number of young people staid, and some of their elders; and the testimony of truth was in a solid and free manner declared, which had place with many. About two miles further, we came to a meeting house of the Presbyterians, and after halting a short space on horseback, went a little forward; but not finding entire liberty, we alighted, and went back to the meeting house and continued without until their service was over; when we stepped in, and our friend Rachel Wilson, craved liberty to speak a few words. The minister consented, and continued in his pulpit; but after she had gone on for some time, and was declaring her call to the ministry in a clear manner, he interrupted her, and said to this effect; that if she asserted her being called to the ministry, as it was not agreeable to the word of God, he should oppose her.' She paused awhile, and I requested he would have patience. She asked him whether he would oppose the truth, and repeated the same words. He said, if he heard anything contrary to the word,' it was his duty to oppose it. She said, if she declared anything contrary to the Scriptures, she was willing to hear rebuke; adding, that she did not desire to offend; it was love to God and to their souls, that she had at heart, and so went on; and the minister came out of his pulpit and went off. A sober young man spoke softly to him, as he afterwards told us, and desired that she might go on, for he had a mind to hear her. The people staid and heard with serious attention, many of them being affected, and she had a good opportunity, the truth being declared with power and authority. ing we had conversation with the young man who officiated as parson, a sober courteous man, who had appeared sensibly affected with the truth; and we condemned their manner of treating these deluded people, who are severely persecuted. After dinner we went to the prison. Parson Graves, of Providence, the young Presbyterian, and divers others attended; so that the prison was crowded. Our friend Rachel Wilson, was enabled to speak suitably to these poor creatures, some of whom were calm, but others looked very wild. They all appeared, with respect to their persons, cleanly, well looking people, but very positive in their sentiments. The women seemed the most fiery; they used the plain language, and were full of Scripture, but argument has little weight with them. The evil of persecution was exposed, and endeavours used to calm them; which I desire may be blessed with success. We afterwards spent a little time with Parson Graves, who appeared a thoughtful, sensible man, and condemned the conduct of the Presbyterians to these ranters. "Sixth month 13th; This morning we visited the prisoners at Newport; a stinking jail, where it is a shame that human beings should be kept. The sheriff, the governor's son and others, besides some Friends, were present; the meeting was favoured and the prisoners thankful for the visit. "19th; Went to Aponygansett, where the meeting was exceedingly crowded, and though not so lively as some others, yet Truth in some measure favoured, and the gospel was preached. “20th; Embarked on board the Dartmouth packet with a number of Friends for Nan"6th; At New London application was tucket. We stopped at Elizabeth island, and made to the sheriff, who readily granted the some of us went ashore and waited for a procourt house, and assisted in placing seats. per time of tide to pass through Wood's hole, Many people gathered, and it was early per- a dangerous passage. We set sail again about ceived that it would not accommodate them all. four o'clock, got safely through, and arrived One Colonel Saltonstall, stood up and proposed about sunset at Holme's hole, a good harbour our going to the meeting house just by, for the in Martha's vineyard. We went ashore, and better accommodation of the people. They collecting some of the inhabitants, had a meetmoved to it in an orderly manner, and the testi-ing at our friend Daniel Coffin's, being the only mony of truth was freely declared by our family of Friends on that island. In the mornfriend Rachel Wilson. Some ranting peo-ing we went on board again and landed at ple, called by some, No day Baptists, by others, Quakers, were at the meeting; and one woman, near the close, said that if we were the children of God, there were some of the children of God in prison, and one very sick, and she would have us go and visit them. As these poor deluded people "23d; This morning began the yearly meetwere called by many, Quakers, I was con- ing on Nantucket, and in the afternoon I again cerned to declare our disunity with them and met the above committee and some of the partheir practices, expressing that we were known ties in the difference here; and the Lord fato be an orderly people, and did not counte-voured us, so that there was a willingness nance, nor had we unity with such conduct wrought in all present, except one who desired as these people