Journal of the Life and Religious Labours of Elias Hicks

by Elias Hicks

First day, the 25th. According to the prospect opened at our last monthly meeting, I attended two appointed meetings in the neighbouring town of Hempstead; one in the morning, at the eleventh hour, at the house of Samuel Carman, a person inclining to Friends, and the other at the fourth hour in the afternoon, at John Raynor’s, about four miles distant from the former, he also being kind and well disposed towards Friends.

These were both pretty full meetings, there being as many people as the rooms could well accommodate. Through the gracious condescension of the Shepherd of Israel, the word went forth freely among them, in a full impressive testimony at each place, tendering and contriting many hearts, and to the increase of love to the truth, and to the promoters of it. I took my leave of them in the fresh feelings of mutual Christian affection, and returned home that evening with a quiet peaceful mind, the assured reward of faithfulness.

The rest of the week I spent in my usual avocations, not omitting the attendance of our meeting on fifth day, which I sat in silence.

First day, the 1st of 9th month. I attended an appointed meeting among my relatives and acquaintance at Rockaway, the place of my former residence, when young, while living in my father’s house. The meeting was not large, but proved a precious tendering season. Many hearts were much broken and contrited by the prevalence of divine love and power that accompanied the testimony borne, and spread generally over the meeting, to the praise of His grace who is calling us to glory and virtue.

A concern for the guarded education of the youth among Friends has for many years past exercised our yearly meeting; and many advices and recommendations have been issued therefrom to the quarterly and other subordinate meetings, in order to stir up Friends to vigilance and care therein, that proper schools might be established among them, under the care of pious tutors, that so Friends’ children, while getting their necessary school learning, might be religiously instructed, and preserved from evil examples, and the company of such children as are viciously inclined; by which their tender minds might be wounded, and led from the simplicity of truth. In order further to stir up Friends to this concern, our last yearly meeting directed the quarterly meetings to appoint committees to visit the monthly and preparative meetings, to encourage Friends therein. As I was one among other Friends appointed by our quarterly meeting for that purpose, we attended the monthly meetings of New-York and Flushing, in the course of this week. And I am thankful in believing that the service was owned by the Head of the Church, who was graciously near, and furnished with matter suited to the occasion; insomuch, that I have cause to believe that the opportunities at each place were instructive and edifying, affording encouragement to the willing-minded.

First day, the 8th of 9th month. I found it my place to be at home to-day, and of course attended our own meeting. Although most of the forepart of the meeting, I apprehended I should be permitted to sit it in silence; yet about the middle thereof, my mind was quickened in the remembrance of the testimony of Solomon, where he tells us, that “Wisdom is the principal thing.” As the subject spread on my mind, I was led to consider how it is that all men speak highly of it, and yet, at the same time, are not at all rightly acquainted with its beginning; and are therefore mostly living all their days without the right knowledge of, and acquaintance with it. For it is not to be derived through any other medium than the true fear of the Lord, which we are told is the beginning of wisdom; and as it is only begun in man by this true fear, so likewise it is the middle and the end; as every advancement in true wisdom is only by the fear of the Lord: surely, then, it is the most precious of any thing to the children of men.

I spent the rest of the week about home. Attended our preparative meeting on fifth day. The meeting for worship was held in silence. Our yearly meeting’s minute of advice on the subject of schools was at this time received; but as it was expected that the quarterly meeting’s committee, on that subject, would shortly attend the preparative meeting, the consideration thereof was deferred to the time of their attendance.

First day, the 15th. By appointment I attended two meetings; one at Cold Spring at ten o’clock in the morning, and the other in Friends’ meeting-house at Oysterbay, at the third hour in the afternoon. Both were pretty well attended by the neighbouring inhabitants, among whom I was helped to preach the gospel in the demonstration of the spirit, accompanied with such a degree of the Lord’s power and presence, as to produce a precious solemnity over the assemblies, especially the latter, wherein many truths of the gospel were largely opened, humbling and contriting the hearts of a number present. Surely it was the Lord’s doing, to whom all the praise and glory are, and ought to be ascribed, both now and for ever.

In the course of this week, I attended our own and Westbury monthly meeting, in company with the quarterly meeting’s committee, on the subject of schools. These were both favoured opportunities. The concern was opened in a very impressive manner, and spread weightily over the meetings, the men and women sitting together while this subject was before them. And I have a hope that Friends will be strengthened and encouraged to persevere in the concern, and keep it on its right basis, that is, a concern for the religious and moral instruction of our youth, while at school, by placing them under the care of pious tutors, who may co-operate with the endeavours of religiously concerned parents, who are more desirous that their children may be brought up and educated in the fear of the Lord, and in his nurture and admonition, than that they should make great advancements in scholastic science, or obtain the riches and popularity of the world; all of which are of momentary duration, and unworthy of much of the care of a rational immortal being, especially when compared with the blessings attendant on a truly moral and religious life, and walking in the fear of the Lord.

First day, the 22d. In prosecution of the concern I had engaged in to visit the neighbouring inhabitants, notice was sent to Friends of Martinicock, that I proposed to attend their meeting at this time; and desiring that public notice might be given to their neighbours who were not members, it was accordingly done. By this means the meeting was very large, more so than I had ever seen it before; among whom I was helped to labour in the cause of the gospel, opening many important scripture passages, tending to elucidate and confirm many points of our doctrine and principles, to my own, and apparently to the general satisfaction of the assembly. At three o’clock in the afternoon I attended another meeting at Moscheto Cove, held in the house of the widow Hannah Valentine. This was also a large favoured meeting, in which many truths of the gospel were clearly and satisfactorily opened. I returned home that evening with peace of mind, from an inward sense that I had faithfully discharged myself among the people, concerning the things which relate to their salvation.