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[To be continued.]

THE PROPHET DANIEL.
(Continued from page 88.)

orderly behaviour and separate meetings." They as professed in the various churches of Christensay, however, "he hath often quarrelled with us dom." about confessions, declaring that he knows of none given forth by the body of Friends to his satisfaction, and often charged most of us of being unsound in the faith."-[Smith's History.] The Keithite party was, for a short time, quite numerous in Pennsylvania and N. Jersey; they bad fifteen meetings, and among these were some who had been influential members and Ministers before the separation.

In a few years Keith threw off his Quaker dress, joined the English church, and being ordained as a minister, returned from England to America, to proselyte his brethren. According to the authorities quoted in the pamphlet before us, it seems that about seven hundred persons of the Keithian party were baptized, and joined the church, but the clergy had very little success with the Foxian' Quakers, who, it is stated," remained obstinately attached to their own notions." The conclusions of our author in regard to the Keithites are as follows, viz:

1. "That the Keithian controversy originated in his opposition to Fitzwater and Stockdale, on the ground of their preaching the old Foxian faith of the all-sufficiency of the Divine light.

2. That the meeting to which he belonged sustained those whom he opposed, and testified against him, by which act they consistently adhered to the original faith of their fathers; and that the Yearly Meeting of London sanctioned their proceedings, and also pronounced against

him.

3. That Keith and his associates could not be received by other Christian professors as Quakers, after abandoning the Foxian standard which was then, and is now, too well known to be misapprehended.

4. That they had no place to stand on, as a separate organization; and that their only and necessary course was to join themselves with others, or to refuse allegiance to all Christian societies, unless they preferred, as some did, to return to the Penn Quakers."

"It may appear singular, that one who is not of the Society of Friends should engage himself with this analysis; but it is so interwoven with the question of Christian progress at the present day, that no one who carefully considers it, can fail to perceive in it the signs of a re-gathering of the people commonly called Quakers' among themselves; and a scattering of those who do not rightfully possess the title to other denominations."

We have abundant proof from Scripture testimony and other sources, that the truly meritorious have oft times suffered the infliction of cruelties and indignities hard to bear, from such as coveted their position, but possessed not the wisdom, that led them step by step, to an exalted standing. Such was the allotment of Daniel. When a humble captive under the rigid sway of a despotic ruler, with unabated ardor he served the God of his fathers, nor retired from public view in the performance of these high obligations. His integrity and many virtues gained him the confidence of all around him, and eventually raised him to high and dignified places of trust and honor; but everywhere discretion and prudence marked his movements, and sweet humility shone out as a crowning virtue.

All these excellencies, with their attendant favors, roused the envy of the less privileged, who combined to seek his overthrow. By these was Daniel scrutinized with the keenness of a vulture's eye, in his goings out and comings in, but they could find nothing whereof to accuse him, except concerning the law of his God.

O, that this were the state of the young men of our day, who are instructed to believe there is a God in heaven, who takes cognizance of the affairs of men, and to whom adoration and homage are ever due; that these preferred and sought the beautiful adorning of heavenly wisdom, with the robes of pure righteousness for their clothing, consulting the holy spirit as their Oracle on all occasions, and under all circumstances; thus fitted to stand as instructors and waymarks, judges and councillors, approved of God and men, because of their superior intelligence and understanding.

But to return to the men who by cunning and artifice devised a stratagem to entrap Daniel, and bring him under condemnation, whereby, his life would be forfeited. They obtained a decree from their sovereign, that any man, making a petition to any God or man for thirty days, save of him, should be cast alive into the den of lions. This was signed by the king, and bore his signet. Knowing this, did this devout young man retire? Ah, no! he went to his chamber, and with his window open toward Jerusalem, he kneeled down three times in a day, and put up his petitions to God in the highest heaven, for protection and preservation in this great extremity.

