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SELECTIONS 
 
 FROM tin: 
 
 IL IE *T T M 31 
 
 op 
 
 THOMAS 13. GOULD, 
 
 MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL IX THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS; 
 
 with 
 
 MEMOIRS OF HIS LIFE. 
 
 BY 
 
 WILLIAM HODGSON. 
 
 "Let it not be a light thing in thine eyes, that He now accounteth thee worthy to 
 suffer among His choice lambs, that lie might make thy crown weightier, and thine 
 inheritance the fuller." — Letter from I. Penington, in Aylesbury Jail, to T. Ellwood, a pri- 
 soner at Oxford. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA : 
 
 FOR BALE BY. TIIE EDITOR, NO. 7U ARCH ST., 
 AND BY ISRAEL UUFFINTON, FALL BIYERj MASSACHUSETTS. 
 
 PRINTED BY C. SHERMAN ft SON. 
 
 1860. 
 
t# 
 
At q Meeting for Sufferings of New England Yearly Meeting of 
 nds, held at Newport, \l. I.. 3d of 8th month, I860, — 
 
 reading of the Writings and Memoirs of our dear departed 
 rhomas B. Gonld, prepared by Win. Bodgson, Jr., of Philadel- 
 phia, which lias occupi< ral fittings of this meeting, at various 
 times, has been now concluded. During the time in which we have 
 i thus engaged, we have been much comforted and edified by this 
 record of the remarkable faithfulness and devotion of our dear Friend 
 to th e of Truth and Righteousness in the earth; and believing 
 that usefulness would result from a more general circulation and perusal 
 of these Writings, the Editor is left at liberty to publish the same; and 
 the' Clerk is requested to furnish him with a copy of this minute. 
 ied on behalf of the Meeting aforesaid. 
 
 GEORGE F. READ, 
 
 Clerk. 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Minute of New England Meeting fur Sufferings, ... 3 
 
 Preface, 7 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 From his Birth to the year 1837 — Education — Youth — Early 
 
 Memoranda and Letters — View of the coming Defection, . 25 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 From 1838 to 1840 — Interview with Joseph John Gurney — 
 
 Sundry Letters respecting the Defection, .... 89 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 From 1840 to 1843 — Comes forth in the ministry — Marriage — 
 
 Correspondence during the persecution of J. Wilbur, . . 141 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 From 1843 to 1845 — Persecuted for his faithful Testimony — 
 Gross perversion of the Discipline — Brought under" dealing" 
 by the ruling party — Progress of the Gurney Schism, . . 181 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 From 1845 to 1852 — Separation in New England Yearly Meet- 
 ing — Eastern journeys with Committees — And in the Ministry, 244 
 
 1* 
 
VI CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 to 1854 — Sermon at Little Comptoo — Letters on 
 the Pi ...... 310 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 ] B3 I — V I >hio — Gurnejr Beparation in that Yearly 
 
 M' • — \ • • i If aryland, Pennsylvania, an«l New Jersey, 338 
 
 [APTER Yl'll. 
 
 ■ in L856 — Visit to Vermont and New 
 
 and Death, 406 
 
P R E F A C E. 
 
 It may be well to premise to the following work, a few general 
 remarks, for the encouragement of a living remnant, and for the 
 information of that portion of its readers who may not have had 
 a char understanding of the ground, nature, and tendency of the 
 >wful lapse which has spread over a large portion of the 
 Society of Friends, within the past twenty-five years, through 
 the introduction of doctrines contrary to those always held by its 
 faithful members from the beginning. 
 
 True Friends have ever believed that this people was raised up 
 of the great Head of the church universal, to testify to the almost 
 forgotten truth, that the Light of Christ in the soul is the imme- 
 diate divine source of all true religion ; and to bear a living wit- 
 
 - to the life-giving efficacy of the Gospel, as " the power of 
 God unto salvation to every one that belicveth." This great 
 truth, which lies as a corner-stone to that fabric of practical 
 doctrine which has distinguished the Society of Friends from 
 other professors of the Christian name, w r as announced on various 
 occasions and in divers manners, by our blessed Lord and his 
 apostles. They spoke of "the true Light that lighteth every 
 man that cometh into the world" — "the ingrafted Word, which 
 is able to save the soul" — "the Word nigh in the heart" — the 
 Light that "maketh manifest" — "the Grace of God, which 
 bringeth salvation [and] hath appeared unto all men" — the 
 "Comforter," the Holy Spirit, who should "bring all things to 
 remembrance," and " guide into all truth" — "Christ in you the 
 hope of glory" — even come a "second time, without sin ; unto 
 
viii PREJ a< i 
 
 Balvation" to all them that and obey his voice. Oar 
 
 wn words wen — " Abide in rae, and I [will abide] in 
 
 "— "he that is with you shaJl be in you" — " i in them, and 
 
 i in me" — and "whosoever loveth me, my Father will love 
 
 him, and wc will come unto him, and make our abode with him." 
 
 Holy a: I And who can doubt that a substantial 
 
 reality was intended by these repeated assurances? 
 
 It was tin-. i to the humbling and purifying ope- 
 
 rations of this Spirit in the bouI, and obedience to its successive 
 
 infestations, that our , asors were brought to know by 
 
 nee for themselves the blessed truths of the Gospel j and 
 
 were made quick of understanding to perc< ive the falsifications and 
 
 perversions by which the profession of Christian doctrine bad 
 
 :, beclouded, in the long and dark night of apostasy, which tbc 
 
 !i of the Reformation from Popery had then only partially 
 
 dispelled. The "dayspring from on high," which mercifully 
 
 Bhined into their souls, and to which they faithfully gave heed, 
 
 to a clear appreciation of the ''perfect day" of the 
 
 Gospel n ; and they were enabled to put away those 
 
 3 and man-made accompaniments and impediments to 
 
 Christianity, with which carnal contrivance had burdened it, and 
 
 under tin delusive influence of which, many were " ever learning, 
 
 and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." 
 
 nee to this principle of Light and I trace in the soul, and 
 
 miii|. le dependence upon it- teaching, produced also a clear sight 
 
 and I, and of the ways of His providence 
 
 mankind; and tin- doctrines of the Gospel, in accordance with 
 
 Holy Scriptun — mysteries unknown to the 
 
 merely natural mind — were thereby opened to them and scaled 
 
 n their understanding that they could Bay, they h 
 
 truth, and the truth had made them free. Herein they were 
 
 wards of the mys fGod, Baw, eve to eye, the deep 
 
 thii f Bis Kingdom, spoke one language, and promulgated 
 
 an entire harmony of doctrine. It is doubtful whether any other 
 
 would be able I i present so large an amount of 
 
 rsial, didactic, and biographical, in support of 
 
PBEFAl IX 
 
 heir own faitn, published daring an equal period, as the Societ; 
 
 Frienda produced daring the fire! thirty years of its distincl e 
 enoe as a bodyj and all this was of one and the Bame faith with 
 that of Bueceeding periods, notwithstanding the bold assertions to 
 the contrary, put forth by recent authors, [ndeed it is wonderful, 
 considering the great variety of mental character, and of the 
 circumstances of life and education under which they had previ- 
 ously hum placed, how great was the uniformity of doctrine anion'.: 
 them from the very first ; and this fact seems clearly to confirm us 
 in the belief that the Lord himself was their Leader and their 
 Teacher. 
 
 The various Christian testimonies which they were thus led to 
 promulgate to the world, were parts of one great divine law, — 
 fruit of one tiv. — branches of the one stem, — even of the princi- 
 ple of Light and Life in the hearts of the faithful. They found 
 that a close adherence to this holy law written in the heart 
 brought them into a true unity and fellowship with Christ and 
 one with another; and they saw that all departures from the 
 unity of this faith had their beginning in a departure from this 
 law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, by which an entrance 
 was allowed to the Tempter to beguile and lead astray; so that 
 none who had once known the truth could depart from and oppose 
 any part of this fabric of doctrines, but they who had first de- 
 parted in heart from that which was the corner-stone thereof. 
 Thus their endeavors to restore transgressors and those who had 
 fallen away from any of the testimonies of their profession, were 
 principally or primarily directed towards awakening again a sin- 
 cere and humble dedication of heart to the Lord in his inward 
 manifestations; knowing that if the Witness for truth could be 
 raised again into dominion in that heart, the branches which had 
 withered would soon recover their vitality and health. Yet they 
 ceased not, for all this, to point out the errors which such were in, 
 and faithfully and openly to testify against them. 
 
 Clear and sound they were in the faith, that lie who was the 
 eternal Word and Son of God, was manifested in the flesh, and 
 u bore our sins in his own body on the tree," as an atonement for 
 
PRI 
 
 irorldj \ it justification, 
 
 'a hand of the Father as our Int- re< sa >r 
 
 • nt with this was their belief, 
 
 . once for all, without the 
 
 mailable to mankind indi- 
 
 ait in heart and mind to the cleansing and 
 
 tions "l" Bis visiti G and indwelling Spirit, 
 
 .kin^l' • ; ; . leadings oi the light thereof. So 
 
 j to the soul's welfare, 
 
 if Christ into the soul, — to enlighten 
 
 it by J [saving Light t i Bee the nature and depth 
 
 Saviour to deliver it from sin; to refine and 
 
 purify it l'v the washing of n bion, and the renewing of the 
 
 host ; to lead and guide it into all truth, mid qualify and 
 
 th< n it, according to His will, for every good thought, word, 
 
 deed, — than it was, I i discard and deny Bis miraculous c 
 
 in the flesh, for that perfect example, and great offering for Bin, 
 
 I all that Hi- did for us, without us, in that prepared body in 
 
 ich Be was men." They knew, that while "no man 
 
 oe to the Father but by Christ," yet no man can availingly 
 
 j, Lord, but by the Boly Ghost;" and that therefore, 
 
 lation of Christ to the bouI being that which 
 
 aloi Is to every individual any true and solid foundation for 
 
 : Ihrist, an attempt to invalidate this great funda- 
 
 ;t:d truth, must ho nt least equally offensive in the Divine 
 
 118 to the BOttls of men, as the denial of the 
 
 Bini who was made flesh and offered Himself 
 
 an . til for tie- Bins of the whole world — awful and ever to 
 
 ich denial but They could Bay from living 
 
 •• V\ ■ that the Son of I lod is coin.-, and hath 
 
 'i us an understanding that we may know Him that is true;" 
 
 and th.y were well assured, that they who have received this 
 
 mai Mid abide true to it. never can deny that which He 
 
 ntwardl] r man in tint aoce] table offering ; for th 
 
 i th.- ne ible of its efiioacy and blessed sweet- 
 
 in">s to thrir 
 
I'Rl-T.V \t 
 
 It can scarcely hm ped the notice of candid persons con- 
 
 ii the writing ar forefathers, h ln< ntly 
 
 sensitive tl. • to any misrepresentations of their faith or 
 
 docti md how ready they always appeared to defend the 
 
 truth and to disprove the allegations of it- opponents. They held 
 that pure divine truth was more to be cherished than any other 
 ;i with which it had pleased Divine Wisdom to intrusl 
 them, for the best welfare of mankind. Many were the occasions 
 on which, either through the enmity of their persecutors, or the 
 envy and malice of false and apostatized brethren, their zeal \ 
 aroused in defence of the doctrines of the Gospel. G< >rge i 
 himself set an example, in stepping Forward with his pen to the 
 
 ike of gainsayers and the clearing of the church from | 
 version or reproach. And on the occasion of that extensive and 
 trial to Friends by the apdstasy of Wilkinson, Story, and 
 Rogers, many eminent members were engaged in controverting 
 their errors and opposing their schism, both orally and in printed 
 Of written communications. The most prominent ministers and 
 elders in the Society were often, and for a long time together, 
 laboriously engaged in this work; and this they did promptly 
 and openly, for the preservation of the flock, and the clearing 
 away of reproach from the precious cause which they espoused. 
 And greatly blessed was their labor of love and true zeal, to the 
 confirmation of many, and to the conviction and restoration of 
 
 ie that had erred. But where this was not the result — even 
 where error succeeded in drawing away disciples after it — the 
 faithful servant having done what he could was clear; and the 
 church was clear by issuing and maintaining its testimony against 
 such errors, and against those engaged or led away therein. And 
 they who stood to the original acknowledged faith of the body, 
 were always accepted as the true members of the Society, without 
 question from friends or foes. 
 
 Robert Barclay, in his u Apology for the true Christian Divi- 
 nity," in mentioning the characteristics of a true and living 
 church of Christ, gives this as a distinguishing one, that it con- 
 sists of those who are not only gathered into a belief of the true 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 pni :m.l doctrines of the Christian faith, but who are also 
 
 ■v a joint testimony for the truth and against 
 
 and 50 becoming, through this 
 
 iwship, as one family and household." 
 
 About the time of the defection of Wilkinson, Story, and 
 
 I: ere, ab we mentioned, K. Barclay published his celebrated 
 
 i Church Government, entitled "The Anarchy of the 
 
 ." &C.J in which he clearly advocated the necessity of 
 
 those from the communion of the gathered church, 
 
 who persist in promulgating doctrines adverse to its ancient faith ; 
 
 . without regard to the question of numbers, sustained the 
 
 undenii rition of those who remain firm and faithful to the 
 
 ginal principles of the Society. In this work he says: 
 
 •• Now it' any one or more so engaged with us, should arise to 
 
 • trine or doctrines, contrary to these which were 
 
 the ground of our being one, who can deny but the body hath 
 
 er in Buoh a case to declare, { This is not according to the truth 
 
 we : and therefore we pronounce such and such doctrines 
 
 to 1 -. with which we cannot have unity, nor yet any more 
 
 itual fellowship with those that hold them.' And so, such 
 
 Ives oil' from being members, by dissolving the very 
 
 1 by which they were linked to the body." .... "As, 
 
 if a body be gathered into one fellowship by the belief of certain 
 
 principles, he that comes to believe otherways, naturally scattereth 
 
 himself; for that the cause, that gathered him, is taken away." 
 
 What R. Barclay had in view, in .-peaking as above of "the 
 
 not necessarily the plurality, or majority, as is mani- 
 
 ing passage taken from his Postscript or 
 
 u Vindication" of his work on Church Government, viz. : "The 
 
 is only and alone in the Spirit, not necessarily 
 
 aeral assemblj ; but if it please God to make use of 
 
 embly, yet neither to the plurality of them, but in and 
 
 such of His servants as Be sees meet. And that none 
 
 or ( an be Bupposed to be members of such an assembly, 
 
 I such from whom such a judgment can be expected, 
 1. unless they be men in whom the Grace 
 
I'll K FACE. Xlil 
 
 of (Jod not only is, bat hath truly wrought to mortify and regene- 
 rate them in a good measure : in whom the judgment of truth 
 
 really proceeding from the Spirit, will bo manifest to all who are 
 
 truly faithful ," &0. 
 
 Auain R. Barclay say-, in the same treatise : u Suppose a people 
 really gathered unto the true and certain principles of the Gospel ; 
 
 if any of these people shall arise and contradict any of those funda- 
 mental truths, whether have not such as stand, good right to cast 
 such a one out from among them, and to pronounce positively, — 
 This is contrary to the truth we profess and own ; and therefore 
 ought to be rejected, and not received, nor yet he that asserts it, 
 as oue of us? And is not this obligatory on all the members, 
 seeing all are concerned V* &c. And again : u For seeing it is so, 
 that in the true church there may men arise, and speak perverse 
 things contrary to the doctrine and Gospel already received; what 
 is to be the place of those that hold the pure and ancient truth ? 
 Must they look upon these perverse men still as their brethren ? 
 Must they cherish them as fellow-members ? Or must they judge, 
 condemn, and deny them V* 
 
 And further on, he remarks: "If God has gathered a people 
 by this means into the belief of one and the same truth, must not 
 they, if they turn and depart from it, be admonished, reproved, 
 and condemned ? Yea, rather than those that are not yet come 
 to the truth ; because they crucify afresh unto themselves the 
 Lord of Glory, and put Him to open shame." . . . " Were 
 such a principle to be received or believed, that in the church of 
 Christ no man should be separated from, no man condemned or 
 excluded the fellowship and communion of the body, for his judg- 
 ment or opinion in matter of faith, then what blasphemies so 
 horrid, — what heresies so damnable, — what doctrine of devils — 
 but might harbor itself in the church of Christ? What need 
 then of sound doctrine, if no doctrine make unsound?" &c. . . 
 
 " So that from all that is above mentioned, we do safely con- 
 clude, that where a people are gathered together into the belief 
 of the principles and doctrines of the Gospel of Christ, if any of 
 that people [mark, without limitation as to a small or a large 
 
 2 
 
xiv PREFACE. 
 
 number] shall go from their principles, and assert things false 
 and contrary to what they have ahvadv received ; such as stand 
 and abide firm in the faith, have power by the Spirit of ( ! od, 
 
 after they have used Christian endeavors to convince and reclaim 
 them, upon their obstinacy, to separate from sitrh, and to exclude 
 them from their spiritual fellowship and communion: for other- 
 ways, if this be denied, farewell to all Christianity, or to the 
 maintaining of any sound doctrine in the church of Christ/' 
 
 A few pages afterwards, It. Barclay adds: " Or on the other 
 hand, that those that abide faithful, and have a discerning of 
 those evils, ought to be silent, and never ought to reprove or gain- 
 stand them, nor yet warn and guard others against them; and 
 that it is a part of the commendable unity of the church of Christ, 
 to suffer all such things without taking notice of them — I know 
 none [that] will say so ; but if there be any so foolish as to affirm 
 
 it, let them consider these Scriptures/ ' &c, &C 
 
 " For though Christ be the Prince of peace, and doth most of all 
 commend love and unity to His disciples; yet I also know He 
 ' came not to send peace, but a sword/ that is, in dividing man 
 from the lusts and sins he hath been united to. And also it is 
 the work of His disciples and messengers to break the bands and 
 unity of the wicked, wherein they are banded against God and 
 His truth, and the confederacy of such as stand in unrighteous- 
 ness, by inviting and bringing as many as will obey, unto right- 
 eousness ; whereby they become disunited and separated from their 
 companions, with whom they were centred, and at peace, in the 
 contrary and cursed nature. And indeed, blessed are thej/, that 
 are sent forth of the Lord to scatter here, that they may gather 
 into the unity of the life : and they are blessed, that, in this 
 respect, even for righteousness' sake, are scattered and separated 
 from their brethren, that they may come to know the brotherhood 
 and fellowship which is in the Light; from which none ought to 
 scatter, nor to be scattered, but be more and more gathered 
 thereunto." 
 
 Cono< ruing the right and power of decision in the church, 11. 
 Barclay says: "The only proper judge of controversies in the 
 
PBBFA< xv 
 
 church, is the Spirit of God 5 and the power of deciding solely lieci 
 in it; as having the only unerring, infallible, and certain judg- 
 ment belonging to it: which infallibility is not necessarily an- 
 nexed to any persons, person, or places whatsoever, by virtue of 
 
 any office, place, or Btation any one may have or have had in the 
 
 body of Christ That is to say, that any have ground to reason 
 thus, — becaose T am or have been such an eminent member, there- 
 fore my judgment is infallible; or, because ice are the greatest 
 number ; or, that we live in such a noted or famous place, or the 
 like; — though some of these reasons may and ought to have their 
 weight in ease of contradictory assertions; yet not so, as upon 
 which, either mainly or only, the infallible judgment is to be 
 plaeed : but upon the Spirit, as that which is the firm and im- 
 movable foundation/ 1 
 
 Near the close of this treatise, he says : "This infallible judg- 
 ment is only and unalterably annexed and seated in the Spirit 
 and power of God ; not to any particular person or persons, meet- 
 ing or assembly, by virtue of any settled ordination [he might 
 have said ' organization'], office, place, or station that such may 
 have, or have had, in the church ; no man, men, nor meeting, 
 standing or being invested in any authority in the church of 
 Christ upon other terms, than so long as he or they abide in the 
 living sense and unity of the life in their own particulars ; which, 
 whosoever, one or more [mark that expression — one or more], in- 
 wardly departs from, ipso facto loses all authority, office, or certain 
 discerning, he or they formerly have had ) though retaining the 
 true principles and sound form, and (may be) not fallen into any 
 gross practices, as may declare them generally to be thus withered 
 and decayed." 
 
 This work of Robert Barclay's, on u Church Government/' as 
 well as his great work, the " Apology," has received the official 
 sanction of the Society of Friends from its first publication ; and 
 the candid reader will excuse the extent of the above quotations 
 therefrom, on the consideration of the remarkable adaptation of 
 the positions advanced therein, to the circumstances of the present 
 times in the Society, and to the subjects alluded to throughout 
 
XVI l'UKFACE. 
 
 the following volume. And does it not follow from R. Barclay's 
 reasoning, that if an individual member, or a meeting of the 
 Society, or even a number of meetings, large or small, associated 
 together, Bhould persist in giving countenance to fundamental 
 error or departure from the ancient faith of the body, such indi- 
 viduals or meetings must thereby lose their standing in the church, 
 and all right authority therein which they might have had whilst 
 living and abiding in the truth ? And if bo, how can the still 
 living branches of the Vine hesitate in withdrawing from com- 
 munion with Buch, and declaring them separated from that of 
 whose san and life they are permitted to partake ; lest by continuing 
 connected with them, and thus conniving at their lapse, they 
 should themselves be infected by contact with a lifeless portion of 
 the body? 
 
 The Society, though abounding in the good things of this life, 
 and enjoying the esteem, instead of the enmity of the world — and 
 perhaps in part as a consequence thereof — has of late years been 
 laden with distress and perplexity. The past thirty-five years 
 have seen it sorrowfully torn by two fearful defections from the 
 faith of our forefathers, far surpassing any or all previous ones in 
 the extent of the devastation produced within its borders, and of 
 the reproach thereby brought upon the cause of truth. The one 
 was, in effect, a denial of the outward, or what our Saviour has 
 done for us without us — the other, a discarding of the inward, or 
 what He is to do for us individually, within us. The first, the 
 heresy <>{ Elias Hicks and his coadjutors, was characterized by a 
 denial of the miraculous birth and divine Sonship of our Lord and 
 Saviour Jesus Christ, and his atonement for the sins of the whole 
 w<»rld ; by a light esteem of the Holy ScrirTtures j and by a general 
 laxity of religious faith and life, bordering more or less on deism, 
 and clearly evincing their departure in heart from Him who is 
 
 the Sanctifier and holy Leader of his people. Against this defec- 
 tion many faithful brethren openly testified, and labored diligently 
 
 to expose its awfully delusive and destructive nature, and to pre- 
 serve the flock, as much as might be, IVom it< poisonous effects. But 
 
 in sonic places the power and influence of popular leaders induced 
 
PREFACE, wii 
 
 i numb Bf in the schism, leaving in many in-tan 
 
 l>ut a until remnant to sustain the true Society in certain looaliti 
 Set to these was readily accorded by the Booiety elsewhere, the 
 undoubted claim to recognition and fellowship, without any further 
 
 rd to the smallness of their numbers than as their sympathies 
 were thereby additionally aroused on their behalf, as the records 
 of those days will amply Bhow. The question was, which party 
 faithfully adhered to the ancient doctrines and practices — not, 
 which had the numerical majority, or retained the meeting-houses, 
 in any portion of the heritage. 
 
 The other great defection from the true foundation of Quaker- 
 ism, in our day, has been that distinguished by the name of its 
 chief author and prominent promoter,- Joseph John Gurney, which 
 
 of a far more insinuating and widely delusive character. In 
 this instance, the cunning enemy adapted his stratagem to suit the 
 proclivities of a people ricli and full, learning to court the world 
 and avoid the humiliating submission to the cross of Christ, and 
 placing too great a reliance upon mere human learning and 
 acquirements, and accordingly the system now presented for the 
 acceptance of the unwary, was based upon the idea that a know- 
 ledge of religious truth and duty was to be obtained through an 
 intellectual belief and study of the Holy Scriptures; and character- 
 ized by views of a worldly nature, disparaging to the inward work 
 of Divine Grace as the groundwork; and discarding several of the 
 spiritual doctrines of our early Friends, and their published works 
 ae i ^positions of what was now to be believed. The "Beacon" 
 schism in England, of 1835 and 1836, was merely the premature 
 offshoot hereof, or the premonitory symptoms of the disease which 
 had already begun to lurk in secret, and was thwarting the appli- 
 cation of preventives or remedies adequate to the danger. 
 
 When we consider the different features of these two successive 
 defections, we are, even at first sight, repelled and disgusted by the 
 coarse character of the wild unbelief of Elias Hicks, in regard to 
 that which our blessed Lord Jesus Christ did for mankind in that 
 prepared body in the days of his flesh ; and might almost be induced 
 to look with leniency on the later departure, BO fraught with a 
 
XVlll I'RKFACE. 
 
 plausible Bhowof what appears outwardly good unto men; did we 
 lmt lim], on a near inspection and comparison of it with what has 
 already been seen in the Light to be the path which the vulture's 
 eye hath not seen, that in this heresy lurks a still greater danger 
 to the integrity bf the church, on the very account of its insinu- 
 ating nature, by which it would appear, as it were, as an angel of 
 light, to the unwary mind, and thereby is calculated to draw away 
 great numbers who would not have dared to embrace the open 
 errors of Bicksism. The system of J. J. Gurney came over the 
 Society SO stealthily, BO amiably as it were, BO beautifully in its 
 superficial aspect, bo pleasingly to the natural affections and to 
 the benevolent tendencies of cultivated minds, so attractively to 
 the great bulk of nominal professors, — it was so calculated to win 
 for Friends the good will and esteem of others, instead of their 
 jealousy and enmity, — and so apparently parallel at first were its 
 paths (to the eye that looked at it but slightly) with that which 
 by many was looked upon as the true path of their profession, — 
 that great multitudes were entangled in it, before they suspected 
 anything more than supposed improvements of sentiment and 
 language, conformable to the polish of the nineteenth century. 
 Yet there were, even early in the inroads of this great defection, 
 some deeply experienced and faithful servants of the Most High, 
 whose inward eye being kept in the Head, and open to the un- 
 foldings of I lis wisdom, was rencwcdly anointed and enabled to 
 detect the snare thus laid for the unwary; and these mourned 
 ever the lapse which they saw impending over this people. For 
 J, .). Gurney, by his position iii the community at large, and in 
 the Society, attracted to his support the influence of many standing 
 as leaders and occupying posts of much power; and though he was 
 imt without admonition, even early in his career as an author, yet 
 preferring his own ways, and the learning of the schools, to the 
 wisdom of those who had learned it at the school of Christ, he 
 
 proceeded to add volume to volume in great profusion, spreading 
 
 whole editions of some of his works gratuitously ; and soon acquired 
 ;it authority, and almost superseded the previous publications 
 ot* the Society on the tables of the members, by the over- 
 whelming number- of his own. 
 
PRKFAOE. 112 
 
 This Beed produced its natural Bruit ; for notwithstanding bha 
 testimony openly borno against it, by such servants of Chris! as 
 Thomas Shillitoc, John and Lydia Ann Barclay, Sarah L.Orubb, 
 and Ann Jones, John Harrison, Thomaq Hancock, and 
 others in England, and many gifted and faithful ones in America, 
 the voicesofthe multitude in favor of a popular religion prevailed 
 to Buch an extent, as to render the primitive principles and prac- 
 tices of the Society distasteful to a very large proportion of the 
 members. It is needless here to trace the successive Bteps of this 
 Bad departure. The inquiring reader may find them in some of 
 the published official documents of Philadelphia and New England 
 W arly Meetings, and may learn many features of its progress by 
 an attentive perusal of the " Journal of John Wilbur/' and the 
 contained in this volume.* 
 
 Thomas J3. Gould was one of the first in New England, who 
 clearly discerned the nature of this awful defection, and the 
 probable results to be apprehended from its being allowed to 
 spread unrestrained over the land; and was constrained to stand 
 in the breach, in conjunction with his beloved and honored friend 
 John Wilbur, and other honest-hearted and unflinching servants 
 of Christ, in an early stage of its appearance in this country. 
 Bis letters, written during the troubles brought by this schism 
 upon the Society in New England, show the constancy of his zeal 
 in testifying against its inroads, and in warning his friends to 
 beware of its fascinations. Many of these letters are too ample 
 in their details for insertion in this work, and may furnish valu- 
 able material for the future historian ; but the portions selected 
 for our present purpose will almost furnish of themselves a con- 
 
 * For distinct and detailed information relative to the nature of this defec- 
 tion, and the essential difference of doctrine and practice between the position 
 taken by the Gurney party, and that of Friends from the beginning, the 
 reader is referred to the "Appeal for the Ancient Doctrine-,'" &c., published 
 by Philadelphia Yearly Meeting in 1847; the " Pteport on the Division in 
 New England Yearly Meeting," issued by the same Yearly Meeting in 1849 ; 
 the " Journal and Correspondence of John Wilbur, 1850 ;" and an "Examina- 
 tion of the Memoirs and Writings of J. J. Gurney,'' by W. Hodgson, Phila- 
 delphia, 1856. 
 
x\ PBBFAl 
 
 bed narrative of the exereises and trials which, from time to 
 time, were his portion, in opposing the progress of innovation, or 
 in defending the truth and his own position in it. These letl 
 may possibly appear to some to dwell much on his own afiairs. 
 
 ]>ut it will be well to remember that they wore addressed, in 
 most instances, to his intimate and familiar friends, who, as he 
 
 knew, felt a lively interest in whatever concerned him and the 
 cause, and wore desirous of such intelligence from time to time. 
 It was als i the aim of the editor, in making the selection, to 
 present especially such portions of the correspondence, as alluded 
 most particularly to the successive events and circumstances form- 
 ing the main features of his pilgrimage; and many portions of a 
 different character have necessarily been omitted, as their insertion 
 would have swelled too voluminously the bulk of the work. 
 
 It will be ^cn by the reader, that Thomas 11. Gould partook 
 largely of the distresses brought upon a sensitive mind by the 
 machinations of a crafty and envious party spirit, whose evil 
 reports continually assailed him in one way or another, either 
 
 retly or openly. Yet these things turned him not from his 
 Steadfastness. "The archers shot at him — but his bow abode in 
 Btrength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the 
 mighty God of Jacob." And he had not only the unity of the 
 faithful, in standing firmly as he did for the truth, but also the 
 inward testimony of the blessed Comforter, from time to time 
 vouchsafed, that his labors ill this cause were acceptable in the 
 sight of 1 1 i n i with whom he had to do. 
 
 As a citizen, Thomas B. Gould was known and acknowledged, 
 through bis native city and island, for unquestionable candor, in- 
 to grity, and uprightness. J I is every-day demeanor was that of a 
 
 liple of Christ, with a sobriety and gravity which bespoke his 
 earnestness, and at once impresse I th ee who mot with him, that 
 ho was endeavoring in sincerity to walk worthy of his high voca- 
 tion and holy profession, lie w;is diligent in his outward bush. 
 
 when health and intervals from religious engagements permitted, 
 often toiling through a gieat portion of the night, to take advan- 
 tage of favorable weather, and make up for time unavoidably 
 
PR1 i \< \xi 
 
 it in other avocations or duties; and he was conscientiously 
 careful in Fulfilling all his pecuniary obligations. Il«' had a keen 
 relish for the beauties of the outward creation, and loved at times 
 to point out to bis familiar friends the admirably works of the 
 itor. ITet be was religiously concerned to keep the world 
 under his feet, in view of that better country in which his hopes 
 wore centred ; esteeming the riches and gratifications of this world 
 hut as a worthless bauble, in comparison with the pearl of great 
 price, and the sweet evidence of acceptance with Hiiu who said 
 unto Simon Peter, u Lovesl thou inc more than tin 
 
 As a minister of the Gospel, he was justly esteemed by his 
 fellow-citizens ; who knew the sincerity of his heart, ami divers of 
 whom, including ministers of various denominations, occasionally 
 hearing him, were deeplj affected by his appeals to the unflattering 
 Witness in their souls, and could not refrain from the inward 
 acknowledgment, and sometimes the open and even public avowal 
 of their conviction, of the wisdom and power and unction attending 
 his advocacy of the pure doctrines of the Gospel. Hairing been 
 very early in life made acquainted with the principles of truth, 
 and having measurably conformed his life in obedience to the 
 successive manifestations of the Light of Christ as his Leader, 
 his spiritual faculties strengthened and matured beyond those of 
 most young men of his years; and thus, being advanced to the 
 stature of "a man in Christ Jesus," he knew whereof he affirmed, 
 from a degree of blessed experience, and could boldly declare, 
 with the holy men of old, yet in humility and fear of the Lord 
 alone, " "We know that he is come, and hath given us an under- 
 standing, that we know Him that is true," and "that which we 
 have known and seen and handled of the good word of life, that 
 declare we unto you." 
 
 lie was of a tender spirit, and willing to cherish the good in 
 all, and was many times enabled to develop the inward move- 
 ments of the heart in those whom he addressed, or with whom he 
 conversed in relation to their everlasting welfare. And it is 
 believed that none were able to charge him with hardness of feel- 
 ing towards any, or with conduct on any occasion inconsistent 
 
xxn PBIfAOC. 
 
 with Christian kindness and civility. Yet in his testimony against 
 the inroads of error and Bchism in the church, he was open and 
 uncompromising, from d conviction of duty and of the vital nature 
 of the case: and though comparatively young in years, it may be 
 
 Baid of him, as T. Ellw 1 Baid of I leoige Pox, that " he was valiant 
 
 for the truth, bold in asserting it, patient in Buffering for it, un- 
 wearied in laboring in it, steady in his testimony to it, immovable 
 
 B rock — zealously earnest where the honor of God, the pr 
 perity of truth, and the peace of the church were concerned: fur 
 indeed, the car«- of the churches of Christ was daily upon him, 
 
 the prosperity and peace whereof he studiously sou-lit.'' And 
 
 We may add, to the honor and praise of the great kk I AM," that 
 it was all of Divine I J race — all in the ordering of the goodness and 
 wisdom of God, who condescended to make the child of faith a 
 partaker of heavenly gifts in Christ Jesus. 
 
 lie was eminently acquainted with the history of our religious 
 iety, and with the didactic and controversial publications of our 
 early Friends ; and loved to dwell on their works of faith and 
 labors of love, and constancy under suffering for the testimony of 
 Jt -us. But particularly and above all other books did he value 
 the Holy Scriptures j which from Ins boyhood he had diligently 
 read, with his inward eye directed to Him who only hath the key 
 of David, and can open and unfold their heavenly mysteries, and 
 thereby " make the man of God perfect, thoroughly furnished 
 unto all good works," and "wise unto salvation through faith 
 which is in Christ Jesus." lie quoted lamely from them in his 
 mini-try and writing, u comparing spiritual things with spiritual," 
 
 atly to the comfort and edification of those whom he addressed, 
 and whose inward ear was anointed to hear and receive the truths 
 
 of the I rospel. 
 
 And what if some, through party spirit and prejudice, did not 
 
 believe and would not receive? "Shall their unbelief make the 
 faith of God without effect . / " Or Bhall it weaken our confidence 
 
 in Bis eternal truth, and ca>t down our hand- from His holy altar 1 
 
 And what if even " twenty-and-two thousand men," who had at 
 first gone forth against the Midianites, should have become 
 
MMBFA4 iii 
 
 irfal and afraid," after beholding the hosts encam] insi 
 
 them , and so "returned" Prom the warfare; shall we all fear with 
 
 their fear and be afraid, as if there had been no u dew on the 
 
 \nd what if, of the "ten thousand" still in the field, 
 
 i nine thousand Beven hundred should be tumid unworthy to 
 trusted for the battle, and be Bet aside, leaving a remnant, 
 it were, but three hundred, to Btand openly in the conflict against 
 the enemies of ferael: Bhall all this mighty defection turn the 
 truth of God into a lie? Or shall it persuade us, that what we 
 have heretofore seen in the Light to be the will of the Lord for 
 
 i do, i- not to be done, beeause the multitude command it not ? 
 Or shall WC forsake that ''narrow way that leadeth unto life/' to 
 join a confederacy of men that turn aside, to please the world and 
 the carnal mind ? Nay, verily ; but let the remnant of true-hearted 
 Israelites be content to be accounted even as the three hundred 
 that lapped in the army of Gideon, if haply they may be found 
 worthy to suffer in defence of so good a cause; and let them 
 hold on to the shield of faith which has heretofore been anointed, 
 knowing that what they have been contending for, these twenty 
 years and more, is no other than " the faith once delivered to the 
 saints," but now despised and discarded and perverted, by some 
 of the very descendants of those who suffered grievous persecu- 
 tions, rather than give away, or barter away, one tittle of that 
 which had been made known to them as the unchangeable truth 
 of Christ 
 
 Let us then be still livingly concerned to rally to primitive 
 principles and primitive practices, remembering that Truth is 
 truth, though all men may forsake it; and go on with the help of 
 the Most High, as w T e may be graciously endued with a little 
 renewal of strength from Him, for the accomplishment of His 
 will, though to the humiliation and reduction of the creaturely 
 will and wisdom into nothingness before Him. May neither the 
 open assaults of the enemy, nor his secret insinuations and snares, 
 weaken our constancy, or slacken a godly zeal, or efface from re- 
 membrance the deliverances which have heretofore been experi- 
 enced at the Lord's hand, and the blessed, and heavenly, dying 
 
XXIV PREFACE. 
 
 experience of this our brother, and those of his fellow-laborera who 
 with him have gone before as to the heavenly inheritance, and 
 :d of their faith, even the salvation of their bouIsj 
 remembering how they were sweetly supported, in their closing 
 hours, by the sustaining presence of the .Most High, and how they 
 were enabled to Bing of His mercies, from a Living and sensible 
 feeling and foretaste of the joys in store for them. Let us bear 
 in mind also, how they had aforetime walked among us, steadfast 
 in the one faith j and how they endeavored to encourage and 
 animate the flock, to stand firmly in the testimony which the Lord 
 had given us against gains&yers, and to live over them by a godly 
 life, as well as by word and pure doctrine. Thus, as each one is 
 renewedly concerned to maintain individually a fervent exercise 
 of mind after the one baptism, which baptizeth by the one Spirit 
 into the one body, the church may be edified, and our meetings, 
 large and small, may be kept more and more in the power and 
 wisdom of Truth ; the Lord alone may be known to be their crown 
 and diadem, the vacancies in the ranks may be filled up by living 
 worshippers, and " the shout of a King" may still be heard in 
 our camp. 
 
 Philadelphia, 8d month, I860. 
 
LIFE AND LETTERS 
 
 OF 
 
 THOMAS B. GOULD 
 
 CHATTER I. 
 
 Thomas B. Gould was the son of Henry and Abigail 
 Gould, of the city of Newport, on Rhode Island, and was 
 born there on the 22d of the sixth month, 1813. 
 
 His father, Henry Gould, who still survives him, was 
 of the fourth generation in descent from the first settler 
 of that name in Rhode Island, Daniel, the son of Jeremy 
 and Priscilla Grovier Gould, of Great Britain, who emi- 
 grated to America and settled in this colony about the 
 year 1042, when about sixteen years of age. Daniel 
 married Waite Coggeshall ; and, about the year 1658, 
 was convinced of the principles of truth professed by 
 Friends, to which he steadily adhered through the trials 
 of that day of persecution in New England, lie joined 
 William Robinson and Marmaduke Stevenson, at Salem, 
 in the autumn of 1050, after they had been banished from 
 Massachusetts on pain of death ; travelled with them over 
 the colony for four weeks, and returned with them to 
 Salem and Boston. They were all three imprisoned in 
 the common jail of Boston, with several other Friends, 
 who had accompanied them to that city, and were treated 
 
26 LIFE AM) LETTERS OF [1813. 
 
 with great harshness. After the martyrdom of William 
 Robinson and M. Stevenson, several of the remaining 
 prii re whipped through the Btreets, Daniel Gould 
 
 ceiving thirty lashes on bis bare back. But he continued 
 faithful to his religious convictions; and, in 1671, accom- 
 panied John Burnyeat on his second visit to Virginia, 
 where many who bad, a few years before, been involved 
 in the defection of John Terror, were favored with ability 
 to retrace their steps. In the mini-try of the Gospel, he 
 also travelled in various part- of New England, Staten 
 
 [gland, Long Island. New York. New Jersey, Pennsyl- 
 vania. &c, the Lord blessing his labors to the convinoe- 
 
 ment of divers of those who heard him. 
 
 He is said to have been k * a man richly furnished with 
 
 the gifts of the Holy Spirit ; patient under exercises, 
 grave in behavior, pleasant and exemplary in conversa- 
 tion ; his ministry weighty and deep, tending to the con- 
 solation and comfort of God's people;'' and "his under- 
 standing and memory in his latter years had more than 
 common brightm In his last sickness he often ex- 
 
 pressed great resignation to the Lord's will, and endured 
 much bodily suffering with exemplary patience. He greatly 
 enjoyed the company of his friends, and when drawing near 
 to his close, expressed his full assurance of life eternal, and 
 encouraged all to walk in the unchangeable Truth to which 
 he had endeavored faithfully to bear witness, with the ani- 
 mating language, "Let death come when it will, my reward 
 IS >ure." lie died in the year 1716, a minister about forty- 
 five yea;-, and in the ninety-first year of his age. Succes- 
 sive generations of the family have continued to reside at 
 and near Newport to the present day. 
 
 Thomas, the subject of the present memoir, was a child 
 of remarkable promise, showing an unusual degree of clear- 
 ue.-.- of mental perception, maturity of intellect and senti- 
 ment, and integrity of purpose and walk, at a very early 
 age. He was favored with the privilege of having ten- 
 der and religiously-eoncerned parents, and was carefully 
 brought up by them in the nurture and admonition of the 
 Lord. 
 
 In the absence of many incident- of hifl early life, his 
 
l^Jl.] rHOJfAG i i.D. ^7 
 
 childhood and youth can scarcely be better portrayed than 
 
 in - iKt'jv el* his Burviving friends in their 
 
 memorial of him issued soon after bis decease. 
 
 u He was naturally of a Blender constitution, and sub- 
 it to frequent attacks of illnee He was i dutiful 
 child, and religiously inclined from very early life, having 
 d heard to Bay in maturer years, that he did nol re- 
 member the time when he had no religious impressions. 
 A- an evidence of the heed he early gave to the inward 
 monitions of the Heavenly Teacher, the following inci- 
 dent may be related. At a time when he was quite 
 young, military displays were often made at some little 
 distance from his father's house, and he felt a strong 
 desire and curiosity to go and Bee tlicm. One day, see- 
 ing a number of his playfellows going to the grounds, the 
 temptation became very strong, and he followed them with- 
 out the knowledge of his parents, who, he knew, would dis- 
 approve of it. As he walked on. a sense of his disobedi- 
 ence pressed heavily upon him ; which, as he proceeded, 
 •tme more and more oppressive, until at length he 
 could feel no peace but in turning back ; which he did, 
 without ever again desiring to go to such places. 
 
 " When but seven or eight years of age, his father, who 
 was a miller, was in the practice of sending him about the 
 town to supply his numerous customers; in which vocation 
 he won the attachment and affection of the town's people 
 almost without exception ; being of a kind and obliging 
 disposition, scrupulously exact and honest in his dealings, 
 and his conversation with them generally of a serious or 
 religious cast. 
 
 k * When about twelve years of age, he was brought so 
 low by a severe attack of sickness, that his life was de- 
 spaired of. After his recovery from this illness, his reli- 
 gious impressions appear to have deepened, and his expe- 
 rience to have ripened, in a remarkable manner for one so 
 young. About this time, he commenced keeping a written 
 account of his feelings and exercises, with incidents of 
 visits of friends in the ministry, as well as of others ; and 
 continued the practice for some years : but subsequently 
 destroyed most of his productions in this line, as it would 
 
28 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1825. 
 
 appear, from an humble opinion of himself; and in after 
 life said, he did not think it was required of him to keep 
 a journal. 
 
 The following was written daring the Bickness above 
 alluded to. 
 
 " Oh! how Bure is the Rook of Ages ! But how unlike 
 
 Satan, the grand adversary, who defileth everything he 
 entered] into. But He who descended from heaven, not 
 to destroy but to save life, influences me by His Spirit to 
 love and serve Him. My desires are at times very strong 
 to be enabled to distinguish between the voice of Satan 
 and that of the King of Heaven ; as also, when the voice 
 of the true Spirit is distinguished, that 1 may be enabled 
 to be obedient thereto." 
 
 From his early childhood, he Bought and greatly enjoyed 
 the company of those who, as lie believed, were servants 
 of the Most High; and from the position of his parents 
 and some beloved connections at Newport, he often had 
 the privilege of association with eminently gifted members 
 of the Society of Friends, in their temporary BOJOUrningS 
 at that central location of the Society in New England. 
 lie was a great favorite, while a boy, with that valuable 
 Woman and faithful minister of the Gospel, Abigail Robin- 
 BOn, and spent much time with her, profiting by her in- 
 structive conversation and example, and by the opportu- 
 nities thus afforded, at her residence, of mingling with the 
 wise and good. The impressions then received had a 
 marked effect on his mind in more mature age. 
 
 Thus, by the immediate touches of the tendering hand 
 of the Shepherd of Israel, and by giving heed to the pre- 
 cepts and admonitions of those who were concerned for 
 his welfare, he was enamoured of the love of God, and 
 brought into a degree of acquaintance with His truth, re- 
 markable for One of his years. Yet he had iluctuations 
 in his religious Course, the enemy assailing him powerfully, 
 and at times gaining a little upon him, weakening his faith- 
 fulness for a season, and giving him occasion subsequently 
 to mourn over the ground he had lost, by allowing him an 
 entrance with his insinuations. The following memoran- 
 dums, found among other papers after his decease, ap- 
 pear to allude to such seasons. 
 
1829. | thou \> b. aoi u>. 29 
 
 u Another year has passed over my head, and awful to 
 remember the Borrowftd neglect of Divine Goodness, nn- 
 
 btchfnlness, and lukewarmness that have prevailed ! Oh, 
 that the Lord would be pleased to spare me yet a little 
 longer, that I may be more watchful, more careful to obey 
 the dictates of Hia divine anointing principle within.' 1 
 
 u I hi looking over Borne memorandums this evening made 
 in the twelfth year of my age, my spirit hath been greatly 
 humbled in consideration ox the tender mercy and conde- 
 
 nsion of Aimighty Goodness, in thai he was pleased, in 
 thai >n of childhood, to vouchsafe a sense, a deep and 
 
 spiritual sense, of His purity and holiness; and also of the 
 means by which purity and holiness of life and conversation 
 might be attained, through which alone a conversion into a 
 similitude and likeness of His own nature, might be known 
 and witnessed, even in earthen vessels. But oh ! since 
 then, the vessel has been broken through unbelief, and the 
 precious treasure suffered to escape, by which (if retained) 
 the vessel might have been preserved in innocence and 
 purity. It is ft truth beyond all doubt with me, that 
 nothing short of a measure and manifestation of divine 
 Grace, inwardly and spiritually communicated, ever could 
 have conveyed that sense of divine truth which I was 
 then favored with, and such conformity to, and uniformity 
 with scripture terms and doctrine. "Well, if this is the 
 and that communication has been interrupted, how 
 necessary that the old paths should be diligently sought ! 
 "Where is the old way 2 — for truly I am in a way which 
 neither myself nor my fathers in the truth heretofore 
 walked in! Oh, Thou who art the healer of breaches, 
 and the restorer of paths for the lame to walk in, wilt 
 Thou be pleased this once more to pluck my feet out of 
 the mire and the clay, and to set them upon that Rock 
 against which, as an establishment thereon is known, the 
 gates of hell would never be able to prevail ! Here, oh 
 here, I have once been favored to behold thy face, and to 
 meditate on thy law with great delight ! And should I 
 again be favored to have light in my dwelling and on my 
 path, then, my soul, would thou be enabled to pursue 
 thy journey with alacrity; and that true advancement 
 
30 LIM AND LETTERS OP [1829. 
 
 * 
 
 would be known, which would be a Bource of comfort unto 
 tlico in thiB life, and would prepare thee for celestial enjoy- 
 ment when time shall be no more!" 
 
 Submitting to these convictions, he grew in grace and 
 in the saving knowledge of the Most High; and though 
 still a y<»uth, his mind was endued with a clear apprecia- 
 tion of the pure doctrines of Christianity, and a qualifica- 
 tion was given to discern truth from error, either in prin- 
 ciple or practice. He was favored with ability to wait on 
 the Lord in the Bilence of all flesh, and to know the henefit 
 thereof, above all merely outward performances, in the 
 renewing of his strength, and the reception of a capacity 
 to know and do the will of the Almighty. He alludes to 
 this exercise in the following beautiful though brief memo- 
 randum. 
 
 "Divine worship, I believe, implies a patient waiting to 
 know, and a faithful and scrupulous engagement to do the 
 will of our Heavenly Father. But how hard have I often 
 found it. to be so divested of active self, as to get into 
 that true silence, humility, and lowliness of mind, where 
 we can stand perfectly still, separated from any depen- 
 dence on, or attention to any other than the great object 
 of our adoration and praise! Nevertheless, I have at 
 times been made sensible, to my humbling admiration, of 
 the glory of the Lord descending and filling the outward 
 temple, BO that there was no place for, nor any disposition 
 to engage in any official duties, but only to stand quite 
 still, and behold the great glory and magnificence of the 
 Shepherd of Israel/' 
 
 His mind was often brought into serious concern for 
 the religious welfare of his friends, and especially for 
 those, like himself, in the early walks of life; and giving 
 up in obedience to what he believed was of divine requir- 
 ing, he was made willing to visit such at times, both in 
 his native city and in places more or less remote, and in 
 humility and love to deliver to them the burden which rested 
 upon him on their account. His labors were often owned 
 by the Witness for truth in the hearts of those visited, to 
 the tendering of their spirits, and he was favored to return 
 home in peace. At other times his concern for his bre- 
 
1829.] rnoMAB b. oould. 81 
 
 thren was manifested by epistolary communication, ad- 
 din affectionate and earnest expostulation, encour- 
 ment, or admonition. The following is a portion of 
 of these epistles, showing the earnestness of his desire 
 to be found faithful to his feelings of duty in this respect. 
 
 My DBAB FRIBHD : 
 
 Having hern at times (as I believe thou art Bensible) 
 baptised into sympathy and fellow-feeling with thee in thy 
 many trials and besetments, as well as into exercise on 
 
 thy account, and renewedly and feelingly so at this time, 
 I thought I could not easily get from under the burden, 
 without spreading the concern which I have felt, a little 
 before thee, as I may be enabled, and in this epistolary 
 
 way, notwithstanding 1 have the favor and privilege of 
 
 thy company at tinier 
 
 I have observed with humbling admiration the bountiful 
 goodness and preserving power of an All-wise Providence, 
 not only in thy preservation from evil communications in 
 1 measure, but from evil habits also, in thy temporal 
 and relative accommodations and blessings, but above all 
 other considerations, in bringing thee to a knowledge of 
 the ever-blessed truth in some good degree; and while I 
 am writing, my soul bows in thankful acknowledgment 
 on thy behalf, and can adopt the language, " This is the 
 Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in mine eyes." And 
 the fervent breathing of my spirit is, that neither one 
 thing nor yet another may cause the work to be marred 
 upon the wheel, but that thy hands, which are often ready 
 to hang down, may be mercifully strengthened, and thy 
 feeble knees confirmed ; for I believe thou art often ex- 
 ceedingly stripped, and that thou feelest exceedingly the 
 want of the sensible influence and perceptible guidance of 
 Divine Good. But be entreated, in these seasons of deep 
 proving, to hold fast the profession of thy faith without 
 Avavering, nothing doubting but that He that hath been 
 with thee in six troubles will be with thee in the seventh. 
 
 The point, however, to which my mind has been the 
 most forcibly turned in relation to thee, is, that thou mayst 
 be increasingly gathered into the patient waiting for Christ 
 
32 Uli; AM) LETTERS OF [1829, 
 
 in the way of His coming, and increasingly guarded with 
 respect to those things which are Likely to obstruct His 
 appearance, or becloud thy vision. Oh, bear with me, my 
 
 dear friend. a> with one who would gladly have been ex- 
 cused, if relief might have been obtained in any other way 
 than in the way of duty, while I entreat thee to shun all 
 those things. I believe that the adversary of our happi- 
 ness always enters at the weakest side, and that, well 
 knowing in what things he would seek in vain to betray 
 thee, he is making use of his pernicious influence to weaken 
 thy hands, by easting temptations before thee adapted to 
 thy situation and circumstances. 
 
 I find, if I obtain relief, as Thomas Shillitoe says, "the 
 whole counsel committed unto me must be communicated ;" 
 that I must come right to the point; that I must entreat 
 thee to resist bravely all solicitations to attend the meet- 
 ings of other religious societies. I am sensible that here 
 the cross may possibly be exceedingly heavy for thee to 
 take up and to bear : but, my dear friend, I have seen with 
 the eye of faith what the result would be, if this testimony 
 should not be faithfully supported, in connection with 
 some others which thou art, I believe, acceptably engaged 
 in the support of. And I also feel a concern affection- 
 ately to recommend thee to take into thy serious conside- 
 ration the subject of the common use of heathenish names 
 for the days of the week, and months, as well as all com- 
 plimentary titles and distinctions, and in connection with 
 the use of the plain Scripture language, endeavor to bring 
 them to the Light which will make all things manifest; 
 and I do verily believe that thou wilt be favored to see, 
 clearly to Bee, that the same precious principle which has 
 Led thee into one, will lead thee into the other. Nothing 
 can be farther from my best feelings than in thus address- 
 ing thee, either to draw thee outward in thy views, or to- 
 wards me as an instrument. My object is no other than 
 that of all rightly administered instrumental labor, even 
 to bring home to the true Teacher; and as thou art con- 
 cerned to wait day by day to feel its quickening power, 
 thou shall be enabled to go on in that power, conquering 
 and to conquer, even until judgment shall be sent forth 
 unto victorv 
 
1829.] THOMAS B. GOULD. 
 
 During much of bis youth, Thomas was liable to fre- 
 quent an: f bodily indisposition, and at tim< 
 brought very low by sickness, and thereby his schooling 
 was considerably interfered with ; but possessing an active 
 mind, acute perceptions, and an uncommonly clear and 
 
 retentive memory, his subsequent application and indus- 
 try enabled him amply to compensate, in useful acquire- 
 ments, for the time apparently lost to literary pursuits. 
 
 His mind being thus stored beyond many of his years, and 
 his conversational powers, naturally good, being improved 
 by constant and familiar association with enlightened men 
 
 and women greatly his superiors in aire and attainments, 
 his company and conversation, as he advanced in life, be- 
 came attractive and instructive to his acquaintances of all 
 », and especially to those whose faces were in reality set 
 Xionwards. These could feel the true life in him answer- 
 ing to the witness in their own hearts, and were attracted 
 towards him by ties stronger than those of natural brother- 
 hood, because pertaining to the heavenly relationship. 
 
 His letters to his friends were many times fraught with 
 deep instruction, and often contained yery graphic de- 
 scriptions of incidents or conversations in which he had 
 been en craved, and in which he knew that his friends felt 
 a lively interest. A portion of such descriptive epistles, 
 (written in more mature life) selected for their value in 
 developing the events of his own day, the sad departure of 
 multitudes from the ancient landmarks of the Society, and 
 his own efforts to warn his friends of the unsound doctrines 
 insidiously introduced, and the mischievous devices of those 
 engaged in promoting them, will furnish the reader of the 
 following pages with something approaching to a narrative 
 of the most remarkable events of his life, in the absence 
 of any regular journal or autobiography. Being brought 
 up by his father to the milling business, many of the most 
 valuable and weighty of his epistles were written in his 
 windmill, during the hours usually devoted to sleep, some 
 of them being finished long after midnight or towards 
 dawn of day. The following letter written to a relation, 
 when about sixteen years of age, delineates familiarly 
 some interesting particulars of a visit of George and Ann 
 Jones to the Island of Canonicut. 
 
M LOT AND LETTBRS OF [1829. 
 
 From Thomas V>. Gould to 
 
 \i . 21st of Ctli mo. (1st day), 18! 
 
 it.i:m!d Cousin: 1 may inform that on the 20th 
 I i. and A. Jones appointed a meeting on Canonicut, at the 
 eleventh hoar. Aunt Mary, Lydia Ann, and myself hav- 
 ing an inclination to attend, went over in the horse-boat, 
 with <■. and A. Jones, and E. Pitfield. The wind being 
 against us made hard work for the horses, and it was 
 nearly eleven when we arrived on shore. A very solid 
 company was convened, and I reorge was engaged to minis* 
 ter; beginning.: "To be carnally-minded is death, but 
 to be spiritually-minded is life and peace;" and went on 
 to show that the carnal mind was indeed at k * enmity with 
 Grod." Ann followed him : " It is not in man that walk- 
 eth to direct his steps;" showing our utter inability, as 
 men and creatures, to do anything to the glory and honor 
 of His glorious, holy name, unassisted by that divine 
 principle, "a measure and manifestation" whereof has 
 been given unto us "to profit withal;" that as we are 
 engaged to know a co-working with that precious principle, 
 it would work out for us a "far more exceeding and eter- 
 nal weight of glory," even an entrance into that glorious, 
 holy city, whose " walls are salvation and whose gates are 
 praise;" that a mere historical faith in Christ's sufferings, 
 death, resurrection, mediation, and intercession, would do 
 nothing for us: that we must indeed witness the powerful 
 operations of the Holy Ghost and fire, this being the only 
 effectual, saving baptism; and be enabled to say, " It is 
 not by any mighty works which we have done, but by the 
 washing of regeneration ami the renewing of the Holy 
 Ghost." Deal* Elizabeth Pitfield followed her, and sweetly 
 encouraged those that were ready to say, kk Can it be, that 
 Christ died for so vile a worm as 1 am? Can it be, that 
 I am an object of divine regard?" A precious meeting 
 it was. Oh, that it may be t<> me like bread cast on the 
 water, which returned after many days. This gave us a 
 valuable Opportunity of being in the company of tip 
 
 faithful advocates of the cause of truth and righteeusw 
 
 in the earth 
 
10. ) tik»m Lfi ft. GKH LI>. 
 
 The wind Mew bo heavy, it was thought improbable the 
 horse-boat would come over, and Ann Jones no! being 
 well, Bhe thought most proper to leave at four o'clock, 
 and the wind continuing to blow very heavy, the spraj 
 broke over into the boat to such a degree that it wet our 
 friends very much, although they had umbrellas and cloak-. 
 
 rawled under the cuddy, where I should have been dry, 
 it' the water had not dripped through the planks. How- 
 
 r, I esteem it another merciful favor that Ave were pre- 
 served from any other damage than wetting our clothes. 
 Elizabeth thought it might be a specimen of crossing the 
 Atlantic, but Ann told her it was not a comparison to it. 
 Ann remarked, while on board the liorse-l.oat. that it 
 reminded her of a saying in her country, of putting to 
 in a post-chaise. - 
 
 The following memorandum is dated in 1830, when 
 Thomas B. Gould was about seventeen years of age. 
 
 " It has been clearly manifested to me, that conscience 
 is not the proper rule and guide which the Almighty, in 
 His infinite wisdom and goodness, has provided for the 
 regulation of the actions of His creature, man ; because 
 conscience, like reason, being a natural gift, may, when 
 unenlightened, become depraved and identified with, or 
 rather adulterated by, our evil propensities. But that 
 the Holy Spirit of Christ, which He promised He would 
 send in His name (which is often put for His power), is 
 the guide and rule by which our conduct is to be regu- 
 lated ; for though in us, it is not of us, but is a most pre- 
 cious gift, being the same Rock that followed Israel, and 
 that Kock was Christ. This never can be depraved, but, 
 as minded and submitted to in its gentle movings and 
 leadings, would subdue and overcome all that the Lord's 
 holy controversy is against, and w r ould gain for us an ad- 
 mittance into that city, the Avails whereof are salvation, 
 and whose gates are praise ; it being the purchase of that 
 most satisfactory sacrifice on Calvary's Mount, whereby 
 He hath forever perfected them that are sanctified, and 
 
3G LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1830. 
 
 cast up a way for the ransomed and redeemed of our God 
 to walk in ; which, although an exalted situation, and one 
 that of ourselves we arc wholly incapable of attaining unto, 
 yet it is so plain and so simple, that the wayfaring man, 
 though a fool as to the things of this world, may not err 
 therein. Well may we exclaim, k Great is the mystery of 
 godliness !' " 
 
 From Thomas B. Gould to . 
 
 Dear WILLIAM, — for so I believe I may address thee, 
 having, from a feeling of pure love, been induced to make 
 this exposure of myself, entirely independent of any out- 
 ward information whatever. 
 
 I may remark that when thou wast here, a few weeks 
 since, I felt such a nearness of sympathy and brotherly 
 love for thee, as is entirely out of my capacity to convey ; 
 but intended, however, to have manifested it by more 
 attention and being a little more in thy company, which 
 was pleasant. But circumstances out of my control pre- 
 vented the accomplishment of my intentions. There 
 would not, probably, have been any other effect from 
 these feelings, but the other day, as I sat in meeting, en- 
 gaged in a train of thought which would not come under 
 the term worship, but which I think was not altogether 
 unprofitable, thou wast very unexpectedly and feelingly 
 brought to my remembrance, accompanied with a belief 
 that it would be best for me to write to thee; and although 
 I had some openings, yet the end and design of the con- 
 cern was not made known. The subject passed off; 
 but soon after, something transpired, which tended to 
 strengthen the feelings. I was sincerely desirous to do 
 the thing that was right, and like Mary formerly, "kept 
 all these things and pondered them in my heart : M and 
 now having given the subject due deliberation, and en- 
 deavored to feel after the mind of truth, I am persuaded 
 that i shall not be quite clear without submitting a few 
 simple remarks for thy consideration. 
 
 Thou hast, I believe, been mercifully preserved from 
 many of the evils and dangers incident to youth (of which 
 
1880. | TIIo.mas B. GOULD. 87 
 
 I have do doubt thou art sensible), but still thy path, as 
 well as my own, is thickly Btrewed with Satan's baits, 
 
 pared by his subtle hand, in a way and manner in 
 which thou art least likely to discover them, in order to 
 detecl and resist them. Thou must be brought into a 
 feeling of thy own onworthiness and inability to do any 
 
 d thing, before thou wilt be in a suitable state rightly 
 to apply for assistance where alone it can be found. By 
 attending simply to this, to u the Grace of God, which 
 brings salvation, and hath appeared unto all men," thou 
 wilt be enabled to discover clearly the way in which thou 
 must go, wilt he made Bensible of the exceeding corrup- 
 tion and depravity of the human heart, of the necessity 
 there is for watchfulness ; and as thou keepest thine eye 
 Bingle, wilt in due time experience deliverance from the 
 house of bondage, which is sin, or the nature of the first 
 Adam, from spiritual Egypt, where is darkness, but into 
 which darkness the light of the Lord hath shined, as it is 
 written : " They which sat in darkness saw a great light, 
 and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death 
 light is sprung up." And the evident design of the aris- 
 ing of this light, is to bring thee forth out of Egypt, from 
 under the dominion of sin ; and, if I am not mistaken in 
 my feelings, it hath required thee to go as it were three 
 days' journey into the wilderness, to sacrifice unto the 
 Lord thy God ; being made sensible, as the children of 
 Israel formerly were, that it will be inconsistent with His 
 will and pleasure to offer sacrifice unto Him, before thou 
 hast witnessed and know T n a departure out of Egypt. 
 And this passover thou must be willing to eat in the way 
 and manner that Divine Goodness has been pleased to 
 direct, although it may be with bitter herbs, with the 
 loins of thy mind girded, shoes upon thy feet, and a staff 
 in thy hand, a full resolution and willingness being wrought 
 to forsake the pleasures of Egypt, in order to journey 
 forward and to possess the land of promise : and tliou 
 mayest remember that it is the willing and obedient that 
 He will give to eat of the good fruit of that land. And 
 thus, with a high hand and with an outstretched arm, 
 thou wilt be enabled to go forth, by His assistance, not of 
 
 4 
 
88 LITE AND LETTERS OF [1830. 
 
 thyself or thy own power ; and when the sea is divided, 
 and thou art made sensible of the wonderful power of the 
 
 Lord, the horse and his ridci- being drowned in the midst 
 of it, while to thee it is a wall on either side, the pillar of 
 cloud going before thee by day, and the pillar of lire by 
 night, — after thou hast known this, thou mayst believe 
 thyself to he on the hanks of* deliveranee. 
 
 Here thou wilt probably sing His praise, and mayest 
 
 be ready to eonelude that the warfare is accomplished, 
 and that thou hast already arrived almost beyond the 
 reach of trouble and danger. But I entreat thee to re- 
 member that thou art but just brought out and allured 
 into the wilderness, and on the very outset and beginning 
 of thy journey towards the heavenly Canaan ; that here 
 thou art to receive the dispensation of the law, and to be 
 instructed in it, to be made acquainted with divers wash- 
 ings and cleansings, trying, perhaps, in their nature and 
 administration ; but be assured they are necessary in 
 order to do away all Egypt's nature ; for thou canst no 
 more be fit to enter into that " good land," before this 
 work is accomplished, than thou wast to offer sacrifice, 
 before thou hadst taken some steps in thy journey thither. 
 And be not anxious that this wilderness state maybe sud- 
 denly gone through with, but rather be attentive to the 
 hand of the Lord which may be observed herein. Remem- 
 ber that He fed His people formerly with bread from heaven 
 and flesh to the full, that He clave the rocks for them, and 
 encamped round about them, that the cloud rested upon 
 the door of the tabernacle, and they journeyed not until 
 it was lifted up. (He that readeth, let him understand.) 
 For M when the cloud was taken up from over the taber- 
 nacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their 
 journeys ; but if the cloud were not taken up, then they 
 journeyed not till the day that it was taken up. For the 
 cloud of the Lord was upon the tabernacle by day, and 
 lire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of 
 Israel, throughout all their journeys." Exodus 40 : 86, 
 
 87, 88. 
 
 Thus, my dear friend, be encouraged to keep thine eye 
 singly upon Him who leadeth out His own sheep, oalleth 
 
 
1830.] TIMMAS B. GOULD. 89 
 
 them by name, and goeth before them: bo thou will be 
 
 •n making any idol, and worshipping it. whil 
 in His infinite wisdom, Be is pleased to withhold Hiipself 
 
 From thee in order to prove thee and deepen thy love for 
 Him. And thy journey in this wilderness \\\\\ be short- 
 d; thou wilt be favored to overcome all opposition; 
 and although Balak may see thee approaching, be afraid, 
 and call Balaam to curse thee, yet it will be turned into 
 blessing altogether; and in the Lord's due and appointed 
 time, when all that sinneth and lusteth after Egypt shall 
 fall in the desert, thou wilt be enabled to pass over Jor- 
 dan, and to bring up from the very bottom thereof stones 
 of living memorial, showing where thou hast been dwelling, 
 even under the preparing, fashioning hand of the Lord. 
 On the other hand, if thou art disobedient, and hearkenest 
 to the voice of the evil one, who will endeavor to retard 
 thy progress by suggestions like those whereby he dis- 
 couraged Israel, through the instrumentality of the evil 
 spies (who being sent over to view the land, plainly dis- 
 covered it to flow with milk and honcv, were favored to 
 taste of the fruit thereof and to bring back some with 
 them to the camp, saying, this is the fruit of it, neverthe- 
 less discouraged them by saying " that the cities are walled 
 and very great, and there are Anakims in the land, in 
 comparison with whom we are like grasshoppers)," — listen 
 not to the adversary, lest, after thou hast been raised up 
 to view it, thou receive the intelligence, " Thou shalt not 
 go over thither." But oh, that the spirit, the holy reso- 
 lution which was in Caleb, may be in thee, who stilled the 
 people by saying, " Let us go up at once and possess it, 
 for we are well able to overcome it." Remember, the 
 strength of the people who dwell there is departed from 
 them, and that " there is none like unto the God of Jeshu- 
 run, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help and in His 
 excellency on the sky. The eternal God is thy refuge, 
 and underneath are the everlasting arms." As thy depen- 
 dence is here, all these Canaanites will be driven out : for 
 the command is, utterly to destroy them and drive them 
 out ; and unless this is accomplished, they will be a con- 
 tinual vexation and cause of stumbling. 
 
40 LOT AND LETTERS OF [1830. 
 
 This Lb my fervent desire and prayer for thee, as well 
 myself; and although it may Beem strange to thee that 
 
 I thus write, and in such a metaphorical manner, yet my 
 excuse is the same as Balaam's was, "Whatsoever is put 
 into my mouth, that I must Bpeak, less or more;" my 
 desire also has been like his, "Let me die the death of the 
 righteous, and let my last end be like his." 
 
 The spring having (dosed, I must end as I began, that 
 is, with reference to the pointings of truth, having no 
 knowledge, when I put pen to paper, as to the matter or 
 
 manner of my writing. I may however request that if 
 thou receivest this and feelest freedom, thou would just 
 give me Mime hints respecting thy apprehensions, espe- 
 cially if there is anything in it thou dost not clearly under- 
 stand. I conclude, 
 
 Thy tenderly affectionate friend and well-wisher, 
 
 Thomas B. Gould. 
 
 From Thomas B. Gould to . 
 
 My dear Friend : 
 
 Notwithstanding I was strengthened to communicate a 
 few words expressive of my belief of the divine nature of 
 the visitation with which thou hast been visited (though 
 very mueli in the cross), yet I felt afterwards so comfort* 
 ably quiet, that I took it as a precious and abundant 
 reward for this attention to what I have long believed to 
 be incumbent on me. But the interruptions to which thou 
 
 knowesJ 1 have been so much subjected, and which were 
 
 repeated this evening, prevented me from fully relieving 
 
 my mind: and the concern remaining weightily upon me, 
 I have believed it to be right for me, in order to unburden 
 
 my mind, and to discharge my duty towards thee, to sub- 
 mit a few simple remarks in writing, for thy considera- 
 te n. 
 
 Thou wilt find it recorded in the Scriptures of truth, 
 thai "in the beginning God created the heavens and the 
 earth." I have no doubt thou wilt readily acknowledge 
 to the truth of this declaration : and in acknowledging to 
 this, thou wilt admit the subsequent account, given by the 
 
1880. | THOMAfl B, 90ULD, 1 1 
 
 inspired penman, of the six days 1 work, and also the dn ine 
 
 authority of the Holy Scriptu: \nd thou wilt find 
 
 that, after the whole creation was finished, and the fowls 
 the air, the fish of the sea, and the beasts of the field 
 had been made, the Lord said, M Le1 us make man in our 
 image, after our likeness :' that the Lord looked upon 
 all that He had made, and "behold, it was very good;' 1 
 that "in the image of God created he him, male and 
 female created he them." Here thou will observe thai 
 he was created in the image and after the likeness of God; 
 and as it is reasonably understood that a likeness, in the 
 common sense of the term, bears some considerable resem- 
 blance to the original, so we may conclude that he par- 
 took largely of the divine nature, and was good. u And 
 the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and 
 
 there He placed the man whom he had formed." lie was 
 placed in a state of happiness and enjoyment in the favor 
 of his Almighty Creator, haying full liberty and permis- 
 sion to eat of the fruit of every tree of the garden but of 
 the tree of knowledge of good and evil; and upon this the 
 Almighty was pleased to lay his prohibitory command, 
 and to pronounce a curse upon him in case of disobedience : 
 " In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." 
 And so long as the obedience of our first parents kept pace 
 with their knowledge, they continued to relish and enjoy 
 this union and communion with their Almighty Creator; 
 bat when, through the subtlety of the serpent, they had been 
 prevailed upon to transgress the divine command, then 
 they were made sensible of it ; and when they heard the 
 voice of the Lord walking in the garden, in the cool of 
 the day, a time favorable to reflection, they hid themselves, 
 knowing that they had sinned. But the Lord Was pleased 
 to call them, in a manner similar, I believe, to that in 
 which thou hast been called when running contrary to the 
 divine will inwardly revealed, " Adam ! Adam ! where 
 art thou?" And his answer was, " I heard thy voice, and 
 I hid myself, because I was naked/' " Who told thee that 
 thou wast naked? hast thou eaten of the fruit of the tree 
 which I commanded thee not to eat?'' His answer was. 
 
