In the fall of the year 1803, I performed a visit to Friends of Upper Canada, and some other of the northwestern parts of our yearly meeting. Daniel Titus was my companion in this journey. We left home the 20th of 9th month, and proceeded directly to Canada, in company with two other Friends, who, with us, were appointed to attend the monthly meeting of Adolphustown on a particular concern relative to that meeting. We were at but three meetings in our way thither, two at Hudson on first day, and one at Black River. We got well to Adolphustown on third day evening, the 3d of 10th month, having rode about four hundred and ten miles, and crossed the great river St. Lawrence, which appeared to be a dangerous passage. We crossed its two branches, an island lying in the middle. Each branch was nearly five miles over. We passed the latter in the middle of the night, by the light of the moon, in two small flat-bottomed boats, one of them so small as to carry only one horse. This latter passage lay open to Lake Ontario, and the wind being from that quarter, caused the swell frequently to wash into our boats, so that we had considerable labour to throw out the water as fast as it came in; but my confidence was in Him, who hath the winds and the waves at his command. This kept out fear, and we got safe over about one o’clock in the morning.
On fourth day we attended Friends’ meeting at Adolphustown, as it came in course, which proved an instructive favoured season. On fifth day we rode to Green Point, in the township of Sophiasburgh, to the house of our friend Daniel Way; and had an appointed meeting there that afternoon, at the third hour. In this meeting I was favoured; and by the prevalence of the power of truth, attending the communication, many minds were much bowed, and their hearts tendered by its secret mollifying influence. Our next appointment was in the neighbourhood of our friend Robert Hubbs, on seventh day, composed mostly of people not of our society, which was a comfortable, edifying season. After this we proceeded to the township of Hallowell, to the house of our friend Thomas Boorman near West Lake; and on first day attended Friends’ meeting there. On second day, we had an opportunity with the people at the east end of the lake, which was held at the house of a professor among the Methodists. These two last meetings were eminently favoured; truth rose into dominion, and ran as oil over all opposition, to the instruction and comfort of many minds; and the Lord was praised for his goodness, and for his merciful, loving kindness to the children of men. We returned that evening to the west end of said lake, to the house of our friend Jacob Cronk, and lodged.
On third day the 11th of 10th month, we returned to the house of Cornelius Blount, where the meeting for Friends of West Lake was held. It was the time of their preparative meeting, and many of the neighbouring inhabitants came in, and sat with Friends, during the time of worship; the forepart of which, was rather low and depressing; but as patience was abode in, and right attention given to a small opening which presented, and as I moved therein with care, truth gradually rose into dominion, powerfully breaking down all that stood in its way. Many hearts were comforted and refreshed, and a general solemnity spread over the meeting, so that we could truly say, hitherto hath the Lord helped us.
After the preparative meeting was over, which was held in an orderly manner, we returned that evening to the house of our friend John Dorland, in Adolphustown, he having kindly accompanied us since we left that place. On fourth day we attended the preparative meeting there. The meeting for worship was large, many of those who were not members came in, and manifested great willingness to hear the truths of the gospel declared; yet too many appeared careless and unconcerned, with regard to the practical part, so that in them was fulfilled the saying of the apostle: “For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: for he beholdeth himself and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.” And this, it is to be feared, is too much the case with many amongst us, as a people, who are pleasing themselves with hearing the truth declared, and rejoice in the privilege of sitting under a free, living, gospel ministry, through the labour and exercise of the faithful; but suffer the cumbering cares and pleasures of this life, so to divert them from a right improvement of their own gifts, that they, in a religious sense, may justly be compared to idle drones, who live on the labour of the industrious bee, and are contenting themselves in a situation like the foolish virgins, who, although they have lamps, yet, are without oil in their vessels; but alas, what will these do, when the awful midnight cry is heard, “behold the bridegroom cometh;” then fear and dismay, with an utter exclusion from the marriage chamber, will be the woful doom of all careless, and lifeless professors. O that all might lay these things to heart, and endeavour, in awful fear, to have their day’s work done in the day time; for behold the night cometh, wherein none can work.
On sixth day we attended Friends’ preparative meeting at Kingston; and on seventh day, we had a meeting in the town of Kingston, in the court-house, the first Friends’ meeting ever held in that place. The people appeared much unacquainted with the order of our meetings, and some of the principal men seemed at a loss how to behave themselves in the time of silence; but during the communication, they were generally quiet and solemn, and truth rose into victory, furnishing doctrine, clothed with divine power, and carrying conviction to the minds of most present.
The next day, the first of the week, we again attended Friends’ meeting held at the house of the widow Brewer; they not having any meeting-house in this place. In the afternoon we had an appointed meeting in the west part of this township, on the bay, which was held at the house of John Everit, a man not in strict profession with any religious society. These were both seasons of heavenly refreshment; the life ran as oil over all; many hearts were much broken and contrited, under the precious mollifying influence thereof; praised and magnified for ever, be the name of the Lord, for his mercy and loving kindness to the children of men.
The 17th we returned towards Adolphustown, and attended a meeting appointed at an inn on our way, in the town of Earnest. This also proved, through the condescending mercy and goodness of the Lord our gracious helper, a blessed season; and through the efficacious power attending the word preached, many hearts were pierced, and the whole assembly solemnized. We parted from each other with thankful hearts, and rode to Adolphustown, and lodged with our friend Daniel Haight. The day following we had an appointed meeting at his house, for the neighbouring inhabitants, who were, many of them, professors among the Methodists. This, through divine goodness, was to me a season of great refreshment, and the assembly were generally broken and contrited by the convicting power of divine love, which was mercifully vouchsafed to us at this season.
We then proceeded again to our friend John Dorland’s, and rested the next day, as I was somewhat unwell, and considerably wearied by such constant travelling.
On fifth day, the 20th of the month, we attended Friends’ monthly meeting for the lower part of the Province of Upper Canada, held at Adolphustown. This closed our visit in these parts; and we took leave of our friends in much brotherly affection; their hearts were contrited, and their cheeks bedewed with tears, when we closed our farewell addresses. After this we rode directly to Kingston about thirty-five miles, and there took boat immediately, and crossed one branch of the river St. Lawrence that evening. We likewise crossed the island, which lies between, before dark, it being about five miles over; but as the wind was unfavourable, we did not cross the other branch till next morning. We lodged in a small house, being the only one on that side of the island. Our accommodations were very poor, having to lie on the floor, and on benches; but having the best of company, peace of mind, and a firm trust in the divine blessing, it kept us comfortable and pleasant.