I shall reserve for the next number some farther quotations from this very suggestive work, in which it will be clearly shown to whom These wicked watchmen were upon the alert, the title of Friends' at this day properly be- and now they triumphed over their victim, having longs, and what must be the result of attempt- as they imagined consummated a plan that would ing, as some now do, to find a middle ground certainly put an end to his existence. But alas between Quakerism and "the orthodox religion for them, they were taken in the snare they had

laid for the upright, and perished in their own devices. Then was the king exceedingly sorry when apprised of the fact that the accused was his beloved Daniel, and he set his heart to deliver him, and labored till the going down of the sun, but in vain, in vain! Even he had not the power to reverse the decree issued from the palace, for the laws of the Medes and Persians were unalterable. In his lament he encouraged Daniel by saying, "O! Daniel, thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee." Then was the prophet cast into the lions' den, and this mighty potentate went to his house, but sleep he could not, nor were instruments of music brought before him. At morning's dawn we find him again at the den, uttering the deep and lamentable "O! Daniel, servant of the living God, cry, is thy God whom thou servest continually able to deliver thee?" Then did he hear that voice asserting his power, "He hath sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths that they have not hurt me, inasmuch as innocency was found in me, and before thee, O king, have I done no hurt." Then was the king exceedingly glad, and commanded that he should be taken thence, and his accusers delivered to the fury of these beasts of prey, which obtained the mastery over them, rending them in pieces, cre they came to the bottom of the den. Here is portrayed a most striking instance of a special Providence, most signally manifested when no human power could save, in a manner to silence opposers, and cause the unbelieving to confess.

He is the living God, whose dominion shall never end, who worketh signs and wonders in heaven above, and in the earth beneath, who rescueth from the devourer, delivering his servant from the lions' power. Then Darius made a decree, that in every part of his dominion, men should fear and tremble before the God of Daniel, who is a living God, and steadfast forever. This same Daniel prospered in the reign of three successive kings, and his name comes down to us among the number of those that shall be held in everlasting remembrance.

4th month, 1857.

For Friends' Intelligencer.

RETIREMENT.

S. H.

Happy is the man who liveth loose from the world and entangleth not himself with the perplexing cares and excitements thereof; but keep ing his mind free from an eager pursuit after secular things, takes time and opportunity to retire from all worldly objects and meditate on the things which conduce to his eternal happi

ness.

How sweet is retirement. O! that the children of men would often retire from the world and enter into a state of silence and inward meditation; I believe they would be favored with the precious enjoyment of the blessed fruits

thereof, which they would find to be preferable to every thing this world can afford.

O! that the dear youth would often retire from the multitudes, from the crowds, and from the exciting pursuits of the world, and meditate on their dear Redeemer and follow him in the way of his leadings. He would often lead you to retirement. Behold, read and follow the example of Jesus as recorded in sacred writ, where we find that He often withdrew from the multitudes and retired into mountains and solitary places, into gardens and sea-sides, thereby showing his followers that it is good to retreat and retire from the noise, from the erowds, and from the hurries of the world.

THOMAS STORY. (Continued from page 87.)

B.

Now the dispensatious of God being variously accommodated to the state of the mind, in man's progress through the world, which suffers great and frequent mutations; (for the Lord, willing in mercy to save the soul, is pleased to suit various states with various means; and all at last, to that good end;) so he hath in times past, as we may obterve in holy writ, awakened and informed the mind, sometimes by dreams, sometimes by prophecy, sometimes by sigus, and at other times by immediate revelation; and so, in degree, I have found it in myself, for whilst my mind was secretly looking towards the Lord, and desiring the knowledge of his ways, I had one night a dream in manner following.

"I thought I stood in an outward court before the gates of a castle or fort, and there stood one by me that was a great sinner. And I beheld five great lights in the Heavens; four whereof were as moons, greatly eclipsed, and of the color of blood, and the fifth as the sun, under a thick cloud, and hardly to be discerned. The first was placed in the south east, or where the sun riseth in the winter solstice; the second a degree further south; the third, south; the fourth moon a degree towards the west, and the fifth, (being the sun) in the south west, or where the sun sets in winter. Whilst I looked steadfastly upon the four former with admiration, the fifth passed insensibly below the horizon, and vanished out of my sight, and then also the clouds departed, and the four sanguine moous wandered to various and opposite points in the heavens. After which being violently moved towards the zenith, they met there, and were dashed to pieces, one by another, and fell to the earth.

After this, I saw the stars of heaven, and they appeared bright and innumerable, and, remaining in the firmament a short season, they also moved suddenly, and with violence, one against another, and being broken in pieces, fell likewise to the earth, as the falling of fruit from the tree, shaken by a mighty hand. And as the stars fell, they gradually lost their light, and as they

approached near the earth, they altogether ceased from shining. And I also beheld the light of the candles to be extinguished, and the fire would not burn any longer, and total and thick darkness was upon the face of the whole earth, and covered the deep, and was over all flesh.

