On third day we rode over to Hanover, a town on the east side of Connecticut river. And the day following had a meeting in the east part of said town, among a people mostly of the Baptist profession; it was, I trust, an instructive season; things, relating to true religion and spiritual worship, being largely opened. And after the meeting, we had some free conversation on several material points; viz. election, falling from grace, water baptism and the right use of the scriptures, all of which were opened apparently to the satisfaction of most present. The evening of the next day, we had an appointed meeting near Dartmouth College, which proved a very disturbed opportunity, by reason of the attendance of the young students, whose behaviour was very rude and unbecoming; nevertheless, I hope the season was profitable to some present.
We returned the next day to Jared Bassett’s, at Sharon, and the following day attended two meetings, one at Strafford, and the other in the evening at a place called the Hollow. After this we returned again to Jared Bassett’s, and the next day, being the first of the week, and the 11th of 12th month, we attended the meeting at his house; which, with the two last, were, to myself at least, satisfactory seasons; feeling conscious of having discharged my duty faithfully among them, and having the answer of peace therein. The next day we set out for Danby, the nearest meeting of Friends to this place; but by reason of a great fall of snow, and the way being mountainous, we did not arrive there until the third day after we set out. The next day after our arrival, their monthly meeting began, which continued two days. It was a low time, wherein I felt my mind much oppressed with the apparent careless indifferent way in which Friends there conducted the weighty affairs of the Church; many of them appearing to act in their own will, in as light a manner, as they would in their own trivial outward business. Much labour was bestowed in a plain way, in order to impress their minds with the necessity of being more weighty in their spirits, when they presumed to be active in the affairs of truth; and, I hope, to the encouragement of the honest hearted. We stayed their first day meeting, which was large, and proved a trying season; but I was favoured to relieve my mind among them, although they appeared too generally insensible of the operation of truth.
After meeting, we rode that afternoon, on our way towards Lake Champlain, about twelve miles, and attended a meeting at the house of our friend Joseph Button, that evening, among a people mostly of the Baptist profession. It was a favoured season, and ability was received to open many things, in a plain way, relating to the Christian religion. The strange doctrine of absolute personal election and reprobation was exposed, also that of the impossibility of falling from grace; and the true baptism explained, in opposition to that of water. The next day we pursued our journey towards Lake Champlain, where we arrived on second day, and were in the neighbourhood of the lake, in different towns, for about fifteen days, and attended eleven meetings among Friends and others, to general satisfaction, and the peace of my mind.
After this we returned to Danby, and from thence we passed on, through Queensborough, to Saratoga and Easton; in which neighbourhood we had divers comfortable and edifying meetings, among Friends and others. Then we went on through Pittstown, Williamstown, East Hoosack, New Britain, Kline-Kiln, Coeman’s Patent, crossing the Hudson river on the ice to the last mentioned place, and from thence to Hudson; most of the way upon the ice on the river. We had a meeting at each of those places to good satisfaction, also one at Hudson the next day after our arrival there. After this we passed on, attending meetings at Little Nine Partners, and one at the house of our friend Tideman Hull; thence to the Creek, where we had a precious opportunity on the first day of the week, in a large meeting of Friends and others. Then having meetings at Crum-elbow and Oswego, we got in time to Nine Partners, to attend their preparative meeting the fifth day following, which proved a comfortable season; and the next day attended a profitable meeting, appointed at a place called Chesnut Ridge. The two following days we attended two meetings, one at the Branch, and the other on the hill at Oblong; and the day after, their monthly meeting; and returned to Nine Partners to attend the quarterly meeting, which began the next day.
The quiet and comfort of this meeting seemed much interrupted by the forwardness and inexperience of some in the ministry, which was cause of much affliction to my mind. Oh what great need there is for those, who apprehend themselves called to that great and solemn office, to know self wholly reduced; for, otherwise, there is danger of their endeavouring to clothe themselves with the Lord’s jewels, which, nevertheless, will turn to their own shame and confusion. I had some close exercise in the meeting of Ministers and Elders on that account. On sixth day we were at the monthly meeting at the Creek, which was attended with a degree of divine power, but not without suffering some hurt, by the forward unskilful workmen before mentioned.
