On seventh day the 20th of 9th month, we rode to Centre, and attended Friends’ monthly meeting, composed of the preparative meetings of Centre and Wilmington. It was the first monthly meeting they had held since the separation; and notice being given of our attendance, the meeting for worship was very large, more than the house could contain; and the Lord, our never-failing helper manifested his presence, solemnizing the assembly and opening the minds of the people to receive the word preached; breaking down all opposition, and humbling and contriting the assembly in a very general manner; and we parted from each other with grateful hearts, from an humbling sense of the unmerited favour.
We returned that evening to Wilmington, and the next day attended Friends’ meeting in that town; and as their meeting-house was small, Friends procured the court-house in that place to hold the meeting in. The meeting was very large, and we had a very favoured opportunity to declare the truth among them, to their general satisfaction; and the honest-hearted were comforted and edified, and Friends were made to rejoice for the unmerited favour. At the fourth hour in the afternoon, we had an appointed meeting at a place called Lital’s Creek, a short distance from Wilmington. Here we had a favoured opportunity with the people, greatly to their satisfaction.
The next day being the second of the week, and 22d of the month, we proceeded on to Springfield. Here those called Orthodox shut the meeting-house and set guards at the doors to keep us out, and we held our meeting under some trees near by. It was a precious season, wherein the Lord’s power and love were exalted over all opposition, and many minds were humbled and contrited; and thanksgiving and praise were ascribed to His great and adorable name, who is over all, blessed for ever.
We had a favoured meeting the day after, at a place called the Grove. Friends’ meeting-house there being small, we had to hold the meeting out of doors to accommodate the people. It was a very satisfactory opportunity. The following day we had an appointed meeting at Lebanon, a pretty large country town, where there were no members of our society, but many sober people. It was held in the court-house, but it was not sufficient to contain the people; about one third of those who assembled had to stand out of doors. It was an instructive opportunity; many gospel truths were opened to the people, and they appeared to go away well satisfied; and I parted from them with true peace of mind.
On seventh day, the 27th of the month, we attended the opening of Indiana yearly meeting, with the first sitting of the meeting of Ministers and Elders; and although small, it was a favoured encouraging opportunity to the few who assembled. The next day, being first day, a large concourse assembled with Friends. A great number had to stand without, although the house was very large. And he that openeth and none can shut, and when he shutteth none can open, opened my mouth among them in a large effective testimony to the truths of the gospel; in which, through adorable condescension, I was enabled to bring forth, out of the Lord’s treasury, things new and old; and truth was raised into dominion over all, to the comfort and rejoicing of the honest-hearted, and to the apparent satisfaction and edification of the people in general. Surely it was the Lord’s doing, and it was marvellous in our eyes. The next day the meeting for discipline opened, and continued by adjournments until sixth day evening; and Friends were favoured, through the several sittings, to conduct the business in much harmony and brotherly condescension.
The day after, we proceeded on our journey towards Richmond, in Indiana; attending meetings on our way, at Springborough, Elk, Westfield, and Eaton. All these were seasons of favour, the Lord graciously manifesting his presence for our help. Blessed be his great and excellent name, for his mercy endureth for ever.
From Eaton we rode home with our kind friends John and Elizabeth Barnes, and lodged. The next day, being the fourth of the week, and 8th of 10th month, we rode to Richmond, where those called Orthodox were holding their yearly meeting; and as this day was the time for holding a meeting for worship, notice was given of our intention of being there. It was very large, and proved, through adorable condescension, a solemn heart-tendering season, in which truth reigned over all.
The three following days we attended meetings by our appointment, at Centreville, West Union and Milford. After this we returned again to Richmond, in order, agreeably to appointment, to attend their first day meeting. It was large like the former; a multitude of people assembled; and was a precious meeting, in which truth was triumphant, and ran as oil over the assembly, breaking down all opposition, and melting a great portion of the assembly into tears of contrition. Surely it was the Lord’s doing, and marvellous in our eyes; and to him belongeth all the praise, who is over all, blessed for ever.
We parted from them with solid satisfaction, and peace of mind; and after dinner took a solemn and very affectionate leave of our friends, and rode on our journey about four miles, and spent the evening at the house of our esteemed friend Benjamin Stokes. We returned and lodged with our kind friend John Barnes; and the following day attended a meeting, by our appointment, at a place called the Ridge; it was a comfortable opportunity. The next day we attended a meeting at Orange. Here those called Orthodox made great disturbance, and hurt the meeting very considerably. The day after, we had a meeting at a place called Silver Creek. This was a precious meeting, in which truth reigned over all.
We then proceeded on our journey towards Cincinnati, and arrived there on seventh day, the 18th of 10th month. The next day being first day, we attended Friends’ meeting at that place, at the usual time, which was very large, many more attending than the house could contain: and at three o’clock in the afternoon, we appointed a meeting to be held in the court-house. Both these meetings were highly favoured seasons, in which truth was raised into dominion over all opposition, to the praise of Him, who is calling us to glory and to virtue.