FRIENDS

REVIEW.

A Religions, Literary and Wiscellancons Sournal.

 

 

~~

Vou. XV.

 

EDITED BY SAMUEL RHOADS, |
To whom all Communications may be addressed.

; PUBLISHED WEEKLY,
At No. 109 N. Tenth street, Philadelphia.

 

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For Friends’ Review.
NOTICES OF DAVID COOPER.
NO.° XVI.

It is humiliating to contemplate the acrimony
attendant upon church schisms. In the heat
of partizan excitement respecting religious dif-
ferences, (real or supposed,) persons who, in
the main, are conscientious and deservedly
esteemed, frequently in words and actions violate
both magnanimity and justice, not seeing them-
selves as others see them, but, like Jehu, attrib-
uting their excesses to ‘‘ zeal for the Lord.”
Nor is it always easy for those who, whilst keep-
ing on the right foundation, are injuriously as-
sailed by these, to make due allowance for the
infirmity which is a concomitant of bigotry, or to
credit those who do such wrong in the name of
religion, with the geueral sincerity and worth of
character which may really attach to them. The
late heavenly-minded Rebecca Grellet used fre-
quently to express the desire to “cherish the
little good in all.” This may be difficult to
practice when smarting under calumny and in-
justice; yet when, after the decease of an adver-
sary, we view his character in a mellowed light
and with acharitable eye, how much we see that
might be explained, how much that ought to be
commended ; and how easily can the rest be for-
given! If the same mind be in us which was in
Him who, when he was reviled, reviled not in re-
turn, how watchful shall we be that we break
not life’s holy harmony ; and in such a disposi-
tion, how would restoring love characterize the
actions of the church and of her members!

At the corner of Fifth and Arch streets, in
the city founded by Wm. Penn, stands a monu-

 

PHILADELPHIA, SEVENTH MONTH 12, 1862.

+ far and near.

 

— Seo

 

No. 45.

 

 

ment of the exodus of certain members of the
Society of Friends, whose sense of patriotism in-
duced them in the war of the Revolution to ig-
nore the edict given from Mount Sinai, “ Thou
shalt not kill,” and also the heavenly endorsement
thereof from the Mount of beatitudes, “ Thou |
shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” We refer to
the meeting house of the Free Quakers who
were alluded to in our last number. That Society
having long been virtually extinct, the heirs of
this property very commendably allow the free
use of said building to the Apprentices’ Library.
Prominent among the founders was Timoth
Matlack, brother to David Cooper’s wife. He
was in youth a serious Friend, and seemed like-
ly to become a minister of the gospel of the
Prince of Peace, but imbibing the war spirit, he
wandered for many years in devious ways. Dur-
ing the erection of the Free Quaker meeting
house, Samuel Emlen happening to pass by, —
T. Matlack, with much complacency, exhibited it
to his quondam friend, expressing regret that it
was planned on too small ascale. “Oh,” res-
ponded S. E., pointing to the mason’s shed by
the curb stone, “ in fifty years that lime house
would hold you all.” Itis due to T. Matlack to
say that he sometimes secretly used his power
as an American officer, to favor his former re-
ligious associates, and that, during the long
evening of his life, he evinced steadfast love for
Friends, and great diligence in attending their
meetings for worship. In advanced age he en-
joyed, ina State office of trustand emolument, an
evidence of public confidence. He died in 1829,
at the age of 99 years. The writer of these notices
visited him in 1828, and was much impressed
with the gentleness of spirit and the patriarchal
and venerable appearance of this solitary relic
ofa former century. Weresume the diary of D. C.
“Tn the beginning of the year 1781, a
number of disowned Quakers in Philadelphia
formed themselves into a body, and held meet-
ings for worship. They published an invitation
to others in like circumstances to join them, and
wrote letters for the same purpose, to individuals
Of this new Society, Timothy
Matlack was looked upon as the principal pro-
jector. He was then Secretary of the govern-