manifested. After the meet- to think more upon it, to leave the matter to Nantucket about eleven o'clock. "22nd; I met twice with a committee of Friends, appointed by the yearly meeting at Rhode Island, respecting a division that has long unhappily subsisted among Friends on this island. arbitration; and a paper was drawn up accord- “14th; Embarked on board a boat in comingly. This step affected my mind with thank-pany with divers Friends, and had a passage fulness. Next day, in the afternoon, I again of about four hours to Mariconeague, or Harts. met some of the parties, and a few more hill, having passed many small islands. The signed the paper; but some principally con- meeting that evening was but a dull time; cerned not being there, it was resulted to visit afterwards those that profess with Friends them privately. were selected, and some advice communi27th; After the conclusion of the meeting | cated. They are in a poor situation, and the for business yesterday, I acquainted our friend meeting I apprehend not properly supported, Rachel Wilson, with the contention which had though some appeared hopeful. subsisted, of which she was unacquainted, except that there was some uneasiness. I told her I apprehended we should need some of her assistance; which she was free to give; and early this morning we set out, and being joined by the committee, we first visited a divine covering and sweetness almost imme- "15th; Took boat again for Perumscot, which we reached in about six hours and a half, and next day were at two large meetings in their new meeting house. My mind has been much stripped, and great poverty of spi;rit experienced; yet my mouth was opened in each meeting. "On fifth-day morning we mounted our horses and went to Lynn; and here my mind continuing very heavy respecting Mariconeague, I halted and remained at Zaccheus Collins's, and the women Friends proceeded for Boston. After resting awhile, I wrote an epistle to Friends at Mariconeague; in the afternoon I took horse towards Cambridge, intending to overtake the women Friends; but not finding true quiet, I returned; and on seventh-day morning I set out again eastward, determining that if it was the requiring of Truth that I should go back, I would strive to perform it. "On third-day Samuel Collins brought his chaise, intending to accompany me. Very dull was I for want of divine enjoyment, yet fearful of turning back. We proceeded to Berwick, and on fourth-day arrived at Perum،29th; This morning we took a farewell | scot. On fifth-day I had conversation with of many tender Friends, who seemed afresh some Friends respecting the situation of visited. Some that are young, and divers advanced in life are alive in the Truth, and many of the middle aged steady and hopeful; and my mind was thankful that amidst such distraction, a remnant should be preserved. We embarked about seven o'clock, and landed at Wood's hole about five o'clock in the evening. ،، Seventh month 2nd; Although very poorly, I set out for Yarmouth. The people who ȧttended this meeting seemed generally very poor, and many came who were bare-legged and bare-footed; truth prevailed, and it was an instructive edifying meeting. Friends at Mariconeague, and I found them of the same sentiment with myself respecting the danger of their declining. The next day I set out with Friends in a boat, and after a passage of about five hours, landed on the neck and visited four families that evening. "Seventh-day, I rose early, visited three families and attended their monthly meeting. Things here are indeed very low, and unless the Lord interpose, the beloved youth are likely to be scattered and lost to Society. I endeavoured with all the ability afforded to discharge myself, and if possible to stir up to faithfulness. After this we again embarked, and returned to the harbour we had left. "8th; Crossed Merrimack river to Amesbury, had a meeting there, and then proceeded "On first-day I attended two meetings at to Hampton. On second-day was the quar- Perumscot, which were dull, hard meetings, terly meeting for business, and after that a yet I was faithful to perform what I appremeeting for worship, which was large and laborious, by reason of a greater dependance| on words than labour to feel for the life; too many under the profession of the truth being faulty herein. hended my duty, and had afterwards an opportunity of making some serious remarks to divers Friends. On the 6th of eighth month, I got to Newport, and after a few days' stay, embarked for New-York, and so home." On the 6th of the tenth month, 1774, he again left home on a visit to some parts of New-England, in company with our friend Mary Leaver. country, John Pemberton visited the Eastern shore of Maryland, attending the quarterly meeting at Cecil, and the particular meetings belonging thereto. Towards the close of this They visited the meetings generally of visit, he found himself not at liberty without Rhode