Established 1844. The Journal, 1873.} PHILADELPHIA, FIFTH MONTH 28, 1898. For Friends' Intelligencer. NEW YORK YEARLY MEETING. At the meeting of ministers and elders, Seventh-day, the 21st, a number of visiting Friends were present. The meeting was exceptionally impressive, and all hearts were felt to have been baptized into a sweet fellowship of peace. The earnest prayer was uttered that we might be instrumental, in this hour of strife, in extending the same peaceful influence which we enjoy, to the world about us. On Seventh-day evening, the First-day School Association held a meeting, at which representatives from most of the First-day schools were present. The Executive Committee reported that there are now twelve traveling libraries. It asked for an apIt asked for an appropriation of fifty dollars, with which to fit out one additional library, and, if necessary, repair those already in circulation. After the reading of the statistical reports by the clerk, the New York and Brooklyn Friends were earnestly advised to continue their efforts to establish out-of-town schools, such efforts having been crowned with success in the past. Friends were reminded that the purpose of the First-day school is the teaching of certain essential principles, and that the need for this instruction is not confined to the children. At 9.30. First-day morning a large and interesting conference class assembled to consider the lesson for the day,"Children of God." Jonah L. Rees presented in a paper what seemed to him to be John's conception of God, and of our relation to the infinite Volume LV. · {Number 22. source of life. In the discussion which followed, William M. Jackson spoke of the divine principle which is the real life of each individual. He said that the face of the person of beautiful character is beautiful, and this internal character lives forever, grows fuller and more perfect with the ages. The spiritual in every human being is God. Jesus reached heights sublime, which human character had not before, nor yet has reached. Yet we may reach such heights, and in the upward course we must strive to attain them. Much interest was added to the meetings for worship on First-day, by the presence of a number of Friends from a distance, among whom were Lydia H. Price, Margaretta Walton, Rebecca Cowperthwaite, Matilda E. Janney, Nathaniel Richardson, Samuel S. Ash, Joel Borton, and others. At the opening of the morning meeting, prayer was offered by John H. Shotwell, after which Lydia H. Price arose with the text, "He hath shown thee, O man, what is good, and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, to love mercy, and walk humbly with thy God." She felt that true and vital religion consisted in perfect obedience to the will of God, as revealed to the individual soul; that when love has found an abiding place in the heart there is no room for fear. We can be martyrs rather than forfeit a principle which we have espoused. Enmity and ill will become impossible, and we will be willing to suffer rather than cause suffering to others. Nathaniel Richardson called attention to the facts that great principles have been, and always must be, sustained by faithful human instruments, and that one great need to-day is the love of God which casteth out all fear. Samuel S. Ash dwelt upon the importance of faith in our cardinal principle. The world is redeemed, he said, through that perfect obedienee to the indwelling Christ, which enables men to believe into Christianity, as well as in it. Other concerned Friends gave expression to words of council and encouragement. At both the morning and afternoon meetings the attendance was large. In the afternoon John H. Shotwell spoke of the simplicity of the Christian religion, as taught by the sermon on the Mount, a sermon which breathes in every line the spirit so much needed now, of "Peace on earth, good will to men." Joel Borton's message opened with the verse from Scripture, "There is more joy in Heaven over one sinner which repenteth, than over ninety and nine just men who need no repentance." We are too luke-warm and indifferent, he said. God's ministers should be found in every field, striving to assist the weak and bring in the fallen ones. An hour in the afternoon was devoted to the Firstday School Union. Myron Allen, superintendent of ། • the Granville First-day school, conducted the exercises, which were based upon the Twenty-third Psalm. Nearly all the schools responded to the roll-call with selections, following closely the central thought of the program. The New York Mission School gave a rythmical version of the Psalm. Ralph Underhill, of the Brooklyn First-day school, presented a very interesting paper upon "The Shepherd in the time of Jesus." The participation of both young and old in the exercises, and the unity of thought, made the occasion a particularly interesting one. For Friends' Intelligencer. BY GRIFFITH JOHN, BEAR GAP, PA. NEXT morning, they took leave of "this worthy family, with some tenderness on both sides." Margaret Campbell said it “was hard to have such guests and never see them more.' In concluding this labor, T. Wilkinson says: "Thus what in prospect appeared difficult, and even awful, was in the issue pleasant and satisfactory. Indeed it was greatly trying to appoint meeting after meeting till the sixth time; but the peace and serenity with which we rode from this place were worth what we had undergone." Extracts from letters subsequently written to T. Wilkinson by David Campbell and daughter, describe the impression made upon them by John Pemberton and his companions. Indeed, we all spoke with regret at the blank we felt at the departure of our much esteemed friends from