In the summer of 1824, I had the concurrence of my friends to attend the quarterly meeting of Cornwall and Stanford, which I accomplished to my own peace and comfort. And in the fall of the same year, they also united with a concern which had impressed my mind, to attend the ensuing yearly meeting in Baltimore. This engagement, through the mercy of Him who has hitherto helped me, I was favoured to accomplish to the peace and satisfaction of my own mind. The yearly meeting for discipline opened on second day, and continued by adjournments until the following fifth day, in the afternoon of which it closed, under a comfortable evidence of divine favour attending. I think it was, in its several sittings, one of the most satisfactory yearly meetings I ever attended, and the business was conducted in much harmony and brotherly love.
In Philadelphia, on my return, I had a severe attack of bodily indisposition; so that, for some time, there seemed but little prospect of my recovery. I lodged at the house of my very kind friend Samuel R. Fisher, who, with his worthy children, extended to me the most affectionate care and attention; and I had also the kind sympathy of a large portion of Friends in that city.
In the summer of 1825, I obtained the concurrence of my friends to make a visit, in gospel love, to the inhabitants of the eastern part of Long Island, and I proceeded therein, with Samuel Willis as my companion. The people appeared open to receive us, and the meetings at the several places we visited, were pretty fully attended. Many minds were humbled and contrited, and truth’s testimonies exalted, and the people generally comforted, and, I trust, edified.
In the fall of 1825, being on an appointment of the yearly meeting to attend the opening of Scipio quarterly meeting, I obtained the unity of my friends to attend some meetings among Friends and others, on my way going and returning. The quarterly meeting in its several sittings, was conducted in much apparent harmony and condescension; the truth was so effectually raised into dominion over all, that if there were any discordant spirits present, they were all kept down and subdued by the prevalence of its power; and Friends were united in the bond of brotherly affection, and the faithful were made to rejoice for the unmerited favour. The meeting closed on the 30th of 9th month, with a very large solemn public meeting; the public service therein fell to the lot of Thankful Merritt and myself, and Thankful closed the meeting in sweet solemn supplication. In returning home, I attended several meetings which were large, and, through the condescending goodness of the Shepherd of Israel, were favoured satisfactory seasons, in which truth was raised into dominion, and a precious solemnity prevailed.
In the latter part of 1826, my friends united with a concern, which had been for a considerable time impressive on my mind, to make a visit in the love of the gospel, to Southern and Concord quarterly meetings, in the yearly meeting of Philadelphia. I accordingly set out in the 11th month, with Jesse Merritt as my companion. In passing through Philadelphia, we attended Mulberry-street meeting in the forenoon, and Green-street in the afternoon. They were both very large meetings, many more coming together than the houses could contain. Truth was powerfully raised into dominion, and at the close of each meeting, many Friends manifested, in an affectionate manner, their unity and satisfaction with my labours amongst them. We then proceeded on the further service on which we had set out, taking several meetings on the way, which were large and solemn opportunities, and favoured with the overshadowing wing of divine kindness; and having accomplished the prospects in view, we turned our faces homewards, having thankfully to acknowledge that best help had been near, enabling me to discharge myself faithfully in the various meetings, to the comfort and peace of my own mind.
In the early part of 1827, with the unity of my friends, I entered into the engagement of making a religious visit to the families of Friends within our own and Westbury monthly meeting, and I was favoured to go through this arduous service to the satisfaction and peace of my own mind.
Having felt an exercise and travail of spirit in the course of last year, to make a religious visit in the love of the gospel, to Friends and others in some parts of our own yearly meeting, and in the compass of the yearly meetings of Philadelphia, Baltimore, Ohio, Indiana, and a few meetings in Virginia; and apprehending the time had come to move therein, I spread the concern before my friends at Jericho monthly meeting, held the 20th of 3d month, 1828, and obtained their unity and concurrence therein. This concern, with the certificate from our monthly meeting, I laid before our quarterly meeting held at Westbury, the 24th of 4th month following; and obtained their unity and concurrence, with an endorsement thereof on my certificate from the monthly meeting.
I left home the 28th of 4th month, the week after our quarterly meeting, in order to accomplish the service above alluded to; and attended the three quarterly meetings of Purchase, Nine Partners, and Stanford, as they came in their usual course. On my way home, I attended Oblong monthly meeting, also four particular meetings, three of which were appointed at my request. In all these meetings the Lord, our gracious helper, manifested himself to be near for our support, making way for us at times where there seemed to be no way, to our humbling admiration. I was from home in the prosecution of this little tour of duty, two weeks and two days. After this I tarried at and about home until after our yearly meeting.
Soon after this I again left home, on the 14th of 6th month, and rode to New-York. The day following being the first of the week, we attended the morning and afternoon meetings of Friends in the city, which, through the gracious extendings of heavenly help, proved to be comfortable edifying seasons. My esteemed friend Jesse Merritt, an elder of our monthly meeting, accompanied me in this journey. We left New-York on second day, after taking a sympathetic farewell of our friends in the city, and proceeded on our journey to Rahway in New Jersey, and lodged with our kind friend William Shotwell, and the next day had an appointed meeting in that village. It was truly a comfortable edifying opportunity; many truths of the gospel were clearly opened to the audience, humbling and contriting many who were present; a sense of which inspired our minds with gratitude and thanksgiving to the blessed Author of all our mercies.