And I was afraid with exceeding great amazement, and so was he that was with me, for the great day of the Almighty appeared to be come, even the day of his righteous judgment, and we fed with horror unspeakable, and precipitate haste, and in confusion run towards a stable, where, hiding us under an ark, we remained in agony, expecting the earth should be dissolved, and the elements melt with fervent heat, and to receive a reward according to our works.

But in the midst of this fear, I resigned all to the will of Him who shaketh the Heavens, and dissolveth the earth, and doth what pleaseth Him in time and eternity. And immediately after, though all hopes were gone, the sun arose toward the north east, as in the strength of summer, and all fear vanishing, I came from under the ark, but saw my companion no more. And I went out into a spacious and verdant valley, where the flowers were many, fragrant and perfeet, and young men walking in their full strength, beauty and perfection, innocent as little children, and women also as the tender babes, and discoursing together with countenances bespeaking a sense of deliverance, telling of their absence from their own dwellings, and journeying homewards when the stars fell, and a thick and black corruption, which came from them, fell on their faces, to their great hurt, hindrance, and annoyance in their return. But we, being delivered from the horrible darkness, by the return and coming of the glorious light, rejoiced together in unspeakable love."

During my abode with this counsel, I was several times with him at London, where, by the fear of God, I was preserved from vice and evil company, which much abounds in that great and populous city, though not without temptations, and not otherwise to be resisted than by the secret influence of grace, which supercedes them, though it may not always be immediately apprehended by such as are preserved by it.

And though I was educated in the way of the National Church of England, yet I had no aversion to any class professing the Christian name; but occasionally heard several sorts, and yet did not fully approve any sect in all things, as I came to consider them closely. At New Castle upon Tyne, I once happened to hear a famous Presbyterian preacher; it was in the reign of king Charles the Second, when the national laws were against them, and all other dissenters from the national worship, and they being cowardly, had their meeting in the night, and in an upper room, and a watch set below. I did not go into the room, but stood on the head of the stairs, expect

ing to hear something like doctrine from so noted a man among them, but all that he entertained his auditory with, was suggestions of jealousy and dislike against the government, and that he delivered in such a way as appeared to me to be very disagreeable.

At another time I was occasionally at a Friends' meeting, on a week day, at Broughton, in the county of Cumberland, when I applied my mind with as much diligence as I could, to examine what I could discern in their way; but though I observed they were very grave, serious, and solid, in the time of their worship, I could gather but little at that time, either from their manner or doctrine, only I took them to be an honest, innocent, and well meaning sect.

Towards the latter end of the year 1687, wecame out of the country, and had chambers in the city of Carlisle, and King James II. being then on the throne, and the garrison and castle in the hands of popish officers and governors, the protestants were apprehensive of great danger, and the people much divided in their sentiments and interests; for there was a loose and treachcrous sort among the protestants, who appeared daily nearer and nearer towards the papists, and fell in, generally, with all their measures, which grieved the steady part, and justly heightened their dreadful apprehensions.

About this time I went diligently to the public worship, especially to the cathedral at Carlisle, where in time of public prayer we used all (male and female) as soon as that creed, called the Apostles' creed, began to be said, to turn our faces towards the east, and when the word Jesus was mentioned, we all as one, bowed and kneeled towards the altar table, as they call it, where stood a couple of common prayer books, in folio, one at each side of the table, and over them, painted upon the wall I. H. S., signifying JESUS HOMINUM SALIVATOR; Jesus the saviour of mankind.

I had heard and read many things of the popish religion, of their manifold ceremonies, strange tenets and doctrines, their cruelty, murders and massacres of all who differed from them, wherever they had power, which I thought denoted a degeneracy below even fallen human nature, that making men worse than this. And as I was frequently concerned to enquire more and more after the truth of religion, the manner of our worship in the cathedral often put me in mind of the popish religion and ceremonies, and made me conclude that the way we were in retained abundance of the old relics, our prayers, postures, songs, organs, cringings and shows, appearing to be little else than an abridgement of the popish mass, and the pomp and show attending it, and then I began to be very uneasy with it; and though I went there a little longer, yet I could not comply with several of the ceremonies, which being taken notice of, in a familiar cor

ference with an acquaintance of the same way, I asked a little pleasantly, what is that we worship towards the east? and why towards the altar, more than any other place, at the saying of the creed? The person replied, sure you are not so ignorant as you would make yourself seem. The scripture saith, "At the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow, of things in heaven and things in earth, and things under the earth. And again, as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth unto the west, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be."

posed, and the remaining part of that sitting and the whole of the afternoon sitting were occupied in earnest discussion on the subject and on questions connected with it. At length the Clerk read the Epistle, and the meeting adjourned until 10 o'clock next day. The Epistles from London and Dublin Yearly Meetings, and the general Epistle issued by the former, were then read, and it appeared that no Epistle had been sent to Philadelphia from any of the American Yearly Meetings.

