These were both pretty full meetings, there being as many people as the rooms could well accommodate. Through the gracious condescension of the Shepherd of Israel, the word went forth freely among them, in a full impressive testimony at each place, tendering and contriting many hearts, and to the increase of love to the truth, and to the promoters of it. I took my leave of them in the fresh feelings of mutual Christian affection, and returned home that evening with a quiet peaceful mind, the assured reward of faithfulness.
The rest of the week I spent in my usual avocations, not omitting the attendance of our meeting on fifth day, which I sat in silence.
First day, the 1st of 9th month. I attended an appointed meeting among my relatives and acquaintance at Rockaway, the place of my former residence, when young, while living in my father’s house. The meeting was not large, but proved a precious tendering season. Many hearts were much broken and contrited by the prevalence of divine love and power that accompanied the testimony borne, and spread generally over the meeting, to the praise of His grace who is calling us to glory and virtue.
A concern for the guarded education of the youth among Friends has for many years past exercised our yearly meeting; and many advices and recommendations have been issued therefrom to the quarterly and other subordinate meetings, in order to stir up Friends to vigilance and care therein, that proper schools might be established among them, under the care of pious tutors, that so Friends’ children, while getting their necessary school learning, might be religiously instructed, and preserved from evil examples, and the company of such children as are viciously inclined; by which their tender minds might be wounded, and led from the simplicity of truth. In order further to stir up Friends to this concern, our last yearly meeting directed the quarterly meetings to appoint committees to visit the monthly and preparative meetings, to encourage Friends therein. As I was one among other Friends appointed by our quarterly meeting for that purpose, we attended the monthly meetings of New-York and Flushing, in the course of this week. And I am thankful in believing that the service was owned by the Head of the Church, who was graciously near, and furnished with matter suited to the occasion; insomuch, that I have cause to believe that the opportunities at each place were instructive and edifying, affording encouragement to the willing-minded.