 "The woman which thou hast given me gave me of the 
 
 4* 
 
42 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [18! 
 
 Fruit, and I did cat : M and when the woman was questioned, 
 she answered, " The serpent beguiled me, and 1 did i 
 
 Thus, my dear friend, I want thee to observe the excus< - 
 that were made, and compare them with the lines of thy 
 own experience. Examine thy own heart ; let the examina- 
 tion be impartial : and see bow the thing will preponder- 
 ate ; see if it will not bear some comparison to this evasion, 
 
 which was made by our primitive ancestors in a ease ex- 
 actly parallel. Remember also the judgment that was 
 pronounced upon them. This judgment and the promise 
 
 that was then made, are of the highest importance unto 
 
 us, even in this glorious Gospel day in which we live, and 
 to which it referred. It is fraught with dee]) instruction 
 
 to the minds of those who rightly apply unto the Lord for 
 help and instruction. To such as these our adorable King 
 is pleased to open the Scriptures of truth by His eternal 
 
 Spirit, and to seal on their minds those deep and impor- 
 tant truths contained in them. And to this I would earn- 
 estly call thy attention; to an attentive perusal of the 
 
 Scriptures, with the eye of thy mind fixed upon Him who 
 alone can open the seals, and with thy spiritual ear open 
 and attentive to that Spirit which can alone convey that 
 BOul-sustaining intelligence and encouragement, which will 
 nourish it up unto eternal life. 
 
 But to return to the judgment that was pronounced upon 
 the serpent, upon whom 1 think it was first passed : U I 
 
 will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between 
 
 thy seed and her seed ; it shall hruise thy head, and thou 
 
 shalt bruise his heel. Cursed art thou above all cattle : 
 
 upon thy belly Bhalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all 
 
 the days of thy life.*' And unto Adam He said, k * Cursed 
 
 is the ground for thy sake : in sorrow shalt thou eat of it 
 
 all the days of thy life J thorns also and thistles shall it 
 bring forth unto thee, and thou shalt eat the herb of the 
 field. M Here thou wilt perceive a great change to have 
 
 taken place in the condition of our first parents, so lately 
 enjoying sweet union with their Maker, and now being 
 driven forth to till the ground from whence they were 
 
 taken, and to cat the "herb of the field." And lest he 
 should put forth his hand and partake of the tree of life. 
 
ISoO. ] TJkOM \> B. GOULD. 48 
 
 and live forever, there were placed at " the east of the 
 garden of Eden, cherubim, and a flaming sword, which 
 turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of lif 
 This is a subject that baa often engaged my serious atten- 
 tion, it remaining to be a sealed truth, that no man can 
 attain unto the tree of life, but by passing under this 
 flaming, two-edged sword; and this view of the Bubjecl 
 coincides with the testimony of the Apostle Paul, who de- 
 scribed tin 4 sword of the Spirit, as being a quick discerner 
 of the thoughts and intents of the heart, and that it divided 
 between BOul and spirit, joints and marrow-. By this thou 
 wilt discover thai we arc prone by nature to act contrary 
 to this Spirit of Grace, and to do despite unto it, in that 
 all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, in 
 that we have all partaken of the sad effects of this fall of 
 our first parents from that state of happiness and good- 
 ness in which they were created; as it is written, after 
 Adam was driven out of Paradise, that he " begat a son 
 in his own image, and after his own likeness." 
 
 And this corrupt nature of the natural man must be 
 done away, this image and likeness of the first Adam ; 
 and there is no way by which it can be accomplished, but 
 through the glorious way of escape promised by Infinite 
 Goodness, almost as soon as His divine command had 
 been transgressed, viz. : " I will put enmity between thee 
 and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it 
 shall bruise thy head and thou shalt bruise his heel." 
 Now, thou mayst remark, that the head is a vital part of 
 the body, and when the head is wounded we are justly 
 said to be wounded all over; and this is agreeable with 
 the testimony of the apostle: u For this purpose was the 
 Son of God manifested, that He might destroy the works 
 of the devil;" and with this the testimony of the holy 
 patriarchs, prophets, and apostles agrees. Moreover, the 
 promise of this seed of the woman was renewed to Abram ; 
 and in token of his favor and acceptance with the Almighty, 
 and also of the change of heart and disposition that had 
 taken place, his name was changed to Abraham, and the 
 promise was renewed: "In thee and in thy seed -ball all 
 the families of the earth be blessed." It was renewed to 
 
44 LIFE AM) LETTERS OP [18-j^. 
 
 Esaac, and to Jacob, whose name was also changed to 
 Israel, because he wrestled and obtained the blessing, Bay- 
 ing, % * 1 will not let thee go except thou bless me." The 
 Lord Almighty was pleased, however, before He intro- 
 duced the glorious dispensation of the Gospel of our Lord 
 and Saviour, Jesus Christ, to bring in, between the fall 
 and the way of escape from the fall, another dispensation, 
 consisting of divers washings and cleansings, which never 
 "made the comer thereunto perfect,' 1 hut pointed to that 
 which did. It pointed to the last and lasting dispen- 
 sation, by which wo hit enabled emphatically to draw 
 nigh unto God ; by which, and by which alone, we can 
 possibly he placed in a capacity to rise above the first 
 nature ; which is fallen, degenerate, and dead, but through 
 this propitiatory sacrifice, which in due time was offered up 
 for our sins, there has been a gift of God purchased, a little 
 divine seed and agency placed in the corrupt heart of man 
 in the fall, which counteracts and opposeth the evil seed 
 and tin 4 first nature ; and as it is attended to in its appear- 
 ances, however Bmall they may be, it would overcome, it 
 would subdue all of a contrary nature, and finally would 
 effect a change of disposition and a change of heart; all 
 (►Id things would be done away, all things would become 
 new, and all things of God. Here thou wouldst be raised 
 out of the fall and the effects of it, and having in this 
 passed under the flaming sword, or in other words, 
 known Him whose right hand is to rule and to reign, to 
 come into thy heart, and to sit there as a refiner with his 
 lire and as a fuller with his soap, to purge away the dro 
 and the tin, and the reprobate silver, thou wouldst be 
 favored to partake of the tree of life; and if thou con- 
 tinued faithful unto death, a crown of life would bo given 
 thee, eternal in the heavens, which fadeth not away 
 
 [written in Tin: tear is°>2.] 
 
 " I have of late made so little progress, and in my heart 
 was bo far gone back into Egypt, that 1 have been ready 
 
 !•> wish that I nevei- had been favored in the way that I 
 am, rather than those tilings that are so very near and 
 
1S:V2.] THOMAS B, GOULD, 45 
 
 dear to pae should be called for. ( >, Lord, be thou pleased 
 rive the thought of my oorrupl heart ; seeing Thou 
 hast been tempted in all points like as \ v <- are, Bin only 
 excepted: and oh! enable me to return thanks unto thee, 
 that thou hast, in unbounded mercy, been pleased to 
 lengthen the thread of my natural and spiritual life, and 
 that thou didst not out me off altogether 1 And enable 
 thou me, it' it be consistent with thy holy will, to walk 
 more humbly and consistently before thee; that so I may 
 not dishonor thy holy cause in the earth!" 
 
 MEMORANDUM, FOUND AMOX<; ins PAPERS, DATED 
 SEVENTH MONTH, 1832. 
 
 "Strong desires aiv at times raised in my heart, that 
 the good work that 1 humbly hope lias been begun, may 
 
 be in mercy carried forward, that 1 may know a progres- 
 sion from this state of childhood to that of a young man, 
 
 and to a Btrong man in Christ Jesns ; lie being the Author 
 of every good work ; and if the state alluded to is ever 
 
 attained, it must he only by Ilim. And I thought I might 
 adopt the language, in allusion to the small progress that 
 has been made hitherto: 'By Thee I have run through a 
 troop, and by my God I have leaped over a wall ;' not- 
 withstanding I have yet much to pass through, and am 
 daily passing under the just judgments of an offended God, 
 in one way or other. Yet being sensible that I have a 
 baptism to be baptized with, I am at times exceedingly 
 straitened that it may be accomplished; and at this time 
 I am encouraged to believe, that as I sincerely endeavor 
 to keep near the unfailing Helper of His people, although 
 His waves and His billows may pass over my head (which 
 1 sincerely hope may be the case, that the old and corrupt 
 nature may be washed away), I shall be preserved from 
 sinking. For I am firm in the belief, that by no Other 
 means than by baptism can any man become a member of 
 the Church of Christ; and I also believe that out of that 
 Church there is no salvation." ["If I wash thee not, 
 thou hast no part with me." John 13 : 8.] 
 
M LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1834. 
 
 From T. B. GL to Geobgb F. Read, 
 
 Newf( I of lOtib month, 1834. 
 
 My dkab Friend : 
 
 J have taken up my pen this afternoon to answer thy 
 acceptable letter of last sixth month; and although I have 
 deferred it bo long, I can assure thee that I cannot charge 
 myself with either negligence or forgetfulness, but in truth 
 I can inform thee 1 have not since that time been in a 
 situation to communicate anything which would have been 
 worth thy perusal. 1 have been an inhabitant of a dry 
 and barren land, in which there lias been neither dew, nor 
 rain, nor held of offering : and as it has, for a long time, 
 been a settled principle with me, not to open my inward 
 exercises and trials to any, without feeling that liberty in 
 the truth to do it which alone could make such a disclosure 
 safe, I have forborne to burden thee with complaints, 
 choosing rather, as I might be favored, to abide in my 
 tent, and endeavor to search for the cause of this great 
 desertion and leanness ; for even Jerusalem was to be 
 searched with lighted candles. Oh! my dear friend, the 
 preciousne88, as well as the importance, of having the 
 candle lighted and on the candlestick! If it is on the 
 candlestick and not lighted, it is worse than useless, be- 
 cause profession without possession is hypocrisy; and if it 
 has, through adorable Mercy and condescending Goodness, 
 been lighted, and remains under the bushel, it must un- 
 avoidably go out again, for it cannot burn in unsuitable 
 and unprofitable confinement. The declaration of our 
 blessed Lord still continues to hold good: "Ye have not 
 chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that 
 ye should go, and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit 
 should remain." And again: " Ye are the salt of the 
 earth, and the light of the world: and a city that is set 
 on a hill cannot be hid." Now those that ha\ e been called 
 and chosen by Him, and through and by His holy help, 
 enabled not only to labor but to bring forth fruit, tie 
 certainly • ison and give light unto others: but when 
 
 they cease to Bea80n and give light unto others, then the 
 salt has lost its savor ; it is thenceforth good for nothing. 
 
1884.] THOMAS i l.l>. IT 
 
 and is cast out and trodden under fool of men; and the 
 
 light which shone through them being obscured, finally 
 will be put out : for ire read thai the candle of the wicked 
 shall be put out. Bui as our hope of preservation is in 
 the unfolding of thai Light which makes manifest, and as 
 a measure and manifestation of this Light has been given 
 unto every man to profit withal, so L believe it doc- be- 
 come our weak and childlike state to abide in our tenl 
 with the little we may he intrusted with, until that Light 
 niovoth and goeth before. Then we may safely follow, 
 uise that same direction which it takes will he the path 
 for us to walk in. 1 have often instructively remembered 
 
 the account we have of the dealings of the Lord with the 
 children of Israel, in bringing them forth out of the land 
 of Egypt, through the Red Sea and the wilderness, in 
 general ; and in particular, the manner in which they 
 journeyed. It is declared that a pillar of a cloud rested 
 the tabernacle by day, and a pillar of fire by night, in 
 the sight of all the house of Israel, and throughout all 
 their journeys ; and that they journeyed not until the 
 cloud was lifted up. Well, as surely as the cloud rested 
 on the outward tabernacle visibly, so surely does it rest 
 on our tabernacles spiritually, yet sensibly ; and I believe, 
 the more closely we are engaged to watch its movements, 
 when it goes before and leads the way for us, or to abide 
 in our tents when it remains stationary, the more profitably 
 we shall get along for ourselves, and for those among 
 whom Ave may be walking ; for the tabernacle of God, 
 agreeably to the testimony of the Apostle John, remains 
 to be with men ; and he says that God Himself shall be 
 with them, and wipe away all tears from their eyes, and 
 be their God. And this was written when the temple of 
 the tabernacle of witness in heaven was opened. Doubt- 
 less it is in them only, who, by an attention to the mani- 
 festation of His Spirit, are engaged to prepare His way 
 in the wilderness, and to make His paths straight, that 
 the precious promise above alluded to will be realized. If, 
 as a general thing, those wdio are thus under exercise, 
 should unadvisedly open their state to such as are not 
 qualified to understand the same, and of consequence not 
 
48 LIFB AND LETTERS OF [1^4. 
 
 Bkilful to make such an application as the case require 
 they would lay themselves liable to serious injury, it was 
 a cause of complaint against Borne formerly, that they had 
 healed the wound of the Lord's people Blightly; and 
 against others, that they had been daubing with untem- 
 pered mortar. Now I believe that if we rightly seek that 
 wisdom that is profitable to direct, we shall be preserved 
 from opening our condition to such as these; and on the 
 other hand, those that dwell near the Spring of Divine 
 Life in themselves, feeling a sympathy for and a fellowship 
 with US in that life, without any outward information what- 
 ever, arc often enabled to speak a word in season to them 
 that are weary, and according to the apostolic description, 
 the Becrets of hearts are made manifest ; for prophecy 
 (which is a speaking to edification and comfort) came not 
 in old time by the will of man, but holy men of old spake 
 as they wore moved by the Holy Ghost. 
 
 These openings and advices, coming from a pure and 
 unerring spring, must be abundantly more safe and useful 
 than those which originate merely in the unauthorized and 
 unassisted invention of the human mind. 
 
 Thus, my dear friend, I have simply made these remarks 
 a- they have renewedly and feelingly opened to the view 
 of my mind; though I have long been confirmed in the 
 belief of their truth, and I also believe, as I am more and 
 more concerned to be thus governed, that I shall be fa- 
 vored to stand in my lot at the end of my days. But 
 weakness and infirmity of flesh and spirit arc so much 
 mine, that except in some brighter and more favored mo- 
 menta discouragement prevails in a great degree. That 
 1 may have the sympathy of thy spirit, and that thou 
 mavst favor me with a line, I most sincerely ask, not wait- 
 ing or deferring it because of my long silence: for the 
 reasons for my not writing, above given, are true and 
 honest reason-. 
 
 I am often sensible of deep exercise and concern on ac- 
 count of our religious society, in general and more particu- 
 larly, so that I l'eel like a cask which wants vent} but no 
 way often opens by which 1 can find relief. 1 go about 
 under the weight of the exercise, wearing sackcloth as the 
 
1 58 1. | THOMAS B, GOULD, 19 
 
 king of [srac] did, in the time of the famine in Samaria, 
 inwardly upon his flesh, when the city was besieged until 
 an ass's head was sold for five pieces of Bilver. I knon 
 not but in \ case may be like thai of the lord on whose 
 hand the king leaned; who, when the prophet prophesied 
 of better things, said, " [f the Lord should make windows 
 in heaven, might these things be; n [might such a thing 
 ] and indeed the denunciation pronounced against him, 
 "Thou shalt Bee it with thine eyes, but Bhalt not eat 
 thereof," seems sometimes to apply, for I am as it were 
 in the Bight of food, but am not permitted to eat thereof. 
 But I have been comforted in the remembrance of the four 
 leprous men who sat at the gate of the city. Thou mayst 
 remember, they said one to another: "Why sit we here 
 until we die? If we enter into the city, the famine is in 
 the city, and we shall die there, and if we sit still here 
 we shall die also. Now let us fall into the camp of the 
 Assyrians ; if they Bave us alive, Ave shall live, and if they 
 kill us, we shall but die." But when they came, they 
 found no man there, but horses tied and asses tied ; for the 
 Lord had caused them to hear the sound of chariots and 
 horsemen, and they said, " The king of Israel hath hired the 
 kings of Egypt and the kings of the hills against us ;" so 
 they fled and left the camp as it was. Just so the leprous 
 men found it : and they went into one tent and ate and 
 drank, then into another ; but presently they were awak- 
 ened to a sense of the importance of their standing. 
 " What are we doing?'' was the query which arose in their 
 minds, no doubt under the influence of the same Divine 
 Light of which I have been speaking : " This is a day of 
 good tidings, and we hold our peace ; if we stay here until 
 the morning light, some mischief will befall us : now there- 
 fore come, that we may go and tell the king's household." 
 If I ever should be sent with a message to the king's house- 
 hold, or be permitted to carry good tidings there, it may 
 afford some relief; but at present it seems as if the lan- 
 guage was binding: " To thy tent, oh Israel!" And 
 indeed this is a place of safety and comfort when it is our 
 proper place, and if we have not, by our own rebellion, 
 
50 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1835. 
 
 unfitted ourselves for running with a message in the way 
 
 of the divine and holy commandments. 
 
 I bope thou will excuse the length of this, and permit 
 me again to request thee not to do as I have done. If 
 the candle of the Lord is shining upon thy dwelling; re- 
 member those that sit in darkness. For the face of the 
 whole earth is not often covered with clouds at the same 
 
 time. Had my state admitted it, I should have answered 
 thine long ere this, as J have frequently attempted it, and 
 as frequently destroyed the production. 
 
 After saying that my health lias been very poor since 
 the yearly meeting, till within a few weeks (having been 
 grievously afflicted with asthma), I conclude this by re- 
 questing thee to excuse all imperfections, and believe me 
 to be thy sincere friend, 
 
 Thomas B. Gould. 
 
 11 th of second month, 1835. 
 
 In an interview with a beloved cousin, an elder in the 
 Society, to-day, on a religious account, there was a degree 
 of encouragement afforded, which I had no expectation of, 
 and which I had no right to expect ; but I have reason to 
 think it was right, although it was something quite new to 
 me in the manner of its falling out. Yet it was formerly, 
 and in more favored and better days in our religious 
 society, very common, and would be so now if the rightly 
 exercised elders were more frequently to be found, and 
 more faithful in the discharge of their duty in the encour- 
 agement of tender-spirited and rightly-exercised friends, 
 in the more retired and secluded ranks of religious society. 
 How would those who stand in need of help and encourage- 
 ment he felt out, and their feeble hands and trembling 
 knees confirmed and strengthened ! And thus the great 
 
 end of religions associations would be promoted, and the 
 Cause of Truth might gain ground among the nations, even 
 until all flesh should see it together. T. I>. G. 
 
 [The elder alluded to was, no doubt, Stephen Gould.] 
 
1885. ] THOMAS B, QOTJLD. 51 
 
 To Georgb v. Read. 
 
 Xi w tout, rjtli of second mo., l 835, 
 
 My dbab Friend, — 
 
 My mind is very frequently and affectionately turned 
 
 towards thee, and has been bo, even before I was per- 
 ally acquainted with thee, but particularly since the 
 option of thy last letter, which tended to confirm me in 
 
 the belief, however it may end. that our correspondence 
 
 had a right beginning. 
 
 DO© 
 
 There is a marked coincidence in my own views of the 
 
 purifying tendency of those spiritual trials alluded to, 
 
 with thine; and 1 am firm in the belief (the state of the 
 church considered), that it would be a sign of death rather 
 than life, to he without them. Indeed I have seen it 
 proved to be SO. w * Plant ye vineyards, and eat the fruit 
 of them, for ye shall not go into captivity," is in the 
 mouths of many of the false prophets of the present day; 
 whereby they are deceiving themselves and the people, 
 while the precious seed is already so oppressed and capti- 
 vated in themselves, that they are without a correct know- 
 ledge of their own condition. That interesting and im- 
 portant query, u By whom shall Jacob arise, for he is 
 Bmall?" — uttered by the holy prophet, who well under- 
 stood the state of things in his day, and through the 
 medium of prophetic vision, saw far beyond, even through 
 supervening ages into the glorious Gospel day in which we 
 live, is often raised in my heart, and sometimes on my 
 tongue ; and verily, I do believe, notwithstanding the cry 
 of light, knowledge, effort, religious effort, and reforma- 
 tion, that there never was a day when this precious and 
 immortal seed was more overlooked, borne down, and 
 oppressed, than in the present. I do not suppose indeed 
 that there are many without the pale of our own Society 
 who would unite with me in the sentiment ; but truly the 
 sense that I have of these things is very deep and strong; 
 and I am firm in the belief, that if it should please the 
 Great Disposer of events to raise up and qualify such 
 instruments as our early Friends were in I lis hands, the 
 world would come as near being turned upsidedown as it 
 
52 LIFB AND LBTTBBfi [1835. 
 
 did then; and that the same persecuting spirit would be 
 lely Bpread through the nations. I do not indeed 
 
 think that it is likely many .would be put to death for 
 religion ; but I do think, if any were concerned to take 
 the same Btepa they did, that they would be very severely 
 persecuted, and by those, too, that make the highest pro- 
 won of religion without the actual | don of it. I 
 kimw indeed that the enemy's power is a limited power; 
 but if he should be disturbed, in his Popish cloak under 
 the high-sounding name of Protestantism, there is no 
 
 doubt that his enmity would he greatly excited to destroy 
 
 that which threatened the destruction of his kingdom : for 
 the hotter he can make that appear, the more subjects he 
 will have. And there is great reason to fear that many 
 of those who are bo active in the present day. are far from 
 being rightly influenced in their labors, even among the 
 
 members of Our Own Society. I would not however wish 
 
 to be understood as charging any among Friends with 
 Popery, but Borne other professors of religion are evidently 
 
 leaning that way, while they are actively engaged in en- 
 deavor- to pull it down and destroy it ; and how much 
 these rudiment- of it still visible among them tend to 
 
 weaken their hands, it requires no great degree of discern- 
 ment tO diseo\ 
 
 Too great an intimacy and union with the world has, 
 almost imperceptibly to themselves, leavened many into 
 it- spirit and maxims, and the cross of Christ has become 
 of none effect. There are many who seem to hail the in- 
 creasing disposition to mingle with them, with great joy. 
 For my own part, 1 look upon it as a mark of a declined 
 Society, and a L r i'e;it and manifest cause of the death 
 
 ami darkness bo prevalent in our assemblies. Oh. that 
 
 the time may he hastened, when the church shall come 
 
 forth out of the wilderness, fair as the moon, clear as the 
 sun, ami terrible as an army with banners ! We have 
 become a great and respectable people, and we may he 
 
 killed with kindness ; and in proportion a^> we mix, unad- 
 visedly, with other-, our own peculiar testimonies will go 
 into disuse : indeed 1 think there is ;i danger of some of 
 them being tost : and I d<> verily believe that we are as 
 
1885. ] THOMAS B. OOULD. 58 
 
 much bound to dwell alone, and not to be reckoned among 
 the nations, afl ever ancimt Israel was, and thai there 
 
 peculiar testimonies given us to bear. 
 
 There is nt>thing, 1 apprehend, more irksome and con- 
 trary to the natural mind, than those necessary and salu- 
 tary restraints imposed upon us by an entire dependence 
 upon, and a reverent waiting for, the word of divine com- 
 mandment and the unfolding of divine counsel, BO ah 
 lutely necessary to the acceptable performance of religious 
 duties. The check is too severe to be submitted to by 
 many, and hence arises that superficial and unbaptizing 
 ministry bo prevalent among us, as well as among other 
 professors of Christianity. An ardent desire to do good 
 
 and to promote the great cause in the earth, may even 
 
 proceed from the transformations of the adversary, if the 
 creaturely will is not so completely reduced as that there 
 is none left. And here there will he no chance for him 
 
 to work, as it comes to be so reduced and slain ; for lie 
 cannot work upon that measure of divine grace ; with 
 which we have all been favored in a greater or less 
 decree ; and when this is suffered to come into dominion, 
 then all his deceitful baits will be brought to light and to 
 judgment ; and this he cannot endure ; there is nothing 
 he more sincerely hateth, and therefore he must and will 
 flee. The solicitude I feel is very great, that all those 
 concerned may be careful to know the putting forth of 
 the holy finger, and the limitations also : then should not 
 only those on whom the labor was bestowed be helped and 
 strengthened, but the instrument also ; those that preach 
 the Gospel should in reality live of the Gospel : and the 
 Apostle Paul gives this plain reason : " For the laborer is 
 worthy of his hire." 
 
 It was very satisfactory to me to receive the intelligence 
 that thou hadst been reading Friends' books. I do sin- 
 cerely wish it was more generally the case. Next to the 
 Holy Scriptures, I believe them to be the most profitable 
 kind of reading in which we can be engaged ; and I am 
 firm in the belief, if it was more generally the case among 
 our young Friends, as well as some older ones, there would 
 be less disposition to mingle with the world, and to copy 
 
54 LIFE AND LETTKBS OF [18 
 
 its customs and manners. It has been very convincing 
 and confirming to me to meet, in them, with views which 
 accorded exactly with openings I had been previously 
 favored with ; and although at the time 1 had no doubt of 
 their divine original, yel I have been ready to compare it 
 to a threefold cord that is not easily broken. 
 
 That thou and I may be increasingly careful to seek 
 for and to follow Him who was given for a light unto the 
 people, a leader and a commander of the people, is what 
 1 greatly desire. Here I believe we should be favored 
 with that Imly help which is sufficient to supply every 
 lack, and to heal every wound ; and thus coming to re- 
 ceive with meekness the engrafted Word, should be nour- 
 ished and grow thereby, and be favored to fill our several 
 allotments with religious propriety. 
 
 Thou wilt perceive that I have continued my scrawl to 
 considerable length again ; and after requesting thee to 
 excuse all imperfections (for I have written it in the mill, 
 and while it lias been going, as I do nearly all that I do 
 
 write), I conclude, 
 
 Thy sincere friend, 
 
 Thomas B. Gould. 
 
 From Thomas P>. Gould to 
 
 Third month, 5th, 1835. 
 
 In looking a little towards thee lately, my spirit has 
 been impressed with this language : %k Thus saith the 
 Master, my time is at hand ; I will keep the passover at 
 thy house with my disciples.' 1 Thou maysl remember it 
 was addressed by our blessed Lord to one of His disciples, 
 in answer to the query, "Where wilt thou that we prepare 
 for thee to i at the passover?" And they were commanded 
 to enter into a certain city, and informed that they should 
 meet a man bearing a pitcher of water, whom they should 
 follow into that house wherein he entered, and should 
 salute the good man of the house with that salutation 
 
 above quoted ; and they were further informed that lie 
 
 Bhould .-how them a large upper room, furnished and pre- 
 
•").] Til 
 
 II I! 
 
 v. mj friend, I 
 
 ear i I with 
 
 furnis 
 
 . i 
 
 her of 
 that thou art at 
 
 .dually fulfilled. 1 
 _ 
 iply with tli- 
 
 iiilfilment of the pron. 
 " I will BU] I 
 
 that t! litiona] promise of thi 
 
 ry, ti- 
 lt thou keep Him His 
 already * the dr 
 ght! Open unto Him: be 
 
 I, and to follow in the way of B ling, :i in 
 
 that sure of divine light He lias been pi to en- 
 
 _ .ten thee withal, and ol grace with which he h 
 thee. B shall * 1 be filled with fat iOu 
 
 wil: run with patience the race set bef 
 
 they that run in a race run all : 
 and I verily believe, not only a iarg I of labor would 
 
 open before the so. The 
 
 In thy can 
 langnag If made ins; 
 
 mental in turning the poop. nd no: 
 
 but as thou submitted onto His yoke, it w 
 
 « 
 
 \ and Hifi len wc rough pla - 
 
 would be made smooth, and crooked path- .it. 
 
 N thing but the opposition of our owi willfl 
 
 :he way of our advancement, in conjui: itli 
 
 the of him who is seek: 
 
 v whom he c d another. I h:. 
 
 plicit as I m . from I that 
 thou canst understand wh if I am not 
 mistaken in my fee. It und Li! 
 
56 LOTS AND LBTTBRfl OF [18! 
 
 MEMORANDUM, 1885, 
 
 "Departed this life, on the eleventh of third month, 
 L835, my endeared friend, Abigail Robinson. b her 
 death, the Society of which she had been an eminently 
 useful member from early life, and minister for forty years, 
 (she being in the seventy-seventh year of her aire) has met 
 with no common bereavement. She was a woman erf un- 
 common intellectual strength and clearness, united with 
 mnch improvement in the literary way ; and over and 
 above all other considerations, was added that of dee]) re- 
 ligious experience, SO that she became, like Deborah, a 
 mother in Israel. And oh! how few such she has left 
 
 behind her ^ in the consideration of which, how doth my 
 spirit mourn! And I can adopt the language: 'The 
 fathers, where are they ? the prophets, do they live for- 
 ever?' 0, Thou, who raised her up, fitted and qualified 
 her for eminent usefulness in thy church, be pleased to 
 cause the mantles of the Elijahs of the present day to rest 
 upon theElishas; even a double portion of thy Spirit, 
 that BO there may he a succession of standard-hearers and 
 te8timony-bearers continued in the church, that the pre- 
 cious testimonies of everlasting truth may he faithfully 
 Supported, and may never be suffered to fall to the ground ! 
 
 " As it respects myself, in this afflicting bereavement, my 
 greatest desire 1 think is, that I may be enabled to seek 
 out what this dispensation is speaking unto me in particu- 
 lar : that BO 1 may he enabled to turn it to a good account : 
 being linn in the belief that trouble ariseth not out of the 
 dust, nor affliction out of the ground, but that every afHic- 
 tion is Buffered to fall upon us for some wise and benevo- 
 lent end. And if this has a tendency to drive me closer 
 home, even into a nearer and more intimate union with 
 that Friend who sticketh closer than a brother. I may 
 witness improvement by it as the instrumental means. 
 
 •• 1 1th of third month, at two o'clock, attended the funeral 
 of my dear departed friend, at her late residence on the 
 Point. Although the ground was exceedingly wet, it was 
 
 largely attended, and by the most respectable inhabitants 
 
 of the town; and we wore favored, as 1 apprehend, with 
 
1 B8& ) THoMAS l:. Q01 I.I>. 57 
 
 the overshadowing wine of Ancient Goodness, through a 
 
 • inir than usual ; in which bu1 li \ in 
 
 mony was borne to the Christian virtues, exemplary life, 
 and peaceful close of the dear deceased, and to the precious 
 truth she made profession of, and lived in the possession 
 My mind was weightily impressed with that injunc- 
 tion of our blessed Lord, * Watch therefore, for ye know 
 not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at 
 midnight, or at the cock-crowing, or in the morning. 
 Blessed arc those servants, whom the Lord, when he 
 cometh, shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that 
 lie shall gird himself and make them to sir down to meat, 
 
 and will come forth and Berve them. 1 Although I cannot 
 
 help thinking that this relates to that intimate union 
 which subsists between the adorable Head, ami the humble, 
 
 Watchful members of the militant church on earth, vet I 
 
 do not think it would l>e straining the text, to apply it to 
 that watchfulness and earnest expectation with which the 
 mi ml redeemed from the earth waits for the coming of the 
 Lord Jesus, to conduct it safely through the dark valley 
 of the shadow of death to the church triumphant in heaven. 
 And from my personal knowledge of the state of her mind 
 for a long time before, but particularly near the close of 
 her probationary existence, I think it may in this case 
 apply to it. Indeed it seemed to be the posthumous lan- 
 guage of my precious friend to me in particular, and power- 
 fully exhorted me to such a life of dedication to the cause, 
 and patient waiting for the power of truth, by which that 
 bread i^ still mercifully broken, and handed in secret, for 
 the sustenance and the strengthening of the hungry soul, 
 enabling it to hold up the head and journey forward in 
 the line of divine appointment, however hard to the fleshly 
 part. And nothing else can give strength adequate to the 
 performance of this great and all-important work." 
 
 MEMORANDUM, WITnOUT DATE, PROBABLY 1836. 
 
 " Our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and 
 our sins testify Against as; for our transgressions arcwith 
 
 us, and as for our iniquities, we know them." Isaiah o ( J : 12. 
 
58 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1835. 
 
 Yet I feel bonne! with thankfulness to acknowledf 
 that this day in meeting I was favored, while reviewing 
 and bemoaning my Bad condition, with a renewed and 
 lively sense of this truth, namely: that as I was engaged 
 to stand still in that Light which made the evil manifest, 
 I Bhonld be favored with power and Btrength to withstand 
 the fiery darts of the devil ; the Light being nothing l< 
 than the Seed of the woman, which is alone able to bruise 
 the head of the serpent, and t<> which the promise is that 
 it Bhall do it. Notwithstanding this is no new doctrine 
 with me, but one that 1 have long believed in, yea, at 
 times (in better days perhaps) have felt concerned to re- 
 commend to others, yet the revival of it in my remem- 
 brance at a time when I was ready to adopt the language 
 above quoted, and other parts of this fifty-ninth chapter 
 of Isaiah, did convey encouragement to my distressed mind, 
 believing it to have been produced by the influence of the 
 Holy Spirit, which is also called the Comforter; and it 
 was declared concerning him, by the Master, while on 
 earth, that when he was come, he should not only reprove 
 or convince the world of sin, of righteousness and of judg- 
 ment, but should bring all tilings into their remembrance, 
 whatsoever he had spoken unto them; and further, "He 
 shall take of mine and show it unto you." 
 
 Although I am far from believing that the Holy Spirit 
 influences only in subordination to the Scriptures, or rather 
 only through them as instruments, and through providen- 
 tial occurrences, yet I believe it is not inconsistent with 
 the will and pleasure of Almighty Goodness, powerfully 
 and profitably to impress the mind through these mediums. 
 With respect to the Scriptures, I readily and heartily sub- 
 scribe to the sentiment, that whatsoever any do, pretending 
 to the Spirit, contrary to them, may be justly accounted 
 a delusion of the devil. 
 
 From Tiioma- P>. Gould to 
 
 Xi :w port, 27th of 3d mo , 1835. 
 My OEAB FRIBND : 
 
 Although I greatly desire to be preserved from pre- 
 
183-"'. ] THOMAS B. GOUi.n. 
 
 ramptuous -in-, yel I am at times f I to foe) a living 
 
 m to be round faithful in the work of my day; ana 
 a part of that work may possibly be to " comfort I that 
 mourn, to preach deliverance to the captives, and the 
 opening of the prison doors to them that are bound/ 1 I 
 do not, however, mean to be understood, in the line of 
 public ministry, or that I possess any power or might of 
 my own, sufficient for these things; but as 1 do myself 
 highly value instrumental labor, and have realized its 
 blessed effect in some measure, so I am inclined to believe 
 that it is sometimes bestowed on others, not only with the 
 appearance, but with the efficacy and power of truth. 
 Under these impressions, then, permit me to expostulate a 
 little with thee, and to recommend the apostle's advice, 
 
 u Whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the 
 same rule, let us mind the same thing." If thou hast not 
 been sensible of earnest and living desires having been 
 raised in thy heart, similar to that of the church to the 
 spouse, " Tell me, oh thou, whom my soul loveth, where 
 thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest as at 
 noon," I am greatly mistaken in my feelings and views 
 concerning thee. And if this is the case, which I am 
 confident it is, then let nothing prevent thee from continu- 
 ing thy search until thou hast found Him whom thou seek- 
 est. Although it is not an impossibility that "the Lord 
 whom thou seek est" may come " suddenly into his temple," 
 thy heart, with great power, majesty and might, so that it 
 may be filled therewith in a remarkable manner, yet " if 
 he tarry, wait for him;" and in the meantime be en- 
 treated to remember, that through that long journey the 
 children of Israel took, through the Red Sea and the wil- 
 derness, their garments "waxed not old, neither did their 
 feet swell;" and that the Lord would not bring them by 
 the way of the land of the Philistines, though that was 
 near, lest peradventure, their heart should melt when they 
 saw war, and they should turn back into Egypt ; but 
 brought them up by the way of the Red Sea and the 
 wilderness, yea, " he led them about and instructed them." 
 Oh, that thy faith in him may be strengthened, that 
 thou mayst indeed believe him near, as indeed he is about 
 
60 LIFE AM) LETTERS OF [1835. 
 
 our bed, and about our path, and spieth out all our wa 
 
 thai neither thou oor any other hath need to Bay, and 
 the apostle says, " Say n Bhall ascend into heai 
 
 to bring Christ down from above, or who shall descend 
 into the deep, to bring him up again from the dead?" I 
 want thee to pay particular attention to this caution, and 
 also to the remarkable testimony to his inward appearance, 
 which immediately follows: "But what saith it? The 
 word is nigh thee, oven in thy heart and in thy mouth." 
 lie also adds, - This is theword of faith which we preach/ 4 
 Now it was by an attention to this same word of faith, 
 that the elder.- obtained a good report ; and it is a living 
 efficacious faith, by which a man may even live, and it 
 works by love to the purifying of the heart. They whose 
 conduct is governed by this divine principle of life and 
 power, are not stimulated to holiness of life and conversa- 
 tion by fear of punishment, but by love. They love the 
 Father because He first loved them, and gave his only- 
 begotten Son a ransom for them, that whosoever believeth 
 in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life ; and 
 the apostle Says, k * 'Hie life that I now live in the fiesh, I 
 live by faith in the Son of God ;" — faith in his inward ap- 
 pearance, as well as his outward and visible appearanee, 
 no doubt. So thou wilt perceive that k * without faith it is 
 impossible to please God :" hence the great desire and con- 
 Cem that I feel lor thee, that thy faith may be Strength- 
 ened in the reality of those divine requirements that may 
 be made at thy hands : being firm in the belief that among 
 those that have been doomed to everlasting destruction 
 from the presence of the Lord, not a lew of them have 
 been so from the fact that they refused to admit the truth 
 of this doctrine : and others, who admitted it, yea, were 
 convinced of its truth beyond a doubt, refused to comply 
 
 with its requisitions because they were so small; in like 
 
 manner as it was -aid of the Master himself, " \ ^ not this 
 the carpenter's son ? are not his brethren and sisters all 
 with us?" So that there is great danger of overlooking 
 
 this "grain of mustard-seed," this "little leaven," or, to 
 
 change the similitude, this "one talent/ 5 which the man 
 
 to whom it was committed hid in a napkin, because it was 
 
1885. ) mas b, aoi u>. 61 
 
 l>Ut one ; while it WOuld 1 ftfl 
 
 r tin- five wrvi- for those to whom those muni' 
 ^vic commit ted. 
 
 1 want thee truly and honestly to give these hints that 
 weight they may appear to deserve, notwithstanding the 
 of the instrument, or the homely and bungling 
 manner in which they arc thrown out ; for I apprehend 
 that my views in this arc of a more exalted nature than 
 to hare attempted any display, had I been capable of it. 
 And Buffer me to add that I firmly believe, as thou art 
 
 teemed to ad consistently with the light thou art fa- 
 vored with, thou wilt in due time become wiser than thy 
 teachers, and wilt witness the restoration of paths for the 
 lame to walk in. by ffifl holy help who remains to be the 
 
 epairer of breaches;" that the mists and the clouds 
 that the enemy has been permitted to raise, will be dispel- 
 led by the brightness of the arising of the Sun of righteous- 
 
 s, which lias been predicted and signified by the morn- 
 ing star already appearing in thy horizon : which is a sure 
 guide to further illumination, as it is attended to: that SO 
 thou mayst happily experience the work to go progressively 
 on, and be enabled to cast off thy old garments as they 
 become burdensome, which they soon will, if thou art faith- 
 ful : for I do believe, that as thy eyes become afresh 
 anointed with the eye-salve of the heavenly kingdom, thou 
 wilt see thyself to be clothed in rags, as all have ever been 
 favored to see, that have been concerned to obtain the 
 u linen pure and white, which is the righteousness of 
 saints/' and to be clothed upon by it. As this becomes 
 thy happy experience, thou wilt see the dead formality in 
 which the generality of the professors of the Christian 
 name are living, and their ministers are preaching, and 
 wilt be prepared to adopt the language of Job, u Can that 
 which is unsavory be eaten without salt, or is there any 
 taste in the white of an egg?" also to see how much their 
 labor is to keep people in the dark, that all they have may 
 come through them. And how much they contribute to 
 this end, the present state of the churches bears ample 
 evidence to those who have had an eye opened to discover 
 the signs of the times, which are indeed gloomy ; for the 
 
 G 
 
62 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1830. 
 
 tongues of the Bucking children cleave unto the roofs of 
 their mouths for thirst ; yea, when the children ask bread, 
 
 no man breaketh it unto them. 
 
 But under this gloomy view of things, I have been com- 
 forted, while writing, in the renewed belief that the foun- 
 dation of our God Btandeth sure, having this seal, the 
 Lord knoweth them thai are Bis; and that Jle is still re- 
 deeming by His precious blood, sprinkled indeed upon 
 their hearts and consciences, to the remission of sins that 
 are past, through His forbearance; and by the powerful 
 operation of Hi> Holy Spirit, redeeming from the power 
 of Bin Buch as shall be Baved \f they continue faithful* 
 
 Here thou wilt be favored, by the immediate openings of 
 the pure truth upon thy mind, and by living experience, 
 to know what it is to have thy heart sprinkled from an 
 evil conscience, and thy body washed with pure water, — 
 the baptism which alone saveth, — and to eat clean pro- 
 vender which has been winnowed with the shovel and the 
 fan, even to eat the flesh and to drink the blood of the Son 
 of man: not any outward flesh or material blood, but in 
 the mystery : thou shalt eat, and thy soul be satisfied with 
 marrow and fatness, for His flesh is meat indeed, and His 
 blood is drink indeed; His words, they are spirit and they 
 are life, and whosoever drinketh the water that He giv< 
 they thirst not, neither go to any inferior spring to draw, 
 for it remains in them a well of living water, springing up 
 unto everlasting life. Here He is known to be the resur- 
 rection and the life, and whosoever believeth in Him, 
 though he were dead, yet he comes to be renewed, quick- 
 ened, and made truly alive unto God. And as thou goest 
 On in the heavenly race, thou shalt experience further this 
 truth, k * he that liveth and believeth in me shall never die :" 
 and here coming to this blessed experience, thy curiosity 
 about the resurrection of the bodv will be staved, and thou 
 
 >halt be made quite willing to leave it where the Holy 
 
 Spirit h-ft it in the Scriptures. However, ** thy flesh shall 
 
 res! in hope." having seen the Father; for whosoever hath 
 
 11 the Son hath -ecu the Father also, for "no man 
 
 knoweth the Father, save the Son and he to whom the Son 
 
 shall reveal Him;" and the revelation of the Son to profit 
 
8. | THOMAS i:. GOULD. 68 
 
 is only in and by tin* Spirit. For notwithstanding the 
 T our blessed Lord had been so long time with 
 Him, had Been tin 4 mighty works which He wrought, 
 they knew Him not; as is plain by the reply that Philip 
 made to the declaration of the Waster, when he said, 
 k% Show n- the Father, and it sufficeth as." The reply made 
 by our blessed Lord is very striking : ** Have I been so long 
 time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip?' 1 
 for it appears thai He had told them, that "whosoever had 
 n the Son had seen the Father also;" to which he re- 
 turned, "Show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. n Oh! 
 it -onus to me that this is sufficient to convince any. that 
 
 they know Him not, as He was the living and eternal Son, 
 
 until He had been revealed unto them by the Spirit : for 
 
 He expressly declared to Peter, that flesh and blood had 
 
 not revealed it unto him, "but my Father who is in hea- 
 ven ; n and strengthened and confirmed this view by say- 
 ing, "Yes, thou art Peter, and on this rock I will build 
 
 my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against 
 
 it." But Peter was a poor, frail man, although an emi- 
 nent diseiple : hut all those that have known their founda- 
 tion to he on this immovable Rock of divine immediate 
 revelation, on these, as they keep their feet, all storms 
 and tempests beat in vain, because they are founded on a 
 rock, an immutable rock, the foundation laid in Zion. 
 "Behold I lay in Zion, for a foundation, a stone, a tried 
 ne, a sure foundation ; whosoever bclieveth thereon 
 shall not make haste." This is that upon which David 
 was favored to know his feet established, that was higher 
 than he, when he had the new song put into his mouth, 
 even high praises to His name, who had established him 
 thereon that he could not be removed, because He had 
 made u a covenant with him, ordered in all things and 
 sure," even the "sure mercies of David;" than whom 
 none I believe of the servants of the Lord in those days 
 experienced a greater degree of illumination in the way 
 that we contend for it. Hence arose those very numerous 
 testimonies to its excellency; as when he implied it by 
 saying, '-Oh, send out thy light and thy truth; let them 
 lead me ; let them bring me to thy holy hill and to thy 
 
64 LOTS AND LETTERS OF [1836. 
 
 tabernacles : n then, said he, "I will teach trail 
 thy ' nd sinners shall ] rerted anto thee.' 1 oh ! 
 
 the preciousness of being brought to the holy hill and 
 tabernacle of God, by the arising of this Divine Light in 
 the soul, and the establishment of truth there ! Here an 
 experience is attained of offering unto the Lord an offering 
 in righteousness, even a pure offering; for I do assuredly 
 believe thai when we are favored with a just sense of the 
 relation in which we stand to our Father who is in heaven, 
 as ^e abide under that influence by which the sense is 
 given, we are favored by the same influence to see that the 
 living only can praise Him acceptably, thai "the dead 
 cannot praise" Him. From this, ardent desires are raised 
 in the soul, to ]>e quickened and made truly alive unto 
 Him; and as this is the case, our prayers (though they 
 may be hut sighs or groans rightly begotten, or tears shed 
 in truth) will arise before Him as " sweet incense," and 
 the "lifting up of our hands as the evening sacrifice;" 
 yea, they will be abundantly more acceptable than the 
 most eloquent words or sublime expressions uttered when 
 the heart is far from Him, because they are the smug- 
 glings and the groanings of His seed under oppression, as 
 it was in Egypt under the hard taskmasters. But the 
 precious and consoling language uttered on that occasion 
 .-till continues to hold good: " I have seen, I have seen 
 the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have 
 heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them." 
 Notwithstanding thy task may be doubled, and thou niayst 
 be required to make brick as it were without straw, verily 
 I say unto thee, as thou art concerned to follow Moses thy 
 leader, thou shah be delivered; yea, when darkness covers 
 
 all the land of Egypt, thou slialt have light in thy ( Joshen : 
 for all the children of Israel, the true seed, the wrestling 
 
 1 of Jacob, "had light in their dwellings;" and when 
 the destroying angel shall be sent through all the land to 
 & istroy the first-born, k * from the first-born <>f Pharaoh that 
 
 -ill on the throne, to the first-born of the beggar that 
 si tteth on the dunghill/ 9 the destruction shall not come nigh 
 thee, " the lintel and the two side-posts of thy door" having 
 
1886.] THOMAS B. QOULD. 65 
 
 'i Bprinkled frith blood, although Burely it may have 
 •i by a bunch of hj a bitter herb) dipped therein. 
 
 That thou mayst come to experience these things, is 
 what I greatly desire for thee; and may I not Bay, I tra- 
 vail with thee, that "Christ may be formed in fche< 
 for except this is the case, all that He has done for us, 
 
 without US, will be of no avail to US. This then is the 
 
 work of regeneration, by which we become "new crea- 
 tures, n haying new faculties communicated and dispenc 
 
 unto us, that "as we have home the image of the earthly, 
 we may also bear the image of the heavenly," and may 
 lie enabled to taste the doctrines and try the fruits of 
 other-. The spirit f true judgment will he given, as 
 
 it is written, " 1 will ho a spirit of judgment to them that 
 .-it in judgment;" ami strength will be afforded to "turn 
 the battle to the irate:" at which gaining an entrance by 
 following the Captain who never yet was foiled in battle, 
 noi his armies put to flight, thou wilt gain an admission 
 into that city, ** whose wails are salvation, ami wh< 
 gates are praise." . . . T. B. Gouli*. 
 
 The novel doctrines of the party which seceded about tin's 
 period from the Society in England, known commonly under 
 the name of the " Beacon" secession, had for some time been 
 favorably received and promoted by Elisha Bates of Ohio, 
 and by some in high standing and great influence in New 
 England Yearly Meeting. They went so far in their de- 
 sire to spread these innovating views, as to make a remark- 
 able, though at that time an unsuccessful attempt, to intro- 
 duce the book entitled " The Beacon," into the Boarding 
 School at Providence, R. I., under the charge of the 
 Yearly Meeting. Seth and Mary Davis, avIio were then 
 superintendents of that institution, and that faithful elder 
 Moses Brown, one of the committee, then in very advanced 
 age, were firm and decided in their opposition to the intro- 
 duction of such a work, and by their steadfastness incurred 
 the hostility of those who promoted the innovation. Some 
 of the publications of the Beaconite schism reached the 
 hands of Thomas B. Gould, lie was not slow to per- 
 ceive their unsound nature, and endeavored to warn his 
 
 6* 
 
G6 LIFE AND LETTKBS OF [1S3G. 
 
 their dangerous tendency. He saw, too, 
 that these attacks upon the faith of our forefathers were 
 of the very Bame origin as the errors of Joseph John Gur- 
 ney, and that the writings of the latter had indeed been 
 greatly instrumental in promoting those outward and 
 superficial view.-, into which these people sought to leaven 
 3 ciety. 
 
 From T. B. G. to Setii and Mart Davis. 
 
 Newport, I5tb u\' 3d mo., 1836. 
 My dbar Friends, Seth and Mary Davis: 
 
 I believe I can Bay in truth, that I have 
 
 felt my mind drawn into near sympathy and unity with 
 
 you in your many trials and exercises in the midst of a 
 crooked and perverse generation, and a deeply revolted 
 and backslidden people; and in your honest and faithful 
 labors to exalt the standard of Truth, and support the tes- 
 timonies thereof, amongst those who are turning their hacks 
 upon the one, and trampling the other under their feet. 
 
 I have nor been altogether ignorant of the persecution 
 which has fallen to your let since you left your own peace- 
 ful abode, and undertook the arduous care of the Institu- 
 tion ; hut, my dear friends, "if ye be reproached for the 
 name of Christ, happy are ye, for the spirit of glory and 
 of God resteth upon you." This, I have no doubt, you 
 have witnessed to your consolation and support, while the 
 id of dust, which the enemy has been permitted to raise 
 tins! you, has been returned with accumulated strength 
 into the very faces of those who have been instrumental 
 in promoting his wicked designs; for you may remember 
 the Apostle immediately adds, "On their part he is evil 
 ken of, but on your part he is glorified/' 
 I could have wished, for the Truth's sake, that your 
 healths would have admitted your longer stay; for I do 
 assuredly know thai your management, and the wisdom 
 which has been displayed therein, has given satisfaction 
 to nil those whose visi< mfficiently clear to discrimi- 
 
 nate between thing and thing, and who are yet able to 
 give the " Living child to the right mother." But ale 
 
L8J inoMAfl i . li». 61 
 
 the number of tl Bmall indeed, compared witb th 
 
 who either openly deny, or undervalue, or disregard the 
 only appointed and consecrated n of attaining the 
 
 spirit of a sound mind, and of true judgment : for it is 
 written, U I will be a spirit of judgment t<> them that 
 in judgment :" and if //< who is, indeed, the R rfid 
 mseUor^ is rejected, and not suffered to bear rule, and 
 the government I upon // r : — which you well 
 
 kno . be the case, even while the a loud cry of 
 
 " Lord ! Lord !" — it is no marvel that there Bhould be con- 
 fusion, and that the language should be confounded, — 
 that one Bhould be crying "Lo, here!' 1 and the other 
 U L ' — for this has guishing charac- 
 
 teristic of all the B the days of Noah 
 
 a until now. However, I do believe, that the stone 
 which has been Bet at nought, and rejected by these wise 
 builders, is indeed) the Headstone of the corner, the Rock 
 on which the true Church is built, and against which the 
 >f hell can never prevail. I also believe that the 
 object of the saints' faith is unchangeable; that it has 
 been the same in all ages, and will so continue; that 
 none but those who come by their faith in the same v 
 that Peter did, are members of this Church, or true be- 
 lievers in the Lord of life and glory, or can possibly 
 inherit, or will receive the blessing pronounced upon him, 
 "Blessed art thou, Simon Barjonah, for flesh and bl 
 hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father who is in 
 en." 
 Now if we can obtain true and saving faith, andjusti- 
 tion thereby, in any other way than the saints informer 
 9 did, even by divine, immediate revelation, then a 
 man may call God, Father, — and Jesus, Lord, and not 
 by the Holy Ghost; which would be and is, a manifi 
 contradiction of plain Scripture doctrine. 
 
 I should not probably have blundered on these things 
 
 this time, if I had not most surely believed that the 
 
 and of the opposition which has been manifested to 
 
 you, is the same as that which is Beeking to overturn 
 
 those precious principles and doctrines which I have 
 
 briefly hinted at ; indeed they seemed to lie so much in 
 
G8 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1836. 
 
 my way, thai T could not well gel over them ; but while I 
 have been writing, I have been forcibly reminded of the 
 striking similarity there is between your case and that of 
 the prophet Daniel, against whom his adversaries were 
 forced to confess they should not be able to find an occa- 
 sion, except concerning the law of his God. 
 
 Well, my dear friends, may you continue to go on in 
 this your might, and fight valiantly for the faith which 
 was once delivered to the saints, and has been testified 
 unto by a cloud of witnesses, even down to the present 
 day, and in it. notwithstanding it is a day of so deep re- 
 volt from the law and the testimony. For the Land) and 
 
 His followers will have the victory, seeing He never was 
 
 foiled in battle nor His armies put to flight, so long as 
 they fought with reference to His divine counsel and 
 under His banner: and as I am a believer in the doctrine 
 that the weapons of this warfare are not carnal, I cannot 
 help being grieved to Bee those who have begun in the 
 Spirit, seeking to be made perfect by the flesh, winch, 
 indeed, profiteth nothing. ...... 
 
 I suppose you have seen Elisha Bates's "Vindication." 
 
 . . . . I have greatly feared that it would do much hurt, 
 and even tend to separate some still more widely from the 
 Truth, who have already lost their innocency and integrity, 
 as well as wisdom and judgment. Oh, it Beems as if the 
 language of lamentation might be rightly taken up, "How 
 are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished ! 
 Tell it not in (lath, publish it not in the streets of Askc- 
 lon, — lot the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the 
 daughters of the uncircumcised triumph !" It lias, with 
 me. utterly failed of vindicating his character; for if the 
 principles and doctrine- he has there defended be the 
 
 doctrines of the Gospel, — to say nothing about Quaker- 
 ism, — I never understood them at all : and if the doc- 
 trine of Justification by Faith, which we hear so much 
 
 about, be a justification while sin remains, by imputed 
 righteousness, without good works being in very deed 
 
 produced by the Spirit — I deny it. For this is "another 
 
 G -pel ;" seeing the very purpose for which the Son ami 
 sent of the Father was manifested in the flesh, was, to 
 
1 B36, | THOU \s B. QOl LD. 
 
 M <l ' the dei il, M I h trail 
 
 to put an end t" -in. and to bring in everlasting i 
 
 There is another expn which he has used in the 
 
 M Vindication," and in bis public ministry, — I have often 
 heard others use it of late — other ministers — via., k, -il<-nt 
 meditation/ 1 Now this does nol convey to my mind the 
 same idea which I have been led to believe silent waiting 
 upon the Lard to mean : it semis rather to mean soi 
 thing which we may propose to ourselves to reflect upon, — 
 
 ie subject — some theme — and nol that patient waiting 
 for Christ, for the arising of His precious and Divine Life 
 in the soul, or for the renewal of strength there, agreeable 
 to that of the prophet [saiah, — "they that wait upon the 
 Lord shall renew their Btrength ; they shall mount up- 
 wards with wings as eagles, — they shall run and not be 
 
 try, — they Bhall walk and not faint." Now I can con- 
 ceive of a state in which there may he outward silence, 
 and there may be meditation, it may be on subjects that 
 are good in themselves, and proper in their places ; and 
 yet there may be no waiting on the Lord, — no mounting 
 upwards above our own thoughts, — no renewal of strength, 
 spiritually, — nothing in it all which would enable us to run 
 in the way of the Lord's commandments and not be weary, 
 or to walk therein and not faint. No, but it would effec- 
 tually prevent us from coining to a knowledge of what His 
 mind and will concerning us is, because it would be doing 
 <>ur own works, and thinking our own thoughts, while the 
 holy Apostle spoke of a state, in which "every thought" 
 was brought "into subjection to the obedience of Christ." 
 This I conceive to be the only way in which a preparation 
 to perform true and acceptable worship can be attained to, 
 agreeably to the well-known principles of truth as pro- 
 fessed by Friends formerly, but which now appears to be 
 too strait for these " sons of the prophets" to dwell in. 
 It would have been well for them and us, however, before 
 they undertook to enlarge their dwelling, if they had con- 
 sulted the true prophet, and said, u Be content, we pray 
 thee, and go with us ;" but this does not appear to have 
 been the case, — it is evident they have gone alone, and 
 
70 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [183G. 
 
 gone where, had they followed His leading, they never 
 would have been found. The axe-head, too, lias fallen 
 into the water: it appears in some instances to have been 
 "borrowed," but for my part I see little probability of its 
 being made to "swim" again, for I very much fear there 
 will not be an application to that Heavenly Power which 
 
 alone can make it. 
 
 Indeed, I am entirely at a loss to reconcile his manner 
 of treating the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead, 
 and of judgment, with what I believe to be the truth ; as 
 
 well as his specious endeavor to elevate the Scriptures 
 above the place in which Friends have held them ; and 
 the subject of missions, the latter being one with which 
 Friends have nothing to do, as they are at present con- 
 ducted. ..... . 
 
 After requesting to be excused for the liberty I am 
 taking, as well as all other imperfections (seeing I have 
 written in my mill, while it has been grinding fast). I 
 conclude by asking you to accept my dear love; I would 
 add. in the everlasting and unchangeable Truth, if I were 
 not afraid of presuming beyond what I have yet attained 
 to, even a possession therein : which, however, I am, I 
 trU8t, at times sincerely desirous may be the case. 
 
 Thomas B. Gould. 
 
 From T. B. Gould to 
 
 Ni: wport, 1st of Gth mo., 1836. 
 
 My endeared Friend and longed-for in tiik Lord: 
 
 My mind has been very deeply exercised and concerned 
 on thy account, the whole time I have been awake, since 
 I loft thy house on first-day evening; so that tears have 
 been as my sorrowful meat, while my spirit has been im- 
 pressed with this language, in the firm belief that it is 
 sorrowfully verified in thy case: "A certain man went 
 dottm from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thiev< 
 who robbed him, and wounded him, leaving him half dead." 
 Now, my dear friend, I believe thou hast very lately been 
 favored with a renewed Bight of Jerusalem, the quiet liabi- 
 
1836.] THOMAS B. QOl LB. 71 
 
 tation, the tabernacle thai Bhould no1 have been taken 
 down. Not one of the cords thereof Bhould have been 
 broken, nor one of the Btakea Bhould ever have been re- 
 moved, it' thou hadsl steadily and singly kept thine eye 
 to thai Light by which, and by which alone, thou couldsl 
 isibly be enabled lee it. Bui instead thereof, thou 
 
 nasi descended from Jerusalem to Jericho, the city thai 
 was destined to utter destruction : and here thou hasl 
 fallen among thieves, who have robbed thee of the precious 
 if good with which thou wast renewedly favored, and 
 which it Bhould have been thy care by all means to have 
 kept ; agreeably to the solemn injunction, k * Keep that 
 which thou hast, and let no man take thy crown." Yea, 
 they have wounded the precious life, which is more than 
 the meat which perisheth, and have left thee " half dead." 
 
 as to any sensible feeling and enjoyment of it. For thou 
 mayst remember the declaration of our Divine Lord and 
 Master, "the life is more than meat, and the body than 
 raiment." Now, although thou mayst obtain food for that 
 part in thee which is designed for utter destruction, by 
 thus descending as from Jerusalem to Jericho, yet it a v 1 1 1 
 only increase thy woe and misery ; it will render thee 
 barren and unfruitful in that which is most excellent. 
 And this is what the Apostle recommended should be pre- 
 ferred and sought after ; and not only so — for except 
 the branch abide in the vine it cannot bear fruit of itself, 
 but shall be "cast forth as a branch," and when it is so 
 i forth, "men gather them, and they are burned." 
 Truly, my dear friend, hast thou not experienced this sor- 
 rowfully to be the case, when, for want of abiding in the 
 Vine of life which has been made to shoot forth in thee, 
 and for want of keeping the house and abiding in thy tent, 
 thou hast gone forth without the sacred inclosure ? — how 
 have the men of the world gathered thee, and thou hast 
 been burned by their scorching, withering, and blasting 
 influence ! On the other hand, when thou hast kept better 
 company, hast thou not been at times sensibly leavened 
 with good ? Hast thou not been sensible of the prevalence 
 of earnest and living desires raised in thy heart after an 
 advancement in the just man's path, which is declared to 
 
72 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1836. 
 
 as a shining tight, which Bhineth brighter and brighter, 
 unto the perfect day ? 
 
 Oh ! turn in. I beseech thee, to thai measure of divine 
 light and grace with which thou art favored: occupy with 
 the precious gift, yea, obey the injunction, "Occupy till I 
 cotiae;' 1 and 1 do verily believe thou wilt find very little 
 more required of thee at present, than thus to occupy with 
 it. and watch its movements, and follow rts gentle lead- 
 ings. Cast all thy care upon Him who hath in great mercy 
 favored thee with that and numberless other blessings, and 
 He will, in His own due and appointed time, enlarge thy 
 dwelling; yea, He will introduce thee into the glorious 
 liberty of J I is children, by delivering thee from under the 
 hard ta>k-master, who is seeking, by all possible means, 
 thy utter destruction ; who is seeking to harden thy heart, 
 and persuading thee to turn a deaf ear to the reproofs of 
 instruction, which are the way of life and salvation; so 
 that the time will come when thou wilt have to Bay, in the 
 anguish and bitterness of thy soul, "Oh that I had not 
 hated instruction ami despised ivproof, for the harvest is 
 past, the summer is ended and gone, and I am not healed !" 
 For most assuredly every knee shall bow and every tongue 
 confess, either in mercy or in judgment, that Jesus Christ 
 is L<u-d. to the glory of God the Father! But oh! that 
 this awful stroke may in great mercy be averted! — that 
 thou maysl be enabled to leave those things that are be- 
 hind, and journey forward ; for thou h&St encompassed this 
 mountain in the wilderness long enough, while the language 
 of thy heart has been. I remember the leeks and the onions 
 which 1 did eat in Egypt freely. Thus I believe thou h. 
 lusted after the llesh-pots of Egypt; but these must be 
 given up, and thou must not suffer thyself to lust after 
 them any more at all, but press forward towards the pro- 
 mised land, which indeed Hows with milk and honey; and 
 if thou art willing and obedient, thou shalt eat of the good 
 fruit of that land : but if thou art disobedient, thy carcass 
 will fall in the desert, and then, what an evil savor will 
 
 arise from it ! For truly my mind seems to be deeply im- 
 pressed with the belief, that thou wilt fall into greater 
 evils than ever thou hast yet known, except thou listen to 
 
6.] THOMAS B. GOULD, 18 
 
 the voice of thy teachers, and incline thine oar to them 
 thai instruct tnee, not calling in question the manner in 
 which it may be conveyed, or the means which may be used 
 
 com ey it. 
 
 Oh, dear friend, if the 1 i <_r 1 1 1 in thee become darkness, 
 how great will that darkness be! As eye hath not seen, 
 nor car heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of 
 
 man to conceive the good things which the Lord hath in 
 
 store for them that love Him, so I feel deeply concerned 
 
 to tell thee, that then little thinkest how much worse thy 
 last state will he than the first, it' thou dost not yield obe- 
 dience to that good haind and power of the Lord, which 
 hath shown thee clearly what things his controversy is 
 inst« And now, after having in vain tried to obtain 
 relief, without again alluding in plain terms to a subject 
 concerning which I have spoken to thee before, I find I 
 must come to the point; 1 must call upon thee, I must 
 be8eech thee, and entreat thee, in the bowels of love, — 
 even that love which passeth the understanding of the 
 natural man, — to forsake that company of which I spoke 
 to thee the other day, lest it prove thy utter ruin : and 
 suffer me to quote for thy encouragement a very precious 
 blessing pronounced upon that man who pursues the course 
 which I recommend to thee, viz.: u Blessed is the man 
 who walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor 
 standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of 
 the scornful, hut whose delight is in the law T of the Lord, 
 and therein he doth meditate day and night. He shall be 
 like a tree planted by the rivers of water, — his leaf also 
 shall not wither, and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." 
 Yea, I say unto thee, in the fear and dread of the majesty 
 of heaven, that if thou wilt give up in these things to fol- 
 low the Captain of thy salvation, He will lead thee into 
 the green pastures of life, and cause thee to lie down beside 
 the still waters thereof, where nothing can hurt thee or 
 make thee afraid. And not only so, but He will teach thee 
 wondrous things out of His law, which He will daily Avrite 
 in thy heart, and cause thee to joy in the Lord, and rejoice 
 
 in the God of thy salvation 
 
 7 
 
74 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1830, 
 
 From T. B. (i. to 
 
 NbWPOBT, 23d of 11th month, 183G. 
 
 My DEAB Friend : 
 
 I have thought so much of thee lately, in connection 
 with the events of this eventful day, that I concluded to 
 let thee hear from one whom, Among thy many friends, I 
 suppose thou hast nearly forgotten, though I hope my 
 name remains on the list. 
 
 I have called this an eventful day, and I think I have 
 not misapplied the term, even if it should be confined to 
 the comparatively narrow limits of our own borders; for I 
 think there have not, within the time we have been a people, 
 such occurrences taken place amongst us as at the present. 
 When I look at the almost unparalleled sufferings which 
 our worthy predecessors underwent, after that long and 
 dark night of apostasy (emphatically so to thousands and 
 tens of thousands who were waiting for the consolation of 
 Israel, and panting after the true bread and water of life), 
 in publishing the glad tidings of the everlasting Gospel in 
 its primitive purity, and seeking the sheep who were scat- 
 tered upon the barren mountains of an empty profession, 
 and the desolate hills of lifeless forms and ceremonies, and 
 not only seeking them but finding them and gathering them 
 out from amongst the various ceremonial worships into the 
 true sheepfold, where the true Shepherd was known and 
 felt, feeding His ilocks, and making them to rest as at 
 noon in the green pastures of life, and beside the still 
 waters thereof, where nothing could hurt them or make 
 them afraid ; I say, when I consider their almost unparal- 
 leled sufferings, their unfeigned faith, their matchless love, 
 their truly Christian spirit, and harmless demeanor among 
 men. I am almost disposed to envy them their happiie 
 even amidst all their Bufferings; for they gave unquestion- 
 able evidence that they were the people the Lord had 
 formed for himself, by their showing forth his praise in a 
 manner not equalled since the primitive church 
 
L837.] XHOMAfl !'•. ffOULD. TS 
 
 To Pklbg Mitchell, 
 
 1st month, 20th, 1837. 
 My dbab Friend : 
 
 [After relating many circumstances connected with the 
 apostasy of Elisha Bates, he Bays] : 
 
 1 thought 1 could not close this, notwithstanding the 
 length to which it has already been carried, without alluding 
 to h communication made by E. B. in our yearly meeting, 
 either the first or second tome he attended it, I am not 
 
 tain which. If thou attended that year, I have no 
 doubt thou wilt recollect it ; if not, it may not be alto- 
 gether void of interest ; to say nothing about the evidence 
 which, I apprehend, is contained therein, of the truth of 
 our primitive and precious doctrine of divine, immediate 
 revelation, and the unfolding of the light of Christ to His 
 humble, devoted children and servants. Such I believe 
 he then was, notwithstanding his awful fall and apostasy 
 since: like as Judas by transgression fell from his ministry 
 and apostleship, though he had received power over " un- 
 clean spirits, to cast them out," in common with the rest 
 of the apostles. Luke 9:1,2. 
 
 Elisha had been engaged in a weighty testimony, in 
 which he adverted to the Hicksite separation, to the 
 ravages which that desolating spirit had made in the other 
 yearly meetings ; and spoke in a deeply touching manner 
 of our having been hitherto in a great degree preserved : 
 but in an awfully solemn manner he warned those present 
 to stand upon the watch, for the enemy was within our 
 borders ; that he was nearer many of us than we were 
 aware of; that he was seeking to deceive those in one way, 
 whom he could not destroy in another ; that he would 
 transform himself into an angel of light, in short, that he 
 had done so; that we should not escape a sifting ; that 
 there were those then present, and standing in the most 
 conspicuous stations in society, who, if it should now be 
 told them the evil they would do unto the Lord's people, 
 in the latter days, would say with Hazael, the Syrian: 
 u Is thy servant a dog, that he should do this thing?" I 
 well remember the power and unction attending this com- 
 
76 LIFB AND LETTERS OF [1837. 
 
 munication, at least to my understanding. It made a deep 
 impression upon me, which is nol yet effaced, and was suffi- 
 cient at the time to beget faith in my mind that it would 
 be even so; although 1 had not the least idea then, that it 
 wonld ever apply to him. 
 
 I have so nearly filled my paper with what has u come 
 to uiv knowledge," that I have little room left for "what 
 has been "parsing in my owii mind/ 1 in relation to these 
 things* However, 1 have this general remark to make, 
 and with it I shall conclude: that, in my belief, this spirit 
 of opposition, which is now developing in many places (for 
 it is not local), against those intrepid advocates for truth, 
 the truth itself, and the principles of truth, is the same, 
 in the root and ground of it, with that which, when " the 
 truth first broke forth" after the long night of apostasy, 
 persecuted those who bore testimony to it, even unto 
 death ; that it has only changed the mode of its operation 
 in such a manner as to entrap many, who, if it had ap- 
 peared under its old garb, would peradventure have seen 
 it, and, it may be, escaped the snare. For truly Ci in vain 
 18 the snare laid in the sight of any bird."' In a measure 
 of that love which is sensibly felt to flow in an especial 
 manner towards those "who are of the household of 
 faith," I subscribe myself thy sincere friend, 
 
 Thomas B. Gould. 
 
 From Thomas B. Gould to 
 
 Newport, 11th of 2d mo., 1837. 
 
 Beloved Friend: 
 
 Prom the time thou appeared in our preparative meet- 
 ing to the present, the subject of thy request and desire 
 to be admitted a member of our religious Society has very 
 frequently been weightily With me. I have felt my mind 
 introduced into lively exercise on thy account, and on 
 account of the very precious, and important, and peculiar 
 testimonies given us as a people to hear. But within the 
 last day or two. it has increased; and become so burden- 
 
 some that it has appeared to me I could not safely, either 
 to myself or to thee, carry it much longer. I have thought 
 
;7.] THOMAS !•• OOULDi 77 
 
 king an opportunity with thee; but as this baa not 
 n practicable, I have believed it to be right in this way 
 briefly to advert to some things of va>t importance to thy- 
 self, to the Church, and to those among whom thou art 
 conversant. 
 
