FRIENDS’

REVIEW. 179

 

meeting, and six families belonging to Piles-
grove, thirty-four in all; also their school at
that place. We were at Greenwich meeting on
Fifth-day, and at Pilesgrove on First-day. The
latter is the most remarkable place that I have
seen for large families of children. All that
we visited were the descendants of Friends—
man or wife—but in twenty-two of the families,
one of the heads was not a member, and in sev-
eral, neither of them had a right.” John Hunt,
in describing the families visited, coincides with
the above account, and says: “ Although we
had some baptizing seasons, and deep poverty of
spirit at times attended me, yet we generally met
with avery open reception, and were often favor-
ed with sweet and satisfactory seasons in fami-
lies. Onthe whole, it was a favored, strengthen-

ing time; and on looking over the visit, I feel
‘ no uneasiness with any thing done or omitted ;
but true peace and solid satisfaction attend me.”
David Cooper continues: ‘They received us
kindly, and appeared glad of the visit. They
are a careful, industrious people, live in the man-
ner of Friends, and seem preserved from any
thing gross, but much at ease, and indifferent
respecting religion and the attendance of meet-
ings. I had a satisfaction in giving up to the
visit, and have to believe a meeting will be set-
tled at that place before many years, for it looks
to me the good shepherd is about to gather them
nearer to himself.” : :

David Cooper to Martha Allinson.
Woodbury, 4th month 11th, 1790.

Dear Patty :—I have just-returned from the
burial of Sarah Wilkins. She, Sister Whitall,
Hannah Ladd, and Sarah Hopkins, were girls
together. Sarah Wilkins was somewhat the
oldest. Thus we drop, one after another. The
habitations that know us will soon know us no
more. How happy they who are gathered in
peace! They cease from their labors and their
works do follow them. We have had four
burials in and near Woodbury, since the Quar-
terly Meeting. Nancy Blackwood is very low
in mind. The means used to help her tend, I
believe, to increase her distress. They have
refused her religious company, and promote
visits from those of a different sort in order to
divert her mind, which produces an effect very
different from what they wish. Poor young
woman, I sincerely pity her, but see no help
save from Him who preserved his servants in
the furnace. Hannah appears very serious;
remarkably solid in meetings.

Thou mentions my coming to you. John
Tatum, Aunt Mary and myself expect to enter
upon visiting families on Second-day the 19th,
within the compass of Woodbury meeting, which
will be likely to occupy three weeks; and
then will follow Salem meeting; so that I shall
hardly be up before that time.

I hear you have it under consideration for

 

your women at Monthly Meeting to go at first
into their own apartment, quite separate from
the men. It will bynomeans do. When they
sit as one meeting they are a means of adding
weight and strength to each others’ spirits.’ Of
this you will feel the want in the mode proposed,
which, if put in practice, will be of short con-
tinuance. I am persuaded the proposal of the
Quarter is different.
I am, thy affectionate father,

His daughter, on the 19th, in replying to the
above letter, says: “I am very glad to hear
that thou and the other friends have found
it in your hearts, to enter on the weighty busi-
ness of visiting families, and do sincerely wish
that you may be supported and enabled to go
through to your own satisfaction, and to the
help and strengthening of many who appear —
lame, halt and unhealthy. I have longed for
such a visit amongst us, by such as might be
qualified for the work, believing that our camp —
needs searching. I have wished that some of
our neighbors might have it laid upon them,
and should indeed be glad to see my dear
father one of the number. .

How affecting is the situation of our poor
friend ; but she is not so bad as H. R., who,
though to all appearance she has lived so inno-
cent a life, thinks herself so wicked that she
shall be the ruin of her husband and children.
I went to see her, but as thou says we can give
them little more than sympathy, except, when
so enabled, to put up our prayers for them.”

[Diary.] ‘ Fourth month 23d, I joined John
Tatum and two women Friends, in a visit to
Friends’ families and some others of Woodbury
meeting ; they had entered upon the service on
the 19th. I being indisposed did not join them
before. We were at sixty-six families. They
had previously visited about forty. We were
received with much openness, and generally
parted under an increase of love and nearness.
I entered on this service under much fear, we
being all members of the same meeting with
those we visited, and their circumstances much
known to us, the labor appeared more nice and
difficult; but the good Hand who never puts
forth those whose dependence is singly on him
without going with them, was with us to
strengthen and comfort our minds in the per-
formance of this office of love, so that we re-
turned home with satisfaction and peace. The
religious state of Friends appears very low; ease
and supineness prevailing much, especially
among the elder ranks; but there are some
hopeful youth. We finished on the 3d of
Fifth month, having, in twenty-nine days, visit-
ed upwards of one hundred families.”

Writing to his daughter Martha, Sixth
month llth, after alluding to sickness in the