ual reign, should feel it a high privilege to follow his blessed example, who, in order to overcome evil with good, laid down his life for the sheep; "who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to Him that judgeth righteously."

For behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave neither root nor branch. Mal. 4: 1.

From the "English Review," for December, 1791.
ON SILENT WORSHIP.

Devotion, considered simply in itself, is an intercourse betwixt us and God-betwixt the supreme, self-existent, inconceivable Spirit, which formed and preserves the universe, and that particular spirit with which, for awful reasons, he has animated a portion of matter upon earth, that we call man.

us its soul and substance. Superstition has placed it in opinions, ceremonies, austerities, pilgrimages, persecutions, an august temple or splendid imagery, which have little connection with sentiment or spirit. Enthusiasm has swelled with unnatural conceptions, and ob truded a spurious offspring on the world, instead of the engaging child of Reason and of Truth, whilst the lukewarm have rested in a few outward duties, which have had no vigor, and as they spring not from the heart, never enter the Temple of the Most High.

Real piety is of a very different and of a much more animated nature. It looks up to God; sees, hears, feels him in every event, in every vicissitude, in all places, in all seasons, and upon all occasions. It is theory, vivified by experience; it is faith, substantiated by mental enjoyment; it is heaven, transplanted in the human bosom; it is the radiance of the spiritual sense, gratified by spiritual sensations. divinity, warming and encircling man; it is a Without this all ceremonies are inefficacious; books, prayers, sacraments, and meditations are but a body without a soul, or a statue without

animation.

That man is capable of such an intercourse with his Maker, there are many living witnesses to prove. Without having recourse to the visions of fanatics or the dreams of enthusiasts, it may be proved to spring from natural and philosophical causes. God is a spirit, so is the mind. Bodies can have intercourse, so can souls When minds are in an assimilating state of purity, they have union with their Maker. This was the bliss of Paradise. Sin interrupted it, and holiness must restore it. To a soul thus disposed, the Creator communicates himself in a manner which is as insensible to the natural eye as the falling of dews, but not less refreshing to its secret powers, than that is to vegetation. The primitive saints speak of this when they are describing their transports. David felt it when he longed for God, as the panteth after the water-brooks. St. Paul experienced it when he gloried in his tribulations. It was embodied in him when he was carried up into the third heaven, and heard things impossible to be uttered. St. Stephen' was filled with it when he saw the heavens opened, and prayed for his murderers. By it, martyrs were supported when they were stoned and sawed asunder, and until we feel it in ourselves, we shall never fully know how gracious the Lord is. If you can acquire this spiritual abstraction, you will at once have made your future for eternity. It will be of little moment what is your lot on earth, or what the distinguishing vicissitudes of your life; prosperity or adversity, health or sickness, honor or disgrace, a cottage or a crown, will all be so many ments of glory. The whole creation will be

It is a silent act, in which the soul divests itself of outward things, flees into heaven, and pours forth all its wants, wishes, hopes, fears, guilt, or pleasures, into the bosom of an Almighty Friend. Although this devotion in its first stages may be a wearisome or insipid exercise, yet this arises merely from the depravity (weakness) of nature, and of our passions. A little habit will overcome this re luctance. When you have fairly entered upon your journey, the ways of this wisdom will be ways of pleasantness, and all its paths-hart peace." True devotion doubtless requires a considerable degree of abstraction from the world. Hence, modern Christians treat it as a vision-hence, many modern writers have little of its unction. But it glows in the Scriptures; it warms us in the Fathers; it burned in an Austin, and in many others of the persecuted martyrs who now are with God. That we hear but little of it, is not wonderful. It makes no noise in the circle of the learned, or of the elegant. Under a heap of worldly cares, we smother the lovely infant and will not let it breathe. Vanity, pleasure, ambition, avarice, quench the celestial fire; and these, alas! are too much the gods of mortals. Ever since the world began, writers have been amusing us only with shadows of this piety,instead of giving

instru

come a temple. Every event and every object | years and upwards since its erection, there is no will lead your minds to God, and in his great-account of one meeting having been missed, ness and perfections you will insensibly lose either on First-day or mid-week, not even during the littleness, the glare and tinsel of all human the late-war, when it was used as quarters for things. If I wished only to set off your per southern soldiery. They first came amongst us sons to the greatest advantage, I would recom- much prejudiced against Friends, but after acmend this true, sublime religion. It gives aquaintance, they were mostly respectful; there pleasing serenity to the countenance, and a was no wanton destruction of property, and the cheerfulness to the spirits beyond the reach of house was not materially injured.

