"7th. Attended a meeting at the Methodist house, which was much favored. Spoke from the first of John. My dear husband and our kind helpers, R. and C. Alsop, went to St. Giles for a meeting.
"9th. We took a walk to an old ruin said to be the temple of Diana. We also went to La Fontaine, where a large volume of water springs from the earth. We also saw a beautiful Corinthian temple—'la Maison Carrée'—said to be eighteen hundred years old.
"11th. Held a meeting for some serious soldiers who have lately left the Roman Catholic worship. We had a good meeting with them; one of their number spoke very well, at the close of our meeting, on the immediate teaching of the Holy Spirit. This evening went to Congènies by diligence, accompanied by R. and C. Alsop, leaving dear Eli to attend meeting at Nismes."
After this Eli and Sybil Jones and their kind friends and helpers attended many meetings at Nismes and at neighboring towns, going often to Congènies and Fontanés. Meetings at the latter place seemed especially opened and favored. Also held meetings, much assisted and encouraged by the pasteurs, at Calvisson, Cordonion, Aujargues, Aubais, and Vistric, many of which, they had evidence, were singularly blessed by the Master of assemblies. They had many pleasant meetings with the young people, and were helped to utter words of cheer and encouragement to those whose life-work was just beginning. Very frail in body, and at times almost sinking under the felt duty, yet they sought to improve every moment of time, not wishing to make any plans without a direct showing from their heavenly Leader. All places of Protestant worship were open to them, and they often used the large national places of worship called "temples." In Fontanés they held a greatly blessed meeting in the parlor of their friend Daniel Brun. They were always saddened, especially after a meeting at Saint Giles, by the noticeable scarcity of men in meetings. Indeed, they found in their meetings generally in France mostly women and children.
One of the morning meetings in the Friends' house at Nismes was a most remarkable instance of the overshadowing of the divine Spirit. The solemnity was most impressive, so that many wept before a word was uttered. Sybil Jones was favored to see the time to rise and testify to the people that a "pure spiritual worship is what is required, and is the highest joy of Christians." The visitors attended meeting at the school supported by Friends in England, and felt it to be a profitable occasion for all present.
Sybil Jones's mind was often occupied with deep thoughtfulness of the infinite importance of their mission to this land, and she besought the Lord earnestly that their dependence might be on no other, and that all their labors might be Heaven-directed. It was very cheering to these tired laborers to have persons come to them after meetings to acknowledge that they had been strengthened and to converse on those things which pertain to godliness.
They attended a meeting sustained by young men in Nismes for general improvement, reading useful books, etc. They were invited most cordially to come by the young men, who told them that if they wished to speak to them on religious subjects, they would be pleased to hear them. E. and S. Jones felt it a providential opening, and S. Jones was led to speak from the text, "The Lord loveth an early sacrifice."
They felt especially moved to thank the Lord for the "way" so wonderfully made for them. They had not had to ask for a place to hold a meeting, but when they felt the impression a place was always offered. This seemed most wonderful to them, as the laws of France forbid an assembly exceeding twenty persons at any place except in a "temple" or consecrated place. Sometimes they had but "crumbs" to hand out to the spiritually hungry, but at other times they had abundant refreshing from the Master's table. They prayed ever that the "creature might be abased" and that whether in "heights or depths" they might wear the entire "armor of faith."