 To be a member of our religious Society, and thus pub- 
 licly profess the holy name of Christ our Lord, invol 
 an awful responsibility, inasmuch as we make a higher and 
 more holy profession than any other people whatever, in 
 divers very important particulars, some of which I shall 
 name. And as thy ease has engaged my attention to-day, 
 
 that solemn query put by our blessed Lord to the mother 
 
 of Zebedee's children and to them, on that deeply interest- 
 
 occasion, when she requested of Him for them, that 
 they might sit the one on J Lis right hand and the other 
 On His left in His kingdom, has been weightily and 
 constantly with me: "Are ye able to drink of the cup 
 that 1 drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that 
 I am baptized with ':" Now, my beloved friend, although 
 the Society of Friends have ever declined the use of out- 
 ward forms and ceremonies, and of water-baptism, yet 
 they have ever as strongly asserted and as firmly believed 
 that it is by baptism, and by that alone, that any can be 
 joined unto the Lord, so as to become of one spirit with 
 His people, or in other words, true and living members of 
 His Church : that it is necessary for us that we should be 
 ••buried with Him by baptism into death" to sin, " that 
 like as He was raised from the dead by the power of the 
 Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life," 
 having "put off the old man with his deeds, and crucified 
 the flesh, with the affections and lusts, and put on the new- 
 man, which, after God, is created in righteousness and 
 true holiness." 
 
 As this is a subject which is most intimately connected 
 with life and salvation, it cannot do either of us any harm 
 most seriously to consider what we have known of this 
 great and important work to be begun and carried on in 
 our hearts, by i; the faith of the operation of God," who 
 will work in us both " to will and to do of His own good 
 pleasure," and unmerited mercy ; and who hath graciously 
 
 7*' 
 
78 LIFE AM> LBTTSBS OF [IS: 1 ,;. 
 
 declared: "Behold I stand at the door and knock : if any 
 
 • 
 
 man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and 
 mi]) with him, and he shall sup with me." By thus sub- 
 mitting thyself unto Him, and turning at His reproof-. 
 even al the "reproofs of instruction, which are the way of 
 Life," thou wilt find thyself quickened and renewed in 
 the spirit of thy mind, from time to time; for it is written 
 that "the first man Adam was made a living soul," but 
 the second Adam is the Lord from heaven, "a quickening 
 spirit." This is Be who is the Judge both of the quick 
 
 and dead, those that are dead in trespasses ami Bins, and 
 those who have been made truly alive unto Him by an 
 
 attention and submission to that Word of eternal life, 
 which wakes the dead, and causes even those that are in 
 the graves to oome forth unto the resurrection of life — even 
 He who 18 the resurrection and the life. "I am the 
 resurrection and the life," saith Christ, "he that believ- 
 eth on me, though he were dead, yet shall he live, and he 
 that liveth and helieveth on me shall never die." " And 
 
 you," saith the apostle, u hath he quickened) who were 
 
 dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time past ye 
 walked, according to the course of this world, according 
 
 to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now 
 
 worketh in the children of disobedience. But God, who 
 is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith he loved lis 
 
 even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us to- 
 gether witli Christ : (by grace ye are saved.)'' Ephesians, 
 - • i j -• *j ti« 
 
 Now if thou hast in truth known something of this work 
 begun in thy heart, thou must have been made sensible 
 
 that it is impossible for thee to be kept alive, except thou 
 
 receive day by day thy daily bread. It is as impossible 
 for the soul to live without food of a nature or quality 
 
 corresponding to its own high destinies, as it is for the 
 
 body to subsist without its proper food. ** Except ye eat 
 
 the flesh and drink the blooa of the Son of man, ye have 
 no life in you." These were pronounced by some formerly 
 to he hard sayings: they exclaimed, "who can hear 
 
 them," ami it is recorded that from that time some went 
 hack from Him, and walked no more with him. l>ut 
 
7. ] THOM kS ! LD. 7: 
 
 turning to 11 is IU ipl j, II- laid anto them, "Will 
 
 ( )nc of them replied, M Lord, to n 
 shall the words of eternal lif And 
 
 again, it was declared, that a man should DOl ** live by 
 
 bread alone, bat by every word that proceedetb out of 
 the month of God. 91 With regard toothers, it was posi- 
 tively asserted that they were even "made dean by the 
 • 1 spoken onto them." 
 
 This I apprehend thon wilt find to be the true Supper 
 
 the Lord; for a> thou wilt observe, (and, I earnestly 
 
 desire, mavst richly experience), it is made to depend 
 
 npon hearing the words of Christ, upon opening onto Sim, 
 
 when ho knocks by His Spirit at the door of thy heart, 
 npon waiting for, and when favored to hear, listening, in 
 >f the fleshly part, onto II i< voice, which 
 
 that thou wilt come to a view <>f His oountenan 
 which is comely, yea, wilt come to experience the lifting 
 np the light of His countenance npon thee, and to taste of 
 
 the rivers of unspeakahle pleasures which are at His right 
 hand for evermore. This is indeed a being brought into 
 •• His banqueting house." and here the banner of His 
 love is spread over US, and we know and are sure that if 
 Ave continue to walk in the light, as Christ is in the light, 
 we have fellowship one with another, and that the blood 
 of Jesus Christ will cleanse us from all sin: yea, that our 
 fellowship and communion is with the Father, and with 
 the Son, and with the Holy Ghost. This is the high and 
 advanced ground (however feebly advocated or set forth by 
 me) which the Society of Friends have taken, and still as 
 a people maintain: and this is the true ground of initia- 
 tion among, or communion and fellowship with them: al- 
 though it must be acknowledged that it is not maintained 
 by many who are nominally in profession with us. 
 
 With regard to our testimonies against war. slavery, 
 ami all oaths, together with the giving and receiving of 
 complimentary and flattering titles, and honors, falsely 
 called, I have no doubt thou hast been convinced of their 
 incompetency with the Gospel of Christ. But I want thou 
 Bhouldst also be convinced of. and he willing (however 
 much it may he in the cross) practically to keep to the use 
 
80 uri: and LETTERS of [1837; 
 
 of the plain Scripture language, OB all occasions and in 
 all companies, as well as simplicity of behavior and ap- 
 parel. I think it will not be ami- jay that I never 
 knew an inMance, where an individual prospered in the 
 hot things, that balked his testimony in these things, or 
 
 where that "covetousness which is idolatry" prevented 
 
 him from the due and diligent attendance of meetings both 
 for worship and discipline; those held on the middle of 
 the week, as well as those on that day set apart for the pur- 
 
 pose, by the common consent of those called Christians, 
 
 the world over. 
 
 But after all that has heen said, or that can he said or 
 written, if thy mind is not convinced of and converted to 
 a belief in the divine u Light of Christ within,'' — w> ;is 
 God's gift for man's salvation," — which is our main dis- 
 tinguishing point or principle, and, as William Pcnn said, 
 in his preface to George Fox's Journal, u is as the root of 
 the goodly tree of doctrines which grew or branched out 
 from it," — it will be impossible for thee, or any other, to 
 support those doctrines and testimonies ; the support of 
 which, however, cost our Worthy and ever memorable pre- 
 decessors in the pure truth of our God, everything that 
 was near and dear in this life, and even life itself. But 
 they counted it all as loss and dross, in comparison to the 
 excellency of the knowledge of Christ, their dear Lord ; 
 and esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than 
 all the treasures of Egypt, they cheerfully relinquished 
 their hold on the things of this life, even an unlawful hold 
 on lawful things, that they might secure an incorruptible 
 inheritance in the world to come. 
 
 A- ;ill things that are reprovable are made manifest by 
 the Light, and as whatsoever maketh manifest is Light, 
 and, as John testified concerning Jlim who is the true 
 Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world, 
 that the end and design was, "that all men through Him 
 might be saved :" so let me, in eouelusion, commend thee, 
 in the language of an apostle, unto God and to the word 
 of His grace (mark that), which is able to build thee up, 
 and to give thee an inheritance among all them that are 
 sanctified 
 
 Thomas B. Gould. 
 
7.] THOMAS !:. GOULD. I 1 
 
 To Pelbg Mitchell. 
 
 irpoBT, Tth of 4th in"., ] 337. 
 
 My dbab Friend : 
 
 I fully unite with ill*-*" in the 
 
 sentiment "that the signs of the times are awful," and 
 with thy other expressions in connection therewith. Bui 
 although it was foretold by the Lord's servants, the pro- 
 phets (thou wilt not here understand it of those recorded 
 in Scripture), lias it not come upon many u as a thief in 
 the night '.'" It certainly lias found but a few compara- 
 bly, — a little remnant, — watching. Still, I believe 
 there will in great mercy he a remnant preserved, as the 
 u two or three berries upon the top of the uppermost 
 bough, tour <>r five upon the outermost fruitful branches 
 
 thereof;" vet surely thev would seem to he as u the 
 gleaning grapes that are left in it, or as the snaking of 
 an olive tree.*' "At that day shall a man look to his 
 Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One 
 of Israel." [saiah IT : 6, 7. Oh, that it may be real- 
 ized! I have no doubt this is the effect that it is designed 
 to have upon us as a people, for has there not been a look- 
 ing to " the altars, the work of men's hands ?" " But 
 
 these strong cities have become as a forsaken bough." 
 
 © * . 
 
 k * Because thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, 
 
 and hast not been mindful of the Rock of thy strength, 
 
 therefore shalt thou plant pleasant plants, and shalt set it 
 
 with strange slips. In the day shalt thou make thy plant 
 
 to grow, and in the morning shalt thou make thy seed to 
 
 flourish ; but the harvest shall be a heap in the day of 
 
 grief and of desperate sorrow." Ibid. 10, 11. 
 
 I believe there has been an improper trust in man 
 
 amongst us in the general, and in particular, a receiving 
 
 what this great man or the other great man has said, or 
 
 done, or written, without bringing things to the true 
 
 © © < 
 
 touchstone, the balance of the sanctuary, which the Lord 
 Almighty has been pleased to place in every sincere mind. 
 This would have placed a curb upon those who are as "the 
 horse or the mule, who have need to be held in with bit and 
 bridle;" and at the same time that it would have rendered 
 
B2 LOT and LBVPJERS ai [18 37. 
 
 "tribute to whom tribqte was due, and custom to whom 
 custom was due,' 1 it would have rendered "unto God 
 the things that are God's :" who in all things wiU have 
 the pre-eminence, and whose right it is to rule and reign, 
 by virtue of His law pf love and life, which is written in 
 the heart and placed in the mind. 
 
 It seems to me sometimes, thai the blood of all the pro* 
 phets will be required of this generation, who arc now act- 
 ing <>vcr again [in a sense] the awful tragedy which whs 
 performed upon those faithful "witnesses' 1 and "martyrs 
 
 of JeSUS," who " counted not their lives dear, in order that 
 
 they might finish the ministry which they had received of 
 the Lord Jesus, to testify the Gospel of the grace of God*" 
 
 Can we too frequently advert to them? Shall they ever 
 be forgotten ? No ! " their memorial is on high." 'Mhey 
 that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, 
 and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars for- 
 ever and ever." " The righteous shall be had in everlast- 
 ing remembrance, hut the name of the wicked shall rot." 
 " Woe to the multitude of many people, which make a 
 noise like the noise of the seas, and to the rushing of 
 nations, that make a rushing like the rushing of mighty 
 waters." "And behold at evening-tide trouble, and before 
 the morning he is not ; this is the portion of them that 
 >)><>i] US, and the lot of them that rob us." 
 
 I verily believe it is applicable in both its parts : " In- 
 asmuch as ye did it (or did it not), to one of the least of 
 these, ye did it (or did it not) to me;" for it is an assured 
 truth, that the Lord accounteth that which is done unto 
 His members, as done unto Himself; aside from the hurt 
 done unto the great cause of truth and righteousness in 
 the earth. 
 
 Thy assured friend, 
 Thomas 1>. (Iould. 
 
 To PELKG Mitchell. 
 
 Newport, 1st of 8th montfe, 1837. 
 Mi dbab Friend : 
 
 1 can truly say that I have thought much of 
 
7. ] TttOMAS B. GOULD. 
 
 thee in the time, no! only on account of thai mutual bond 
 of union rod fellowship which subsists between us, bul in 
 relation to that change which 1 Btippose has taken place 
 in thy situation, since 1 last communicated with th< 
 Although I am not in p( n of experimental know ledge 
 
 en the Bubject, 1 may peradvfenttire be allowed theexpri 
 sion of a sentiment. I have ever entertained, I believe, an 
 exalted Bense oi' the propriety of that step, as well as its 
 
 importance, and have frequently recurred to those instaip 
 
 we have on record, Where the parties were led and guided 
 
 therein by the good hand ami power of the Lord, and, 
 when the consummation of their prospects arrived, had 
 their testimony to hear (and this is a peculiar testimony) 
 ttiat they were sensible of the Master's presence and power 
 
 tompanying them and uniting them together. Oh! 
 pre* xperionce and acknowledgment ! Jt often proved 
 
 an earnest of future happiness in time, and a prelude to 
 that which is eternal. I hope it lias been thy experience 
 in the former, and that it may be in the latter. 
 
 It is doubtless unnecessary to make any remark to thec 
 on the subject ; but I have often thought that no less evi- 
 dence of divine illumination and revelation was to be 
 found in the distinguishing views of Friends on the subject 
 of marriage, than in any other point on which we differ 
 from other people. It might almost amount to a proof of 
 it (seeing we reason in these days as well as walk back- 
 wards), to consider that it is becoming, according to my 
 sense and observation, of less and less concern with the 
 generality under our name, to violate it. Witness the 
 number of children, who either speak half Jew and half 
 Ashdod, or pure Ashdod — I might rather have said, im- 
 pure. 
 
 I fully unite with thee in sentiment on the subjects re- 
 ferred to in thy letter, and assuredly believe that multi- 
 tudes of our members are laboring under a sad delusion 
 with regard to the subject of slavery (or more properly, 
 the abolition of it), and which, while it professes to exalt 
 that testimony, is sapping the very foundation on which it 
 rests, and weakening their attachment to, and crippling 
 them in the support of, others not less important; 
 
84 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1837. 
 
 [same letter, later date.] 
 
 .... There is, indeed, a diversity of gifts and talents, 
 as will a- different degrees of growth and experience; but 
 whereonto we have already attained, as we have all walked 
 by the same rule and minded the same thing, a uniformity 
 of faith and principle must of course be the effect. Was 
 this ever so beautifully exemplified as among our primitive 
 Friends? Shall we ever see it bo exemplified again? 
 Alas! I fear we Bhall not. When I happen to expr< 
 nidi a sentiment, 1 am told, not to despair; but I cannot 
 help it, I have despaired of it long since. Indeed, Peleg, 
 niv faith is at a low ebb: if others are not better off than 
 we are, here on Rhode Island, there is certainly a cause 
 for it. I sometimes express such a sentiment to some who 
 
 Ought to be judges ; they Bay they are not in a better con- 
 dition than ^e are. Indeed the most alarming feature in 
 my view is, that BO many are saying "we are rich and full, 
 increased with goods, and have need of nothing," when 
 they are poor, and blind, ami naked, and have need of 
 everything, — or of that in which all good things are in- 
 cluded. 
 
 With regard t<> the prominent difficulties in Society, I 
 hear but little Said about them. Jt seems to me, however, 
 that even BOme of the upright-hearted are in some measure 
 deceived, BUpposing that the danger is over on that score 
 from which truth'- testimonies have of late suffered so 
 severely. I may acknowledge myself of a different judg- 
 ment J for although there are signs, on the part of some, 
 of a willingness to sign a truce, yet I am well satisfied that 
 true repentance ami conviction have not had their perfect 
 
 work. The Btate of things, as I view them, seems to be 
 
 this: that there has been, and now is (for, in comparison 
 with the defection ami departure from the principles and 
 
 testimonies of the Society, very few have been disowned 
 by it), a large number of individuals, who stand in mem- 
 bership in the Society, many of them in high Stations, 
 ministers, elders, &C«, who either never understood the 
 principles i'^v the support of which we were originally 
 gathered to be a separate and distinct body, or, having 
 
7.] ma- i u>. 
 
 1 a literal, book-know) f them Into the brain, 
 
 have adopl much of then rould promote them 
 
 offices and confer power upon them; or er sort, who, 
 
 baying convinced of and converted to the truth, in 
 
 former and better days, and grown up into a good i 
 of its heavenly virtue and power, bo as to be decked and 
 
 ith the Lord's heavenly jewels and gift* 
 
 want of abiding in the simplicity of Little children, and in 
 
 [> humility and dependence upon the Lord, the Giver 
 
 good and perfect gift, bave become puffed up and 
 
 Jted above the pure witness in themselves, have taken 
 
 the Lord's jewels and made merry over them, and then, by 
 
 a further delusion and snare of the grand adversary, have 
 :i tempted to deny the testimony of His "faithful and 
 
 true witness," until by the continual grieving and despite 
 
 done unto it, they have for the present slain it, and their 
 "hoU8< it unto them desolate," "given over to a 
 
 ( delusion, even to W'lieve a lie." Of such as tin 
 
 nothing less can he expected, hut that they will persecute 
 
 u the woman," ami the k * remnant of her seed," as they are 
 
 oing. But I confess I do not so much fear the con- 
 
 Bequences of this kind of trial, as I do that of the other class 
 
 first mentioned ; who, though they have " secretly joined 
 
 themselves to the broken army of Magog" (see Edward BllT- 
 rough'a works), and have all along been in league with him, 
 now, for political reasons, are very willing to have it 
 appear they are very good Quakers, "saying they are 
 Jews, and are not," hut are of that synagogue from which 
 the floods of opposition come. These, since they have 
 failed to undermine the Society, I am firm in the belief, 
 are now trying another scheme, and by smooth words and 
 fair speeches, are deceiving the hearts of the simple; they 
 are very willing to pass for sound, and, as much as in 
 them lies, to use sound words, — to build the sepulchres of 
 the prophets. Indeed, to use the words of one of the pro- 
 phets (I. Penington), their structure now is " built in imi- 
 tation of Zion, painted just like Zion," and looks like 
 Zion ; but it is only in appearance; although there is 
 much art in setting it forth as can be imagined, and the 
 paint is very skilfully laid on, yet in secret, the simplicity 
 
 8 
 
LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1837. 
 
 and purity of the truth, the straitncss of the gate, and the 
 narrowness of tlje way, arc despised and condemned. 
 
 I <lo not know how ir may appear to thee ; but I am not 
 satisfied with the manner in which the Englishman now 
 travelling in this country has got along. He has now such 
 a load of hooks on his back, as I should be rery unwilling 
 to carry: some of diem containing anything hut Quaker* 
 ism, others with just enough that "looks like it," to give 
 thrni a pass, and cause them to do fourfold more harm. 
 When he left his home, he had but just deserted the ranks 
 of ** P>eaconism," and ceased openly to oppose the " little 
 ones." (A friend in our neighborhood, who has seen him 
 at his house, can testify.) How it is possible he should be 
 cleansed of his leprosy so quick, I am at a loss to deter- 
 mine. I think at least he should have been " kept without 
 the camp seven days." And as there is so much proof of 
 the "plague" being in the very "waliV of his " house," 
 it would have been more satisfactory to me, if there had 
 been some evidence that it had been pulled down to the 
 very ground, and rebuilt upon a better foundation, a new 
 foundation, the Foundation "laid in Zion." Then, I am 
 satisfied that the first work he would have found to do, 
 would have been to unsay a great deal that he has said, 
 and to contradict a great deal that he has written. I ex- 
 pressed sentiments something like this to our mutually 
 dear friend John Wilbur; and in the course of the conver- 
 sation he said, that he had asked a friend if the Lord's 
 mountain and the mount of Esau were so near together 
 that men could pass from one to the other at a single 
 leap 
 
 I am aware that there is much said now against judg- 
 ing} the labors of those who have been tinctured with the 
 new views have been from the first directed against it: 
 they introduced cautions against it into the Epistles of the 
 yearly meeting : no man was to be judged for his unsound- 
 ness, nothing musl be thought, much less said, about it. 
 Well, was not this a snare of the crafty fowler? Hid it 
 
 not answer the end completely? All mouths closed, every 
 
 lip silent, and every tongue dumb, while they were carry- 
 ing on their warfare unmolested, and even turning those 
 
1837.] MOM kfi i M>. -7 
 
 institutions which were ordained and sel up for i defei 
 round about the city, into engines of destruction to it ! 
 which have been sent back and forth, betwi 
 ly meeting and that of London, are a witn< 
 to the truth of this remark : I mean for several years lasl 
 past. Is no1 the language applicable: "Judgment is 
 turned away backward, truth lias fallen in the streets, and 
 
 lity cannot enter V* And did not all those who wferfc 
 
 favored to have their eyes open, see in these things a clear 
 
 nd legitimate fruit of that spirit "which genders 
 
 ondage;" which has brought and is still bringing iriiny 
 back again under that grievous and cruel yoke of bond* 
 which was laid upon the nations by the hard task-mast<r, 
 in the night of darkness, and in the time of apostasy from 
 the light, spirit and power of Christ, even many who had 
 known some good degree of deliverance from it? — which 
 light, spirit, and power, those sons of the morning of the 
 
 spel day, after the long night of darkness and apostasy; 
 were so preciously instrumental and so eminently success- 
 ful in proclaiming, and gathering the people into, so that 
 the language began to be fulfilled, — the language of pro- 
 phecy, % * It shall come to pass in the last days, that the 
 mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the 
 top of the mountains, and exalted above the hills (of an 
 empty profession); and many people shall go and say, 
 
 no and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to 
 the house of the God of Jacob, for He will teach us of His 
 ways, and we will walk in His paths : for out of Zion shall 
 go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusa- 
 lem." And "He shall judge among the nations," &c. 
 " In this mountain shall the Lord make unto all people a 
 feast of fat things, of fat things full of marrow r , of wines 
 on the lees well refined ; and shall destroy the face of the 
 covering which is spread over all people, and the veil that 
 is over the nations." Now I am abundantly satisfied that 
 the true believers in Christ, the Light, are established on 
 this holy mountain, and that to all that are in this holy 
 hill, He that reigneth King in Zion will give a spirit of 
 judgment. "I will be a spirit of judgment to them that 
 sit in judgment," &c. "He that is spiritual judgeth all 
 
68 LIIH AND LETTERS OF [1837. 
 
 thin u And upon all the glory there shall be a de- 
 
 fence." How should any be able to defend those glorious 
 bimonies which arise out of that law which goeth forth 
 of Zion, and arc required by that Word from Jerusalem, 
 
 unless they had power to judge that which seeks to subvert 
 them '." 
 
 In short, my dear friend, I unite with thee in the senti- 
 ment, that we are to keep our ranks in that "city whose 
 Avails are salvation, and whose gates are praise " ? (very 
 clear and comprehensive, in my view, is the doctrine and 
 instruction contained in this description); and not by any 
 means to suffer "the strength and concern ordained to flow 
 through us as a people," to be mixed with the "water"' 
 (•* their gold and their silver is cankered and their wine 
 mixed with water") which remains in those that " are 
 without." However we may rejoice in those tilings in 
 which they may appear to be nearing us (by the way, I 
 greatly fear we are nearing them, much faster than they 
 are coming towards and embracing the Truth), we ought 
 not in the least to incur the danger of diminishing or ob- 
 souring the light of that 4 * city which is set on a hill," and 
 which, if we were faithful, "could not be hid." 
 
 Thy assured friend, 
 
 Thomas B. Gould. 
 
TIh>M I M». 
 
 (MIAPTER II. 
 
 In the oowse of the visit of Joseph John Gnrney to the 
 United 5 — a visit sorrowfully disastrous to the Society 
 
 i this land — be attended the Yearly Meeting 
 ■ ( England, held at NeWpQlt, in 1838* Thomas P>. 
 
 ild had by this time become familiar with some of his 
 writings, and in common with a large number of other 
 Friends of that yearly meeting, as well as in other parts 
 Of the land, was clearly convinced that his published sen- 
 timents were calculated to produce a departure from the 
 ancient standard of our Christian profession — that he was 
 unsound in many points of doctrine which our forefathers 
 in the truth held most dear, — and that there was extreme 
 danger, from the influence of his position, his wealth, his 
 id activity, and his reputation, truly or falsely esti- 
 mated, for benevolence, learning, and eloquence, that large 
 multitudes would be turned aside from the simplicity and 
 spirituality of our true and ancient faith. On this occa- 
 
 i therefore, when some of those who had obtained the 
 pre-eminence in that yearly meeting, were urging the 
 claims of J. J. Gurncy to implicit acceptance, and be- 
 guiling the minds of many honestly disposed, but more or 
 superficial members, who placed undue confidence in 
 eminent men, Thomas B. Gould felt it to be his religious 
 duty plainly to bear his testimony, as way opened for it, 
 against the erroneous doctrines of this voluminous author, 
 and to show the reasons of his disunity with them. This 
 attracted the attention, of course, of the individual thus 
 testified against, as well as of those whose efforts were 
 directed to promote his cause ; and from that time Thomas 
 
 8* 
 
90 LIFE AND DETTBBfl OP [1838. 
 
 was marked and watched, as in their opinion pertinaciously 
 endeavoring to obstruct their coarse, and as a person dis- 
 affected and dangerous to their favorite scheme of bringing 
 
 er the whole Society to the views and practice- of Joseph 
 John Gurney and others like him in England, where the 
 1 bo widely sown in his numerous and unchecked publi- 
 cations, had taken root in the hearts of very many of the 
 members, and Bprung up to the covering of that '-nee 
 beautiful garden of the Lord with the noxious weeds of 
 superficial and carnally-minded profession. 
 
 Joseph John Gurney soon took an opportunity of calling 
 ;ii Henry Gould's residence, and Thomas candidly opened 
 to him his uneasiness, but without receiving any satisfac- 
 tion from him. This interview — in which Thomas plainly 
 charged him with promulgating unsound doctrines, and 
 exhorted him to disavow and condemn them, and also ex- 
 pressed to him his dissatisfaction with his ministry — ending 
 as it did in no concession on the part of J. J. Gurney — 
 T. I>. Gould considered himself not only clearly at liberty, 
 hut hound by his sense of duty, to speak of it openly, and 
 to warn his fellow-iuemhers of the disastrous results likely 
 to follow to the Society from the popularity of this unsound 
 author. As a con>e<(uonce of his faithfulness herein, he 
 was, in common with his friend and fellow-testimony-hearer, 
 John Wilbur, made the object of a long-continued persecu- 
 tion, ^>y those who scrupled not to pervert the discipline 
 of the Society to their unholy purposes. Yet no cause 
 could he found against him. except concerning the law of 
 his God. Efforts were even made to spread an idea that 
 his mental powers were impaired, and many were the vitu- 
 perations Cast upon his character, particularly after the 
 interview above-mentioned. Much talk and misrepresenta- 
 tion having been made ahout it. he Wrote the following 
 
 notes of the occurrence, ami Bent copies to some of his 
 
 intimate friends, in order that his fellow-memhers might 
 have a correct Version of what transpired on that occasion. 
 
 NOTES or x. B. G.'S [NTBRVIEW WITH J. J. GHTRNJfcY. 
 
 Between the hour.- of live and six on the afternoon of 
 
8.] THoMAS ; :.i». 
 
 L6tl th month, 1" 
 
 rney and Bcnry 1! died at my father's hoi 
 
 ►mas 1>. BuiTuni h them. Thomas I 
 
 My parei also in the 
 
 >m : when the follow 
 
 ral remark- made by him • and he f 
 very much • Ik , 1 took my Beat by hi 
 
 "I sup] §e hast heard that I 1 id a 
 
 the unsound thy writ- 
 
 portunity to acknowledge th 
 have done bo, and to convince thee that I am not disp 
 keep it b He interrupted me by 
 
 I. I did not come here on that 
 at all. 1 only love for thee 
 
 and for the fami " i 
 
 tin our a ged prii 
 
 and testimonies. I ugly die iedwith them. 
 
 > .. wilt thou ack lire that ther - in 
 
 them, and by bo doing, remove the obstructions to thy 
 
 list in my mind, out of the He re- 
 
 plied, "All that I have to say to thee, my dear friend, is, 
 that I have nothing - y on the Bubject of my writii 
 ] do i aider it to be my present business; I am here 
 
 another concern, and my mind is very much exerci 
 with it." I replied. % * The minds of Friends in this conn- 
 try arc very un< relation to much which thou hast 
 written — as well a£ If — and it is a very serious ob- 
 uction to thy work and service. It is impossible that it 
 uld accoi! the pr( I object, or reach the same 
 end. until tin are removed : and if thou wilt 
 acknowledge that there is unsoundness in them, and bo 
 remove the offence out of the way, I believe there are 
 those who would receive thee with open an He 
 plied. ".My dear. I feel a great deal of love for thee, and 
 I did when thou spoke in meeting the other day. I ad- 
 mire thy candor and uprightness, but I must decline en- 
 tering upon the subject of my writings: they are \ 
 ex1 ad all I have t<> - is, that it ; 
 
 my business, and. to tell thee the truth. I do not con- 
 ■r it to be thine.'' I answered, ** 'It' thou br thy 
 
92 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1838. 
 
 gift to the altar, and there remembcrest that thy brother 
 hath aught against thee, leave there thy gift before the 
 altar, first go and be reconciled to thy brother, then come 
 and offer thy gift. 1 His I believe ifl a doctrine of Scrip- 
 ture ; thou makest great professions of regard for the 
 Scriptures, and st them above the mark at which 
 
 Friends have ever held them ; now thou ought to conform 
 to this precept, and deny or condemn such parts of thy 
 writings as have erven so much uneasiness to me and a 
 multitude of other Friends ; by so doing thy path would 
 be rendered more easy, and the minds of Friends would be 
 relieved. I do consider that it is thy duty to satisfy both 
 me and them." lie again made large professions of love 
 for me, put one arm around me, and laid the other hand 
 upon my knee, in a very plausible and seemingly affec- 
 tionate manner, saying, " All I can say is, to recommend 
 thee to the Master, to whom thou must leave me, simply 
 doing what He requires of thee; and raayest thou more 
 and more come under the very power of the Lord's Spirit, 
 with which I believe thou art acquainted. Keep in the 
 quiet, dear Thomas, simply doing what lie requires of 
 thee." (lie did make some further remarks here, by way 
 of preaching to a very small extent, which, however, I do 
 not remember.) I replied, "It has been required of me 
 to do what I have done; my mind has been very deeply 
 exercised on the subject of the unsound doctrines promul- 
 gated and propagated by thy books amongst us; it has 
 deprived me of much sleep, and even affected my health; — 
 but," I said, wi 1 am not aware that my mind has been im- 
 paired," — appealing to my two intimate and dear friends, 
 T. P. X. and T. 15. B., to know whether they had dis- 
 covered that any distraction or derangement of mind had 
 taken place, remarking, ** they both know me well ; we are 
 frequently together, and converse on these subjects." T. 
 I\ X. said that he believed I was "of perfectly sound 
 mind." with emphasis. T. B. B. sat silent, with his hat 
 drawn down over his eves. He evidently was unwilling to 
 take any part in the matter between us, although he had 
 previously conversed freely and frequently with me upon 
 the subject of my concern with J, J. (J. : such is the perni- 
 
3, ] THOMAS B. GOULD. 
 
 which greal names and popular applai 
 upon oven honest hearts. 
 
 I then appealed to J, J. <>. again in an affectionate 
 manner, as he had it in his power to relieve me from this 
 
 ighl and burden, to do bo, and thus take the ground of 
 offence against him away; at the Bame time remarking that 
 if he would do bo, I should be able to inform friends who 
 felt tin* Bame uneasiness with myself, that he had con- 
 demned whatever was in his books contrary to our ac- 
 knowledged principles and testimonies, and thus open his 
 way with them, where I assured him it was now entirely 
 
 closed. He utterly refused, again and again, to enter into 
 
 any discussion, as he chose to call it. upon the soundness 
 
 of his writings, or to acknowledge they were unsound; 
 hut said nothing about his certificates, or his having been 
 
 well received by some friends. He never alluded to it at 
 all. I replied: u Iwish no discussion, I have asked for 
 no such thing, hut only for thee to condemn such parts of 
 them as are contrary to our acknowledged principles, and 
 have given friends so much uneasiness." He manifested 
 great uneasiness at this time, and said something about 
 humility, which I do not distinctly remember, and again 
 refused to make any the least concession. 
 
 After a short pause, I found my mind engaged to tes- 
 tify against his ministry, which I did in the following 
 manner : "I must say to thee, that I am not satisfied with 
 thy manner of preaching : thou puttest the cart before the 
 horse; thou lahorest to induce a belief in the doctrines 
 ified of in the Scriptures, by the mere force of reason 
 and argument, and the bare reading or hearing of them; 
 and then spcakest of the gift of the Spirit as a conse- 
 quence of that belief or acceptance. This is contrary to 
 that Scripture doctrine, ' as no man knoweth the things of 
 a man save the spirit of man which is in him, even so no 
 man knoweth the things of God but the Spirit of God.' 
 Now," said I, "it was because of the absolute necessity 
 there was and is for men and women to come to this 
 Spirit, to have their understandings opened and their 
 hearts quickened by its power, that our ancient friends 
 labored to exalt the testimony to the true Teacher, and to 
 bring them under its power and teaching ; and they well 
 
94 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1838. 
 
 knew that when people come to this ground and founda- 
 tion, there la no danger of their undervaluing the Scrip- 
 tures, for it is impo ; the manii ion of the Spirit 
 now will not contradict the revelation of the same Spirit 
 
 in days that arc past. They know it, and 1 know it. 
 
 But thou, instead of laboring to bring the minds of the 
 people to the true Teacher, who promised to teach I lis 
 
 people Himself those groat doctrines and fundamental 
 
 truths of the Gospel, and bringing in the Scriptures, ae 
 collateral evidence of, and testimony to the truth of them, 
 goest about to persuade people to accept them in 'simple 
 faith, 1 or to convince them merely by thy own powers of 
 reasoning and argument, and boldest forth that the gift of 
 the Spirit is consequent upon that kind of belief or accep- 
 tance. Now this is contrary to the principles of truth as 
 professed by Friends." He did not attempt to deny that 
 this was true, and said, "I am satisfied of thy sincerity 
 and faithfulness, and am willing to be further instructed 
 as a Christian should be." 
 
 Here some of the family remarked thai Moses II. P>ecde 
 was at the door ; and Jonathan Nichols (who had just step- 
 ped up) inquired if I was willing he should come in ; where- 
 upon I invited them both in. J. J. G. had risen up and 
 put on his hat in the interim, and seemed exceedingly un- 
 willing that anything further should be said. Thus I was 
 prevented from fully relieving my mind, as it related to 
 him. But I did say to J. J. G., "As thou hast refused 
 to give me any satisfaction, I want thee distinctly to un- 
 derstand that I shall consider myself at liberty to speak 
 against thy writings, at such times and in such manner as 
 I shall think proper, — and with thy understanding it to be 
 so, thou must leave me thus at liberty." He said, " I do 
 not give thee liberty, but leave thee to the Master, who is 
 able to keep Ufl both." I told him that it A\as contrary to 
 common sense and reason, that he should bo at liberty to 
 
 write and publish what he pleased against the Truth, and 
 
 1 Bhould be denied the liberty and exercise of my con- 
 Bcience, in bearing my testimony against and exposing the 
 
 unsoundness of his writings, while he was travelling amongst 
 
 us and refused to condemn them. 1 had previously told 
 him that my objection! to his writings were not of recent 
 
THOMAS r.. GOULD, 
 
 date, thai I had been familiar with them from my child- 
 
 and li:i*l had unity with the Srsl edition of his " I 
 ligions Peculiarities" (with some small exception), which 
 had interested me in what came from his pen, and led to 
 the reading of it ; and the time had been when I Bincerely 
 wished he might be sent over to this country; bul long 
 before he came, my feelings had been changed, and now I 
 had cause to regret it exceedingly. He Baid, "that he 
 had heard me patiently, and that he felt great love for 
 It was evident, however, that he was not willing to 
 
 hear me, ;md that it gave him much uneasiness. 
 
 When the subject was first opened, he seemed dispo 
 
 light of it, and laugh it off. After discovering 
 
 that this would not discourage or prevent me from ]>r< 
 CUting the concern, lie attempted to drown it by large and 
 gratuitous professions of love and good will lor me. Find- 
 ing that plan would not work, and especially while I was 
 enforcing the obligation he was under, to leave his gift at 
 the altar until he was reconciled to his brethren, I must 
 say that he seemed somewhat affected by it ; at any rate, 
 he was more silent, and apparently sensible that it was just. 
 I have read the above notes to T. B. B. and T. P. N. ; 
 they both acknowledge them to be substantially correct. 
 I took them down immediately after the interview, and 
 where they are marked as quotations, I am satisfied the 
 Ian. is given as it was used. I am willing to 
 
 acknowledge that Joseph John did not say much. What 
 he did Bay (as will be seen) was, with two or three excep- 
 tions, a repetition of the determination at first expressed, 
 or of his professions of love for me. This may account 
 for my so repeatedly insisting upon his condemning the 
 unsound and offensive parts of his writings. If he had 
 called for it, I could readily have referred him to such 
 parts as arc so diametrically opposed to our acknowledged 
 principles, as they stand recorded in our approved and 
 standard works, that "he who runs may read" and under- 
 stand the difference. As for T. B. B.'s silence when I 
 appealed to him, he has since said to me that he con- 
 sidered it altogether unnecessary to make such an appeal 
 (he was not aware however of the reason why I made it), 
 and that he should be willing to bear testimony to his 
 
96 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [l v 
 
 full conviction of my entire sanity to J. J. G., should an 
 opportunity offer. Thomas B. Gould. 
 
 Newport, ! m<>.. Lg 
 
 From T. B* Gould to J. and E. Nichols. 
 
 ompanying a copy of the Notea ofhia Interview 
 •with J. J. Gurney.] 
 
 Newport, 29th of 6th month, 181 
 
 My dear Friends, J. and E. Nichols : 
 
 Indubitably satisfied and convinced I am, that the very 
 tendency of this man's labors is to make us a will-worship- 
 ping people ; and although he does not now acknowledge it 
 
 in words, vet it is verv evident that he dreams, that Jerusa- 
 lem, the holy city, whither the tribes go up to the testimony 
 of Israel, the city which the Lord hath chosen, to place 
 J lis name there, to manifest His power there, is too far 
 off; — and those, who arc concerned to yield obedience to 
 the divine commandment, w * Thou shalt not offer thy burnt- 
 offerings nor thy sacrifices in every place that thon se< 
 but in the place which the Lord thy God shall choose, to 
 Cause His name to dwell there, ,? are likely to maintain 
 their allegiance to David their king, and to say, "Thine 
 are we. David, and on thy side, thou son of Jesse." Oh, 
 that the eyes of the upright-hearted may be opened by 
 the effectual application of the eye-salve of the Kingdom, 
 whieh is inward and spiritual, — (the worship is spiritual, 
 the offerings are spiritual, the temple and the altar are 
 spiritual, and the worshippers are spiritual, such as wor- 
 ship in spirit and in truth) — to see the mystery of iniquity; 
 for truly, great is the mystery of iniquity, as well of god- 
 liness. None can understand either the one or the other, 
 but those, and those only, who have been taught by Him 
 who is the alone sufficient Teacher of His people, who 
 *• teacheth them to profit," and as no man ever spake or 
 taught. He ^till continues to show to a little, poor, and 
 despised remnant, the depths of Satan on the one hand, 
 and on the other, the "unsearchable riches" (unsearch- 
 able to the wise and prudent of this world, the letter- 
 learned), which are in Himself, with whom are hid all the 
 treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Bu1 it is now. as it 
 
1888. ] THOMAS i:. GOULD. 97 
 
 was formerly : " He is a Btone of stumbling and :i roci of 
 offence' 1 to th< i high-professing, self-righteous Jews. u They 
 stumble al that Btumbling-stone." A.nd to the worldly-wise 
 Greeks (both characters are frequently united in the same 
 subject) "foolishness." Bui to those who believe, to those 
 who receive their gift of faith from Sim, who has been the 
 object of the saints 1 faith in all ages of the world, the 
 Author and Finisher of it, u Christ is the power of God 
 and the wisdom of God." 
 
 four afflicted, but not forsaken friend, 
 
 Thomas B. Gould. 
 
 ript] 
 
 I do not believe the impressions he 
 
 makes will last longer than the " veil which is spread over 
 all nations" who have not come to the mountain of the 
 Lord's house, to the house of the God of Jacob, where He 
 teacheth them I lis ways, and they receive strength from 
 Him to walk in His paths — remains upon them ; for it is 
 in "this mountain'' that the face of the covering is re- 
 moved, and the veil is destroyed. I was ready to add, in 
 the renewed feeling and sense of its truth, "We have a 
 
 >ng city : salvation hath God appointed for walls and 
 for bulwarks:" for I have been, at times and seasons, 
 comforted in the firm faith given unto me that the founda- 
 tion stands sure — for faith remains to be an heavenly gift, 
 the gift of God; and it still is the " substance of things 
 hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen." (Not 
 J. J. Gurney's " simple faith — mere credence" which, he 
 said, in his communication on fifth-day of yearly meeting, 
 formed a fundamental link in the great chain of Christian 
 doctrines.) " The foundation stands sure ;" and because 
 He lives who is the Rock of ages, upon which the true 
 Church is built (not upon the Scriptures), those who are 
 prophesying in sackcloth shall live also ; and the storms 
 and tempests, though they may beat vehemently, shall not 
 be able to overthrow such. 
 
 .... I should be glad to receive a letter from you ; 
 and with the assurance of true love I conclude. If you 
 
 9 
 
LIFE AND LETTERS OF [18 
 
 are uneasy with any part <»f my conduct, be Bure to let me 
 know of it. 
 
 Thomas B. Gould. 
 
 From T. B. G. to George F. Read. 
 
 Newport, 4th of 7th mo., 1838. 
 My dear Friend, G. F. Read: 
 
 Baying understood by good authority that the fact of 
 my having had an interview with J. J. Ghirney on the sub- 
 ject of bis writings, Sec, has caused much remark in Pro- 
 vidence, and subjected me to actual abuse from Borne indi- 
 viduals (all which I sincerely wish may he mercifully for- 
 given then), seeing they know not what they do), I thought 
 it would be best for me to inclose thee a copy of the me- 
 morandums I made, of what passed between us, in order 
 that thou might know how far I am justly censured. 
 
 Thou art aware that in the time of yearly meeting I 
 made no scruple of expressing my objections to his printed 
 books. I did consider I had as much right to do so, as 
 he had to print and publish them. I am of the same 
 judgment still. I know they are not Quakerism; I also 
 know he is no Quaker, if lie holds the same sentiments, 
 whatever else he may he. And the fact being proved that 
 he will not condemn them, shows that he is still account- 
 able for all that he has written. Friends might just as 
 well have received thee into membership with thy Baptist 
 notions, and licensed thee t<> remain and propagate them, 
 as to suffer him to travel as a minister, with his Episcopa- 
 lian principles; and much better, as thy influence would 
 not have been anything near BO extensive. 
 
 AlS to my right to express my concern to J. J. G., 
 which I understand has been called in question, I am not 
 at all afraid to Bay, that no one who understands the prin- 
 ciples of Friends, and retains his integrity and allegiance 
 to them, will hesitate for a moment to acknowledge it. 
 However, I am not the first who has been judged and con- 
 demned by false and envious brethren, lor doing that 
 which was required of him. Joseph was hated by his 
 brethren, when he told them his dreams, and carried 
 
3.] THOMAS i i-i'. 99 
 
 "their evil report" to Jacob his rather. Mosee was 
 inquired of by one of his brethren, in outward fellowship, 
 no doubt, " Who made thee a prince and a judge oyer as f" 
 And Eliab, Davids proud and envious eldest brother, 
 whose "anger was kindled against him, 91 said to him, 
 *• WIiv earnest thou down hither, and with whom hast 
 thou lefil those few Bheep in the wilderness I I know thy 
 pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart." 1 believe I 
 may with propriety adopt the answer that David made, 
 - What have I now done ?" — -and ** Is there not a cause ?" 
 
 A man travelling as a minister, with certificates from 
 
 monthly, quarterly, and select yearly meetings, the 
 
 drawn in >uch a manner as to cover that essential 
 
 part in which it is wanting (it does not say that he was 
 liberated in the unity, but "after an expression of much 
 
 unity"), and obtained contrary to the solid sense and 
 judgment of the faithful, weighty, and sound part of the 
 body in England; who has volumes of books in circula- 
 tion which Friends in England and in this country Joint n 
 were at the root of that declension from our principles, 
 which lias shaken the Society there to its centre; which 
 has carried so many back again into those things out of 
 which our predecessors in the Truth were gathered by the 
 immediate extension of the Lord's Eternal Arm of Power 
 — Such a man, so travelling in this country, and the reputed 
 ** watchmen" on the Avails slumbering at their posts, or so 
 overcome by that spirit which has spread far and wide in 
 our Society in this land as well as in England (a dark, 
 uncertain, unbelieving spirit), as not to be able to dis- 
 tinguish between thing and thing, — really I did, and now 
 do believe, there was a cause for me to bear my testimony 
 against it, and so clear myself of the weight and burden 
 laid upon me. 
 
 But I do not think it strange that such as in their 
 hearts and by their conduct, if they do not acknowledge 
 it in words, deny the present continuance of Divine imme- 
 diate Revelation, and its being still the " primary, ade- 
 quate rule of faith and practice," and are setting up the 
 Scriptures as such a rule, — as the "more sure word of 
 prophecy," — should be disposed to call in question the 
 
100 LIFE AM) LETTERS OF [1838. 
 
 propriety of sue]) an one ;is I am. meddling in this matter. 
 Nothing less can be expected from such. If we rej< 
 the principle that a measure and manifestation of Divine 
 Light and Grace has been given to every man to profit 
 
 withal : that this Light is that medium through and by 
 
 whicb men and women arc shown what their duty is, and 
 the maimer and time in which it is to be performed, ;i< 
 well as qualified to perform it, — and if we Bet up the Scrip- 
 tures in the place of this Light and Grace, — make them 
 the foundation of all religion and morality. — say that 
 human learning, outward information, is a necessary quali- 
 fication in order to come to a right judgment in mat: 
 relating to faith and worship, in things of a divine, spi- 
 ritual, and heavenly nature, — then I believe- we shall find 
 that we arc indeed dependent upon our fellow men, for 
 authority to act in the Church, and that we have cast off 
 our allegiance to the great Head of the Church, except so 
 far as words go; — these may still be retained, for the 
 enemy does not regard the use of words merely, he d 
 not regard the bare assertion that Christ is the Head of 
 the Church, that He is the President and Master of our 
 assemblies^ — so long as he can rule in the will, — so long 
 as he can virtually have the government. This he can 
 manage to retain, where the Scriptures are the M primary 
 rule," and while they are "interpreted like all other books, 
 according to the common and intelligible rules of language, 
 and not without a reference to innumerable facts and cir- 
 cumstances which throw light on their meaning." Here 
 IS ample room to shuffle about, and to evade their true 
 meaning Not so with those who do not ac- 
 knowledge them to be the ""primary rule," or the ^ulti- 
 mate appeal," hut accord both terms to that source from 
 whence they emanated. They are bound, by the same 
 
 Spirit and power by whicb the Scriptures were given forth, 
 
 and by which only they are truly opened and understood, 
 or savingly, profitably, and comfortably applied to the 
 heart, to yield obedience to the precepts, to obey the 
 
 commandments recorded in them. These have the sancti- 
 fied BSe of them, although they openly acknowledge that 
 
3. ) THOU IS B. QOI u>. 1 ( >1 
 
 tli< inly a Becondary rule completely subordinate 
 
 the Spirit. 
 
 Thou art aware, my dear friend, thai it is no picture 
 of the imagination, which has suddenly darted across my 
 
 pans of vision; but that it is something which I have 
 long seen and Pelt was coming upon us. My former letters 
 
 knee will bear testimony to this fact. Yea, I have seen 
 
 ami felt this spirit at work for years; many of my most 
 intimate friends know it. I have seen it in that Light 
 which never deceived me. When 1 say that it is a "dark, 
 uncertain, unbelieving spirit/ 1 I know what I say. " For 
 
 darkness hath covered tin 4 earth, and gross darkness the 
 •pie," — " they grope for the wall, like the blind at noon- 
 day :" and the reason is, ** they love darkness rather than 
 it. because their deeds are evil." They are not 
 willing to bring their deeds to the Light, lest they should 
 hi 4 made manifest, — to the Light of Christ which shines in 
 the heart, and makes a true discovery between thing and 
 thing. There is no evading this swift witness, this faith- 
 ful and true witness. But there is such a thing as resist- 
 ing, until it ceases to strive ; for it is written, " my Spirit 
 ill not always strive with man." It is for this reason 
 that the natural, corrupt heart of man is constantly seek- 
 ing out some easier way, is " climbing up some other way." 
 But equally true and certain it is, that these are all 
 * % thieves and robbers." "lam the door (into the true 
 sheepfold), by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, 
 and shall go in and out and find pasture." And the sheep 
 of Christ hear his voice, and they follow Him; "and the 
 voice of the stranger they will not follow, for they know 
 not the voice of strangers." It is their distinguishing 
 characteristic, that their Lord and Master, as their eyes 
 are kept single unto Him, in the obedience of Faith, gives 
 them a true discernment, a true judgment (for he is a 
 " spirit of judgment to them that sit in judgment" rightly), 
 between that which is really and truly of Him (whether 
 passing in themselves, or appearing in others), and that 
 which is not. Here is the real, substantial ground of 
 judgment. Such as these are the humble whom the Lord 
 teaches of his ways, and the meek whom he guides in the 
 
 9* 
 
102 Lin: AND LBTTBE8 tff [18J 
 
 paths of true judgment. There re much said now against 
 judgment ; no man is to be judged for his iinsounane 
 lei liim be ever so much bo; if he professes to believe in 
 "the religion of the Bible/' with his lips and his tongue) 
 it is all to be suffered and borne. It is said, he is an evan« 
 
 lical friend, or a ** Bible < 'h ri-t ia 1 1. * ' The spirit of the 
 age is against judgment — the spirit of the world is against 
 it. — and both are very prevalent in our religious society; 
 But I am satisfied that when judgment - to go forth, 
 
 to be passed upon and Bet ovw wrong things amongst us, 
 as R. Barclay said, "though one or more, few or many," 
 We shall cease to he a true Church of Christ, though we 
 may retain the bare name, and even glory in it. 
 
 With regard to its being an "uncertain spirit," I appre- 
 hend it might he easily proved to be so. And it cannot 
 be sure, it cannot he eei'tain, when that main fundamental 
 point 0T principle is denied or rejected, which William 
 Penn said, was "as the root of the goodly tree of doc- 
 trines, which grew or branched forth out of it," — that prin- 
 ciple of divine immediate revelation, which enabled the 
 disciples of our blessed Lord to see through and w * beyond 
 the veil" of ilesh with which the eternal Word and Son of 
 
 God was clothed or covered, in the days of his outward 
 
 manifestation, to that which dwelt "within the veil."' No 
 others could discover it, no others could acknowledge it 
 then. No others could answer with certainty and assur- 
 ance, when the question was asked, "Whom do men say 
 that I, the Son of man, am?" There was a diversity of 
 sentiments, a variety of conflicting opinions among men. 
 Some guessed one thing, and some another: kk Some say 
 
 thou art Elias, some John the Baptist, and some, one of 
 
 the old prophets risen again." But when his immediate 
 followers and disciples were asked, — those who had left all 
 to follow Him. — to whom it was given to know the myste- 
 ries of the kingdom, which is an inward and spiritual king- 
 dom ; — when they were inquired of, "Whom do ye say 
 that 1, the Son of num. am?" — they could answer with 
 
 certainty, with full assurance of faith, "Thou art the 
 
 Christ, the Son of the living <<od.'' For Simon Peter not 
 only spoke for himself, hut for his fcllow-diseiplcs and be- 
 
18. | MOM Ml I I .i>. 
 
 tfl the n many other occasions ; when 
 
 thej • 11 addressed, one answered for all. Oh, the 
 
 preoiousness of the dootrine and instruction contained in 
 the blessing pronounced upon this confession of faith in 
 I lini, who is Lord of all, Head over all things to his I Ihuroh 
 an<l people, and not only bo, but the everlasting and Bore 
 foundation lai<l in Zion, the Rock of Ages, the foundation 
 upon which the Church is built* "Blessed art thou, 
 Simon Barjonah, for flesh and blood hath not revealed it 
 unto thee, but my Father, who is in heaven !" STes, 
 "thou art Peter; and upon tins Efoek will 1 build my 
 Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. " 
 
 Thou art aware that the Society of Friends lias ever pro- 
 
 and believed, that the revelation of Christ in spirit, 
 the foundation upon which the Church is built, upon 
 which every member of it is established; and other foun- 
 dation can no man lay than that which is laid, which IS, 
 Christ Jesus. Thou art aware also that this principle is 
 controverted in that book which 1 showed thee: a hook, 
 which, if it was made public, I am satisfied would have a 
 tendency to open the eyes of such amongst us as still 
 retain their integrity and uprightness of heart; however it 
 might be with those who are overcome by the "dark, un- 
 certain, unbelieving spirit.'' These, it is probable, would 
 not see, for the god of this world hath blinded the eyes of 
 them that believe not ; and truly it is no less unbelief and 
 infidelity, to deny Him as he is, the Lord from heaven, 
 a quickening spirit, to deny the inward and spiritual ap- 
 pearance of Christ in the heart, to deny the plain declara- 
 tion made by Himself, "I will not leave you comfortless, 
 I will come to you," — to make distinctions and separa- 
 tions between the "three that bear record in heaven, 1 ' — 
 which " three arc one," — to bring down the doctrine of the 
 indwelling of Christ by his Spirit in the heart, to " simple 
 faith — mere credence," in the Scriptural account of Him, 
 and of what he has done and suffered without us, or to speak 
 of it as a mere "influence." This is not true faith ; it is 
 not the "substance of things hoped for," — it is not a 
 living, efficacious faith, such as is able to save the soul. 
 This is not Quakerism, but it is what the most carnal pro- 
 
104 Lin: AM) LETTERS OF [1838. 
 
 fessors in the world would allow. It Is their principle, 
 
 DOt ours, and the world lovetb its own. They arc all 
 
 ready to join with this spirit. They are all rejoicing at 
 the rapid strides which multitudes called by our name arc 
 making towards them. 
 
 When I say that it is unbelief, practical unbelief, I know 
 what I say. And if >uch as are in this spirit had lived in 
 the time of the outward manifestation, they would as surely 
 have rejected it: they would as surely have said, "We 
 
 will not have this mini to reign over us," notwithstanding 
 the loud cry they make about the Scriptures, notwith- 
 standing their professions of faith in Christ, as ever the 
 
 high professing dews did. These were as anxiously look- 
 ing for Christ to come, as those arc confident that he has 
 come and suffered for us. The Jews were as well ac- 
 quainted with the prophecies of their own prophets, as 
 any of the description I have been speaking of, and much 
 better; still they rejected Him on account of His mean 
 appearance, and said, " Can any good thing come out of 
 Nazareth*.'' Search and look, for out of Galilee there 
 ariseth no prophet." Ah! they searched the Scripture-, 
 and thought to have eternal life in them, hut they would 
 not come unto Him, that they might have life. They had 
 no1 His Word abiding in them. They thought to know 
 Him by comparing him with the prophetical account which 
 had been given forth by the spirit of prophecy concerning 
 Him. But notwithstanding the astonishing clearness, the 
 wonderful precision with which the time and manner of His 
 coming had been foretold and recorded, they failed in 
 making a right application of those prophecies to Him, 
 when He appeared. And why? Because, for all their 
 professions of regard to the letter of Scripture, they were 
 not true believers even in them, — they were not led by the 
 Spirit, — they were not subject to the Power, in and by 
 winch the Scriptures were given forth. We have " the 
 Wbrd of a King" for it — the testimony of the King, im- 
 mortal, eternal, and invisible to the carnal eye of man, 
 however mighty he may he in the literal, head knowledge 
 of the Scriptures, Had they truly believed M<»>e< and 
 the prophets, they would have believed in Him; for, Bays 
 
THOMAS B, 001 u». U 5 
 
 He, " Moses wrote of me ;" — "Bui if ve b< do1 his 
 
 writing, bo* Bhall ye believe my words h it no! clear 
 
 tii.-it they were not true believers m the Scriptures of the 
 < Mil Testament, although they bad as much u simple faith, 
 mere credence* 1 in them, as the Scribes and Pharisees of 
 
 the present day, and they are numerous aniongM US? 
 
 There are those amongst as who do indeed go "in long 
 
 rob, id "love greetings in the markets, and the up- 
 
 per - in the synagogues, and for a show make long 
 
 prayers;" who when they fast, fast to be seen of men, and 
 all under an appearance of great humility: hut it is only 
 in appearance, for it is impossible that any man can be in 
 
 an humble frame of mind, while he is calling in question, 
 not only the united judgment of the Church in its col- 
 lected and official capacity, from the time when we were 
 first raised up and gathered into a distinct religious society 
 
 to the present, hut also the individual soundness of those 
 Worthies who died triumphantly in that faith, for a testi- 
 mony to which they suffered, in many instances, even unto 
 death. Of this faith, of some of the mo'st important of 
 these principles and testimonies, it is now declared, that 
 they lead to or "involve the danger of a very fatal heresy.'' 
 If this is true humility, it is of a different kind from that 
 which I have ever desired to know* or be acquainted with. 
 But it appears in some instances to have had a wonderful 
 effect, in leading many "silly women captive." 
 
 To return, — it is a fundamental doctrine of Truth, — it 
 is one of those testimonies to the Truth, which we were 
 raised up as a people to bear — it is a doctrine abundantly 
 ified of in the Scriptures, — that no man can come 
 unto Christ, except the Father, who sent Him into the 
 world, draw him; that no man can savingly believe in 
 Christ, except he receive the gift of faith, from Him who 
 is the author and finisher of the saints' faith. For faith 
 is the gift of God, and "without faith it is impossible to 
 please Him.'' There must be " an understanding*' given, 
 before any can "know Him that is true." There must be 
 a preparation of the heart in man, by the Spirit and Power 
 of the Lord. He who is the Way, the Truth, and the 
 Life, must open our understandings, before we can under- 
 
106 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1838. 
 
 stand the Scriptures ; and unless this is the case, we shall 
 rarely fail of the right understanding of them, as erer 
 the Scribes and Pharisees formerly did. Notwithstandii 
 it is roundly asserted, in open violation of our acknow- 
 ledged principles, and in direct contradiction to their Qfwn 
 testimony, "that they must be interpreted like all other 
 books, according to the common and intelligible rules of 
 language, and not without a reference to innumerable facts 
 and circumstances which throw light on their meaning." 
 Who Bhall ever he able to refer to these innumerable facts 
 and circumstances? Can that which is innumerable ever 
 lie numbered pr referred to, any more than that which is 
 wanting? The Scriptures are, indeed, able to make the 
 man of Grod perfect (not the natural man), hut only 
 through faith which is in Christ Jesus. " For the natural 
 man understandeth not the things of the Spirit of God, 
 neither can he know them, because they are spiritually 
 discerned/ 1 ....... 
 
 My health is very poor — scarcely able to attend to my 
 business. I am afflicted, but not forsaken, in the b< 
 sense: and what I have to feel for k * the afflictions of 
 Joseph/ 1 are my greatest sufferings. My dear love is to 
 thee. 
 
 T. B. Gould. 
 
 To Peleg Mitchell. 
 
 NsWPOBT, 30th of 7th month, 1838. 
 
 My dear Friend : 
 
 Thy letter was received four days after its latest date. 
 The several items of intelligence were very interesting, 
 not only to me, but to all the family ; and it was a great 
 comfort to us all, to find thou hast the very same sense 
 and judgment, in relation to all the subjects touched upon, 
 that Ave have been favored with. As to myself, a very 
 humiliating, and somewhat more public line of service has 
 been my lot, in relation to the state of society now, than 
 
 has yot been required of them, although 1 believe (hey 
 
 have stood faithfully at their several posts. From the 
 course which 1 have felt called upon to pursue, much per- 
 
Thomas B. fefOl LD, 107 
 
 ution and abuse lias been visited upon me, both bj Qpen 
 and avowed enemies to the truth, and \>\ those who ha 
 hitherto professed much love and esteem for me, and alle- 
 the principles of truth. Although I had no 
 reason to doubt, yen, I was and have been sensible all 
 along, of the unity and sympathy of thy spirit — I mean, 
 masons when the renewed Feeling of that 
 
 hidden fellowship <»nc with another, which still follows, 
 
 and is a consequence of "walking in the Light/ 1 is vouch- 
 ed — still the expression of it was and IS truly sweet, 
 
 precious, and strengthening. "Words fitly spoken," or 
 written, "are like apples of gold, in pictures of silver." 
 
 pies are a very pleasant Fruit, and both these metals 
 
 lied " precious.' 1 How good it is ! 
 There was a written copy of a hook which J. J. G. had 
 printed in Norwich, England, for private circulation only, 
 
 t to me by a friend in Xew York, entitled " Brief 
 Remarks upon Impartiality in the Interpretation of Scrip- 
 t in In the time of the yearly meeting, I thought it 
 
 right occasionally, in expressing my dissatisfaction with 
 his other writings, and with his being suffered to travel 
 as a minister amongst us, while he refused to condemn 
 them, sometimes to refer to and produce it, to prove that 
 he was essentially and radically unsound in the faith, and 
 not only so, but that in this case he had attacked the 
 principles of the Society, although, like Joab, under an 
 hypocritical and deceitful profession of kindness. As I 
 made no secret of my uneasiness, believing myself called 
 upon to proclaim as upon the housetop, that which Was 
 done as it were "by night" ("it was night," according to 
 one of the evangelists, when Judas betrayed his Master), 
 so I believed the full time had come for me to do what I 
 did, and to do it openly. This made a wonderful stir 
 amongst Gurney's friends ; it really seemed as if they 
 were afraid "the house of Dagon, their god," would be 
 pulled down on their heads ! Rowland Greene, who by 
 the way professed to me that he was entirely ignorant of 
 Gurney's having written anything unsound, told me that 
 I was not aware " how much I was hurting his service" — 
 that many friends were prepared to receive him as a dear 
 
L08 LIM AXD LttRlBfl OF [18! 
 
 brother, he had good certificates, &c. &c. J told him, if 
 he waa really ignorant, it was a very culpable igno- 
 rance, — if he waa a watchman on the walls of Zion, he 
 
 ought to know wliat the enemy was about ; that he onght 
 to watch for him, and giYe the alarm when he was coming, 
 fee, : and then, with some difficulty, I prevailed upon him 
 to listen fo Borne parts of that book, which strikes at the 
 very foundation of Quakerism, which we know to be pri- 
 mitive Christianity. He said, in excuse to the company 
 for listening to the book and to me, that he should not 
 have done so, but for the great love and esteem he had 
 had for me. This was about all the satisfaction I got 
 from him : but I felt a peace flow from the sense that I 
 had done that which was my duty to do, which the loss of 
 his favor and my good name with him, could not take from 
 me. There were about twenty-five friends present. The 
 thing was much more extensively gone into than I have 
 room to give thee an account of. 
 
 It happened one day that Ave had a large company to 
 dinner, between thirty and forty. While some were at 
 dinner, L. T. and a young woman present got into a con- 
 versation about Joseph J. Gurney ; they continued it for 
 half an hour perhaps, saying many things in his favor, 
 until there was a misstatement made by the female, with 
 regard to his reception by friends in Philadelphia. I had 
 sat entirely silent until this time, although my burden had 
 been increasing : but as I attended Philadelphia Yearly 
 Meeting. I happened to know how he stood with many 
 friends there ; so I corrected the mistakes she had made, 
 and perhaps added my own >entiments with regard to him. 
 One thing led on to another, until the subject spread pretty 
 wide, among us three, no other person in the room taking 
 any part in it. In the midst of it, the friends from the 
 first dinner-table came in. What I said seemed to pro- 
 duce much uneasiness in J. Meader ; I could perceive it 
 plainly before he said anything; but he soon took the 
 Subject out of the hands of the young friends, by attack- 
 ing me for expressing my sentiments before SO large a 
 Company. I told him 1 held no objection to J. J. (»., or 
 opinion concerning him, which I wished to conceal, that 
 
-.] THOMAS i LD. 
 
 he had been guilty of a public offenee, and wi Far 
 
 from being willing publicly to condemn it, that he would 
 not do it privately. Putting me upon mv proof, I told 
 him, 1 knew if l>v the testimony of as reputable friends 
 
 any there were in Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. He 
 
 1. that was too far off, he might hare condemned them 
 before this time. 1 then told him, k * I knew he bad not, 
 by the testimony of John Wilbur, who visited him yester- 
 day ii]»<>n the Bubject, and called upon him to condemh 
 
 m, but he refused." 
 
 There was a great de4l said, both doctrinally 
 
 and disciplinary (that is, with regard to the "order of 
 
 and J. J. G.'s formal certificates; which were 
 
 obtained contrary to that power which only makes the form 
 
 truly valuable) ; and I know that many valuable friends, 
 
 and elders present, had unity with me in it. 
 .... I had told J. M. that he (J. J. (j.) was like 
 
 galom, k, wlio stole away the hearts of the people from 
 David his father;" and that while the true ministry had a 
 tendency to gather to Christ, the true Teacher, and to 
 produce a silent waiting state upon Him, this man's labors 
 had a contrary effect, and gathered only to the speaker, 
 
 begetting a desire after more words Sometime 
 
 while they were here, I was led into an expression of my 
 
 objections to the " Association," and the reasons 
 
 why I Could not attend their meetings, by a friend saying 
 he was sorry I had not been there. J. M. treated it with 
 contempt, if not with scorn. I hope I shall be enabled to 
 
 tr the sneers of false brethren ; but I cannot take any 
 part or lot in the matter. I never have felt myself at 
 liberty to join any " separate" society. The same thing 
 lias restrained me, that has led me into the acquaintance I 
 have with the Truth. I have been earnestly solicited to 
 unite, years ago, with Bible, Tract, Temperance, Anti- 
 Slavery, Anti-Masonic, and even Literary Societies. Oh! 
 the gate is strait, and the way is narrow, that leadeth unto 
 life; and there is no other way of entering the strait gate, 
 or being preserved in the narrow way, but by following 
 the Light, by walking in the Liijht. Some appear to think. 
 some that have, I believe, entered at the strait gate, and 
 
 10 
 
110 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1838. 
 
 walked for a time in the nartowway, thai they might take 
 lni'iv liberty to h><>k about them, to sec what other people 
 
 are doing, Or Stop and abide with them awhile: and that 
 
 the way i> do plain there is little danger of missing it; tliat 
 their own powers perhaps are Sufficient to keep them in it. 
 But alas! there are so many byways and crooked paths, 
 
 which appear at first sight (as the deeply-experienced and 
 divinely-illuminated author of the "Short History of a 
 Long Travel from Babylon to Bethel" said) to lie almost 
 
 'or quite parallel to it, that if the Light is not believed in 
 
 and followed to the end of the race, where only the crown 
 is to he obtained, such will assuredly make shipwreck of 
 their faith and a good conscience at the same time; for it 
 is not they that run well for a season, hut they that hold 
 out to the end, that are saved. The invincible shield of 
 faith, and armor of light, is as able to repel all the fiery 
 darts of the wicked as ever, blessed be His name in whom 
 is Life, and the life is the light of men ; in whom is Light, 
 and there is no darkness at all in Him ! But darkle 
 covers all the land of Egypt : and many there are who 
 have gone back into it, and their darkness is to be felt 
 indeed, yea, thick darkness is their hiding-place; they are 
 stumbling upon the dark mountains, and all the while cry- 
 ing, ** The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord are 
 these;'' but the Lord is not among them; for where the 
 Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty, but there is bondage 
 in Egypt. 
 
 I herewith send thee a copy of the not. 
 
 took, of what passed between us. I have felt the greater 
 necessity to do so, from the fact that my having spoken to 
 him has been an additional cause of suffering and persecu- 
 tion to me, although ]{. Greene and John Meader both 
 advised me to do so; they both thought, however, I have 
 no doubt, it would be the last thing 1 should do or say in 
 the matter. If thev did, they Were mistaken. He was 
 not permitted to give my "flesh to the fowls of the air," 
 no}- to "the beasts of the field;" but he "despised my 
 youth," as well as that simplicity in which L appeared 
 before him, as much as ever Goliath of Gath did David's, 
 and his sling and stones. Although 1 am not about by 
 
THOMAS B. GOULD. 1 1 1 
 
 :ni\ mpare myself with David, vet I am satis- 
 
 fied that he might be compared to Goliath; he has as truly 
 
 I the armies of the living God and their spiritual 
 he is as truly harnessed "with a coat of mail' 1 
 
 spiritually, as Goliath was literally. In this respeet, how- 
 
 r, there is a wide difference: the one appeared in his 
 i native character; he wae I Philistine, and we have 
 account that he ever sought to pass for anything el 
 
 The other is in the Philistine nature: he is Beeking to 
 
 top the wells which the children of Israel have digged," 
 — yet says, he is a Jew, but is not, He is not even a Jew 
 
 Outwardly; he has not got even the form of sound words: 
 and nh. now tar removed iVom being "in the Spirit, and 
 
 not in the letter:" — he is in the letter, and not in the spi- 
 rit, and his praise is of men, and not of the Lord. . . . 
 
 ( ( # Poor is in a Sardis, hut has not defiled 
 
 his garments. Oh, how I have felt for such as hare been 
 
 king the Pearl of great price, and made willing to sell 
 all that they had, in order to purchase the field in which 
 the Pearl lay hid; when these have, through deep bap- 
 tisms and humbling exercises, come among us, and have 
 found such unsoundness, lukewarmness, and unfruitful- 
 ness, how must they feel? They cannot help seeing that 
 the whole head is sick and the whole heart faint, with 
 many who are accounted leaders of the people. These 
 are they who cause them to err ; these are they who are 
 now destroying the way of the paths of righteousness. 
 
 i, they that are leading captive the simple, who depend 
 upon them without sufficiently bringing their spirits to the 
 balance of the sanctuary, are requiring a song, and they 
 that are spoiling us are requiring of us mirth, say- 
 ing, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. This was literally 
 the ease in the time of the yearly meeting. But how 
 can the Lord's song be sung in the city of a strange land ? 
 The harps of the faithful are hung upon the willow- ; 
 mourning, and lamentation, and woe, is written within, and 
 on the backside of the book which is open before them. 
 They weep when they remember Zion! The wall thereof 
 is broken down, and the gates burnt with fire. The wild 
 boar of the forest is making ravages in the midst of the 
 
112 UFi: AND LETTERS OF [1838. 
 
 camp; there is an enemy in the midst of the camp, nour- 
 ished and caressed there. But there is a small remnant 
 preserved. These are becoming increasingly near to each 
 other. Oh, their fellowship with each other, and with 
 their holy Head; is sensibly increased and increasing ! By 
 the three hundred men who lapped water aa a dtfg lappeth, 
 the Lord Bared Israel out of the hand of Midian. None 
 of the fearful and afraid were permitted to remain: they 
 were sent home. I hate had a language Bounding in my 
 ears for many vears: The people are too many, the people 
 are too many ! I veril y believe they will be sifted as corn 
 is Bifted in a sieve. The pure wheat wiH bear it ; gold 
 will abide the fire. But such as have been building with 
 wood, hay and stubble, these will suffer loss of all ! There 
 is great confusion now among them; it seems as if they 
 were afraid of their own shadow. Some of them flee when 
 no man pursueth them. 
 
 .... I am frequently suffering great difficulty of 
 breathing) and have a troublesome oough, although I have 
 been more comfortable the whole of the last week, till to- 
 day, than at any time since the yearly meeting 1 ; haying 
 never, in the course of my disease, been reduced so low as 
 since that time: "my heart and toy strength " haying 
 both % * failed" me. In this respect, however, 1 hope not to 
 be misunderstood; for my faith never was stronger than 
 it has been of late. But, as R. Barclay said, " all com- 
 parisons halt in some part," so I believe ([notations may 
 sometimes. u My heart has failed me," in respect to the 
 honor of Truth being maintained by the Soeiety in a gene- 
 ral way : ami in particular, by some who have stood high, 
 whom few suspected at all, and of whom I had hoped 
 hotter, much better things. These have discernment 
 enough to see my bodily strength is wasted and wasting, 
 ami they lay hold of that, to weaken and take off the 
 
 force of my concern in respect to "the better part;*' of 
 which David said, in immediate connection, I think, with 
 the above quotation, v * 1 Jut God is the strength of my 
 
 heart, and my portion forever." 
 
