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to witness that state of true, inward silence, wherein the Master's voice is heard at times and seasons to our humbling admiration, and feeling my own weakness and inability to do any good thing without the aid of Israel's Shepherd; in this state of entire dependence, these words sprang up in my soul with life and power. Thou shalt trust in me, for I have anointed thee with the oil of gladness; I have sealed thee in the forehead with the Lamb's seal, and thy soul shall delight itself in fatness, therefore trust in me, who remains to be the light of thy countenance, thy shield and exceeding great reward." 10th mo. 3rd, 1855.

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In prayer, living, reverent, weighty, and concise.

His deportment was meek and humble, not elevated by his gifts and good services, far from exercising lordship over God's heritage, frequently declaring that he did not judge ministers to be of an order above other men, and that he, and all others in the ministry, ought willingly to refer their doctrine to the Divine Witness in the consciences of the hearers; He retained his integrity and memory to the end, and died in the 91st year of his age, and the 67th of his ministry.

For Friends' Intelligencer.
NOAH WORCESTER.

"Lives of great men all remind us,
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us

Foot-prints on the sands of time."
How beautiful and impressive are these views
of the poet. How calculated to encourage
each one to endeavor to fulfil their mission-so
that the world of mankind, they among whom
we live, and they, also, who come after us upon
this ever changing state of being, may reap some
benefit from the foot-prints left behind.

"Foot-prints which perhaps another
Sailing o'er life's solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again."

Being a few days entered in my 67th year, and feeling the tender touches of the Heavenly Father's love in mercy still extended to me, an unworthy worm, and knowing that I must shortly. put off this earthly tabernacle, and enter a state forever unchangeable, I was made more than wil ling to pen a few lines for the encouragement of my dear children and grand-children, who are often brought very near my best life; and earnest have been my petitions to the Father of mercies, that He would keep and preserve them as in the hollow of his holy hand, and guide their feet in the paths of true judgment. May thy rod and thy staff comfort them on their perilous journey through time; and the prayer of my spirit is, that they may be obedient children. And while I have been travelling under Very many of us feel that we have no especial the weight of this little duty, I was led back to qualifications for usefulness-but this must not my 35th year, when I was laid on a bed of sick-prevent the occupancy of the one talent givenness, and thought likely I should not recover, neither will it be found an excuse for unfaithand although I had passed through great mental fulness in the little. suffering wherein I was almost ready at times to wish I had never had a being, or died in my infancy, yet I had not that evidence of acceptance which I so much desired, and felt fully resolved that if I did, it should be at the door of mercy begging but blessed forever be the name of Israel's God, who forsook me not' but when the debt was paid, when He who came to finish sin and transgression was pleased to say it is enough, and poured in the oil and wine of consolation until my cup overflowed. Magnified forever he his blessed name, saith my soul. DEBORAH H. FRAMPTON.

For Friends' Intelligencer.

It was said of George Rooke, of whom we have an account in Rutty's History of Friends in Ireland, that he first opened his mouth in the ministry about the 25th year of his age, and became a faithful and living minister.

He travelled much in England, Ireland and Scotland, a man of good understanding but of little school learning.

In the exercise of his gift, clear, solid and lively even to extreme old age, of a sweet temper and pleasant in conversation.

A memoir of Noah Worcester has called forth

the foregoing remarks, as it appears that his opportunities for literary instruction were very scanty, but his diligence and assiduity in improving each passing moment were very uncommon, and his faithfulness to the light by which his mind was illuminated, led him on step by step, so that he became one of the benefactors of his race, especially in his labors to disseminate peaceable principles, and in portraying the inconsistency of war with christianity. Doubtless, his name is known to many readers of the Intelligencer, as the author of "A Solemn Review of the Custom of War," and other writings to the same import.

The following account of him, compiled from the Memoir, will probably be new to many :'

Noah Worcester was born 11th month 25, 1758, at Hollis, then a small and obscure place in New Hampshire. The air that he breathed during childhood was that of religion. His grandparents made part of the family, and he tells us that all united to make early, a deep impression on his mind in favor of religion and against vice; and that in these efforts they were so far successful, that his religious impressions were of the earliest date of any thing he could

remember, except an accident which he met with when about two years old. As a proof of the conscientiousness which at the earliest period was cultivated in him, he relates the distress which he once endured, before he was five years old, at the idea that he had been guilty of the sin of falsehood, in asserting as a fact what had been told him, without knowing it to be true; and the relief which he experienced in having the difference between an unintentional departure from truth, and a design to deceive, explained to him.

