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life; and much ado I had to get thither." After a long period of illness he says, "As soon as I recovered so much strength as to be fit to travel, I returned to my studies at London. I was very kindly received by my master, who had conceived so good an opinion of me that my conversation I found was acceptable to him, and he seemed heartily glad of my recovery and return; and into our old method of study we fell again, I reading to him and he explaining to me as occasion required."

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But now there occurred another interruption, as if," he says, "learning had been a forbidden point to me." On the 26th day of Eighth month 1662, while at a meeting "we who came thither, at God's requiring, to worship him,” were arrested and spent many months in prison, after which he writes: "Some little time before I went to Aylesbury prison I was desired by my quondam master, Milton, to take a house for him in the neighborhood, where I dwelt, that he might go out of the city for the safety of himself and family, the pestilence then growing hot in London. I took a pretty box for him in Giles Chalfont, a mile from me, of which I gave him notice and intended to wait on him and see him well settled in it, but was prevented by that imprisonment. But now being released and returned home, I soon made a visit to him to welcome him to the country. After some common discourses had passed between us, he called for a manuscript of his, which, being brought, he delivered to me, bidding me take it home with me and read it at my leisure; and when I had so done return it to him with my judgment thereupon.

When I came home and had set myself to read it, I found it was the excellent poem which he entitled "Paradise Lost." After I had, with the best attention, read it through, I made him another visit, and returned him his book, with due acknowledgement of the favor he had done me in communicating it to me. He asked me how I liked it, and what I thought of it, which I modestly but freely told him; and after some further discourse about it, I pleasantly said to him, 'Thou has said much here of Paradise Lost, but what hast thou to say of Paradise Found?' He made me no answer, but sat some time in a muse; then brake off that discourse and fell upon another subject. After the sickness was over and the city well cleansed and become safely habitable again, he returned thither. And when afterwards I went to wait on him there, which I seldom failed of doing whenever my occasions drew me to London, he showed me his second poem called, 'Paradise Regained,' and in a pleasant tone said to me, 'This is owing to you, for you put it into my head by the question you put to me at Chalfont, which before I had not thought of.""

THE very events in your lives which seemed at the time most trying, most vexing, most disastrous, have been those which were most necessary for you, to call out what was good in you, and to purge out what was bad.-CHARLES KINGSLEY.

FRIENDS AND INDIAN AFFAIRS.

A COPY of the official minutes of the proceedings

of the delegates from the seven Yearly Meetings, representing the Society on Indian affairs, has been handed us by our friend Levi K. Brown, and though somewhat late, we think portions of it are still of interest. The meeting was held at Lombard St. meeting-house, Baltimore, on the 27th of Tenth month. Those present were Thomas Foulke, representing New York; Daniel Foulke, Philadelphia; Cyrus Blackburn, Illinois; and the following Baltimore: Richard T. Bentley, Darlington Hoopes, Edward Stabler, Jr., Joseph J. Janney, Mary C. Blackburn, Thomas H. Matthews, and Levi K. Brown. Ohio, Indiana, and Genesee were not represented. We make the following extracts from the minutes:

"A copy of the annual report of Isaiah Lightner to the Department at Washington was received and read. It was interesting, as it exhibits clearly the continued progress the Indians at Santee Agency are making in civilization, school learning and agriculture.

"Information was received that the resignation of Isaiah Lightner as Indian Agent at Santee had been accepted, and Charles Hill, a member of our Society, who has been for some years past Superintendent of Farm Operations at the Agency, has been appointed to succeed him as Agent. This appointment we have no doubt will be acceptable to these Indians, and the policy so successfully inaugurated by the late Agent

continued.

"A copy of a very interesting paper prepared by our valued Friend Barclay White, formerly Superintendent of Indian Agents in Nebraska, at the request of Commissioner Eaton of the Bureau of Education at Washington, was received and read, showing the condition of the several tribes of Indians when Friends assumed charge of them by invitation of President Grant in 1869, and their progress in civilization and self-support whilst they continued under the care of Friends.