 1 should not have hinted at those Small matters and 
 light afflictions, hut in order more effectually to encomp;: 
 
3, ] THOJI Lfi l M». I L8 
 
 i poinl 1 have had in view all the while; which is, that 
 thou mays! I>< v induced to consider more weightily the 
 obligation, not to expose what conies t<> thee in black and 
 white, from thy "weak brother/ 1 and which is written 
 under so many unfavorable circumstances. Still, if there 
 may aay, the least, good arise from it, I should not pro- 
 hibit it, believing thou art acquainted with that '-wisdom 
 which is profitable to direct," — although additional Buf- 
 fering and persecution should follow. As deal- John Bar- 
 clay, of England, said, in a letter to John Wilbur, which I 
 have before me, dated 8th nto., 1887 (it was the last he 
 
 tr wrote to him): "Now 1 have relieved my mind in 
 
 the above respect, how shall I do to set forth all I could 
 
 ; our present, past, and probable future posture, as 
 
 a religious body, in this land? 1 trust on many points thou 
 ably and fully addressed by many Friends of this- 
 country. 1 shall then only touch at things that come he- 
 fore me, and thou must give mc credit for entire union with 
 thee and all those who still remain wholly on the Lord's side, 
 and one with our holy ancient ones and valiants, even the 
 primitive stock, who came forth in the powerful Name which 
 is above every name, and unto which every other name, how- 
 ever high and lifted up, must bow ! Ah, beloved friend, thou 
 that saw the first seeds and dawning of that which has now 
 manifested itself in degree, knowest well enough, how much 
 of the same nature and root we still have, to oppress and 
 afflict us, and of which it is difficult to particularize, or speak 
 closely of, in the abstract, without allusions to individuals 
 who give uneasiness." This quotation may halt in some 
 part, but in others I am sure it will " hold East." I had 
 intended, when I commenced, to inquire of thee what thou 
 hadst known of this John Barclay, and whether thou hadst 
 seen any of his writings ; also to have given thee an ex- 
 tract from his " Preliminary Observations (to Jos. Pike's 
 and Jos. Oxley's Journals), chiefly addressed to the So- 
 ciety of Friends," on the subject of religious controversy, 
 and the state and condition of the Society in England. 
 He was a descendant of R. 1>. in the life and power^ aa 
 well as in name and character ; none in membership with 
 the Society in this day having, in my judgment, come out 
 
 10* 
 
Ill LIFK AND LKTTEKS OF [18 
 
 in writing with equal clearness and sound-, him, and 
 to the same extent* 1 1«* was a minister also 
 
 Thy friend. 
 
 Thomas B. Gould. 
 
 Fbom T. P>. Gould to \v. C, T. 
 
 NeWPOBTj l.uh of 2d mo., 1839. 
 
 Mi dbab Friend : 
 
 .... J cannot siv tliat I have read the whole of AVil- 
 liam Allen's " Selections from Barclay's Apology," or 
 that I have compared it throughout with the original work; 
 
 my eyes have been se weak this winter, and other things 
 intervening have prevented me. But I have examined it 
 
 sufficiently to warrant my saying, that I do not approve 
 of it : and if the limits of an ordinary letter would admit, 
 I could give many solid reasons why I do not. As the 
 Case IS, 1 shall confine myself to — first, in regard to the 
 original work " containing much controversial matter 
 [which was] better suited to the period in which it was 
 Written than to the present time." Inasmuch as it is a 
 notorious fact, that many of the principles and practi 
 which are controverted in the '^Apology" (and which, so far 
 as sound reason and argument, supported hy the testimony 
 of the H<dy Scriptures, can do it, arc therein and thereby 
 entirely overthrown ), are now promulgated and strenuously 
 advocated by some of the members and ministers (so called) 
 of that very Society, for "an explanation and vindication 
 of [whose] principles and doctrines*' it was originally 
 written, and by whom it has been officially, and, until a 
 recent date -unanimously approved, and more extensively 
 circulated ]^y the Society than any Other hook: 1 say, 
 inasmuch as these are notorious facts, I do not approve of 
 the controversial part, nor any other part of the work, 
 being omitted; neither do 1 believe that it is "too volumi- 
 nous for the generality of readers. M 
 
 Secondly: In this "Selection," divers fundamental 
 principles and doctrines which the Society has always 
 held, and until recently (as a body) faithfully supported, 
 arc entirely omitted, the same principles and doctrines 
 
1-., TIK'MA I.I>. 11"> 
 
 non called in question, and undervalued, and de- 
 nominated mistakes and heresies, by Borne who Bland in 
 high stations in the Society! viz.: First, — u Concerning 
 the true (ground and) Foundation of (religious) know- 
 _■(>■* — a whole proposition omitted. Secondly, — con- 
 ainj; the % * adequate primary rule of faith and mann< 
 the Spirit the first and principal leader." And to | 
 
 r many other important omissions, and some alterations 
 
 not rery creditable to him who made them, I come, thirdly 
 
 1 lastly, to "the communion or participation of the 
 body and blood of Christ*" Under this head or proposi- 
 tion, thou wilt find that all that K. B. has Baid, about 
 -•what that body and what that flesh and blood is" which 
 ii, — supported as he is by the testimony of the 
 
 ipture8, and by the "most BOUnd and solid reason," ho 
 say nothing about the hitherto undeviattng testimony and 
 principle of the Society. — is entirely omitted (being 
 
 era! pages, or nearly three sections); and no allusion, 
 that L have been able to discover, made therein to any 
 oth or people whatever, except in the third section, 
 
 where he does allude to the Papists, Lutherans, and Cal- 
 vinists. And in the latter part of this third section, W; 
 A. recommences his "Selections;" which are wholly, or 
 nearly so. aimed against the ceremonial use of bread and 
 wine : and it seems to me that it requires but little discern- 
 ment, : that what is here omitted is in no wise of so 
 controversial a character as that which is retained or 
 
 •lected ;" inasmuch as the important, fundamental truth, 
 advocated by It. B. in what is left out of W;A/s book, 
 has never been asserted by any that I know of, except by 
 our blessed Lord and His apostles, the primitive Friends, 
 and those of the same faith, and led by the same unerring 
 Spirit, light, and grace, in the present day ; and by Augus- 
 tine, whose spiritual understanding of, and declaration 
 concerning "the body of Christ which is eaten," R. B. 
 quotes; viz.: "Ye shall not eat of this body which ye 
 see, and drink this blood which they shall spill which 
 crucify me. I am the living bread, who have descended 
 from heaven. He calls Himself the bread who descended 
 from heaven, exhorting that we might believe in Hitn," ( 
 
116 LOT! AND liBTTBBS OF [1839. 
 
 And El. P>. ;_ r «'c- on and Bays: "If it be asked, what that 
 
 body, what that flesh and blood IS?" I answer: •• It is 
 
 that heavenly seed, that divine spiritual, celestial sub- 
 stance, of which we -pake before, in the fifth and sixth 
 
 proposition-. This is that spiritual body of ( Ihrist, whereby 
 and through which He commnnicateth life to men, and 
 
 salvation to a> nianv as believe in Jlim and receive Jlini ; 
 and whereby also man comes to have fellowship and com- 
 munion with God." Then follows his Scripture proof of 
 this doctrine. 1 feel the more reason to disapprove of W. 
 A. > omitting this part, because J. J. Gnrney, in his 
 " Brief Remarks on Impartiality in the Interpretation of 
 Scripture," which was printed in 1836 (W. Allen's hook 
 
 was printed in 1837), has expressed opinions on the flesh 
 and blood of Christ (as well as on many other fundamental 
 and important points of" doctrine), utterly at variance with 
 our original principles. I shall inclose thee all he says 
 on this subject in that book, and I do earnestly request 
 thee to compare it with R. J>.'s thirteenth proposition 
 throughout, and the latter with \V. Allen's "Selections." 
 These new views, I have the best authority lor saying, 
 have obtained about London, to an alarming extent, so 
 that the Morning Meeting some time since refused to pass 
 a tract written by Samuel Hundell, on account of its con- 
 taining extracts from EL B/s "ApologyJ" and the doctrine 
 it contained being in conformity with it. The title of the 
 tract is, "Observations on the Redemption of Man, on 
 Divine Worship, and on the Partaking of the Flesh and 
 Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ/ 5 I have it now by me, 
 and it is an excellent thing; but I understand that 
 J.J. (i. " objected to the whole scope and tendency of it," 
 when it was examined in the Morning Meeting, Wk as par- 
 taking of mysticism," &c. I also know, that after the 
 Morning Meeting rejected it, the author, who is a minis- 
 ter, and lives at Liskeard, Cornwall, was induced to 
 
 republish it by the encouragement given him by Daniel 
 
 Wheeler. It had been printed before. 
 
 Notwithstanding I have written so much, I cannot seem 
 
 to get clear of the Weight of the subject of the hue and 
 
 <tv now raised against controversy, by those who are dis- 
 
9, | j ii u>. 1 17 
 
 to drop the original principles of the Society 6t 
 Is, and to adopt new notions utterly at variance with 
 them* R. Mott, when last here, on his return from N 
 Iford after vearly meeting, in a large meeting called 
 on his account, publicly condemned all "pole- 
 mical controversy," saying, **it had been a waste of time 
 ami talents, a lavish waste," and that he "had no pa* 
 ticular class of controversialists in view:" u ] condemn 
 
 them all," -aid he. 1 suppose, and sonic of his Own ad- 
 
 mir y, that the articles lately inserted in "The 
 
 Friend," over the signature M. II., belong to ham. [o 
 
 the last of them there is anotlier hint and nod or two at 
 
 By, strictures, rejoinders, &c, under the cover of 
 *• I fospel family order." ...... 
 
 a time, at this time, when it cannot he denied thai 
 there is an attempt making, both from within and without 
 the 8 ciety, — "when both ingenuity and industry are 
 taxed, for the purpose of giving to Quakerism another 
 form and character than that which it has ever known" 
 • William and Thomas Evans's address to their sub- 
 bers, on the cover of the first month of the third 
 volume of the " Library*'), — it does not seem remarkable 
 to me, that such as unite with those who arc engaged in 
 this work should be afraid of controversy. It is a very 
 natural fear, and it has been a very common one too! 
 The adversaries of the Society, whether within or without 
 its pale, always feared the force of truth and justice 
 erected for the defence and spread of its principles. The 
 Hick-sites cried out against it: no man was to be con- 
 demned for his opinions on religious subjects; they were 
 not to be controverted in the least ; no, no ! Their cry 
 was, u "Wc must all live in love together, and every man 
 enjoy his own opinion." 
 
 At the very first appearance of these things in England, 
 before the days of Beaconism, every effort was made to 
 ate a prejudice against the controversial writings of our 
 early Friends. Some said, M they had better never been 
 written ;" and others, that "they ought to be gathered 
 into a heap and burnt." These artful men well knew, that 
 so long as they continued to be read and justly valued, 
 
118 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [18^'. 
 
 they never would be able to bring in the very notions, to 
 controvert which these writings were written, in the open* 
 ings and requirings of the Lord's divine light and Spirit; 
 which light never had any fellowship with darkness, bat 
 
 always manifested it and reproved it, as did those who 
 
 walked in the light and were led by the Spirit. See the 
 
 Apostle: "Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works 
 
 of darkness, hut rather reprove them:" and a multitude 
 of Scriptures might he produced, to prove that this sub- 
 terfuge, that wrong things, unsound things, and those who 
 err from the faith and bring in Strange doctrines, dociri: 
 
 of devils, must not he controverted, is anti-scriptural* It 
 
 can he proved that such ought to be u rebuked sharply, 
 that they may he sound in the faith/' and, if that end is 
 not gained, that " their mouths ought to be stopped." 
 
 But it dors seem not a little remarkable, that any in 
 whom there is left a good degree of honesty and faithful- 
 ness to our principles, should he ifc the subjects of so mar- 
 vellous a hebetude of vision, as not to discern the fallacy" 
 of their pretensions to charity, love, unity. \c, when they 
 are Only made a cover for attacking the everlasting, un- 
 changeable foundation, through those who are endeavoring 
 to build upon it, not with wood, hay, or stubble, but a 
 spiritual and heavenly building which will abide the fire, — 
 n by and through the Spirit and power of Christ, — a 
 habitation for His holy Presence to dwell, to tabernacle in. 
 I am often forcibly reminded, whilst viewing, as it were 
 "by night," the walls of Jerusalem, which arc broken 
 down, and her gates, which were once so strongly guarded, 
 and the posts thereof so firmly rooted and established upon 
 that which is sure, but are now burnt as with fire, and the 
 bars thereof removed — I am forcibly reminded of Abner, 
 whom Joab took aside to Bpeak with him in the gate 
 quietly, and smote him under the fifth rib, that he died. 
 Surely, well might David exclaim, ki Died Aimer as a fool 
 dicth ! Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into 
 -." &c. And of Judas, who, under a profession of 
 love, betrayed his Master! I may well say, "whilst view- 
 ing the walls by night;" for i am not known to Wk my 
 people," nor to the elders of my people (so called), many of 
 
1 B39, ] TEOMJ LD. I L9 
 
 them, except as q u byword," a hissing, and to be 
 
 ached; on account of the testimony which I hold, and 
 am constrained to bear, against these things. And firm 1 
 am in the belief, that if 1 am favored to hold fast the be- 
 ginning of my confidence finn unto the end, I Bhall know 
 an overcoming : and all those who are faithful will know 
 an overcoming, a getting the victory over the beast and 
 
 over his image, over his mark, and OVOT the number of his 
 
 name, and over the false prophets too — those who Bay they 
 are Jews, hut are not, hut are of the synagogue of Satan. — 
 u bythe blood of the Land)," and by the word of their 
 
 timonies which they have hold, not having loved theif 
 3 unto the death. 
 
 When those disaffected persons in England, before 
 >]»(>kon of. had paved the way for it, by creating a preju- 
 dice against the controversial writings of Friends, mid 
 
 ting dust upon them (in which unhallowed work they 
 succeeded too well with many honest but unsuspecting 
 Friends), the next step, and it was a short one, was to 
 call their testimonies and doctrines and practices in ques- 
 tion ; and notwithstanding all their pretensions to faith, 
 charity, and love, the event has proved they were destitute 
 of either of these Christian virtues. I acknowledge that 
 some of these have quite gone oif ; yet but few compared 
 with the extent of the unsoundness, as divers letters now 
 by me, from sound Friends, ministers and others, in Eng- 
 land, would prove. Other facts and circumstances, coming 
 under our own observation, prove it. The language of 
 one of the letters referred to is : " I sometimes think it is 
 only a part of the roughest of the mixture which has been 
 sifted from us. There is much of a more specious and 
 refined nature remaining, which, if I mistake not, is still 
 more opposed to the simplicity of the truth as it is in Jesus. 
 Oh ! what a subtle enemy is ours, working in a mys- 
 tery!" &c. 
 
 It is abundantly and sorrowfully evident, that the same 
 spirit which operated in E. Bates and the Beaconites, is 
 still at work in the Society in England and in this coun- 
 try, though under a more subtle and specious, and of course 
 more dangerous, garb. I say, in this country, — yes, in 
 
120 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1839. 
 
 this country, — and time will manifest that what I 
 the truth. There are those now living who will, then, have 
 an opportunity to see, and perhaps feel, what all this up- 
 roar and outcry against controversy means, and the call 
 which has been heard (rem Dan even to Beersheba, to be 
 stt'/I and quiet) and to have patience, and charity, and 
 love, for those things which some of us do assuredly know- 
 to be evil : even that it is intended to lay us asleep, if on 
 the lap of Delilah, until they have shorn us of our strength, 
 and put out our eyes; — then they will rejoice over US, as 
 the Philistines did over Samson in the house of Dagon: 
 that it is intended to prevent us from making any the 
 least resistance, until they have penetrated the very heart 
 of our city, and even into the temple, and robbed it of the 
 vessels of gold and of silver, the treasures of the Lord's 
 house, which they will carry away with them to Babylon, 
 and the people to a land of captivity! 
 
 And now, my dear friend, in the conclusion of this long 
 letter, allow me to say, may that part of the message which 
 was written unto the Church at Ephesus, which is quoted 
 below, he applied unto thee ; may it be verified in thy own 
 experience, through the power and operation of the same 
 Spirit which revealed to John, the beloved disciple and 
 Servant of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (who is the 
 faithful and true Witness, the true Light and Life of men, 
 the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning 
 and the ending) — " those things which must shortly come 
 to pass;" and who declared, "Blessed is he that readeth, 
 and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep 
 those things which arc written therein, for the time is at 
 hand/' May it be applied unto thee : u These things saith 
 lie that holdeth the seven stars in His right hand, who 
 walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks : I 
 know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how 
 thou canst not bear them that are evil : and thou hast tried 
 them which say they are apostles and are not, and hast 
 found them liars; and hast borne, and hast patience, and 
 
 fur niv name's sake hast labored, and hast not fainted." 
 In much unfeigned love, 1 am thy friend, 
 
 Thomas B, Gould. 
 
188 THOMAS B. QOULIh 121 
 
 From T. B. <;. to Joins Wilbur. 
 
 of 3d month, I - 
 
 .MY I - ID AND \ IKY KIND FRIBND ! 
 
 I am very much obliged — we lire all very 
 
 Bach obliged — by thy minute account of thy providential 
 deliverance. It certainly was not merely a "chan< 
 which happened to thee; for the eye of the Lord is con- 
 tinually upon them that fear Him, upon them that hope in 
 His mercy; not only to deliver their bou! from death, and 
 
 feO keep them alive 4 in famine, spiritually : but I am firm in 
 
 the belief, — notwithstanding Ho eauseth the sun to shine on 
 
 evil and on the good, and Bendeth rain on the just and 
 
 en the unjust, — that even in temporal things, in things 
 
 which relate to these p"<»r bodies, there is not only a dif- 
 ence in the Bubject, by or from which the event is or 
 may he distinguished and denominated, but also, that what- 
 ever is permitted outwardly to befall those who are follow- 
 of that which is good, is designed by Him who num- 
 bered] the very hairs of the heads of such, to "work 
 together" with those spiritual dispensations which He sees 
 meet to lead into and impart, " for good/' and for the pro- 
 motion and consummation of His own all-wise and inscru- 
 table purposes, in and upon His children and people, as 
 well as for the furtherance and accomplishment of their 
 work and service for His name and truth's sake. 
 
 Really I can, according to my small measure and growth, 
 have fellowship and sympathy with thee in mourning and 
 lamentation, on account of Israel's loss, in the removal of 
 that valiant man and honorable elder, Jonathan Evans, 
 who was indeed to many, in this day of warfare with A ma- 
 lek, as Aaron and as Hur were to Moses in that day when 
 his hands were ready to hang down, by reason of hcavin 
 and sorrow for a highly-favored but stiff-necked and rebel- 
 lious people, who forsook their own mercies, and turned 
 their backs upon, and trampled under their feet, the testi- 
 monies which the Lord had given them to bear. 
 
 I was spending the evening at William Nichols's when 
 the sorrowful tidings reached me. I might have adopted, 
 and I believe I did adopt, a part of David's expressions 
 
 11 
 
122 LIFE ANI> LETTERS OF [1839, 
 
 on the death of Abner: "Know ye not that there is a 
 prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel V* Sorely 
 I felt weak, and I believe we felt that the little company 
 who arc left, and who are still favored to Bay, "Thine 
 are we, David, and on thy side, thou son of Jesse," are 
 weakened, are Btrippedand peeled .-till further 
 
 Cannot a remnant now say, in reference to this vine, 
 which was indeed planted a noble vine, wholly a right 
 
 d, as the prophet Baid of old, " I will bewail with the 
 weeping of Jazar the vine of Sibmah; I will water thee 
 with my tears, Qeshbonand Elealeh! for thou hast laid 
 my vine waste, and barked my fig-tree, laying it clean 
 bare, even with the ground?" .... 
 
 I had not read for some time in either of the Books of 
 Kings, when I received thine; but as I was reading what 
 thou hast so instructively and comfortably written about 
 Elisha, it was revived in my remembrance, how it was with 
 him ** when the Lord would take up Elijah into heaven by a 
 whirlwind;" that he, Elisha, knew it, and "went with 
 Elijah from Gilgal;" and that he would not be prevailed 
 on to remain there, but when the Lord sent him to Bethel 
 he Baid, "As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I 
 will not leave thee." And so again at Jericho, where 
 Elijah proved Klisha still further (no doubt by divine re- 
 quirement, or permission at least) saving, " Tarry here, I 
 pray thee, for the Lord hath sent me to Jordan :" but he 
 continued unwavering, and would not leave Elijah, no, not 
 even when he came to Jordan. Oh! what he would have 
 lost if he had left him! Undoubtedly he would not have 
 received a double portion of the spirit which was in and 
 upon Elijah; he certainly could not have caught the 
 mantle as it fell from him ; for it was after they were 
 "gone over" Jordan, that Elijah said, " Ask what I shall 
 do for thee;" and even then, beside his asking a hard 
 thing, there was another condition, that of watchfulness: 
 w * Nevertheless if thou see me when I am taken from thee, 
 it shall be done unto thee : but if not, it shall not be done." 
 Are not watchfulness, faithfulness, and obedience incul- 
 cated here! 1 have often thought so before, and re- 
 newedly so at this time, as well as when I was read- 
 ing thine. 
 
9. ] THOMAS i u>. 128 
 
 go, when I was a little child, 1 r«- 
 member how I loved, and how I was concerned to endea- 
 
 to keep near those who kept near the Lord ; and bow 
 earnestly 1 desired then to be able to aee spiritually who 
 were near Him; and I remember how it was opened tome 
 then, that it was necessary for me to keep my own eyes, 
 the eye of my mind, to Him. and upon Sim, and in Ilim, 
 oo1 only for my own Bafe condition and standing, but also 
 it was clearly and immediately opened to my view, that 
 
 n those who bad attained to a good condition, to a 
 heavenly and honorable condition, might lose it and fall 
 from it. and vet this might be the case when, as to the 
 outward, there might be little change in the appearance: 
 
 that the mind must be kept principally and primarily 
 in the " Head," and not look to men or follow men, any 
 
 farther than they followed Him and were found in Ilim. I 
 desire to speak it to the praise of that grace, everlasting 
 loving-kindness, and tender mercy, by which not only I am 
 
 what I am, but by which alone I have been preserved from 
 still clinging to and following after men, who, having 
 once been favored with it, and richly adorned and emi- 
 nently qualified by it for usefulness, and thereby made 
 a- examples to the flock, have turned from it to wan- 
 tonness. But how many there are who practise upon the 
 false principle, " once in grace, always in grace," how- 
 ever unwilling they may be to own it ; so that if a man 
 has once had a name to live, and especially if this reputa- 
 tion has been great and generally acknowledged, when he 
 loses his life and becomes spiritually dead, to all intents 
 and purposes, nothing remaining but a lifeless carcass, 
 and even this unlike that of the prophet who was slain by 
 the lion (for his carcass was not eaten, nor the ass on 
 which he rode torn), he must still be honored and cherished, 
 as if he were a living man ! 
 
 When I have thought of the course which , , 
 
 and many others have of late pursued, I have been forci- 
 bly reminded of Jehoshaphat, of whom it is recorded that 
 he did that which was right in the si^rht of the Lord, walk- 
 ing in the way of Asa his father : howbeit the high places 
 w r ere not taken away (in his reign), but the people still 
 
12 t LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1839. 
 
 offered and burnt sacrifices in the high places: and he 
 made peace with the king of Israel, lie joined affinity with 
 that wicked Ahab, and went at his call to Ramoth-Gilead 
 to battle, saying, "1 am as thou art, my people as thy 
 people, and my horses as thy horses.' 1 Alas! how nearly 
 it cost him his life ! 
 
 The time has come when I can well understand how it 
 was with the prophet when he said, " 0, that I had in the 
 wilderness a lodging-place of wayfaring men, that I might 
 leave my people and go from them." And I believe it 
 will be with the profession of Quakerism, as it was with 
 the profession of Christianity in primitive times; when it 
 became popular, it was adopted and professed by men of 
 worldly wealth and power: kings and princes trading in 
 it and with it; and the true Church was driven into the 
 wilderness by those icho bore her name and gloried in it, 
 boasting of the constancy of those who bad previously 
 suffered martyrdom for the thing itself, which they only 
 had the image and likeness of, and were " persecuting the 
 woman and the remnant of her seed," — until they drove 
 her out of sight, and for a time, to outward appearance, 
 got rid of her ; although she never ceased to exist in the 
 place prepared for her of the Lord, her Maker and her Hus- 
 band, who still nourished her and loved her in her forlorn 
 and desolate condition. But then was the time of the 
 vain-glory of the false church, when she sat as a queen and 
 no widow, upon the scarlet-colored beast; when the false 
 prophet, with his lying wonders, deceived the nations, 
 upon which the false church sat, and over which she bare 
 rule. 
 
 And now, notwithstanding it did please Him who is 
 Head over all things to his Church, to make way for her, 
 several hundred years ago, to come forth out of the wilder- 
 ness, '•clothed" indeed "with the sun/' and not only the 
 moon hut all changeable things under her i'eet. — notwith- 
 standing she was brought forth "lair as the moon, cical- 
 as the Min. and terrible as an army with banners," — not- 
 withstanding the Lord was her light, and her Clod alone 
 her glory, — notwithstanding He was for a crown of glory 
 and a diadem of beauty, unto her, and for a spirit of judg- 
 
1889. ] raoMAfl b. qould. L25 
 
 men! to them thai sat in judgment, and for strength to 
 them thai turned the battle to the gate, — notwithstanding 
 the mountain of the Lord's house was exalted, and set 
 upon tin* top of the mountains, and above the hills, and 
 many people did come and say, " Let us go up to the 
 mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, 
 for He will teach us of his ways and we will walk in his 
 paths, — for out of Zion shall go forth a law, and the word 
 of the Lord from Jerusalem" (though all nations did not 
 Bow unto it, neither have they to this day), — notwith- 
 standing, as I firmly believe, our ancient Friends did 
 
 arrive at and stand upon the very summit of the Lord's 
 mountain, the top of the holy hill of Zion ; and standing 
 
 there, thev witnessed, and in them and to them was ful- 
 filled the vision of the evangelical prophet, " In this 
 
 mountain shall the Lord make unto all people (that come 
 unto it) a feast of fat things, of fat things full of marrow, 
 of wines on the lees well refined j and shall destroy the 
 face of the covering that is spread over the nations, and 
 the veil that is over all people" (that have not known 
 what it is to find and stand upon Mount Zion, the holy 
 hill, which cannot be removed), — notwithstanding this is 
 my faith concerning them and the glorious work which 
 they wrought, through the Lord's eternal spirit and power, 
 ami that they were a people "formed for himself," and by 
 himself, and showed forth His praise, the praise of his own 
 work, — and so, I believe, there has been a living remnant 
 from that day to this, preserved upon this everlasting 
 foundation, though not so many in proportion to the num- 
 bers who professed the same high and holy calling ; ami 
 of latter time the number of this remnant has been fast 
 decreasing, — notwithstanding all this, and that I have, I 
 believe, as deep and exalted a sense as I am capable of, 
 of the surpassing strength, excellency, dignity, glory, ami 
 beauty of those testimonies which the Society of Friends 
 was raised up to bear, and which they did formerly bear 
 faithfully and nobly; — yet I do believe that those who 
 stand faithful to these heavenly principles (which may be 
 included and comprehended in one word, the Truth) will 
 be excommunicated from the Society (their names are 
 
 11* 
 
126 LIN AND LETTERS OF [1839. 
 
 already cast out as evil) ; that they will be driven back 
 into the wilderness, and go out of sight, very much, as it 
 respects an outwardly gathered, and visible state and con- 
 dition ; while those who have gone from the Spirit, Life, 
 
 and Power (which joins to the living Head), and arc sepa- 
 rated from the Vine, and arc cast forth as a branch, and 
 
 arc burnt and withered, will retain the image, the name, 
 
 \c. And by how much the reformation which was wrought 
 under this name and power exceeded, and the ground which 
 
 was gained, overlooked, surpassed, and was advanced be- 
 yond any former age, state, and condition of the visible 
 Church, by 80 much will those who are clothed with an 
 imperfect image and likeness of it, the more deceive the 
 nations, than any others have done ; and by so much the 
 more keen and afflicting will the persecution be, which 
 these inflict upon the "residue of the people who arc 
 left," even the remnant of the seed of that " woman" who 
 was "clothed with thc # sun," had the u moon under her 
 feet, and a crown of twelve stars upon her head.'' For, 
 as that eminent seer and true prophet, Job Scott, said in 
 his preface to " The Baptism of Christ, a Gospel ordi- 
 nance :" " Babylon is not yet so fallen as to rise no 
 more : she is Still lurking in a mystery ; mystery Baby- 
 lon the great ; and still the mother of many harlots ; 
 thousands are ensnared among some or other of her 
 daughters, and are not aware of her cup." And this will 
 be the most harmful of all her many and artful sorceries, 
 a doubly refined golden cup, full of the greatest abomi- 
 nations that ever yet. made desolate the heritage of the 
 Lord, 
 
 On reading this latter part over, what shall I Bay to 
 thee, my dear friend ? 1 will Bay, for I can do it in 
 truth, as J. Barclay said to P. Bedford, that when I took 
 up my pen, I had quite another intention, than to have 
 branched out on this subject at this time ; although I had 
 thought, some time ago, of expressing my views to thee in 
 a somewhat similar Way. But I found myself writing upon 
 it before 1 was well aware, and then could not seem to leave 
 it sooner. If I have gone too far, please burn it immedi- 
 ately, and deal very plainly with me ; although I do 
 
I B3&] THOU \> B. 0OULD. L27 
 
 not .-it present think I have, if I have mritten bo m 
 to bo understood, whicb I sometimes think I scarcely 
 
 do 
 
 I haw BO many things On hand, and am BO Feeble and 
 
 poorly, that it seems as if whal 1 have to do must he done 
 qaicklj ; for I can hardly keep or go about. J have also 
 lost my hope that anything will be done in a Society 
 capacity, or that [as such] it will be saved from utter 
 
 ruin. That truths testimonies a\ i 1 1 be lost by it [a> a 
 body] I greatly fear; though, of a solitary remnant I am 
 
 still firmly persuaded, that they will he saved, " as the two 
 or three berries from the top of the uppermost boughs, four 
 or five upon the outermost fruitful branches thereof." But 
 they will surely be as the gleaning grapes that are left in 
 it (in the true faith of the Gtospel), or as the shaking of an 
 olive tree : for everything that can be shaken will be 
 shaken, and that only which is founded on the immovable 
 Rock will remain. And if it is not fully accomplished 
 in the days of the fathers, it will be in the days of the 
 children. 
 
 Thy sure friend, 
 
 Thomas B. Gould.* 
 
 To Peleg Mitchell. 
 
 Newport, 8th of 3d month, 1839. 
 Mv DEAR Friend, Peleg Mitchell: 
 
 You have been much and often in my remem- 
 brance, and I have employed all the time which my feeble 
 state of health, and a proper attention to other incumbent 
 duties, would permit, in making thee a copy of J. J. G.'s 
 "Brief Remarks," &c, which I have now completed, and 
 only await an opportunity to send. . . . It is one of 
 the basest, most offensive, and sophisticated attacks ever 
 
 * A portion of this letter has been already published, in the 
 " Journal and Correspondence of John Wilbur/' Several other valu- 
 able letters from T. 13. G., having especial reference to the trials 
 attending J. W., have been included in that volume, the recent 
 publication of which renders it needless to repeat them in this col- 
 lection. 
 
128 Lin: and LBTTBRS of [1830. 
 
 made on our principles, either from within or without the 
 pale of our religious Society: and still, marvellous indeed 
 must be the "hebetude of" that "vision" which "cannot 
 discern the Fallacy of the author's pretensions' 1 to a con- 
 cern for the "peace and prosperity of our section of the 
 Christian church ! n I have been ready to say, as Jehu 
 the Bon of Jehoshaphat said to Jorain (or Jehoram) the 
 son of Ahah (who sold himself to do wickedly): "What 
 peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel 
 and her witchcrafts are so many?" And truly this man 
 (and many others who are as unsound and corrupt as he) 
 "covets" the "vineyard," or inheritance of our forefathers 
 in the everlasting, unchangeable Truth, which the Lord 
 hath " forbidden " some of us to " sell or exchange for ano- 
 ther," as much as Ahah and Jezebel (with her painted 
 face and tired head) coveted that of Naboth the Jezreelite, 
 even for "a garden of herbs." But now, when it cannot 
 be denied that there is a famine in the land, even now, 
 when not only "one," but many, " go out into the field 
 (the world) to gather herbs, and finding a wild vine, and 
 gathering thereof ft lapful of wild gourds, come and shed 
 them into the pot of pottage ;" there are some of the " sons 
 of the prophets " who are still favored to know or discover 
 that "there is death in the pot;" and there are some also 
 who arc neither prophets nor sons of prophets, but whom 
 the Lord hath taken as "they followed the flock," and as 
 they were "gathering sycamore fruit," and showed them 
 that * w there is death in the pot;" and hath required some 
 of these "herdmen," at times and seasons, to declare, as 
 tk at Bethel," that if the pottage which has been " seethed " 
 IS partaken of, "the sanctuaries of Israel shall he laid 
 waste." But kk the land is not able to bear all the words M 
 of these, any more than it was in the days of Amos; and 
 those who are called w * priests" say now, as Amaziah said 
 to him : "Prophesy not again any more at Bethel, for it 
 IS the king's chapel, and it is the king's court!" . 
 
 Now is it not remarkable that Samuel (Jurncv, 
 the brother of Joseph John, should haw told P. E., who 
 was in London, and attended the yearly meeting there, 
 when J. J. (i. got his certificates, that the story which had 
 
ls:V.>. ] THOMAfl i:. GOULD. 129 
 
 tlim gone nboat, with respect to the objection to bia coming 
 in the Belect yearly meeting, was utterly false! I read 
 
 it in i letter in P.'a own handwriting, at cousin Stephen 
 
 Truly, it' Truth's testimonie sup- 
 
 ported in this day of "treading down and perplexity," 
 those who are or may be accounted worthy to suffer for 
 \\\< sake, whose they are and on whom they are based, 
 from the least of them unto the greatest of them, must 
 
 indeed Bet their lace- as ;i Hint, and he willing to stand as 
 in the gap, to he shot at by every areher. That it may 
 OUT experience, and that our hows may abide in 
 Strength, and the arms of our hands may be made strong, 
 by the power of the mighty <i<>d of Jacob, who is both the 
 " Shepherd and the Stone of I-rael," is the >ineerc desire 
 of thy affectionate friend, for thee and for all the upright- 
 hearted who are of the wrestling Seed, as for my own soul. 
 
 Thomas B." Gould. 
 
 To Jonx Wilbur. 
 
 Newport, 22d of 4th mo., 1839. 
 My dear Friend : 
 
 And lately, more especially, I have, I think, 
 n and felt the application of the sorrowful language: 
 k * Ephraini is joined to his idols; let him alone;" as it re- 
 gpectfl some prominent individuals ; and more of the neces- 
 sity of refraining from casting pearls before those who 
 would only trample them under their feet, and turn again 
 and rend such as, even in that " love " which is " without 
 dissimulation," were seeking not to destroy that which had 
 been captivated in the "snare of the fowler," but to lend 
 a hand of help (where the strength was wasted in a fruit- 
 less striving to get along, and to make an advancement 
 while covered with the net), to lend a helping hand to re- 
 move the net first, and to endeavor to get clear of that, 
 entirely clear, and then to seek for the ancient path, to 
 inquire where is the good old way, and to have the feet- 
 turned back again into it. But what can be done for those 
 who plead for the net because it is of so fine a texture, and 
 hug the chains because they are gilded over with a gilding 
 
L30 LIFE AND LBTHRfl 01 [1839< 
 
 that looks like the finest gold? They are not willing to 
 come near that fire, by which these things must and will 
 eventually be tried; and inasmuch as they will no1 submit 
 to it now, I fear they will in the end suffer loss of all. . . 
 
 .... We arc i poor priest-ridden people, here in 
 Newport now, and need the "prayers of all sainte" that 
 we may be enabled to "keep the faith and the patience of 
 the saints." 
 
 Father '8 judgment is, that there has been some* 
 
 thing <>f a gathering known to the true Teacher, by some, 
 ami he is very much concerned lest they should be scat- 
 terecL But as far as respects the instrument of this scat- 
 tering, I fully believe that his building is not to be propped 
 up or supported at all, nor anything to be done that should 
 have an effect to paint it, or make it look any more like 
 the right thing than it now docs; but let it manifest itself, 
 and be developed. For there is a sufficient attempt made 
 now to pass it off as sound Quakerism, though the truth 
 will appear, to sueh as are favored to have their e; 
 open, notwithstanding all the art and device that can be 
 used. 
 
 I will give thee a short extract from II. Battey's last 
 letter, dated 25th of 3d month. She says: "My dear 
 aged lather [.Joseph Hoag] IS with us on a visit. I read 
 
 both thy letters to him. He says : * When thou writes to 
 that dear family, remember my love affectionately to them 
 all. Tell them I rejoice to hear, there is yet left in New 
 England one of a hundred and ten of a thousand, that are 
 concerned to abide upon the ancient landmarks;' and then 
 added : c It reminds me of what I passed through, previous 
 to the breaking out of the schism in our yearly meeting. 
 If I spoke against Elias Hicks's doctrine, the cry was, ki Be 
 -till ! it wont do to say anything!" But I marked these, 
 and when the time of separation came, they went off, — 
 those that were SO afraid there should be a word said, lest 
 it should produce a schism.' He further said, k I have 
 fell the necessity of bearing public testimony, in different 
 
 places since our division, that one woe is past, behold! 
 another eometh ! and I think the second will be worse than 
 the first/" .... 
 
 Thomas B. Gould. 
 
L889. | rnoM is b, ld. 181 
 
 To John Wilbur. 
 
 Ni w P( h ol 5th mo . 
 
 My DBAB Fi;ii:m» : 
 
 Sorrowful as it may be, I think there is ooi 
 
 much to be expected of any man whose faith is only pinned 
 upon another's Bleeve, and who has bo little rool and dis- 
 cernment in himself, as to be driven about with every 
 wind of doctrine that blows. Surely, if the minds of 
 Friends had not been more in love with and engrossed in 
 their farms ami merchandise, and if they had been really 
 convinced of and converted to the truth ; it' that faith, 
 which was once delivered to the saints, had been delivered 
 to them, and they had kept to the work and operation 
 
 thereof in themselves, they had DOt BO vilely east awav 
 the Bhield, as they now have done: and being found with- 
 out the armor on, the fiery darts of the devil have pierced 
 
 them, and wounded them to the life. Still, if it shall 
 please the Lord in very deed to reanimate any of these 
 slain; if it please Him to command any of His servants 
 the prophets, to "prophesy to the wind/' and as they 
 prophesy, to cause a shaking among them, and to gather 
 them together (who have been scattered), bone to his bone, 
 and to cover them with sinews, and to cause flesh to come 
 upon them and cover them, that they may stand upon 
 their feet, and become a " great army," and by virtue of 
 His quickening and almighty power, be enabled to fight 
 His battles; 1 hope we shall be favored to acknowledge 
 and own the work in due season. But at present I appre- 
 hend some of these are aware that we have at least read 
 the injunction, " Lay hands suddenly on no man." But 
 the unchangeable truth of that Scripture, they must most 
 assuredly first be convinced of, viz. : that there is no 
 manner of fellowship " between Christ and Belial," and 
 that it is impossible to "partake of the Lord's table and 
 the table of devils." That valiant soldier in the Lamb's 
 army, Joseph Iloag, I understand, said lately in his 
 preaching, that " there was nothing the devil liked better 
 than to get his kingdom alongside Christ's kingdom; but 
 though he might make it look never so much like it, he 
 
132 LIFB AND LETTERS OF [1839. 
 
 could not p-t it in. and that he (the devil) never had it in 
 his power t«> emit one ray <>i' light to illustrate the truth ! ,J 
 How much need some of these Babel-builders have, to 
 learn the " first principle- of the doctrine of ( Shrist ;" and 
 
 with all their study and research, what novices they are 
 
 in those things which are clearly seen and thoroughly 
 
 understood by mere children and babes, whose vouth thev 
 
 so much affect to despise ! But the eternal decree and 
 purpose of Him, to whom all his works are known from 
 the beginning, to hide these things forever from that eye 
 which is disposed to pry into them, to "study" them, and 
 search them out, cannot be changed; neither can His holy 
 will and pleasure to reveal them unto babes, any more be 
 changed. The preaching of the cross is as great a stum- 
 bling-block to those who sav thev are Jews now, and are 
 not, as it was to them of old, and as very foolishness to 
 the modem as to the ancient Greeks, — " the learned and 
 polished Greeks.' 1 And so also, " to them that believe" 
 in Christ, the Word of faith (who is nigh, in the heart 
 and in the mouth), and whose faith cometh by hearing 
 Him, the living and eternal Word, which was in the 
 beginning, and liveth and abideth forever, — to these lie 
 is known to be the wisdom of God, and the power of God, 
 yea. He is made unto these, of the Father, "- wisdom, and 
 righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption." 
 
 Oli, that men might be brought down, that they might 
 know the wrong eye, the false eye, closed, and the right 
 eve, the true eye, the single eye, opened! Then should 
 their spiritual "bodies" be " filled with light," by Him 
 who is the Fountain of light, and hath His habitation 
 therein forever: and by walking in the light, they would 
 come to have fellowship and communion with him, and one 
 with another. Then indeed would the "blood Of Christ" 
 be found precious ; then there would be ground for a sure 
 testimony to be home to the preciousness of His blood, 
 and the benefits of \\\< death and sufferings ; for, having 
 known an overcoming by the blood of the Lamb and by 
 the word of the testimony, such would have "right to the 
 tree of life," and the fountain of life, and would have a 
 real interest in, and a joint fellowship with Him in His 
 
l B3JK] iHOMAfl B. ooi 1. 1>. L88 
 
 deatb and Bufferings, having been made conformable there- 
 unto; and thus would enter in u through the gate," and 
 l»y " the door," Into the city, thai spiritual, celestial lm 
 habitation, and building, % * which hath foundations,' 1 wh< 
 walls are Balvation and her gates arc praise, and wh< 
 builder and maker the Lord alone is. 
 
 I had no intention to have written thus, but a very dif- 
 ferent One. If 1 do >end this sheet, I hope thou wilt e\- 
 
 ouse me, on account of the great weight and burden which 
 
 I am laboring under, in respect to these things, and many 
 other points with which the true believer, the true Quaker, 
 
 cannot but he familiar 
 
 We are a tried people here in Newport, or a tried reln- 
 nant, and u no people" (in the scriptural use of the term); 
 and I sometimes think, if the "three mighty men" were 
 here, who brake through and drew water out of the well 
 which was by the gate of Bethlehem, when David longed 
 for it, they would hardly he able to reach it, and return 
 with it to the king; the Philistines do stop up the wells 
 which the children of Israel have digged, so that there is 
 danger of perishing for want of water, not for want of 
 words 
 
 In much love and near affection, I am thy sure friend, 
 
 Thomas B. Gould. 
 
 From John Wilbur to T. B. G. 
 
 6th mo. 11th, 1839. 
 . . . . T. Shillitoe's opinion, that if Friends do 
 not what they can to discourage or suppress his [J. J. G.'s] 
 writings, the Society will go down, has come fresh to me 
 within two or three days, and I am confirmed of its truth. 
 The defection has already advanced so far that, although 
 a remnant may be preserved, by the bearing of a faithful 
 testimony against him and his writings, yet I do greatly 
 fear that those who are now prepared to resist the bearing 
 of such a testimony, will go away, and Avalk no more with 
 our crucified Lord. In reading the last volume of T. S., 
 I met with a particular account of the separation in New 
 York, and of what transpired in the first meeting " there- 
 
 12 
 
134 LOT AM) LETTERS OF [1840. 
 
 after." He says that "Daniel Havilarid, a very aged, 
 blind friend, Baid, the scene we had passed through in this 
 v« arly meeting was clearly unfolded t<» hi- new before lie 
 came t<» the city, and expressed his thankfulness to his 
 heavenly Father i'<>r this great deliverance. Hut, said he, 
 dear friendflj there will yet something come to pass, if my 
 feelings have not deceived me. that will more fully try our 
 foundation." 
 
 Thomas Shillitoe, near his close, Baid: "Oh, let it be 
 known, thai I contend to the last, with unremitting confi- 
 dence and assurance, for the second coming of our Lord 
 and Saviour Jesus Christ, to the saving of the soul. Oh ! 
 what should I have been now, if I had not submitted to 
 J lis baptism, the baptism of fire?" The prophesies and 
 testimonies of these deeply experienced, faithful, and 
 therefore dignified servants, are, in my apprehension, 
 A\or thy of credence. 
 
 When in the neighborhood of the former, I heard enu- 
 merated many prophetic declarations which he was heard 
 to utter, which were unfailingly fulfilled; and the present 
 aspect of things fully indicates the approaching fulfilment 
 of the prediction above recited 
 
 In dear love to all my true friends, 
 
 I am, &c, 
 
 JOHN WlLUUR. 
 
 From T. B. G. to Peleg Mitchell. 
 
 Newport, 7th of 3d mo., 1810. 
 My dear and faithful Friend: 
 
 ... I thought I was sufficiently afflicted when I last 
 wrote (and 1 think I hinted at it), but thine of the 24th 
 nit . reached me under a much keener baptism of suffer- 
 ing. The reflection that I had been unfaithful to thee, 
 only added trouble to my sorrow. I was not in a state to 
 write when I thought to do so: as G. Fox said, when one 
 of the priests advised him to sing psalms ; lie said, he was 
 not in a condition to sing ! Indeed 1 am sensible that I 
 am a miserable correspondent every way. I almost marvel 
 that I ever commenced such a work, though nooneenjo\< 
 
] B W.] THOMAS B. QOl u>. 185 
 
 the letters from his friends better than I do, I am fully 
 
 ded; at least when [ can enjoy anything. Howev< 
 1 do not want to be misunderstood: it is not from any 
 attack made upon me by the archers, that I have been thus 
 depressed, neither has it been from any particular appre- 
 hension of anything of that sort. I have been remarkably 
 clear of forebodings as it respects myself, of late; and 
 though I cannot say, perhaps, that i feel resigned to what- 
 r of that ><>rt may be permitted to come upon me, yet 
 1 can almost Bay that I feel at the present time nearly 
 indifferent to it, except some faint desire that L may be 
 helped through it, bo as m»t to dishonor the great ami ir< >< ><l 
 
 cause. I cannot >pcak of anything beyond a "faint <le- 
 
 >ire" at present, although lean well remember having had 
 Btrong ones; for I seem to he "like the heath in the 
 desert," or the pelican in the wilderness. The bare recol- 
 lection of former experiences (as thou wilt freely admit) 
 will not do to trust in or speak from. Whether this dis- 
 pensation is preparatory to further service, or still greater 
 Buffering, I am not able to say. The first does not seem 
 at all probable ; and if time should make manifest, as it 
 
 respects the last, it is at present hidden from me 
 
 Thomas B. Gould. 
 
 Extract of a Letter from T. B. G. to 
 
 13th of third month, 1840. 
 
 My dear Friend : 
 
 Thine of the first was duly received on the fourth of the 
 present month. I do not know how it could have been 
 more gratefully received, but I do know that I shall not 
 be able adequately to express the satisfaction we all feel, 
 in the evidence afforded us of the remarkable manner in 
 which way has been made for thy dear father [J. W.] to 
 fulfil his nii.-sion anions: the too generally benighted sons 
 and daughters of a highly favored, though degenerated 
 and revolting people, to whom the mournful language of 
 the prophet seems truly applicable, "0 Israel, thou hi 
 destroyed thyself; but in me is thy help !" It does seem 
 to be a renewed evidence that He is still graciously dis- 
 
136 LI IK AND LETTERS OF [1840. 
 
 posed to help this people; inasmuch as he is engaging, 
 requiring, and moving His servants to visit them, and to 
 call unto them, — not out of Seir, the mount of Esau, 
 where the scorner stood formerly, as they do now who 
 cry, M Watchman, what of the night?' 1 — but out of /ion, 
 the Lord's holy mountain, where the Lord setteth 1 lis 
 watchmen, and oommissionetfa them, by his owii power 
 
 and Spirit, with great authority, to declare what they E 
 
 in Bis Light, both concerning the " morning, and also the 
 
 night' 1 in which the treacherous dealer hath dealt so very 
 
 treacherously, and the spoiler hath so grievously spoiled 
 
 (even sonic of the vines upon which were tender grapes); 
 and to say unto them, "If ye will inquire, inquire ye : 
 
 return ; conic ;" for — u why will ye die!" 
 
 From T. B. G. to John Wilbur, 
 
 10th of fifth month, 1840. 
 .... I cannot divest myself of the fearful persua- 
 sion, that they will either be permitted to trample upon 
 me and grind me to powder, or that I shall be left to do 
 or say something that will injure that blessed cause and 
 testimony which I have in times past ventured in a very 
 small degree to espouse, though never to any greater de- 
 gree than just to bring up the rear of the hindermost 
 of those ranks who were prepared and concerned to say, 
 " Thine are we, David, and on thy side, thou son of 
 Jesse.' 1 And then, oh! then, I shall not only be left 
 alone in this wide, unfeeling world, without even an old 
 building to shelter me; but what is worse, shall have be- 
 come reprobate concerning the faith and a good conscience, 
 having made shipwreck of both ! And those Friends who 
 have been favored to see the tottering and decayed state 
 of the building (in which we have had and still have a 
 joint interest, — our poor Society, I mean), — and whose 
 unity and fellowship, even the unity and fellowship of the 
 clear-sighted, the willing-hearted, and the living in Jeru- 
 salem, 1 have ever desired and esteemed next to the imme- 
 diate influence of divine love and power, and sweet com- 
 munion with Him who dwelt in the bush, and has at 
 Seasons visited my own soul — such as these, 1 feel fully 
 
18 10. ] THOMAS B. 301 LB, 187 
 
 persuaded, will all forsake me, it", indeed, they have no1 
 already (and some such I Buppose haye, to them- 
 ulthough 1 cannot, upon ;i close self-examination, 
 ein 1 have missed my way, other than on thai 
 side which may be accounted for, and possibly claim Borne 
 allowance, inasmuch as 1 am both naturally and spiritually 
 io much weaker than other and ordinary men 
 
 t. b. <;. 
 
 To Pbleg Mitchell. 
 
 tfcwFOBT, 1 -I tli of fifth month, 1840, 
 Ml DIAB Fkikxd : 
 
 I was absent from home three weeks lack- 
 ing one day. I left home on second-day morning, the 
 13th of fourth month, ami crossing the ferries to South 
 Kingston, took the cars to the place of their nearest 
 approach to the bouse of dear d. Wilbur, where he met 
 me, and took me in his wagon to his home; and on fourth- 
 day night we took the steamboat at Stonington, and 
 reached the house of J. Wood in New York soon after 
 sunrise on fifth-day morning : where we stayed, to mutual 
 satisfaction I believe, till about the same time on sixth- 
 day morning : when we left for Philadelphia, ami were 
 favored to arrive there in Bafety about three o'clock that 
 afternoon. John lodged at Thomas Kites, and I was 
 very kindly received and entertained by my dear friends, 
 I '. ami (r. \V. A large number of true-hearted and honor- 
 able guests were at their house. Ezra Comfort, and his 
 brother John, who is one of the most useful and clear- 
 Bighted elders in that yearly meeting (as indeed Ezra is a 
 minister), witli their children, lodged at C. W.'s, and a 
 very large and precious flock of Comforts they are. J. 
 W. was entirely silent throughout the yearly meeting, 
 except in one of the sittings of the select meeting, and in 
 the public meeting on fifth-day at the Western district 
 house, which is mostly composed of Gurneyites ; here lie 
 had some close service, and that noted woman from the 
 Cape, A. J). \V., undertook to answer it, as I was told, 
 for I was not present. 
 
 12* 
 
138 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1840. 
 
 Groat was the joy to the honest-Hearted to 
 have John among them, and the fullest satisfaction waa 
 expressed by those of the highest Btanding and clearest 
 vision and judgment, as 1 had abundant opportunity to 
 know, both in public and private ; and I am satisfied, no 
 other person could have gone from this yearly meeting, 
 
 who would have heen so acceptable. One elder, the 
 
 mother of Ezra Comfort, and a very aged, clear-sighted 
 
 Friend, though too far advanced to get out, was led to 
 intercede that he might he sent over to help them, and 
 afterwards, without outward information (as I under- 
 stood), had a sense he would come. On first-day, after 
 the yearly meeting closed, he attended the North meeting 
 in the morning, and Arch Street meeting in the afternoon. 
 The last was a Beason of Buffering and oppression, and he 
 had hut a short testimony, just at the close, which however 
 met the sense, and was in unison with the feelings, of the 
 rightly-exercised. In the first, he was raised up early, and 
 largely opened, both in testimony and supplication : and 
 such was the victory which truth wrought through its own 
 power, that no strange voice was heard; which was to 
 the great comfort of Friends, both on truth's account and 
 
 on John's ; for as and were there also, a fear 
 
 was entertained by many Friends, who have a clear sense 
 and understanding of the state she is in at present, that 
 she would anticipate him and block up his w r ay ; as she is 
 clearly seen to be in that forward, active spirit, so common 
 in many who are called ministers amongst us now; and by 
 which forwardness and creaturely activity, the pure streams 
 of life are much obstructed, if not turned aside from their 
 due course: and so there is a sad and continued witnessing 
 in spirit, of the wells, which those of the true seed of Abra- 
 ham and Jacob have digged, being filled up by their ene- 
 mies ! But she was on this occasion silent, and it was 
 truly a solemn and favored season. 
 
 lint alas, for the general state of the ministry and 
 eldership amongst us ! However, there is a living spring 
 kept open in both respects, in that yearly meeting, of 
 which Ave were favored with renewed evidence, in divers 
 instances. Still it was thought by ample judges, to have 
 
L840.] IHOMAfl B. QOULD. 
 
 d i time of oppression, and even more bo than lasl 
 r, both in the public meetings and in the meetings for 
 
 business : t In >u url» tin* latter part of the closing sitting was 
 
 i • i . 
 
 remarkably owned. Dear Jacob Green had predicted, on 
 the opening of the meeting, on second-day morning, thai 
 
 it would he so at the close; and now he had to return 
 
 living vocal praises, for that tin 4 Master of all rightly 
 gathered assemblies had magnified His word above all His 
 name, be. 
 
 We left the city early on second-day morning, by rail- 
 id, for Bristol, Pennsylvania, about twenty miles: where, 
 by appointment, a Friend met us with his carriage, and 
 took as about six miles further, to his house, where we 
 lodged that night; and the next day the same Friend, 
 James Moon, took us to the house of Christopher Healy, 
 where we stayed till the next sixth-day morning, making 
 and receiving many social and long-to-bc-rememhered visits 
 from Friends in that neighborhood. John also attended 
 both their seleet and mid-week meetings, at the Falls, or 
 Falsington, of both which C. II. and J. M. and wife are 
 members. 
 
 We reached New York on sixth-day afternoon, and in- 
 tended to come home the same night ; but John finding 
 D. Wheeler had arrived, and was very ill at J. C.'s, did 
 not feel easy to pass on without attempting to see him ; 
 and as there was no boat till seventh-day night going round 
 the Point (Judith) to Newport, I concluded to wait, and 
 did accordingly, and after a fine run, reached home on 
 first-day morning. But it served no other purpose than 
 for John to clear himself; for the family would not suffer 
 J. W. and John Wood to see him. After several fruitless 
 attempts, J. Wilbur went alone, and urged it much, as he 
 was writing to England by a packet just ready to sail from 
 New York. He was then permitted to go to his chamber 
 door, and look upon hint while he was asleep, but on his 
 rousing up a little, was taken immediately away, for fear 
 D. W. would recognize him ! From what I saw when I 
 was in that house, he appeared to be surrounded with at- 
 tendants who must be anything but satisfactory, unless, 
 like some others, he has been leavened into the likeness of 
 
1 10 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1840. 
 
 the company he keeps ; for truly there is something in the 
 very air such breathe, and they claim him Btoutly. It may 
 be that he has been laboring with them for their outgoings, 
 in order thai they may be restored, and that they claim 
 him only for an effect. I do greatly desire this may prove 
 to be the case, and that, if he should be raised up again, 
 
 he will come out in a (dear, hold, and undeviating testi- 
 mony against them, not giving them even that kind of 
 reason to claim him, which is afforded by his keeping their 
 company. Me., as heretofore. And truly I cannot doubt, 
 if he and others had only come out as clearly and boldly, 
 in private and on all occasions, against this thing, as Ann 
 Jones did against Hicksism, that their company would 
 have been as unacceptable to them as hers was to the 
 
 Hicksites 
 
 Thomas B. Gould. 
 
1840.] THOMAS B. OOULDi 1 11 
 
 (II A PTEB III. 
 
 During the early part of the year 1S4<>, Thomas I>. 
 Gould's mind was frequently introduced into great eon* 
 
 flict and exercise, not Only from tlie distress occasioned to 
 
 his peculiarly sensitive feelings by the continued attempts 
 to undermine his religious standing, on the part of those 
 who could not hear his firm testimony against innovation ; 
 but also from the deep baptisms and sore travails of spirit 
 with which he was now visited, preparatory to his coming 
 forth in public testimony as a minister of the Gospel. 
 These were of a searching and humiliating nature, bring- 
 ing him often very low before the Lord, and tending rc- 
 newedly to divest him of self-dependence, and reliance on 
 anything short of the power and wisdom of Him who hath 
 the key of David, and who is alone worthy to open the 
 seven seals. 
 
 It is evident from many of his letters, that his mind 
 had long been preparing for such a service ; and indeed in 
 a private way he may be truly said to have been a preacher 
 of righteousness from his childhood. But now r , as the 
 time approached for a more public line of labor, even in 
 the congregations of the people, the baptisms and exer- 
 cises seemed sometimes almost as close as nature was able 
 to bear. Yet divine Goodness was near throughout, sus- 
 taining his soul, and renewing his faith in the mercy and 
 goodness of the Ancient of days ; and he was at length en- 
 abled to come forth in a clear and lively testimony, to his 
 own great relief and peace, and to the satisfaction and com- 
 fort of the honest-hearted. His first public appearance 
 a minister was about the close of the fifth month, 1840, in 
 his own meeting at Newport. Some of his feelings on the 
 
142 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1840. 
 
 occasion were a little portrayed in a letter written soon 
 after to his dear fatherly friend, John Wilbur. The sub- 
 Btance of his testimony on that occasion, aa near as can 
 now be gathered, was as follows: 
 
 11 Behold, the day cometh that shall hum as an oven ; 
 and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be 
 Stubble: and the day that eonieth shall burn them up, 
 saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither 
 root nor branch. J>ut unto you that fear my name, shall 
 the Sun of Righteousness arise, with healing in his wings; 
 and ye shall go forth, and grow up as ealves of the stall. 
 And ye shall tread down the wicked, for they shall he 
 ashes under the soles of your feet. The zeal of the Lord 
 of hosts shall perform this. For thus saith the Lord, I 
 will work a work in those days, at the hearing of which, 
 both the ears of them that hear it shall tingle: for I will 
 dry up the green tree, and cause the dry tree to flourish ; 
 I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the 
 midst of the valleys. These things will I do for my seed's 
 sake, for my chosen. Therefore, thou afflicted, tossed 
 with tempests and not comforted, behold I will lay thy 
 Stones with fair colors, and thy foundations with sapphires ; 
 I will make thy windows of agate, thy gates of carbuncles, 
 and all thy borders of pleasant stones/' 
 
 From T. B. G. to John Wilbur. 
 
 Newport, 1st of Gth mo., 1840. 
 
 My dbab Fribnd : 
 
 I wrote to thee soon after quarterly meeting, earnestly 
 requesting thee to give me some account of what was 
 done there, but I received no answer. At the time I 
 wrote, I was under an exceeding deep and sore baptism ; I 
 Can say in truth, that the earth with its bars was round 
 about me, and the weight o{' mountains upon me : the weeds 
 Were wrapt about my head, and I seemed plunged as into 
 
 the very belly of hell ! Thy not writing added to my afflic- 
 tion. . . . Having nevei-. al the time I wrote, been 
 90 deeply tried before, no doubt my letter portrayed a 
 
 state comparable to that of a bullock unaccustomed to the 
 
18 10. ] THOU ua b. aoi u>. 1 18 
 
 yoke; and my dependence on maanol being completely 
 broken up (which was the end, 1 fully believe, the divine 
 
 jdom had in view, in permitting bo close a trial), thy 
 not writing would seem sufficient to add greatly ther< 
 
 Bui 1 qom see, 1 have cause to be thankful thou 
 didst no! write, inasmuch as the undeniable evidence of 
 divine regard, which has since been, in adorable mercy, 
 vouchsafed, and which, both in degree and extent, has far 
 
 reeded anything I ever before experienced, has been 
 enhanced in value and clearness by it ; blessed forever be 
 that worthy name and power of the Lord, who, as Buffer- 
 ings and tribulations for the sec!'- Bake abounded, in his 
 
 own due and appointed time, did eau>e the consolations of 
 the Gospel much more to abound : to his praise alone he it 
 Spoken, and let all iloh he Silenced and laid in the dust 
 
 forever ! 
 
 For several days previous to our monthly meeting, I 
 had been trying what in me lay, to devise some business, or 
 
 frame some excuse to leave the Island, so as to avoid 
 being at the meeting; but my health had become so much 
 impaired, that that alone would have rendered it improper, 
 if I had eventually dared to do so; which as it drew near, 
 I durst not hazard, though my fears and distress were as 
 great as ever, and I was so reduced in health and strength, 
 that it was with much difficulty and in great weakness that 
 I went to the meeting, and sat in it until near the close of 
 that for worship; when the Lord's light, and invincible 
 power, did spring over all the powers of darkness, and his 
 Word sounded in the ear of my soul, saying, " The trea- 
 cherous dealer hath dealt very treacherously, and the 
 spoiler hath grievously spoiled : but flee thou unto the 
 strong hold, thou prisoner of hope !" And immediately I 
 did feel myself marvellously strengthened, both inwardly 
 and outwardly, and to such a degree, that had the adver- 
 saries and enemies been as strong as Samson, as groat as 
 ( roliath of Gath, and as numerous as the " host of Midian," 
 I should not have been afraid of them, seeing the lan- 
 guage to me was, " Go in this thy might;" and it was 
 
 )ugh ! 
 
 The next day (which was sixth-day, the 29th of fifth 
 
144 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1840. 
 
 month) in the afternoon, while my hands were engaged in 
 my usual avocation, my mind was Bweetly and powerfully 
 attracted and drawn inward, to the source and centre of 
 all heavenly consolation and divine illamination ; and as 1 
 yielded to that power which overshadowed me, the ap- 
 proaching yearly meeting was opened before me, and 
 things which shall (if faithfulness is only abode in) most 
 
 surely come to pa-s. were seen with the eye of faith 
 ( which was opened by the pure power) as clearly as ever 
 the ran was Been with the outward eye at noonday. Yea, 
 1 saw the tents of Cushan in affliction, and the curtains of 
 the land of Midian did tremble ! . . . After being 
 thus wrapt up in the heavenly vision, — and to such a de- 
 gree that I was in some douht for a time, whether I was in 
 the body or out of the body, it was so clear and so bright; 
 though the doubts I had in the above respect sprung more 
 from the marvellous nature of the things I saw, than from 
 any consciousness of mental aberration, for I was perfectly 
 sensible what I was about, and fully aware of everything 
 around me, and my mill, going with much speed, required 
 attention, and had it as fully as at any other time (which, 
 I believe, was permitted to be so, or rather vouchsafed 
 under such circumstances, in order that I might be sure I 
 was not beside myself); — I say, after a time, the vision 
 seemed to close up, and 1 fell into a train of reasoning. 
 ]>ut, then, I can say in truth, and with a good 
 understanding and experience of what I do say, an horror 
 of great darkness fell upon me, even darkness as great as 
 the light had been brilliant : and I felt such a stop in my 
 mind, and so forcibly forbidden to reason upon it, — I mean 
 upon what I had seen and what they would do, — that I 
 Could do no other than forbear, which I did, and then the 
 whole thing opened again upon me, and even with greater 
 clearness than before; which continued for some time, 
 gradually closing up, until the most remarkable features 
 had disappeared, and only a sense and recollection of it 
 
 remained, attended however with a sweet savor and abiding 
 
 assurance Of the reality of those things which I had seen 
 and heard: indeed it left a dew upon my spirit which lias 
 not yet wholly dried up; and I was not left without in- 
 
1840. | TIIn.MAS I'- «.«»! I i». l 15 
 
 Btruction whal to keep to myself and whal to open to 
 otli I! as when and \\n\\ to open it : althougl I 
 
 did -lie things which were ii«»« to be uttered ;it all, 
 
 ' a( present. 
 
 Thou mays! an I'll snppose H musl have occupied much of 
 m v attention since ; and Indeed it has. though I can assure 
 thee, it has been of too solemn and important a kind t<» fly 
 out in words. From these I have indeed been much re- 
 strained, except when renewedly opened, oh! the pre- 
 ciousness of the experience of being kept by tin 1 Shepherd 
 Israel in the low valleys where the dew lies long, and 
 of lying down by tin- side of the still waters, where nothing 
 can hurt or make afraid . I have been too much a stranger 
 to this. I feel it so. I also now feel and taste the sweet- 
 a of it. 
 
 Last first-day morning, the 31st, as I was preparing to 
 to meeting, my mind was again ?ery powerfully over- 
 shadowed with heavenly good, and also forcibly turned to 
 the Bubject of the last page of the enclosed sheet, and 
 those things which arc 1 now acting upon the stage of our 
 Society: and as I viewed it in the light of truth, — for 
 such I knew what I saw and felt, to be — yea, I knew it to 
 be the light of truth, by its own demonstration and clear- 
 ness, — the Lord was pleased to give me a sign and pledge, 
 that those things which I had seen should surely come to 
 pass; and it was fully equal to Gideon's fleece, and has 
 been since as signally fulfilled and redeemed. This is all 
 I can say about it at present, or rather, all I think it right 
 to say, though a deal might be said, and a volume written. 
 It [the meeting] was truly a remarkable time, 
 wherein the glorious Lord was pleased to be a place of 
 broad rivers and streams, and to exalt his own name and 
 power over and above all the powers of darkness, for His 
 seed's sake ! And my faith is firm that He will yet more 
 and more arise, and plead His own cause, and that, too, 
 through such mean and weak instruments, that the praise 
 and the honor and the glory shall be wholly ascribed unto 
 Him who is alone worthy, worthy, worthy of the praise of 
 his own works, forever and ever ! 
 
 I made out, with great difficulty, to get down to meeting 
 
 13 
 
146 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [184<>. 
 
 in the afternoon, but was unable to sit the meeting through ; 
 neither indeed did I expect to when [went, but thought it 
 I esl to go (in which I had peace), and have been confined 
 to the house ever since, except thai on second-day morning 
 
 I went to the mill : being willing if possible to work, or at 
 least to manifest a disposition, for the cause 1 sake, and l< 
 it should Buffer by my not being there; as the eyes of the 
 people, within and without, were increasingly upon inc. 
 Had it been an ordinary occasion, I should not have gone, 
 and as it was, I could not stay. Indeed I have been very 
 nincli reduced in my bodily health, by the uncommon ex- 
 ercises which I have had to pass through; but my mind 
 has been preserved in a perfect calm ; and peace and quiet- 
 ness have reigned there, to a degree never before experi- 
 enced. This has been spread as a canopy over me, and I 
 can say that I have u sat under His shadow with great 
 delight, and His fruit has been sweet to my taste," and 
 His countenance comely to look upon, yea, the cliiefest 
 among ten thousand, and altogether lovely. 
 
 Now, my dear friend, I do not pretend to say how it lias 
 been or is with thee at present, hut I can say that it is in 
 the cross to my natural inclination that I have spread 
 these things before thee. I would gladly have been ex- 
 cused from it, but could not, for some reason or other, 
 led easy to refrain from giving thee these hints of what 
 has happened here, being fully persuaded thou art no 
 •• stranger in Jerusalem,' 5 neither at all ignorant of the 
 exercises through which all her children, even the least, 
 are led, seeing she is the mother of all the living. But I 
 believe there is reason to lift up the head in hope, that her 
 borders will be lengthened, and her stakes strengthened; 
 and however dark and gloomy the night may have been, 
 and is, I am persuaded that it is far spent, and the hidden 
 things of darkness will be brought to light, and the naked- 
 neSS of those who have lifted up their heels against the 
 Lord and His anointed. His chosen, will be discovered, 
 and their heels made bare. For He will arise, and scatter 
 and confound His enemies. But there must be no flinching 
 or manoeuvring on our part ; that will be going over to 
 their ground, which is enchanted ground. They have been 
 
18 M. | THOMAfl B. QOtJLD. 1 17 
 
 Beeking enchantments, and unto those who have familiar 
 spirits, and are astrologers and soothsayers. Bui the Lord 
 will make their diviner- mad ! STea, H-- will frustrate the 
 
 .m< and the tokens of liars, and turn the counsel "i" 
 
 Ahithophel into Foolishness 
 
 T. B. Gould. 
 
 EXTRACT FROM A LSTTBB PROM T. V>. <J. TO . 
 
 I am decidedly <»r the opinion that an indis- 
 criminate disclosure of the exercises and trials that are 
 permitted to come upon us, ought to ho avoided by all 
 moans ; a- I can testify, from woful experience, to the 
 poverty and leanness that it brings upon the poor mind 
 that has fallen into the error. Nevertheless, as a liberty 
 and freedom is felt, under the guidance of truth, to open 
 t<» those that are prepared, by a similar course of experi- 
 ence, to feel ami to enter into suffering with them that are 
 bound, as bound with them, and them that suffer affliction, 
 as being also of the body, here, I believe, is the patience 
 and the fellowship of the saints; here the advantages of 
 religious society are realized; here the ability to bear one 
 another's burdens is emphatically felt; and it is often very 
 beneficial to the parties ; it is frequently a means of build- 
 ing up the feeble members of the body (the church) ; and 
 by introducing those that are stronger into this suffering, 
 into this exercise, and this patience, is a means of keeping 
 them low and humble, under the weight of their sufferings; 
 and so the great work is promoted, to the praise of the great 
 Head. But there are those that have indulged in it for 
 want of willingness and patience to bear the allotted por- 
 tion of labor ; who have 1 believe been wisely prohibited [in 
 consequence thereof] from partaking of the benefits of this 
 fellowship 
 
 To George F- Reap. 
 
 Newport, 7th month, 17th, 1^40. 
 My dear Friend : 
 
 The times surely call for great watchfulness 
 
 and care, for they arc evil ! I greatly desire for myself 
 
1 18 LIFE AM) letters OF [1840. 
 
 and for Friends everywhere, that we may be preserved on 
 the unchangeable Foundation; that so, although Btorms 
 and tempests, both from within and without, may beat 
 vehemently upon us, the building may stand; yea, that 
 we may be kepi by the eternal power of God through faith 
 unto Balvation, and livingly know, and richly experien 
 through the abundant mercy and grace of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ, the Lord of glory, even while here below, that 
 although our earthly house Bhould be dissolved, we have a 
 building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in 
 the heavens, and which fadeth not awav ! And thus having 
 an anchor to the soul, both sure and steadfast, we shall be 
 able to "endure hardness as good soldiers, 91 to fight the 
 good fighl of faith, under our un conquered Captain; and 
 not be driven about by every wind of doctrine, nor yet 
 taken by the snares and "cunning craftiness of men who 
 lie in wait to deceive." and who, "if it were possible, 
 would deceive the very elect. " as said the apostle. 
 