this house. We never had guests whom we more regarded, on account of their general character, their disinterested profession, and unwearied endeavors in promoting the happiness and most valued interests of mankind; and wish, if it was consistent with the will of heaven, to have a repetition of the same agreeable intercourse.' Margaret Campbell says: "How often have I thought on the very amiable and heavenly-minded Mr. Pemberton, and most sincerely regretted that in all probability I had taken my last adieu of him; also lamented that I knew not his value till after his departure, else with what earnestness should I have entreated his favoring us with a few days more of his much valued society. Often do I think of his beautiful, gentle admonitions with admiration, and wish them interwoven with my every action." Leaving this place, they proceeded the way they came, by Tanbert and Loch gilphead, to Goatfield, where a satisfactory meeting was held. Here David Ducat was taken unwell, being often obliged to lie down. He was much discouraged-was fearful of not reaching his home, and of never seeing his beloved wife again. It was evident the hardships of travel were wearing upon him. Partly on this account, they turned their faces toward England, and traveled on till they came to Luss, on Loch Lomond. Having advanced a hundred miles in this direction, David's health improving, and John feeling a drawing toward the north, they reversed their course, holding a meeting in Tynedrum. Then on to Dalmally in Then on to Dalmally in Glen Orchy, a beautiful valley, and quite populous. Thomas Wilkinson in his walk to give notice of a meeting, met the minister, Joseph MacIntire, who is described as a frank, friendly, sensible man. He insisted on Thomas bringing his friends with him to his house, and said he and his whole family would attend the meeting, which they did, with a number of others, all of whom behaved with remarkable sobriety and attention. John's ministry reached the hearts of those assembled, and all went away quiet and satisfied. They spent the evening with the minister and his family, and were much pleased with each other. His wife was a plain woman. When they discussed the subjects of a hired ministry, war, etc., she agreed entirely with the Friends. Next day, as they were setting out for Bunawe, they again met the minister, who was looking for them, coming up with a book of William Penn's in his hand, which John Pemberton had given him the evening before. He took a kind leave, parting from them as though they had long been friends. They now passed on to Lorn Furness, and stopped with John Satterthwaite, who with his wife were the only Friends in the Highlands of Scotland. Here they held two meetings, in which they had acceptable service. Tenth month 3d they proceeded to Fort William, where, when the object of their coming was known, the Freemasons waited on them in a body and offered them their lodge, which was accepted. At the appointed time the meeting was held, and a considerable number attended. David Ducat was the first to speak. Rebellion was his subject, and the deeds of those that rose against their lawful sovereign were fully set forth. He remarked that outward allegiance might be observed by those who were rebels at heart. But such pretense could not deceive the King of Heaven. Thus he continued, using the term "rebel" so frequently that it produced great uneasiness in the mind of Thomas Wilkinson, not knowing what might be the result, as they were among the clans of Cameron and MacDonald that took up arms, in 1745, in behalf of Charles Edward Stuart, who claimed the English crown, and as there were old men present who had taken an active part in this Rebellion, he was fearful that offense might be taken at the freedom of David's language. However, they remained unmoved, and the meeting was quiet. John Pemberton followed, in a discourse entirely different from the preceding, delivered the truths of the Gospel with great effect, producing a wonderful degree of seriousness in the audience. Many, as they were dispersing, showed the ministers much kindness and attention. Another meeting was held in the evening, which also was very satisfactory. The Governor of Fort William, who attended both meetings, invited the visitors to breakfast with him in the Fort, which they did. John then had an opportunity with the soldiers, who behaved in a very becoming manner, and were much affected by what was said. In conversation, they learned the Governor had been at the battle of Bunker Hill, in America, in 1775, and received several wounds there.. John Pemberton drew his attention to the fact that such preservation of life amid great danger, called for daily gratitude to the Almighty. Setting forward, the weather, which had been fine for ぶ their journey, began to show signs of change, and increasing snow on Ben Nevis gave warning that it was time to leave this rugged region. They passed rapidly on through Strath Errick to Inverness, and held two meetings at the public house where they lodged. These were favored. In the course of their travel, they were now taking their departure from the Highlands, speaking of which Wilkinson says: "We were favored both inwardly and outwardly. The hospitality and kindness of the inhabitants, more than counter-balanced the unpromising aspect of the coun-. try; their respectful attention, their open and susceptible minds, ready to receive religious communication, were sources of comfort to us that cheered our passage through this part of Scotland." Next they reached the Friends' settlement in and about Aberdeen, and attended their monthly meeting held here. The following day, Tenth month 18, was their