Fifth day. Attended our monthly meeting, at which answers to the queries were produced from the preparative meetings. Although I feared the answers from our preparative meeting made us appear more correct than we really were, yet those from the other branch of the monthly meeting were still more perfect, and although I felt some doubting, yet a degree of gladness attended in a hope that we were improving.
After this meeting, nothing in particular transpired, until I proceeded on my intended journey, which was on the 21st of 10th month, 1818, and fourth day of the week. Samuel Willis, a member of our meeting, and an elder, joined me as a companion. We proceeded to Flushing, in order to attend our quarterly meeting, which opened with a meeting of Ministers and Elders at the tenth hour. The next day was the meeting for discipline, and the day following a public meeting for worship. Through the condescending goodness of the Shepherd of Israel, the several seasons were truly comfortable, instructive and edifying, in which the power of truth was exalted over all opposition, to the praise of Him who is calling us to glory and virtue.
From Flushing we proceeded to Newtown, on sixth day afternoon, and attended a public meeting in the evening, of those belonging to other societies.
The next day we had an appointed meeting in Friends’ meeting-house at the Kilns, and another in the evening at Brooklyn, generally composed of those not in membership with us, and many not in strict fellowship with any religious society. And we had thankfully to acknowledge, that He who opens and none can shut, was graciously near for our help, and opened doctrine suited to the states of those who attended in the several opportunities, to the peace and comfort of my own mind, and, I trust, to the instruction and edification of the people.
From thence we proceeded to New-York, and attended the meetings in the city, on first day. They were large: many not in profession with us came in, as previous information had been given of our intention to be there. The gospel was freely preached among them in both opportunities, particularly that at Pearl-street, wherein truth was raised into dominion over all.
On second day we attended a meeting by appointment at West Chester, which was also a precious edifying opportunity. After this we proceeded to Purchase, in order to attend the quarterly meeting at that place, which opened the next day at the eleventh hour, and continued three days. The meeting for discipline was well conducted, in which I was led to call upon Friends, to rally to our standard, the light within, which is a principle of perfect rectitude and justice, and if rightly attended to, will lead us to withdraw from all kind of conduct and commerce, which is in the least degree tinged with injustice and oppression. And in a particular manner from a commerce in, and the use of, articles which are the product of the labour of slaves; the injustice of which was clearly opened and brought home to Friends’ minds, showing them that nothing short of a principle of immutable justice, which may so pervade the minds of mankind, as not to have any intercourse with the oppressor, in the produce of the labour of the oppressed, will ever be sufficient fully to suppress that monstrous evil, and put a final end thereto. It was a very solemn season. The meeting for worship was likewise favoured, in which the divine presence was witnessed for our help and comfort.
The four following days we attended meetings at North Castle, Salem, Oblong and the Branch. These were all large for the places, and favoured with the overshadowing of heavenly regard, in which ability was received to preach the gospel, in the demonstration of the spirit, and wisdom afforded to divide the word to the different states of those present. Each meeting was composed of a variety of professions and conditions; and such was the gracious condescension of the Shepherd of Israel, as not to send any away empty, if they were willing to receive the portion justly allotted them; and if they refuse, because it is not agreeable to their own inclinations, the Lord will be clear, and his faithful servants will be clear; and if they are not saved, their blood will be upon their own heads. These several seasons were comfortable and encouraging to the honest-hearted, and strengthening to my exercised mind; a sense of which filled my heart with gratitude and thanksgiving to the blessed Author of all our mercies.
After these meetings we proceeded to Nine Partners. On third day, the 3d of 11th month, their quarterly meeting came on. The meeting of Ministers and Elders opened at the tenth hour, and the meeting for discipline the next day. These were both profitable instructive meetings to many present, in which way opened fully to relieve my own mind; and I felt sweet peace in my labours of love among them.
The three following days we attended the quarterly meeting at Stanford. I had but little active service in the meeting of Ministers and Elders, yet I found it my place to remind Friends of the danger and bad effects of covering or hiding, and of the advantage of laying ourselves open to the just witness, and of entering into an individual investigation, when answering the queries, lest we overlook some things even in ourselves, and so make our answers more clear than truth and equity will warrant. And when the answers to the queries came to be read, I thought there was occasion for the caution, as their answers were generally full and clear.
In the meeting for discipline, I was led to call Friends’ attention to the fundamental principle of our profession; and to show the drift and design of those precious testimonies, as good fruit naturally emanated from a good tree; especially those two, the most noble and dignified, viz: against war and slavery. And whether while we were actively paying taxes to civil government for the purpose of promoting war or warlike purposes in any degree, we were not balking our testimony in that respect; and pulling down with one hand, what we are pretending to build with the other. And in like manner with regard to slavery. For although we had freed our own hands from holding, by active force, any of this oppressed people, the Africans and their descendants, in unconditional slavery; yet, whether so long as we voluntarily and of choice, are engaged in a commerce in, and the free use of the fruits of their labour, wrested from them by the iron hand of oppression, through the medium of their cruel and unjust masters, we are not accessary thereto, and are partakers in the unrighteous traffic of dealing in our fellow creatures, and in a great measure lay waste our testimony against slavery and oppression. These subjects were largely opened, and the inconsistency of such conduct placed before the minds of Friends; accompanied with strong desires, that they might have their proper effect, in convincing them of the unrighteousness of such conduct.