"The Secretary was directed to have 2000 copies of this concise and explicit statement of the success of Friends in civilizing the Indians, whilst acting as Agents, printed for distribution.

"The Treasurer presented a statement of his account, with the vouchers for his payments made during the past year, which was submitted to Daniel Foulke and Cyrus Blackburn for examination, audit and settlement. They subsequently made report that the account was correct and a balance in his hands of $23.80. The report is approved and the sum of $150 directed to be collected for the use of the Convention during the coming year.

Then adjourned to meet in the City of Philadelphia in the Fifth month next."

THERE are not in the world at any one time more than a dozen persons who read and understand Plato:-never enough to pay for an edition of his works; yet to every generation these come duly down, for the sake of those few persons, as if God brought them in his hand.-Spiritual Laws.

WOMEN'S TEMPERANCE WORK AT AN ELECTION.

UN

NDER date of Tenth month 23, a letter from Martha Schofield to a member of her family, describes the active work undertaken and accomplished in behalf of Temperance by herself and other women at an election which had been just held at Aiken, S. C. We print the more essential portions of the letter, as follows:

AIKEN, S. C., Tenth month 23d, 1885.

For some months there has been growing in my inner consciousness a feeling that the cause of temperance would demand of me something more than talk and personal abstinence. The opportunity came yesterday, which had been appointed for a special election to subscribe for a railroad.

Men of all parties and colors were on both sides, and for weeks the feeling has run so high many persons feared the troubles of 1876. Courage was needed, as well as conscience; added to both, the money to supply hot coffee free to all voters, not one cup to one man, but all they could drink in a day. Experience has strengthened me never to waver in a duty; doubt weakens obedience.

Having decided my part I rode over to Mrs. Cuthbert, a noble Christian woman and acting president of the Women's Christian Temperance Union. Earnest pleading won from her the promise to go part of the day; and that afternoon she suggested to the Union having a table, and appointed three to preside, simply stating that coffee would be furnished by a friend. Within the four days every need seemed to press upon my thought. I asked the mayor to help me select a place, and had my awning put up against the end of the town hall opposite liquor and billiard saloons. Mr. Givens (colored) did the carpenter work and made our table. I spent half a rainy day securing donations of milk, biscuit, oil for stoves, etc., having wood hauled and several barrels of water. Eliza Giles (one of the first graduates of the Schofield Normal and Industrial School) and I painted fifteen yards of mottoes: "Welcome to Hot Coffee,” “Hot Coffee Free," etc., while little Caroline and Jimmy were three hours grinding fifteen pounds of coffee.

The law closed saloons for the day, the sun rose bright, and in the cold, crisp air half-past six found Eliza and myself on our way to the polls, followed by the cart with large pots to make coffee in, tin pails to keep it hot on kerosene stoves, cups, saucers, spoons, sugar bowls, milk pitchers, plates, buckets, dish pans, towels, hammer, tacks, axe, table cloths and a vase with a lovely bouquet of roses.

A hundred men were already there shivering in the cold, and for eleven hours, until six p. m., not five minutes but what we were dipping out coffee or giving bread to the hungry. But what was itSouthern chivalry or respect for my life among them that made every prominent white man present take a cup of coffee sometime during the day? The mayor came first; lawyers, doctors, politicians, those for and against the railroad-every man came with words of encouragement, and every man listened respectfully to words against liquor, made more emphatic

by the large charts hung up showing how much money is spent for it and how little for bread in comparison. (Nine hundred millions annually for liquor; five hundred and five millions for bread in the United States). the United States). The mayor brought up the speakers from Edgefield and we chatted as they drank their coffee until one said: "Gentlemen, you know we all drink, and I know it is our trouble."

Mrs. Cuthbert and Mrs. Drayton came about tenboth their husbands believe in temperance-had another table, stove and more biscuit. But until yesterday I never knew why liquor men get rich; it is the capacity of men to hold drink; many had six and seven cups; I think some must have had ten. These no doubt were the intemperate ones; and they had to listen all day to the truth and that "we would want them to vote whiskey out."