Half-Year's Meeting, at which George Miller of Edinburgh, was the only Friend of Scotland present, in addition to the members of Aberdeen Monthly Meeting. Others had intended to be there, but were disappointed. Ancient Robert Hervey, near eighty years of age, walked eighteen miles, in the rain, to attend. John Pemberton, feeling a concern to visit the northernmost parts of Scotland consulted these Friends as to the advisability of continuing his journey thither at an advanced season of the year. Though having much sympathy with him, they generally discouraged the undertaking, as the passages through the northern country were frequently blocked up by snow, for many weeks together. David Ducat also gave his voice against it. Thomas Wilkinson hardly expressed a sentiment, but thought, for himself, it would be a serious thing to be confined for months in the impassable valleys of Caithness, yet was resigned to go north or south. John Pemberton deliberating further upon the subject, said going northward seemed like death to the body; and going south like death to the soul. Wilkinson considered it better to hazard the body, than destroy peace of mind, so he proposed setting off for the north. Traveling a short distance in that direction, the weather becoming very cold and John Pemberton beginning to feel symptoms of pleurisy, and finding some relief from the concern, they turned their faces toward England. Passing Ury, Montrose, Dundee, and St. Andrews, they came on to Edinburgh in time for the monthly meeting there, having held meetings at different points on the way. In their progress they arrived at Selkirk, where Thomas Wilkinson took leave of John Pemberton and his companion, David Ducat, to return to his family. 1 John Pemberton, not feeling clear, concluded to remain in Scotland for a time. Two years later he returned to Philadelphia, having been absent seven years. After a sojourn of five years in America, he went back to Europe on a religious visit to Holland and Germany. Winter travel through this region proved too much for his power of endurance. He was taken unwell, but continued to attend meetings, until he came to a small settlement of Friends at Pyrmut, in Westphalia, where he stopped to recruit his health. Here he grew steadily worse until First month 31, 1795, when he closed, in peace, a life occupied in the endeavor to promote the good of mankind. KEEPING OUR FRIENDSHIPS IN REPAIR. Sunday School Times. EVERY art has its own mechanics. Poetry, painting, music, all have behind them mechanical laws which the average observer can hardly believe. Thus there comes about the amazing disappointment of so many people, who have been attracted to either form of expression, at their being unable to succeed in the thing for which they have so natural a taste. The intention, the good intention, turns out to be merely the beginning of any accomplishment, and often not even that. Perhaps the last thing we are likely to think is that friendship has a mechanics of its own, which must be discovered before friendship can be kept up. In this, as in other accomplishments, there are ways and means whose place cannot be filled by good intentions or mere tastes. It is fair to assume that most men have in them a taste for friendship, but it by no means follows that they have friends, or are friends; or, having friends, it no more follows that they will be able to keep them. To those who cannot do without friends, and who are overcome with doubts as to whether this world will foster friendship, this cool resolution of Dr. Johnson, which furnishes our title, "to keep friendships in constant repair," may furnish just the needed help. As the world seemed to be breaking down with him, one stay after another going from him, there came this thought, that the only thing to do was to keep his friendships in constant repair. To most, however, the very idea of downright going at the matter of friendship as we would go at anything else that is tumbledown or dislocated seems an impertinence, and out of the nature of the subject. Yet most of us must acknowledge that a little more calculation, even in a region where spontaneity would seem the one essential, would have kept us from many a lost friendship. The idea that anything spiritual will take care of itself, without our looking to the matter, becomes more and more discountenanced by our experience. There happens in the spiritual world just what happens in the garden when things are left to themselves. But, if people find themselves in a run-down spiritual condition, they are more apt than not to think it a matter which cannot be diagnosed, and about which it would be folly to attempt to do anything, as a result of which thousands of people, who once knew what it was to have spiritual force and vigor and interest, accept their new condition without so much as a suspicion that anything may be done about it. The very idea of doing anything about it is more or less offensive and foreign to them. It must right itself, or not be righted at all, they think. But spiritual law is about as practical a matter as a man may learn. Until he does learn it, he is at the mercy of moods and accidents all his days. favor of accidental and trivial things in friendship, but rather of that sturdy nurture and attention which we give to our other relationships. The same determination with which we correct our intellectual mistakes, with which we try to come into right relations with our ideas and with the truth, is to be used toward our friendships. We are not to consider our friendships as secondary to our ideas. A person is greater than an abstraction. For many who are vainly regretting the passing away of friendships, it may