 With much love. I am, as ever, thy sincere and affec- 
 tionate friend, 
 
 Thomas B. Gould. 
 
 From T. B. G. to 0. W 
 
 Newport, 2d of 9th mo., 1810. 
 
 .... Truly some of us on this part of the Lord's 
 footstool, have had sufficient employment to " possess their 
 souls in patience," and also great cause to cry mightily 
 unto Him who hath His way in the sea, and his path in 
 dee]) waters, even the waters of affliction, and whose foot- 
 
 ps are not known, that He, in His mercy and for 
 1 1 is truth'- sake, would be graciously pleased to strengthen 
 and enable us steadfastly to refuse to sell, or to exchange 
 
 for another, that vineyard which is our birthright, "the 
 
 inheritance of our fathers. 15 Many there are. who give 
 
 sorrowful evidence of being governed hy the same spirit 
 
 that ruled in Ahab, of whom it was declared, that he not only 
 walked in the sins of Jeroboam (who caused Israel to sin), 
 hut that he " did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel 
 to anger, than all the kings of Israel that were before him." 
 
184". ] THOMAS B, QOl i.i'. 1 19 
 
 And this is not all, for they practise literally upon the 
 counsel of wicked Jezebel <1 Kings, 21 i 7. B, 9, LO), 
 and openly Buffer and encourage her to teach and seduce 
 the people Rev. - : 20 ), calling her a true prophetess, &c, 
 
 W9M tiic case in Thyatira ; and like Borne in the church 
 of Pergamos, they "hold the doctrine of Balaam, who 
 taught Balak to casl stumbling-blocks before the children 
 
 [srael, and to eal sacrifices unto idols. 1 Bui there are 
 b few name- preserved, even in this, our modern Bardis, 
 who have not defiled their garments; although they are 
 
 clothed as in Sackcloth, and can but lament day and night 
 
 for the -lain of the daughter of the Lord's people, and so, 
 if in no other way, hear witness against the abomination 
 which is making desolate this portion of his vineyard, and 
 standing where it cu-lit not to stand. 
 
 Did not the Lord's prophet say, "The vineyard of the 
 L<>rd of hosts is the house of [srael, and the men of Judah 
 are His pleasant plant ; He looked for judgment, but be- 
 hold oppression, for righteousness, but behold a cry" — a 
 vain and empty cry, of, The temple of the Lord, the tem- 
 ple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord are these ! while 
 the Lord is not among them ? Our ears arc constantly 
 annoyed with this, in substance at least; and as for true 
 judgment, it " is turned away backward, truth has fallen 
 in the streets, and equity cannot enter !" It is those who 
 have been considered, and now consider themselves, leaders 
 of the people, that cause them to err, and destroy the way 
 of the paths, removing the ancient landmarks of the good 
 old way in which the fathers walked ; introducing new 
 things, which neither we nor our fathers have known, and 
 
 setting up a separate altar — a will-worship, which is as 
 truly idolatry as that calf-worship was, which Jeroboam 
 up, lest, if the people went to Jerusalem to worship, 
 their hearts should turn away from him to the king of 
 Judah. And when any are raised up to prophesy against 
 it, then the priests which they have made say, there is 
 disaffection to the government, conspiracy against the 
 rulers, elders, ^c., and the land is not able to bear all 
 their words : yea, even as Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, 
 said to Amos, " 0, thou seer, go, flee thee away into the 
 
 1 ■ ! :- 
 
I5fl LIFB AND LETTERS OF [1840. 
 
 land of Judah, and prophesy there; but prophesy no more 
 again at Bethel, for it is the king's chapel, and it is the 
 king's court !" But they seem insensible that every hand 
 which has been put forth to Bet up, or raised to defend, a 
 separate altar, is and must be withered; and that may 
 account at mice for their being unable to draw it in again, 
 ami for <>ur refusing to regard it as living, which is the 
 only binding authority, under the pure and spiritual dis- 
 pensation oi the I rospel 
 
 Oh, Charles, 1 hardly know how to part with you, even 
 on paper (for it seems as if I must include you all) ; the 
 very satisfactory and instructive hours spent with you seem, 
 while I am writing, almost realized again. If it be weak- 
 ness, 1 frankly acknowledge it ; I would not attempt to 
 conceal the emotion which 1 deeply feel : and if we never 
 meet again in time, I do most fervently desire that neither 
 heights nor depths, principalities nor powers, things pre- 
 Bent nor tilings to come, nor any other creature, may ever 
 be able to separate us from Him who, as Ave keep His com- 
 mandments and abide in his love, will, I doubt not, in His 
 own time, present us faultless before the presence of His 
 glory with exceeding joy. Farewell. 
 
 Thomas B. Gould. 
 
 To Etiian Foster. 
 
 Newport, 21st of 10th mo., IStO. 
 
 Well, my dear friend, may it be our chief 
 
 concern to cleave to that which shows us the true state of 
 things. Then may Ave have a well-grounded hope that 
 preservation will be vouchsafed, amidst all the trials which 
 may be permitted to at tend us, iii our passing along through 
 time: and although Israel may be Carried away captive, 
 even into the enemy's land, yet the Lord will have a rem- 
 nant there. Oh ! I am often comforted in reading, and 
 also in the renewed remembrance of the trials and suffer- 
 ings which the .Lord's prophets endured, who testified 
 faithfully against the abominations committed among the 
 children of Israel according to the flesh; inasmuch as it 
 
 goes far to show that no new thing has happened to those 
 
 who now Buffer. k * So persecuted they the prophets which 
 
1840, ] THOMAS B. GOULD. 151 
 
 were before you/ 1 Baid our divine Master to Ili^ discipl< 
 when he forewarned them of the world's hatred. 
 
 The enmity which was placed between the two seeds, 
 immediately after the fall of our firs! parents, has been 
 the same in all ages, though it has been manifested vari- 
 ously, according to time and circumstances. And, as 
 thou very justly remarket, they are not less the enemies 
 of Truth who now pretend its authority, — indeed to be 
 
 the only ] >T8 and expositors of it, — than those who 
 
 in former times and ages, Bel up the Bame pretensions, 
 walked in the same path, and manifested the same bitter 
 
 fruits, even under a false name, persecuting the true seed. 
 There is however this difference, time has made the first 
 manifest ; and. as a shrewd and experienced, though per- 
 secuted man, said to one of these modern persecutors of 
 
 the life, "If time does not false] make these manifest, 
 eternity will !" ... May we all be kept by the Lord's 
 power, through faith unto salvation ! My faith is firm 
 
 that WC shall be, if we are faithful 
 
 Thy sure friend, 
 
 Thomas B. Gould. 
 
 To Feleg Mitchell. 
 
 Newport, 12th mo., 14th, 1840. 
 My dear Friend : 
 
 Dear E. P. had an appointed meeting in the 
 evening here, which was a season of favor, and seemed like 
 a brook by the way, in the midst of this dry and barren 
 land ; though I feel inclined to acknowledge, and I do it 
 with feelings of gratitude to Him who still " openeth rivers 
 in high places and fountains in the midst of the valleys," 
 that we have of latter time been rcnewedly favored in this 
 meeting, when no strangers were present, with a little help 
 out of Zion. For He, by His ancient and new power, 
 hath been graciously pleased in a remarkable manner to 
 fulfil His word: "He hath dried up the green tree, and 
 caused the dry tree to flourish ;" and I am more and more 
 convinced that He will yet redeem us out of all our trou- 
 bles, and deliver as from under the hands of those who 
 
152 Lin: and LETTERS OF [1841, 
 
 oppress as; and that u saviours shall stand upon Mount 
 Zion, to judge the mount of Esau, and the kingdom shall 
 be the Lord's." . . . But as we arc favored to keep 
 in the "quid habitation/' we Bhall, 1 am fully persuaded, 
 
 in tlio Lord's duo and appointed time, witness the fulfil- 
 ment of His ancient promise: k *A^ birds Hying, so will 
 the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem ; defending also He 
 will deliver it. and passing over. He will preserve it." . . 
 
 Thy sincere friend, 
 
 T. B. Gould. 
 
 To John Wilbur, 
 
 Newport, 21th of 2d mo., 1841. 
 My dear Friend : 
 
 Her [Sophronia Page's] testimony had been 
 (lear. sound, searching, powerful, and prevalent indeed, 
 and truly remarkable in reaching the states of some, of 
 whom she could not have been informed by man. The 
 meeting was large, by the procuration of some who had 
 taken her under their care; but things were laid open in 
 such a manner, that there is much reason to believe they 
 sincerely repented having contributed so largely to their 
 own exposure : for her concern lay with the lost sheep of 
 the house of Israel; and circumstances of later time ren- 
 dered it easy for those who, while they arc not members, 
 usually attend meetings, and can distinguish between the 
 living and the dead, to understand and apply what she 
 said with great power and authority, about the famine in 
 this place, "not." said she, "of bread nor of water, but 
 of hearing the word of the Lord!" The meeting ended 
 well, in Bolemn supplication, which terminated in praise 
 and thanksgiving from prepared hearts and renewedly bap- 
 tized spirits. But how shall I sei forth the favors vouch- 
 safed in the afternoon meeting, early in which she stood up 
 with nearly these words : *• It is a \ ery serious consideration, 
 and one which is worthy of more than a passing thought, 
 that all our actions, and even our most secret designs and 
 intentions, are naked and open in the eye> of Him with 
 
 whom we have to do!" She then proceeded to search out 
 
1841.] THOMAS B. GOULD. 158 
 
 and lay opeD the hidden things of dishonesty, and of Esau, 
 in such a manner as I have never before heard ; des< 
 the double-minded man as being unstable in all hie 
 
 I boldly declaring that the -inner- in Zion were afri 
 ami that fearful ne ss would more ami more surprise tin- hy- 
 pocrite. To all BUch she Bpake with a voice Of thunder, of 
 
 which they seemed to he sensible. Bu1 she was in an emi- 
 nent degree a daughter of consolation to an afflicted ami a 
 poor people, whose peculiar trials and afflictions she was 
 
 enabled to portray with a degree of skilfulness and accu- 
 racy, which plainly showed that it eame from Ilim who, as 
 <i. Fox used to say, is indeed the Original. What she 
 said about the preparations which had been made to wage 
 
 a war of extermination upon this poor ami despised rem- 
 nant, was exceedingly cutting to the usurpers. Nor was 
 it less remarkable, that she should have declared how seri- 
 ously the former had been led to consider, how they, being 
 few. fee., should be able to contend with so much of 
 power and authority as was arrayed against them, to all 
 outward and human appearance ; but added, " The Lord 
 shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace, — stand 
 still, and see the salvation of God," &c. Two kinds of 
 ministry were largely spoken of as existing among us, and 
 clearly and fully distinguished. I have given thee but a 
 very short and imperfect sketch of a long testimony, which 
 it required more than an hour to deliver; — to attempt to 
 speak of the life and power attending it, would be una- 
 vailing, or of the awfulness of the pause which inter- 
 vened ; — when one who was sensible of it had something 
 like a seal to set to what had been delivered ; soon after 
 which the dear Friend appeared in solemn supplication, 
 very short and full, near access being mercifully granted. 
 Then, a longer period of silence than usual ; — and, al- 
 though it had been a remarkable time from the very com- 
 mencement of the meeting, yet in the conclusion it might 
 have been said, " The Lord's power was over all !" 
 
 I believe it was right that all our friends were 
 silent lookers on to-day. But do tell thy wife, that I am 
 not aware of having lost any part of my interest in the 
 success of the good cause. I can feelingly acknowledge 
 
lf>4 LIFE AXD LETTERS OF [1841. 
 
 that I have nothing to boast of; to me belongeth only 
 blushing and confusion of face ; and if that cause could be 
 promoted through bo poor a creature as an instrument, I 
 
 do most sincerely desire that all the honor and all the 
 praise may he ascribed unto Sim, who still is pleased at 
 
 times to eall things that are not. as though they were 
 
 Thy sincere friend, 
 
 T. B. Gould. 
 
 To Peleg Mitchell. 
 
 Newport, 26th of 2d month, 1811. 
 My dear Friend : 
 
 He whose place of defence is the munition 
 
 of rocks, must shake his hands from the holding of bribes* 
 But did I say anything in that letter, which led thee to 
 suppose that [considered "a dead letter ministry" " among 
 the lesser features of Gurneyism?" I remember having 
 used the latter expression somewhere in that letter; but 
 if it was susceptible of such a construction, I am confident 
 it must have been Owing to the looseness of my style, to 
 the haste in which I wrote, or to incorrect punctuation; as 
 I am sure I never entertained such an opinion, having been 
 virtually prepared, long before the time of my writing to 
 thee, very fully to adopt the expression of Richard Jordan, 
 that "the distempers in the ministry (even in his day) 
 were the greatest in the Church!" How much more em- 
 phatically true and applicable is it then to these degene- 
 rate times, which, it seems to me, would suffer almost or 
 quite as much, by a comparison with those in which U. 
 Jordan lived and labored, as would the chaff when com- 
 pared with the u principal wheat." 
 
 I can feelingly respond to what thou sayest about being 
 more favored when met in select companies, than is gene- 
 rally the case at Other times. And it is not strange that 
 ii Bnould be bo: there is bo much of an opposing spirit to 
 
 be felt iii BOme, yea, many, even when they do not show 
 
 their true colors openly; surely the darkness and bitter- 
 ness <»f their spirits is ><> great, that I have often thought 
 of the ww two witnesses," and of their bodies lying dead, as 
 
1841.] THOMAS B. GOULD. 166 
 
 it were in the streets of "the great city which spiritually 
 is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was, 
 and is, "crucified.' 1 I- there any question that one of 
 these witnesses may be a living Gospel ministry! Bui 
 Btill, "the Bpirit of life from God" does enter into th 
 who are intrusted with thai gift, at times and seasons 
 (which are all in His hand), and they are raised up to bear 
 imony against those who had, to all human appearance, 
 "overcome them and killed them,' 1 . . . they are raised 
 u]), and enabled to "stand upon their feet." Then it is, 
 that "great fear (alls upon them" who had "made merry" 
 ever them, and sent gifts one unto another, during all the 
 while the v had lain as it were dead: although their bodies 
 were not suffered to he put into graves 
 
 28th, first-day eve. 
 
 As I do not recollect any other interrogatory in either 
 of thy letters, and suppose that J. W. has before this given 
 you on Nantucket a particular account how he fared at 
 Providence, I will not undertake to make any extracts 
 from his last very interesting letter to me ; but instead of 
 it, I will make one from one since received from his son- 
 in-law, my dear friend, Ethan Foster, of Westerly, because 
 it will give you a view which I cannot doubt will be inte- 
 resting, if not encouraging and which vou would not be 
 likely to obtain from John himself. It is as follows, viz. : 
 " We [Ethan and wife] have had a very interesting visit at 
 father Wilbur's; found him cheerful, and I believe happy, 
 compared with many of those once his friends, but now 
 his accusers and opposcrs. Our meeting yesterday [they 
 belong to Hopkinton meeting, though they live in Wes- 
 terly], was an interesting as well as a comforting season. 
 Our dear father was extensively engaged in testimony to 
 the life and power of the Gospel, and to experimental 
 religion, in which he was somewhat doctrinal ; illustrating 
 with great clearness the Christian covenant as being two- 
 fold, and that neither part can be dispensed with, without 
 losing the benefit of the whole. lie dwelt at length on 
 this point, with a degree of clearness and force which bore 
 the impress of something far above human reason and 
 
156 LIFB ami LBTTBRS OF [1841. 
 
 argument. The meeting Beemed much to enter into his 
 feelings, and Bomewhat to travail with him in exercu 
 Truth rose into dominion, and an evidence was mercifully 
 afforded, that we arc not utterly forsaken, and however 
 dark an'l gloomy the prospect may appear, that brighter 
 days are ye1 to be experienced by those who possess their 
 soul- in patience, and keep their ranks in righteousness. 
 At the conclusion he appeared in supplication, in which 
 he was evidently favored with near access to the tin-one of 
 grace. 1 mention this, not that it is unusual for him to 
 appear in testimony with the evidence of divine assistanc 
 but this was one of those seasons of peculiar favor, when 
 tlic waters increased, from a small stream, until they be- 
 came a river to swim In, thoqgh of that description wherein 
 tlurr goes do galley with oars, neither does gallant ship 
 pass thereby." 
 
 We had an acceptable and edifying visit from 
 
 our dear friends, Enoch and Sophronia Page, of Salem, a 
 week ago last first-day. They attended both meetings, in 
 which Sophronia was largely and eminently engaged, both 
 in testimony and supplication, especially in the afternoon 
 meeting. I thought at the conclusion of the meeting, it 
 might have been truly said, the Lord's power was over 
 all! 
 
 Believe me to be as ever thy warmly-attached friend, 
 
 T. B. Gould. 
 
 To Peleg Mitchell. 
 
 Newport, 15th of 4th month, 1841. 
 My dear Friend : 
 
 Did I tell thee in my last, what an acceptable 
 
 and truly remarkable visit we had from our dear friend, 
 
 Sophronia Page, jusl before I left? I think her service 
 in this meeting exceeded anything of the kind I ever wit- 
 nessed. Why, Peleg, although she is not very old, she is 
 worthy to be called a mother in Israel. Like Jael, "she 
 put her hand to the nail, and her right hand to the work- 
 man's hammer; and with the hammer she smote Sisera." 
 Truly it might have heen said, "a$<0 let all thine enemies 
 
1841.] THOM Lfl B, GOULD. L67 
 
 perish, oh Lord ! but lei them thai love Him be as the sun 
 when I h forth in his might/ 1 
 
 1 was grieved to hear that dear Mary Davi 
 comraged to proceed in her prospect of attending Philadel- 
 phia ly meeting. She would have been, 1 h. 
 doubt, a wry acceptable visitor there. It does to 
 Be, that if n<> one but poor A. S. objected t<» it. there must 
 have been strength enough in thai select meeting t<> have 
 overruled his objection, had the strength which some there 
 possess, been used. What arc Friends afraid of? It -.'.in- 
 to me, we have, in far too many instances, just given them 
 the ground. Why, it is shameful to do so! Only think 
 of the last yearly meeting; it was just bo there: there 
 
 re Friends enough present, who felt no unity with his 
 [.I. .1. Gr.'s] having that certificate, to have thrown the 
 ranks of the aliens into confusion, if they had only come 
 forth, ami manifested on whose Bide they were. And of 
 what avail is it to be in the right, and to have light, if it 
 he always hidden, always kept under a bushel ? Oh! it 
 
 as to me, some have need that the pure mind in them 
 should he stirred up ; they need to be reminded that who- 
 soever is ashamed of their Lord, or of His cause, which is 
 the same thing, of them will lie be ashamed before His 
 Father and the holy angels. I desire that Friends may 
 be encouraged to use what strength they have, in the Lord's 
 time for service, lest, by neglecting to use it, it be taken 
 from them, and be given to those who are faithful. Let 
 them come forward in the true order of the Gospel; let 
 them keep their ranks, and say, "Thine are we, David, 
 and on thy Bide, thou son of Jesse.' 1 .... 
 
 Thv sincere friend, 
 
 T. B. G. 
 
 From John Wilbur to T. B. G. 
 
 Haras Cottage, 15th of fifth month, 1841, 
 
 MY DEAR Tiro MAS I 
 
 The many unavoidable engagements which have fallen 
 to my share of attention since quarterly meeting, have 
 thus far deterred me, until the present moment, from the 
 
 14 
 
168 LIPl AND LETTERS OF [1841. 
 
 pleasing task of responding to thy very interesting letter, 
 in which thou Bpeakesi 01 thy visit to Philadelphia, &c. 
 And truly pleasant and satisfactory was thy account of 
 things which transpired at those places : and the Bweet 
 remembrance, and good and living desires of my ever 
 dear friends in those parts, did afford to my afflicted and 
 often drooping spiril the halm of consolation : so that for 
 a time I was almost prepared to thank God and take 
 
 courage Vnd 1 trust thou knowest, Thomas, 
 
 by living experience, that when we arc borne down with 
 Borrow and affliction, with fear and trembling for the 
 safety <>f /ion, and for the escape of our own souls, that 
 many fears and apprehensions arc then ready to arise in 
 
 our almost desponding minds 
 
 Our dear friend, Prince Gardner, came home with us 
 from Greenwich, and a very good visit we had from him. 
 Be tarried three nights. lie and Andrew both a^ree in 
 Baying, that one reason, if not the principal one, why the 
 meeting for sufferings refused to enter into an examina- 
 tion of t lie doctrines of J. J. (J., was, as they said, because 
 the moraine meeting, or meeting for sufferings in London, 
 had taken all his writings into consideration, in order for 
 correction : but whilst 1\ (i. was here, a letter from A. 
 J}. Barclay arrived, which put the question beyond all 
 doubt, that no Mich thing had taken place in London. 
 llawlinson says, that Joseph John attended their late 
 quarterly meeting in London, and his preaching was so 
 sail, that the elders, although his admirers, had enough to 
 do to sit with proper decorum. 11. seems very desirous 
 that some accredited body in this country should forward 
 to one or the other of their authorized bodies, the objec- 
 tions of sound Friends to the doctrines alluded to. I 
 learn that the applications from myself, and from Nan- 
 tucket, and from South Kingston monthly meeting, were 
 civilly received and noted on the book, as relating tO doc- 
 trines: but they pretended, in addition to the foregoing 
 
 reason, that they were not authorized by discipline to 
 examine books already printed or written by a member of 
 another yearly meeting. Ami so it >eeins they have go1 
 US last, that nobody has a right to refuse unsound publi- 
 
 
1841.] THOMAS B. QOtJLD. 159 
 
 ions, withoul the leave of the meeting for Bofferii 
 and they no right to decide whether L r «»<»«l or bad, after 
 the impression of types, and the books offered for Bale! 
 It* these things are bo, bow forlorn the condition of this 
 people, in a day like this, when heterodoxy of prin- 
 ciple is promulgated by the wise and the learned am< 
 them ! 
 
 John WlLBUR. 
 From T. 1». Gr, to Ethan Foster. 
 
 Steamboat Massachusetts, 22d of seventh mo., 1841. 
 My in: a n FRIEND : 
 
 I wrote 
 
 to thy dear afflicted father soon after I received thine, 
 at thy request ; though 1 feared it only served to ag- 
 gravate his Bufferings ; but was rejoiced to gel a very 
 kind letter from him last evening. ... I feel much 
 for him in his manifold afflictions, even as much, I believe, 
 as 1 am capable of feeling ; but I am always most miser- 
 able at the expression of condolence. However, it lias 
 seemed to me from the first, that there was and is much 
 application to him in the language of Scripture : M Many 
 are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord will 
 deliver him out of them all:" — and not to him only, but 
 my mind has often, yea, very often, been drawn into very 
 near sympathy with thy beloved mother ; all within me 
 capable of feeling has been made to feel for her, not 
 doubting that she is often ready to exclaim, " Surely 
 there is no sorrow like mine !" Although no afflictions 
 for the present may seem joyous, but grievous, neverthe- 
 less they do yield the peaceable fruits of righteousness to 
 those who are rightly exercised thereby ; and that she is 
 one of this class, I have no more doubt, than that an 
 entrance will, in the Lord's due and appointed time, be 
 abundantly administered into that everlasting kingdom of 
 rest and peace, where the wicked cease from troubling, 
 where lie who was a man of sorrow.- and acquainted with 
 grief is already entered ; and not only so, but He is 
 graciously pleased to enable those who arc rightly cxer- 
 
160 LIFE AM) LETTERS OF [1842. 
 
 cised by the afflictions which arise because of the word, to 
 say at time- and seasons : " We <*» ih* exceeding joyful in 
 all our tribulations/' and thus to give them a blessed fore- 
 taste and earnest of the reward of the righteous 
 
 Believe me to be, with love to all, 
 
 Thy sincere friend, 
 
 Thomas B. Gould. 
 
 On the 31st day of the eighth month, 1841, Thomas B. 
 Gould was united in marriage, at the Northern District 
 Meeting in the city of Philadelphia, to Martha Smith 
 Bcroyd, a daughter of James and Martha Ecroyd, and 
 
 formerly of Muncy, in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, 
 but then residing with her widowed mother in Philadelphia. 
 
 From Sarah Hillman to Thomas B. and M. S. Gould. 
 
 Philadklpiiia, 1st mo. 11th, 1842, 
 Dear Friends, T. and M. Gould: 
 
 If leisure and inclination for writing had combined with 
 affectionate remembrance and desire for your prosperity 
 and safe-stepping as on the "sea of glass," methinks ere 
 this time many evidences had been received by you from 
 my pen. But somehow I have little aptitude for writing; 
 my talent never ran that way ; at school almost any other 
 study was more pleasant. Nevertheless I can say I have 
 you on my heart ; and often does my spirit greet you, in 
 desire that the blessing of the Highest may be with you, 
 that He would be pleased to give you those pure nether 
 springs of Divine consolation, winch flow from His holy 
 presence: and then, whether the north or the south wind 
 blow upon your garden, the spices will flow forth, as accep- 
 table incense to the Kins of kin^s. 
 
 © © 
 
 Many eyes are upon you, I am well aware. Ye had 
 ooed be clothed with the whole armor of light, that neither 
 
 Satan nor any of his ministers gain any advantage over 
 
 you. Surely he will not be suffered to overturn the foun- 
 dation. Dor to lay Waste the hope in the Lord Jesus, of one, 
 not even the very least of the flock, and family, and house- 
 hold of faith, so long as we keep hold of the shield. Ah, 
 
1 B 12.] THOU Lfi B. GOULD. L61 
 
 no! "Our Redeemer ifl mighty, the Lord of hosts is His 
 name/ 1 He Is beholding the tower which the children of 
 men have been and are building; and I believe He has 
 come down and confounded their language, so thai the wise 
 Babel-builders understand not each other's language: and 
 He is turning to His people a "pure language, and they 
 
 shall all call upon His name, to serve Him With one COn- 
 
 Bent." Surely "there is no enchantment against Jacob, 
 
 neither is there any divination against Israel ;" but all these 
 things have happened rather to the furtherance of the 
 blessed Gospel of the dear Son of God, which at the first 
 began to be spoken by Himself, and was confirmed unto 
 us by them that heard Him, and is to this present day 
 spoken by His own blessed Spirit in the hearts of His 
 truly humble, true-born, simple-hearted, obedient little 
 children. 
 
 It seems to me that the day is coming, when all the 
 proud, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble; some 
 that are puffed up and seem to be somewhat, but in con- 
 versation add nothing to the true Israel, Avill be manifested, 
 and the day shall declare them, and burn up all that will 
 not stand the fire of purification ; while the remnant that 
 is escaped will be found among the jewels, and spared to 
 magnify the mercy, the long-suffering mercy, of Israel's 
 unslumbering Shepherd. Truly can some of us adopt the 
 language, " Lord, I am not worthy thou shouldst enter 
 under my roof:" yet He has marvellously made bare His 
 arm and helped us hitherto; and have we not at seasons 
 cause to raise new Ebenezers to His praise? Though 
 many afflictions await the righteous, it is no new thing ; 
 the disciple need not expect to be above his Master : if he 
 do, he will assuredly be disappointed. What was the path 
 of the dear Son and Sent of the Father ? He fasted in 
 the wilderness, He was with the wild beasts, yet angels 
 ministered unto Him. And as surely as He was ministered 
 to by angels, so surely the angel of His presence encamp- 
 eth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them. 
 Let us not then be found saying, " a confederacy," to all 
 who would say, a confederacy ; but sanctify Him in our 
 hearts, who lias revealed Himself secretly to us, whose 
 
 14* 
 
162 LIFE AM> LETTERS OF [1842, 
 
 love, whose mercy towards ns, has been and is infinite. 
 I la- He not, dear Thomas, attracted thy soul towards Him 
 in wry infant years, and amid many temptations kept 
 thee to this day! JTes« For what? To make thee a 
 minister and a witness, not only of what thou hast seen, 
 bul also of those things in which He will appear to tie 
 and 1 le h ill not no 1 ike tin 
 
 Interrupted by a visit from Sarah Emlen and Edith 
 Jefferis, who irere at meeting this morning, and mia 
 tered t<> as. — Please tell thy Bister Lydia, I often remem- 
 ber her kindness to us poor pilgrims, with that of thy dear 
 father and mother; and desire their Bloping days may 
 he cheered by the bright Bhining of the Sun of righteous- 
 ness, whose 1 trust they are and will be till death: and 
 then, never fear, — there is a glorious rest, a crown laid 
 up, a house not made with hands prepared, into which their 
 purified spirits, through unutterable love and mercy, will 
 be admitted, and where the arrows of the archer can never 
 Come. Till then, may we each fight the good fight of 
 faith, that so Ave mav obtain ! Many talk much of faith, 
 whose walk is not in the Bteps of faithful Abraham, who 
 yet Btyle themselves children. What will they do, in that 
 day when every covering. Bave that of "my Spirit, saith 
 the Lord." shall be stripped oil": ... I must now 
 conclude. With truest affection, your sincere, sympathiz- 
 ing friend, in which my dear mother and sisters, with dear 
 K. P.. unite. 
 
 Farewell, says your friend, 
 
 Sarah Hillman. 
 
 From T. B. <». to Joseph Kite. 
 
 Newport, 25th of 3d mo , 1842. 
 We have recently been much comforted ami 
 refreshed by a visit from dear John Wilbur, who spent a 
 
 week with us and in the neighborhood, ami went home this 
 day week. He seemed better in health than we expected 
 to see him. and green and lively in spirit, weighty and 
 powerful in doctrine, and clearly evincing that patience 
 
18 1-. ] 'M as b. QOUU). 163 
 
 under Buffering, and resignation to whatever degree of it 
 may be yet in Btore for him, which men may tali about 
 and attempt to imitate, but can never realise or exemplify, 
 unless really endowed with Sis Bpirit, who " was led as a 
 Iamb to the slaughter," and when " He was reviled, reviled 
 not again." John attended our meeting three times. In 
 the first, on fifth-day, the LOth inst., he was silent ; but 
 on first-day morning he was raised up early in the meet ing, 
 with the language of the patriarch Jacob, while propheti- 
 cally engaged in blessing the heads of the tribes of [srael : 
 " I have waited for thy salvation, Lord I" — proceeding 
 to show very clearly the necessity of bo waiting in all 
 Bimilar engagements. And in the opening of large fields 
 of doctrine before him, he seemed more especially led to 
 -peak of worship and ministry, and to distinguish between 
 the true and false in both instance-; having much en- 
 couragement to offer to those who are baptized for the 
 dead, ministering to the spirits that are in prison, speaking 
 prophetically of their enlargement and deliverance, and 
 that, as there was an engagement to tarry at Jerusalem 
 until endued with power from on high, and to " wait for 
 the promise of the father, which ye have heard of me," 
 the number of these rightly exercised and divinely quali- 
 fied ministers would be increased, and they should yet 
 bear witness of Him to whom all power in heaven and on 
 earth is given, "in Jerusalem, in Judea, at Samaria, and 
 unto the uttermost parts of the earth." And immediately 
 quoting the animating promise, 4c Lo! I am with you 
 always, even unto the end of the world," he proceeded to 
 show the absurdity of the idea, that there is any " falling 
 off" from the perfection and adaptation of the Gospel to 
 our every need, in these latter days ; but that the spiritual 
 presence, guidance, and power of Christ, divine immediate 
 revelation, &c, is still felt and enjoyed by His humble and 
 obedient followers, and graciously offered unto all ; and 
 that it was not because it had ceased or diminished in 
 power and efficacy, but because men were not obedient 
 thereto, and had not faith therein, that there were misgivings 
 and unsoundness upon these points. This fell heavy upon 
 
L6J LIPB AND LETTERS DF f 1*42. 
 
 some who Bai near him, whose actions show how lightly 
 the undamental principles of unchangeable 
 
 truth, and who no! unfrequently now dispense sage cauti< 
 against deeply spiritual views, though generally coupled 
 with far-fetched encomiums upon the character and writu 
 of the early Friends, and high professions of a divine re- 
 quiring to extend Buoh cautions. It requires no great de- 
 gree of discernment, I the extremely ill grace with 
 which such encomiums fall from the lips of these people, 
 
 while they are actually, and with a furious though blind 
 zeal, engaged in removing the landmarks, and lowering 
 the standard, which our worthy predecessors were made in- 
 strumental in Betting Up and exalting among the nation- : 
 though I confess it requires more discernment than I am 
 possessed of, to discover the foundation of their claim to di- 
 vine requirement or commission for so doing. But I have 
 digressed, a- I am very apt to do. 
 
 These people treated John with more civility, and even 
 apparent kindness, than is usual or might have been ex- 
 pected, and the meeting separated under a very solemn 
 Covering, Truth having the ascendency for that time at 
 least. Indeed it had been a remarkably solid time from 
 the commencement. One young woman, who happened to 
 be there, habited in a full Buit of mourning, by profession 
 an Episcopalian, though remotely descended from Friends, 
 
 was remarkably tendered iii the course of his exercie 
 ami seemed very reluctant to part with him after meeting. 
 S<» also was her husband, who lias regularly attended all 
 OUT meeting- since, though not accustomed to do so. . . . 
 
 Oh. how much the tenderly visited, seeking people are 
 to lie fell for! I often think, more especially so, when, 
 instead of being instrumentally fed with bread through 
 qualified breakers of it, b tones v serpents, and scorpions are 
 poured out upon them. But there is much consolation in 
 the conviction, that He who clave the rock for His chosen 
 people formerly, while journeying outwardly in a desert 
 land, and sent them bread from heaven, can now. and does 
 give to \}\<)<o who hunger and thirst after righteousness, 
 of the bread and water of life, freely and immediately. . . 
 
18 l_. ) THOMAS i i.!>. L65 
 
 There is with most, Buch a Becrel pr< fei 
 
 , and Buch an unw illingness to be id< at ifi< ft 
 with a Bmall remnant, with u a despised and afflicted p< 
 pie," thai we are likely, in the end, to be relieved of all 
 who are nol willing to be truly religious. It is lament- 
 able thai there Bhould be bo many who, in forming their 
 conclusions respecting the truth of the case now m con- 
 troversy, arc looking wholly at circumstances, and the 
 decision of numbers, rather than to the witness for truth in 
 themselves 
 
 Sow many simple, honest-hearted Friends are favored 
 with a sense of wrong things existing among us. bul instead 
 of keeping to that which shows them their condition and 
 the the church, they begin to look to those whom 
 
 they consider more experienced than themselves; thus 
 taking men for their guide, and opening their cars to hear 
 them, they lose Bight of the true 'readier, fall behind the 
 true Light, become involved in darkness and uncertainty, 
 and finally get into the current, and are swept away by it. 
 
 From T. B. G. to Peleg Mitchell. 
 
 Newport, 7th month, 1842. 
 My dear Friend, — 
 
 .... Thou requested my opinion as to thy address- 
 ing a letter to . Xow, my dear friend, I feel 
 
 rather a delicacy in expressing one, but from my acquaint- 
 ance with the man, and from the sense and judgment I 
 have of his present state — just coming off, as Ave hope, 
 from a misguided course, and emerging from under a 
 cloud, with perhaps rather a galling sense of the steps 
 taken therein, and the blocks over which lie has stumbled, 
 which may not he entirely removed — it has seemed to me 
 that it would he rather safer to defer it, at least for the 
 present, as it might have an effect on him to the clear 
 contrary from what was intended. I found my dear M. 
 entertained the same opinion respecting it — and I supp< 
 we have had rather more opportunity to judge of his feel- 
 
L66 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1842. 
 
 ings an<l character than thyself. If he was able to bear 
 it — it mighl do. But I cannot — I must not go into par- 
 ticulars, and I trust thou wilt excuse what 1 have written, 
 and also the freedom used in expressing my view of it. 
 
 26th of 8th month. When thiswas commenced, I fully 
 intended Bending it off the next day ; but was compelled 
 to lay it aside, without the opportunity of resuming it till 
 this morning. Our dear brother and sister Snowden with 
 their children, have been spending Beveral weeks with us ; 
 they left us the day before yesterday, for home. Their 
 visit has been a great consolation to us. Brother Joseph 
 and myself attended South Kingston monthly meeting last 
 Becond day, from which thou wilt probably hear the par- 
 ticulars ere this reaches thee. It was a sore thing to the 
 committees, that divers members from other monthly meet- 
 ings wore present, and witnessed their disorderly proceed- 
 ings; though none of them took part in the business of 
 the meeting, save our friend J. T. K. and his brother; 
 upon which I). ]>. rebuked them, and cautioned them ami 
 other friends there present in similar circumstances, from 
 interfering; which was altogether unnecessary, so far as 
 some of us were concerned — indeed there was no necessity 
 for it, the South Kingston Friends being fully competent 
 to manage the case themselves. Brother Joseph thought 
 it could not have been more skilfully conducted anywhere 
 or by anybody than it was by them, and they are mostly 
 young men too; but they were evidently equipped for 
 war, and ordered for battle, by Him who never yet was 
 foiled therein, nor his armies put to flight ; though every 
 expedient was resorted to, which the ingenuity and malice 
 of the Evil ( hie could invent, to break their ranks and throw 
 them into confusion : and after the report of the com- 
 mittee [clearing John Wilbur from all censure] had been 
 received and recorded in the men's meeting, R. G. and 
 T. A. made three attempts by shaking hands, to close the 
 meeting, while the report <>{' tbe committee was under con- 
 sideration by the women — well knowing that if they could 
 prevent tbe record of their unity with it. J. W. would not 
 be restored. But these attempts were severally defeated, 
 through tbe vigilance and promptness of some. 
 
1842.] rnoMAfl i . u». 161 
 
 Aj bood as the meeting was opened, J, D., in the 
 name and on the behalf of the quarterly meeting's com- 
 mittee, made a long and incoherent Bpeech — pari threaten- 
 ing, pan coaxing, part unintelligible, and therefore not to 
 be interpreted by the common rules of language, but by 
 the character of the man and the nature of Eifl office. 1 1*' 
 was replied to by dear old T. II.. who is in the eighty- 
 
 enth year of his age, and rode near twenty miles to 
 
 . < < 
 
 attend that meeting. He briefly went over the ground of 
 the controversy with that monthly meeting, the proceed- 
 ings of the yearly meeting's committee, the appointment 
 of the committee of that monthly meeting to hear and 
 decide th< . the appointment of the quarterly meet- 
 
 ing's committee, fcc, — and then called for the reading of 
 the report of the committee of their monthly meeting, as 
 the best method of coming to an understanding of the 
 state of the case ; which being united r itfa by other South 
 Kingston Friends, the report was read, and united with by 
 many Friends, But while they were expressing unity 
 with it, II. B. presented a " minority " report, signed by 
 himself and W. S. P. ; upon which two or three of the 
 members of South Kingston monthly meeting, and divers 
 of the two grand committees, commenced a desperate at- 
 tempt to have the " minority report" read and considered, 
 in order to throw them into confusion. It was argued on 
 the part of J. Wilbur's friends, that this report was in- 
 formal and improper to be read, inasmuch as those two 
 disaffected and disorderly committee-men had been duly 
 notified of the time and place of meeting, when the report 
 led by seven of the committee had been agreed to. On 
 the other side it was alleged, that six out of the seven, 
 who had signed the report recommending the dismission of 
 the case, were relatives of J. Wilbur, and the understand- 
 ing was that they would not be impartial judges. There 
 was a great deal said on both sides. They stated again 
 and again, that the monthly meeting's committee had de- 
 parted from the ground of the complaint, by allowing 
 J. W. to go into an investigation of doctrines : and T. A. 
 was very strenuous, repeatedly declaring that doctrines 
 had nothing to do with the case, — that J. Wilbur had 
 never been charged with any unsoundness of doctrine, and 
 
Lin: am» LETT] [1842. 
 
 that even the term doctrine was not mentioned in the com- 
 plaint ! In the coarse of their clamorous interfere]] 
 they had repeatedly urged the reading of the complaint, 
 as well as the "minority report;" both which the meeting 
 now consented Bhonld be read, with the express under- 
 standing and agreement, hon that a new investiga- 
 tion of the case should not be gone into, and that the 
 report of the committee alrca-lv before the meeting 
 Bhould receive its undivided attention. Notwithstanding 
 this agreement, the complaint and ••minority report" 
 were no sooner read, than the yearly meeting's committee 
 
 took the very COUTSe which bad been anticipated and pro- 
 vided against; of which they were forcibly reminded by 
 several Friends ; when Win. J. had the hardihood to de- 
 clare that no such agreement had been made! And he 
 became so warm on this and several other occasions, that 
 Borne of his own colleagues, who Bat above him in the gal- 
 lery, thought it necessary to cool him off; which they did 
 by pulling him down and shaking their heads at him ! 
 T. A. made an awkward and unsuccessful attempt to 
 extricate himself from his assertion, that the term doctrine 
 Was not to he fofind in the complaint; and endeavored to 
 explain it away, continuing to insist that they had de- 
 parted from the original ground of complaint against 
 J. W., which was the cause of the committees leaving be- 
 fore the termination of the trial, &C. lie was replied to 
 by 0. I'., the clerk of the committee, who said that at 
 t last monthly meeting T. A. had called for the ex- 
 tracts from their minutes upon that subject — they were 
 now present, and he would read them. He accordingly 
 took the paper, and read it. 
 
 The reading of these extracts had a powerful effect upon 
 them: though T. A. Cavilled a little, and said that they 
 
 had seen Borne part of that paper before, but much had 
 
 been added by they knew not whom. William J. inquired 
 
 of ( iharles Perry, whether that paper had not been written 
 
 the meeting of the committee when they were pre- 
 
 9omethingto this effect. To which C. P. replied, 
 
 that it had not — that it was a true extract from their mi- 
 nutes, with the exception of the explanatory note, which 
 he had clearlv identified when he read it. This seemed to 
 
1^ 1-J. ] TH0M \s B. '."i LD. 169 
 
 then up. A proposition was made thai Friends 
 iin express themseh ieption 
 
 report, which they did, — nearly or quite four-fifths of the 
 meeting uniting with it- reception and the dismission of 
 the while but one man openly objected to it, and 
 
 three or four others threw cold water upon it, though 
 they did not in bo many words object. NevertheL 
 
 T. A.. I!. <i.. and D. T>. declared that the BOlid Bense 
 
 and judgment of the meeting was opposed to its reception, 
 and every member of the quarterly meeting's committee, 
 in conjunction with their colleagues from the yearly meet- 
 ing, did their utmost to hare the case referred; but after 
 
 .it deliberation, and almost unparalleled patience, the 
 
 clerk made an appropriate minute, receiving the report 
 and dismissing the case; — it was then sent to the women, 
 who Boon Bent it back, with the information that it had 
 been very fully united with in their meeting. Hut the 
 
 female members of the quarterly meeting's committee did 
 
 what they could against it. 
 
 The meeting was no sooner closed, than the quarterly 
 meeting's committee stopped Lydia Wilbur and Eunice 
 Foster, and sent Othniel Foster after John Wilbur, who 
 declined going. They then inquired of the two women, 
 whether they had unity with their husbands ; — being an- 
 red in the affirmative, they were all three advised, in 
 the name of the quarterly meeting's committee, not to 
 attend any more select meetings. As J. Wilbur declined 
 going to the meeting-house at their bidding, and very 
 properly, too, as I believe, they sent J. D. and B. C. 
 immediately to his house, where, in the name of the quar- 
 terly meeting's committee at large (for the select com- 
 mittee, which has been so long standing, and so active in 
 dealing with J. Wilbur, was released at the last quarter), 
 they advised him not to attend any more select meetings; 
 to which, considering it merely the effect of their spleen, 
 he made no answer. When they asked his wife if she had 
 unity with her husband, she promptly answered, " Yes, I 
 am no Gurneyite !" 
 
 Farewell. 
 
 T. B. Gould. 
 15 
 
170 LIFE AND LETTERS 0* [1842, 
 
 To John Wilbur. 
 
 Newport, 25Ui of I2tb mo., 1842, 
 Mv dbab Friend : 
 
 Indeed, there has 1 1 < » 1 1 1 i 1 1 ir occurred which 
 
 med worth writing about, or rather that If written, 
 
 would have paid for the reading. But I received a letter 
 
 recently from brother Joseph, in which he says: "Two 
 
 of our friends lately had a very serious opportunity with 
 
 , on his return from Baltimore, in relation to the 
 
 proceedings in the ease of J. W. He seemed in a good 
 disposition, and said lie entirely disapproved of the pro- 
 ceedings, and had used his influence in the committee to 
 get them to drop it. The only thing he seemed to justify, 
 was the laying down of the monthly meeting." 
 M lie said he did not think the quarterly meeting had any 
 right to annul the proceedings of the monthly meeting, 
 which they had sanctioned bv going into an investigation 
 before the committee in 3, AV.'s case, and in other ways. 
 In fact, he was brought to acknowledge that nearly all the 
 
 proceedings were wrong! And I have no doubt myself 
 
 that he would much rather not have anything to do with 
 these things, but, like many others, has not independence 
 enough to withstand the influence of the great men at 
 Providence." . . .1 have just written to Joseph, in- 
 forming him pretty fully of the part which has 
 
 actually performed in tliis business, — of the advices con- 
 tained in that paper which he signed and presented to your 
 
 monthly meeting, the report of the committee, &c, — by 
 
 which he may see how inconsistent his practice has been 
 with his profession to them: and letting him know withal, 
 that I cannot find sufficient charity, or good ground, for 
 
 believing that he is in a very " good disposition," being 
 persuaded that he only resorted to that shift, to escape 
 their close questioning, ami made use of Bmooth words and 
 
 fair speeches in order to deceive tlu-ni : also expressing a 
 hope thai they would be on their guard in future. There 
 
 18 no doubt in my mind, that was rather reluc- 
 tantly drawn into this business at first, but I fear he has 
 
L842, ) rjioai is b. oould. 171 
 
 been for Borne time fully initiated into all their Bchem 
 II ; ^ conduct has shown his co-operation therein. 
 Well, my dear Friend, lei them try their best to effect 
 their purpose. I believe it will all work far L r «»<»<l in the 
 end. For Burely, it' they keep on, and they have not 
 much Farther to go, they will make the moetf extraordinary 
 and notorious case of injustice, oppression, and persecution, 
 that was ever known since we were a people! . 
 
 Our mutual friend, Stephen Chase, of Portsmouth, was 
 here yesterday; he says that Primacy Pearse, relict of 
 Benjamin Pearse, has been very ill for Borne time, and that 
 she Bent for him, a few days ago, to conic and sec her- On 
 going, he found her so ill that he would not have thought 
 it suitable to Bay anything to her about the state of So- 
 ciety: but she soon introduced it herself, by telling him of 
 
 BOme visits she had received, in which the visitors had em- 
 ployed their time in tirades against thee and some other 
 
 friends; to some of whom she had replied, that J. Wilbur 
 
 Was a friend she had always highly oteemed, but she had 
 no doubt thou wast tried in the furnace of affliction, and 
 that it was heated seven times hotter than it was wont to 
 be heated ; but that her faith was, thou wouldst be de- 
 livered without even the smell of fire upon thy garments. 
 She then told Stephen of her meeting with thee in the 
 street after yearly meeting ; that it had been so long since 
 she had seen thee, that she would not have known thee, 
 had it not been that T. B. Gr. introduced thee to her; and 
 added : w * When thou scot John Wilbur, give my dear love 
 to him, and tell him that my prayers are for him, both day 
 and night!" Stephen requested me to give thee this ac- 
 count, with his own love affectionately. I have used 
 Stephen's words, I think. 
 
 Thus, thou secst, the prayers of the Church arc for thee, 
 which, that is, the Church, is, I believe, much represented 
 by, if not composed of, the little and low — the humble and 
 retiring ones — who also are often found in a persecuted, 
 wilderness state. The query often arises, will they not be 
 sought out and gathered'." 
 
 We have lately had a visit from D. C. lie spoke three 
 times in our mid-week meeting. His first communication 
 
17-! LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1842. 
 
 was remarkable for him, or indeed for any one, as it was 
 not the work of I>. 0., or of any man y I am persuaded, 
 for he .L r <»t hold of things quite unintelligible to them, and 
 most likely to himself; bnt his last two showed the weak- 
 ness of poor mortals, being made rery sickening with &nra, 
 &c, to use Christopher Healy's quaint expression. After 
 which the query was revived, "If ye love them that love 
 
 you, what thank have ye? do not even the publicans the 
 
 same':" And it was shown that it was a very natural and 
 easy thing to love our friends (which had been the burden 
 of his last communication), bnt that lie -who is Lord of all 
 had erected a higher standard to which He gathered His 
 
 children and people, requiring them to love their enemies, 
 to do good to them that hate them, and to pray for them 
 that despitefully use them and persecute them, and say 
 
 all manner of evil against them falsely, for His sake: and 
 it was declared, that nothing short of a measure of the 
 Spirit, power, and life of Christ, could enable any man to 
 do this ; and also that except our righteousness did exceed 
 the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, Ave could 
 in no wise enter the kingdom of heaven. After which, 
 M. H. 1>. undertook to show what a "distracting and dis- 
 organizing effect religion [!] produced in the world, to go 
 no farther back than the rise of our Society ;" but was 
 hard set to maintain his position, and seemed equally un- 
 able to cast anchor, and unwilling to go ashore; to which, 
 
 however, he at length drifted 
 
 I wish thou couldst find in thy heart to make us a visit. 
 We gel along very comfortably, and I believe it would be 
 more satisfactory to thee than it was last winter, — things 
 are very different in every respect. Those peculiar trials 
 under which we then labored, 1 have no doubt, were wisely 
 permitted, and that we are more likely, rightly to appre- 
 ciate the blessings we now enjoy, which are so numerous 
 and unmerited, that I often feel as if my cup did overflow ! 
 
 Surely goodness and mercy have followed me all the days 
 
 of my life ! . . . . 
 
 Farewell, from thy affectionate friend, 
 
 Thos. 1). Gould. 
 
18 13, | THOU US B. dOULD. L78 
 
 PBOM JOHM Wirmi; 10 T. 1>. (i. 
 
 Barak, 1st month, 6th, 1843, 
 My drab Thomas: 
 
 Thy kind letter was bo interesting throughout, that it 
 truly deserved a more ready and better answer than 1 have 
 been, and Bhall at this time, be able to give. And first 1 
 will speak of the comfortable and peaceful state which thy- 
 self and family are enjoying, both in body and mind. Nor 
 am I myself BO much below par as to forbid my rejoicing 
 with you; nay, for I will rejoice, that Infinite Goodn< 
 through the abounding of Btis mercy, lias enabled ua 
 far, through this campaign of a cruel warfare from false 
 brethren, to escape with our lives unhurt, amid the storm 
 of arrows bo prepared, as for a deadly purpose. Yea, and 
 let the whole remnant of Israel rejoice, give God thanks, 
 and take courage, without foreboding much of the proba- 
 bly greater suffering ami greater dangers yet to come ; for 
 Ave clearly see that lie is able to cover the heads of those 
 who trust in Him, and to ordain that sufficient unto the 
 evil day shall be the <jood thereof ; to provide sufficiently 
 for the escape of those whose minds are stayed upon Him, 
 and who trust in Him. I am full in the belief, that no 
 weapon which is formed against these shall prosper, so 
 long as they are thus stayed, in the most pinching seasons 
 of the trial of their faith, upon Him who was never foiled 
 in battle, though all the powers from beneath were arrayed 
 against Him ; no, never; nor will He ever be ! And the 
 more I see of the concert and the plans which are contrived 
 by that wisdom which is from beneath, the more clearly I 
 have been enabled to see through this " battle of the war- 
 riors, and garments rolled in blood:" yes, garments rolled 
 in blood ; for many have been slain by them, whose blood 
 
 will certainly be required at their hands ! 
 
 Thine as ever, 
 
 John Wilbur, 
 
 15^ 
 
174 I.I 1 i: AND LETTERS OF [1843. 
 
 Prom T. r>. G. to George F. Read. 
 
 Newport, third month, 12th, 1843. 
 
 My dbab Friend : 
 
 I cannot longer withhold an acknow- 
 ledgment of the peculiar satisfaction, comfort, and en- 
 couragement which thy last Inter was a messenger of to 
 me : and not to me only, but to a few other and strictly 
 confidential friends, who, like thyself, are under bonds 
 and afflictions for the testimonies which they hold, and 
 are constrained to bear, in the midst of a crooked and 
 perverse generation ; who having a form of godliness, 
 deny the power thereof, and in this state, as dear Isaac 
 Penington said, "can do no other than persecute those 
 who hear testimony to the one and against the other." 
 
 Well, my dear friend, as this is no new thing under the 
 sun, — for so persecuted they the prophets which were 
 before us — 1 can but respond, and that, too, with sin- 
 cerity and earnestness, to thy petition, that we may be 
 enabled to endure hardness as good soldiers, to contend 
 zealously for the faith once delivered to the saints, and to 
 fight valiantlv the Lord's battles, in His Strength and not 
 our own, rallying to His standard, that His banner may 
 cover us ; for I am renewedly persuaded that "He hath 
 given a banner to them who fear Him, which shall be un- 
 furled because of the truth." 
 
 My desire is, that Ave may not only be encouraged by 
 "the cloud of witnesses" who have trodden this tribulated 
 path before us; but that we may be unceasingly engaged 
 in looking unto .Jesus, and waiting upon Him who is the 
 Captain of our salvation and the Author of our faith : 
 
 and who, though He is Lord of all, Himself endured the 
 
 cross and despised the shame, and, loving the church, 
 gave Himself for it, that He might purify and cleanse it, 
 and make it a glorious church, not having spot, or 
 wrinkle, or any such thing. Oh ! He will have a clean, 
 pure people, a peculiar people: and He knows what will 
 
 make them such; therefore lie hath Bet His fire as in 
 
L8 to.] rHOMJ . oould. IT-') 
 
 !i. and His furnaqp as in Jerusalem, and caused judg- 
 ment to begin aa at the bouse of the Lord. See also 
 Isaiah LO : 16, 17, and Obadiah 17. L8, and 21, . . . 
 With much love, I am thy sincere friend, 
 
 r r. B, Gould, 
 
 To Etb \n Foster. 
 
 \k\\ port, third month, 2 1st, 18 L3« 
 MY \ "i-:i:v DBAB FRIBND : 
 
 1 could lmt gel rid of a very strong and 
 
 rather peculiar desire to visit you, to see you face to face ; 
 
 strong indeed that I could scarcely yield to circum- 
 ttces which seemed to render it wholly improper. To 
 
 visit the brethren and see how they do, is often as ser- 
 viceable (if not more so), to the visitors as to the visited, 
 especially when the former are inhabitants of a desert land. 
 
 Such, journeying southward, sometimes meet with u springs 
 of water." Truly, we have witnessed a long drought here, 
 even in the winter, not unaccompanied with blasts peculiar 
 to the season, which have beat vehemently against the Avail : 
 and as there had been something of a rest experienced 
 previously, I have thought some of our Friends might 
 entertain fears, and perhaps not without reason, lest Ave 
 should take our " flight either in the winter or on the 
 sabbath-day." If so, perhaps it may not be amiss 
 to mention, that some of us have recently given great 
 offence to the " chief priests and rulers of the synagogue," 
 by our obedience to what we believed to be required of us 
 by Him who is "Lord even of the sabbath." . . . . 
 We did, however, hear incidentally, just before thou wrote, 
 that W. E. had advised thy father [J. Wilbur] to appeal. 
 
 The information surprised us I can see no 
 
 other reason for their giving this advice, than a supposition 
 that it may prevent us from going " out from among 
 them," — our adversaries, — by haste or by flight, which I 
 rather expect they fear we shall; and being themselves 
 in a strait, as they are somewhat committed to us, they 
 are willing to put the evil day afar off, especially as they 
 have but a small portion of the suffering to bear in the 
 
17<i MM AND LETTERS 03 [d' s ^ :>> - 
 
 interim. It is indeed a momentous concern, an awful 
 crisis ! Fot the divisions of Reuben there should be 
 great searchinga of heart, that we may know what, and 
 what manner of time the Holy Spirit shall signify, for the 
 accomplishment of our deliverance from under bondage as 
 cruel, and darkness as truly to be felt, as that which pre- 
 vailed in the land of Egypt. I freely confess my inability 
 to see what Bteps it may he proper for us to take ulti- 
 mately. I am equally unable to see any good or any 
 strength we are gaining by our connection with them. 
 Still I must say, and I own that the remark hears with 
 full force upon myself, that it is very important we should 
 not take the cause into our own hands, or do anything 
 rashly for the sake of ease and deliverance ; lest we lose 
 our own standing in the Lord's sight, he rejected of Him, 
 and become ourselves monuments of His displeasure ! 
 Nevertheless, I mostly incline to the opinion that the 
 injunction will go forth, " Come out from among them, 
 
 and he ye separate/ 5 
 
 The bottom of those people in Indiana is plainly seen, 
 by their adopting the title of u Anti-slavery Friends." 
 This is not Quaker ground : they have avowed a sectarian 
 platform, have proved themselves sect-masters, though 
 perhaps, in reality, they are not more so than those from 
 whom they have seceded. But true Quakerism being 
 " primitive Christianity revived," those who are in poss< •>- 
 Bion of it, having come, as (Jcorgc Fox said, " into that 
 power where men shall agree," have got beyond sects and 
 parties, and have attained to that which comprehends all 
 minor principles of religious rectitude, of moral reforma- 
 tion, within itself. These stand upon a firm foundation, — 
 aye, and a hroad one, too, even as hroad as the Truth 
 itself, and are singularly quick of discernment respecting 
 the branches from the same Root, and the motion of the 
 same life, wherever it may appear; although such may be 
 
 Blow to identify themselves with that Superfluous, sponta- 
 neous growth, which overtops the root, and oppresses the 
 life of the true Seed. 
 
 1 have inadvertently and unexpectedly blundered upon 
 
 these remarks, which can he of little interest to thee. They 
 
L8 !•'>. | THOMAS B. 001 u>. 1 .7 
 
 have been produced by a train of reflections upon the 
 "anti-slavery cause' 1 in general, into which I fell while 
 penning thai incidental notice of the separation in Indiana. 
 And now 1 musi say plainly, thai while I wholly disap- 
 prove of the latter, there is much in the former, even Look- 
 ing at it aside from the interest and welfare of the Blai 
 which cannol fail to be deeply interesting to every true 
 Quaker. .1 verily believe there is a motion of life among 
 them, and thai if they could but know the "mystery of 
 the holy silence/ 1 and be broughl into the experience of it, 
 they would see a work to he performed, beyond the aboli- 
 tion of outward honds ; and not only so. hut receive hea- 
 venly qualifications, availingly to plead the cause of the 
 
 oppressed. 
 
 If there is anything here which thou thinkest likely to 
 do harm, or hurt the feelings of any one. please exercise 
 thy wonted care and prudence in the matter. I believe 
 
 thou knowest how dearly I love, and how highly I esteem 
 some dear Friends who have thought it right to take a 
 more active part in these moral and benevolent works, 
 than I ever found it my place to do. And what thinkest 
 thou ? Has it not been, in some of these instances, a sort 
 of preparatory dispensation for a greater work ? 
 
 Thy sincere friend, 
 
 T. B. Gould. 
 
 To Joshua Maule. 
 
 Newport, 12th month, 13th, 1843. 
 
 .... "Without the least desire to affix a high stamp 
 upon anything which flows from my pen, as well knowing 
 it docs not merit it, and will not bear it ; yet I freely own 
 to thee, that in receiving communications of this kind, it 
 seems very desirable that some degree of the savor of life 
 should attend them; something of that which renders us 
 like an " epistle written in the heart," which can "be 
 known and read of all men" who have come to " the minis- 
 tration of the Spirit." This, it must be confessed, is no- 
 thing less than " the hope of our calling ;" and if we were 
 but obedient to it, if we were but engaged to wait for it, 
 
178 LIVE AND LETTERS OF [1S43. 
 
 even "until the Spirit be poured upon us from on high/' 
 liow would it make the wilderness of this world like a fruit- 
 ful field; and the desert — that which had been fruitful in 
 nothing but briers and thorns — "to rejoice and blossom 
 as the ros< 
 
 But this would be considered mysticism by the wise and 
 prudent of this degenerate day; especially if the idea con- 
 veyed by the term life } and "the Bavor of Life*" were car-* 
 ried out to its full extent ; seeing it is not supposed to be 
 intelligible by them as applied to the ministry, much L< 
 then to matters of minor importance, such as. compara- 
 tively Bpeaking, I admit this kind of communication to lie. 
 But I think thou, my dear brother* wilt agree with me, 
 that we should be gainers by the experiment, if, while we 
 profess to be led by the Spirit, we should apply that rule 
 to the more ordinary concerns of life, so as to become ac- 
 quainted with the motions of it : and having OUT spiritual 
 faculties exercised by reason of use, we should he able to 
 
 distinguish between the sweet savor of it, and the evil 
 savor which is emitted whenever the "dead Hies are mingled 
 
 in the ointment of the apothecary. " 
 
 .... I note what thou sayest respecting your trials, 
 as well as that in relation to the disaffected persons among 
 you. Truly we are neither exempt from the one nor the 
 other: and doubtless these things are permitted for our 
 refinement, both individually and conventionally. As it 
 regards our poor Society, let us view it from what point 
 We may. it does manifestly appear to he in a truly mourn- 
 ful condition; weakness ami degeneracy have come over 
 it generally, hut of some places in particular it really seems 
 a- if the language of the prophet was verified: "That 
 
 which the palmer WOim hath left hath the locust eaten ; 
 and that which the locust hath left hath the Canker worm 
 eaten ; and that which the canker worm hath left hath the 
 caterpillar eaten." Yea. they have k * laid the vine waste, 
 and barked the fig-tree, making it clean hare," until there 
 
 ma t<> l>e nothing left : not a "sherd t<> take fire from 
 
 the hearth, or water withal out of the pit." And this is 
 
 doubtless produced by individual unfaithfulness, together 
 
 with an unsound and un>anctiiicd ministry, the withering 
 
1 - J:',. ) THOMAS B. 80ULD, 1 1 9 
 
 effects of which I think are plainly apparent where it haa 
 
 d, Buch have sown to the wind, and reap< 'I 
 
 the whirlwind. On the contrary, where a living stream 
 
 pel ministry haa been mercifully kepi open, more 
 
 . more strength, ami more bfe appears; as in 
 
 Philadelphia and ( >hio yearly meetings : ■ bui even tie 
 
 "cm- to me, come short of the primitive times, of the 
 
 brightness in which those bom of the morning, those stare 
 
 the first magnitude in the firmament of the Lord's 
 
 power, Bhone in their day. How far the circumstances of 
 
 the times in which they lived, and the persona] Buffering 
 
 which they endured, may have contributed to the wide dif- 
 ference which, 1 think, is apparent, between the early 
 Friends and the best modern ones, in respect to zeal, vigi- 
 lance, and success in the cause and work of the Lord, it is 
 not my intention to venture an opinion now. Still the 
 
 cause is the same, the principles are the same, for truth 
 
 changeth not ! And what they were in their day, they 
 were by the power thereof. 
 
 Neither have I any doubt but that there are some, yea. 
 many, scattered about here and there, — although I fear 
 these are, in comparison with others, " like one in a family 
 or two in a tribe," — who stand in a measure of the same 
 power in which the early Friends stood, are contending for 
 the same principles, are walking by the same rule, and 
 minding the same thing. But I am ready to conclude that 
 the reason why so much difference appears, in regard to 
 the success of modern laborers in the cause of truth, may 
 be found in the darkness of the day and time in which we 
 live. For, notwithstanding the loud boast of light and 
 knowledge (and perhaps men never did, in any age, climb 
 higher into the tree of head-knowledge), yet is it not, in 
 respect to the true light and the living knowledge, a dark 
 day, "a day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of 
 clouds and thick darkness," wherein ''judgment is turned 
 away backward, and truth is fallen in the streets, and 
 equity cannot enter?" Truly equity cannot enter in the 
 high places of Israel, so called, where they cry aloud, 
 " The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord are 
 
 * It is necessary to bear in mind the date of this remark. 
 
180 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1843. 
 
 these!" Judgment is turned away backward, and justice 
 is excluded! He thai departetfa from iniquity is sure to 
 make himself a prey, while they that tempt the Lord, by 
 boasting of His authority, arc even, to all human appear- 
 ance delivered! Surely the Lord will vi>it for these 
 things, either sooner or later! Neither Bis justice nor 
 J lis judgments will sleep forever! Whether it be in our 
 day or not, I believe He will yel cause proclamation to be 
 made, as among the Gentiles, to "prepare for war." to 
 w *wake up the mighty men:" that Jle will issue His in- 
 junction and commission to the men of war, to come up, 
 "as in days of old, and as in former years, " against the 
 mighty; and that JIc will require them to beat their 
 ploughshares into swords, and their pruning-hookfl into 
 spears, and enable the weak to say, " 1 am strong." . . . 
 
 Thy affectionate brother, 
 
 Thomas B. Gould. 
 
18 18. ] Tih'M MS !■. GOULD. 181 
 
 CII A PTEB I V 
 
 TnB promoters of innovation continued for some time 
 to cherish the hope of influencing Thomas B. Gould, by 
 motives of "fear, favor, or affection," bo as to induce him 
 to forego his conscientious convictions in regard to the 
 Bchism which he saw was imminent in the Society, and 
 unite with them in their measures. But finding him not 
 to be moved thereby, but increasingly firm and undaunted 
 in opposition to the evil practices by which the new views 
 were promoted in the Society, the leaders of the party in 
 Newport proceeded, in 1843, to institute disciplinary pro- 
 ceedings against him, as out of unity with the body. This 
 expression, about that time, was frequently perverted to 
 the purpose of vilifying at an easy rate any against whom 
 no tenable, direct, or specific charge could be produced, 
 but whose steady adherence to their testimony against the 
 removal of our ancient landmarks seriously obstructed 
 these unhallowed advances towards change, and must be 
 put out of the way. 
 
 The manner in which T. B. Gould was treated by those 
 in authority at this time (no less than the treatment and 
 disownment of John Wilbur by the same party, a short 
 time before), was disgraceful to persons claiming to act 
 for any professing Christian Church. They finally suc- 
 ceeded in disowning him, though not until, by the separa- 
 tion which their party had themselves already effected in 
 Rhode Island Quarterly Meeting and its monthly meetiii 
 they had cut off all their own rightful claim to act on be- 
 half of the Society, or to be considered as constituting a 
 portion of its true members. Several years afterwards, 
 in compliance with the expressed desire of some for dis- 
 tinct information on the subject, T. B. Gould wrote a de- 
 
 16 
 
182 LIFE AND letters OF [1844. 
 
 tailed statement of these strangely irregular proceedings 
 insl hiii). which will be Been in the following letter to 
 Y. \\\. and in one afterwards written i<» a friend in Ohio : 
 -nine parte of the latter having been omitted, to avoid 
 repetition of portions Sufficiently elucidated in the former. 
 
 These letter.-, though referring to events of 1843 and 
 
 1*44, were written after his visit to Ohio, ten years after- 
 wards, which will account for some allusions to matt 
 
 appearing here out of the order of date-. 
 
 From T. B. Got u> to Y. W . 
 
 Newport, 11th mo., 9tb, 18 
 Mv DEAR FRIEND: 
 
 Thy kind letter of the Oth inst. is just received, and 
 although pressed for time and much indisposed, I hasten 
 to answer thy inquiries respecting the time and manner of 
 proceeding against me, in order to my disownment by 
 those, who, before they had accomplished their avowed 
 object in seeking to make me aii offender, themselves went 
 
 off in a body from Rhode Island Quarterly and Monthly 
 
 Meetings, and, according to the decision of Philadelphia 
 
 Yearly Meeting, set up separate meetings, in violation of 
 the order, and contrary to the discipline of New England 
 Yearly Meeting, and of the Society of Friends. 
 
 Thou askest : " With what offence wast thou charged, 
 and when':" — which it is somewhat difficult for me to 
 answer at this distance of time, as I kept no record at the 
 time, and as the charges made by the overseers of Newport 
 Preparative Meeting, during the only official visit which I 
 ever received from them both, as such, were so indefinite, 
 and so often changed, and went hack during so long a 
 period, — no less than six years (although during all that 
 time I had never keen BO much as admonished by them, 
 or, until very near the time of which I am now speaking, 
 by any others, concerning any [alleged ] misdemeanor) ; and 
 for the additional reason, that they would neither tell me 
 Certainly whether they should carry a charge against me to 
 the next preparative meeting, nor yet, in terms, what it was 
 to he, if they carried one, which they said they "probably 
 
18 I I.] Til".M 18 B, G01 LD. 1 B8 
 
 should do.' 1 But they did it not, and bo I concluded it 
 
 given over \'<>v one month, as nothing was Baid ab< 
 it in the preparative meeting, which I attended ; and ac- 
 i i oul with my wife to attend the next monthly 
 meeting, then held about eight miles from Newport. But 
 
 were unable to reach there, by reason of our attempt- 
 ing to go in a sleigh : tin* sleighing being good in the town, 
 but on getting a few miles out of town we found the Bnow 
 bo much drifted, and the roads bo bare, that we could not 
 reasonably proceed, and had to turn back ; and before we 
 could have changed our vehicle, &c, and have reached the 
 meeting-house, it would have been bo late in the day, and 
 the meeting ><> nearly over, that I felt easiest, under the 
 
 cnmstances, not to make a second attempt. And bo 
 they availed themselves of my absence from the monthly 
 meeting, and carried their complaint into it, without its 
 
 r having been laid before the preparative meeting in 
 any shape. This manner of proceeding was strongly 
 objected to, as irregular, by some of my strongest opposers ; 
 they said it would be taken advantage of by me; but the 
 clerk, who was also one of -the overseers of Newport, and 
 bitterly opposed to me, insisted on its being entered on 
 the minutes, alleging, as I was told, that it was a favorable 
 time, and Buch as might not occur again, the individual 
 being absent ; and so it was done, and a joint committee of 
 men and women appointed to labor with me. This was in 
 the Becond month, 1844; and thou canst judge whether 
 this manner of proceeding was regular or not. I had 
 never known, and the oldest and most experienced mem- 
 bers of this monthly meeting had never before known of a 
 complaint or charge being carried to the monthly meeting, 
 except through the medium of the preparative, until now ! 
 
