Salem-Upper Springfield Monthly Meeting
Mailing address P.O. Box 163, Salem, Ohio 44460
Meeting House 350 East Sixth Street, Salem, Ohio 44460
Worship: First Day, 10:30 a.m.
Clerk: Carey L. Newlin
Our meetings are held in the manner of the Conservative Friends of Ohio Yearly Meeting, which are un-programmed, Christ centered meetings, waiting in silence, with expectancy to hear our Lord through the Holy Spirit, speak to us. Often we are moved to share with those present the words we are given.
About Quaker Worship
Our Friends’ Meeting is based on silence, but it is a silence of waiting; of expectancy. It is a gathering without human direction or supervision. When you lift your heart to God you are contributing to the common worship as well as to your own renewal. You may be disturbed by the strangeness of the silence, by distraction outside, or by your own roving thoughts. Do not worry about this but return again and again to the still center of your being where God can be found. Try if only for an instant, to be quiet in body, mind and soul.
It is our desire that our meeting be under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. There is no designated minister to speak or pray at an appointed time, for any are free to speak or pray when moved by the spirit of God. Each one present shares the responsibility for worship and can share in its blessings. Such a meeting is always a high venture in faith and it is to such a venture that we invite you.
Our first Monthly Meeting records are dated Ninth month, 1805 and we have been meeting in the current meeting house since it was built in 1872. In 1975 we merged with Upper Springfield Monthly Meeting, which was located in Damascus, Ohio. We still maintain the burial grounds in Damascus, however the Meeting House and School House have been turned over to the Damascus Historical Society for their care and use. In 2017 Winona Meeting was laid down and in that process our meeting was asked to take ownership and responsibility for the graveyard on the hill behind the Meeting House which we have gladly done. Both of the Winona Meeting Houses and their grounds were transferred to the Winona Area Historical Society.
Location and Special Meeting Times
The street address for the Meeting House is 350 East 6th Street, Salem, Ohio however we do not receive mail there. Our mailing address is: PO Box 163, Salem, Ohio.
On the 4th First Day (Sunday) of each month, we often meet with the other remaining meeting in Columbiana County, Middleton Meeting, rotating between the 2 meeting houses every other month, odd months (1st, 3rd, 5th, etc) at Salem and even months (2nd, 4th, 6th, etc.) at Middleton. During these joint meetings, there will generally be some friends still attending at the other meeting house to welcome any who wish to attend.