be simply that the time has come for them to set them in order again. Every first impulse has a natural term of life, and cannot be ex It is said of the church which George Peabody built, that he had tried so to build it that it should stand for a hundred years without needing a single dollar's worth of repairs. That the attempt should be successful we can hardly imagine. At any rate, few of us have had friendships which have been able to keep fresh and vital without ever needing repairs. Liable to constant change through distance, separation, diverse interests and surroundings, the friendships which are left to take care of themselves gradually expire. But we let them go with the saying, “If they will not take care of themselves, they were never intended to be," and lay to fate what is due to carelessness. No doubt, Dr. Johnson, with his habitual negli-pected to run forever. To leave it because it needs regences, had lost many a friendship, and had reached the time when new ones formed more slowly, and when there was less power to form them, when he realized. that, to keep friendships, he must keep them in repair. It is hardly possible for us to meet a friend, after a silence and an absence of two years, without feeling some difficulty and aloofness to be conquered, and which oftentimes is not conquered before we part. What we then attribute to an essential separation in spirit is often no more than an accidental separation. Without care or attention we find the separations occurring more and more frequently, and at just the time when we can least afford to have it so. It is more often due to neglect than it is to violent mishap that our friendships are broken. One of the chief causes in the cessation of friendship is the mutual delicacy of two persons in assuming that the other is the positive factor in the keeping up of the relation. Each expects the other to begin, and regards himself as the passive member in the compact; each assumes that it is the other who does not want to keep it up. So the silence which either had the right, and both were bound, to break, goes on increasing. Of course, it is never pleasant to put anything in repair, it is so mechanical an operation. Yet one may shrink from it by degrees until there is nothing left to repair, and that is terrible. If "the ornaments of a house are the friends who visit it," they ought to get at least as much attention as we so freely and so constantly give to the house itself, and to expect them to continue without a thought directly devoted to them is unreasonable. The feeling that it is a more sacred thing, more worthy of the nature of friendship, to let it quietly cease, than to go to work to repair or renew it, with all the more or less mechanical things which are necessary to its repair, is wholly wrong. Equally wrong is the idea that the relation is so delicate that a single hard knock puts an end to its finer quality. How soon our relations to God, our possibilities of becoming spiritual, would end, on the same basis! Surely, friendship is not more sacred than our relation to God! It may come upon us, after a life of what we thought was devotion to friendship, that we are just beginning to realize what friendship really is, how much it must stand, to be really friendship, what it must not be expected to endure, and how carefully it must be tended. This is not to speak in lay is to become gradually unworthy of all the best FRIENDS' NEW TESTAMENT LESSONS. GOLDEN TEXT.-He that loveth not knoweth not God; for HISTORICAL. "He The first thought which John evidently desired to impress upon his readers, in his first epistle, is that God is light. "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all." As light is all pervading and illuminating, so folly, prejudice, falsehood, and ignorance are generated and find growth in darkness. The second thought is that he is a God of righteousness. that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous." Enlarging upon these two themes, we are gradually brought to the leading thought and are prepared for the grand utterance that God is love. This Divine Truth is presented to us, and there are certain statements given which we can use as measurements in testing our own conditions: "If we love one another, God abideth in us and his love is perfected in us." "There is no fear in love, for perfect love casteth out fear." "If a man say I love God and hateth his brother he is a liar, for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, cannot love God whom he hath not seen. "He that loveth not, knoweth not God, for God is love.". TEACHING. The truthfulness of the statement made in the Golden Text, is no doubt as evident to-day as when written by John after the fall of Jerusalem, when it before he could be considered a Christian, and upon was no longer necessary for a man to become a Jew such a foundation stone is the whole of true, practical Christianity based. Emerson says, "Love is the synonym of God." It is a comforting thought that our Heavenly Father is to us the culmination of all 7 that is loving, kind, forgiving, and not a God of wrath and vengeance. It is certainly true that of all forces óperating upon the soul of man there is none of such far-reaching power. It is the key which unlocks every heart. The most stubborn will is melted by words of tenderness, and none can measure the sanctifying influence of an act of kindness. If we have the best interests of our friends and neighbors at heart, if we are filled with love for our fellowmen, if we desire to make life's rugged pathway smoother and easier for them, then must we abandon every thought of self. In fact, if we wish to find the most of happiness for ourselves, we