 The committee so appointed had repeated opportunities 
 with me, during a period of nine months. The first and 
 second time they visited me, I think they did not bring a 
 copy of the charge with them; at any rate, they would not 
 produce it, if they did, neither did they seem to know what 
 the charge was. .Hut as I insisted upon knowing distinctly 
 what was charged against me, the next time they came, 
 they brought What they said was a true copy of it ; but 
 
184 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1844. 
 
 they refused at the same time to let me see it ! Baying "It 
 was sufficient for them to know what Friends had against 
 me. n I still urged my right to see it. One of them, who 
 was scarcely capable of reading printed matter correctly, 
 said lie would read it to me. I asked him to let me read 
 it myself. He said I might look over his shoulder and 
 read it, but he could not let me have it in my hand. I 
 asked, " Why not '.' did they suppose I would deface it, 
 destroy it. or retain possession of it against their wishes?" 
 He said, kfc No; they had entire confidence in my honor and 
 integrity! but 1). 1>." (the clerk of the monthly meeting, 
 and the bitterest of the two overseers of Newport Prepara- 
 tive Meeting, and a very active member of the yearly 
 meeting's committee also), "had told him not to let me 
 have it by any means." And they treated me so un- 
 reasonably and unhandsomely in this interview, that I 
 declined any further intercourse with them, as a com- 
 mittee, at that time, unless they would pursue a different 
 course : and I did leave the parlor and shut the door after 
 me when I went out, for it was cold weather ; but I did 
 not go out pettishly nor hastily, and I had also other good 
 reasons for going out, which I did not think needful to 
 mention to them. Neither did this end that interview, for 
 they followed me into the back part of the house, where, 
 for some reason or other, they had chosen to enter at 
 first, and from whence I had invited them to go into the 
 parlor, which they seemed reluctant to do, although my 
 wife was sweeping when they came into the dining-room, 
 and sat down, seeming resolved to stay there, though I 
 told them I could not endure the dust, which was yet un- 
 settled, and they all knew I was suffering with asthma. 
 But this made no difference to them. Indeed they seemed 
 
 throughout, to delight in causing me to suffer in every 
 
 way in their power. After they came out of the parlor 
 
 into the dining-room, I had occasion to remind one of 
 them of Something he had said, while we were together in 
 the meeting-house yard, at a certain time; whereupon he 
 
 promptly denied it, and, in a very irreverent manner, 
 made use of the >acred name, appealing to his Maker 
 vehemently and repeatedly, exclaiming, " God Almighty 
 
L844 thom ! u>. 185 
 
 kimws thai I aever said - He had told me thai the 
 
 31 desire he had, was to have me disowned, on 
 
 mi of my intimacy and unity with J. Wilbur, and also 
 
 on account of my disunity with and opposition to J. J. 
 
 whom he at the same time represented as a 
 
 superior being! I now cautioned him against denying it, 
 
 l distinctly remembered what he had said; and let him 
 
 know that hia manner of doing it was equivalent to the 
 
 taking of an oath: thai it was a very wrong and incon 
 
 tent thing to swear at all. and that it was doubly SO to 
 
 tar falsely. He said he knew it, but that he would do 
 
 and went on with his appeals to his Maker, in a way 
 
 which ry painful and fearful to hoar. There were 
 
 ■ other men, and two females of the committee present. 
 One of the latter was in the station of a minister. She 
 and one of the other men, as well as this man, are all 
 Bine d. and there is now hut one member of the 
 
 tmittee alive and in possession of her mental powers : 
 she at that time had not long been a member of the So- 
 ciety, and was wholly silent throughout. 
 
 They had several interviews with me after this, pursu- 
 ing me through a long and very severe attack of illness, 
 which brought me near to the grave. Sometimes when 
 they came, I said little or nothing to them, not feeling at 
 liberty so to do; then they would report to the monthly 
 meeting. u that the young man was somewhat meliorated; 
 that they were in hopes his sickness would be of use to 
 him, and that he would be induced to make an acknow- 
 ledgment/' And so they kept the case along during nine 
 months, not disowning me until the day that the separa- 
 tion took place in this monthly meeting, and after it had 
 taken place. During all this time, they refused to let me 
 
 the charge, unless I had consented to see it upon con- 
 ditions and under circumstances which I did not feel easy 
 to submit to. And yet one of the committee did in a 
 roundabout way let my wife see a paper which he said 
 was the charge, which was to this effect : " that the over- 
 seers of Newport Preparative Meeting had several tine 
 (and this was untrue), 4i treated with T. B. Gould, for 
 having manifested himself out of unity with Friends in all 
 
 16 ■■"■ 
 
186 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1844. 
 
 the meetings of discipline of which he is a member, and 
 also for haying charged the overseer- of Newport with being 
 actuated 1>\ a spirit of envy and malice." Nowit availed 
 me nothing, to be able to show that I had a right to ex- 
 press a different sentiment or judgment from those who 
 
 bore rule in meetings for discipline, or that their doings 
 were inconsistent in themselves, and with our principles 
 and discipline. And in regard to the latter part of the 
 charge, 1 had merely stated, as a reason why a. charge 
 which was brought against another Friend ought not to he 
 entered <>n the minutes of the preparative meeting, or to 
 he sent to the monthly meeting, — that one of the over- 
 seers v, ho brought it had admitted to me, that the other 
 overseer had been actuated bv an envious and malicious 
 spirit against the Friend complained of, and that being 
 conscious of having the power to do it, lie was resolved to 
 have him disowned. 
 
 Thou askest whether I "ever felt or expressed to any 
 Friend, uneasiness for that which was made the ground of 
 their dealings with me?" To "which I can answer, that 
 according to the best recollection I have, I never did either 
 fee! or express any uneasiness with it. I never doubted 
 its rectitude, or made anything like an acknowledgment 
 to the overseers or the committee; although in conversa- 
 tion respecting these things I may possibly have admitted, 
 some time or other, that it was probable I might have con- 
 ducted the defense more wisely than I did, but I never 
 thought it would have made the least difference as to the 
 result. Indeed one of the overseers told me, that those 
 who united with J. J. G. were determined that I should 
 be disowned at all events! This overseer was rather a 
 clever, hut not a very shrewd man, and was, I believe, really 
 unwilling that 1 should he disowned, although he seemed 
 incapable of pursuing a straightforward course, or of 
 understanding why I was unwilling to make an acknow- 
 ledgment to them, or to the committee, for having done 
 what 1 believed to have been required of me. lie is not 
 now living. He sought repeated opportunities with me, 
 without the knowledge, as he said, of the other overseer 
 of Out preparative meeting, to try to induce me to satisfy 
 
1844.] THOMAS B. GOULD. I S? 
 
 his colleague; whom I knew I could no1 satisfy, unless I 
 
 e up the whole ground of my testimony against th< 
 w rone things, which he owned to me constituted the whole 
 cause ^i' their proceedings against me. For he told me 
 plainly, that be was satisfied 1 had acted conscientiously; 
 and not only so, bul said he, "Thou bast been exemplary 
 and consistent with thy profession from thy childhood to 
 this day; everybody knows that; and I am willing to 
 acknowledge it :" adding, " But thee knows that were 
 are many Friends who are determined tp have thee dis- 
 owned; 1 am not one of them, but D. B." (the other 
 
 irseer) k *is and they have the power to do it!" I 
 asked him, " If they were convinced of my integrity, and 
 
 if I had always been exemplary and consistent with our 
 profession, what they were treating with me as an offender 
 for?' 1 "Why," said he, "they look upon thee as a 
 main spoke in the wheel of opposition to J. J. Grurney, 
 
 and as being likely to bring about a separation in the 
 Society: and unless thee ceases to oppose his sentiments, 
 and will make an acknowledgment, and satisfy Friends for 
 what thee has said against him and his writings, they are 
 determined to disown thee." I told him, " that so far 
 from seeking to produce a separation, the object of my 
 labor and concern had been to prevent it, by opposing the 
 introduction and adoption of unsound sentiments, and the 
 inconsistent and disorderly practices consequent upon 
 their dissemination; knowing as I did that a departure 
 from first principles would lead those who departed into a 
 separation from the Society; which I had labored to pre- 
 vent, in the ability received, being very sincerely desirous 
 that Friends might continue to be united in the ancient 
 faith and principles of the Society, and fully convinced 
 that the adoption of new principles would produce a sepa- 
 ration, provided any portion of the members stood faithful 
 to the ancient standard." But he said, the great body of 
 Society were united with J. J. Gurney, &c, and he would 
 advise me "to stick to the body, right or wrong !" "Why," 
 said he, " if Rowland Green, Thomas Anthony, and John 
 Meader, were to advise me to do a thing which I knew to 
 be wrong, I should do it ! I like to pin my faith upon tin 4 
 
188 LIFB AND LBTTJSRfi OF [1844. 
 
 sleeves of such men as they are. And why can't thee do 
 
 it'.' I sec a great many tiling done which I know arc 
 
 wrong; bul I do as they tell me to do, and theyxnu&l 
 take the responsibility !" So much for this overseer : and 
 the committee were not one whit sounder or more reason- 
 able, and much less moderate and civil. 
 
 A short time before the overseers of Newport visited 
 me, I received a visit from Edward Wing and Asa Sher- 
 man, who stood in the station of overseers of another ]>re- 
 parative meeting; and upon their saying that they had 
 come to have an opportunity with me, I. asked in what 
 
 Capacity they had come? They said, w *as overseers/' 
 
 Whereupon I queried whether they had not come too 
 soon; adding, the overseers of, Newport Preparative Meet- 
 ing, to which I belong, have never yet bo much as admo- 
 nished me. They affected to express surprise at this, and 
 Edward Wing immediately replied, "We came as members 
 of the quarterly meeting s committee." — "But thou art 
 not a member of that committee," said I. "Well then/' 
 .-aid lie, "we came as members of the yearly meeting's 
 commit To which L replied, "Asa Sherman is not 
 
 a member of that, — hut no matter: what is the occasion 
 of your coming ?" — (for I saw it was unavailing to stand 
 upon technicalities, Edward having resumed, u Wc came 
 as overseers, and as members of the quarterly and yearly 
 meeting's committees, all three !") — To which Edward 
 replied, " Friends were much dissatisfied with what thee 
 Said in the quarterly meeting the other day." — " What 
 did I say, Edward, which gave Friends uneasiness?" — 
 "Oh," said he, w * I cannot tell what thee said; thee 
 knows what thee said, and we Want thee to make an ac- 
 knowledgment for it. Thee said a great deal ; thee 
 used a great many words, and we know thy memory is 
 id, and we can believe what thee says. Now we want 
 thee to tell us what thee .-aid, and to make an acknow- 
 ledgment for it, and then we Bball know !" I endeavored 
 to show them the unreasoiiahleness of their coming to 
 treat with me as an offender, for something which 1 had 
 Said in our quarterly meeting (for business), without their 
 knowing what it was, and then calling upon me to hear 
 
18 1 I. | THOMAS I:. GOULD. I s ' 1 
 
 witi inst myself, which T told them no man, nol 
 
 n a criminal, was bound to do. Bui Edward, not 
 the force of this in any respect, continued 
 t<> urge me to tell them what I did say; gratuitously in- 
 Forming me how vn-v candid and honest they considered 
 me to be, and how implicitly they would rely upon my 
 giving them the very words which had been used; and 
 withal repeating the declaration, that I had Baid a irrt-M t 
 deal, had used a great many words, &c. Whereupon I 
 appealed to Asa Sherman, who had been silent hitherto, 
 to know whether he could say that 1 had said a great 
 deal, or used many words, in the quarterly meeting at 
 
 the time referred to. To which lie replied, that he 
 
 could not Bay that I used many words; hut added, 
 " Sometimes there is a great deal said in ;i few word-:" 
 
 and immediately added. " I must confess that I felt more 
 dissatisfied with what thee said in the monthly meeting, 
 
 than with what thee Baid in the quarterly meeting." I 
 then asked what I said in the monthly meeting, which 
 gave him uneasiness? " Why," said he, " thee used 
 Bevere and violent language there." — "What was the 
 language, Asa?" — "Why, thee said that Simeon and 
 Levi were brethren, that instruments of cruelty were in 
 their habitations, and thee went on and quoted the whole 
 passage!" — "Did I quote it correctly, Asa?" — "Oh, 
 
 . very correctly." — " And thou callest that severe and 
 violent language, dost thou?" — "Yes," said he, "I do; 
 
 Felt it very keenly." To which I merely answered, 
 " It was the language of the patriarch Jacob, and by thy 
 acknowledgment, correctly quoted ; and if you felt the 
 force of it, or deemed the language violent, I don't know 
 that I am to be blamed for it." They immediately 
 changed their plan of operations, and commenced fawning 
 upon me, telling me how much they loved me and esteemed 
 me, and that if I would only renounce J. Wilbur, and get 
 out from under his clutches, and have unity with them and 
 J. J. Gurney, what a fine Friend I should be, and how 
 they would promote me to great honor, kc. ; all which 
 had no more effect to induce me to change my course 
 than the other ; and they soon after took their departure, 
 
100 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1844. 
 
 with the assurance of abundance Of love and goOd-will ; 
 not having brought anything against me, so far as I can 
 recollect, except what 1 have here mentioned. 
 
 1 had quoted the language of Jacob in the monthly meet- 
 ing, upon the occasion of a minute of disownment having 
 been made against a Friend, who, by the confession of one 
 
 of the overseers, had been dealt with in a Spirit of envy 
 
 and malice. And the evidence of the truth of tins asser- 
 tion was most abundant, although I never so charged them 
 
 at all: but they Wrested the words which I had used, so 
 as to bring it against me in such form as best suited them 
 and their purposes. 
 
 About the same time that I received the above-mentioned 
 t from the overseers of Portsmouth Preparative Meet- 
 ing, and before the overseers of Newport took up my case, 
 it was brought up in the tided preparative meeting, and an 
 attempt was made to enter my name, as a delinquent, upon 
 their minutes, and to get a committee of that meeting (of 
 which I was not a member) appointed, to labor with me, 
 as I was informed; and they also tried to induce my father 
 to serve on this committee. Put he told them that as I 
 was not a member of that meeting, they had no right to 
 enter my name en their minutes as a delinquent"; and 
 steadily declining to have anything to do with the mea- 
 sure, which was no doubt intended as a double snare for 
 liinu they finally seemed to give it up, and the meeting 
 broke up. But my father was no sooner well in his chaise, 
 and gone out of the meeting-house yard, on his way home, 
 than the rest of the select members returned into the 
 meeting-house and resumed the subject; and having thus 
 
 got rid of my father, they deputed a female elder, who 
 was a relative of mine by marriage, and one of the shrewdest 
 of their number, to take an opportunity with me. And 
 she BOOB after sent me a message that she wanted to see 
 me. 1 was very unwell when .1 received it, and scarcely 
 able to walk : but suspecting what the nature of her con- 
 cern was, 1 thought I would make an effort to go and 
 her at the time specified, as >he was much my senior, and 
 the ground so covered with ice that she could not come to 
 me; and I feared, if I went not. however poorly I was, 
 
1844.] THOU M9 B. aouLD. 191 
 
 tli.it 1 should be charged with omitting it from un- 
 
 worthy motive. Upon my going in, she manifested some 
 mu'I . and confusion also; for she must have I 'li- 
 
 able 1 was unfit to be out ; and she seemed under con- 
 siderable embarrassment in opening the subject; but finally 
 
 I me that Bhe had been appointed at their last Bel 
 preparative meeting, to convey to me the feeling of the 
 select Friends respecting myself. I inquired, "At the 
 meeting, cousin Hannah?" "Yes, at the last/ 1 
 - Why, my father was present, and informed me that there 
 was no Buch committee appointed at that time.' 1 This 
 increased her embarrassment, and she was fain to come 
 out with an account of the informal manner in which it 
 
 3 done, as above related. However, she said that there 
 
 a abundance of concern manifested for my advancement 
 and encouragement in every good word and work; that 
 
 the select Friends were unanimous in this desire ; that they 
 did not wish to throw the least obstruction in my way ; but 
 still they felt dissatisfied with what I had expressed in the 
 public meeting, when a certain minister from a neighbor- 
 ing meeting was present ; they thought it was not in har- 
 mony and unison with what he had expressed; and there 
 had been one other occasion, in which my public commu- 
 nication had given concern to Friends ; and that it was 
 evident there was not that degree of love and unity, and 
 harmony in exercise, and concern with the body of Society, 
 in a general way. as would be very desirable : but that she 
 was instructed to inform me, on behalf of the select mem- 
 bers of this monthly meeting, that if I would be careful 
 not to say anything in public which might seem to clash 
 with what Moses II. Beede, John Meador, and such Friends 
 id, and to cultivate more intercourse, and manifest more 
 unity with them, that there was nothing stood in the way 
 of my promotion to the extent of my desire ! &c. But I 
 told her, that I had never been seeking after honor or 
 promotion from man ; that if I were at liberty to seek for 
 it. I was not ignorant what course would seem most likely 
 to insure it; that I had done that only which I had been 
 convinced was my duty to do, and therein had found peace ; 
 and could not shape my course, and unite with things which 
 
192 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1844. 
 
 I was convinced were wrong, for the sake either of case or 
 preferment, or to please any man, or body of men; being 
 satisfied that those who Bought to please men could not be 
 
 the servants of Him whose kingdom 18 not of this world, 
 &C. We had much plain talk upon the subject, hut the 
 above includes the whole of what was alleged against me; 
 and it is not a little remarkable that, although 1 Avas raised 
 Up in a public testimony for the truth, in the very midst 
 of great secret opposition at least, and of a powerful, per- 
 secuting spirit, yet those two occasions were the only ones 
 of a public nature which were ever objected to, so far as I 
 know, by any of those people, or indeed by any other. If 
 there has been dissatisfaction felt, it has never been men- 
 tioned to me, or come to my knowledge; and I attended 
 meeting constantly with those people five years after my 
 first appearance in that line; although it is true that in 
 that day such appearances were by no means frequent. 
 On one of the occasions which she referred to, the minister 
 who was at our meeting had been hammering at great 
 length about love, and unity, and charity, seeming to make 
 that all in all, although it was manifest that the " love of 
 God" was not by any means " perfected" in him; and 
 after he had been done a suitable time, I quoted the pas- 
 sage, "Except your righteousness shall exceed the righte- 
 ousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in nowise 
 enter the kingdom of heaven," showing in Svhat that king- 
 dom consisted, where it was designed to be, and upon whose 
 shoulders the government was to rest, and unto whom the 
 gathering of the people was to be. But this offer of pre- 
 ferment seemed to be the last attempt to gain me over to 
 them, by such as were initiated and understood the de- 
 signs of the leaders; and was most probably made merely 
 to reconcile some of the more moderate and less knowing 
 ones to the measures which were very soon after instituted, 
 to disown him whom they could not induce to bow even 
 with the offer of " honors, offices, and places. " 
 
 There is one question which thou hast put to me, which 
 remains to he answered, to wit : " When was the testimony 
 
 offered?" Now I do not exactly understand to what tes- 
 timony thou alludest herein. If to a testimony of denial 
 
1 1. ] Tiro* ka i !i'. 
 
 or disownment, I can only Bay thai the BrcH knowl< I 
 had cb a testimony having been issued against me, 
 
 n by the separatists, occurred in Ohio Yearly Meeting, 
 the other day ; when a man, Zadoc Street, held ap a pa] 
 and declared that it was a testimony of disownment agai 
 me ; but no Buch thing was ever offered to me at anytime! 
 1 was raerelv informed, by a person who chanced to m< 
 me in the Btreet in L844, that 1 had been disowned by t! 
 last monthly meeting ; to which I replied, that 1 had never 
 
 in a member of their meeting; bin that Rhode Island 
 Monthly Meeting had fully exonerated me from the charj 
 which Borne of those who had separated themselves from 
 it. and Bel up a now meeting of their own, out of the order 
 of the Society, had prepared against me ; and had dismissed 
 
 the case from the minutes, and restored me to my rights 
 ami privileges a- a member, pf which those WhO had now- 
 manifested themselves to he seceders had for a time been 
 permitted to deprive me. 
 
 Although I felt hound to endeavor to maintain the 
 ground upon which I stood, with firmness, yet I had also 
 thought it right to submit to their requisitions, however 
 unreasonable or unkind, except in such cases as I thought 
 would involve a compromise of principle. I never refused 
 a visit from them at any time, however inconvenient or 
 unsuitable; though I believe my wife did refuse to let them 
 me once or twice, during my very severe illness, without 
 my knowledge, she not judging it to be at all safe or pro- 
 per, and she knew best what was proper for me at that 
 time; yet, after I got somewhat better, I thought best to 
 consent to see them before she thought it suitable for me: 
 but I was made willing to suffer, and did endeavor to do 
 BO patiently: and I am confident that I was enabled to 
 keep, in a good degree, both in the patience and in the 
 faith also, even that faith which is victorious, though it be 
 through Buffering. 
 
 Now, having given thee this long account, I fear it 
 may prove tedious to thee; but I could not in any other 
 way have made thee so fullv sensible of the nature of those 
 spirits which I had to contend with. It was, however, fre- 
 quently manifest that the power of truth came over them, 
 
 IT 
 
1!>4 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1844. 
 
 and they could not gainsay what was uttered in its behalf; 
 and they often seemed to be at their wits' end, not know- 
 ing well what to do or say next : but then they would fall 
 back upon the power which they possessed, and to which 
 emed resolved that every knee should bom 
 
 th of 1 lth mo. 
 Thou will sec by the date of the previous sheet, that I 
 commenced it immediately upon the reception of thine, 
 although 1 was much unwell and unfit for writing, neither 
 could 1 write much at a time; and bo, what is before 
 Written was done at intervals, and was several days in 
 hand. When reading it over, I could see the want of 
 method, and that Iliad gone too much into detail; and 
 fearing it would be as tedious to thee as it is unsatisfac- 
 tory to myself, I thought I would let it lie by me, until I 
 felt well enough to re-write and abridge it. But seeing 
 no prospect of being able soon to do this, I have concluded 
 to let thee have the perusal of it, and when thou hast 
 made such corrections of misstatements with regard to 
 the matter, as thou mayst see fit, I would thank thee to 
 return these two sheets to me; and therefore enclose two 
 postage stamps, to enable thee to do so without expense 
 to thyself. This request is not founded upon any lack of 
 confidence in thy integrity or prudence, but upon its being 
 the only record of these things which I have ; and since 
 such record has been made, I would rather have it returned 
 to me again, when the purpose for which thou so kindly 
 requested it has been answered. And I would rather thou 
 did not hand these sheets much about, on account of the 
 bungling manner in which thev are written, &c. Mv 
 health has been very poor since my return : my throat and 
 lungs are in a sad state. An almost incessant and dis- 
 tressing cough, great difficulty of breathing, reduction of 
 strength, and very little appetite, so that I am mostly 
 Confined to the house and to my room; though I do some- 
 time to meeting: but the prospect of better health in 
 future looks discouraging, and when, if ever, I shall be 
 able to accomplish what 1 had in prospect in the State of 
 New York, seems doubtful. Still I have not as vet been 
 
1844.] THOMAS B. OOULD. L9fl 
 
 able i" Peel a release From the burden of the concern. Bui 
 when we had gol through in Philadelphia and Jersey, my 
 way closed up, as regard id proceeding to Neif fork, and 
 I thought best to return directly home, and attend our 
 quarterly meeting and meeting for Bufferings; t ( > 
 which last I felt particularly drawn for divers reasons, one 
 of which was my being clerk of that meeting. My dear 
 companion too found it necessary for him to return home, 
 
 On account of his own ill health and affairs at home, and I 
 could not think of going on alone. I had also e;<><>d 
 rea>on to acknowledge the L r, ><»d hand of the Lord herein, 
 
 as well as in previously leading us about and instructing 
 
 us, from dav to da v. in the way v. herein He would have 
 us to go; po that I hope no harm was done to that good 
 and glorious cau<e, which we really had at heart, however 
 we may have been looked upon by those who judge Only 
 
 according to man's judgment. Although conscious of 
 many weaknesses and shortcomings, yet the retrospect of 
 our little, though in many respects painful embassy, has 
 afforded a degree of solid satisfaction and peaceful quiet- 
 ness, perhaps greater than I had ever known before. Yet 
 I think I have never experienced greater poverty, or more 
 humbling baptisms, than at times since my return. . 
 
 And if thou shouldst feel any degree of 
 satisfaction with my account of the manner in which I 
 treated my committee, who certainly were not the most 
 reasonable beings that I have seen, even in my short day, 
 I would like to know it : neither would it be uninteresting 
 to me to know, if it were proper, who it was that called 
 the matter up'." But I can leave this, with the rest, to 
 thy better judgment, and remain thy sincere and affec- 
 tionate friend, 
 
 Thomas B. Gould. 
 
 To Mary V. Doudxa. 
 
 Newport, Rhode Island, 1st mo., 8th, 1855. 
 My deaii Friend, Mary V. Doudxa : 
 
 Thy truly acceptable and deeply interesting letter, of 
 the second of eleventh month, was duly received ; and I 
 
196 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1844. 
 
 did consider vety kind thy writing to me, and was parti" 
 cularly glad thou gavesl me a copy of thy dear brother 
 Caleb Gregg's entire letter, I have felt near sympathy 
 with him, in his very close trials; and well I may. for he 
 
 was treated by the Gurneyites in [owa very much in the 
 same way that I was myself in New England; neither do 
 
 I suppose that latitude and longitude make much differ- 
 ence in the fruits and practices that proceed from the 
 
 same >]>irit 
 
 A- there was so much said in Ohio about the matter of 
 my disownment by the separatists, and as they continue 
 
 to render me so notorious by repeatedly publishing my 
 name in print as a disowned person, cVc, I feci inclined to 
 tell thee a, little of the manner in which it was effected, and 
 let thee judge for thyself of the similarity of the proceed- 
 ings with those in thy brother's case: and if thou thinkest 
 it would he of any service, or afford the least encourage- 
 ment to him, thou niayst send it, or a copy of it, to him, 
 with the assurance of my near sympathy and true love in 
 the fellowship of Buffering for the cause sake. Truly he 
 is seldom out of my mind, although personally unknown; 
 and I do sincerely and earnestly desire, that he and the 
 dear Friends who have stood by him hitherto, may be en- 
 abled to stand and maintain the ground they have taken, 
 and be preserved from making any unnecessary conces- 
 sions to the Gurneyite power, or any compromises with it ! 
 . . . . Indiana Yearly Meeting was not only previously 
 and entirely governed by a wholly arbitrary power, but 
 has since fully identified itself with the separatists in 
 Ohio! 
 
 Hut I will proceed to the account of my own case; and 
 in the first place I will say, that from the time I openly 
 manifested uneasiness with the unsound doctrines of J. J. 
 Q-urney, when he first came to this yearly meeting in 1838, 
 his partisans gave out that I ought to be disowned for it, 
 and sought secretly to prepare the way for it. and to have 
 me treated with by the overseers. Bui it so happened 
 
 that the overseers [at that time] of Newport Preparative 
 Meeting, to which 1 belonged, had unity with me in my 
 testimony against J. el. G., and would not do the bidding 
 
1 - 18. ] THOMAS B. GOULD. 197 
 
 the clerk of the monthly meeting, who was b Btrong 
 Gurnevite and a member of the yearly meeting's com- 
 mittee, or take their advice to call in the aid of the over- 
 >f Portsmouth Preparative, who were both Gurney- 
 itea ; and bo the clerk of the monthly meeting, wh< 
 name was D. T>., no doubt under the advice, or with the 
 concurrence of the yearly meeting's committee (who were 
 all Gurneyites to a main, set himself to wort to have the 
 
 srseers of Newport removed, and to gel himself and 
 
 another man who would do their bidding, appointed in the 
 
 place of the old overseers. But it took them several years 
 
 to accomplish this their purpose, for Rhode Island Monthly 
 
 Meeting at that time, according to the admission or decla- 
 ration of the clerk, was about equally divided on the sub- 
 ject : and not only so, but in the mean time they took up 
 John Wilbur's case, which kept them very busy for a long 
 time, furnishing them full employment; and during this 
 time also I asked for a certificate to proceed in marriage, 
 which by our discipline tied their hands for a while; and 
 after we were married, they tried for a while to see what 
 effect they could have upon me, by changing their tactics, 
 and showing much attention to my wife, in order as I sup- 
 pose to gain her over to them. But finding her immovable, 
 and having succeeded in removing the old overseers, and 
 getting David Buffum, and Jethro F. Mitchell, appointed 
 as such, and also in disposing of John Wilbur's case, and as 
 they thought getting rid of him, they proceeded to lay a dear 
 friend of mine, a member of this particular meeting, under 
 dealing, upon a charge of unbecoming behavior in meet- 
 ing; which being interpreted, was declared to be a want of 
 unity with J. J. Gurney and Moses H. Beede, who was 
 then a member of this meeting also. This was in 1842 
 and 1843, and from 1838 until this time, I had never, nor 
 in the course of my whole life, been so much as admonished 
 respecting any misdemeanor by any member, either offi- 
 cially or otherwise. Still, in an underhand way, and 
 behind my back, D. B., and all the Gurneyites great and 
 small, had been doing and saying everything in their power 
 to lessen my influence and destroy my religious character; 
 declaring, wherever and whenever they thought it would 
 
 17* 
 
108 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1848. 
 
 do, that I ought to be disowned; that the thing they most 
 wished was to bave toe disowned, but that they did not 
 how to get hold of me, &c. So thai in laving my 
 friend, T. P. N., under dealing, I doubted not they ex- 
 pected, through my advocacy of his o;t>e. to get hold of 
 
 me: and accordingly, soon after he was disowned^ I was 
 called on one day by Edward Wing and A -a Sherman, 
 overseers of Portsmouth Preparative Meeting, a branch of 
 R. I. Monthly Meeting. . . . [See letter to V. W.] 
 
 Very Boon after this assurance that nothing but obedi- 
 ence and harmonizing with that party, stood in the way 
 of my promotion to great honor, I received an official visit 
 from David Buffum and Jcthro P. Mitchell, the [new] 
 overseers of Newport, in good earnest. They would not 
 Bpecify what they had against me, except in the general 
 declaration that " I was out of unity with the body ;" 
 neither did they make any effort in any way for my resto- 
 ration : but David Buffum, who was the chief speaker, 
 treated me in a very haughty and imperious manner, say- 
 ing that they intended to carry a complaint against me to 
 the next preparative meeting. He said bo repeatedly, in 
 great heat. L asked him what sort of a complaint they 
 meant to carry ; but he would not tell me. saying it was 
 sufficient for them to know ! I then asked, how I could 
 be expected to answer to an unknown charge, or how they 
 could know that 1 was unable to disprove it, or show it to 
 be groundless \ They said, or rather D. B. said, that 
 they knew well enough, and so did I. I pressed my right 
 to Bee and know distinctly what was charged against me, 
 before they carried a complaint to the preparative meet- 
 ing. They would not, while together, give me any assu- 
 rance that they would let me see it : but I). B. finally 
 Bald, that they would not say positively that they would 
 carry one to the next meeting, but that it was probable 
 they should do so ; and so they left. But J. F. M., who 
 was the more moderate of the two. and the mere tool of 
 the Other, came back alone, and told me that he would 
 try to let me know, before the preparative meeting, 
 whether they would carry a complaint to it, and also to 
 In m." see it [See letter to Y. W., 
 
I84i Til' !.I». 
 
 ccounl of J, \ : . M. > visits alone. Speaking of 
 one of these, after defending himself from the charge of 
 ihing to promote a separation, he on as follows] : 
 
 I lc said he did not doubt my sincerity, or that I belies ed 
 it was my duty to do as 1 had done ; but that I ought to 
 submit to the judgment and take the advice of my friends. 
 1 asked him ii Buch could be supposed to be my friends, 
 who had been seeking underhandedly, for five years, to 
 destroy my religious character, and to deprive me of my 
 right as a member of the Society, and saying whenever 
 and wherever they thought it would bear, that the thing 
 they most desired was to have me disowned ; and yet had 
 never given me any advice upon the subject, all the time 
 they had manifested such uneasiness with me behind my 
 back! Was this friendly ? Could such as these be my 
 friends '.' What would 1 gain, save the loss of my own 
 peace of mind, by condemning, according to his own ac- 
 knowledgment, a conscientious and consistent course, for 
 the sake of pleasing or satisfying such as himself had also 
 acknowledged had neither acted conscientiously nor con- 
 sistently ; and such, too, as had certainly given their sup- 
 port and countenance to the introduction and promulga- 
 tion of unsound doctrines and wrong practices? Why, 
 he said, that I ought to pin my faith upon their sleeve, 
 that he did so himself; that he knew there were many 
 wrong things in the Society, there always had been ; but 
 that if the members of the yearly meeting's committee, 
 such men as Rowland Green, John Meader, and others 
 whom he named, were to advise him to do what he knew 
 to be wrong, he would do it ! and let them take the re- 
 sponsibility ! But I let him know, that my faith in the 
 power of any man, or body of men, to release me from re- 
 sponsibility and accountability for my own conduct, was 
 not near so elastic or so blind as his appeared to be. And 
 a great deal more of this sort passed between him and me, 
 and the committee which was afterwards appointed to treat 
 
 with me also [See letter to Y. W., for an account of 
 
 the case being brought before the monthly meeting.] . . . 
 
 Towards evening of the day on 
 
 which their monthly meeting was held, I was standing in 
 
200 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1844. 
 
 the door of my father's house, which opened on the street, 
 as the mail-stage passed by into the town. In the stage 
 was a man, who, I afterwards learned, had been that day 
 appointed one of the committee to treat with me : and 
 upon seeing me stand there, he threw up his hands, and 
 cut up strange antics, calling out loudly, and apparently 
 speaking to me, though I could not hear what he said as 
 he rattled by in the stage, which was full of people, not 
 members ; but I understood by his actions that he was 
 very much pleased ! — and I told my wife that I had no 
 doubt they had at length accomplished the design they 
 had long entertained, of placing my name as an offender 
 on the minutes of the monthly meeting. And sure 
 enough, it was not long before this man came to my 
 house, and said, the committee wished to have an oppor- 
 tunity with me that morning ; which I consented to grant 
 them ; and he with the other two men, and two women, 
 
 accordingly came [See letter to Y. AY. 
 
 for the details of the committee's visits.] 
 
 They had many opportunities with me dur- 
 ing a period of* several months that they kept my case 
 along. In this time I was very ill indeed, and they did 
 not hesitate to pursue me when I was too sick to see any 
 company, and my life was despaired of by my friends and 
 my physician. Some of their offers to visit me during 
 this period my wife rejected, without my knowledge, for 
 prudential reasons. But when I knew of their wish to see 
 me, I always consented to it, as long as they pleased, 
 after the first interview. Sometimes I said very little to 
 them, not feeling raised up to do so, or, in other words, 
 qualified for it. Then they would report to the monthly 
 meeting, as I was told, that the young man was very much 
 " meliorated," that bis illness had been of service to him, 
 and that they were in hopes he would make an acknow- 
 ledgment! And so they had my case depending from 
 month to month, and did not make a minute against me 
 until after the separation had occurred in Swanzey -Monthly 
 Meeting, in Rhode Island Quarterly Meeting, and also in 
 Rhode [sland Monthly Meeting ; which, as sustained by 
 Friends, dismissed my case from the minutes, and restored 
 
L] THOMAS i i.l>. 
 
 me to my - and prn i member in unity 
 
 an adjournment of the monthly meeting. hold that 
 The Bepai on the same day, pretended t<> disown 
 
 from their meeting, although I had never been :i meml 
 
 of it 
 
 TnoMAfl l>. Gould. 
 
 To John Wilbur. 
 
 Ni:w PORT, 1st nm., Ttli. 1 - 1 I. 
 My DEAR FRIBND : 
 
 1 really hope that our correspondence may 
 
 no! cease, though it' it BhoulcL, 1 trust we shall continue to be 
 
 epistles written in each other's hearts ; and then it mat- 
 ters little how things arc as to the outward: for with the 
 hidden fellowship and the inward life, outward Bigns bear 
 Mnall comparison, except as they proceed from and are 
 produced by it; when indeed they are truly pleasant, and 
 often prove "like apples of gold in pictures of silver." 
 
 We have heard with much concern of the illness of thy 
 dear wife, and feel anxious to hear from thee more par- 
 ticularly of her state. Really it does seem as if we 
 were likely to be tried on all hands ; those who are dear 
 to us, and to whom Ave have been accustomed to look for 
 sympathy, and who have often ministered to our necessi- 
 ties, and also to our encouragement, are either removed or 
 being taken from us, while the combat thickens, and the 
 strife increases. But He, whose the cause is. and for whom 
 stand in jeopardy every hour, knoweth best what is 
 : for us, and will doubtless cause all things to work 
 together for our good, as our reliance is unreservedly 
 placed upon Him 
 
 . . . The difficulties in the Society have been so noised 
 about in the town, and have produced such an excitement 
 therein, that we have much work with the townspeople, 
 who stop us at the corners of the streets, to inquire into 
 the cause of it. When so inquired of, I have frequently 
 thought fit to answer these sober inquiries, although 1 havt 
 not yet pursued the plan of our adversaries, to go round 
 and drum people up, and hunt them down, in order to 
 
202 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1844. 
 
 make interest with them and to proselyte them ; neverthe- 
 less I can bo1 trust and believe that the witness for truth 
 in the hearts of some of these, who are tumid as in the 
 highways and hedges, ha* etimes been reached, and 
 that they have been thereby convinced, "that He who is 
 with as is more than is with them," notwithstanding all 
 their lond boasting. A Baptist minister here lately took 
 
 an opportunity With father, and afterwards with me, to 
 
 express his sympathy with as. He told me that he very 
 much desired to hit upon Borne plan of reconciliation be- 
 tween the parties, and that those who did remain upon the 
 ancient foundation of true Quakerism should he relieved 
 from their sufferings, and restored to their rights and pri- 
 vileges, and the others should forbear their tyranny and 
 renounce their errors, that so we might he spared the 
 reproach of an open Bchism. He thought a fair investi- 
 gation, a reference to impartial arbiters, whose decision 
 by mutual agreement should be binding, — and if such 
 could not he found in the Society, to put it out to godly 
 men of other persuasion- — would he useful; and asked me 
 if I was willing he should propose it to the other party, 
 with whom he is acquainted, and to whom, lie said, he had 
 Btrongly recommended moderation! I could not help 
 smiling at this, and told him I was quite -willing he should 
 make the proposition, provided he did it on his own re- 
 sponsibility : but that it would he in vain, that the breach 
 could not be BO healed, neither would such a measure be in 
 accordance with our principles; that avc were quite willing 
 to Buffer in this cause whatever they might he permitted 
 to inflict, although it should extend to excommunication 
 itself (for a time) from a Society which we dearly loved; 
 relying upon Him, whose the cause is, for our final deliv- 
 erance and justification, which, in His time, we were fully 
 persuaded, He would show, &c. To which he emphatically 
 replied, k * You have not come to that experience but 
 
 through deep suffering; they do not feel SO ! ' I thought 
 there Was BOme life in this answer. " It really did me 
 good to hear it," as John Roberts said of the old Bishop. 
 
 What a pity it is, these goodly people keep up such a 
 noise and bustle, as to be much strangers to the true 
 
L844.] Til l.h. 
 
 - William Penn -aid. to the "mystery of the 
 
 j Bilen rod how much more passing Btrange, that 
 
 do not kiKNN , thai [srael doth riot coAside 
 
 1 sometimes think, yea, often, thai the former, who, in 
 
 in with the latter, may not perhaps improperly 
 
 be railed "publicans," will enter the kingdom, will under- 
 
 ,(1 the myst( fore them! For the Lord can call 
 
 (and will He not call?) those that arc not, as those 
 
 that arc 
 
 T. B. (in, ld. 
 
 In writing to Ethan Foster, under date of 1st mo. 15th, 
 1844, 1 : — 
 
 In the immediate prospect before me, of being 
 deprived <»f my rights ami privileges in a Society which I 
 
 dearly love, which are as precious a- ever in the general, 
 however they may be viewed in this particular section of 
 it. — I can Bay, without boasting, that I feci much quietness 
 ami peace, am ready to count it all joy, and to be thankful 
 
 that I am permitted to suffer in this cause, although it 
 should extend to the final loss of all, which, as to the out- 
 ward connection with the Society, I hold most dear. 
 
 Farewell. 
 
 From T. B. G. to Joseph Kite. 
 
 Newport, 2d mo. 11th, 1844. 
 
 My dbab Friend, Joseph Kite: 
 
 It is now a long time since I received a very acceptable 
 communication from thee ; and although I have often — 
 yea, very often — thought of thee and it, in the interim, 
 yet one thing or another has hitherto prevented me from 
 giving thee this kind of assurance of my love and affec- 
 tionate remembrance. But of latter time I have thought 
 more particularly of addressing thee : and although it may 
 l»e only afl the voice of " one born out of due time," or as 
 the communication of the disciples formerly, when they 
 " walked by the way and were sad," yet I trust it may not 
 be wholly unacceptable to thee, who, I doubt not, art 
 
204 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1844. 
 
 often engaged in t lie consideration of those things yhich 
 have happened in Jerusalem, being thyself no stranger to 
 the afflictions of Joseph in this day of sore bondage, as in 
 the lan<l of Egypt. But, my endeared friend, whatever 
 may be the trials and provings of our faith and patience, 
 it is an unspeakable consolation to feel and know the arm 
 of the Lord to be underneath for our support ; and that 
 He will not suffer as to be tried beyond what He will ena- 
 ble us to endure, as the eye of the mind is kept Bingly upon 
 Him ; and that "there is none like unto the God of Je- 
 shurun, who rideth upon the heavens in thy help, and in 
 JIi> excellency on the sky. The eternal God is thy refuge, 
 and underneath are the everlasting arms." I may acknow- 
 ledge that I was never so established and confirmed in 
 these truths as in times of sore conflict, when all other 
 help seemed to fail, and the poor mind was utterly shaken 
 ami broken off from reliance on any other power. Then 
 it is that the arm and power of the Lord is revealed, as in 
 days of old, as in the land of Egypt, and in the field of 
 Zoan. And truly, much occasion indeed have some of the 
 poorest and hindmost of the flock and family, to magnify 
 and adore the right arm and power of the Lord, who has 
 enabled them to say, "I am exceedingly joyful in all my 
 tribulations :" for as these have abounded, the consolations 
 of the Gospel have also abounded, to His praise who alone 
 is worthy and transcendcntly glorious in holiness, fearful 
 in praises, doing wonders. 
 
 This case of is an aggravated one. But it is a 
 
 Co 
 
 consolation to us, as his crosses have increased, to see him 
 bow submissively to the yoke; he having, in accordance 
 with the experience of the faithful in all ages, found the 
 Power under the cross; and we cannot doubt, if he con- 
 tinues faithful, that he will find the crown, beyond it. 
 But this warfare against spiritual wickedness in high plac 
 is indeed grievous, and waxes hotter and hotter. Many 
 there are who have fallen and are falling, both on the 
 right hand and on the left : so that, amid the general 
 desolation and gloom, it requires no small degree of faith 
 to believe, without doubting, the ancient declaration, v * The 
 destruction shall not come nigh thee." Nevertheless, I 
 
1844.] tii< u>. 
 
 hiw mb\ bul the Lamb and His 
 
 faithful followers will have tl ry. . . . 
 
 OOIlBider it of much importance wh:it may !.«•- 
 
 rf me, — thai is^ of much importance to other people, — 
 
 ; 1 realty feel lerable delicacy in speaking of it a1 
 
 all: nevertheless, in respect of the kind interest which 
 
 thou hast been pleased to manifest in me, all unworthy of 
 
 it as I feci, 1 will venture just to say, that .-ill the male 
 
 of this monthly meeting have been engaged in 
 
 laboring with me occasionally, for several mouths pa 
 
 and as they are all members either of the (Quarterly or 
 
 :rlv meeting's committee, theV have sometimes pro- 
 
 to labor in one of these capacities, and sometimes 
 
 in all three, and that too in the same interview. 
 
 One of them, in a subsequent interview, freely declared 
 that I had been exemplary and consistent with my profes- 
 sion, from my childhood up to. this time; hut he said that 
 
 they considered, that I had great influence over others, 
 
 and that the good of the body required my disownment. 
 notwithstanding; for I exercised that influence of which 
 he had spoken, to draw Friends away from the body, and 
 to oppose them in their prominent measures; I told him 
 he was entirely mistaken with regard to mv having ex- 
 erted any influence which I might possess, adversely to the 
 I and unity of the body; that, on the contrary, I had 
 krted it, sis I felt hound to do, to prevent a breach of 
 unity, by taking a firm stand against the introduction of 
 unsound doctrines into the Society, which had ever been 
 the source of schisms in the Church. He said, if I would 
 only acknowledge my error in opposing that certificate 
 [the returning certificate for Joseph John Gurney, in New- 
 England Yearly Meeting] and other measures in the 
 yearly and quarterly meetings, and promise not to op- 
 pose them in future, they would not molest me further, 
 and a very little would do. But I told him I could not do 
 any such thing; and that while I valued my birthright 
 very highly. — as, by his admission, my whole course 
 through life had given evidence, — I would sooner be de- 
 prived of it than do violence to the testimony of the Spirit 
 in mv conscience, which bore witness against those doc- 
 
 18 
 
200 LIKE AND LETTERS OF [1844. 
 
 tribes, and the "prominent measures' ' which had been 
 taken in consequence of their introduction and adoption. 
 
 They have sometimes appeared quite troubled in their 
 own minds during these interviews, and in Bome measure 
 to feel the Truth. And for their Bakes it is, that 
 
 1 am made willing to inert them, wherever and whenever 
 they choose to require it: although, as I have not Bpared 
 to tell them, I do not consider that they have any right to 
 treat me as an offender, and of this they themselves seem 
 
 to be sensible 
 
 With unfeigned love to thee and thine. 
 
 I am thy affectionate friend, 
 
 Thomas B. Gould. 
 
 To John Wilbur. 
 
 Newport, 2.1 mo., 29th, 18 i l. 
 My dear Friend : 
 
 I have been greatly disappointed, inasmuch as I have 
 not heard a word from thee, or from my dear friends at 
 Westerly, since the quarterly meeting. I have felt no 
 little embarrassment and mortification in respect of my 
 failing to reach Providence myself, after having written to 
 C. Perry for the purpose, among some others, of encou- 
 raging him to be faithful in that particular. But I was 
 really not a little sick, when the time came, and equally 
 disappointed; for after all, in no ordinary degree, I did 
 desire to u keep that passover;" albeit I knew that bonds 
 and afflictions awaited me there, with a double portion of 
 bitter herbs. But then the love of truth and Friends 
 sometimes, through favor, casteth out fear, and maketli 
 willing, yea, and more than willing, to suffer both for it 
 and them. I know not why it is so (whether from our 
 isolated, solitary condition, or otherwise), but I certainly 
 never did experience so much of an enlargement of heart, 
 and of the abounding of true and unfeigned love towards 
 the whole household of faith, and to you, my dear friends, 
 in particular, as of latter time. Truly this is what makes 
 me so anxious to hear from you, as 1 cannot Bee you, 
 
 which is more desirable, and, were it practicable on my part, 
 
!."] K>UU>. 
 
 uoul be reali Bu1 prisoners must wait, if it 
 ith pal th- 
 
 
 Having bu neighborhood, I lately spent a 
 
 night with our dear friends, Setb and Mary Davis* 1 
 
 ad them more feeble in health than I had ever before 
 :h still about. They are, as might have 
 
 :i expected, greatly bowed down under a sense of their 
 and the Church's great loss, in the removal of dear James 
 Tucker. I passed Vf. (J. s.*> door twice, and very much 
 wished to have called there, but could not : and it was well 
 1 did not, for 1 broke down in Hilbourn Woods, about 
 halfway from the head of Westport to the bridge, which 
 made me very late home, and a very cold tedious time I 
 had W. S. has closed up his business there, and 
 
 the prospect is that he will leave this yearly meeting, 
 whicn 1 very much regret, and sincerely hope he will i 
 himself suffer loss by it. Ah, it is a great point to know 
 
 where our lot is cast, and to keep in it. I am more and 
 more persuaded that it' Ave. who are more immediately 
 under bondage, suffering, and reproach, are but favored to 
 keep the faith, and to abide in the patience, we shall 
 and in our lot at the end of the days." Still, it is 
 lifficult to refrain from saying, the Lord hasten it in his 
 
 *. 
 
 time ! 
 
 Jethro Mitchell has had another opportunity with me, of 
 at two hours and a half, though he denied its being 
 official : and I have also submitted to 's falla- 
 cious and unfruitful labors. She did try hard to convince 
 me how dearly they all loved me, and how highly they 
 
 med me. desiring my progress in my calling, cVc. : which 
 her solemn asseverations, I was enabled to meet with direct 
 evidence to the contrary. Some of the facts and circum- 
 3 thus adduced, she, as the shortest, easiest method, 
 freely admitted were very improper in those who acted 
 them ; hut still, she said their love and good will to me re- 
 mained unchanged through all ! She told me, I could not 
 think how much the prospect of my disownment troubled 
 her. she could not sleep at nights in consequence of it, 
 could not bear to think of it, &c. To this I responded. 
 
1 111" AM) LSTTBA8 OF [1844. 
 
 that T neither doubted it troubled her, nor marvelled at it ; 
 and that I believed it would trouble her n. ind be 
 
 heavier and bard< r For hei ar, if it did not, with other 
 
 things, prove more than Bhe could bear. She said she 
 wished the prospect was as hard to me as it was to her. 
 I told her I would not have her think me insensible of the 
 hardship and injustice of being deprived of my birthright 
 without a cause ; which I was not disposed to Bell for a 
 mess of pottage, nor at liberty to exchange, for another, the 
 inheritance 01 my forefathers. But as! had labored after 
 patience and resignation to whatever they might be per- 
 mitted to do with me, 1 had found that which rendered 
 hard things easy and bitter things sweet. This silenced 
 her on this point, and she really seemed to feel it. 
 
 But the next day after I saw , being the day 
 
 before the last preparative meeting, they hatched up 
 complaint : and Jethro having promised me a sight of it, 
 
 hut being ashamed to come with it himself, sent it by. F. C; 
 
 > • 
 
 hut with a -trie! charge not to give or allow me to take a 
 copy; though lie informed me that it was to he presented 
 the next day [which was not done], and expressed much 
 
 Surprise at the quietness and peace which I evinced on the 
 
 occasion ; saying that he thought, if they were all in as 
 good a frame of mind, these things might be easily settled ; 
 and if the overseerd could see me as he saw me. and hear 
 what he had heard, he thought they would not he disposed 
 to carry this thing any further. But I told him they had 
 n me under no other circumstances, neither had I mani- 
 fested any different feelings; that I could truly say I felt 
 no hardness towards any of them, nothing like revenge or 
 retaliation, although they were disposed to persecute me 
 and Others to the xi^ry extent of their power, and were 
 not therefore to be blamed for not going further; hut on 
 
 the contrary 1 really pitied them and deplored their con- 
 dition (especially I). B.V). belifeving they could do no 
 
 other, in the spirit they were in; ami that they were Hike 
 a troubled sea. which could not rest, but whose waters 
 
 cast up mire and dirt" continually 
 
 T. 1]. Gould. 
 
1844.] OM 18 ' LD. 
 
 Fh u.\ Comfort to Thomas I». Gould. 
 
 : month, 1 1. 
 
 m; Friend : 
 
 \\\ mind is almost continually with you in your afflic 
 te, but 1 do not know what I can do more than to sym- 
 hize with you, which I think I can feelingly, having 
 jsed through a similar state of thin;.: When we arc 
 
 ply engaged for the welfare of the Society and its 
 members, then to be accounted as enemies to the truth, 
 and evil-doers, dealt with and disowned from Society as 
 h by those whom we have in time past taken Bweet 
 counsel with — very close are the conflicts and trials of 
 ':. especially when we see them trampling the order and 
 bimonies of truth under their feet. Oh! this requires 
 much patience, and deep indwelling upon the Bure founda- 
 l, — l>nt as this travail is kept to, and this ground niain- 
 ied, clear I am that all things, that in Infinite Wisdom 
 may he permitted or ordered to come upon US, will work 
 together for good, not only for us, but for the cause of 
 our dear Lord and .Master; for lie can control the destroyer 
 and his evil designs, and turn them to His own glory, and 
 bring a heavenly blessing upon us; for He worketh some- 
 times by ways as much higher than ours as the heavens 
 above the earth. This my soul knoweth right well, for 
 He did open a way for my deliverance when or where I 
 saw no way. So it will be with thee, and with all the rest 
 of the Lord's faithful servants, as there is a keeping the 
 word of his patience; for lie will keep them in the hour 
 of temptation, and glorious will be their crown of reward; 
 while the enemies of truth will fret and weary themselves 
 and shall not prevail, but shall howl for very anguish of 
 soid ; which at times is the case with some of those who 
 <t from US, bv the same outgoing: spirit that is with you. 
 It is the same spirit, though under a different covering, for 
 the fruit that it brings forth is the very same. Oh ! 1 saw 
 it as clear as ever I saw the sun at noonday, those that are 
 
 • Ezra Comfort had suffered much persecution from the Hicksites, 
 
 and been disowned by them in the early appearance of that schism. 
 
 18* 
 
210 LI] - LBTTEltfl OF [1844. 
 
 led by it will fall, a did with us, because they ha 
 
 do foundation. It is out grand enemy's delight, after lie 
 lias exalted for a time, then g< down, — thus great and 
 
 grievous will be their fall ! 
 
 I have often remembered our Saviour*.- testimony con- 
 certing the inhabitants of Jerusttletn: "Oh! that thou 
 
 hadst known, in this thy day. the things that belong to 
 
 thy pence, hut now they are hid frdlU thine ej This 
 
 being the such call evil good, and L r <><>d evil. It i- 
 
 no marvel then that they ]>er>eeute their Divine Ma-ter 
 and His servants; nay. they cannot do otherwise hut 
 
 on waxing worse and wotee, I mourn tor them, for they 
 
 are in that state (the leaders of them) that the Apostle 
 
 described, thai have tasted and bandied of the good Word 
 
 of life, hut have "fallen away." 
 
 I have heard they are about disowning thee. Heed it 
 not, — keep near thy Divine Master, and He will enable 
 
 thee to rejoice tha! thou art Worthy to suffer for His name's 
 
 Bake; and He will enable thee to fill up thy measure of 
 His sufferings which are left behind, for the body's sake. 
 which is Hi- Church. If they numbered Him among the 
 
 transgressors, think it not strange if we are accounted 
 
 such. After the v;<>'>d Spirit departed from Saul because 
 of transgressions, then it was that an evil spirit troubled 
 him, and he sought to slay righteous David because his 
 ways were upright, but he knew his were evil, and in his 
 rage, Cain-like, slew the priests of the Most High without 
 a cause, and in his jealousy and fury, hunted David to 
 take his life, as a partridge is hunted in the mountains, 
 even after he was convinced he had sinned and done 
 wickedly. Ah! 1 have often thought of David's appeal 
 to Saul, since I was in your land, when I have looked at 
 the case of dear John Wilbur, and now at thine; for they 
 are endeavoring to drive you from your "inheritance in 
 the Lord." saymg unto you by their conduct. " I b», serve 
 other gods." As the end of Saul was, so will their spi- 
 ritual end be. unless they repent : but as David trusted in 
 the Lord, and kept His righteous law, lie preserved him 
 
 out of all evil, and set him on the throne, to reign over all 
 [srael in Saul's stead. Thus it maybe with you, my dear 
 
!.] THOMAS I u>. 21 1 
 
 friends. The time may comi I ve it will come, 
 
 when, instead of their disowning you without a cause, you, 
 •in,' of you, will have to disown them for tlu-ir trans- 
 ire had to do with those who went out from 
 or they were not of us. 
 1 have heard they have confirmed the judgment of the 
 monthly meeting, by the quarter, in dear John Wilbur's 
 I hope he will appeal to the yearly meeting, that 
 all the members may get to know what an arbitrary spirit 
 there is amongst you, and that all that may be unjustly 
 owned hereafter may like* ise appeal. Ii is a duty thi 
 e to the Society, and to the cause of Truth, let the re- 
 sult be what it may, and however humiliating and trying 
 it may be. 1 hope the time will come when you may 
 the way I if that outgoing spirit continues to go on i to sepa- 
 rate from them, and represent your situation to some other 
 body. There is certainly a large number in the limits of 
 your yearly meeting, who cannot unite with the course in 
 which things are carried on amongst you ; for the heavenly 
 order which was established under divine direction by our 
 early Friends, is totally laid waste in the yearly meeting, 
 well as in its subordinate branches. All is done or 
 rruled by committees, and every one that cannot unite 
 with such a course of procedure, and ventures to let his 
 dissent be known, is accounted disorderly and out of unity. 
 While this is the case — while these committees do all the 
 liness, first out of meetings, then in meetings — all con- 
 cluded on out of meetings, and these conclusions carried 
 through by the same persons in meetings, it is but a sham 
 to hold such meetings ! Such a state of things as there 
 IS in your yearly meeting, has never before been in any 
 yearly meeting since we have been a people — a body w holly 
 arbitrary, not governed by its own discipline, or its own 
 decisions — which I was a witness to when in your meet- 
 ing; but my desire is that all Friends, everywhere within 
 your limits, may undauntedly and fearlessly (except the fear 
 of the Lord, but in His fear, and in the authority which 
 He gives) stand forth, and bear a faithful testimony against 
 such an evil practice; for any one wdio has clear discern- 
 ment must see that such a course of procedure, if pursued 
 
212 LIFE AND LETTEBS OF [1844. 
 
 by that, and all other similar bodies, will ultimately de- 
 stroy the So for no association can continue without 
 order and government. Oh what a departure from Truth! 
 For Truth always leads into a blessed order and heavenly 
 government; but this outgoing Bpirit has always been a 
 wrathful, turbulent, persecuting spirit. My very soul's 
 desire is, that we who are favored to see these things, may 
 be preserved in great watchfulness and fear, that we may 
 be enabled to walk in uprightness amidst these accumu- 
 lated trials, and Bhow forth, by our meekness and humility, 
 
 that we are following our meek, patient, and suffering 
 
 Lord. 
 
 Please give my love to all our Buffering friends as oppor- 
 tunity may offer. Tell them I am almost continually with 
 
 them in spirit and in Buffering. We are not exempt from 
 trials here by the same restless spirit. I sometimes am 
 ready to fear that our trials will be very heavy ; hut 
 amidst these gloomy prospects, I am at times strength- 
 ened by a degree of living faith, that after this day of 
 shaking is passed over — for I believe the time has come, 
 
 and is coming, when not only the earth but the heavens 
 also will he shaken — that there mav not anything remain 
 in Zion, the Church of Christ, hut that which cannot he 
 shaken. Oh, saith my soul, may the Lord hasten that 
 glorious and happy day, when the mountain of his house 
 shall he established on the top of the mountains ! Then 
 there will be again a flocking unto it, as there was in days 
 that are past. 
 
 I have seen a letter written to Alice Knight by dear 
 John Wilbur. I was rencwedly comforted in hearing it 
 read, being satisfied that he, amidst all the storms and 
 
 tempests that have been permitted to beat against him, is 
 
 -till favored to keep on that sure, immovable, and eternal 
 foundation, that never can be shaken by all the combined 
 powers of darkness ; and a- he keeps on it, it will keep 
 and preserve him unto the end, and after this scene of 
 conflict is over, glorious will be his crown. And I desire 
 to be his companion unto the end. even if it may be in 
 bonds for the QospeFs sake. 1 shall always be glad to 
 receive letters from him, thee, or any of my dear suffering 
 friends that feel a freedom to write 
 
1844.] rno qould, 218 
 
 II. Gardner, and .-ill our dear Bufferi 
 thIs tin I abated from * hat h w a 
 
 m in person, bul in 1 ; and I 
 
 pe it will increase, until \n< i are bound ap ther in 
 
 that bundle of life that will never be separated. Ami 
 
 the tender feeling of love and life thai I bad in parting 
 
 in thee and thy dear companion, I trust will never 
 
 I from my memory whilst I remain in muta- 
 
 ity. 
 
 Thy affectionate friend, 
 
 K/.i;\ Comfort, 
 
 From John Wilbub to T. B. G, 
 
 Bopkwtoy, third month, 6th, 1844 
 
 Mi Friend, Thomas B. Gould : 
 
 How corn- 
 ting, confirming, and strengthening, that truly patri- 
 :hal epistle, which thon hast copied from that man of 
 1 who has freely given himself up to be a fellow-sufferer 
 with the Buffering seed in this land ! On my owfci part, I 
 feed unworthy of the sympathies and fellowship of such a 
 man ; hut more abundantly unworthy of the mercies and 
 loving-kindness of Him. who not only visits His persecuted 
 and suffering children with His own immediate manifesta- 
 tion of lli> peace-giving and life-giving presence, but also 
 is pleased to raise up and prepare eminent servants and 
 handmaidens, through an experimental partaking of the 
 ic cup of suffering, and by the constraining of His love 
 and power, willingly to place themselves side by side with 
 those who are placed as a mark for the archers, and to 
 endure their part of the reproaches which have fallen on 
 them. What shall we render ? 
 
 Well, my dear Thomas, I found other comforting things 
 on the sheet which thou sent me, besides the copy from our 
 dear Ezra Comfort. I now allude to the account of thy- 
 self being so mercifully sustained and comforted, under 
 the extreme pressure of persecution by false brethren. 
 In this Ave mutually participate, and, as I trust, at times 
 rejoice in the goodness of God, and give thanks to His 
 
214 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1844. 
 
 bless ed name, because He upholdeth and encampeth round 
 about those whom !!<■ hath put forth in defence of the 
 truth and His own exalted . May our faith- 
 
 fulness and obedience be commensurate, in some degree, 
 with the greatness of His purposes, the glory of the cause, 
 and the favors which He bestows ! My almost constant 
 prayer is, thai He who hath called us to Berve Him in 
 the endurance of tribulations for His great name's Bake, 
 will be our keeper and our preserver through all : and 
 that all may redound to His honor and to His own eter- 
 
 ■r 
 
 nal glory 
 
 J. Wilbur. 
 
 Draft of a Letter from T. B. G. to . 
 
 Newport, fourth month. 9th, Lfi 
 
 My dear and much-esteemed Friend: 
 
 It might not 
 
 have been amiss if I had written ere they laid mo under 
 dealing, feeling as I did at different times, more particu- 
 larly engaged to it. just previously to that circumstance, 
 
 which may now render this unacceptable and improper ; 
 
 and it' it should, it will only go into the scale with other 
 weights and burdens which have nearly overbalanced thy 
 poor correspondent, ami which at times he is ready to fear 
 will quite overbalance him. 
 
 I do not mean to complain, but if those who are hunt- 
 ing after my life, who are endeavoring to deprive me of 
 my inheritance in the Lord and among His people, should 
 l»e permitted so far to succeed as to change the feelings of 
 the latter t<e,vards mo. it would he grievous indeed; it 
 would he cruel and doubly hard to hear; and I freely own 
 to thee thai I dread nothing more, except the loss of life 
 itself. It Beems a very serious matter to utter it, although 
 it is strictly true, that in my extremity, 1 am BOmetimes 
 ready to say : Even if my life is given me for a prey, 
 what good shall it do me. or who shall show me any good ": 
 
 ing " Israel'" acknowledged* me not ! Ah ! my life is 
 
 bound up with my people ! I was never more deeply and 
 
 lingly Bensible of it than now. when on the very point 
 
1844.] TH0MA8 B. GOULD. 215 
 
 ted from them. < >h ! the bitter- 
 . and the cruelty of their n rath, n ho 
 would separate thai which the Lord hath joined togctl i 
 
 u indeed, at times and seasons, when it pleaseth Him 
 who is Lord of all, favored to Bee thai they cannot eff 
 
 lly and permanently do it. Xel when He hideth Him- 
 
 :. and nothing cap be Been bnl my grand enemy within, 
 and his agents and servants without, how he does multiply 
 and augment my fears in this and other respects ! For he 
 knoweth how tender I really am on this point ; and my 
 outward enemies know it too; and persuaded 1 am thai 
 they are not without hope thai Friends will cast us off, 
 they have done and are doing. 
 
 But 1 will try to re-train this gush of personal feeling, 
 though, until self be slain, it will frequently appear: and 
 perhaps thou mayst excuse it, as I do not pretend to have 
 conquered that foe; than which I often think and feel, 
 we have, or I have, few greater or more formidable to 
 overcome in this warfare. And I will venture to expr< 
 a hope that you, at your approaching solemnity, may be 
 enabled, not for the Bake of the persons who suffer here, 
 but for the cause 1 sake, for which, as I trust, they Buffer, 
 to do something, which may have a tendency to promote 
 it, or at any rate to prevent its falling into disrepute. So 
 far as we can Bee and judge, it is not gaining ground here. 
 The timid, who have hoped against hope for some time, 
 are falling back and joining the ranks of the aliens almost 
 dailv : and unless some decisive measures are taken soon, 
 things will undoubtedly get worse and worse. 
 
 I find that many very choice Friends with you, have 
 strong hope that the two appeal cases, coming before our 
 next yearly meeting, Avill produce a powerful effect therein. 
 But it does not appear probable, to those who have had 
 perhaps a better understanding of the way in which things 
 are managed here, than they could well have, unless they 
 had been eye-witnesses from the beginning, and so had 
 
 in the "material," as one Friend said, of which this 
 
 irly meeting is composed. Many who have perhaps 
 some sincerity left, are so terror-stricken, that it would 
 seem to require almost if not quite a miracle, to enable 
 
216 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1844*. 
 
 them to rise above it, and miracles are not expected in 
 
 
 My dear Martha And myself have, within a few days, 
 returned from a visit to our mutually dear friend, John 
 Wilbur. We spent about a week in Eopkinton and \Y 
 terly, to our great faction ; and Friends there are 
 
 aerally well. Dear J. Wilbur docs not appear to ha 
 contracted even the smell of fire upofl his garments; 
 
 though SO long in the furnace heated seven times hotter 
 than it was Wont to be heated. I thought I never saw 
 
 him clothed with so much brightness before. In sitting 
 with him, an expression of William Penn's concerning 
 George Fox I think, was much in my mind: "That his 
 very presence expressed a religions awe.'" And his gen- 
 tleness, condescension, meekness, and humility, as well as 
 his patience under suffering, and resignation to it, which 
 IS not in this day perhaps often exceeded, if it be equalled, 
 are truly engaging, very instructive, and encouraging to 
 
 those who hate an eye open to see through the clouds of 
 dust which have been raised against him. His precious 
 
 wife has been quite ill this spring, but is now much better 
 in health. Jlis and her friends have been apprehensive, I 
 believe, that he would be bereaved of his true help-meet, 
 whose real worth is best known by those who are m 
 intimately acquainted with her 
 
 From T. B. G. to Ezra Comfort. 
 
 Newport, 14th of 4th month, 1844. 
 My endeared aged Friend, Ezra Comfort; 
 
 Twice, since 1 received thy very kind and acceptable 
 
 letter, 1 have commenced writing to thee, and in both in- 
 stances, covered no inconsiderable portion of my sheets ; 
 hut meeting with unexpected hindrances in completing 
 what I wisheel to say, they have been laid aside, like the 
 writer, as useless and out of date. I now merely mention 
 
 it to let thee Bee that 1 have not heen unmindful of thv 
 
 < 
 
 kindness and paternal care, of which, indeed, I feel 
 wholly unworthy, and also of addressing thee in this way. 
 
 Neither do I seem to have anything to say now, which can 
 
1844.] iflOM is i i.i'. 217 
 
 g : and yet it does app< 
 due i«» th 
 .... [t is ii"^ more than a v ncc my dea r 
 
 and self returned from a visit to dear J. Wilbur and some 
 oth( our friends in Hopkinton and Westerly. We 
 
 found them generally well in all respects; and 1 beli< 
 
 it was to our mutual satisfaction. It was trulv in 
 
 » 
 
 ad edifying to be with J. W., and to behold his 
 
 meekness and humility, patience under suffering, and 
 
 ation to it. The savor of life is to be fell in bis 
 
 apany; and the expressions of David seem verified in 
 him, " They thai be planted in the house of the Lord 
 shall flourish in the courts of our God; they shall still 
 bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fal and fiour- 
 ishii For notwithstanding he hath refused the portion 
 
 of the king's meat, and the polluted wine also, yet he hath 
 thriven upon the pulse and water, yea, upon the bread of 
 adversity and the water of affliction. 
 
 My mind is much with you, in this the time of your 
 yearly meeting, not without some feeling like the pro- 
 phet, when he said, "0 Judah! keep thy solemn feasts, 
 perform thy vows:" believing also, that "in Judah 
 God is known, that His name is great in Israel, that His 
 habitation is in Jacob, and His dwelling-place in Zion." 
 And in the strength of Him who reigneth King in the 
 midst <>i' her. may you stand and abide; clearly manifi 
 ing to her and your enemies, that you "have a strong 
 city," and that " salvation is appointed for walls and bul- 
 warks.'" And so, a banner being given you because of 
 the truth, you will appear terrible unto them, and they 
 will flee before you as the chaff is driven by the wind from 
 the threshing-floor. But lest I should exceed my bounds, 
 I will forbear. Nevertheless my cup seems full; and is it 
 strange that we should fix our eyes steadfastly upon you, 
 and expect somewhat of you ? 
 
 I have thought, if you could only address an epistle to 
 this yearly meeting, clearly pointing out the ground and 
 cause of things with us, and remonstrating against th 
 things, that great benefit would result from it, if it 
 were written in the power and authority of that Spirit 
 
 19 
 

 218 LIFE AM) LETTERS OF [1844. 
 
 which is as a Bword; and which is not only "a discerner 
 of the thoughts and intents of the heart," but is able to 
 make a separation between thai which is of the Lord, and 
 that which is not of Him. For these people, however 
 they may and do intrench themselves in their strong* 
 holds, are exceeding Bore, and very jealous <>f their 
 honor, as they esteem it. They despise correction, and 
 will not bear reproof; both of which, as the regular cor- 
 respondents of this yearlj meeting, you have a right to 
 give : and arc you not bound, if the original object of a 
 correspondence between different yearly meetings is carried 
 out, to give it ? It doc- seem as it' there was never more 
 necessity for the use of great plainness of speech. Great 
 would l>c the relief to those who are suffering here, and ap- 
 parently without a remedy, as it respects the members) of 
 this yearly meeting. For although I perceive that several 
 valuable Friends amount you have strong hope that those 
 with us. who do not unite with the proceedings of our ad- 
 versaries, will, when they ( L r et to be more fully informed, 
 rise it]* and rebel against them, and put them down; yet 
 those who have had perhaps a better opportunity of judg- 
 ing, do not see any reasonable ground for such a hope, 
 unless there Bhould he some very efficient help from abroad. 
 1 believe it would be as easy for the Ethiopian to change 
 his >kin. as for the class of Friends referred to to rise 
 above the fear of man. and the terror by which they are 
 Stricken down. Indeed, there seems to be, even among 
 those of whom we had hoped better things, an increasing 
 disposition to get over, swallow down, and reconcile, or 
 rather, to be reconciled to, things which they at least have 
 
 known to be wrong, and in direct violation of the truth. 
 
 And is there not great reason to fear that such will remain 
 servants forever? Oh, this desire for ease, together with 
 
 the fear of man. is a snare into which many, very many, 
 have {'alien, and arc falling — for the number is apparently 
 increasing! And our adversaries are very busy, throwing 
 
 dust continually into their eyes, and heaping reproaches 
 upon us. X<> Stone is left unturned by tliein: their en- 
 gines are constantly at work, both day and night; yea, 
 I and land are encompassed to make one proselyte. 
 
1844.] MOM L8 B. QOUUfc 219 
 
 While, on our part, nothing is done, save what may be 
 accomplished by an endeavor to Buffer patiently ; For, com- 
 paratively speaking, ire open not our mouths, but rather 
 lie in Backeloth and ashes, although, it may be, u unburied, 
 in the Btreets of the great city, where also our Lord was 
 - crucified," as silent witnesses againsi them and 
 their doings! Oh! the mockings, Bcoffings, and revilings 
 which we meet with ! Great, too, are their rejoicings "vei- 
 ns, in <uir suffering Btate ; Bhaking their heads at us as they 
 pass, and Baying, in a language well understood by some, 
 " All, ha ! so would we have it !" 
 
 But there is, through adorable mercy, much consolation 
 in the assurance, that it' they should be permitted to " kill 
 the body" (which, in some instances, seems not wholly 
 
 improbable), there is no more they can do, unless th 
 things should unhappily have the effect to drive us off from 
 the sure Foundation. And great indeed is the danger felt 
 to l»e: for the grand enemy within is as busy as his ser- 
 vants and ministers without : and when his purpose is not 
 effected by his roaring as a lion, then the form of a ser- 
 pent is assumed, in its crooked windings and twinings 
 round the poor and ofttimes beclouded traveller in a wil- 
 derness of woe, because of the absence of Him who alone 
 can cause the " reeds and rushes" to spring up "in the 
 habitation of dragons' where each lay," and the desert to 
 fc * rejoice and blossom as the rose." At such seasons, when 
 He is thus pleased to appear in His own divine Light and 
 Life, and to discover and make manifest the enemy by 
 the light of His countenance, and to quicken, deliver, and 
 save the soul from the power of the serpent by His life, 
 then indeed we can be exceeding joyful in all our tribula- 
 tions. But it is extremely difficult to keep the faith and 
 patience, when left as it were to one's own; which does 
 happen, or is permitted, while great darkness is felt over 
 all the land, as from the sixth hour unto the ninth, and 
 we are compelled to cry out in very anguish, "Why hast 
 Thou forsaken me?" But, who is sufficient for these 
 things': and, who shall be able to stand? — are queries 
 almost continually arising in my mind ; and truly I am 
 often, yea, very often, greatly distressed with fear, lest 
 
220 LITE AND LETTERS OF [18 I L 
 
 the serpenl who beguiled Eve may have beguiled me, and 
 thai I Bhall not be able to stand, but Bhall b< a prey 
 
 to my enemies. 
 
