FRIENDS’?

,

REVIEW. 21

 

home to attend Cecil and Little Creek Yearly
Meetings.” [Little Creek is in Kent county,
Delaware, and Cecil county, is in rs
“On the next day, (Fourth of the week,) was
at Wilmington Monthly Meeting. I got to the
Seleet Meeting at Cecil on Sixth-day, (50 miles
from Wilmington.) On Seventh-day came on
their Quarterly Meeting for business, which was
composed of but a small number of Friends and
conducted in much weakness. On First-day the
General Meeting for worship was held, and at-
tended by a great-number of fashionable people,
at least one-third more, (it was estimated) than
the house could hold. I lodged two nights at
John Corse’s, and one at George Lamb’s. On
Second-day I rode 30 miles to Dutch Creek,
lodged at Robert Halliday’s, was atthe Prepara-
tive Meeting there on Fifth-day, and at Select
Meeting on Sixth-day; on Seventh, First and
Second-days at meetings for worship ; on Third-
day at Motherkill. The night before, I lodged
at Warner Mifflin’s. On Fourth-day I returned
50 miles from Little Creek to Wilmington, and
next day, (27th of the month,) reached my home.

This was a lonely and trying journey, having no.

companion, and chiefly among strangers; but
being for the most part favored to discharge
what appeared for me to do, I returned with
peace of mind, rejoicing that I had given up to
the requirement, and having this testimony to
bear, that, in my little services, I never knew
Him who is mouth and wisdom, tongue and ut-
terance, to fail in supporting them whose eye is
single unto Him, and who lean not to their own
understandings. |

“11th mo. Ist. I attended at Trenton with
eleven other Friends to deliver to the Assembly
eight petitions for the gradual abolition of
slavery. They were all of one tenor, and were
signed by 606 Friends. The speaker, and sun-
dry other members appeared pleased with this
move, and the Governor is a warm advocate for
the measure.” fe

The Governor here alluded to was the truly
estimable William Livingston. He was a man
of strict republican virtue, and his patriotism
and ability were so highly esteemed that he was
the first Governor elected under the New Jerse
Constitution of 1776, and filled that office wit
distinguished honor and usefulness for fourteen
years, until his death in 1790. He was a member
of the convention which in 1787 formed the Con-
stitution of the United States. He wasa man of
piety, and, excepting upon the war question, ap-
peared to value and appreciate Friends and their
principles, as appears from original letters now
lying before us.

‘‘ Another petition,” the Diary proceeds, “was
immediately drawn by one of the Supreme
Judges, and signed by the most respectable
names in the State; the object being to
strengthen ours. Nevertheless such an opposi-
tion was likely to be made as to leave little room

to expect much immediate result. I had been
the mover of this petition. oe drawn an
essay I laid it before the Meeting for Sufferings,
who referred it to a committee, by whom this
was produced, and others were drawn from it ~
and sent to the different Monthly Meetings in
the Jerseys for signatures.” os ,

On the 26th of 1st mo., 1786, D. C., from a
sense of duty, attended Pilesgrove Preparative
Meeting, where several weighty subjects, which.
in our time would not be entered upon in such
meetings, claimed attention. The appointment
of a man and woman elder was under considera-
tion: also a case of excessive drinking, about
the disposition of which there was a division of
sentiment: also the subject of subscriptions for
the meeting house they were about building. It
was already raised and roofed; but funds being
deficient even to pay for what had been done,
there was a probability that the work must stop.
Friends were rejoiced to have D. C. with them,
and he was helpful to them in their deliberations.
The next day he visited several families, and he
returned to his home with that flow of peace,
with avhich the Lord condescends to reward his
servants, but which is unknown to the mere
worldling.” ne

[Diary.]—“ 5th mo. 20th, 1786.—The com-
mittee on Sufferings, appointed in 3d mo., 1785,
[see No. 22,] had in the 9th month reported
that the statement of sufferings sent from
Evesham, should in their judgment not be sent
forward, but remain with the Quarterly Meet-
ing’s papers, as being so clear and explicit as to
answer the direction of the Yearly Meeting.
This report was confirmed. In the 11th month
the standing committee reported that statements
of sufferings unmixed and wholly for declining
the payment of war taxes, ought to remain
among the papers of the Monthly Meeting, and
go no further. This report was objected to, and
a minute was made suspending a final decision
upon it, till the sense of the Yearly Meeting
could be obtained. In the 3d month of this
year it was moved to appoint a committee to aid
the Clerk in framing a minute for the Yearly
Meeting; the necessity of which in so plain a
ease caused a little debate. Ten Friends were,
however, appointed, in which number I was in-
cluded, and we met on Seventh-day preceding
the Quarterly Meeting at Salem at this time,
when the object of the appointment appeared
very obvious, from the means employed to pre-
vent the matter being sent forward. The effort
failed, however, and our statement. of the sub-
ject being laid before the Quarterly Meeting was
approved, and the Clerk directed to send it to
next Yearly Meeting. Thus it stands at present.
This matter appeared rather marvellous to me,

when I consider the very small number in this
large Quarterly Meeting who suffer on this ac-

count, and the great opposition that has con-

 

‘stantly been shown, and endeavors even in a