He was taught to read at a very early age, and took pleasure in reading. He is remembered as being always one of the best scholars in the school, and as employing his leisure time at home in reading or studying, or teaching the younger children. The best opportunities of education were at that time and in that place but small, and his privileges became poor indeed as he advanced in years. As he grew to be large and strong for his age, his services as a laborer were too valuable to be dispensed with, and he was only spared from the farm to attend the brief school of a few weeks, during the winter season. Neither grammar nor geography made any part of his studies; and scanty as his advantages were, they ceased when he was but 16 years old. On the breaking out of the Revolutionary war, be joined the army as a fifer, and continued in the service for about 11 months. He narrowly escaped being made prisoner at the battle of Bunker Hill; in the confusion of the retreat he ran toward a party of the enemy, and barely discovered his mistake in season to correct it. To please his father he was again in the army as fife-major for two months, and was in the battle of Bennington; where, as he said afterward, he "felt much worse in going over the ground the next day, than during the engagement." When the term of his enlistment expired, he was solicited to remain in the army, and offers of promotion were made him; but he disliked the business, and persisted in quitting the camp; expressing devout gratitude to that kind Providence which had preserved him through the terrible moral dangers to which he had been exposed. "One effect, however," he says, "occurred from my being in the army, which I could not but observe with some alarm. From my childhood till I became a soldier, my sympathetic affections were remarkably tender; so that I was easily moved to tears by any affecting objects or circumstances. But the first funeral I attended at home after having been in the army, I was shocked to find myself so changed and so unmoved on such an occasion."

In the interval between his two military expeditions, he occupied himself as an instructor. He undertook the care of the village school; and notwithstanding what must have been his very inadequate preparation for such a task, he ac

quitted himself to the satisfaction of his employers, and pursued the occupation for nine successive winters. He was perfectly aware of his deficiencies, and anxious and resolute to remove them. He availed himself with diligence of the best means within his reach. How good these were, and what obstacles he had to contend with, may be seen in his account of them.

"In the course of that winter, I probably acquired more useful knowledge than I had ever before done in any two winters, by going to school. I found myself deficient in the art of writing; and being at Plymouth in the summer season, where it was difficult to procure paper during the war, I wrote over a quantity of birch bark in imitation of some excellent copies which I found in that place. By this means I made considerable improvement in leisure hours and rainy weather. About this time I procured a dictionary, which was the first I ever had the privilege of perusing, though I was then in my 18th year.

He was married at 21 to a young woman whose admirable qualities had attracted his warmest affection while residing with her at his uncle's, three years before. About three and a half years after his marriage, he removed to Thornton, a small town in the neighborhood of Plymouth. Here his religious character seems to have received a quickened development, and he soon after made a profession of religion. His brief account of this event may be given in his own words. "When I removed from Plymouth to Thornton, neither my wife nor myself had joined any church as members. This neglect was not, I believe, in either of us the fruit of disrespect to religion or its institutions. We had been educated under the influence of Christian instruction, and had grown up, as I trust, under the influence of religious principles. Though our love and obedience had been imperfect, we had a reverence for God, and for the precepts of the gospel. But neither of us could name the day of our conversion, nor could we honestly relate such distressing agitations of mind, and subsequent transports of joy, as we had heard from the lips of others, and which we had been led to regard as the evidences of having been born of God. We had not duly reflected on the fact, that these are not the evidences of a good heart which are mentioned in the Bible. I have long been convinced, that the same incorrect views by which we were detained from joining the church at an earlier period, have had a similar effect on the minds of many others who were truly pious people; and that such views have not only subjected many pious Christians to great perplexity, but have retarded their advances in true godliness, and exposed them to temptation.