 Thou seest, my dear and truly honored friend, thai I 
 have written to thee in great freedom. Not that 1 con- 
 Bider it a light matter to address one bo far above me 3 in 
 every respect ; but because, if I write at all, I must do it 
 freely, and as things present ; for I know not howto write 
 ;i studied, formal letter. Ami as a kind father Bometin 
 allows his little child to use freedom with him, and ex- 
 cuses it. if he go< b i"" far, in respect of his youth and inex- 
 perience, >«> 1 hope thou mayst feel towards me; who am 
 the leasl and hindmost of the flock, if indeed one of that 
 number; and having, at any rate, no other claim than a 
 feeling sense that 1 do love the brethren, and a true will- 
 ingness, yea, a strong desire, to be in subjection to them, 
 however stubborn and rebellious I may be accounted by 
 those who Bay they are Jews, and are not. And if thou 
 Bhouldst feel incline d to write to me, I beseech thee spare 
 not any advice, reproof, or correction that thou mayst 
 feel disposed to give, in any respect or as to any particu- 
 lar; for I could receive it from thee, and that too, as a 
 great kindness: and I do wish thou wouldst write tome 
 whenever and as often as thou mayst find freedom. Thy 
 last was a greater comfort to me, than I have language to 
 e<»nvey an adequate idea of. Having passed through a 
 similar trial thyself, to that which I am now under, though 
 not in so much weakness, thou canst understand the temp- 
 tation- peculiar to it: but it does seem as if none but 
 those who have travelled in the same path, can fully 
 realize the hair-breadth trials to which such are subjected. 
 And I can truly Bay, that next to the loss of the Divine 
 love and favor, comes in the fear of being estranged and 
 
 iarated from His people, cast out upon the wide world, 
 
 without either house or home, in a visible church sei 
 
 and therefore exposed to greater dangers and manifold 
 privations. Eel I dare not compromise or retract the 
 ground which ha- given my adversaries bo much offence ; 
 although, 1 doubt not. great weakness has been mani- 
 fested, in my yet sincere endeavors to maintain that 
 
 ground. 
 
1844,] Thomas b. GOULD. 221 
 
 :nn«'t but lope that t 1m >u ix) ay si be required to come 
 
 k to this Bo ton government, although, in a manner, 
 
 "banished upon pain of death." .... 1 do hope, 
 
 if it should be laid upon thee, thou will give up to it, 
 
 nothing doubting. But do not misunderstand me* as to 
 
 the ground of my speaking of it 
 
 My dear parents and sistn* unite in dear love to thee, 
 in which my Martha and I would affectionately join them, 
 an<l also to thy wife and every member of thy family, as 
 if named. And so I conclud 
 
 Thy unworthy but sincere friend, 
 
 T. B. Gould, 
 
 To Peleg Mitchell. 
 
 Newport, 5th mo., 12th, L844. 
 My dear Friend : 
 
 Without having any doubt as to the legality 
 of the will, or our proceedings under it [the Greene Trust], 
 I do dread a lawsuit, even more than disownment bv 
 Rhode Island Monthly Meeting, which Avill probably be 
 realized in the course of this month. But this prospect, 
 &c, has cost me more than any one, I apprehend, can 
 form a full idea of, unless they have travelled the rough 
 and thorny path under similar weakness and infirmities. 
 It would be well for all, who are in any wise 
 concerned in that cause which requires unqualified deci- 
 sion, to consider, when they let manifest calls for it slip 
 by without action, that a " more convenient season" may 
 never occur. I cannot doubt, that if those who saw these 
 evils creeping in, had been quite faithful in the onset, they 
 never would have reached their present enormity. But I 
 do not mean to be at all personal in these remarks ; I 
 merely throw out a general hint, in the great freedom 
 which I have ever allowed myself to use when addressing 
 thee. 
 
 We had not before heard of your afflicting bereavement, in 
 which we have truly sympathized with you. Hut, ah . 
 how little can be availingly said <>n this subject ! — I have 
 sometimes thought, the less the better. It was the remark 
 
 10* 
 
2 ; 2'2 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1844. 
 
 of some one, and I think, of Thomas Clarkson, that the 
 language of real grief was always short. And should not 
 the language of sympathy and condolence, on occasions 
 like the present, be short too? When 1 came to that 
 pari of thine, how involuntarily my hearl throbbed for our 
 darling little prattler, and I son-lit to make the case my 
 
 own ! 
 
 ('. T. and D. K. attended this meeting, two weeks ago 
 yesterday. Their communications were very striking, and 
 David's remarkably so. lie commenced with the decree 
 of the king Nebuchadnezzar, and the published conse- 
 quences of the lack of obedience; the faithfulness of the 
 three children, their preservation, and the honor which 
 resulted therefrom to their Almighty Preserver in the 
 fiery trial to which they were subjected; dwelling upon it, 
 as a No on the destruction of the image which he saw in 
 his dream, by the stone cut out of the mountain ; saying, 
 the day of the Lord was coming upon everything which 
 was high and lifted up, upon all the high mountains and 
 gilded towers ; and that although the image was in part 
 made of gold, vet even this, which was accounted the most 
 precious of metals, was dashed in pieces and destroyed by 
 that little stone, &c. lie then spoke of Daniel, and his 
 refusing to obey the king; that he still continued to call 
 upon the name of his God in a public manner; hut, he 
 Baid, the king Darius had been unwittingly brought to 
 Bign this decree, through the influence which the presi- 
 dent.-, governors, councillors, &c, had over him; and when 
 he found how seriously it affected Daniel whom he loved, 
 he Bel his heart upon him to deliver him ; but then came 
 in the presidents, the governors, the councillors, and the 
 captains, with the argument that the law- of the Modes 
 and Persians could not he changed : and so they prevailed 
 with the king ami over Daniel. Then he expatiated upon 
 
 his deliverance, and the exaltation of the name and power 
 
 of the Lord thereby, applying it, in a very remarkable 
 manner, to some of us: wno knew of states ami circum- 
 stances existing in that meeting, of which most probably 
 he was wholly ignorant, as to outward information : for he 
 assorted altogether with our adversaries, on this [aland, 
 
1844,] THOM kfi B. QOULD. 
 
 and in Newport put ap al M. II. B/s, It did 3eem more 
 lik( ■; rv than anything 1 had heard in b long while, 
 
 and bo did their communications in the afternoon, al Ports- 
 month, whither I went. ... It is near one o'clock 
 in the morning, after a laborious day in other respe 
 1 mt it is really pleasant to converse with thee once more 
 in this way. . . . Farewell. 
 
 T. B. Gould. 
 
 To Ethan Foster. 
 
 Newport, 10th month, 28th, 184 I. 
 1 cannot divest myself of an impression thai 
 
 thou, my dear friend, hast had to tread in very low plac< 9, 
 and to drink as of the hitter waters of Marah ; and the 
 language has sweetly arisen, "Let thy Urim and thy 
 
 Thunnnini be with thy Holy One." If it be a season of 
 conflict, of dee]) and painful conflict and strife, keep thy 
 singly to Jlim who is Loth light and perfection. Do 
 not, oli ! do not cast away thy confidence and the shield 
 of faith, lest thou find to thy cost (as I have done) that 
 without faith it is impossible, either to please God, or to 
 stand fast in the day of trial. Being, through the wiles 
 of the grand enemy' of all good, divested of the shield of 
 faith, the poor way-worn and beclouded traveller is left 
 exposed and defenceless to his every attack; then, many 
 and grievous are the wounds which he inflicts with his 
 barbed arrows and cruel darts, till one is ready to give all 
 up as lost, and to listen to his teaching, and feed upon it, 
 to the great loss and weakening of the soul ! I do not 
 throw out these hints as charges against thee, by any 
 means; and I maybe altogether mistaken in supposing 
 thou art or hast been tried in this way; but having had 
 some reason to know what a hard taskmaster he is, by the 
 things which I have suffered at his hands, after he had got 
 my attention fixed upon his temptations and snares (in- 
 stead of keeping it to that, and upon that, which would 
 have discovered them, and preserved from them), I felt 
 inclined to encourage thee to press through the crowd of 
 difficulties, dangers, and besetments, even to Him iri whom 
 
224 LIFE AM) LETTERS OF [1844. 
 
 the living virtue and the blessed healing and preserving 
 power is; that bo thou mays! not suffer as I have done 
 for the want of it. It is a blessed and happy state, so to 
 keep the watch in the Light, as to walk in the shining of 
 it with great fulness of spirit, as S. Crisp said. Here the 
 enemy cannot hurt or destroy. But I do not speak as 
 having attained: far from it; nevertheless this is the 
 mark, this is the prize of our high calling. 
 
 Last fourth-day evening L received, in all probability, 
 the last visit from my committee, viz.: E. W. and wife, 
 d. S., and F. C. They wore extremely arbitrary in their 
 behavior, and manifested much bitterness of feeling, with 
 
 the exception <>{' Elizabeth W On sitting down 
 
 together, sonic time was passed in silence, which was at 
 length broken by Edward saying they had come to sec 
 what I had to offer to the committee. But I told them I 
 was waiting to see what they had to offer, and I was wil- 
 ling to hear what they might have to say. desiring them 
 to speak freely. Their business, they said, was to get an 
 acknowledgment from me : that was their business. I 
 told them, I must first know my offence. They said, the 
 overseers and the monthly meeting would require an ac- 
 knowledgment, a written acknowledgment of what I said 
 to it and them: that I knew what it was, well enough; 
 there was no need of talking about it, or of my seeing the 
 complaint — which I had called for, and which they said 
 they had forgotten to bring with them. I asked them, if it 
 was not necessary to exhibit their charges in writing, why 
 it was necessary lor me to make a written acknowledg- 
 ment ! They said, because the overseers and the monthly 
 meeting would not he satisfied unless it was in writing: 
 that they were not unwilling to show me the complaint, 
 
 and never had been ! " Why then did you refuse to do 
 
 so?" Do please mark the answer given by J. S. : "Be- 
 cause David Buffum said thee had seen it !" I will not go 
 
 into all that was said, pro and con: but I told them that 
 
 1 was the aggrieved party (going into many particulars 
 
 which I need UOl name to thee, and which they were not 
 
 very willing to hear, continually interrupting me), and 
 might with more reason require an acknowledgment from 
 
1844.] THOMAfi B. 301 u». 226 
 
 them. They Baid thai I had declared my disunity with 
 bat 1 had 1 had do unity with the monthly 
 
 meeting. This I denied, in langu; moderate as 1 
 
 could, and to meet the case. They then undertook to 
 justify tlif charge, by referring to my objections to parti- 
 cular Buhjects before the monthly meeting, &c. ; this, they 
 
 I, was whal they founded the charge of disunity upon. 
 But I told them thai I could name many eminent discipli- 
 narians who united in the sentiment, although I would 
 confine myself to one — T. E. — a Friend who entertained 
 
 y different views from myself with regard to Joseph 
 John Gurney, but who told me that, to lay a Friend under 
 dealing for having entertained or expressed different views 
 from others with regard to the transaction of the affairs 
 of the Church, or for having objected to particular things 
 (which is the right of all to-do), was unheard of in our 
 
 :iety. They did not like to hear this. 
 
 Edward said that J. J. (i. had gone home; we had 
 nothing to do with him, or he with it (which was more 
 fully Bpoken to and explained by me) : and lie immedi- 
 ately changed ground, and charged me with having labored 
 for many vears, bv writing and showing letters, and other- 
 wise, to produce a schism in the Society. I told him, I 
 was conscientiously clear of the charge; that the object 
 and end of my labors had been to prevent a schism, &c. ; 
 but inquired if this was a part of the original complaint, 
 and asked if he had ever seen anything which I had 
 written, and called upon him to produce the letters he 
 
 ke of, that I might know what they were. He said 
 they could he produced, in a manner which showed that 
 they could not be by him, and that he merely did it to 
 frighten me ; but without producing that effect ; and 
 then, with rapid motion, he charged me with having 
 planned the separation in Fall River, and advised and 
 assisted in its accomplishment. But I told him, the first 
 knowledge I had of that event was communicated to me in 
 detail by one of their own number, Job Sherman, and of 
 I denied the charge. But he asked me. if I was 
 not very intimate with Israel Buffinton ? to which, re- 
 gardless of consequences, I answered in the affirmative, 
 
226 LIFE AMi LETTERS OF [1844. 
 
 adding, ** lit- is a very particular friend of -mine!" They 
 continued repeatedly to pre-- me to an acknowledgment : 
 and I continued t< them wherein I had been 8 
 
 grieved, and how zealously they had labored to ensm 
 me, and to make me an offender. After a great deal 
 more, of this kind and similar, had passed, Edward pro- 
 posed to go, and P. C. thought it was no! edifying to 
 
 y : but Job wished Friends to sit a little in silenc 
 for which, if thou hadst been present, thou wouldst not 
 have suspected me of unwillingness, after what 1 had 
 heard. And so, after a little while, E. tried to preach 
 to me, which was I think the first time she had said any- 
 thing after the first silence : and she now seemed to find 
 hard work of it, although I must say she was moderate 
 respectful, and even tender, bo far as words go. Another 
 Bhort pause succeeded, and they made another motion to 
 leave ; when I said, that 1 would be glad if they would 
 sir a little longer; which they appeared to do willingly, 
 and for some considerable length of time : until I was 
 constrained to <»pen my mouth amongst them, in much 
 brokenness and {'ear. and in a few words : wherein an 
 appeal was made to the Searcher of hearts, who knoweth 
 what is in man. and needeth not that any should testify 
 unto Him of man; with the expression of a fervent 
 desire, that He would be pleased to furnish with wisdom 
 to guide amidst the storm, and strength to endure and 
 Stand firm, that so His name might not be dishonored. 
 The feeling which had spread, before and after this, was 
 peculiarly solemn, and it did seem as if E. could not 
 wholly resist it. and was constrained by it to respond to 
 ami endorse what I had said. But this was more than 
 Edward could bear, even from her : and so he kicked 
 right out, and said, that he had been looking for an evi- 
 dence of the right thing, but he could not feel it. This 
 was ;ii parting : and 1 told him, as I had occasionally 
 done before in the course of the evening, thai it did re- 
 quire a right disposition of mind and a qualification in 
 himself, to feel and appreciate the evidence of divine re- 
 gard which the Great Master was pleased to afford. 
 They urged me again, to send in an acknowledgment 
 
1844.] SHOMAfl r. GOULD. 227 
 
 the monthly meeting next fifth-day ; when, they 
 should iv]H»n according to their feelings. But 
 1 told them, I did nol feel like * riting one, ht, 
 
 and bo we parted. The Belecl meeting the ne 
 
 day, without anything of note being done or attempted : 
 but l>. r>. was very busy, that afternoon and the ne 
 morning, Beeking interviews with my committee, in order, 
 as I doubted not, to direct their movements and superin- 
 tend their report. Most probably they will finish this part 
 of tin* business on fifth-day 
 
 A- respects a division in the quarterly meeting, I was 
 intending to express to thee my fears, if it does take place, 
 whether it can be carried out satisfactorily in the different 
 monthly meetings 
 
 With dear love to thee and thine, and your COUSinS <h>\vu 
 t<»\\ n. farewell. 
 
 T. B. G. 
 
 The events at this time transpiring in the Society at 
 large, and particularly developing in his section of it, 
 pressed heavily on his mind, and at times greatly affected 
 his bodily health : though it is evident from his letters, 
 that through all he was graciously supported by that Arm 
 of divine power and goodness on which he relied ; and that 
 his faith was from time to time mercifully reneAved, when 
 it was almost ready to fail. His wife, writing to their 
 brother and sister in Ohio, in the eleventh month, 1844, 
 thus described his condition, and briefly alluded to some 
 of the causes of his sore trials. 
 
 " I had wished my Thomas to write to you at 
 this time ; but he is so depressed on account of these 
 things, that it is as much as I can do to keep him up at 
 all. The burdens resting upon him of latter time, have 
 been greater than he could bear. His case is still before 
 this monthly meeting, and the committee keep coming 
 from time to time; and have latterly been so abusive ami 
 insulting, that I could scarcely suffer them to continue in 
 the house. But he treats them well, and abides in the 
 everlasting patience. Truly, if ever 'patience had its 
 perfect work,' I think it has in him." 
 
228 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1814. 
 
 And about the same date, Thomas wrote to his brother? 
 in-law, Joshua Maule, as follows: — 
 
 •• I would freely give thee an account of things 
 as they transpire, if 1 had time and ability ; but the former 
 1 am very much limited for 3 and the Latter extremely defi- 
 cient in, in every respect. Those things, referred to by 
 my Martha, have a powerful effect upon my health, and 
 writing is extremely irksome and xrry injurious to nic. 
 Sometimes, when I otherwise might <1<> it. I cannot write 
 at all. such is the rush of blood to my head, and the dis- 
 ordered state of my nervous system altogether. My liver 
 also is much diseased, and although I have been hard at 
 work all day, it lias been very painful even to walk about. 
 What the end will he, or when, I cannot tell; but I often 
 think it will soon come. My great desire is, that the mea- 
 sure of Suffering may he idled, and that the prize may he 
 gained. But it is a great matter, so to walk as to obtain, 
 in the midst of this crooked and perverse generation." . . 
 
 The separation of the innovating party from the true 
 Society of Friends in New England, commenced in the 
 autumn of 1;S44: a disorderly secession having been ef- 
 fected by them (through the interference of the committee 
 of the yearly meeting), in Swanzey Monthly Meeting at 
 Kail River, a branch of Rhode Island Quarterly Meeting. 
 to which Thomas B. Gould belonged. This secession, the 
 fruit of the determined efforts to support the cause of 
 J. J. Gurney, spread through New England Yearly Meet- 
 ing, -weeping large multitudes along in its headlong 
 course; and T. 1>. Gould was brought into very dee]) 
 concern and exercise of mind, that the remnant which had 
 stood faithful to the ancient principles of the Society, and 
 were now left much stripped and scattered, might be ena- 
 bled to sustain their meetings to the honor of truth. 
 
 From T. P>. (i. to Ethan Foster. 
 
 Newport, 11th mo., 19th, 1844. 
 
 My dear Friend : 
 
 In these times of great and awful shaking, when it not 
 
1844.] THOMAS B. GOULD, 229 
 
 onl\ as it" everything thai can be shaken mil be 
 
 shaken, but when it really —and those who have 
 
 od hitherto have need of all the strength and enconra 
 men! which may be and is doubtless derived, in this day 
 as it was formerly anion-" those who feared the Lord, from 
 a frequent speaking one unto another in Bis fear, — I 
 thought it might not be amiss for one of the least and 
 hindmost of the flock, again to call unto thee, and to in- 
 quire of thee in the language, but L trust not in the spirit, 
 of those who Btood upon the mount of ESsau: "Watch- 
 man! what of the night?" It may however serve no 
 other purpose, in the present instance, than to let thee 
 know that 1 am looking for tidings, while I communicate 
 
 a few 
 
 But if the quarterly meeting had only directed 
 the monthly meetings to adjourn in such manner as to 
 accommodate their committee, it would have covered and 
 ob via ted many difficulties in regard to meeting, which will 
 now undoubtedly occur, both in this monthly meeting and 
 that of Providence, and, I fear, insurmountable difficulties, 
 in our present weak, stripped, and scattered condition. 
 But it does appear to me that you may, at Ilopkinton, 
 with propriety, after the separation shall have taken place 
 in Greenwich Monthly Meeting, change the place of hold- 
 ing your meeting for worship there, and thus get rid of 
 such heads as you now meet under; always provided that 
 it shall appear best and right to do so, when met under 
 the canopy of Divine Wisdom. In a general way, it 
 strikes me that Friends had better patiently endure until 
 after the yearly meeting. If I could believe that our 
 women would endure the exposure of meeting in the open 
 air at Portsmouth, at this inclement season of the year, I 
 should think best that they do so patiently, and good might 
 come of it ; but I doubt their being able to do it, or to 
 abide a contest for the house each time. Thou mayst 
 think this a needless burdening of to-day with the weight 
 of futurity ; but I cannot help looking at the difficulties, 
 as well as at the advantages of our present condition for 
 some there, inasmuch as the day of our deliverance from 
 them seems to have dawned, — " The morning cometh, and 
 
 20 
 
230 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1844. 
 
 also the night." I want to know thy judgment of these 
 things. It never was at any time, perhaps, more impor- 
 tant that we should be guided in wisdom and by wisdom; 
 whether we are owned by any other yearly meeting or 
 not, which 1 much doubt will take place very soon, if 
 
 ever 
 
 With dear love to thee and thine, with those above 
 named and their families, in which my dear M. unites, I 
 must conclude, and remain thy sincere friend. 
 
 Tuos. B. Gould. 
 
 To John Wilbur. 
 
 Newport, 19th of 12th month, 1844. 
 
 My dear Friend : 
 
 .... We have felt much solid satisfaction and com- 
 fort in the attendance of our religious meetings ; several 
 of them have been mercifully owned in a remarkable man- 
 ner, though held in silence until last first-day, when lie, 
 who openeth and none can shut, set before me an open 
 door, and there was much brokenness apparent in several 
 
 who were in attendance, in a particular manner 
 
 It was truly one of those seasons for which we have cause 
 to be thankful, and from which we may take courage ; 
 notwithstanding the rage of our adversaries, and that in- 
 creasingly, in order to stop that which is beyond them ; 
 for they, even they, are limited 
 
 The weight of things, as thou must see, rests heavily 
 upon a few, and the responsibility is great, which I would 
 gladly divide, and more too. I can truly say, I find the 
 cross as great as ever, and a deeply settled aversion and 
 unwillingness to take it up; still there is something which 
 compels, and it feels increasingly constraining and diffu- 
 sive ; but lest I go too far, I w T ill not add, even to thee, 
 whom I look upon afi a lather indeed: and in the scarcity 
 of such, perhaps thou wilt excuse the simplicity and free- 
 dom of a little child: and believe me to be, in all sincerity, 
 truly thine, with love unchanged. 
 
 T. B. Gould. 
 
 
L8 14.] THOMAS B. GOULD. 
 
 To Pjbleg Mitchell. 
 
 Newport, 30th of L2th mo., 1844. 
 Mv yi:iiy DBAB FrIBND : 
 
 Few letters have been more n-ulv acceptable or deeply 
 interesting, than one which I received from thee of the 
 8th ult.: and I fully intended to have written ere this; 
 although 1 did purposely omit an immediate reply, on 
 account of some little indecision for a time, as to whether 
 it might not be proper for me to be in New Bedfordat the 
 time of your quarterly meeting, when I hoped to have met 
 thee. And knowing that our dear, tried, but faithful 
 friend, J. Wilbur, was intending a visit to your island 
 [Nantucket] soon after our quarterly meeting, and that 
 he could better inform thee and others thereof the events 
 of that eventful day, than I could by letter or otherwise, 
 there did not seem to be so much necessity for me to speak 
 of them. But as thou hast not probably had as good an 
 opportunity to hear from the monthly meetings, 1 wished 
 to have given thee some account of them; but have been 
 so pressed with cares and concernments of different kinds, 
 that I could not seem to do it when I wished and as I 
 wished. 
 
 Thou mayst however have heard about the visits of the 
 committee of the quarterly meeting as sustained by Friends. 
 to the different monthly meetings. So, before I speak of 
 that, I will say, that the separatists carried complaints 
 against my Martha, my father, and cousin John Mitchell, 
 into our preparative meeting immediately following the 
 quarter, on account of their having, as the?/ said, attended 
 a separate quarterly meeting ; and our Friends' endeavors 
 to prevent these charges from being sent forward to the 
 monthly meeting, having proved unavailing, both men and 
 women remained in the house, after the others had gone 
 through with their business (having declared their intention 
 to do so, upon their minuting these charges), and held the 
 preparative meeting in the order of the Society ; but not 
 without great opposition and much abuse, from those dis- 
 orderly and intolerant people. ... A separation also 
 took place in Western and Ilopkinton Preparative Meet- 
 
232 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1844. 
 
 inga upon similar grounds, before the next monthly meet- 
 ing occurred after the quarter, viz. : their persisting in 
 entering and forwarding complaints against Othniel Foster 
 
 and his wife (I think), in the one. and Thomas and Phcbe 
 Foster in the other, for having attended and sustained the 
 quarterly meeting. I know not what yon may think of 
 this, but Friends here thought the time for effectual resist- 
 ance had then come, and that otherwise they would cer- 
 tainly give up the ground which our Friends had taken in 
 the quarterly meeting, by suffering them to be laid under 
 dealing for sustaining the same. 
 
 The committee of the quarterly meeting first attended 
 Providence Monthly Meeting, and were enabled to sustain 
 it ; although they encountered great abuse, and met with 
 continual interruption from J. M., W. J., and many others; 
 who, notwithstanding they adjourned their meeting, in con- 
 sequence of the presence of the committee and others who, 
 they said, were under dealing, jet they did not leave the 
 house, but stayed there during the whole time that Friends 
 were engaged in the transaction of their business (as I was 
 told by several of the committee), warning them out of the 
 house, in < very character and office they could think of, 
 and ridiculing and upbraiding them on account of the small- 
 ness of their number, the meanness of their appearance, 
 and the diffidence, &c, of their clerk. And not only so, 
 but the young men would, sometimes, hiss, groan, and 
 laugh outright at them, looking up at J. M. for approba- 
 tion : who would nod his assent and laugh with them, in 
 true Hicksite style. Hicksite, did I say? Nay; this is 
 worse than Hicksism; for they never did claim to be ex- 
 clusively u the body," or that they were infallible ! But 
 how universal ami lusting is the authorized criterion, not- 
 withstanding it seems to be very generally overlooked or 
 unheeded by those who, ww having eyes, see not," — " By 
 their fruits ye shall know them !*' 
 
 Rhode Island Monthly Meeting, which was held at New- 
 port, occurred the nexl day after that of Providence, which 
 occasioned our friends a hard drive to gel here, hut divers 
 of them came. The men's monthly meeting, at this season 
 of the year, is held in the committee-room over the little 
 
18 U.] THOU \s B. GOULD. 238 
 
 part of the house; and at the close of the public meeting, 
 when our Friends attempted to ascend the stairs, they found 
 a Btrong guard of the ( rurneyites posted thereon, r bo told 
 them, without exception, they could not go up; and they 
 
 actually forbade those whom they did no! even pretend to 
 have laid under dealing ! But there were some who argued 
 
 the case with them until they wore fain to admit that they 
 had not power to keep them out, and, to cover their shame, 
 finally told them they might go in; but reply was made 
 that they should not he free to do so unless their friends 
 
 too might he admitted. These went far enough to see 
 that they had a pensioned naval officer, though of low 
 degree, standing by the door at the top of the stairs, hold- 
 ing the hasp over it, and J. F. M. at his side, to give him 
 the necessary information as to who might go in. . . . 
 
 .... Our men Friends, being thus excluded, sat down 
 quietly in the large cold room below, where the men's 
 yearly meeting is held; and having proceeded to appoint a 
 clerk, and make a minute of the acceptable presence of 
 the quarterly meeting's committee, as w r ell as some others 
 explanatory of their present situation and circumstances, 
 they concluded to adjourn, to meet again at two o'clock 
 that afternoon at my father's house; and having given 
 the women this information, they adjourned accordingly. 
 
 The women were differently circumstanced ; not being 
 compelled to move, they could not be got rid of so easily ; 
 so after the clerk had opened the meeting, the quarterly 
 meeting's committee laid the minute of their appointment 
 on the table ; which, as might have been expected, Avas 
 not noticed ; but they proceeded for some time with my 
 Martha's case without noticing her presence, although they 
 must have known she was there. At length, on the accep- 
 tance of the minute of the quarterly meeting being urged 
 (I think), as well as objection being made to what they 
 were doing in regard to Martha, they began with vehe- 
 mence to request her to withdraw ; and the clerk then 
 said she did not know of her being present, which it re- 
 quired some of J. J. G.'s "simple faith, — mere credence" 
 to believe ! But sister Lydia now stood up and said, that 
 as the clerk had refused to recognize the minute of the 
 
 20* 
 
234 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1S4-L 
 
 quarterly meeting, or the presence of its committee, and 
 as she had p< I in entering a complaint on the mini 
 
 against an individual, on account of her having united 
 with others in sustaining the quarterly meeting, after a 
 portion of its members had separated themselves from it, 
 Bhe would inquire whether the time had not come for 
 Friends to appoint a clerk who would serve the meeting 
 in subordination to the quarterly meeting, according to 
 discipline and good order (or words to this import), and 
 proposed the appointment of Martha S. Gould; which 
 being united with, she was accordingly appointed, when 
 they proceeded in much the same manner as the men (lid 
 (only both meetings were held in the same room at the 
 
 ae time), until they received information from the men 
 of their conclusion to adjourn, when they also adjourned, 
 to meet again at our house, at the same hour that the men 
 met at father's. 
 
 the adjournment, the men took my case into conside- 
 ration (as it stood referred to this monthly meeting), and 
 after lull investigation and solid consideration, concluded 
 t<» dismiss it. and to restore me to my rights ; the women's 
 meeting having been consulted and uniting therein; and 
 both men and women made minutes, embracing the pecu- 
 liar circumstances of the ease, ami the irregular and ill- 
 founded manner in which it had heen introduced into that 
 meeting, and continued from month to month, by those 
 who had now separated themselves from Friends. 
 
 After the women's meeting had concurred herein, and 
 the minute had heen completed, they called me into the 
 meeting, and I took my seat once more among them : 
 having lived to see fulfilled an impression made on my 
 mind at the time of their laying me under dealing, and 
 which 1 ventured t<> mention to our friends, Setli and Mary 
 Davis, as well as some others (I think); that there would 
 
 he Some change in the p08ture <>f things ere they got 
 
 through with me, BO that I should not have to appeal; and 
 1 even went SO far as t<> say to them, that I should not he 
 
 disowned by the Society: howbeit those people made a 
 minute against me that day. hut it did seem to me not a 
 little remarkable that they themselves should have pro- 
 
18 1 L] 'i B0MA8 B. QOULD. 285 
 
 duced a separation, and that it should, in the ordering or 
 rruling of things, have extended as far as the quarterly 
 . i re thej seemed to have power i<> do it ; for the 
 will was not wanting vein-.- ag However, no tongue 
 oould utter, nor the pen of the most ready writer describe, 
 whal I have had to pass through, and more especially 
 during the latter pari of the time of their dealing with me. 
 
 Friends also took into solid consideration the state and 
 condition of Newport Particular Meeting; and apprehend- 
 ing the time had fully come for it to be held apart from 
 those people who have possession and entire control of our 
 meeting-houses, concluded thai it should be held, "until a 
 different arrangement can be made," at our house, at the 
 usual hours on first and fifth-days; which has been Bince 
 done, to the great relief and comfort of Friend.-, as well as 
 of some others who meet with us. 
 
 A< the minute of the appointment of the quarterly 
 meeting's committee to visit subordinate meetings author- 
 ned them to act therein on behalf of the quarter, in 
 rendering them such "advice and assistance as circum- 
 stances might seem to require and way open for;" and 
 Friends having been at this time forcibly excluded from 
 their usual meeting-room, and having no reason to expect 
 anything better at the next month, when the monthly 
 meeting would in course be held at Portsmouth ; and our 
 friend William Boyd of that town, although not a member 
 of our Society (though his wife is), having witnessed these 
 and other their acts of intolerance, and having freely 
 offered his house to hold the monthly meeting in, and thus 
 opened the way for it ; the quarterly meeting's committee 
 were united in judgment that it would be best for us to 
 adjourn to meet there at the usual time in the twelfth 
 month, and to hold the public meeting there too, at the 
 same time as heretofore ; and a minute was accordingly 
 and regularly made in both men's and women's meetings 
 to this effect. And before I leave this subject, I must be 
 allowed to say that I have seldom witnessed more weight 
 and solemnity over a meeting, than during the time these 
 two propositions were under consideration. 
 
 Greenwich Monthly Meeting did not occur until after 
 
236 LIFE AM) LETTERS OF [1844. 
 
 ours, and by this time the G-urneyites had laid nearly or 
 quite all the members of the quarterly meeting's committee 
 under dealing; nevertheless, they went through with all 
 their business iii their presence, without an adjournment, 
 and so, according to their own confession, committed 
 another violation of the discipline, which they seem to 
 consider themselves at liberty to do. whenever they please, 
 Upon the minute of the quarterly meeting being laid on 
 the table in the men's meeting, and rejected, Friends pro- 
 ceeded to appoint a clerk and open the meeting, and then 
 waited patiently till the others had got through; when 
 they were enabled to transact their business to a good 
 degree of satisfaction, and without much, if any, disturb- 
 ance from their adversaries, although R. G. and several 
 others stayed during the whole time; but for some reason 
 they did not think lit to act as their brethren did at Pro- 
 vidence I believe the women did not ap- 
 point a clerk until the others had left the house. Tims 
 thou seest, my dear friend, the monthly meetings in this 
 
 quarter have all been sustained 
 
 Speaking of the sanguine expectations of our friends 
 there [in Philadelphia], of those people giving back and 
 coming over to us, I am free to acknowledge that I am 
 not so much looking for an increase that way, as from the 
 highways and hedge-. Several items in thy letter tended 
 to revive the hope, and confirm the belief, which has been 
 raised in my heart, and with irresistible force again and 
 again, and from time to time, during the course of these 
 years of deep trial and proving, yea, even at times of the 
 deepest trial, and when tilings, as to all outward appear- 
 ance, and humanly speaking, were at the worst : that 
 there would bean increase of faithful standard-bearers and 
 burden-bearers gathered into the true sheepfold of rest, 
 and the green pastures of life, even to sit under the free 
 and immediate teachings of Christ, the great Shepherd 
 and Bishop of souls, every man under his own vine and 
 fig-tree, where nothing could hurt them or make them 
 afraid: for nothing can hurt or destroy in the Lord's holy 
 mountain. And how sweetly and encouragingly has the 
 
 language been sounded in my spiritual ear: " Strangers 
 
1^1 L] TH0MA8 B. &01 u>. 287 
 
 sliall stand and feed your Hocks, and the Bona of the alien 
 I] be your ploughmen and your vinedre But, in 
 
 that day when the Lord of the harvest and of the rine- 
 yard > 1 1 a 1 1 accomplish this, His " strange work," and 
 bring to pass " His Btrange act,' 1 and incomprehensible to 
 the eye of man's wisdom, yet neither Btrange nor impossi- 
 ble to and with him who calleth them that arc not as 
 those that arc, that no flesh may glory in Sis presence, 
 or have the praise of His works, — well will it be if those 
 who account themselves, and arc too generally accounted, 
 the children of the kingdom, are not cast out ! 
 
 Thy Bincere friend, 
 
 Thomas 1>. GOULD. 
 
 To Joshua and Sarah Maule. 
 
 Newport, 16th of third month, 1645. 
 
 My deab Brother and Sister: 
 
 [One of you] inquired as to the 
 
 progress of the separation. It has not yet extended be- 
 yond the limits of Rhode Island Quarterly Meeting, and 
 probably will not until after the yearly meeting. This 
 quarter, since the dissolution of South Kingstown Monthly 
 Meeting, is composed of four monthly meetings, viz. : 
 Rhode Island. Greenwich, Swanzey, and Providence. In 
 Rhode Island Monthly Meeting only twenty adults remain 
 with Friends decidedly, although several others decline 
 attending either meeting, professing to be waiting for the 
 action or decision of other yearly meetings. Only one 
 member of old Greenwich Monthly Meeting remains with 
 Friends ; but there are at least fifty adults (including 
 some very aged and infirm Friends) who were formerly 
 members of South Kingstown Monthly Meeting : quite as 
 many (and I believe more) in Swanzey Monthly Meeting, 
 to which may be added several undecided yet : and in 
 Providence Monthly Meeting only thirteen. Here, again, 
 are several undecided persons, and from among these, 
 now and then, one comes straggling over to us : but I 
 have not yet heard of one who stood with us at the time 
 of the division, that has since gone over to them. But 
 
LIFE AX I) LETTERS OF [184o. 
 
 there were, I think, Beventy persons who signed the ap- 
 peal against the dissolution of South Kingstown Monthly 
 Meeting, some of whom did eventually go with the Gur- 
 neyites. In all these enumerations, both sexee are in- 
 cluded. The four monthly meetings have all been sus- 
 tained ; Borne of the preparative meetings have not, their 
 members, as well as of divers particular meetings, having 
 all gone off in the separation. When the separation shall 
 have taken place in the yearly meeting, &c, J think in all 
 probability there av i 1 1 be as many left with Friends, in 
 Salem and Sandwich Quarterly Meetings each, as in this ; 
 perhaps half the number in Dover Quarter; and it is feared 
 that the remaining four quarters will go off. Still, divers 
 have stayed with us whom ^ve did not expect, and some 
 who may not do us much good : in view of which, I some- 
 times think of the " mixed multitude," who went up with 
 the children of Israel out of Egypt, though we cannot so 
 well speak of a multitude. . . . The Gurneyites in 
 Swanzey Monthly Meeting have come to actual force, to 
 keep Friends out of their public meeting, when a meeting 
 for business followed it, in divers instances: and in others, 
 to seizing some by the collar, and otherwise, and dragging 
 them out so : lest, these being seated in the house, tl 
 Bhould have to adjourn ! Are not these legitimate fruits 
 of a spurious ministry and unsound principles ? 
 
 Farewell. 
 
 T. B. Gould. 
 
 To Setii and Mary Davis. 
 
 Newport, 25ih of third month, 1845, 
 My very dear Frirnds, Setii and Mary Davis : 
 Although a long time lias elapsed since I have written, 
 
 vet I have no! been unmindful of you ; but on the con- 
 trary you have been much and often in my affectionate 
 remembrance, however opportunity has not presented for 
 saying so in this way. As your quarterly meeting has 
 approached, and under an apprehension that it may or 
 
 will ho a season of renewed or increased trial to you and 
 other dear friends within its limits, 1 have felt inclined to 
 
L845, j MtOM 18 ]:. OOULD. 
 
 address you, and it' it may be, in the language of encour- 
 ment to endure and Btand faithfully and firmly in the 
 of the truth, in whatever way it may require your 
 Bupport and defence. Ami oh, my beloved elders therein, 
 what nice attention it doea require, what dedication of our- 
 selves, and devotion of our all, if we do yield obedience in 
 these trying times! I have sometimes feared that, on the 
 part of some, there has been a withholding of thai which 
 would have been offered it" there was less to be feared on 
 account of the offering. So that through fear of suffer- 
 ing, or of the consequences, a sufficient degree of light 
 and strength of motion to act in, has been lost, while 
 waiting for clearness. But it does appear that there 
 is no time to be lost, and that unless what little there 
 is left be faithfully improved, not only particular states, 
 but the Church will sutler great, and perhaps irreparable 
 
 loss 
 
 But, friends, have we not encompassed a dark mountain 
 in the wilderness long enough, and is it not time, high 
 time, to journey forward ? Is it not time for Zion to arise 
 and shake herself, seeing the bands with which she has long 
 been bound down are being loosed by Him who only can 
 open the gates of brass, and burst asunder the bars of 
 iron ': Hath he not said to some, and is He not saying to 
 other prisoners of hope, — Go forth! — and renewing his 
 commandments, as of old to those who sat in darkness, to 
 show themselves in the Light ? Yea, I am persuaded that 
 it is so — that what may be compared to the year of 
 Jubilee — of release — has nearly come, wherein all who 
 will, may go out free. But verily those who will not, 
 must remain servants forever ! And I greatly fear there 
 are some (though among this number you will not suppose 
 I reckon you), who will prefer servitude, with the enjoy- 
 ment of the leeks and onions of Egypt, to deliverance 
 therefrom, with the inconvenience and exposure of dwell- 
 ing in tents, and the perils of continual warfare, until the 
 old inhabitants of the land shall have been overcome and 
 cast out. But the former need not expect any greater 
 honor among the Egyptians, such of them at least as have 
 had some sense of their bondage and the darkness which 
 
240 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [184.",. 
 
 covers that land, — they need not expect any greater honor 
 than being made hewers of wood, and drawers of water; — 
 while the latter, in the Lord's due and appointed time, 
 when the necessary portion of Buffering is filled up, and 
 the warfare is accomplished, will not only gain | sion 
 
 of the gates of their enemies ; — but of the Land of Pro- 
 mise itself! 
 
 In looking at the state of some, who have had, in a good 
 degree, a right Bense of the state of things in this yearly 
 meeting, and who, from their age, station, and experien 
 may have been fitly called masters in Israel, I have been 
 often and forcibly reminded of good old Jacob's descrip- 
 tion of his Bon [ssachar: " [ssachar is a strong ass, crouch- 
 ing down between two burdens; and he saw that rest was 
 good, and the land that it was pleasant, and lie bowed his 
 shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute.'' 
 And heavy, very heavy, I believe such will find their bur- 
 dens to be, in the great day of account ! — while those who 
 choose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, 
 than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, will not 
 only n-ceivr a double portion of the " recompense of the 
 reward" while here, but reap the fruition of joy unspeak- 
 able and full of glory in the presence of the Father — " the 
 God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob" — in the world 
 to come. May lie preserve US all in faithfulness to Him- 
 self, whatever portion of suffering and reproaches may be 
 involved therein ! 
 
 Truly the difficulties which we in this quarterly meeting 
 have met and arc likely to meet with, in sustaining our 
 meetings, are neither few nor small; but as these have 
 abounded, the consolations of the Gospel of peace and 
 reconciliation have also abounded, as some of us can Bay 
 from, 1 trust, a good degree of living experience, and I 
 
 think we might add, to His praise! And my fervent, 
 heartfelt desire is, that whatever may transpire, the crea- 
 ture, and all that appertain.- thereunto, under whatever re- 
 finements it may exist, or however deceitfully the " treach- 
 
 erous dealer" may operate, may be continually reduced, 
 and under every dispensation, whether of Buffering hunger, 
 
18 15. | THOMAS i LD. 2 II 
 
 tbounding in the good thi ' the K ing : ' m, 
 
 laid in the dual f 
 
 1 sup] have Been J. J. I rurn 
 
 William V. Mott, which his pdmirers are now indi 
 
 culating, in order to produce the impression thai he 
 disposed to make satisfaction for his departures; but it 
 
 . thai any who are a1 all aware of the ex- 
 tent of his defection in principle, should be so credulous 
 ;ke this letter for his and their justification : inasmuch 
 as he therein again fully justifies and defends hiswritin 
 and declines anj emnation, by Baying expressly that 
 
 he has peace in the retrospect of his labors as an author, 
 without making any exception. He places all his boasted 
 n of his writings, upon the ground of condescen- 
 i, and not at all upon the defective character of the 
 writings themselves. Moreover, his submission, if Buch 
 
 it may be railed, was, by his own account, to a few friends 
 
 r London — to a few of his own persona] friends, — and 
 
 these, by other and independent accounts, were of his own 
 on, such as he knew would handle them very ten- 
 derly and carefully indeed, because they were in full unity 
 with the innovations and modernizations of doctrine which 
 they contain. And thus, as he doubtless foresaw, these 
 new views would receive an additional sanction, without 
 incurring the least danger of their being willing to spare 
 " the passages which have given all sound Friends 
 Quch concern. It is plain enough to be -eon at a glance. 
 
 by all men who have read this celebrated letter, that the 
 
 ■ 
 
 only error which he admits, or even supposes, or for which 
 he ex; gret or Borrow, is, that he printed the 
 
 "Brief Remarks' 1 without the sanction of the morning 
 meeting. Xo allusion is made to any erroneous vi< 
 in it, although he must know that when the views which 
 it inculcates are once adopted, the whole foundation of 
 Quakerism is removed as it respects those who imbibe his 
 views therein expressed: and doubtless he thinks it a pity 
 that they got into circulation so soon, as they were so 
 glaringly inconsistent as to .-hock the minds of Friends, 
 
 both in England and America 
 
 But if he did regret the circulation of this book on 
 
 21 
 
*242 Lin; and letters of [184.",. 
 
 mit of the principles it contains, would lie not 
 bo, — would lie not c<»ni'' honestly forward and retract and 
 condemn those principles, and would lie not be forward to 
 do this as publicly and as widely. as the books containing 
 them have been circulated, without regard to the mode in 
 
 which they obtained that circulation ? I !an anv man BUp- 
 that such an author would he satisfied to do it by a 
 private letter to an obscure individual *: But lie has been 
 content to let these principles pass without any condemna- 
 tion at all — he only thinks it was unwise to print it with- 
 out the sanction of the morning meeting 
 
 I must hid you affectionately farewell, and remain very 
 sincerely your friend, 
 
 Thomas B. Gould. 
 
 To Peleo Mitchell. 
 
 Newport, 25th of 3d mo., 1845* 
 Mv dear Friend : 
 
 . . . I fully intended writing to thee earlier, hut 
 have been much pressed for time, in consequence of the 
 very severe illness of both my beloved parents at the time 
 of our quarterly meeting in the second month (which 
 prevented any of us from attending that meeting); and 
 since they have partially recovered, my hands have been 
 fully employed with other matters of importance. My 
 dear wile and self attended the adjournment, which, as 
 well as the other, was a very satisfactory good meeting, 
 wherein Friends were favored to feel, in a good, and of 
 latter times an uncommon degree, the preciousness and 
 blessedness of brethren dwelling together in unity, and 
 harmoniously laboring for Truth's honor, instead of the 
 honor of man and the establishment of a confederacy 
 for the subversion of truth and the right way of the 
 Lord. 
 
 [In reference t<> the prospect of a separation in 
 the yearly meeting, and of the Grurneyites' probable at- 
 tempt to prevent Sandwich Quarterly Meeting from being 
 
 held on Nantucket, he Bays:] If they should make this 
 attempt, and you should passively suhiuit to it without 
 
18 I THOMAS i u>. 2 18 
 
 >n, rely upon it. oor adversaries will take advanta 
 it. and throw it in your teeth afterwardi they have 
 failed to do idly In other notwithstandi 
 their own unparalleled exertion- to prevent Friends from 
 ine expression to their feelings, and their own conscious- 
 js that it has been owing to a tender fear of being drawn 
 out into an activity beyond the limitations of truth. But, 
 my dear friend, 1 am, upon very serious consideration, 
 abundantly convinced that our arch-adversary, the trans- 
 forming angel, lias been too successful in thus preventing 
 the prompt and faithful exercise of our ( christian testimony 
 inst wrong things and unsanctified manoeuvring. As 
 you are, on Nantucket, perhaps the most numerous and 
 impacted body of experienced and solid Friends 
 that we ean hope for, within the limits of this yearly 
 meeting, to strengthen our feeble and remotely stationed 
 bands and ranks in resisting the hosts displayed and 
 arrayed against US, it does appear to mo that a propor- 
 tionally greater degree of responsibility rests upon you, 
 and others of similar character within the limits of Sand- 
 wich quarter 
 
 And truly, as Stephen Crisp said, the weight of things 
 comes daily more and more upon some, with an undoubted 
 evidence as to the source from whence it springs. That 
 this may he our individual experience, that we may be in- 
 asingly prepared and qualified, not only to feel for the 
 afflictions of Joseph, hut to labor for his deliverance out 
 of bondage, that bo Israel may serve the Lord in the line 
 of divine appointment, and with the offerings of His own 
 preparing, in the place which He shall choose, is what I 
 greatly desire; and I believe the Lord "will hasten it in 
 His time," whether few or more shall be found willing to 
 accept of the way which He hath provided for their de- 
 liverance. For surely, He hath opened and is opening, 
 a- dear Ezra Comfort said, a way for our deliverance, 
 where we could see no way, and at a time when we looked 
 
 not for it 
 
 Thy sincere friend, 
 
 Thomas B. Gould. 
 
1244 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1845. 
 
 CHAPTBB V. 
 
 The separation which had been produced by tlio advo- 
 cates and adherents of J. J. Grurney (members of the 
 meeting for sufferings, and of the standing committee of 
 the yearly meeting), in the Monthly Meeting of Swanzey, 
 held at Fall River, and which, as we have seen, extended, 
 in the eleventh month, 1844, to the Quarterly Meeting of 
 Rhode Island, to which Swanzey Monthly Meeting be- 
 longed, was, in the course of events, the procuring cause 
 <>f a similar division in the ensuing Yearly Meeting of New 
 England in the summer of 1845. From the large portion 
 of labor and exercise which consequently devolved on T. 
 B. Gould, it is needful to record here the principal eireum- 
 stances of that important crisis. This is the more nee 
 sary, as it ha- been followed by like separations from the 
 true Society of friends, on the part of the same modern- 
 izing class, in various portions of the Society, where their 
 influence and power have been sufficiently great to bring 
 about their own measures, and a remnant of faithful Friends 
 lias been endued with strength to stand firm to their an- 
 cient faith and discipline. In such eases, a due regard 
 for the safety of the ark of the testimony, for the very 
 existence of the Society on its original ground, and for 
 the fulfilment of their own individual duty as members of 
 
 it. has constrained the honest-hearted to unite together in 
 withstanding the further inroads of error in principle and 
 practice, and in refusing to he identified with the modified 
 system, and with the schismatic course by which it \ 
 sustained. They have herein acted according to the prin- 
 ciples clearly advocated by Robert Barclay, in unison with 
 
 the Apostle Paid, that after due and ineffectual endea\ < 
 
I s 15. ] Tin \o\ u>. 
 
 avinee and reclaim, they who Btand faithful to the 
 true dootrim aally accepted, uol only have the power, 
 
 bul are cinder a solemn obligation, to "withdraw" from 
 those wjio are introducing into the Church Buch innova- 
 tions and disorderly practices ta would be fundamentally 
 inc nl with its original character, and involve them 
 
 in complicity with a departure from the true faith of the 
 body. 
 
 £fter the separation in Rhode Island Quarterly Meet- 
 ing, the leaders of the innovating party foresaw the con- 
 flict thai would follow in the yearly meeting, and took 
 
 »mpl measures to provide for their own numerical buc- 
 
 ■ the crisis. They issued from the meeting for ■uf- 
 
 ferings an illusory representation of what had already 
 iurred; assuming to themselves a high tone of religious 
 authority, by which the minds of many were entangled, 
 before they had an opportunity of knowing the truth or 
 falla.-y of statements so boldly and authoritatively as- 
 ted; and in several of the quarterly meetings, when 
 representatives were to be appointed to the ensuing yearly 
 meeting, they attempted, too successfully, to control the 
 appointments, so as to secure a very large preponderance 
 of their own adherents in the representative body. So 
 that, when the yearly meeting assembled, the representa- 
 tives, with few exceptions, were found to be a "packed" 
 body, composed mainly of those who had been active in 
 the persecution of sound Friends for their testimony against 
 innovation, and of those who, they knew, from previous 
 circumstances, would act according to their own bidding. 
 A\ hen the yearly meeting assembled, in the sixth month, 
 U was expected, two sets of representatives appeared from 
 Rhode Island, one from each of the meetings claiming to 
 be the true Rhode Island Quarterly Meeting. If strict 
 impartiality had been exercised between the two claimants, 
 in ignorance of their respective merits, neither set of re- 
 aentatives would have been minuted as such, until the 
 yearly meeting had concluded its judgment as to which 
 represented the true body. But the clerk, who was one 
 of the advocates of J. J. Gurney, read, anion- those from 
 the other quarters, the report of the Gurney meeting and 
 
246 LOT AM) LETTERS OF [1845. 
 
 minuted the name- of its representatives at once, as to ■' 
 the representatives of that quarter, and afterwards the 
 others merely as purporting to be such ; thus forestalling 
 the judgment of the meeting, and placing the latter in a 
 disadvantageous position. It was now proposed that the 
 question should be referred to the decision of all the repre- 
 sentatives, except those <»f both parties from Rhode Island. 
 This would have Insured a result favorable to the Grurney 
 party, and with a knowledge <>f the certainty of such a 
 result, they pressed it. Sound Friends could not submit 
 to its reference to a body so made up beforehand. They 
 represented to the meeting, that several of the representa- 
 tives were members of the yearly meeting's standing com- 
 mittee, already implicated in this very question, and active 
 participants in the measures which had produced it: that 
 unfair and prosoriptive measures had, in some of the quar- 
 ters, been resorted to iii the appointments; that the im- 
 partial character of the body of representatives was thus 
 greatly vitiated, and a fair adjudication rendered entirely 
 improbable, if not impossible, inasmuch as the suffer:: 
 of faithful Friends, in their endeavors to stand for the 
 cause of truth, and the sad difficulties in which the yearly 
 meeting was now involved, were mainly attributable to the 
 proceedings of those very men who, in the body of repre- 
 sentatives, would have the entire control of the decision. 
 They therefore urged that the yearly meeting itself should 
 deliberate on the matter, that all the members present 
 might have an opportunity of hearing and judging on the 
 merits of the case. There was considerable expression in 
 favor of this proposal, ))Y Friends from different quarterly 
 meetings; hut many continued to urge the reference to 
 the representatives. The sound portion from Rhode Island 
 informed the meeting that they could not consent to such 
 a reference under the circumstances. Hut the clerk made 
 a minute, giving it that direction. He then made a truly 
 extraordinary proposition to the meeting, — no less than 
 
 the suspension (for the accomplishment of the purpose then 
 in view) of'an organic rule of their own printed discipline, — 
 
 a proceeding probably never heard of before in the Society 
 
 of Friends, lie proposed to suspend that rule of the dis- 
 
184 i SOMAS r. GOULD. 2 IT 
 
 line of * x 'land Yearly Meeting fin the langu 
 
 of the world, th< , which requires the 
 
 representatives to meel at the conclusion of the Bitting on 
 
 tond-day morning, and agree upon a clerk for the year, 
 and report the same to the adjournment. This was a very 
 important feature in the discipline of New ESngland Yearly 
 Meeting, founded upon the long-established sentiment 
 among Friends, of the necessity 01 a judicious selection in 
 the nomination to a Bervice ot Buch weight and re^onsi- 
 bility. Although this proposal was objected to on the | 
 
 the Bound representatives from Rhode [sland, and the 
 yearly meeting was reminded that its adoption would he a 
 departure from the injunction of the discipline, yet a 
 minute was made in accordance with the clerk's sugges- 
 tion, — thereby displaying a Borrowful example to its mem- 
 bers, of a body professing to be a yearly meeting of Friends, 
 breaking one of its own laws to suit a temporary, necdf 
 
 1 factious purpose. The meeting, after this, adjourned 
 t<> four o'clock in the afternoon. Before the adjournment 
 
 k place, in view of the condition into which the yearly 
 meeting was now brought, Friends desirous of maintaining 
 the ancient principles and practices of the Society, and 
 anxious that the yearly meeting should be sustained on its 
 original foundation, were invited to take a solid opportu- 
 nity of conferring together, to endeavor unitedly to sec, 
 under the guidance of Divine Wisdom, what step might 
 appear right for them to take in this very peculiar and 
 trying state of things. Many Friends accordingly remained 
 in the house after the conclusion of the sitting; but find- 
 ing it impracticable to confer together there without inter- 
 ruption, they agreed upon another place of meeting, and 
 then quietly withdrew. Arrived at this stage in their 
 proceedings, it may be best to quote their own statement 
 of the subsequent transactions: 
 
 " Friends were introduced into deep exercise and travail 
 of spirit, wherein living desires were raised in the hearts 
 of many, for best help and direction : and when the)* again 
 mbled, free from interruption, under an awful sense 
 of the importance of moving only in the line of Divine 
 appointment, they were united in judgment that it would 
 
248 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [18 
 
 not be right to aj^ear with their case, before the repre- 
 Bentative3 then Bitting in our meeting-house; who w< 
 immediately informed of this conclusion. It wa the 
 
 united Bense and judgment tends, thai in order to 
 
 tain the yearly meeting in conformity with its long- 
 established Discipline, and upon iginal ground, with 
 the ancient doctrines and testimonies of ti iety unim- 
 paired, it was indispensable that the representatives should 
 
 . and agree upon and propose n Clerk to the next 
 sittin ( L r . as by discipline and former usage is required. 
 
 ihe yearly meeting having again convened in the af- 
 ternoon, soon after the opening minute was read. Prince 
 Gardner [of Nantucket], on behalf of the representatives 
 who met on Clerks (which included all those from Rhode 
 [sland [sound Friends] and some from Sandwich Quarterly 
 Meeting), reported that they were united in proposing the 
 names of Thomas B. Gould for Clerk, and Charles Perry 
 for Assistant Clerk, for the ensuing year. This proposal 
 was united with by many, but a large number opposed it, 
 and the former Clerks continued to sit at the table. 
 Whereupon, those agreed to and proposed by the repre- 
 sentatives, were requested to take their seats at a table in 
 a part of the house where most of the Friends who had 
 
 united in their appointment were sitting. [This was a 
 part of the meeting-house at one side of the portion occu- 
 pied by the hulk of the assembly, and divided from it by 
 a sliding partition, bul which was at this time left open 
 above the level of the benches.] After making a minute 
 of tin- appointmenl of Clerks, &c., the names of the repre- 
 sentatives from Rhode Island Quarterly Meeting of Friends 
 
 were called, and all responded thereto. The Clerk then 
 proceeded to read the report from that meeting, in which 
 lie was greatly interrupted by many in different parts of 
 the house. Abraham Shearman, Jr. (the former Clerk), 
 left hi* ami passing along the ministers' gallery to- 
 
 wards that part oi it where the Clerk wa> standing, called 
 upon him to desist : hut after a short pause, the reading 
 was calmly proceeded in. until finished. After appointing 
 a committee to prepare and produce to a future sitting, a 
 
 more extended minute, to hi- entered on our record.-, cm- 
 
18 15.] THOM kfi B, GOULD, 
 
 y trying circumstances in which h 
 pla 1th the 1 and cause tb it did not ap] 
 
 pr( on1 of the greal interruptii •) Friends m< I 
 
 introduce any further business at tha ting, 
 yearly meeting concluded to adjourn, to inert on 
 third-day morning at the tenth hour, of which the women's 
 meet!! informed, and adjourned accordingly. f i 
 
 fact being reported to the separate [Gurney] meeting by 
 their messengers, they adjourned, to meet at the same 
 place, nt the ninth hour. 
 
 ** Friends assembled on Ihird-day morning, 
 and found our meeting-house already occupied by the sepa- 
 rate meeting, — whereupon I arly meeting gathered 
 opened in the yard, the men's meeting near one 
 1 of the house, and the women's at the other. Each 
 me appointed a committee to apply to these in the 
 house for the vacation of the Clerks 1 tables for the use of 
 the yearly meeting and its ( !lerks, and also for the transfer 
 of the books and papers thereof; which application having 
 n made ami unconditionally refused, ^ve were deprived 
 of the reports from all our quarterly meetings, except 
 Rhode Island. One representative from Salem and three 
 from Sandwich Quarterly Meetings, uniting with us, were 
 recognized as such by the meeting ; which., with those from 
 Rhode Island, made thirteen representatives to the men's 
 meeting who have remained with Friends. 
 
 "After being thus obliged to hold our meeting, both of 
 men and women Friends, standing in the open air for 
 nearly two hours, it was concluded to adjourn the yearly 
 meeting to the Baptist meeting-house in Clarke Sjrect, 
 which was kindly opened for that purpose. Friends hav- 
 ing removed from our meeting-house yard in a body, con- 
 vened again immediately at the place proposed; and sitting 
 for a time together, our hearts were tendered and united 
 under the cementing influence of the Great Head of the 
 Church, who. as we iced bowid reverently to acknowledge, 
 has been pleased in His unmerited mercy, and in a re- 
 markable manner, to own U8 in the way which we go, to 
 manifest Himself among us by His Spirit, to uphold and 
 preserve US by His power, amid the varied conflicts which 
 
250 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1845, 
 
 we have had to pass through, for His great name's sake, 
 Under feelings of d >rrow and concern for those who 
 
 have been drawn aside from the truth, and of thankfulm 
 to the Lord our Pr< olemnity and the 
 
 preciousm the covering which, in adorable men 
 
 was spread overus, thai it was concluded to adjourn with- 
 out introducing any business at thai time. 
 
 " The subsequent sittings of the yearly meeting have 
 been regularly held al the same place ; and although greatly 
 reduced in numbers, Friends have been mercifully favored 
 during these several sittings, to experience renewed and 
 abundant evidence, that Jle who Ieadeth the blind by a 
 way which they know not, and in paths which they have 
 not -con. is not unmindful of His people, — and that, while, 
 in the counsels of His own will, He hath permitted them to 
 be thus sifted and very closely tried, yet that lie will, in 
 His own good time, gather the outcasts of Israel and the 
 dispersed of Judah, raising up judges as at the first, and 
 counsellors as at the beginning, who shall not en- in 
 vision or stumble in judgment, hut who shall he enabled, 
 by His holy help, to lay judgment to the line, and right- 
 eousness to the plummet : for Zion was to he redeemed 
 through judgment, and her converts with righteousnei 
 and we are persuaded that lie who reigneth King in the 
 midst of Zion* will verify His ancient promise, * I will restore 
 health unto thee, and L will heal thee of thy wounds, saith 
 the Lord, because they called thee an outcast, saying, This 
 is Zion whom no man seeketh after.' ' Behold, I will 
 bring again the captivity of Jacob's tents, and have mercy 
 on his dwelling-places; and the city shall he builded upon 
 her own heap, and the palace shall remain after the manner 
 thereof. And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving, ami 
 the voice of them that make merry : and I will multiply 
 them, and they shall not be few: 1 will also glorify them, 
 and they shall not be small. Their children also shall 
 
 hi- as aforetime, and their rongregation shall be esta- 
 blished b . and 1 will punish all that oppr* 
 tern. 
 
 " Furthermore, we are engaged to testify 
 
 and declare, that while we have the fullest unity with the 
 
THOMAS i . i.!>. 
 
 anc blished principles, doctrines, testimonies, and 
 
 jcipline ciety of Friends, as held and 
 
 supported from the beginning, and as published authori- 
 tative] he world in Robert Barclay's "Apology for 
 the true Christian Divinity," his " Catechism and Con- 
 don of Faith," and his treatise on "Church Govern- 
 ment;" also by George Fox, William Penn, [saac Pen- 
 tngton, George Whitehead, and all those brighi Bona of 
 the morning in unity with them ; — yel we have no unity 
 :ii]> with those adverse principles and doctrines 
 of Joseph John Gurney, as exhibited in the following 
 extracts from his published works, and illustrated by the 
 disorderly practices and proceedin his adheres 
 those principles and doctrines being, as the extracts from 
 the writings of some of our early Friends, which we have 
 contrasted therewith, will show, plainly inconsistent with 
 the doctrines of the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus 
 ( Ihrist and His Apostles, as recorded in the Holy Scriptures 
 of truth, which are of divine authority, being given by in- 
 spiration of God, and written by holy men of old, as they 
 were moved by the Holy Ghost. 
 
 *• We therefore entreat and exhort our dear- friends, 
 Tywhere, to be on their guard against receiving or 
 imbibing any principles or doctrines that are not in 
 accordance with those- held and promulgated by the early 
 approved writers and ministers of our Society, which we 
 have herein referred to ; and who were made in their day 
 eminent instruments in the Divine Hand, of reviving pri- 
 mitive Christianity, exalting the standard of truth, and of 
 gathering a distinct and peculiar people unto Him who 
 was the foundation of the prophets and apostles, Jesus 
 Christ himself — the Rock of Ages — being the chief corner- 
 stone." 
 
 " In conclusion, Ave feel concerned affec- 
 tionately and earnestly to invite all those who make a 
 profession of the truth under our name, in this time of 
 great commotion, to centre more and more to the unflat- 
 tering witness, and gift of divine light and grace within 
 themselves, which never will deceive those that faithfully 
 follow its leadings. Thus shall we know more and more 
 
252 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [18 i~>. 
 
 of :ni establishment on thai Bock on which the tree 
 Church of Chrh rilded, and against which the 
 
 hell shall never bi ed to prevail. May none of 
 
 our dear friends be discouraged in view of the great suf- 
 ferings which a faithful adherence to the truth may bring 
 upon them : but remembering the glorious reward promised 
 
 our Holy Redeemer to those who are willing joyfully 
 to Buffer for His Bake, and to sacrifice near and dear 
 things for His cause, may we all look to Him who re- 
 mains to be the Helper of His people, with earnest desii 
 for preservation, 
 
 •• And as, in the integrity of our hearts, this is the <•. 
 although in His inscrutable wisdom, He may permit us to 
 be Boreiy tried, even to an hair's breadth, both for our 
 furtherance in the ever-blessed truth, and the advance- 
 ment of His own glorious cause in the earth, yet as we 
 abide in the everlasting patience, we shall know the 
 angel of His presence to go with us, and be permitted to 
 enjoy the reward of that inward peace and satisfaction, 
 which the more dweller in the outward court may talk of, 
 but never can possess/ 1 
 
 An undue confidence in certain leaders of the people, 
 and desire to stand well with the rulers, had taken p 
 ssion of many minds, even among those who at first had 
 
 :i more or less clearly the discordance between our 
 ancient principles and those of the modern school. The 
 arch enemy of all truth, who is ever ready to take advan- 
 I* our weakness, easily persuaded these, that it was 
 very comfortable to take the words and deeds of those in 
 whom they had placed their confidence, as unquestionably 
 correct and safe for them to follow, instead of Bubmittii 
 to the arduous engagement of entering individually into 
 close religious travail and exercise of spirit, by which they 
 might have been qualified to discern between the voice of 
 the stranger, and the still small voice of Him who would 
 have led them Bafely by the footsteps of the flock, in the 
 green pastures of life. Thus lending a willing ear to the 
 ''charmer," they became more and more bewildered, till 
 they stumbled in judgment, and were carried away in mul- 
 titudes by the delusive representations now set afloal : 
 
,x| THOBI 18 I i.i>. 
 
 that in some quarters very fev round prepared to 
 
 *"' 'ng ,1 "' true standard, in opposition to the 
 
 » e , rful mpaences brought I upon them from within 
 
 and from \\ ithout. 
 
 The yearly meeting, in view of the distracted condition 
 
 into which the Society i„ NVw England was now thrown 
 by the disorderly and factious proceedings of the Gun 
 
 party, the fallacious representations spread abroad by them 
 
 P*ro*«>n whirl, had taken place, and the almost 
 
 erwhelming prevalency of defection in influential quar- 
 
 s, believed that great difficulties would attend the honest 
 
 endeavors ot Friends to sustain their meetings in accord- 
 •-• with the ancient principles and practices of the S* 
 '}'■ * committee was therefore appointed, to v'mi the 
 
 quarterly monthly, and other meetings, as way might open 
 'f. and extend aid, as enabled, in the support of the 
 timonies of tnuh as always professed by as T B 
 dd being one of this committee, an^interesting view 
 
 of some features of the visits may be gathered from several 
 
 of the following letters. 
 
 Ur received, about this time, an encouraging letter 
 
 among others, iron, a Friend in the ministry, then residing 
 
 in JNew Jersey. ° 
 
 Fkom AVilliam Scattergood to T. B. G. 
 
 - _, MiLltillb, 7th mo. 21st, 1845. 
 
 Dear Friend, T. IS. Gould: 
 
 My thoughts have been so often turned towards thee 
 with some others in your parts, during the past few weeks.* 
 that I seem to see no other way than to endeavor to impart 
 somewhat of the sympathy that attends ,„v mind towards 
 thee m tins way It is not in the sense of abounding, 
 nor of having much to communicate ; hut as a trying period 
 has overtaken some of you, who are engaged to stand for 
 the law and the testimony, it cannot hut tend to affect all 
 such as love the Lord Jesus in sincerity, with feelings of 
 lively and tender inter, "When one member suffers 
 
 all the members suffer with it," is the language of the ex- 
 perienced apostle, and is witnessed by such as are alive in 
 
 no 
 
.)- 
 
 4 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [184."). 
 
 the L<>rd down to this day; and as there is a patient 
 abiding with the Beed which is under Buffering, ther< 
 something known of being one another's helpers as well as 
 joy in the Lord. 
 
 We are happily thus far placid in a situation in which 
 we arc not immediately involved in the confusion caused 
 by unruly and unsettled spirits, who, having losi ground 
 in themselves, arc Beeking to keep up an outward prof< 
 sion, and more than that, are Beeking pre-eminence over 
 others and in the church. Hut I apprehend we shall not 
 long witness immunity from the desolating effects of this 
 unhappy defection from the cross of Christ, which is the 
 groundwork of all schism and contention in the church. 
 
 Well, 1 think 1 can Bay, in looking at the wave that is 
 rolling towards us, and which is no doubt to overwhelm 
 many in its progress, may our dependence and foundation 
 be upon the everlasting Bock which cannot be moved, and 
 against which the winds and waves yrill beat in vain. J low- 
 important, in those who are engaged to stand against the 
 innovations of the present day, that they be found with 
 their loins girded about and their lights burning : that they 
 should witness a fresh and fervent engagement, day by 
 day, to have on the whole armor of light, that so they 
 may stand against the wiles of the devil ! I have felt, in 
 looking at the prospect before us, of having again to enter 
 as it were into warfare with unruly spirits, as though it 
 was an awful one : and having been a participator in a degree 
 in a former separation, the thought of this lias affected 
 me, with more than ordinary desires that my own depen- 
 dence and Btrength might be alone in Him who is mighty 
 to save. It is only as we are thus brought in true 
 humility to depend upon Him, that we can hope for safety 
 as regards ourselves, or victory, in a church capacity, over 
 the enemies of the cross of ( Ihrist. May our abiding then, 
 my dear friend, be here, and may we be more concerned 
 that truth and righteousness may prevail, than any other 
 thing. Truth is truth, though all men forsake it: and as 
 
 we hold fast to it, lie who is said to be the Way, the 
 
 Truth, and the Life, will maintain his own cause, and we 
 
 shall witness true exaltation in His way and time, which 
 
18 \->. ] THOM L6 B. GOULD. 
 
 i> Doi to be hastened or promoted by any contrivance or 
 tlic natural mind or will, < w ! it is good to 
 dwell low with Him, in his holy fear ! 
 
 have had accounts of your late yearly me. and 
 
 while we mourn with you over the defection of bo mai 
 
 1 look forward with hope, that those who remain at- 
 tached to our religious principles and testimonies may 
 be bo afresh engaged to know their abiding to be in 
 the Vine, that heavenly and blessed fruil may be more 
 eminently manifest among as than for the time that is 
 past, If this isnot the case, if love, joy, peace, long-suf- 
 fering, meekness, goodness, faith, are not more eminently to 
 be Been among as, whal profit Bhall this separation be to 
 us *: ( >ur unity and fellowship is not bo much in the belief of 
 opinions and notions about religion, as in that holy and 
 blessed Spirit whereinto all the living members of Christ's 
 spiritual body arc truly baptized, whereby they arc made 
 one body, oven as we arc called in one hope of our calling. 
 May this be more and more our experience as a religious 
 body, and may this sifting, shaking season, tend to drive 
 us home to the impregnable fortress, where the Lord's 
 presence dwells ! My heart is enlarged in feelings of 
 tender solicitude for those of my own age and younger, 
 that we may be preserved in the hollow of the Lord's holy 
 hand, and that, in our engagements in the church, we may 
 be preserved from doing anything to hinder or mar the 
 Lord's work. As we are thus preserved patient and 
 watchful before Him, he will at seasons clothe with his 
 divine power, so that one shall chase a thousand, and two 
 put ten thousand to flight. 
 