mission of the Gospel. I can remember many excellent and touching discourses from those who came from various parts of the country, most of whom have passed from works to rewards; but to the remainder, wherever they may be, I have thought this account would be read with interest, which was one inducement to write the notice.

art or the power of affectation. It communi- Since it has been in use as a place of worship, cates a real transport to the mind, which dissi-there have been many travelers to visit us in the pation mimics only for a moment; a sweetness to the disposition, and a lustre to the manners, which all the airs of modern politeness study but in vain. Easy in yourself, it will make you in perfect good humor with the world, and when you are diffusing happiness around you, you will only be dealing out the broken frag ments that remain after you have eaten. This devotion, however, though essentially a silent Among these, and the last who visited us beintercourse betwixt the soul and God, yet to fore the accident, was our much valued friend creatures, consisting of matter as well as spirit, D. F. W., of Philadelphia, who was in attendmust be nourished by external forms. It mustance at the last meeting held, and delivered the strike the senses, in order to awaken the imagi

nation.

The moment a man gives way to inordinate desire, disquietude and torment take possession of his heart. The proud and the covetous are never at rest; but the humble and poor in spirit possess their souls in the plentitude of peace.-Kempis.

last discourse made in the house. It was truly good and encouraging counsel, that no doubt will be remembered by many who were present, the impression remaining that a sweet counsellor and Christian mother had spoken truly to us.

The building had done good service in its long use; and although it was a trial to part with it, and sadness was apparent on almost every countenance, yet when we remember that thousands have worshipped there, many of whom have passed from earth and no doubt are gathered in the presence of our Saviour, say not that it was erected in vain, but that as our fathers built it for their use, and those who might come after them-so now, it is our duty to raise another, that our followers may have

FRIENDS' MEETING HOUSE AT WATERFORD, VA, Friends Meeting house at Waterford, Loudon County, Virginia, known as Fairfax Meeting house, was destroyed by fire on the 8th instant. The roof caught from the burning grass of the grave yard, that was fired by some school boys in order to remove the summer's growth of vege-extended to the in a similar example. It is our

tation.

Of course there was an error on their part, to assume such a work without permission; and they have no doubt suffered a severe penalty of condemnation for the act so thoughtlessly begun, for the wind brought the fire towards the building, and very soon the house was enveloped in flames. The citizens of the village were active to save the house, but so soon as its fate was certain, they exerted themselves with some success to save sash, blinds, and benches. The building bore the date of 1761, and was a large old fashioned stone house, which had undergone thorough repair of floors, windows, and roof, &c., about 10 years ago, and was in excellent order.

To those of us who have been regular at tenders of the meetings held there for near a life time, there are many pleasant associations connected with its memory, and the parting with it was much like that of a separation from a loved one of earth. During the one hundred

purpose to proceed with rebuilding, as fast as the weather will admit, and hope the coming summer will find it replaced with a new and comfortable house of good size and convenience.

Waterford, 11th mo. 18, 1867.

W.

LETTER FROM VIRGINIA. WATERFORD, VA., 11th mo. 10th, 1867. I write this morning with a heavy heart, knowing you will feel for us, when I tell you that our time-honored meeting-house was burned on the 8th, the day before yesterday.

During the seven months the soldiers were quartered there, we should not have been surprised at any time to have seen it in flames, but it escaped all the perils of war, all the wild weather of a hundred winters, to fall on a serene and lovely day, when scarcely a breath of wind fanned the air and from so small a cause. Some boys were playing with fire in the graveyard adjoining. The long grass caught, and

spread with rapidity; from the grass to the roof was the work of a moment, when that too caught, and all our efforts to stop its course were in vain.

Our dear invalid cousin was passing the day with us, for the first time since her illness, and we were enjoying her company, when the cry came, "The Quaker meeting-house is on fire." We looked, and there was the dear old house encircled by the devouring element. Men worked, and women ran to assist, but our ut most exertions only sufficed to carry out the stove and our little book case, some of the benches, and a few of the windows, before the quaint old hipped roof was gone. Then came a fearful crash; part of the wall went down. The east gable still remains, bearing upon it the date of its erection, 1761.