From this meeting we crossed the Hudson again, and had meetings at Little Esopus, Marlborough, and Newburgh Valley; and then returned to Nine Partners, and attended their monthly meeting. After this, taking leave of Friends there, we turned our faces homewards, having meetings at Amawalk, Joseph Weeks’ near Salem, Purchase, Apoquague, Mamaroneck, and Westchester; all favoured seasons, especially the last, which was mostly composed of those not in membership with Friends. I was enabled, through divine aid, to open much doctrine to them, suitable to the occasion, and to the states of those present, to their general satisfaction; and I felt great peace in my labour, not only for the service of this meeting, but for all my past labour in this journey; wherein I had been graciously favoured, to my humbling admiration. To the Lord only wise, be all the glory.
The next day we rode to New-York, where I lodged with my kind companion, and was cordially received by his beloved wife, and many other near and dear friends. We had been from the city four months and three days. The next day being the first of the week, I attended their forenoon and afternoon meetings, which were large; and the day following rode to my own home, and, with a mind full of peace and solid satisfaction, the sure reward of obedience, found my dear wife and children all well: for which favour, also for the manifold unmerited mercies and preservations I have from time to time received, my spirit bows in humble adoration before thee, O Lord God of our health and salvation, and desires to ascribe unto thee greatness, with glory, thanksgiving, and high renown; for thou art worthy to receive it, throughout all ages and generations, world without end. Amen.
I was from home on this journey four months and eleven days; rode about one thousand five hundred miles, and attended forty-nine particular meetings among Friends, three quarterly meetings, six monthly meetings, and forty meetings among other people.
In the latter end of the 7th month, 1792, I left home, in company with some other Friends, by appointment from the yearly meeting of Ministers and Elders, to visit the subordinate meetings throughout the yearly meeting. I was from home nearly a month, in which time we visited most of the meetings of Ministers and Elders, and attended many other meetings; and, I believe, the visit was truly useful. We had many seasonable and comfortable opportunities among Friends, and, I trust, the labour was blessed to some, and I felt peace of mind for this little service.
A concern having for some time rested on my mind, in the feelings of gospel love, to pay a religious visit to Friends in New England, in the spring of 1793, I opened it to my friends, and obtained their certificate for that purpose. But I did not proceed therein till after our yearly meeting. I left home the 2d of 6th month, being the first of the week, and after attending our own meeting, I crossed the Sound that afternoon, and got to the house of our friends Daniel and Samuel Titus at Horseneck, that evening. Here I met my companion James Mott from Mamaroneck, who had kindly given up to be my companion in this journey. We set forward next morning through the state of Connecticut, which took near three days, and arrived on fourth day evening at the house of our friend Amos Collins in Stonington, and the next day attended Friends’ meeting at Hopkinton, in the state of Rhode Island. From thence we proceeded on towards Newport, attending meetings in our way, at Westerly, Richmond, South Kingston, Upper and Lower House, and Canonnicut Island; all satisfactory opportunities. After this we crossed the ferry to Newport, and lodged at the house of our kind and very hospitable friend, the widow Mary Rodman, who, with her two worthy daughters, Sarah and Hannah, treated us with great kindness and affection; and where we continued to lodge, during our stay in that town. The meeting of Ministers and Elders opened the next day at Portsmouth. After this we lodged that night at our friend Jacob Mott’s, and the next day attended a meeting for worship at that place, which was very large; although things appeared very low, as to the life and virtue of truth, both among Friends and others, and lukewarmness and indifference seemed to prevail, which made it a laborious time for the honest travellers, yet ability was afforded to discharge myself among them to a good degree of satisfaction, and peace to my own mind; and we returned that evening to Newport.