Island, Nantucket, and some parts of proceeding to Accomac county, in Virginia, Massachusetts, and were accompanied on a to visit a family residing in a remote situation, portion of the journey by Moses Brown, of sixty miles from any other Friends. He acProvidence, then a young man. Respecting cordingly paid this little debt of gospel love; this Friend, afterwards so highly esteemed as had two seasonable religious opportunities a qualified and faithful elder in the church, John Pemberton makes the following remark in his diary of this journey: "Moses Brown, with his wife's mother, her daughter and Audrey Green, a nurse in his family, are lately convinced of the truth, and happily brought into conformity to it; so that they are weighty, solid, plain and circumspect. And though he is great in the world, and has been much engaged in the concerns thereof in various respects, yet is he humble, meek and lowly, and by diligent attention, has, for so short a space that he has professed the truth, made great advancement on the right foundation; where I wish he and the rest may be mercifully preserved. I could not but remark the gravity and plainness of his family and servants; their words being few and savoury; so that I had much satisfaction in this religious family." with the family, in one of which a number of coloured people were present, and left them with hearts tendered by the power of Truth. He remarks in his memorandum of this visit, that "they were glad to see the face of a Friend, and to receive the crumbs which the full-fed would have despised." Before reaching home he received intelligence of Friends in Philadelphia being subjected to much trial and loss by the violence of a mob, on account of their refusal to illuminate their houses, as a mark of joy for a victory gained in Virginia. About this time he recommenced the keeping of memorandums, as follows: Diary during part of the Revolutionary war. "The ways of the Lord are unsearchable to frail mortals. His judgments are in the earth, and remarkably so in this once peaceHe made a third visit to New-England in ful land; his wisdom, power and majesty, are the sixth month, 1776, attending the yearly greatly manifested in confounding the wisdom. meeting on Rhode Island, in company with of the wise, and showing the weakness and his friend Samuel Emlen, jr. It was a time insufficiency of human contrivance, policy and of great commotion, the revolutionary agita- prudence. And yet, in abundant condescention making it difficult travelling from one sion and mercy, he is showing himself graplace to another; yet they were preserved cious to a despised remnant, amidst the agitafrom much annoyance by the contending par- tion, confusion and distraction that prevail; ties, and had to encourage their friends to a with which multitudes are tossed, and in terfirm adherence to their peaceable principles. ror and amazement, so that they are like "Through the various sittings of the yearly men at their wits' end, having no stay, but meeting," he says, "the love and mercy of fleeing one way and removing another; whose the Lord was manifested, to the tendering of situation is much to be lamented. Yet though many hearts; and I could not but admire at disappointed, they are not humbled, but perhis gracious condescension. It seemed assist in their gainsaying, as men given up to a though the Lord was preparing his people for reprobate mind. some great trial, and that the shaking of his rod had an humbling, profitable effect upon many minds." During a part of his homeward journey, John Pemberton had the company of William Rickman, then of New-York, and afterwards a devoted minister of the gospel, zealously exercised in support of the ancient principles of truth in his native country, Great Britain, where he died in the year 1839, in the ninety-fourth year of his age, full of days and full of peace. "Amidst all these commotions, the Lord in mercy has vouchsafed to say to a remnant, as to the boisterous waves formerly, 'Peace, be still!' He has permitted our religious meetings to be held in much quietude, and favoured the minds of such who have endeavoured to keep out of the flaming fiery spirit, with an admirable calm. Although destruction has been threatened to Friends, yet the Lord has hitherto preserved, and few have unsettled themselves, or removed from the city; to Him be the praise. The coLate in the autumn of this year, 1776, and vering of Divine love attends, to unite well conat a time of much commotion and some dan-cerned Friends, in considering many weighty ger to travellers, from the contending armies matters, which almost daily call for their atwhich were spread over great part of the tention and consideration; and the gracious dealing of the Lord, is abundantly worthy of being commemorated and preserved for future time. all before them; wasting in many instances, as much as they otherwise consume; so that little remains of fodder, or food to