FRIENDS?

 

fl the station of an Elder in the Church, not
in name only, but in a degree of the true
anointing bore téstimony in many minds, both

at home and abroad, that his heart was in meas-
ure given up to serve the Lord, and was trul
as a stake and as a cord in our Zion. bs

“ And as he was favored with wisdom’ and a
feeling mind, he became very useful and service-
able in society, and we have reason to believe
his services abroad were acceptable and strength-
ening among his friends. And as he increased
in years, the more his mind seemed redeemed
trom this present world, and the things of it,
and an increasing heart concern was felt for the
prosperity of Truth. bevels «

“Jn the latter part of his time he was visited
with great affliction, wherein he long lay under
deep languishment, yet his understanding and
intellectual faculties remained clear, and his
love for Truth and Friends continued to the
last. And he often expressed a desire, if it was
the Lord’s will, to be unclothed of mortality,
and enjoy the fruition and uninterrupted felicity,
beyond the reach of the diversified trials allotted
in this uncertain world. :

“ His care for society and for a right improve-

ment of order amongst Friends, was the leading
concern of his mind. Under all his afflictions
and trials, nothing gave him more joy than the
prosperity of Truth. He often e his
deep concern for the insensibility of the present
generation under the outward sunshine of pros-
perity and the abundant blessings of Heaven,
being strangers to the heartfelt concern of our
worthy predecessors, who maintained the testi-
mony of a good. conscience, and supported our
principles with the loss of life, liberty, and the
nearest and dearest enjoyments.

“ He was a firm advocate for the black people,
promoter of schools upon a right}, .

and a liberal

REVIEW. 839

death. This desirable object is often frustra-
ted when funeral companies are divided -in ya-
rious apartments, many being gathered around
the doors in worldly talk; and the practice has
grown with many into a habit, of merely arriving
at the hour of departure, to join in a funeral
procession, and thus testify their respect for
the deceased. In some locations, especially in
England, the practice is established, of giving
invitations to meet at the meeting house, or at
a house provided for the purpose at the grave
yard, whereby a quiet settlement of the whole com-
pany is attained, and, whether there be vocal
ministry or not, the people’s minds are dipped,
into sympathy with the bereaved ones, and are
likely to reflect upon their own latter end. ~

Conctupinc RemMarKs.—The notices of
David Cooper have now been brought to a close.
The writer and his readers may unite in the
wish that he had a more competent biographer.
Yet such has been the quality of our materials,
that they have excited interest, and, we trust,
been instructive ; otherwise, the labor of com-
pilation and the space occupied in a valuable
Journal would be cause for regret. Suggestions
come to us from not a few whose judgment we
esteem, relative to a published volume of David
Cooper’s Memoirs. This may, perhaps, be at-
tempted, (though not at the present high price
of paper), in which case there would be consider-
teh. revision and additions, and some omis-
sions and changes in the arrangement. Ther
are interesting letters on hand w ich were found
too late to take their place in the series no
closed; and the compiler would gratefully re-
ceive from those who ss them, letters to

 

 

 

or from D. Cooper; references to him ‘in old
letters. or Giaries, or other material that might

 

   

  
 

aterest of such a volume. Some

   

establishment. ne ‘cluded. » ; SERENE may BoeetB Pa. Ae
“His last illness being very trying, his peti-|" 7, <0 0 Ig v6 woievad Review
tions were to the Almighty that he would be with} . M , pres f OEE 3 pie, she, Hise ae
him to the end.; And we have‘ redsontoobe-foo nk Cee on aT aVIO  YOODOE & ae-
lieve his humble prayers were answered and seendants; not, inferior, as we apprehend, in

that he departed in peace with the Lord, the
5th of the 11th month, 1795, in the 71st year
of his age; and he was interred at Woodbury
in a plain way, agreeably to his own direction
left in wititing.” — ‘ .
__ This interesting testimony of the Church,
bearing the signature of Samuel Mickle as clerk,
concludes with copying the paper read at his
grave, which is given above. if bd
The circumstances of this interment are illus-
trative of the importance, in a religious sense,
which Friends of former generations attached
to funerals. The solemnity of death is brought
into view on the burial of a fellow creature, and
When at such times a large number of |
are 1m attendance, how important is it that they
should be solemnized together, and brought into

interest to the present compilation, W.J. A. ,

 

“] AM TOO BUSY; CALL ANOTHER TIME.”

A city missionary called at a house. The
door was opened by a woman, to whom he said
that he come to converse with her on the
salvation of her soul. She seemed uneasy at
his words, and replied, “ I am too eee
to you to-day; call another time.” He gave a
kind parting word, and retired. On a second
visit, the missionary found the woman preparing
to go to the theatre. The same excuse was made.
“T am very busy; come another time.” “Ah,
my friend,” said the faithful visitor, “ death
will one day come to the house, and’ it will not

 

do to tell him to call another time.” The wo-

sober reflection on the awfulness of life and of man went ‘to the playhouse, returned home

x