Alfred Stevens, an earnest temperance worker, had come to me on Sunday, after the notice had been read in the colored church, and grasping my hand said, "I know that is your thought, and if God spares me to live I'll be there to help you." All day he walked in front of the table, watching troublesome boys, speaking words for the cause, etc. I had told the sheriff we would take his work from him, and he heartily wished we would.

Whan a young white man struck another he was quickly arrested and put in the guard house. While drinking coffee Mrs. Drayton had taken his pistol from his pocket, and we had it all day, though he went to her five times and begged for it. There is but one opinion; that it was the quietest election ever held in Aiken, and the presence of the women and the coffee prevented the usual fights and disorder. We did not hear a single oath.

My desire was for the two causes so near my heart -temperance and woman suffrage. It was a grand corner-stone for both, and I am truly thankful the strength to do it was given me, as well as such farreaching results obtained for the small sum of seven or eight dollars. The donations helped me out. It took 40 pounds of sugar, and at night there was half a bushel of coffee grounds. I gave out about 200 temperance and other papers. I never spent seven dollars with greater satisfaction or that did half the good-the first election held in Aiken that there was no arrest of a colored man, and all believed it was the women and the coffee.

THE most truly religious thing that a man can do is to fight his way through habits and deficiencies, and back to pure, manlike elements of his nature, which are the ineffaceable traces of the divine workmanship, and alone really worth fighting for.-Weiss.

DEEP feeling is contagious. Words poured forth from burning hearts are sure to kindle the hearts of others. Hearts that can stand everything else are often melted by a tear.-Selected.

No man ever sailed over exactly the same route that another sailed over before him. Every man who starts on the ocean of life arches his sails to an untried breeze.-WILLIAM MATTHEWS.

THE "REASONABLE FAITH1"

[The British Friend for 12th Month 1st notices the issue of a second edition of "A Reasonable Faith," and quotes at some length from the preface given with it. As illustrating the present line of thought among Friends in England, we print as follows.-EDS .INTELLIGENCER AND JOURNAL.]

MACMILLAN & CO., London, have lately brought

out a revised edition of the essays of three Friends-entitled "A Reasonable Faith." A number of corrections and a few small alterations (which no doubt are improvements) have been made, and a preface with some important new matter has been added. From the preface we extract the following:

"In issuing a revised edition of 'A Reasonable Faith,' we have gratefully to acknowledge the interest manifested in our little work, as evidenced by the rapid sale of some thousands of copies, and by the general tone of the comments which it has elicited.

"In the work of revision, whilst in no respect withdrawing from the position which we have taken in advocacy of a Reasonable and Scriptural Faith, we have endeavored to modify a few expressions respecting, the deep things of God which may have seemed somewhat harsh and over-dogmatic, and we have added some paragraphs in further explanation of our views, and of the sense in which we understand certain texts of Holy Scripture.

Several respected critics of the Essays on 'The Atonement' have complained that the view taken by us of this doctrine is incomplete. But this is no more than we have ourselves said over and over again. The subject embraces so many aspects and is so wide in its range, that it would be presumptuous indeed to suppose that we had covered, in three brief Essays, the whole ground of this great article of Christian Faith. Our aim has been much more simple and unpretending; we have sought to present such a view of the subject as would harmonize with the simplicity of Christ's teaching, and commend itself to hearts longing for the sense of Reconciliation and Peace. But to do this effectually, we deemed it needful to make a clear and unmistakable protest against certain dogmatic statements on the question which are being continually presented by the " Evangelical" School. On this point some of our critics have told us that it is wisest to proclaim the truth, and leave the error to die of itself! But what if these false views are hindering multitudes from believing in Christ, and in His reconciling and saving work? Knowing this to be the case, we feel that we should have greatly failed in our duty if we had not endeavored, in the first place, to put on one side, as unscriptural and unsound, those definitions and phrases which we believe to be contrary to the spirit of Christ's teaching and dishonoring to God our Father.

