After the meeting I made a short visit to a sick woman, who appeared to be drawing fast toward her close. She was comforted in the visit, and when I parted with her, appeared in a quiet resigned state of mind. Her bodily affliction, which had attended her for a considerable time, had, I believe, wrought a good work in her. After this opportunity we proceeded immediately on our journey, which we continued the four following days, through a number of towns and villages, where no Friends live.
We arrived on seventh day evening at Dunning’s Creek, where there is a monthly meeting of Friends. They lie very much detached from the body of society; the nearest meeting to them is about sixty miles distant. We attended their meeting on first day, which proved, through heavenly help, a comfortable, strengthening opportunity. We lodged with our kind friend Thomas Penrose.
The next morning we proceeded on our journey, having the Alleghany, and several other mountains and high and rough ridges of land to pass over, in our way to the settlements of Friends in the Redstone country. The roads were excessively bad, and in some places almost impassable; but with two days hard travelling we got safe to Connelsville, on the west side of the mountains, on third day evening. We put up with a man by the name of John Gibson, who had once a right of membership in our society, but by some means had lost it; yet he appeared to retain his love to Friends, and was very kind and benevolent, and appeared very glad of the opportunity of entertaining Friends. His family likewise appeared very kind and friendly, and signified it as a matter of considerable regret, that they were so far distant from Friends, as not to have the privilege of attending their meetings. There was one family of Friends in the town; and one of their children, an infant of about eight months old, had died a little before our arrival; and the funeral being the next day, we attended it. It was a very solemn opportunity, in which many hearts were contrited by the tendering power of truth, which was felt to cover the assembly in a very general manner. Such seasons are as a brook by the way, to the poor exercised travellers, who often go mourning on their way, from a sense of the prevalence of sin and iniquity in the land.
After this solemn opportunity we proceeded on our journey, and the next day attended Friends’ monthly meeting at Westland, in Redstone quarterly meeting. I had some service, both in the meeting for worship, and that for discipline; but things appeared rather low as to the right order of the gospel, in both meetings. It being a day of ease and outward tranquillity; and this hath a tendency to produce lukewarmness, if not watchfully and diligently guarded against.
From this place we proceeded directly to Mount Pleasant, in Ohio, where the yearly meeting is held; where we arrived on seventh day, the 28th of 8th month. On first day, the 29th, attended Friends’ meeting at Short Creek in the morning, and had an appointed meeting at Mount Pleasant in the afternoon. They were both largely attended, and proved very instructive satisfactory meetings, in which I had good service; and found sweet peace as the result of my labours of love amongst them.
The five following days, meetings were appointed for us at Concord, St. Clairsville, Plainfield, Flushing, and Harrisville. These were all full meetings; generally more collected than the houses could contain; but Friends were industrious, and provided seats out of doors, about the house, by which the people were generally accommodated.
On seventh day the yearly meeting of Ministers and Elders opened; and continued by adjournments until fifth day. I think they were generally favoured opportunities. The Head of the Church graciously condescending to manifest his presence for the help of his devoted, dedicated children; and this is the crown and diadem of all our religious assemblies. On first day public meetings for worship were held, both forenoon and afternoon, in both Friends’ meeting-houses in the neighbourhood; that in the town of Mount Pleasant, held in their new meeting-house, which is one of the largest I ever saw belonging to Friends, was very large. I attended that meeting both forenoon and afternoon, in which I had much service by way of testimony; which appeared to be much to the comfort and general edification of the assemblies, and resulted in the solid peace of my own mind.
On second day, the yearly meeting for discipline opened, and continued by adjournments until seventh day toward evening. It was a season of much travail and exercise to the rightly concerned active members; having before them, in addition to their usual business, the revisal of their discipline. I was led under close exercise on the account, and a very considerable portion of active service fell to my lot, with other Friends. It was thought, I believe, by Friends generally, to have been the most favoured yearly meeting they had had since its institution, and was worthy of grateful remembrance.
I tarried here over first day, and attended their meeting at the old meeting-house. It was a season of deep travail in the forepart of the meeting, in which my spirit was led into deep baptism with, and for, the dead; and I was brought into sympathy and fellowship with the suffering seed, which appeared to me to be pressed down in the hearts of the formal professors, as a cart under sheaves. This, I believed, was too much the situation of a considerable number in that assembly; but as I continued patiently to endure the exercise, and kept up the inward travail, light sprang up and dispelled the darkness, accompanied with a motion of life to stand up; and my mouth was opened in a large searching and effective testimony, whereby the dead were raised, the lukewarm stirred up, the honest seekers encouraged, and the rightly exercised minds comforted and edified. It was the Lord’s doing, and marvellous in mine eyes.
The six succeeding days, meetings were appointed at the following places, which we attended. On second day, at a little village called York, where a few Friends were privileged with an indulged meeting; a meeting not being established. On third day at Smithfield; on fourth day at Cross Creek; on fifth day at Franklin, where was also only a small indulged meeting. On sixth day, at Augusta, at the tenth hour in the morning, and at Sandy Spring, at the third hour in the afternoon; on seventh day at New Garden. These were all seasons of favour, wherein I was strengthened to labour in the work of the gospel, and to declare largely to these several assemblies, of the things concerning the kingdom of God; endeavouring, by persuasive arguments, founded in the clear demonstration of the spirit, accompanied with a lively evidence of divine power to gather the minds of the people to the light of Christ, or Christ the light, in their own hearts; as the only sure guide to blessedness, and foundation rock on which to build all our hopes of redemption and salvation. A precious solemnity was felt to prevail in those several meetings, most of which were crowded gatherings, many more often collecting than their meeting-houses could contain; and truth was exalted over all, to the praise of Him who is over all, God blessed for ever.