Although there was a large expression of disap

To the first I returned, that our pagan ances-proval of continuing the correspondence with the tors were worshippers of the sun, and all the host seceding body in Ohio, which correspondence has of heaven, and this looked very like a remain of been considered by the other Yearly Meetings in that, and could not be certainly grounded on that this country as an act on our part so far constituscripture, which I can't understand to signify ting a separation from the Society of Friends, as to any other than the gradual manifestation of the render it improper for them to maintain a correspower and glory of Christ unto the world. But pondence with us, yet a committee to essay replies if he should literally come from the east, in an to the three Epistles addressed to us was apoutward sense, which, considering the state of pointed. During the consideration of this subthe earth, its revolutions, and relation to the sun ject a proposition had been made that no Epistle and other planets, cannot be in the nature of should be sent to Ohio, and that all the other things, (that being west to one place which is Yearly Meetings, excepting the bodies claiming east to another,) yet that coming would not ex- to be Ohio Yearly Meeting, should be invited cuse our superstition, if not idolatry, in the to join with Philadelphia in the appointment of meantime, before he should so come, though I committees, not to exceed three or four Friends grant, if he should so come, and we see him, then, from each Yearly Meeting, to meet in conference, and not till then, may we lawfully and reasona- and endeavor to settle the existing difficulties in bly worship toward that place, or imaginary place, our Society. The rejection of this proposition of his coming." and the decision to address an Epistle to the separate body in Ohio, led to a proposal that on the withdrawal of those who had joined in the latter step, such Friends as wished to retain their membership and connection with the Society of Friends, should remain and hold Philadelphia Yearly Meeting in unity with the ancient Yearly Meetings.

[To be concluded.]

FRIENDS' INTELLIGENCER.

PHILADELPHIA, FIFTH MONTH 2, 1857.

The Yearly Meeting of Friends (Orthodox) was held at the Arch Street House, and closed its sessions on 5th day afternoon, of last week. The proceedings have awakened a general interest in this community, and have been the subject of comment in several of the daily papers of this city.

For the information of many of our distant subscribers who feel interested in the deliberations of this body, we copy the following editorial article from Friends' Review of 4th month 25th.

PHILADELPHIA YEARLY MEETING.-As our paper goes to press in the middle of the week, small opportunity is afforded of presenting in our present issue an account of the proceedings of the Yearly Meeting which commenced in this city on the 20th inst. After the usual preliminary business at the opening of the meeting, on Second day morning, the Clerk was about to read an Epistle from the meeting in Ohio of which B. Hoyle is clerk, when objections were inter

While an expression of approbation of this proposal was in progress, strong opposition was made by some who had joined in the acts which, unretracted, rendered its adoption imthe meeting to obviate the impending movement. perative, and various plans were urged upon A minute was at last made, to the effect, that there should be a suspension of correspondence for this year, with the body in Ohio from which, should be sent to the Epistles received from Lonan Epistle had been received, and that no reply don and Dublin, and that the subject of our correspondence with the Yearly Meetings of the Society should be referred for consideration to the Representatives from the Quarterly Meetings, constituted a Committee for the purpose, report to be made next year, it being provided that no decision of this meeting in reference to doctrine or discipline should be unsettled.

Unsatisfactory as this conclusion was to large portions of the meeting, and slight as the ground is to hope for any beneficial result, it was submitted to, and the meeting adjourned about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, to 10 o'clock on 4th day morning

A pamphlet has recently been published in this city, entitled "Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy, as applied to Quakerism, by a Lay Churchman." A correspondent has furnished a review of this work, the first part of which will be found in the present number.