We are encouraged by the evidence that has come to us through the publication of these Essays, that there is a steadily increasing number of earnest Christian thinkers, who whilst not content with the theological definitions of past and less enlightened ages, are not on that account prepared to lose hold of the mighty force of Christianity, but are bent on finding the truth of the matter for themselves. But

all are not of this temper. It is one of the sad facts that we have to face, that not a few of the kingly intellects of this generation have quietly but unmistakably turned away from Christianity, as if it were an unreasonable thing, and are teaching others also their Gospel of Despair. All Christians are therefore called upon, in the dearest interests of the human race, honestly and fearlessly to consider the demand of this nineteenth century for a reasonable and a practical faith. If we take a careful note of what is passing around us, we must see that the time is coming when those who love Christ and His Gospel, and know it to be "the Power of God unto Salvation," will have to clear the ground for a great conflict. They must minimize their differences-be willing to give up untenable positions and misleading terms, and stand together for the Faith, in its simplicity and spirituality, against those who are assailing it on every side."

At page 60, in the first essay on "The Atonement," some remarks on literal interpretation of Holy Scripture are introduced thus :

"We have no desire to lessen the value and importance of the texts in which the expression "the blood of Christ" occurs. On the contrary, we seek to give it depth and reality; to suggest a practical meaning to this striking metaphor, which people can apply to their spiritual good."

Some striking instances are given in which wrong inferences have been drawn, and unscriptural practices established for ages through the inveterate habit of building up dogmas and doctrines on isolated texts. This portion of the argument is wound up by the following forcible sentence:

"There are, indeed, hundreds of texts which no sensible man, who honestly wishes to believe in the Bible, ever thinks of interpreting literally. Literal interpretation is the one well-understood device of dishonest sceptics and scoffers. In this way it is very easy to discredit the Bible; and thus, in fact, many Christians do thoughtlessly dishonor it.”

A great deal of any person's progress and effectiveness in the higher levels of life must depend upon his capability of seeing things which nobody can see. He must clearly behold and estimate the invisible forces which make and mar life, and he must be careful to see the unseen things which limit or which fulfil the seen. No man can see God at any time, yet any faith-filled soul can clearly see him in all the past and in all the present. This is a paradox,-of course it is; and it is a paradox whose two sides can only be brought into harmony by the believer. That was the secret of the wonderful life of Moses; for in the Epistle to the Hebrews we are told that "he endured, as seeing Him who is invisible." And that is the secret of all noble lives to-day,-endurance, and the vision of Him who is not visible.-S. S. Times.

THE truly great man is he who does not lose his child heart.-MENCIUS.

No fountain is so small but that heaven may be imaged in its bosom.-NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE.

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*** We propose to have the present "Volume" of the paper, (INTELLIGENCER, XLII), end with 1885, so that hereafter the volume will begin and end evenly with the calendar year,-1886 being XLIII; 1887, XLIV, and so on. This will be found more convenient, we think, for ourselves, and for our subscribers. will not affect, of course, the payments of subscriptions. These can begin at any time, and the sum paid may be for a full year, credit being given in our books from the date when the last payment ended, to the corresponding date a year later. Or, if any prefer to do so, they can pay such sum as will make their account hereafter begin and end evenly with the calendar year.

BOARDING-SCHOOL AT NEWTOWN SQUARE.

WE

E hear with much pleasure that arrangements have finally been made to open a Friends' Boarding-School in connection with the Day-School at Newtown Square, Pa. A new building has been erected, containing school and class-rooms, parlor, dining-room and kitchen on the first floor, sleepingrooms for girls in the second story, and dormitories for the boys on the third floor. Here, at a moderate charge, it is proposed to give the guardian care and home-life of our Society to its children while they are pursuing an advanced course of study. The school is under the joint charge of the Newtown Square School Committee, and the Committee on Systematic Work of the Yearly Meeting's Education Committee..

