered in pre-separation, due to her lack of ability to confess the "Evil."

March 29, 1728

Sarah still refuses to confess her "Evil" and is seperated from the Friends.

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Epilogue

Jennifer closed the March 1728 monthly minutes from the Friends, and she sighed. She gathered her materials, and she thanked the worker at the desk and left. Jennifer went down the street and bought a snack from a vendor near the entrance of the park. She walked to the gazebo to snack. The sun was setting with vibrant hues of reds and pinks and oranges. Jennifer reflected on her ancestor.

Would Jennifer have had the courage to stand up for the truth as Sarah did?

Would she have caved as Issac did?

Were the records right? Were they "cohabitating" before marriage? Did it matter if they ended up together? Were there conditions that would have made it necessary to "cohabitate"?

Sometimes right and wrong is not so black and white. Sometimes the gray in between is as infinite as the sky. Do community members have the right to judge each other?

With the moon now out, and the crickets chirping their musical melodies. Jennifer threw her trash away and walked home. The air was a perfect June night.

Jennifer knew there would be more mysteries to discover on her next trip. Her legal pads were full of notes that she would type up for her future children.