DIED.-On the 4th of Fourth mo., at her residence the house of her brother-in-law, Nathan Pusey, ELIZA

MARSH, a member and elder of Baltimore Monthly

Meeting.

men of the north, for the sake of material interests, succumbed to a course of treatment which their more sturdy ancestors would not have endured from an English ministry. Unfortunately, also, a deterioration of manners was visible among slaveholders. The gentlemanly spirit of the old planters was passing away. Virginia was beginning to be overrun by time-servers, office-hunters, and political blacklegs.' Power utable class of personages. Nor, all things conwas subsiding into the possession of this disrepsidered, could much else be expected. Certain radical mistakes, as had been seen, were committed in the general terms of union. The constitutional recognition of slavery had fixed and given breadth to the institution. The very slaveholders had secured a franchise to which nothing corresponded in the north. For the free states, as has been shown, representation is based purely on a free population, whereas in the slave states The deceased pursued the business of a Druggist it is founded to a large extent on property in and Apothecary at the N. E. corner of Pine and Sixth slaves; consequently, a mere handful of slavests. for nearly 40 years, and the kindness an benevo-holders-only 350,000, it is said, altogether, lence which he manifested towards the poor and destitute will long be remembered by some of the recipients.

In the sudden and unexpected removal of this beloved friend, society has sustained a loss sensibly felt in the Meeting to which she belonged, of which she has been a useful and valued member; faithfully but unostentatiously doing what her hands found to do. "Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto Thy came; the upright shall dwell in Thy presence."

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——, On the 221 of Fourth month, while on a visit to Baltimore, HENRY M. ZOLLIKOFFER, in the 69th year of his age, a member of Spruce Street Monthly Meeting.

On the 13th of Fourth month, of scarlet fever, CANBY, zon of Clement and Susan W. Biddle, of Birmingham, Chester county, aged 11 years.

On 5th day, the 23d inst., at the residence of her son, William Dorsey, in Germantown, MARY DORSEY, relict of Benedict Dorsey, in the 77th year

of her age.

GLIMPSES OF AFFAIRS IN AMERICA.

[Concluded from page 59.J

The passage of the Louisiana Bill has been justly referred to as the turning-point in the history of the states. It at once and for ever reduced the northern and free communities to an inferior political position, and gave an immense preponderance to the slaveholding interests of the south. In accounting for so extraordinary a change in affairs, the future historian will probably point to other reasons besides the vulgar outery for national enlargement. He will doubtless find occasion to lament the decline of public spirit. Whether it be that Providence at certain periods sends great men into the world to accomplish particular purposes; or that such at all times latently exist, and are developed into notice by national convulsions; or, to hazard another alternative, that republics are not favorable to the growth of prominent individuals, the fact is undeniable that the great men who effected the American and French revolutions, and who, be it remarked, were bred up under monarchical rule, left behind them no equals in magnitude of intellect or indomitable force of character. It is true that several persons who figured in the commotions of '76 were still on the stage when the Louisiana Bill came under discussion; but there was now a general collapse in heroism; intrigue took the place of patriotic ardor; the

along with their indigent and easily influenced
white neighbors-are able to exert a direct pow-
er in the House of Representatives, approaching
that of the wealthy and populous free states,
whites. Of course, such a flagrant piece of in-
numbering in 1850 a population of 13,330,650
justice could not have been tolerated for any
length of time, had the north been true to itself.
But this, as we may afterwards have occasion to
particularize, it has never been-a large propor-
tion of northern men having on all occasions cast
in their lot with the political party represented
by the more imperious aristocracy of the south.
With such facts before us, can we feel surprise
at the passage of the Louisiana Bill, and all sub-
sequent bills of the same nature? Freedom had
been delivered up, bound hand and foot, to the
interests of slavery, and all that followed was a
natural consequence of this fun lamental error.
We are justified in these opinions by the remarks
of the venerable Josiah Quincy, a survivor of the
youthful era of the republic. In his late admi-
rable address on this subject, he says: The pas-
sage of the Louisiana Admission Bill was effected
by arts which slaveholders well know how to se-
lect and apply. Sops were given to the congres-
sional watch-dogs of the free states.
To some,
promises were made, by way of opiates; and
those whom they could neither pay nor drug
were publicly treated with insolence and scorn.
Threats, duels, and violence were at that day,
as now, modes approved by them to deter men
from awakening the free states to a sense of
danger. From the moment the act was passed,
they saw that the free states were shorn of their
strength; that they had obtained space to mul-
tiply slaves at their will; and Mr. Jefferson had
confidently told them that, from that moment,
the "constitution of the United States was blank

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