About this time he formed the habit of examining religious subjects by writing short dissertations on different questions. He thus went

uously as if he had been their regularly appointed teacher. Under the system of an educated and compensated ministry, the tendency of which has been to produce evil and obscure the simplicity of the truth, it is beautiful to observe the Christian graces flourishing; and the example of this good man's disinterested benevolence might well be followed by some of those who might inconsiderately pronounce him an hireling. Although in accordance with the usual-practice his sermons were written, yet he expressed it as his belief that the divine aid is as necessary in writing as speaking, and is as sure to be obtained if duly sought; and the following from his own pen displays his humble, liberal, and catholic spirit.

through a long process of self education; not so much, as is apparent, from views of ulterior advantage, as simply from the activity of his own mind, and for the satisfaction of his thought. This he did in the midst of many hindrances. With an increasing family, and no means of subsistence but the labor of his own hands, he yet contrived to make time for the studies that interested him. In order to this it was necessary to subject himself to excessive labor while at work; to snatch intervals as he could, between school hours in the winter, on the sabbath, and in the night, when others were sleeping. At this period and for many years after, he employed himself a portion of the time in shoemaking; an occupation of which Coleridge The changes which from time to time occurred has remarked, that it has been followed by a in my own views of doctrines, or of particular greater number of eminent men than any other passages of scripture, had a salutary effect on my trade; and much of his studying and writing was mind. It occasioned me to become more and done while he sat at work upon his bench. At more aware of my own liability to err; to be less the end of his bench lay his lapboard, with his self-confident and dogmatical in stating my opinpen, ink and paper upon it. When thoughts ions; to be more candid toward those who discame upon him clearly and were ready to be ex-sented from me, and to forbear any censorious pressed, he laid down his shoe, placed the lapboard on his knees and wrote: in this manner much of what he wrote for the press was composed.

denunciations against the people of other sects, as though they must be destitute of piety. In the whole course of my ministry, I think I never did in any instance reproach the people of any sect as destitute of piety or the Christian character; and wholesale censures ever appeared to me anti-christian, and more deserving of censure than any mere error of opinion. I frankly expressed my own opinions, and often exposed what I believed to be errors; but seldom named any sect as holding erroneous opinions. I had satisfactory evidence to my own mind, that there were good people in each of the seats with which I had been particularly acquainted, and I entertained a hope that it was so with all the sects of professed Christians. Very early I became convinced that the opinions of people in general are the fruit of education; and that those who have had the misfortune to be educated in error, are objects of pity rather than censure."

Entertaining views of the ministry such as are held by nearly all religious sects, and believing that it was his duty to seek for that situation in life in which he could be the most useful and do the most good; encouraged, too, by the solicitations of his friends, he offered himself as a candidate, and was ordained as a minster of the church at Thornton. For 23 years he performed the duties devolving upon him, and it is the testimony of one who knew, that he had never found in any place so much harmony and mutual confidence as existed between him and his parishioners. The town was small and humble, and the people few and poor; they met for worship in a dwelling house or school house. His salary scantily supported life, being 200 dollars; and as many could ill afford to pay their proportion of even that small sum, he was accustomed, as the time of collecting it drew nigh, to relinquish his claims by giving to the poorer among them receipts in full. The relief granted them in this way, sometimes amounted to a fourth, or even a third part of his salary. He was thus made still dependent for support in great measure on the labor of his hands, partly on the farm, and partly in making shoes. But he did not consider that this scantiness of means and necessity of toil exempted him from the obligation to do the utmost for those under his care. On the contrary, he was ready to engage in extra labor for them; and when it happened for exam-ered. ple, as it sometimes did, that the provision for a winter school failed, he threw open the doors of his own house, invited the children into his study, and gave them his time and care as assid.

[To be continued.]

1784.

Santa Cruz, the 23d of the 6th mo., DEAR FRIEND, JOSEPH DELAPLAINE, -It is with great pleasure I embrace this opportunity of acquainting thee of my health in a double emblem, also to acknowledge the receipt of thy welcome letter, dated 4th of 11th mo. 1783, with thanks, also, for thy acceptable present of oysters, and return the pot with preserved tamarinds, as a small token of my love, and beg thy accep tance as having nothing better at present. I had a letter from England giving an account of dear Mary Nottingham's death, but that he is recov