some fami lies. "It is indeed deeply affecting to see the destruction of mankind by the unnatural war "The last summer, on the second-day of now raging, wherein multitudes have been the week, our meeting house in High street slain, and more have died through sickness was forced open, and a large number of soland want. The flower of the country, young diers put in. It appeared to be from a dispolads, and those just arrived at a state of man- sition in some to show their authority, more hood; many of them sons of reputable farm-than from real necessity, for there were plenty ers in Maryland and Virginia, and other pro- of empty store houses near the river, and other vinces; being brought to the city in large places much more convenient; and it did not numbers, pine away with sickness, and many appear satisfactory to the officers and soldiers are buried in a day. Besides this, the last themselves. Friends met on fourth-day, to fall was very dry, and the green wheat in consider whether it was proper to alter the many places suffered so much, that some hus-place of our meeting on fifth-day; and great bandmen sowed their fields over again. The unanimity appeared, that it should be held late harvest was greatly blasted, so that in there next day as usual. A few Friends some places in this province, there was not waited on some of the principal officers, who more than a fourth part of a crop. In Mary-received them civilly, and after being informed land, Virginia, and the southern colonies, the grain was injured by a worm, and much was given to the swine. In some parts of North Carolina, besides this destroying worm, a murrain prevailed among the cattle, so that many died; and yet the people are not humbled. "Another occurrence I have thought memorable, as it shows the necessity and advantage of humbly seeking wisdom superior to our own, to direct in times of difficulty and trial, and also of acting in conformity thereto. It was the case of Friends in New-York, most of whom, under a prospect of trial and danger in that city, sought a retreat on Long island and at Westchester, Hackensack, Newark, Elizabeth-town, Rahway, &c.; places which afterwards were invested, and put un, der greater trials than even the city itself. A few who kept steady to their principles and to the guidance of Truth, not being free to leave the city, remained during all the troubles, and were upheld and preserved. In the time of a great fire there, after the city was occupied by the king's troops, wherein nearly a fourth part was burnt, the dwellings of Friends were preserved. One family who could not be free to leave the city, lived near where the fire raged; it was on each side of their dwelling, yet their house was preserved unhurt, which was justly esteemed a providence of the Lord. The Friend of that house, a descendant of the worthy Isaac Penington, told me during last. summer, that she could find no peace in thinking of removing; and I believe she and some others profited under the dispensation. In this province divers have removed to Bucks county, apprehending they should be more safe than in the city; but the American army being ranged along the river from Bristol, as high as Tohiccon, ravage and destroy almost that the next day was the usual time of our meeting for Divine worship at that house, and that it was our desire to hold it there, with other information respecting the nature of true worship, and our differing from most others in the manner of performing it, they proposed that way should be made for it. We had the house somewhat cleansed, and it was very satisfactory to find that a zeal appeared both in male and female, young and aged, to attend the meeting, which was favoured. On first-day the soldiers did not get away until Friends were gathering, yet it was evident they gave as little interruption as they could. The meeting was held to a good degree of satisfaction, and those who had been instrumental to the house being thus occupied, seemed ashamed of their conduct. "Twelfth month 19th; The monthly meeting for sufferings this day, was larger than usual, though no particular notice was sent to the members; but truth operating on the minds of Friends, they were brought together; and apprehending that under the present exercise and trials, it would be profitable to issue an epistle to encourage Friends in stability, a committee was appointed, and the next day an epistle was approved, and directed to be printed and speedily dispersed; being as fol lows: "To our Friends and brethren in religious profession, in these and the adjacent provinces. "Dearly beloved Friends and brethren, "Our minds being renewedly impressed with a fervent religious concern for your spiritual welfare and preservation in the love and fellowship of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Prince of peace; by the constrainings of his love we are engaged to salute you in this time of deep exercise, affliction and