Dear friends, we claim your sympathy. We do indeed know that the Holy Spirit dwells' not in temples made by hands, but in the hearts of His children wherever they may be: but we are just emerging from the crush of the war, when we were stripped of grain, horses, cattle and harness, and of almost every thing that was movable; and the meeting-house at Winchester having been demolished by the war, our Yearly Meeting has already demands. for assistance which precede ours; so that our prospect of rebuilding is not very promising.

This afternoon we met at the School House near by, and had abundant evidence that the Good Spirit, the Living Word, is not confined to one place nor to temples made with hands.

For Friends' Intelligencer.
SCHOOL TEACHING.

R. K.

What does the teacher require when he commences the school? Silence. What does the Divine Teacher require? Silence. Why? In order that all may listen to his voice and not disturb each other. What is the next requisite? Obedience. Why? For the reason that all will be confusion unless it is enforced, and the pupils would not attend to their studies. These being attended to, all will go on harmo niously, step by step, and we will secure the boon of happiness and peace.

1. H.

FIRST-DAY SCHOOL CONFERENCES.

BALTIMORE, 10th mo. 30th, 1867. At a meeting of Friends' First-day School Conference, assembled at the Meeting House, on Lombard Street, in obedience to the call of the Committee appointed at West Chester, Pa,

"It stood the storm when waves were rough, But in a sunny hour fell off." And well has its work been done. During all these long years it has sheltered us, as our minutes bear record, twice every week without a single omission. The heads which planned and the hands which built had long ago ceased their labors, but the prayers of sincere hearts were still offered as at the beginning. Now that our temple has fallen, is it any wonder that we are cast down and our countenances are sad. It is the place where our parents and grandparents, and the great-grandparents of many among us, were wont to repair to worship their Father and our Father. It is the place where so many servants of the Most High, now gone to their rest, have labored among us. The thrilling tones of Job Scott were heard there, and there Kersey and Hicks have ministered the everlasting word. Stabler and Wetherald, (both members and regular attenders of the Quarterly Meeting) there poured forth their eloquent appeals to enchained audiences, of whom, doubtless, many bave become the better for having crossed its thresh-bearing upon the interesting subject for the old. And, still more recently, there was one consideration of which the meeting came whose voice was familiar to us all, and whose together. memory is dear to us all; one, whose fervent petitions, we doubt not, have often ascended to the mercy seat in our behalf; one whom we mourn as a mother in Israel; one whose gen-ence that they had conferred together and had tle influence is still felt among us, though she has passed away to join the innumerable company which surrounds the throne of God and the Lamb.

Our dear old meeting-house has been witness to other scenes strange for so peaceful a place, and foreign to its character. For seven months it was the home of soldiers; and surrounded as we were by the implements and appendages of war, and in the midst of ignorant and misguided men, we sat together, and felt that the Blessed Master condescended to our low estate and met with us, then and there.

Lydia C. Stabler, of Baltimore, was appointed Assistant Clerk, after which the minutes of the West Chester Meeting were approved.

Extracts were read from communications

The committee appointed at our last meeting "to draft for the information of our absent Friends an address, &c," informed the confer

divided themselves into the following subcommittees, viz: to prepare an address, to present statistical information, and to examine and report on books suitable for children, and that said sub-committees after deliberate consideration had agreed to submit

I. THE STATISTICAL REPORT.

The sub-committee on statistics having given the subject its merited consideration, gaining information from all the sources at its command, feel gratified at being able to report as favorable a condition of affairs as appears to them to lexist. We have heard of schools in successful

10th mo. 12, 1867.

ELI M. LAMB,
SAML. E. GRISCOM.

operation in nearly all the Yearly Meetings in briefly as possible, present the condition of our the country, and think we have, in communica. First-day schools at the present time, and hope tions addressed to us by those directly connecthe vigorous efforts now making may prove ted with said schools, abundant evidence of a useful to society and to humanity generally. thorough working interest that cannot fail to On behalf of the Committee, produce good fruits for those for whom they work. There is evidently an intense desire among all to find the best mode of conducting" their schools for the true welfare of those intrusted to their care. Humility and love pervade all the communications received, and each gives abundant evidence of a reliance upon a Higher Power for that strength and guidance | without which we can do no good thing." We feel pleasure in presenting these glean ings from wide extended fields, in connection with the following, statistical report.