My dear friend, my heart revives with a hope of one day or another, though it may be at a distance, of visiting my dear friends in America, if the Lord should make a way for me; but with

out his permission I dare not stir forward, but my own will is much for it; but since the Lord doth not lead the way, I am quite content to bear the cross, and wait his divine pleasure in all things, who knows what is best for us, and to him I submit, who never lets me want his blessings in other respects, that he sees is at present more necessary for me; and as the care of my sister's children has fallen to my lot, I am not free to leave them unprovided for, and though they differ from me in religion, yet they may go to destruction in other respects, if left to themselves in the wide world. I can only direct them to the inward Teacher, and where they may find Christ as the only hope of our glory and resurrection; and perhaps the bread cast upon the waters may in time turn to the nourishment of their souls. Though the worldly spirit may blind the youthful heart for a time, yet the Lord will make his power known at the last, though ever so much slighted by the worldly wise, in the vanity of their youthful folly; and that is my great hope towards my relations in the flesh, that God will sooner or later quicken their souls, and raise them from the vanity of time into the riches of eternity. But we must leave that to the mercy of God the Father, who is willing to reveal his Son in us, if we are but willing to receive him into our hearts, and believe in his name, for to such he gives his powerful grace, whereby they are made the children of God, being born again of incorruptible sced, of the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever and evermore, amen. Beloved in Christ, I can truly witness part of thy letter, and know of a surety a very trying time, but I thank his mercy who preserved me in the midst of danger, and supported me in the darkness from being scattered with the chaff, so as to remain unhurt, although I am like a pelican in the wilderness; but with Elijah have been sustained even by the ravens in emblem, as the Lord has opened the hearts of many to contribute to my assistance, even when I did not look for it; but the Lord sustained me inwardly with the bread of life, and outwardly by his instruments of all kinds, to the astonishment of many who could not but behold and admire the goodness and mercy of my great God towards me, his poor creature, whose humble heart was subdued with resignation and holy dependence on him whom her soul loved, more than untold gold. Oh! may I never forget his goodness and mercy, nor swerve from his truth in the inward parts, yet in the outward form there may be something wanting, not having one helping brother nor sister to take hand in hand and say let us go up to the mount of the Lord, for I know by experience, the words of our dear brother, Robert Barclay, to be verified amongst the saints of God. Since my day, that simile is verified where he sayeth, "as iron sharpeneth iron, so doth the face of one friend sharpen

another," who are of one fold and of the same society outwardly, although there may be many tender-hearted ones in this island, of all the different societies here, who love the good and piously inclined in all societies, as in the United Brethren and in the Church of England, the Presbyterians, Lutherans, and Roman Catholics, even the Jews, all seem to confirm the Lord's promise, by his prophet, "that the lion shall lie down with the lamb," &c., &c., in that day when the Lord shall build again the walls of David, which are broken down, and join bone to his bone until they become a standing army for the Lord of hosts. May the Lord hasten that blessed day, and fulfil it in his own time, is my sincere prayer, who wisheth happiness to all mankind, in which love I conclude and unite with thee and thine, and with all that love the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen saith my soul; which is all at present, from thy friend and sister,

DORCAS LILLIE.

Avondale, 8th mo., 1842. LETTER FROM RACHEL MASON TO THOMAS ZELL, (BOTH NOW DECEASED.)

My mind has often saluted thee, my dear brother, since we saw each other, and when I have been favored to realize the injunction, "bear ye one another's burdens" I believe I have borne a part in thine; I have sat with thee in solitary places, where no green thing appertaining to the advancement of truth and righteousness met my mental vision; I have at times been ready to conclude that we as a Society, including myself, should become as the fig tree, which from its leaves wore semblance that it was fruit-bearing, but the All-Searching eye discovered its protracted uselessness and passed condemnation upon it. Oh! may this death never be our sorrowful experience, may we never withhold any part of the price of the land. I have known the blight of unfaithfulness, I too have tasted the sweet reward of obedience, but not in the measure, I believe, that was intended for my portion, though far exceeding my desert.

