Twelfth month 4th. Was held our first evening meeting this winter; a part of which was laborious; but before the close, a more inward, solemnizing covering was experienced.

Went to Westtown, and attended the Quarterly Meeting of the committee held there.

In the meeting of the committee on fourth-day, after getting through with the business, Samuel Bettle, Sr., remarked, there was something of importance which money could not purchase. It was, that Friends should be preserved under a right exercise, that the institution may be conducted in such manner, as to support the primitive doctrines and testimonies of Friends, and educate the children in them. This was the original concern, and it had been blessed; and he believed, as Friends kept to this ground, a blessing would continue to rest upon the school. He spoke in a feeling manner; and being now in his eightieth year, it seemed like a legacy left to the younger members, who might survive him, to bear in mind in the future management of the seminary. It was responded to, and had a good effect upon the feelings of many. Returned home in the evening.

7th. Was at the Arch Street Meeting, which was held in as deep silence as I have almost ever known; though there was a large number of children present. I was contemplating my own imperfections, and felt unworthy to be employed in the Lord's work; yet was a little comforted in the belief, that the condescending mercy and goodness of the everlasting Shepherd were round about, and hovering over us. It is as necessary to keep silence when it is the Lord's will, as to speak under his authority. There were children present, who should be taught by solemn silence, the nature of spiritual worship, as well as by vocal testimony.

21st. Having my mind drawn to the Western Meeting, which I had not attended for a long time, I believed it right to give up to go there. A solemn silence spread over the meeting, under which we sat a considerable time, and the blessedness of having begotten in us a true hunger and thirst after the bread and water of life, came before me, attended with the conviction, that however strong our desires may be, Divine nourishment must be waited for. It is out of our power to command it. The Lord knows how long to keep us in this waiting state, and He alone can and will supply it in his time. No imaginary enjoyment, produced by creaturely excitement or activity, is to

be compared with the love of God shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Spirit. This dependent state has been the ground on which the true disciple of Christ has stood; and whatever may be our gifts, experience or growth in the Truth, it will always remain to be the ground on which we must stand, to receive ability to worship God in spirit, partake of the supper of the Lord, and rightly to engage in promoting the kingdom of the Redeemer.

Under the clothing of true charity, and the desire that we might be brought to a living experience of the substance, I was enabled to invite all to gather to Christ, in his inward appearance in the soul, not depending on any other; for the Lord will not give his glory to another, nor his praise to any graven image. Also warning against expecting salvation without obeying Him, forsaking their sins, and confessing Him before men.

The

27th. Calamities of different kinds are assailing men. Turks and Russians are now at war; and to-day we hear of a naval engagement in which many war ships were destroyed, and no doubt hundreds of immortal souls launched into an awful eternity. A great fire in New York, this morning, burnt several large ships; one of them said to be the largest merchant vessel in the world, entirely new, and loaded with a valuable cargo. These commotions, and the destruction of property, represent the affairs of the world, as affording little evidence of the stability of property, or the enjoyment which is expected to be derived from it.

1854, First month 8th. The weather cold. Our evening meeting was large, and the silence that spread over us was such as might be felt, giving reason to believe that the good Master was with us. There were, however, fears of a disposition in some, to look for words, instead of gathering to the Master in themselves, and laboring to wait for his arising, to administer to their states. Looking out to others, creates apprehensions that the design of these meetings is not answered; and perhaps some of us in the station of ministers, may be more anxious than is proper, that the people may not be dissatisfied, so as to forsake them.

18th. After sitting in our week-day meeting, until near time to go to the business of the Preparative Meeting, I felt afraid to depart without reviving the circumstance of our Divine Master, the Son of the Highest, washing his disciples' feet, and wiping

them with the towel with which He was girded. Herein He set us a striking example of humility. He told them, "Ye ought also to wash one another's feet;" indicating that we should labor for one another's purification and welfare. It is in this spirit that we shall feel the unity and fellowship of the gospel to extend to one another, as we have been washed our selves, and are kept clean by the Word which He speaks to us.

22d. The evening meeting to-day was smaller than they were at the first, but it was quiet and solid. It felt to me, that Divine mercy and compassion were round about the afflicted seed; and that the Lord would help and deliver these, though the dragon may cast floods out of his mouth, to sweep them, if he could, from the foundation. But the Lord will lift up his Holy Spirit as a standard against him. The meeting closed under a feeling of solemnity.