II. THE REPORT ON BOOKS.

The committee appointed to select suitable books, containing instructive and interesting reading for the children of First-day schools, report that they have spent some time in examining carefully a variety of books issued by different religious societies. As they considered it particularly important that no books having We have reports from nineteen (19) First-objectionable points of doctrine should be placed day schools taught by seventy-seven (77) teach-in the hands of children, it was necessary that ers, forty four (14) of whom are females. These each should be closely scrutinized. It was schools number about one thousand and ninety- frequently a source of regret, that the excellent one (1091) pupils, with an average attendance moral lessons embodied in many of the books of about six hundred (600). Of these schools, one was organized in 1859, two in 1860, two in 1862, one in 1863, four in 1865, one in 1866, and eight in 1867, showing that more than one third the whole number have commenced this year. Connected with some of these schools are libraries containing about 600 volumes, which number we anticipate will be largely increased during the next year.

must be withheld from the young, because in other places, views were promulgated which could not consistently be endorsed by members of the Society of Friends. Among the large number offered by other religious organizations and examined by us, the committee find but 12 which are considered unobjectionable.

Among those issued by different branches of our own Society, we would allude to the very va. As evidence of the widespread interest in luable work just published by our friend Berj. this, matter we report as now in operation, Hallowell, entitled, "The Young Friend's schools at Reading, Pa., organized 11th mo. 6, Manual, containing a statement of some of the 18:9; Germantown, Pa., spring, 1860; Green Testimonies and Doctrines of Friends, and the St, Philada., in fall, 1860; Salem, N. J., 1862; principles of Truth professed by that Society;" West Branch, Pa., West Chester, Pa., 5th mo. as a book of which all First day schools have 3, 1863; Goshen, Pa., 5th mo. 1865; Bal-felt great need, and which cannot but be petimore, Md, 11th mo. 1865; Race St., Phila., rused with profit and interest. 11th mo. 5, 1865; Richmond, Ind., 12th mo. 3, 1865; Miami Meeting, Waynesville, Ohio, 5th mo. 1866; Mt. Pleasant, Ohio, spring, 1867; Boston, N. Y., 6th mo. 23, 1867; Alloway's Creek, N. J., 6th mo. 23, 1867; Goose Creek, Va., Kennet Square, Pa., summer, 1867; Valley Meeting, Pa., 7th mo. 1867; Colored School, Lincoln, Va., Chappaqua, N. Y., 10th mo. 20, 1867.

(A First-day school was held at Salem, N.J., more that 50 years ago. A First-day school was organized at West Chester, 11th mo., 1860, but after six or seven months was discon tinued.)

The following are offered by the committee. Scripture Lessons for the little ones, by A. S. P., published by Friends' Publication Assciation, Philada., and those issued by the Book Association of Friends, Philada., viz:-Biblical History Familiarized by Questions, by Ann A. Townsend; Talks with the Children, parts 1 and 2, by Jane Johnson; The Story of Thos. Ellwood, by A. S. P.; Devotional Poetry for Children, parts 1 and 2, Daily Scriptural Watchword and Gospel Promise, by Jane Johnson; Thoughts for the Children, by Jane Johnson; Treasury of Facts, 6 parts, by Jane Johnson; Familiar Questions on the Queries, The foregoing exhibits we think very clearly by II. E. Stockly; Paper Juveniles and a Fable the fact that many truly concerned Friends on Faith. Also, the Children's Friend, a consider First-day schools a necessity. Parents Monthly Magazine for Friends, published by who have themselves been reared without them Lydia H. Hall, aided by Esther K. Smedley, we find coming forward with their infant and of West Chester, Pa. And from other sources, cider children, to introduce them to the First-Chloe Lankton. The Lost Shilling. Stamp on it day schools, from which they hope their little John, Oiled Feather, Mother's Care, George ones will receive advantages beyond those of Howard, Under the Wings, Nettie's Acora the generation preceding them. We thus, as Frames, Uncle Downs' Home, Charlie, or the

Bad Habit, Helps over Hard Places for Boys, | the Holy Spirit, and becomes obedient to the Helps over Hard Places for Girls.