A desire now lives with me that thou mayest stand firm through all the besetments within and without, in both doing and suffering that which the divine hand may lay upon thee. I believe thy dwelling is much nearer the Master than thou art aware; discouragements too closely cherished have a tendency to hide his strong right arm, which is ever underneath, supporting all those who can in sincerity adopt the language, "Lord, if I die, let it be at thy feet." I have no doubt but many of the clouds that intervene between us and the heavenly luminary are in the ordering of his wisdom, in order that we may again and again witness something of the desolation of a mind separated from the influences of his vivifying rays of love and tender compas

sion, whereby we are enabled to enter more fully into the states of those whom transgression has separated from the divine harmony. Then, brother, be of good cheer, press onward, and wherever drawn to speak a word of encouragement to the weary and heavy laden, or of reproof to those who are living as without God in the world, plead not excuses; remember the consoling language uttered to those who administered to the Master through the hungering, thirsty, sick and prison-bound. In spirit there are many such, to whom a word in season is often blessed, while it adds sustenance to the bestower even as the baskets full left to the disciple after the multitude were fed. I have no desire to urge on ward any, in their own way and time. I believe a watchword on this hand is not needful for thee, at least I feel none, but I see dangers en compass others; words without life, how they press down the spirits of the living.

I suppose thou hast heard some account of the late Western Quarterly Meeting. The Master was there, and testimonies in his name, which is his power, were delivered by some of his servants, both on 2nd and 3rd days; to me it was an instructive season. Our dear D. was favored, and I rejoiced in the evidence that He who put teth forth and goes before his own work was with her. W. too was, I believe, in his right place in the Select Meeting. We had our dear Harriet at New Garden; she, I thought entered into the state of our meeting as did D. at another time. I often fear my eye is too much directed to the discouraging side of things. We have many scattered up and down amongst us, who are as the salt of the earth, silent burden-bearers, as well as those who blow the trumpet in Zion, and a lively hope sometimes pervades my mind that the effervescence will ere long subside. If people would only keep from shaking the vessels so violently, I believe it would be better for us. Wilt thou please to remember me to my beloved S. L., and tell her her wandering letter, or rather a stationary one, has at last found its destination; it was quietly resting in the pocket of a neighbor, who I suppose had his best coat on in Wilmington, where he ceived it, and not often wearing it, did not find it till a day or two since. Tell her it was a choice treat to me, fresh and palatable as if just writ ten. I hope to feel able to reply ere long. My love to Harriet, also; I am her debtor and have not been unmindful of it. I have sympathized with you in the alarm and confusion you have lately witnessed, particularly with those who reside near the scenes of fury and outrage that have prevailed. I have thought much of P. T.; she has her low seasons, but the Master will come again, and give her the cup of consolation. My love to her and family. I have unexpectedly to myself written thee a long letter. It would be pleasant to hear from thee, but if the way

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should be closed, abide in thy tent till thou art ready. I shall not think my welfare is not desired by thee. Look to the little ones of the flock among us; there are those on whom the preparing hand has been laid; may they be preserved. With a salutation of love, I subscribe myself thy friend, R. MASON.

FRIENDS' INTELLIGENCER. PHILADELPHIA, SIXTH MONTH 13, 1857.*

Every reflecting mind must be convinced that the most prominent question which agitates our country at this time is American Slavery.

The commercial, political, and religious world, have all been engaged in the strife, growing out of the many issues involved in its discussion.

At the foundation of the government, the fathers of the republic entered into a compact which virtually sanctioned and sustained the system in the southern states, and thus entailed upon us, the evils which we now deplore. Since that time, the lust for power, and the unrighteous gain of oppression has so extended, that its blighting influence has spread over the entire country, until there are perhaps few, if any, who are clear either of dealing in, or consuming the products of unrequited toil.

Our country has been blessed beyond all others, and while its liberal policy and institutions invite the oppressed of other lands to an equal participation in these privileges, there are among us three and a half millions of human beings, subject to the most cruel laws, and to the irresponsible will of hard task masters, the proceeds of whose labor is wrung from them without compensation.

The evils growing out of this complicated system of iniquity are steadily and fearfully increasing, and unless some remedy is applied, we cannot expect divine favor, or the continuance of the blessings which have been so liberally bestowed upon us.

Every suggestion therefore which is made to dispel this dark cloud from the horizon of our beloved country, is entitled to a fair consideration, and we have presented in this number an extract from a letter of Elihu Burritt, widely known for his efforts in the cause of peace, which are thrown out his views on the subject of Compensated Emancipation.

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