Abington Friends have had the matter of establishing such a school in connection with their meeting under consideration for a long time, and we hope the example of our Newtown friends will soon be followed by the opening of a similar school in that locality, and that the others—such as our Society in years past was noted for-may be established elsewhere.

The school-room will be ready for occupancy at an early date, and until the boarding department is completed, boarding can be obtained in Friends' families in the immediate neighborhood. Correspondence in reference to the entering of pupils, and any other matter in connection with the school, will be addressed to C. M. Biddle, 531 Commerce street, Philadelphia, or Thos. P. Bartram, Newtown Square, Pa.

DEATHS.

EVANS. - Ninth month 28th, in Philadelphia, Hannah J., widow of Rowland Evans.

HALL.-In Brooklyn, on the 10th of Eleventh month, at the residence of his mother, Brooklyn Heights, Charles Lyman Hall, son of Emma and the late Isaac Hall, in the 18th year of his age.

He has passed from his earthly to his heavenly home, and death has closed a most beautiful and exemplary life. LIPPINCOTT.-Suddenly, Twelfth month 18th, Caroline W., widow of Isaac K. Lippincott, in her 86th year; a member of the Monthly Meeting held at Green St., Phila.

LIVEZEY.— On the Twelfth instant, at Lumberville, Bucks county, Pa., Cyrus Livezey, in the 81st year of his age; a member of Solebury Monthly Meeting.

PALMER.-Twelfth month 18th, Sarah H., widow of Jonathan Palmer, Jr., and daughter of the late Isaac T. Hopper, in the 90th year of her age; a member of the Monthly Meeting of Friends of Philadelphia.

ROGERS.-Suddenly, of apoplexy, Twelfth month 16th, Clayton B. Rogers, of Philadelphia, in the 76th year of his age.

SMITH.-Twelfth month 14th, Dr. Albert H. Smith, of Philadelphia, in his 51st year.

WHARTON.-On Twelfth month 14th, at the residence of her son-in-law, Morris Super, Philadelphia, Mary K. Wharton, daughter of the late Richard Kimber.

YERKES.-Twelfth month 13th, at her late residence, Easton Township, Chester Co., Pa., Martha E. Yerkes.

SCRIPTURE LESSON. TWELFTH MO. 27TH.

REVIEW, FOR THE QUARTER ENDING 12 Mo. 27, 1885. [No Scripture lesson was prepared for the 28th inst. The suggestion that the time be improved in reviewing the lessons already studied is a good one, and its adoption by our schools generally is recommended.]

THE subjects that have formed the basis of the lessons for the last three months have mostly been interesting and instructive. The plan of following the course of the International series has not always given themes that it is desirable to dwell upon, but it is believed that not one of these has failed of its lesson of instruction, and our young people, through having their attention turned thereto, are better prepared to think and decide for themselves as to the value and significance of the records.

The prophet Elisha was the central figure in the earlier lessons, and those who call to mind his magnanimity toward the enemies of Israel when they were in his power, will not soon forget the kindness and forbearance so beautifully illustrated by the prophet.

Following this came the famine in Samaria, and the fearful distress it caused among the people, shut up within the walls of the city. Here again we have a lesson full of instructive teaching, in the action of the poor despised lepers. Though shut out of the city and shunned by all, when they found the camp of the besieging army deserted, and the supply of provisions left unprotected by the panic stricken soldiers, these same despised men made haste to carry

to the starving multitude the glad tidings of the plenty they had found.

In the “false zeal " of Jehu, we see what ambition leads to, and what cruelties have been inflicted in the name of religion, and with sorrow have had to remember that the world has not yet advanced to a condition in which the right to worship after one's own "manner," is accorded to all.

The repairing of the temple of Jerusalem, the death of the venerated prophet, Elisha, the disobedience of Jonah, his sorrowful experience, and the repenting of the Ninevites,-the references in Judah, the influence of the prophet Isaiah, and his prophecies have all claimed the attention of our scripture classes. The important events which they record cover a period of 150 years, during which time wars and internal strife kept the kingdoms of Judah and Israel in a state of unrest, with few intervals of peaceful enjoyment. Idolatry and the folly and wickedness it led into was eating away the life of the nations, and only "a remnant " was left to rally to the worship of Jehovah,-the God of their fathers. In this state the last quarter of the present course of study leaves "The Sinful Nation."

