150 FRIENDS’

REVIEW.

 

men to be the “root of the corrupt tree” of In-
temperance ; and whether, with their ordinarily
strong perception of abstract truth, they per-
ceived that total abstinence is the certain pre-
ventive of excess, and that the moderate use
of intoxicating liquors does not include their
employment at all for the mere purpose of bey-
erage or appetite. When the minute of coun-
sel was read in Salem Quarterly Meeting, the
subject was impressively considered, and David
Cooper and three other Friends, were appointed
“to visit the Monthly Meetings, and for other
service as way may open.”

This service was a painful and humiliating
one. Few persons in those days doubted the
safety or propriety of a daily use, as beverage,
of cider, beer or wine. Many a “ pang arthritic”
was thus induced, the cause.of which was un-
suspected ; and the wonder is, that, by strength
of principle, and pious watchfulness, so many
were able to hold in check a practice, the natu-
ral tendency of which is, to augmentitself. One
sad consequence was, that many persons who,
without becoming intoxicated, had learned to
love and rely upon this kind of stimulus, found
their own testimony weakened against the manu-
facture, sale and use of ardent spirits, and were
restive under the application, to themselves and
others, of wholesome advice on the subject.
Very beautiful was the thoroughness of labor
bestowed by this Quarterly Meeting’s commit-
tee, not merely in Monthly and Preparative
Meetings, but in less official gatherings in vari-
ous localities, where many members were collect-
ed and the subject was presented with such
Christian tenderness, religious weight, and
demonstrative argument, as melted many souls
together into the unity of the spirit, preparing
them to walk with increased cireumspection by
the footsteps of the flock. But there were in
those days, as there may probably have been in
all ages and countries, conservative individuals,
who regarded reformation as intolerant and
fanatical, and who, with easy self-deception,
conceived their opposition to be based upon
principle, when, alas, it was founded in selfish-
ness.

“On the 5th of 12th mo., 1788,” D. Cooper
writes, “we attended Evesham Monthly Meet-
ing, where aie ittee of twenty Friends was
appointed. — ese we proposed a joint meet-
ing next day, which divers other Friends at-
tended. It was indeed a tendering season, it
appearing that this testimony had already made
great progress in this meeting. We were at
Haddonfield on Second-day, and the day follow-
ing at Woodbury, at both of which Monthl
Meetings committees were appointed, and we had
opportunities with them after meeting, but
neither of them so satisfactory as the first. On
the 29th, at Salem Monthly Meeting, the subject
was largely Opened, and a committee of near
thirty Friends appointed. With these we met

  
 

 

next day, and divers others gave us their com-
pany. There appeared to be a very remarkable
uniting with the concern of the Yearly Meeting,
and a desire to comply therewith. On the 31st
we were at Greenwich Monthly Meeting, where
avery different disposition appeared. They had
the previous month appointed a committee of
four Friends, and now with some difficulty an
addition was made. With these, (after am
hour’s adjournment,) we met, but in some from
whom strength was expected, only weakness and
obstruction appeared: and no marvel; for in this:
one little meeting of Greenwich there are two
importers and seven retailers, when in all the
other four Monthly Meetings there are but four
retailers, and neither of these is an importer.
This meeting has appeared to me for some time
to be on the decline, but on this occasion I
left them with real sorrow of heart.” soy
In 4th mo., 1792, John Hunt, John Tatum,
Thos. Redman, Joshua Evans, and James Cooper,
visited all the retailers of spirituous liquors in
Greenwich. John Hunt notes: “they seemed
to cling to the profits of selling rum.”
Anticipating dates in the pursuance of this
matter, we find that in the Fourth month of the
next year this committee of the Quarterly Meet-
ing “visited ten Preparative Meetings on the
subject of spirituous liquors.” ‘Friends re-
ceived the visit well,” writes D. C., “(exceptat
Lower Greenwich) expressing a desire to comply
with the advice of the Yearly Meeting. At
Greenwich we had an opportunity with five retail-
ers.” ‘T’he names of these, it is proper to suppress.
Two of them, “signified they had declined sell-
ing rum for some time, and did not propose to
buy any more to sell.” Another, “gaye no ex-
pectation that he would decline selling.” Two
others, “signified an intent to break off by de-
grees, and not to give Friends trouble: &e.”
After this, being at the house of a Friend from
whom they had a right to expect co-operation,
the father of one of those last mentioned being
present, their host “censured our conduct most
severely, in going such lengths and assuming
authority. They both discovered a very great
disapprobation of our labor in this concern, and
indeed the same disposition was too obvious in
general among them in that meeting.” In the
8th month ensuing, much harmony is mention-
ed among Friends of Salem, respecting the dis-
use of spirits, and at Select Meeting “an afflict-
ing time in answering the Queries, by reason of
the great want of unity at Greenwich meet-

ing.” |
How essential to the complete Christian is

y | the whole catalogue of virtues which Peter en-

joined upon those for whom his apostolic soul
yearned that they “might be partakers of the
Divine nature, having escaped the corruption —
that isin the world through lust?‘ Giving all
diligence,” he says: “add to your faith virtue;
and to virtue knowledge; and to knowlegee