must sooner or later learn that it can never be secured through selfish means, but that the practice of self-denial is necessary. "Love suffereth long." We are not independent creatures, we all need one another's help, hence we must be kindly in our actions and charitable in our judgments of what we may consider short-comings in others. The fact that every day counts its lost opportunities should stimulate each and every one of us to call our best faculties into exertion, and to put into action. the noble impulses which from time to time incite us to loving deeds. As in the story of Abou Ben Adhem, the love of our fellowmen is an evidence of the love of God in our hearts, and we are as instruments by which a Higher Will is made manifest. "And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love." FUTURE FIRST-DAY SCHOOL LESSONS. The Literature Committee of the First-day School General Conference, in charge of the preparation of the Lesson Leaves, decided at a recent meeting in Philadelphia, to occupy the second half of the year 1898 with lessons relating to Friends, their principles and testimonies. The continuous study of the New Testament, which was begun with the year 1893, and has since been systematically pursued, occupying five and a half years, will be completed with the lessons ending next month. It had been intended, then, to begin at once a progressive study of the Old Testament, but it was thought preferable by the committee to occupy the remaining half of the year in the manner stated, with lessons on Friends, and to begin the Old Testament with the lessons for 1899. For Friends' Intelligencer. UNDERGROUND R. R. REMINISCENCES. SOME sixty years ago there lived in Philadelphia a high-spirited young man, richly endowed by nature, both mentally and physically. He visited his sister, that spiritually-minded and lovely woman, Patience Hunn Jenkins, of Camden, Del., then young in the ministry among Friends. The brother was John Hunn, and on leaving his sister, she caught hold of him and said, "Throw off thy Babylonish garment, and I am lead to believe that if thee is faithful, thee will also have to become a preacher." This dear sister's remarks doubtless made a deep impression on him, and soon after his return to Philadelphia he took the costly cloak to a tailor and had a whole suit of plain clothes made out of it, and the next time she met him he was in a plain Friends' garb, with a broad-brim hat on. The two came together and visited our meetings in Caroline, and though a mere boy, I well remember that he preached, and it then appeared to me that he was the most remarkable man I had ever seen or heard. He was handsome, tall, and in person finely developed,—“a Nature's nobleman." His hair was as black as a raven, his manner the most courteous and humble, and as gentle as a child. I still remember his text; my impression is that the sermon was the first he ever preached: "The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath annointed me to preach the gospel to the poor, he hath sent me to heal the broken hearted, to preach deliverance to the captive, recovery of sight to the blind, and set at liberty them that are bruised; to preach the acceptable year of the Lord." After meeting, John Hunn and his sister Patience took dinner at my father's, and I saw the suit of clothes. He had them on, and I heard the sister tell what she said to him about the "Babylonish garment," and her impression that he "would also have to preach." (These, as I remember, were the words, or the substance.) After this visit John Hunn often visited us. He found a fruitful field here for his doctrines. His voice was of a rich, mellow accent, not high, but fatherly, and his thrusts into creeds, hirelings, and the slave-holding oppression, were keen and searching, and when wrapped in a prophetic vision, as he saw in the future abolition of slavery, and in his denunciation of the creeds of men, he was as fearless as a lion. The five Friends' meetings,— Marshy Creek, Centre, Northwest Fork, Neck, and Bridgetown or Tuckahoe,-had almost made Caroline an abolition county, and it had but few slaves, while its surrounding counties, Talbot, Dorchester, Queen Anne, and Sussex in Delaware, had their thousands. One man alone, it is said, Colonel Lloyd's father, in Talbot county, had at one time "nine hundred and ninety-nine, and that he left home one morning to purchase another to make one thousand, but on his return with his slave he was met by some one and informed that in his absence one of them had died, so that the thousand was still one short." In my day it has been more to John Hunn's labors and preaching that the Underground Railroad was kept running through Delaware and the Eastern Shore of Maryland than to any other person. After his marriage and settlement on a farm at or near Cantwell's Bridge, (Odessa), in Delaware, hundreds flocked to him to save them from the galling chains of slavery, and it was there that the noted case of Samuel Hawkins and family came to him, in 1845, on the Underground Railroad from William Hardcastle, of Queen Anne county, Maryland. John Hunn and Thomas Garrett, of Wilmington, were sued over this case, and it was tried by the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, Judge Taney, in 1848, (two years before the Dred Scott decision), who fined them "to the extent of every dollar they possessed in the world." Here "thousands of dollars were swept from John Hunn at a stroke," and he and his family ruined. A report of the case is given in "The Underground Railroad, A Record of Facts, Authentic Narratives, Letters," etc., by William Still, of Philadelphia, published in 1871. Preston, Md. WILLIAM T. KELLEY. |