On second day morning we proceeded on our journey, towards home; and attending meetings in our way, in the course of the week, at Salt Creek, Salem, alias Rochester, Newberry, and Clear Creek. All these meetings were composed of people of varied professions, to whom the gospel was preached in the demonstration of the spirit, attended with a power which silenced all opposition, humbling and contriting many hearts, without respect of persons or sects; and Friends were comforted together, and made to rejoice for the unmerited favour; and we parted from them under a thankful sense of the Lord’s mercy, and with peace of mind.
The next day being first day, and 26th of 10th month, we attended Fairfield meeting; and notice being given of our intention of attending it, the meeting was very large. Here those called Orthodox made public opposition in the early part of the meeting; one of them informing the assembly that I was travelling without having the unity of my Friends, and other incorrect declarations, which I passed over without notice at the time. The meeting was soon gathered into a solemn quiet, and I had a favoured opportunity to declare the truth among them, which was raised into dominion, and many hearts were humbled and contrited. Before, however, I had concluded my communication, those called Orthodox, to manifest further disunity, rose and left the meeting; but Friends and others kept their seats, and we had a very solemn close, and great brokenness and contrition were manifest among the people; and to do away the false reports spread by the Orthodox, I had my certificates read, which gave full satisfaction to the assembly; and we took an affectionate farewell of our friends and others present.
We then proceeded on our journey to Wheeling in Virginia, a town situated on the east side of Ohio river. We arrived here on sixth day, the 31st, a little before noon, and had an appointed meeting in the evening. As Friends have no meeting-house in this place, it was held in the Methodist meeting-house, which they kindly offered of their own accord. It was a pretty large collection of people, mostly made up of other societies, the number of Friends there being very small, insomuch that they have no steady meeting in the place. It was a comfortable, favoured opportunity.
We left them with peace of mind, and proceeded on our journey to Westland, in the limits of Redstone quarterly meeting, where we arrived on first day, the 2d of 11th month, in time to attend their meeting. It was a very solemn edifying opportunity, in which the power of truth was exalted over all opposition. After this we proceeded on to Redstone, about seven miles, crossing the Monongahela river in the way; and the next day had an appointed meeting in that town, at two o’clock in the afternoon.
The day after we passed on towards Waterford, alias Fairfax, in Virginia, where we arrived on first day the 9th of 11th month, and attended their meeting at the usual hour. At two o’clock in the afternoon, we had an appointed meeting for the inhabitants of the town in general; and the two following days attended meetings, by appointment, at Goose Creek and Southwest Fork. These were all large favoured meetings, particularly the two last, wherein I was led to expose the great evil of oppression, especially that enormous sin of holding our fellow creatures in slavery. Although in my communication I was led to lay judgment to the line, and justice to the plumb line; yet the slave-holders, divers of whom were present, were so brought down and humbled with the force and correctness of the testimony, that they frankly acknowledged the truth and propriety of it; and we parted from them with true peace of mind, and the honest-hearted were made to rejoice for the favour dispensed from the hand of the gracious Benefactor of every blessing.
The next day we rode to Alexandria, forty-three miles, and lodged with our kind friend Phineas Janney, and the day after attended their meeting as it came in course, and in the evening had another meeting for the inhabitants of the town in general. These were opportunities of favour: many truths of the gospel were set forth before the people, in the demonstration of the spirit, which brought a solemnity over the assembly, to the comfort and edification of the upright in heart. The next day we rode to Washington, and attended a meeting there in the evening. This was rather a trying season in the forepart, but, I trust, it ended well.
We then proceeded to Sandy Spring, in Maryland, and on first day, the 16th of 11th month, attended Friends’ meeting there; and notice being given of our expectation of attending it, the meeting was large; and through condescending goodness, it proved to be a very favoured instructive season, and I parted with them with a thankful heart, and true peace of mind. The next day we proceeded on our journey to Elk Ridge, and lodged with our kind friend George Ellicot; and the day following being third day, we had, by appointment, a very comfortable, favoured meeting with Friends: many of the neighbouring inhabitants likewise attended, and appeared well satisfied with the opportunity. Many minds were humbled and contrited, and a precious solemnity prevailed over the meeting.
After this meeting we dined at our lodgings, and that afternoon proceeded in company with our kind friend John Marsh, who met us at this meeting, six miles on our way to Baltimore, and lodged at his house. In the morning we rode into the city, and on that and the following day attended Friends’ meetings held in the middle of the week, at the upper and lower houses; and not feeling fully clear, on sixth day evening, we had an appointed meeting for the inhabitants of the town in general, at the upper house. This was a very large meeting, made up of almost every class of the people, among whom, as to religious profession, were Romanists, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists, Unitarians, and others of divers descriptions, and some slave-holders. These meetings were seasons of favour, particularly the last, in which truth in a very extraordinary manner was raised into victory over all, bowing and breaking down all under its baptizing influence, so that it appeared as though the whole assembly were baptized into one body; and when the meeting closed, all seemed desirous to take me by the hand. Surely it was the Lord’s doing, and marvellous in mine eyes; and I parted with them with gratitude and thankfulness of heart.
The day following we rode to Gunpowder Falls; and the next day being first day, and 23d of the 11th month, we attended Friends’ meeting there; and information being given of our intention of attending it, the meeting was large, and through the condescending goodness of Israel’s unslumbering Shepherd, whose mercy is over all his works, it proved a precious favoured opportunity, in which many hearts were humbled and contrited, and truth was raised into dominion. The day following we went to the Little Falls, and on third day, the 25th, attended Friends’ meeting in that place, and the day after attended Deer Creek meeting. These were very large favoured opportunities. After this we proceeded on our journey, crossing the river Susquehannah on our way to Little Britain; and on the three following days we attended meetings at Little Britain, West and East Nottingham. These were seasons to be remembered, in which the Lord’s power was eminently manifested by its solemnizing influence. Surely it was the Lord’s doing.
On second day, the 1st of 12th month, we proceeded to West Grove, in Chester county. Here our opposing brethren shut the meeting-house against us, and the care-taker of it refused to open it. However, when the people assembled, which they did in great numbers, many more than the house could contain, it was opened; and we had a very favoured, solemn opportunity with them, in which truth reigned over all. The three following days we attended the monthly meetings of London Grove, New Garden, and Fallowfield, as they came in their usual course; and notice being given, of our attending them, to the neighbouring inhabitants, great numbers of the varied classes of the people assembled with Friends; insomuch that none of the houses were large enough to contain the multitude, and in some instances there were nearly as many standing without as the houses contained. These were all highly favoured seasons, the Lord’s power evidently presiding over these large assemblies, solemnizing and humbling with its overshadowing influence, and causing a profound silence to prevail over all, to the praise of him who is over all, God blessed for ever.