difficulty; earnestly desiring that struction of that spirit, we may be endued we may by steady circumspection and care, with the wisdom from above, which is first in every part of our conduct and conversa-pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be tion, evidence that under the close trials which entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, withare and may be permitted to attend us, our out partiality, and without hypocrisy.' That faith and reliance are fixed on Him alone for this may be our happy experience, is our ferprotection and deliverance, remembering his vent desire and prayer. gracious promise to his faithful followers; Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.' "And, As it became Him for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings;' let us not be dismayed, if we are now led in the same path. "As we keep in the Lord's power and peaceable truth, which is over all, and therein seek the good of all, neither outward sufferings, persecutions, nor anything that is below, will hinder or break our heavenly fellowship in the light and Spirit of Christ.-George Fox's Epistle, 1685. "Thus we may with Christian firmness and fortitude, withstand and refuse to submit to the arbitrary injunctions and ordinances of men, who assume to themselves the power of compelling others, either in person or by other assistance, to join in carrying on war, and of prescribing modes of determining concerning our religious principles, by imposing tests not warranted by the precepts of Christ, or the laws of the happy constitution, under which we and others long enjoyed tranquillity and peace. "We therefore, in the aboundings of that love, which wisheth the spiritual and temporal prosperity of all men, exhort, admonish and caution all who make religious profession with us, and especially our beloved youth, to stand fast in that liberty, wherewith, through the manifold sufferings of our predecessors, we have been favoured, and steadily to bear our testimony against every attempt to deprive us of it. 66 Signed in and on behalf of the meeting for sufferings, held in Philadelphia, for Pennsylvania and New-Jersey, the 20th day of the twelfth month, 1776. "JOHN PEMBERTON, Clerk." "On the 22nd and 23d, some skirmishes happened between portions of the European and American armies not far from Burlington; and during this week two Friends were taken up and cast into prison for refusing to bear arms, or work at the intrenchments making near the city. Upon this, some Friends were verbally named at the meeting for sufferings on the 26th, and the next morning had an opportunity with General Putnam, and laid before him the grounds of our religious principles, and why we could not join in warlike measures, nor consent to pay, or perform any services, in lieu thereof. A discharge was obtained for one of the Friends, and the other had been released the day before on the application of one not professing with us. "First month 4th, 1777; This week has been a bloody one. On the 2nd instant, a battle was fought at Trenton, in which many were slain, and lay unburied for several days. The inhabitants had generally deserted their dwellings, and the town was much wrecked. On the 3d was a battle, said to be still more bloody, with numbers slain on both sides, among others, Anthony Morris, son of the present Anthony. On the 1st instant, our friend Thomas Watson, of Buckingham, a peaceable, quiet, sensible man, was haled from his home by a number of armed men, who came towards bed time, terrified the "And, dear Friends, you who have known family, and carried him before one called the truth and the powerful operations thereof Lord Sterling, who sent him to Newtown; on your minds, adhere faithfully thereto, and where he was confined in irons, and his coat by your good example and stability, labour taken away. And though through the lenity to strengthen the weak, confirm the waver-of some who watched him, it was returned, ing, and warn and caution the unwary against yet heavy irons were kept on him for fortybeing beguiled by the snares of the adversa-eight hours, and he was detained there three ries of truth and righteousness. Let not the fear of suffering, either in person or property, prevail on any to join with or promote any work or preparation for war. "Our profession and principles are founded on that spirit which is contrary to, and will in time put an end to all wars, and bring in everlasting righteousness; and by our constantly abiding under the direction and inVOL. VI.-No. 8. nights without a bed. The general congress having recommended to those called the Council of safety, to enforce the passing of their money, they have created heavy penalties for refusing it; so that fresh sufferings seem likely to ensue. This week great numbers of soldiers have died; the pestilential disorder increasing, and the sick being greatly neglected, not having proper nourishment or nursing. 37 |