Second month 3d. My brother Thomas and myself having undertaken to print a new edition of Piety Promoted, comprising all the volumes up to the year 1828, I have been much engaged for a few days in reading proofs. I have been struck with the great proportion of those faithful men and women,— some of whom attained great experience in the Truth,-who died at a much earlier age than mine. Though I have endeavored to perform what the Lord has called me to do, it seems but little, and my growth small, compared with many of them; but if we have the testimony of Divine acceptance in the end, it will be enough.

An attempt is now making to pass a law in Congress, allowing the Nebraska Territory, which is a larger country than all the Free States together, except California, to be settled by slaveholders with their negroes. It lies north of thirty-six degrees thirty minutes, north latitude, and is part of what was ceded by the French government to the United States, then called Louisiana. At the time Missouri was taken into the Union as a State, there was an agreement entered into between the Northern and Southern members of Congress, that slavery should be forever excluded from all the United States, north of that latitude; which agreement was called the Missouri Compromise, and was acceded to as one of the terms, of admitting slavery to be introduced into the State of Missouri. At the prospect of such a gross violation of the faith of the nation, then solemnly pledged; and the spreading of the horrible system of

unconditional bondage over many hundred thousands of square miles of new country, the Committee of the Meeting for Sufferings, appointed to watch the movements of legislative bodies, prepared an essay of a memorial to Congress, remonstrating against the iniquitous measure, and also reviving our testimony against the slavery of the colored people.

At a special meeting held to-day, the subject was duly considered, and the essay united with; a committee being appointed to present it to the President, and both Houses of Congress, and to have printed a sufficient number to supply every member of both Houses with a copy; also the Governors of the respective States; and for such further circulation as may be judged needful. It is mournful to reflect upon the want of principle manifested my many, who have no scruple against enlarging the area of the abominable crime of slaveholding, if their popularity can be promoted, so as to gain offices in the government, and partake of the public funds, by the aid of the Southern people; whose interest, in this case, they would be thought to serve. What will become of our country, if we are to be ruled by men, who disregard the principles of justice and truth, and sacrifice the best interests and the rights of the people, to their own aggrandizement. Friends have been industriously engaged in obtaining signatures to another short remonstrance, opposing the violation of the Compromise, and forwarding them to Washington.

5th. We had a large meeting this evening at the Arch Street house. A solemn silence, for nearly one hour, was over the assembly; and feeling my mind moved towards the young people, who had been drawn into covenant with the Lord, I was led to address them in the language of the Psalmist, “The Lord God is a sun and a shield to all them who walk uprightly," and the declaration to Abraham, "I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward."

6th. Was held our Quarterly Meeting, which was very large. The testimonies of the Society were advocated, during the time of answering the Queries, and some thought it was a lively and strengthening opportunity. At the close of the meeting, I was informed of the decease of our friend Wm. Forster, of England, in Tennessee, at a house of entertainment, about twelve miles from Knoxville. He had been sick from four to five weeks, and his life terminated on the 27th of last month. The death

of such a Friend, so far from his native home, among people not Friends, and where probably many things necessary to make him comfortable, could not be procured; after having been engaged more than fifty years in the service of the cause of religion, has very much affected me. But if we are prepared to be carried by angels, into the realms of ineffable bliss, it matters little what becomes of the tabernacle of clay. Yet such are the tender feelings of near connections and friends, they would desire to have every comfort extended to body and mind in the last conflict, that it would be in their power to bestow; and that the sufferer might be spared the peculiar trial and anxiety, he would be likely to feel under those circumstances, of far separation from his near and dear relations. But the Lord can support, and make up every deficiency. He was buried, we have been informed, in the graveyard at Newberry, belonging to Friends.

9th. The remonstrance of the Meeting for Sufferings, has been presented to both Houses, and published in several newspapers. Some writers express the opinion that the bill will be passed into a law; but the Lord can defeat all their evil designs, if He sees meet.

14th. I went to Quarterly Meeting for business, at Concord, without purse or scrip, expecting to occupy a low seat before the Master. After several others had spoken, I was led to address some, who had departed from the law written in the heart, and yet at times were met with, as in a narrow place, under the convicting power of Truth; by which they were condemned, and brought to see that their ways do not please God, and that they needed a change of their course. These were pleaded with in the love of Christ, to yield to the heavenly vision; or the day may come, when in the prospect of eternity, they would mourn over their misspent time, and their slighted mercies, when it would be too late; and wish they could go back and recall those merciful visitations, for which they then would be willing to part with all they possessed; but it would be out of their power. Now, instead of selling all to purchase the pearl of great price, they were selling their time, the Lord's gifts, and his calls, to purchase the world and the riches and honors of it. The power of the Lord appeared to be present, to heal some, and to gather them, from the improper pursuit of the world, unto himself; and a deep solemnity spread over the meeting, tendering