It has been suggested that an advantage would arise to teachers and others who make use of these notes on the " Scripture Lessons" to have them a week earlier. This was especially asked by Friends who live at such a distance that the paper is not always sure of reaching them in time for use on the First-day following. Responding to their suggestion, we shall hereafter, beginning next week, give the lesson a week in advance.

NEWS OF FRIENDS.

-In Fallowfield Monthly Meeting, Western Quarter, held on the 12th inst., a committee previously appointed to consider the proposition of the Yearly Meeting in reference to First-day schools, reported favorably, but men's meeting not uniting in the judgment of the committee, no action was taken thereon.

-Horsham Monthly Monthly Meeting, in Abington Quarter, at its session held Twelfth month 2d, appointed a committee to have care and oversight of the First-day schools within its limits.

-Members of the sub-committee of the Yearly Meeting's committee, who have been visiting monthly the meeting at Providence, (Media), were present on the 20th inst., when, notwithstanding the cold and blustering weather, the meeting was well attended. After the meeting for worship, in which three Friends spoke, the conference was held, continuing for about an hour, several present joining in it, with much unity and good feeling. The sub-committee expect to be again at Providence on the third First-day of next month.

-Correction: On page 715, under "News of Friends," last paragraph, let the concluding sentence be, "If a man drink he shall never thirst, but the water that I shall give him shall become to him a well of water springing up into eternal life."

-At Darby Monthly Meeting, on the 21st inst., a sub-committee of the Yearly Meeting's committee was in attendance. A proposition came in from the First-day School Association, asking for its recognition, which request was united with, and a committee was appointed to meet with the Association, and to confer as to the best manner of bringing it under the care of the meeting, and to propose a committee to take it in charge.

-The movement amongst Friends at Darby to organize certain details of philanthropic work in that borough has been progressing. The committee appointed to consider the subject reported to a large gathering on the 17th inst., the feasibility of establishing a sewing-school for girls, and a reading-room for young men; and it was unitedly agreed to ask the monthly meeting to take charge of the work. The subject was therefore brought up in the monthly meeting on the 21st inst., and, the other business having been concluded, the shutters were raised and the consideration proceeded in joint session. After an animated and very interesting discussion of the whole matter, the meeting appointed a committee to meet the Friends particularly interested in the work, and to report back, (to an adjourned session of the monthly meeting, on the 31st inst.), their judgment as to the best plan of procedure, and, if way opened, to name a committee to take charge.

COMMUNICATIONS.

CONVERSATION WITH CHILDREN.

Editors INTELLIGENCER AND JOURNAL:

I

LIKE your beginning the volume with the new year. It has been some trouble to arrange the numbers, as I have now 22 volumes bound, and I expect them to last when I am gone. I have not seen the same in any Friend's house. It seems strange to many who are mourning over the waste places in our Society, but a closer examination in the home circle would unravel much of the tangled web. I mean the lack of intelligent and profitable conversation with, and in the presence of the children, with the expectation of their listening. How much they may remember and profit by this course! I, for one, can testify that I learned much by hearing my father converse, not only upon our own principles but upon the tenets of other professors, and I retain a lively recollection of his narrative of the causes that led to the M. P. H. separation, half a century ago. Chatham, N. Y.

GOOD INFLUENCE OF A GOOD PAPER. Editors INTELLIGENCER AND JOURNAL :

I THINK many Friends suffer more loss than they are aware of by not taking the INTELLIGENCER AND JOURNAL. They do not fully realize where the spirit of our Society is, I think. I do not care how deeply devoted they are to the light they have received,though for such devotion they will receive the just reward,—but new motion often brings new life, and new life new light, and new light new fields for usefulAnd all need the fullest possible light and

ness.

A

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