 I could enlarge much upon this weighty and solemn 
 lasion ; but as I have no desire to multiply words, have 
 only to commend thee, with other of our dear friends in 
 your parts, to the keeping and guidance of the Shepherd 
 of Israel. May lie be your bow and battle-axe, your 
 shield and exceeding great reward. If this is the ca 
 though Israel be not gathered, though there may be little 
 left of us as a religious society, yet will you be precious 
 in the eyes of the Lord, and He will afford the sweet con- 
 solation, of which He is the only Source and Fountain. 
 
256 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1845. 
 
 My love to thy wife, in which my Elizabeth joins ; also 
 to Mich as 1 may have some acquaintance with in your 
 quarterly meeting, &c. : and with the salutation of near 
 affection, 1 remain thy Friend and brother, 
 
 William Scattergood. 
 
 From T. B. G. to Joshua Maulb. 
 
 North Berwick, Maim:, 26th of 8th mo., 1845, 
 
 Mv yeky dbab Brother, Joshua Maulb: 
 
 Such has been the press of business growing 
 OUt of our peculiar situation in New England, that I have 
 been able to pay scarcely any attention to my own affairs, 
 since J parted with thy Sarah. I am now here, with 
 others of our yearly meeting's committee, waiting for 
 Dover Quarterly Meeting, which is to be held at this 
 place to-morrow and the day following. . . . We sat 
 nearly eight hours in Salem Quarterly Meeting, held last 
 fifth-day at Lynn, before the Gurneyites got ready to ad- 
 journ and leave Friends in possession of the house. About 
 fifty men remained, including the committee of the yearly 
 meeting; there were, however, but six or seven women, 
 the rest clinging to the skirts of a distinguished female 
 minister there, who is not j'ct prepared to take a stand 
 herself with us, although she -advised her husband and 
 children to do so, and they did. Oh, the baneful effects 
 of the love of popularity! How few there are that arc 
 willing to be of no reputation, for His sake who left us an 
 example that we should follow Him ! 
 
 North Berwick Monthly Meeting occurred the same day 
 as Salem Quarterly Meeting: and the ( iiirneyites here, 
 with J. D. L. at their head, separated themselves there- 
 from, in consequence < f the old Clerk being in unity with 
 Friends; and the time of his appointment having expired, 
 they sought to effect a change, much in the same way they 
 did in Swan/ey Monthly Meeting, as told in the Address. 
 Hut failing to do so in the regular way. they persisted in 
 the appointment of a new one, Organized a new meeting, 
 adjourned it, and left Friends with the regular Clerk ill 
 the house, On the men's side, and he also retained the 
 
1 B 15. ] THOMAS B. QOl LD, 
 
 books and papers. But the women's Clerk wen! off, and 
 k the books and papers with her. Fifteen men and 
 man; women remained in the house. In Salem, it ap- 
 peared tin 4 leaders had previously agreed to make no reply 
 anything we might say. To numy of their members, 
 much have they been kepi in the dark), the Btate of 
 things was comparatively new and unheard of: they ac- 
 dingly made many inquiries as to the ground and cause 
 of things, which were very fully answered by Friends, 
 embracing what our opposers do doubt considered high 
 cha gainst themselves in regard to doctrine, disci- 
 
 pline, and bo forth. But they never disputed one single 
 word which we uttered, during the six hours we remained 
 
 ; and thus very fully manifested the extreme 
 
 weakness of their cause, especially as they were requested 
 had in any respect misrepresented them. 
 
 And some of their yearly meeting's committee were pre- 
 sent, both old and new ; for they have, it seems, disbanded 
 
 their standing committee, and have now merely got one 
 similar to ours, to sustain their meetings, &C. 
 
 Thou hast doubtless heard, that in Sandwich Quarterly 
 Meeting, held on Nantucket, there were as many men left 
 attended our yearly meeting: and more women, there 
 being very nearly, if not quite, one hundred women. 
 Truly, in our passing along under many difficulties and 
 heavy burdens, we d<> find some bright spots, even such as 
 We had not thought or heard of: even such as have been 
 fitted and prepared as in the mountains, for the rebuilding 
 of the temple: which I have no doubt will yet, as faith- 
 fulness is abode in, be beautified and made glorious, as 
 in days of old and as in former years. Nevertheless, the 
 work is great, the burdens are heavy, and the faithful 
 laborers few 
 
 Friends are very anxious to hear how it will go in Ohio. 
 Nevertheless, they have seen enough to convince the most 
 doubtful of those who endured the test at the yearly meet- 
 ing, that it was done in the ordering of Best Wisdom, and 
 that a way was wonderfully opened for us. beyond what 
 we could have asked, or thought of, or believed. That 
 New York committee, which was designed to assist in and 
 
 22 k 
 
LIFE AND LBTTBR8 OF [184'). 
 
 complete our overthrow, together with the English people, 
 proved the means of our being safely and honorably de- 
 livered; the counsel of Ahithophel being turned into fool- 
 islnn 
 
 Truly thine, 
 
 Thomas B. Gould. 
 
 To Mabtha S. Gould. 
 
 Nobtb BxawiGK, Maine, 26th of 8th mo., 1- ; 
 My dear Mabtha : 
 
 We had a tedious time at Lynn; yet I did not 
 Buffer as much during the six hours we waited upon our 
 opposers, after tin* shutters were closed, before they got 
 ready to adjourn, and leave Friends in the house, as I did 
 on Nantucket. In this time we had a fine opportunity to 
 open up the ground and cause of things; and J. AV. did 
 it very fully, without one word of reply from any of them, 
 although he charged them boldly. When they at length 
 got ready to adjourn, they left about fifty men in the 
 house, including the yearly meeting's committee. But 
 among the members of Salem Quarterly Meeting who 
 
 remained, there are some very choice Friends, who have 
 
 been fitted and prepared, as in the mountains, for this 
 
 day 
 
 Thomas B. Gould. 
 
 To Martha S. Gould. 
 
 WeSTBROOK, Maim:. 9th mo., 5th, 1845. 
 
 My dbab Martha : 
 
 1 wrote h<»me from the house of Timothy Varney, of 
 Kennebunk; and the next evening received thy note, at 
 the house of J. IF. in the town of Gorham, about five 
 miles the other side of Windham meeting-house, where the 
 quarterly meeting was held yesterday. We got to J, IF - 
 bouse about sunsel (twenty-five miles from Kennebunk), 
 that is, J. Wilbur, I. Bufiinton, and myself, and were very 
 kindly received and comfortably entertained ; they being 
 
 farmers, and very clever SOTt of people, although they go 
 
18 15. | THOMAS i:. QOl LD. 
 
 b " tlif body." William and Elizabeth Hill, and Mary 
 I us there in about an hour after; the two 
 former having returned from Kennebunk, in order to d 
 and bring dear Mary Davis; she having been home since 
 the quarterly meeting at Berwick, and returned again 
 bear us oompany in this painful Bervice, to the conclusion 
 thereof. 
 
 Perhaps this was the largest quarterly meeting ever 
 held here. It not being known thatwewere in the neigh- 
 borhood (by the rulers), until we drove ap to the meeting- 
 house, it produced great excitement among them: and 
 Stephen Jones, his brother Thomas, and Nathan Pope, an 
 elder, joined by Edward Wing, took an opportunity with 
 John Wilbur before meeting, and charged him to leave 
 alter the first meeting closed. I. seeing they had J. W., 
 joined them: I. B. followed; when Edward Wing told 
 them he supposed they knew we had all been disowned! 
 which however did not frighten any of as. We took com- 
 modious Beats in the meeting; and soon after, a young 
 upstart, whoso name is J , delivered one of their broad- 
 sides, and a little after A. It. poured out another, which last 
 was quite ingeniously done. She alluded to Balaam'* being 
 hired to curse Israel, his seeking for and using divinations 
 and enchantments, Israel's abiding in their tents, and his 
 curse being turned into blessing, &c. But J. Wilbur 
 od up shortly, and turned it all back upon her and 
 them in a most workmanlike manner; showing that that 
 people were no longer safe than while they did truly abide 
 in their tent, dwelt alone, &c. : and that even Balaam 
 taught Balak to lay a stumbling-block before the children 
 of Israel ; how they stumbled and fell upon it, and event- 
 ually became scattered and mixed among the people, for 
 want of truly and really abiding m Him who had led them 
 and preserved them while they stood in obedience to and 
 dependence upon Him. This stirred up a silly woman 
 who has lately been recommended here. The burden of 
 her song was love, love, love !— everything that occasioned 
 strife, she said, was Anti-Christ, and so might be known. 
 etc. Here I could scarcely refrain from reviving the 
 query: " Think ye that I came to send peace on earth? 
 
260 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1845. 
 
 I 1 1*11 you nay, but a sword/ 1 and " to Bet the son against 
 the father, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in- 
 law;" — and "the greatest enemies a man hath shall be 
 they of his own household." But before 1 thought it sea- 
 sonable to stand up, J. II., who i> very deal', and proba- 
 bly did not hear anything that had been said, rose op, 
 speaking comfortably to those who were oppressed; but 
 he did expose the nakedness and shame of the rulers. He 
 uttered much sound doctrine and many home-truths; hut 
 I could not feel easy to follow linn. He is a thorough 
 " come-outer," of whom there are many in these parts, 
 who serve to rebuke those degenerated professors; as it is 
 written, " I av i 1 1 rebuke them by them that are no people, 
 and by a foolish nation will I anger you;" but as they 
 would gladly join hands with us if we would have them, it 
 
 makes our path the more difficult. Young J however 
 
 again stood up, and said something more ; when they shook 
 hands; after which Stephen Jones requested "Friend*" 
 both men and women, to keep their seats, and those who 
 were not) to withdraw. Many left the house, — all, I sup- 
 pose, who were desired to leave, except ourselves. After 
 sitting.ior some time, we were formally requested to leave. 
 John Wilbur attempted to make reply, on which he was 
 
 eral times interrupted by Stephen and Thomas Jones; 
 for whom he stopped till they had done, and then went on 
 again, they crying out, "We have no unity with thee or 
 thy company/' But John proceeded till Stephen Jones 
 requested men Friends to go into the women's apartment 
 (the house being in two parts), which they seemed to 
 understand, and acted accordingly, going out in confusion, 
 while John Wan-en cried aloud, " We have no fellowship 
 with the unfruitful works of darkness!" 
 
 On getting out of the door, we found a strong guard 
 placed at that into which ^t/tr body" were entering. One 
 of the sentinels was calling out, " Friends, walk in — walk 
 in. Friends!" So I stepped up towards the door ; upon 
 which he said, "Thee can't go in, thee can't go in!" I 
 inquired, u Is this the way you entertain strangers ?" — 
 he being a man whom 1 had often seen at Newport. He said, 
 
 " It is the way we entertain such as come here to impose 
 
1 8 IV ] THOMAS B. GOULD, 261 
 
 upon as and disturb as." — " How have I imposed upon or 
 
 you?" — " Thee has been disowned!" — 
 by the of Friends." — "Well," said he, "thee is 
 
 o member of our Society; thee can't go in : we can'1 
 disturbed." I told him, I should not pro.-- it any fur- 
 ther than to clear myself; it was a relief to me that they 
 had themselves prohibited us; we were clears and the 
 burden must rest upon themselves. There were bu1 two 
 male members of this quarterly meeting, who stayed out 
 with us. Poor Mary Mavis and Elizabeth Hill had it to 
 bear alone in the women's meeting, except dear B.A., 
 who is a Bwe£t-spirited woman. After waiting about an 
 hour, and finding they would not even open the meeting 
 until they left, and that nothing eould be done further 
 than the relief of their own minds, these three Friends 
 came out and left them. And having ridden seven miles, 
 
 we have found a place of rest and safety at this house, 
 where we expect to remain tonight also, as John Wilbur 
 
 has an appointed meeting here this afternoon 
 
 T. B. Gould. 
 
 To Martha S. Gould. 
 
 Yassaluoro', ninth month, Dili, 1845. 
 
 My dearest Martha : 
 
 I wrote last at the house of Ehenezcr Austin, on sixth- 
 day I think. The next morning we left in their company 
 for Durham, a distance of twenty-four miles ; but John 
 Wilbur feeling a concern to appoint a meeting at the 
 village of Freeport, six miles short, we stopped there at a 
 public house, and stayed the night. Although the notice 
 was short, the meeting was large, the landlord kindly in- 
 teresting himself to notify the people. Neither himself 
 nor wife seemed to know anything of Friends, nor to have 
 attended their meetings, although so near to Durham, 
 which is a very large one. But I suppose our early 
 Friends would have said she was convinced. She was 
 truly tender and broken ; could not do enough for us, 
 apparently ; and was very reluctant to part with us. 
 However, we set out on first-day morning, and rode six 
 
202 LIFE AM) LETTERS OF [1645. 
 
 miles to Durham Meeting, in a hard rain : hut we wont 
 dry and comfortable before it. Here live S. and T. J., 
 and they have poor X. I), for their chief preacher, whom 
 they have converted into a hewer of wood and a drat 
 of water for them. But on this occasion they had B. J., 
 of whom I have before Bpoken, to do their drudgery for 
 them : and although we Baid never a word, yet our pre- 
 sence was sufficient to call forth their bitterest ire; and 
 the Baid Benjamin did preach at us, and "call on the 
 name of his Grod" to deliver them, vehemently. Thou 
 canal imagine the worst, and not exceed the reality per- 
 haps : yet we could bear it very patiently 
 
 While we were in meeting, they turned our horse and 
 carriage out of the Bhed under which, as we came early, 
 Ave had hitched it : and nmeli ado Ave had to find it, among 
 the great number of carriages. No one invited us to dine, 
 so Ave rode on, about four miles, crossed the great Andro- 
 ggin River, and stopped to dine at a tavern on this 
 side, and in full view of it. It is the most rapid river I 
 ever saw, running violently over a rocky bed, much of 
 which is exposed at this season, as the river is low. 
 When high, it must be terrific, even here, yet more so at 
 
 Brunswick, about five miles below this bridge 
 
 Being kindly entertained, and having had a comfortable 
 night, we rode on, about eleven or twelve miles, to 
 Augusta, the seat of government in the State of Maine. 
 Here we stopped at a tavern to dine and have 
 our carriage mended : for when within a mile or so of 
 Lot Groddard's house, down came the hack bar of our 
 
 carriage After dinner, our carriage being 
 
 ready, we once more set forward towards the north, 
 crossed the Kennebec, by the great bridge of Augusta, 
 ami rode up its east hank (through the southerly part of 
 the town of Vassalboro*), about ten miles, close by the 
 river Bide all the way. Then turning east about one mile, 
 we came to the house of David Elowland, who, with his 
 wife and aged mother, gave us a hearty welcome. They 
 were expecting as, as William Hill had written, and it 
 was truly grateful to our feelings, once mpre to meet with 
 
 those who could sympathize with US and joyfully r 
 
[8 15.] THOMAfl B, GOULD. 
 
 ib. . . . Vassalboro' Quarterly Meeting is held on 
 
 Bixth-day, about a mile from this hou 
 
 I have felt very anxious lately: ye1 I have Bometin 
 thought, that He who calls for dedication to His cause, 
 
 can keep those who are SO \rvy dear to inc. and whom 1 
 
 have left for its Bake alone, it' it please Him, whether I 
 am present or absent. My dear love to father and 
 
 mother, sisters L. and M., and to thyself more than can 
 
 be written or uttered. 
 
 Thy own, 
 
 T. B. Could. 
 
 obi T. B. (i. TO . 
 
 Newport, 19th of ninth month, 1845, 
 
 My dear : 
 
 What do they make of us '.' Do they 
 
 really think that we are so had that we are not fit foi- 
 ia!, for relative intercourse ? Truly I have had many, 
 very many hitter cups to take at the hands of the Gurney- 
 ites, but none were half so bitter as some such as these 
 being administered by those who have professed to be our 
 friends. Nevertheless I have once more ventured to write 
 freely, and as 1 used to do, respecting our affairs. If it IS 
 burdensome, I shall regret it sincerely, as I love thee and 
 all thine: under which conviction I conclude, and am as 
 ever thy affectionate 
 
 Thomas B. Gould. 
 
 When we were coming home from the East, we met 
 dear Mary Macey, with Benjamin and Rachel Gardner, 
 
 going down to visit the families of such as would receive 
 them, in those Eastern quarters. She had visited many 
 families in Lynn, who did not go with us at the time of 
 the separation there ; and there were others whom she 
 expected to visit on her return. I was at Lynn Meeting, 
 both morning and afternoon, last first-day, and had good 
 reason to be glad I was there, although it cost dear. 
 
 But I was received beyond all expectation, and very 
 
 differently from what 1 met with East, even by Our- 
 neyites. 
 
264 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1845. 
 
 From Zkno Carpenter to T. B. <-. 
 
 The lltb of 7th mo. 1M.». 
 
 My much beloved Friend : 
 
 I Balute thee in the love of the Gospel, fellow-traveller 
 and fellow-soldier, bound to the land and city of God. 
 My mind hath been drawn in much sympathy toward thee 
 at times, since I saw thee in the city of Philadelphia. I 
 wish thy preservation and prosperity every way : that 
 thou mayst stand firm and immovable in the living and 
 eternal truth. Let thy whole trust and confidence be in 
 the holy Rock of Ages, Christ Jesus our Lord. He is the 
 same as ever he was, strong and mighty, Lord of heaven 
 and of the whole earth. 1 believe thou hast had many 
 trials to pass through, many oppositions from those thou 
 once travailed in spirit with : may thou be preserved, is 
 the fervent prayer and supplication of thy friend, thy 
 brother and companion in tribulation. It is beyond the 
 expression of pen or tongue to set forth the mercy, the 
 goodness, and loving-kindness of the "Ancient of days," 
 to His poor dependent creature man. How humbly thank- 
 ful ought we to be for His many mercies and kind favors 
 conferred upon us ! He is infinite in goodness ; lie is 
 often pleased to look down from His excellent glory to 
 bless, and favor, and strengthen, and confirm the poor 
 weary traveller, that is on the way to the land of eternal 
 rest. Well, dear friend, be not discouraged nor dismayed : 
 if the Lord is on thy side, who can be against thee? 
 Though all the powers of death and darkness, and even 
 hell itself, should combine together, yet they will never 
 be able to dismount or overthrow a servant of the living 
 God, mounted upon the King's horse, and arrayed in royal 
 apparel. No, verily: lie is omnipotent and omnipresent; 
 He ruleth in the army of heaven, and in the kingdom of 
 men ! 
 
 1 trust it is in Gospel h>ve that I felt thus to address 
 thee. It lias not been for thyself only, but tbv dear com- 
 panion, that I never saw that 1 know of: I felt that love 
 t«> flow towards you, that is without bounds. May you 
 join heart to heart, and travel hand in hand, in the glo- 
 
L8 15. ] THOMAS D GOULD. 265 
 
 rious cause; and keep to the law and testimony, and to 
 the Bentiments of the Society of Friends, though many 
 may deviate therefrom. I beseech it of you, dear friends 
 and feljow-travellcrs, thai you would stand firm and im- 
 movable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. Sou 
 will often witness t ho love of God, and His glory, to shine 
 
 in and fill the BOul. What can be named more precious 
 
 and comfortable ? < Hi, matchless goodness and marvellous 
 loving-kindness, that a Being, altogether complete without 
 as, should thus condescend to bless and to favor! It is 
 cause of humility and self-abasement, and to bow in awful 
 reverence before the Mosl High, for such dignified favors 
 from the great and holy Head of the Church, whose mer- 
 cies are innumerable, and still continue to be over all His 
 works, new every morning, from generation to generation. 
 May we, dear friends, serve, reverence, and adore, and love 
 Him, in preference to all sublunary attainments! 
 
 I feel for von in that part of the land: trials, and deep 
 ones, await you. Give not back ; maintain your ground, 
 your station and standing in truth ; and keep on the watch- 
 tower, a place of safety, under the sanctuary of our Lord, 
 and out of the reach of the enemy of souls, who is con- 
 tinually on the alert, going to and fro in the earth, and 
 walking up and down in it. His power is a limited one. 
 The power of the Lord is above and over all, almighty, 
 eternal, and incomprehensible. Therefore let us trust in 
 the Lord, and lean not upon a hollow reed, nor trust in 
 man, whose breath is in his nostrils, for therein is no 
 safety. Let us pray fervently that the Lord from on high 
 will be pleased, in unmerited mercy, to remember us, poor, 
 frail, and finite creatures. There is nothing that we can 
 do of ourselves, as men and creatures, that will in the least 
 redound to the honor and dignity of the great and holy 
 Head of the Church. May the u Ancient of days" keep 
 and preserve you, and poor me, in His holy fear and 
 counsel ; that we may be strengthened to pursue the high 
 and holy way that leads to the land of everlasting rest, 
 and out of the reach of all trouble and temptation, to join 
 the celestial family, and the spirits of just men made per- 
 
 23 
 
2GG LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1846. 
 
 fret, to Bing the holy song of redeeming love, where God 
 i riumphantly with His saints ! 
 From your affectionate friend and well-wisher, 
 
 Zbno Carpenter. 
 
 From T. B. G. to Joshua and Sarah Maule. 
 
 Newport, 1st month, 6th, 184G. 
 My dear Brother and Sister: 
 
 .... As you may not have heard how we poor pil- 
 grims fared after Ave left Berwick, where, I think I stated 
 in my last, Dover Quarterly Meeting was to be held, I will 
 just say that no quarter below Dover was sustained, al- 
 though we went down to Fairfield, which is the lowest. It 
 appealed that the Gurneyites came to a conclusion, after 
 Dover Quarter, not to allow us to sit in the meetings for 
 discipline; thus laying aside their resolutions to be quiet 
 and bear with us, which they made so much boast of at 
 Lynn. And at Dover, J. D. L. and his partisans nearly 
 raised a mob while so earnestly recommending quietness 
 and patience under their sufferings; sufferings produced 
 only by our presence and pleading with them not to sell 
 their birthrights for a mess of pottage, nor to exchange 
 the inheritance of their forefathers for another. But they 
 found, to their great chagrin and vexation, that while they 
 allowed us to sit and state our case, as way opened for it, 
 we gained the ears of some in every quarter, who had 
 before been kept in ignorance of the true ground of the 
 controversy: that they were losing ground, and we were 
 gaining it, and that it would not do any longer to " suffer 
 patiently," even such as it was, and as they suffered. But 
 they must resort next to stratagem, and then to force. 
 So, at Falmouth Quarter, which followed Dover, they did 
 allow us to enter the public meeting; not, however, without 
 vainly attempting to extort a promise of silence therein, 
 and of leaving at the close. And at the close, they first 
 requested those who were not members to withdraw, and 
 BO gOl rid of spectators. Then, as we did not leave, they 
 singled US out. and formally requested us to do so, but not 
 very civilly. We did not comply; and they then requested 
 
18 16.] THOMAS B. aoi u>. 
 
 the men to withdraw into the women's apartment, and hur- 
 ried them, first oul of that part of the meeting-house, and 
 then into the other, while a strong guard at the door pre- 
 vented us from entering; which, however, we made no 
 other attempt to do in any case, than just to advance to- 
 wards it in a peaceable and becoming manner. But it' we 
 had advanced with the same determination to enter, which 
 they manifested to keep as out, we should soon have brought 
 them to Mows! It was, however, no way flattering to the 
 intellects of those assembled, to witness how submissively 
 thev Buffered themselves to be dragged into the assemblies 
 of a professedly non-resisting people. However, at Fair- 
 field Quarter (the next in point of time), they would not 
 allow any of US, either male or female, to enter the public 
 meeting for worship (so called): our women Friends had 
 not been reached by the manoeuvre which excluded the 
 male members of the committee from Falmouth Quarter, 
 and had had some effective service in the women's meet- 
 ing; although thev were of course not able to sustain it. 
 Thev would not even open that meeting during their pre- 
 sence, under a pretence they had no right to sit; yet neither 
 of them had even been treated with at that time. So, after 
 clearing themselves, they quietly withdrew, and joined the 
 men Friends, who Avere standing in the yard, hard by the 
 meeting-house ; into which the poor Gurney people were 
 crammed and locked, for very fear that any one should 
 even feel a curiosity to speak with us outside ! Truly we 
 were made spectacles to men at least; but we did not envy 
 them their condition, or covet their feelings ; and I con- 
 
 j, theirs seemed to me a truly pitiful case. 
 
 But to return to Fairfield. We reached the meeting- 
 house early, and found the doors locked, and a guard 
 close by, watching. Our dear friend, Mary Davis, first 
 ascended the steps, which were several feet above the 
 ground, and tried the door in vain ; upon which she took 
 her stand on one side of it, against the Bide-light of the 
 door, from which she did not move, after, till we left ; 
 as when the people began to muster, the guards stood 
 between her and the door, to prevent her entrance. Many 
 people collected and stood around, Avondering; they not 
 
268 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1846. 
 
 seeming as willing — other persuasions I mean — to be drag- 
 ged or driven in. as our former Friends at Falmouth. It 
 produced quite a sensation among the bystanders. And 
 one of the guard, named D. D., in the station of an elder, 
 
 treated Mary Davis verv rudely, pushing, and crowding, 
 and elbowing her, to get her off' the platform of the steps 
 endwise, whence she must have fallen several feet to the 
 ground. Bui standing as she did between the posts, and 
 against the side-light of the door, she was enabled, without 
 any unseemly effort, to keep her feet ; and during this time 
 she had a remarkable testimony to bear to these door- 
 keepers : in which she spoke in a singular manner, which 
 I could not then exactly comprehend, of the shortness of 
 time, and how very dangerous it was to do anj'thing, under 
 excitement, and a false, blind zeal, which would militate 
 against us, and prove our burden, at the day of righteous 
 retribution ! She did not speak loud, or so as to disturb 
 those in the house, and moreover she was outside of the 
 porch door. But David made a deal of noise, crying out 
 against her for speaking, and trying to push her down 
 while under that exercise. However, she did speak several 
 times particularly to them, and before she had done, he 
 gave over pushing. 
 
 A. W., another of their elders, and late superintendent 
 of the yearly meeting school, peremptorily commanded us to 
 leave the premises, and declared, if we did not, they would 
 make us ; for, said he, in a very boisterous manner (which, 
 however, did not seem to disturb those in the house), "we 
 will have none of your preaching here." After a while, 
 the doorkeepers having succeeded, by great efforts, in get- 
 ting all but ourselves into the house, and our friends feel- 
 ing easy to do so, we got into our carriages, and joyfully 
 turned our faces homewards. However, we still had an- 
 other such scene to pass through, the same week, at Vas- 
 salboro' Quarter; only here the guard failed to drive, or 
 
 to call, and invite, and persuade, and entreat 
 
 all present to enter the house. Quite a company remained 
 outside with us. We withdrew a convenient space from 
 
 the house; the young nun brought logs from the woods; 
 and it proved one of the most solid and remarkable meet- 
 
18 16. | THOMAti B. QOl LD. 269 
 
 ings which I ever attended. Ye\ those members of this 
 quarter who stayed with as, did not think they could bus- 
 tain the quarterly meeting ; which I regretted, as there 
 was quite a sufficient number, it' they had had a little more 
 faith. 
 
 On looking over this letter, I find, that I 
 
 omitted to Btate, while speaking of the very remarkable 
 communication which dear Mary Davis delivered to the 
 doorkeepers on the steps of Fairfield Meeting-house, how 
 her communication, which seemed singular to me, although 
 I had at the time no doubt of her authority, was explained. 
 Two days afterwards, we heard that a noted Gurneyite 
 minister, who went down, on the other Bide, to visit these 
 quarterly meetings (and who had been extremely severe 
 and abusive on John Wilbur and Mary Davis, both in the 
 public and business meetings at Falmouth Quarter, the 
 week before), had died very suddenly, and apparently in- 
 sible, while on her way to Fairfield ; and her husband 
 was then on his way home with her corpse ; of which 
 neither Mary Davis nor any of our company had then 
 heard, or had the least outward hint ; but which was well 
 known to these people, and when we afterwards heard of 
 it, served to explain some of their conduct otherwise not 
 easily accounted for, any more than Mary's preaching. 
 "What puzzled me, was her speaking to them of such a 
 thing having occurred among their ranks, as she did, and 
 warning them therefrom, dwelling upon it, enforcing it ; 
 when I could not think of any case to which what she 
 said was applicable, in the sense in which it was uttered. 
 But they doubtless thought she knew all about it, and so 
 shifted it off; although I know she was entirely unin- 
 formed of the fact, until two days afterwards. And to 
 me it afforded a fresh and instructive evidence, that the 
 spirit of prophecy is still bestowed even upon some of 
 those who are accounted as the outcasts of Israel. . . . 
 
 Truly and affectionately yours, 
 
 Thomas B. Gould. 
 
 23* 
 
270 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [184G. 
 
 To Ethan Foster. 
 
 Newport, 22d of first month, 184G. 
 
 My dear Friend : 
 
 As for , I have not heard 
 
 from him since 1 saw thee. I have never written to him 
 since the yearly meeting, when I did reply to hia notice of 
 the famous committee of their meeting for Bufferings eoming 
 here; which letter I believe lie never received. I very 
 much regret he should have acted as he did, according to 
 the account in thy letter. But when I see the con 
 pursued by some in Philadelphia, of whom we have had 
 
 more reason to expect different things (for has 
 
 always treated us and our cause more or less in a business- 
 like, counting-house, or political manner), I am the less 
 disposed to marvel at him, this time, although I wholly 
 disapprove of it. We certainly have seen something of 
 the same thing at head-quarters, though manifested per- 
 haps in a somewhat different and more refined way : and 
 how they are going to extricate themselves from the 
 dilemma in which, as I view it, they are becoming 
 more and more involved, I am wholly at a loss to deter- 
 mine. Poor is in a very delicate and critical situa- 
 tion, between two fires, and hard work I think he finds it, 
 to reconcile and explain matters. 
 
 If our Philadelphia " Friend" had taken 
 
 high, and truly Christian, or Quaker ground, with what 
 additional weight would they have been enabled to rally 
 to the standard of truth, which they still profess a strong 
 desire to adhere to ; but it is mournfully evident, that it 
 musl nevertheless be in their own way and time. They 
 do not like at all, for us to suppose that there is any 
 change amongst them adverse to us ; and yet it requires 
 but little discernment, to see that there is, and in promi- 
 nent places too. There certainly, as E. Wardlaw said, 
 in another case, has been an amazing falling off; — a sor- 
 rowful disposition "to do the dews a pleasure," at our 
 expense. There is a deal of working, manoeuvring, and 
 contrivance, to avoid the conflict, all neatly done up under 
 the convenient plea of waiting for the right time to come. 
 
18 16.] Tih'.M \s B. QOULD. 271 
 
 ertheless, we have some firm Friends left there yet, 
 but evidently themselves under bondage to those, who, 
 John Barclay once said, in a Letter to thy father Wilbur, 
 " stand 1 1 i i_r 1 1 and bear rule, but whose feet have well-nigh 
 slipped, the dragon having nearly swept them down with 
 those who have fallen." However, I am nol without an 
 impression that all these manceuvrings will be overruled 
 for good in the end. I Bhould not be surprised if it 
 should result in Philadelphia as it did here ; if the very 
 
 plans, which arc laid with the utmost caution in the 
 
 power of man (whoso wisest conn-els are often foolish- 
 
 should prove the means of helping us, and of the 
 
 ipe of Mich among themselves as are hound with a 
 
 heavy yoke 
 
 It seems they have already granted certificates to 
 enable their members to marry on the other side: within 
 the limits of their yearly meeting, which is ** never going 
 to own the Gurneyites !" — and it turns out, in the conclu- 
 sion of the whole matter, that it is only " pretty much 
 understood that there shall be no obstruction thrown in 
 the way of marriage, until [that] yearly meeting decides 
 the question !" We may guess when this is to be done, 
 by a hint or two thrown out, that they are anxious to 
 obtain all the information they can; so that, if way should 
 open for it, they may prepare and publish a statement of 
 the rise and progress of this heresy, beginning with 
 Beaconism, bringing in Henry Bewley's book, and so 
 beating about the bush, and prolonging the thing, as "to 
 allow time" for their members to consider and understand 
 the matter, before they are called upon to decide upon 
 our epistle ; or rather, before they do decide to receive it ! 
 Why, we have been gravely informed, that there is no 
 doubt but we shall in time be owned by Philadelphia 
 Yearly Meeting, "if" — mark — " if we are careful to 
 keep up our yearly meeting !" Now, my dear friend, 
 how long dost thou think we shall have to keep it up, 
 according to this rule, before that material event takes 
 
 place ? I could give names, but I forbear 
 
 Thy sincere friend, 
 
 Thomas B. Gould. 
 
272 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1846. 
 
 From Zeno Carpenter to T. B. and M. S. Gould. 
 
 CncA. the 7th of Dili mo., 1846. 
 
 Dearly beloved Friends: 
 
 I received your \rvy acceptable letter the day before I 
 left New Y<>rk. about the time the yearly meeting ended. 
 Sou have at times been brought very fresh to my memory, 
 and near to my best life, fellow-travellers, bound to Zion, 
 the city of the Living God; be not discouraged nor dis- 
 mayed, though trials may await you. It's through great 
 tribulation that the righteous enter the kingdom, and the 
 seed is under suffering. Well, my dear friends, I feel 
 myself poor and dependent, stripped and destitute, with 
 nothing to rely on but the mercies and merits of Jesus 
 Christ, often having to go as into the stripping-room, 
 sometimes concluding I am one of the least of all the 
 family: ami have been of late under many discouragements 
 on account of the situation of this poor Society. How I 
 have most fervently desired that we might unite and har- 
 monize together ! I have heard nothing from you in that 
 land since your yearly meeting, how you fare, whether 
 you still are encouraged to believe you have pursued a 
 right course. I have fervently desired for you, that in 
 your solemn assemblies you may find Him, of whom Moses 
 in the law and the prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth, 
 to strengthen you to pursue the heavenly journey to- 
 wards the land of promise. I have prayed fervently for 
 the preservation of the " smaller body" in New England, 
 Bhall 1 say. the little flock and royal family. May the 
 "Ancient of days" keep and preserve you in His fear and 
 Counsel, that you may stand firm and inflexible in the glo- 
 rious cause of Truth and Righteousness! Keep low and 
 humble, in humiliation and self-abasedness, and to sound 
 orthodox Quaker doctrine. Let us harbor no new views, 
 nor newfangled sentiments, but those laid down by our 
 forefathers and predecessors in the truth — never a more 
 consistent chain of religious sentiments; let us keep firm 
 thereto, and be careful of imbibing these new floating doc- 
 trines in our land, of those who say they are in accord- 
 ance with ancient Friends. I believe there will be a small 
 
L8 16, ] thou \s b, aoi i.!'. 278 
 
 Dumber who will Btand through all the storms and tem- 
 
 1 through :ill the trials that await as; — thai 
 
 y will never be extinct. There will be, I firmly 
 
 believe, a remnant preserved thai will serve the Lord with 
 
 fidelity and uprightness. These will be more and more 
 
 engthened to combal every difficulty, every trial and 
 temptation of the enemy of souls, who is continually on the 
 alert to draw aside from the narrow rpad. II' these stand 
 firm, Satan with all his combined forces, never will be able 
 to surmount n<>r overcome these dedicated servants and 
 handmaidens, thai put their whole trusl in the Omnipo- 
 I Arm of divine power, who is God over all and blessed 
 forever ! 
 
 It is a day of days, a day of mourning and lamentation, 
 as ii was anciently, " Rachel weeping for her children, 
 and would not be comforted because they are not." The 
 ways of Zion do truly mourn, because bo few come up to 
 her solemn feasts, bo few are concerned to come up to the 
 help of the Lord, against the mighty, that old, hateful 
 and potent enemy. I am a secret mourner, I go mourn- 
 ing on the way, not only for my own short-coming, but 
 for the declension of the Church from her ancient and 
 primitive simplicity and purity. " Call the husbandman 
 to mourning, and those that are skilful of lamentation to 
 wailing ; for in all streets shall be wailing !" Oh ! my 
 friends ! how I do sincerely pray that this little flock 
 and family may be preserved, her stakes lengthened, 
 and cords strengthened, that there may still continue to 
 be a succession of living standard and testimony bearers, 
 that will stand firm for the cause and testimony, and 
 through divine assistance stand immovable against all the 
 powers of death and darkness. This is the fervent desire 
 of one that wisheth health and salvation to the whole 
 human race and family, and especially to the household of 
 faith. 
 
 I should have liked to have heard how you got along 
 in your yearly meeting ; whether you were favored with 
 the owning presence of kind Providence, and to feel J lis 
 holy and sweet influence to the soul. What more precious 
 than when we can feel the love of God and his glory to 
 
21 ! LIFE AND LETTE [1846. 
 
 Bhine in and fill the bou] ? I am enamoured with it — it is 
 worth more than a thousand of this world in a day that id 
 fasl approaching, when we must appear before the Lord 
 and Judge of all the earth, to receive a reward for the 
 deeds done in the body. And may we, dear friends, be 
 prepared for it. having oil in our vessels, and lamps burn- 
 ing, that we may have a welcome admittance into the Joys 
 of our Lord! 1 feel comforted this morning, while 1 am 
 writing, and am humbly thankful if I can be favored to 
 feel a quiet mind. Oh, matchless goodness and marvel- 
 lous loving-kindness, that He is Btil] mindful of us, and 
 has not forgotten to be gracious. — that a Being altogether 
 
 DO © < 
 
 complete without US, should thus condescend from His ex- 
 cellent glory, to bless and to favor with His sweet and 
 sanctifying presence ! 
 
 1 Bhould like to know, if thou wast willing to inform me, 
 how you got along in your yearly meeting. There are 
 many reports, and many hard sayings, concerning the 
 " small body," as that there are " only a few stragglers 
 gone off." I wish you in that part of the land to pay 
 heed to this holy Teacher and Guide into all truth. Then 
 no doubt you will advance in piety and virtue, and in- 
 crease in number. There are comparatively few in this 
 yearly meeting but what are Gurneyitcs; some meetings 
 about all. 
 
 I now conclude, hoping I have written nothing that 
 will be disagreeable to read; and may we, dear friends, if 
 we never meet again in mutability, meet in the royal 
 palace of God, to sing the song of redeeming love! 
 
 four sure friend, 
 
 Zeno Carpenter. 
 
 Draft oka Letter prom T. B. G. to Zbno Carpenter. 
 
 Newport, 9th mo. 11th, 1846. 
 Mv ENDEARED FATHERLY FRIEND : 
 
 It is truly pleasant and strengthening to 
 my dear wife and to myself, to gel thy sweet and lively 
 epistles, exhibiting a greenness in old age, and that " thine 
 eye is not dim," in a spiritual sense, nor thy "natural 
 
18 16, | THOMAS B, GOULD, 275 
 
 force abated/ 1 thai thy Bword is bright and thy harm 
 
 ! li-i\N \'rw are left, compared with the " thou- 
 ds of ferae! " who once quickly responded to the Bound 
 the trumpet, and were "prepared for war" when 
 well-known and certain sound "waked ap the mig 
 men!'' These things, the present of things in our 
 
 now poor and tempest-tossed, but once highly favored and 
 firmly anchored 8 y, as thou very justly remarkest, call 
 for mourning and lamentation, and no1 only so, but for 
 those who are "skilful" therein. Yel how few there are 
 who are truly skilful in this day, in discerning the signs 
 of the times! 1 1 « » a should those be able to discern and 
 distinguish clearly, who have not only turned their hacks 
 upon the light which maketh manifest, but are even dis- 
 posed to deny its existence? Still I am comforted in the 
 belief, that there is a living remnant preserved, up and 
 down, who go sorrowing on their way, k * weeping day and 
 night for the slain of the daughter of my people;" and 
 that, for the sighing of these poor and the crying of the 
 needy, who have none in heaven or in all the earth to look 
 unto, but Him who is mighty to save and able to deliver 
 even unto the uttermost, the Lord Almighty, in His own 
 due and appointed time, will arise. Even when the days 
 of mourning are ended, and the time is fulfilled, then He 
 will give unto these the oil of joy for mourning, and the 
 garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; then will 
 Zion arise and shine, because her light is come, and the 
 glory of the Lord hath arisen upon her. 
 
 Thou inquirest about our yearly meeting, and whether 
 Friends are still encouraged to believe they have pursued 
 a right course ; also in regard to our numbers. Now, it is 
 true we are few in number, compared with those who have 
 gone out from us because they were not of us, and because 
 they were seeking an easier way than that of the cross. 
 Still, our yearly meeting this year was much larger than 
 last, there being between eighty and ninety men. and 
 more than a hundred women in attendance ; which, if I am 
 rightly informed, is larger than Baltimore has ever been 
 since the .Hicksite separation. But if we had ever sup- 
 posed that the right and wrong of the matter depended on 
 
276 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1840. 
 
 the relative numbers, we have been favored to witn 
 enough of the presence of Him whose promise is as good 
 to the "two or three" who meet in His name, and arc 
 gathered to His power, as to the multitude, — to convince 
 us of the contrary. So far as 1 know or ran judge, 
 Friends are still encouraged, and I think more and more 
 so, to believe thai they did pursue a right course. Nothing 
 which has since transpired has ever shaken my faith herein. 
 Indeed it is cause of humble thankfulness, that we have 
 been favored to receive so many confirmations of the rec- 
 titude of the course, which, under an extremity, we pur- 
 sued, hut not without "great searching of heart," and 
 fervent and united aspirations for Best Help and Direc- 
 tion: which, through adorable mercy, was not withheld, 
 as we humbly trust, either then or since. Surely the 
 Lord is good to them that wait upon Him, to the soul that 
 keth Him : and as in the individual, so in the collective 
 capacity. I think I never sat in a more solid yearly 
 meeting, or more favored with the overshadowing of good. 
 Still ^e feel very weak, and wo are so. Much, yerymuch, 
 needs to be done, to bring things into the good order of 
 the Grospel, which has been so long disturbed by the im- 
 position of unsanctified hands 
 
 From T. B. G. to John Wilbur. 
 
 Newport, 10th mo. 11th, 1846. 
 My dear Friend, John "Wilbur: 
 
 I have not been unmindful of having given thee encou- 
 ragement at parting, that I would write on my return from 
 Nantucket. But as I stayed there over first-day, I did 
 not reach home until Last third-day, and have been very 
 closely and necessarily engaged ever Bince. . . . Nathan 
 Page and wife, and Lois Ives, were there. The former 
 had an appointed meeting on Fourth-day evening, which 
 
 Was large, and very solid, although it held considerably 
 
 more than two hours: I marvelled at the patience of the 
 people. The meeting held one hour before Nathan said 
 anything; he stood an hour the first time, ;md about 
 
 twenty minutes the second, with some pause between, and 
 
"Kill.] rnoiM OULD. 277 
 
 more after. Bui although he was thought to he favored, 
 I did insider him to be as much Id I he 
 
 >rning, or the public quarterly m< the 
 
 next day. On both these occasions, he seemed to me and 
 others to be eminently favored. The Bhutters also were 
 opened on his account, after the business was concluded, 
 and the service on this occasion devolved wholly upon him. 
 Ilr had, I understood, a public meeting at Padan Aram 
 (or some Buch place), in the neighborhood of New Bedford, 
 
 first-day morning, and public notice given of his attend- 
 ance at New Bedford in the afternoon. I was told, their 
 new house was nearly or quite filled, and that he stood 
 about an hour and a half at each place. . . . On 
 
 h and seventh-days, I went with Prince Gardner and 
 Peleg Mitchell, to see a few sick and afflicted people, — 
 
 sonic six or eight families. — without seeing much more 
 
 ... 
 than a compliance with Friends' desire, that they should 
 
 l>e noticed, except in two or three cases, where I felt par- 
 ticularly drawn. These last were to me times of favor, 
 soon to be forgotten ; and as for the others, I suppose 
 the purpose was answered merely by our calling. 
 I felt well satisfied with sitting with Friends there, in their 
 meetings on first-day, without any notice being given. 
 There appeared to be over two hundred persons present, 
 both fore and afternoon. The meetings were mostly 
 
 silent 
 
 By a letter recently received from Philadelphia, it ap- 
 pears there are others there who entertain the same views 
 as dear old E. C. The letter says, we "need not expect 
 much from those who stand high and bear rule in the city;" 
 that if they can only get matters settled without a separa- 
 tion, they will care but little what becomes of us ! In 
 order to effect this, the writer thinks that they will write 
 again to London, complaining of J. J. G., and that he will 
 eventually be induced to take back some things and smooth 
 down others, and so the whole thing will be hushed up and 
 quieted down, without being probed to the bottom ! To 
 prepare the way for this, she says, the doctrine of quiet- 
 ness, charity, forbearance, &c, is being preached now by 
 some who have been themselves subjected to this kind of 
 
 24 
 
278 J.I I i: AND LETTEB8 OF [184lh 
 
 censure, formerly, on account of the same kind of "im- 
 
 prud< nee," by plain-speaking and straightforward conduct, 
 
 which, in their turn, they now bestow upon others not yet 
 
 remodelled. She Bpeaks of B. II. W. and many other 
 
 honest friends, as having been brought under this quieting 
 
 influence, 30 as to be made willing to wait "five years," 
 
 for those not yet prepared to take a stand in our favor, 
 
 without 1'idiiu: aware of the nature and design of it at all. 
 
 .... . 
 
 She says, this kind of feeling prevails most, where the 
 
 man. whom W6 all most deeply lament and deplore, as a 
 standard-bearer having fainted, has most influence. The 
 letter gives rather a discouraging view of things, Loth as 
 it respects their standing and our prospects, so far as it 
 relates to our being owned l>y them as a yearly meeting. 
 The writer, however, seems to think we are as well off as 
 any other yearly meeting; and of this, BO far as it relates 
 to Grurneyism, under one phase or other, there seems to be 
 
 little doubt 
 
 Thy sincere friend. 
 
 T. B. Gould. 
 
 To John Wilbur. 
 
 North Berwick, Me., L9th of 10th mo, 1846. 
 
 Mi drab Friend, John Wilbur: 
 
 .... .....* 
 
 Salem Quarterly Meeting was attended by about five- 
 and-twenty men ; and about half that number of women 
 stayed through the meeting, some haying left at the close 
 of the public meeting, which was long silent, and laborious 
 indeed to me; although, after Nathan Page had spoken, 
 the clouds seemed to disperse. The meetings for business, 
 both men's and women's, seemed to be times of more open- 
 ness and favor, and I trust it ended pretty well. The next 
 evening we had an appointed meeting at a pretty village, 
 about a mile northeast of Nathan Page's house: which 
 was well attended, the house being nearly filled; among 
 the rest, one of Governor Endicott's descendants, bearing 
 his name, was present. The people seemed raw enough, 
 ami scarcely to know anything of Friends 1 principles, 
 Some of which were opened to them; and eventually the 
 
18 16.] THOM L8 B. 601 LD. 279 
 
 w:iv was made for the declaration of the Gospel to th< 
 in, I humbly trust, a good degree of the spirit and power 
 of it. After which, Nathan preached to them a pretty 
 long while; when, having expressed satisfaction with the 
 company of Buch as had given attendance, the meeting 
 separated under a covering of much solemnity. 
 
 Sesterday, being first-day, we sal with Friends of North 
 Berwick in the morning, and in the evening attended a 
 meeting previously appointed for us at Great Falls. J 
 went to it under a feeling of inexpressible discouragement. 
 The whole day and evening was very wet, dark, and un- 
 comfortable; but I was surprised, on entering the Town 
 Hall, a very targe and beautiful building, in which it was 
 held, to find many people already assembled, notwithstand- 
 ing the inclemency of the weather; and I can truly say, 
 that I rejoiced in the conviction that the Master was with 
 them. Others soon came in. to the number, a- Friends 
 thought, of seven or eight hundred; and I thought I was 
 never made more feelingly sensible of the flowing and 
 abounding of Gospel love towards any people, than to 
 them; of which I soon apprehended it to be my duty to 
 inform them. 
 
 A door of utterance and of entrance was mercifully and 
 largely opened. Many literally said, Amen, to the Gospel 
 truths declared; and. having taken my seat, a Methodist 
 minister present, who, it seems, had been previously pre- 
 pared to believe and to practise upon that divine precept, 
 " Freely ye have received, freely give," stood up and ex- 
 pressed his great joy at having been not only permitted to 
 hear the word of the Lord, but to feel the power, life, and 
 substance of the things spoken of; adding, that he also 
 could say, that he was not ashamed of the Gospel of 
 Christ, because it is the power of God unto salvation to 
 them that believe, — that, as long as he could remember, 
 Friends had borne testimony to the power of the Gospel, 
 to vital, practical, inward religion, to the substance of 
 things, and against the form and shadow, — that his heart's 
 desire and prayer was, that they might never lower this 
 standard: but, on the contrary, might go on and prosper, 
 and be enabled to exalt it, until others should be induced 
 
280 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [184G. 
 
 to rally to it. and to fighl under it, — adding, there never 
 3 more need, &c. Ii !, 1 thought, a little too loi 
 
 ilemnity continued ; and belies ing it right for me 
 to add a very few words, by way of acknowledgment, of 
 their company and <:<><>d l)oliavior, and earnestly and affec- 
 tionately commending them unto I rod and the word of His 
 grace, as to thai which was able to build them up, and to 
 give them an inheritance among all those who are sancti- 
 fied, the meeting was concluded, under a feeling of unut- 
 terable thankfulness to the God and Father of all our Bure 
 mercies, who had been pleased to send us help from the 
 sanctuary, and to strengthen as out of Zion. Thou seest 
 I have written freely to thee, believing it was thy due to 
 
 know a little how Ave have grot along 
 
 Do please write to me; and when it is well witli thee, 
 remember one of the poorest and weakest children (if I 
 may he called one) that was ever sent out on sueh an 
 errand. Farewell. 
 
 Thine as ever. 
 
 Thomas B. Gould. 
 
 To Martha S. Gould. 
 
 Salem, 24th of 10th month, 184G. 
 
 My dear Martha : 
 
 .... We reached William Hill's about nine o'clock, 
 and the next day went, in company with William and 
 Elizabeth, down to Kennebunk, where the Baptist meet- 
 ing-house was well filled with people ; who. although much 
 unacquainted with Friends, came in very orderly at a 
 quarter before eighl o'clock, and behaved solidly and well 
 through a pretty long Bilence; and how much longer it 
 would have remained so 1 do not know, if Mary Varney 
 had not "opened a door" for me, which I found it my 
 place to enter, and things were opened which perhaps they 
 never thought or heard of before. After which, dear Eli- 
 zabeth Hill did preach mosl Bweetly to them. She rather 
 i>xc('r<\^ my expect at ions: still I had expected much of her. 
 A fter she sal down, I found it my place to show iV<>m Joel, 
 
 [UOted and applied by the Apostle Peter, that the Spirit 
 
1846. | Tll-M LS B. GOULD. 281 
 
 was to be poured oul on daughters as well as bods, &c. 
 I fell great openness, both in regard to the call and quali- 
 fication for the ministry, and the aature of Divine worship : 
 Jso of tin' necessity for all ministers of Christ Impli- 
 citly to obey EDs injunction: " Freely ye have received, 
 freelv rive." 
 
 We returned the Bame night to William Bulls, and 
 reached there about twelve o'clock. But there was one 
 thing 1 forgot to mention. Soon after we got to Timothy 
 Varney's, at Kennebunk, J. M. and his wife, who live some 
 thirty miles l»rlow. came there, on their way home, to stay 
 all night, not knowing of om- presence. They wore Gur- 
 neyites, old people, and the woman had abused John Wil- 
 bur shamefully, when he Was lately in their country. Be- 
 fore meeting, W. Hill and I, Buffinton accosted her pretty 
 smartly about it. She shrunk back, as much as I ever 
 
 saw one, but they drew her forth: and when I saw this 
 fairly done, I thought I would try a little to help; and 
 opening things somewhat as though I did it not, the old 
 man began to fall in with what was said, and own it to be 
 truth : which he did more and more, till he was not a little 
 convinced, and I thought it well to leave the subject. But 
 not thinking for all this, that they would dare to go to 
 meeting, when we were about to go, Israel said I had 
 better take leave of them, as they would most likely retire 
 before we came back from meeting : so I shook hands with 
 the woman, but offering my hand to her husband, he said 
 he thought he should go with us. His wife made some 
 objection, but he seemed determined to go, feeble as he 
 
 -. and he went; after which he expressed to Israel his 
 satisfaction with the meeting. We returned to William 
 Hill's that night, a distance of fifteen miles, and reached 
 there about twelve o'clock. 
 
 The next day I was down sick, not having been far from 
 it for some days before. Fourth and fifth-days, quarterly 
 meeting at Berwick ; about sixty Friends present ; both 
 meetings times of favor. An appointed meeting on fourth- 
 day evening, at North Berwick village, although Joshua 
 Meader and others thought well of it, did not seem to me 
 to be quite so well. I had to move very slowly and cau- 
 
 24* 
 
282 LIFE AM) LETTERS OF [1846. 
 
 tiously to find the Btepping-Btones, and to keep on them. 
 Sixth-day, after quarterly meeting, we went to Lowell, 
 William Hill in company; and had an appointed meeting 
 there the same evening. But there were not more than 
 sixty or seventy people present, the notice being short, as 
 it waa late before we could find a place to hold it in ; and 
 those who did come were not exactly the persons I had 
 
 wished to see There were some plain and close 
 
 things delivered. We lodged at a great hotel ; and in the 
 morning (seventh-day) went, before breakfast, to Boston, 
 some twenty miles, after which we proceeded to Rox- 
 
 bury 
 
 We went back to Salem that night, where I commenced 
 
 and wrote the first two sides of this sheet. Attended 
 Salem meeting in the morning, and Lynn in the afternoon 
 of first-day. After meeting, went over to Boston and 
 lodged, in order to reach Fall River (where I am now writ- 
 ing) in time to attend their monthly meeting yesterday, 
 which I did. I go to Freetown, about eight miles north 
 of this, to an appointed meeting this evening, and to-mor- 
 row to Luther Lincoln's, twenty-two miles, where there Is 
 another meeting appointed for to-morrow evening. . . . 
 
 Thy own, 
 • T. B. Gould. 
 
 To Rebecca Walton. 
 
 Newport, 11th mo., 10th, 1846. 
 My dear Friend, Rebecca Walton: 
 
 I have 
 
 wanted and intended writing to thee, almost ever since 
 thou left ; but waa either too unwell, or top busy to do 
 it, before I left home for my eastern journey. When 
 1 started, I provided myself with writing apparatus for 
 this very purpose, and I think J can truly say that I never 
 lost sight of it for a day: but I suffered so much with 
 asthma the whole time, that all I could do was now and 
 
 then to write to my dear Martini. 
 
 In respect both to bodily suffering and exercise of mind, 
 this journey has, indeed. COSt me dear; but, through un- 
 
16.] THOMAS i:. &OULD. 
 
 . i had no to doul I the rectitu 
 
 of the concern. < to the contrary, I h; 
 in it day by day; and way baa been made for me to 
 aloi my bumbling admiration, unspeakable rel 
 
 and apparently to the ction of Friends wherever I 
 
 bave been. 1 > u t it ha med much my lol to go forth 
 
 > the highways and hedges, having meetings in div( 
 places where, so far as was known to me or Friends, none 
 were ever held before. And although the service v 
 laborious, many of the people seeming quite str; to 
 
 our principles, and alike ignorant of " the m; which 
 
 has been hid for ages and generation : many of th< 
 
 on being turned to Christ within, as the Way, the Truth, 
 and the Life, the all-sufficient Teacher of His people, and 
 the Bure hope of the Baints! glory, — received the word with 
 "gladness," and acknowledged that these thing >, — 
 
 some of them in a very remarkable manner. Divers, even 
 of the ministers of other societies, Episcopalian, Bapti 
 and Methodist, who not only freely opened their meeting- 
 houses to US, but themselves attended the meeting — (al- 
 though I am very sure their principles were not advocated), 
 — acknowledged what was delivered was the word of faith 
 which the apostles preached; and in many instances, feel- 
 ingly. I thought, hade us God speed. But among the people 
 more especially, there evidently was a precious seed to be 
 visited, and. I have no doubt, to be yet gathered ; for it did 
 and does still seem to me, that in many places the fields 
 are already white unto the harvest. But, alas ! the faith- 
 ful laborers are few, very few indeed ! Would that the 
 Lord of the harvest would send such into the field : and if 
 Mich as have been raised up, and qualified and concerned 
 to go forth, are unfaithful, I am more and more persuaded 
 and convinced, that, as it were, the very stones will cry 
 out. 
 
 At Great Falls. New Hampshire, Ave had a meeting on 
 a first-day evening, in the Town Hall. The day and even- 
 ing were as wet, cold, and uncomfortable as a severe 
 northeaster in that cold country could well make it : audi 
 did not suppose that there would be more than fifty or 
 sixty people out. (There is but one family of Friends in 
 
LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1840. 
 
 the town, and this family is with us.) But to my great 
 surprise, when we reached the house, there were Four or 
 five hundred already assembled; and I thought, as 1 en- 
 tered and took my seat, that the Master Eimself was 
 with them of a truth. Nearly as many more soon after 
 came in, and it proved to be, through Holy 1I<'1]». a time 
 
 long to be remembered \t another place, a 
 
 woman having walked five miles to the village of Westport 
 in the morning, about her own business, saw the notice 
 there of our meeting at three o'clock the same afternoon. 
 
 I felt a strong desire to attend it, but could not without 
 returning home ; which she did on foot, and returned in 
 the Bame way, making, — if Bhe walked home again, which 
 she expected to do, — twenty miles in all, that day. She 
 
 mod a feeble woman, too, but did not apparently regret 
 coming. She said, it was ten years since she had attended 
 a Friends' meeting. In our passing up and down, now 
 and then we fell in with some of the Gurney side, who came 
 to meeting, and afterwards went from one meeting to 
 another: hut these were young people, wdio probably did 
 care much about the matter. 
 
 Having appointed a meeting at Kennebunk, a small 
 town in Maine, about fifteen miles east of North Berwick, 
 avc went thither, and stopped at the house of Timothy 
 Varney, the only Friend.-' family in the place, of any 
 
 iription 
 
 Believe me to be sincerely, 
 
 Thy affectionate friend. 
 
 To Redecca Walton. 
 
 Nkwpokt, 23d of 12th mo.. 1- U>. 
 
 My dear Friend: 
 
 In one of thy letters then asked me to give 
 
 thee that anecdote of Isaac LawtOD and the lit tie negro 
 
 hoy, which I related to thee when thou wast here. I 
 quite forgot it when I wrote. It is as follows, as nearly 
 as 1 remember : 
 
 During the war of the Revolution, the British army 
 took possession of the island of Rhode Island, and kept 
 
18 16.] THOM \B B. GOULD, 
 
 it for some time — I think one or two years. A company 
 
 at Portsmouth. One day, while Friends thus de- 
 
 prived of the use of it. Isaac Lawton, a minister in good 
 esteem, who belonged to thai meeting, fell his mind drawn 
 
 _m to the meeting-house, from which he lived about I 
 miles distant. Be went; and after some time, comment 
 preaching to the Boldiers present. The opening on his 
 mind was large, tin >ern weighty, and he expected to 
 
 have much I : but he had nol proceeded far, when 
 
 his way seemed entirely closed, he fell a full and sat 
 
 down abruptly. This surprised him, after bo large an 
 opening, and having, as he thought, clearly seen how he 
 to treat the Bubject. He had, however, scarcely taken 
 his Beat, when a little negro boy (I think about twelve 
 years of age), who was present in attendance upon one 
 of the officers, stood up With the same subject, commenc- 
 ing where Isaac had left off, and treating it as lie had 
 expected to do. lie went on with such clearness and 
 authority, and kept so close to what had been opened to 
 Isaac's view, that the latter fully expected to be released 
 from further labor on that occasion. But the little bey, 
 after having spoken at some length, sat down as suddenly 
 and unexpectedly to Isaac, as his appearance had been 
 unexpected and striking. Isaac Lawton took up the sub- 
 ject where the boy left it, and continued to speak until he 
 had relieved his own mind. Such is the account of this 
 remarkable incident, as nearly as I can remember, in the 
 language of Abigail Robinson and Stephen Gould, both of 
 whom related it to me in their day, and they both knew 
 I. Lawton well. I have also, some time since, seen it 
 substantially the same in print — I think, in the " Irish 
 Friend." Abigail Robinson was an eminent minister of 
 this meeting, and Stephen Gould was a valuable elder, 
 who collected an abundance of remarkable anecdotes. . . 
 
 Brother George and sister paid us a visit, the first of 
 this month, on their way home from Sandwich Quarterly 
 Meeting, held at New Bedford. They reported a good 
 meeting, and well attended, although the day was very 
 stormy. Seth and Mary Davis, and several Nantucket 
 
28G i. in: and LETTERS of [1847. 
 
 Friends of their quarterly meeting's committee, had been 
 down on the Cape, to visit Sandwich Monthly Meeting, a 
 day or two previous. They were not very kindly re- 
 ceived, nor allowed to enter the public meeting ! The 
 committee reported accordingly, and the quarterly meet- 
 ing, having conic to the judgment that that monthly meet- 
 mg ought t" be laid down, unless it would conform, &c, — 
 made a minute to that effect : which they directed to the 
 monthly meeting, in order that if their advice and iudg- 
 ment be not regarded, they may dissolve it at their next 
 quarter, and attach their members to New Bedford 
 Monthly Meeting. I was glad to heat this, as there 
 were some suffering cases among the members of that 
 monthly meeting, who did not, in effect, belong any- 
 where 
 
 Thy sincere friend, 
 
 Thomas B. Gould. 
 
 From Prince Gardner to T. B. (i. 
 
 Nantucket, seventh month, 6tb, 1S47. 
 My dear Friend, Thomas B. Gould : 
 
 Thy acceptable letter of the 28th was receive d in due time. 
 It was truly a satisfaction to hear from thee and thy dear 
 Martha, who has an affectionate abiding-place in my mind, 
 haying been long since, I trust, brought into the unity of 
 the Spirit in the bond of peace. What a precious favor, 
 to be thus united into that oneness with our dear friends, 
 whereby we may be enabled to rejoice with those that do 
 rejoice, and to mourn with them that mourn ! I think 1 
 may Bay, that thou art at times brought to feel as bone 
 of my bone and flesh of my flesh, with living desires that 
 the dear Redeemer may be round about, in every proving, 
 trying dispensation that may be meted out for the accom- 
 plishment of His great and sovereign will ; that Ave may 
 be enabled often to Bay, thy rod and thy Btaff they comfort 
 me. 
 
 Sensible we are, dear friend, of the truth of the decla- 
 ration, that as gold and silver are tried in the lire, SO are 
 
 acceptable men and women in the furnace of affliction. I 
 
L847.] TE( i.i>. 
 
 often feel desirous for myself, thai patience may have ita 
 
 perfect work ; being fully 
 
 liverance will be wrought, by and through Him who \ 
 
 "a man of Borrows and acquainted with grief." An. I we 
 
 have much to be thankful for; many are our 1>I< 
 
 I was ready to Bay, why do these things arise, to write to 
 
 one who knows them well : but perhaps for our mutual 
 
 encouragement, to be enabled to bear all and Buffer all 
 
 that may be dispensed in unerring wisdom, and to lay our 
 
 mouths as in the dust, trusting in the encouraging pron 
 
 Him who Baid, " I will never leave thee nor forsake 
 tin- May this be our individual experience, saith my 
 
 til. 
 
 I was pleased to hear of your particular 
 
 meeting, thai thou felt satisfied, and I have no doubt thou 
 wilt : and it seems to me as though there might be an in- 
 crease. But be that as it may, it' we can feel something 
 of the dear Redeemer near, who is often pleased to m 
 with those who have to sit in low and solitary places, what 
 more can be asked or desired ? To feel something of that 
 solemn, quiet covering, which is not at our command, is 
 cause of a little renewal of strength ; though I believe 
 every rightly exercised mind will feel the awful respon- 
 sibility to hold all our meetings in the power of the 
 Lord. 
 
 Our love is affectionately to and 
 
 wife, I think I can say, with fervent desires for their en- 
 couragement, in this day of close trial and proving of our 
 faith and allegiance to the great Head of the Church : 
 waymarks to honest inquirers for the truth as it is in 
 Jesus, the great Preserver of men; speaking the language, 
 in the line of conduct and intercourse with the world, 
 Come follow us, as we are endeavoring to follow the great 
 Head of the Church. How often are such made preachers 
 of righteousness in their daily walks in life ! Thou wilt 
 please give our love to thy dear parents, who are often in 
 my remembrance, with desires that they, in the decline of 
 life, may know a being supported by that supporting arm 
 of power, which can cause their setting sun to go down in 
 peace. My love is to all who love the unchangeable 
 
288 LIFE AM> LETTE [18 IT. 
 
 truth. Now I musl . with Baying that a letter from 
 
 ,v time will be wry acceptable. Thou hast not 
 to learn, thai I am neither a Bcholar nor much of a 
 letter-writer; bul in love I do feel at times to adds' 
 
 friends. My dear Mary joins in affectionate 
 love to thee and thy dear Martha. Farewell for this 
 time. 
 
 From thy attached friend, 
 
 Prince Gardner. 
 
 From T. B. GL to John Wilbur, 
 
 Newport, 20th of ninth month, 1847. 
 Mv dear Friend, John Wilbur: 
 
 A friend, 
 
 who visited Ezra Comfort a short time before his death, 
 told me recently, that such was Ezra's concern to come 
 here, that he then said, if he had strength of body suffi- 
 cient, he should make the attempt, notwithstanding the 
 objections and opposition of those who hear rule in the 
 city. . . . . . 
 
 How lone will these things have to be? Ilowlonir will 
 y be permitted to rule, both at home and abroad? — 
 hindering some from going, and ethers from coming ; 
 neither entering heartily into the work, nor suffering 
 others ': I have been ready to query sometimes, whether 
 the cause of truth was not likely to suffer as much from 
 some who stand high and hear rule in that city, as from 
 those whom some of themselves used to denominate the 
 " Providence Clique." And it would seem, from the 
 effects and extent of their operations, that they are not 
 
 less strongly •■ combined together," to weary us out, and 
 
 rid themselves Of US; however zealously they may exert 
 
 themselves to put forth testimonies against unsound doc- 
 trine in the abstract. May they not expect to dispose of 
 our rights and interest in the case, the easier, on account 
 of having issued these testimonies, as it relates to our 
 sincere but unsuspecting friends in that and other yearly 
 
 meetings ? 
 
 Thy sincere friend, 
 
 Thomas l>. Gould. 
 
18. | TIIoM \S B. 001 II'. 
 
 TO J< 3H1 \ M LI LE. 
 
 \ no. 27tl 
 
 M\ DE LB BROTHEB : 
 
 Thine of the 20th was duly received yesterday, and ire 
 were truly glad to gel it, haying heard nothing from you 
 since your last letter, giving an account of your very 
 close trials, although we have fell very anxious to hear. 
 
 Thy accounl of the pause to which your ad- 
 versaries seemed to have come, reminded me of the pro- 
 irs, before the separation. They often 
 
 oaed to come to their " nd," and would sometimes 
 
 -call visible action for several months together; but 
 we illy found the old adage verified in them, "after 
 
 aim there comes a storm :" for they never lost sight of 
 their work, and would fall upon it again with redoubled 
 
 >r; and it frequently appeared that they had been dili- 
 
 ttly engaged, all the while, maturing their plans, and 
 preparing materials in secret, so as to advance with more 
 eeiaaint v and effect. But I have sometimes thought, 
 and especially since I read thy letter at Greenwich, that 
 the worse they act, the better for you, provided always 
 that Friends are vigilant and firm. After such a calm 
 time, when they 'started again, we generally found they 
 had gained one or more, sometime- several, wdio had pre- 
 viously travelled with us: and in this way our sufferings 
 were greatly increased, until Ave were so reduced in strength 
 and numbers, that there seemed to he literally nothing 
 left to cling to or rely upon, but the Helper of His people ; 
 when all men seemed to forsake us. as they did and still 
 generally do. forsake Him. Well, my dear brother ami 
 Bister, for very near and very dear you both are to my 
 best feelings (as well as natural), whatever conflicts of 
 spirit and trials of faith may be your portion, and however 
 great the perils to which you may be exposed, among false 
 brethren; may your bow abide in strength, and the arms 
 of your hands be made strong by the power of the mighty 
 
 I of Jacob, who remains to be both the Shepherd and 
 the stone of Israel! He is the Good Shepherd who laid 
 down His life, his most precious life, for the sheep ; He 
 
 25 
 
290 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1848. 
 
 gathers the lambfi in his arms, and carries them in his 
 bosom, and Bweetly strengthens their Faith, animates their 
 hope, and enc ;es them to bear up and press forward, 
 with his own divine injunction and promise: "Fear not, 
 little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give 
 you tlic kingdom.' 1 Oh! I am persuaded that as you 
 and other Friends there abide faithful unto Him, amidst 
 all that has been or may be suffered to como upon you, 
 He will more and more lead you into the green pasta 
 of life, and cause you to lie down beside the still waters 
 thereof, where nothing can hurt you or make you afraid ! 
 Even when it shall hail, coming down with destructive 
 effect upon the forest (the tall cedars of Lebanon and the 
 sturdy oaks of Bashan), " the city shall be low, in a low 
 place." The city which the Lord hath chosen, to place 
 His name there, to manifest His power there, shall be low, 
 in a low place ; and so it, as well as all the inhabitants 
 thereof (who have been gathered into it by the power of 
 Him who reigneth King in the midst thereof, for it is the 
 city of the saints' solemnities, where their spiritual sacri- 
 fices and offerings arc daily offered up); — it with its in- 
 habitants shall be preserved by Him, who remains to be a 
 shadow from the heat, and a covert from the tempest and 
 from the storm, even when the blast of the terrible one 
 -hall heat against the wall. This is the city which hath 
 inundations, whose builder and maker the Lord alone is. 
 J [ere the Stone of Israel is found. " Behold I lay in Zion, 
 for a foundation, a stone, a tried stone, a sure founda- 
 tion:" whosoever believeth therein and buildeth thereon 
 shall neither make haste nor be confounded. Every 
 tongue that risetfa up in judgment against these, they 
 shall condemn, because they are not to be judged by 
 man's judgment, any more than the apostle was. For he 
 that is spiritual judge th all things by the spirit of judg- 
 ment and of a sound mind, which has been bestowed upon 
 him and restored to him, yet he himself is judged of no 
 man. Such are not to subject themselves, or rather, sub- 
 ject th-- Lord's work and service, to man's judgment ; but 
 they are to keep a single eye to Him, and to the support 
 of His testimonies, and the honor of his worthy name, and 
 
18 I s . | THOMAfl B. QOULD. '1 
 
 of the ble88ed unchangeable truth. "To whom ^< i gave 
 place by subjection," Baid the faithful and experienced 
 apostle, when Borne who Beemed to be somewhat, withstood 
 and opposed him, "no, nol for an hour, thai the truth of 
 the Gospel might continue with you ! M Ami when the 
 truth of the Gospel is involved and at stake, there is 
 nothing gained by yielding, time-serving, and political 
 manoeuvring; but on the contrary, the cause is given or 
 thrown away by it, and our own habitations in the truth are 
 not k * kept," but are always greatly endangered, if not ulti- 
 mately and wholly lost I conclude, and re- 
 main with sincerity, your affectionate brother, 
 
 Thomas B. Gould. 
 
 Fkom Prince Gardner to T. B. G. 
 
 Nantucket, 2d mo. 21st, 1848. 
 My dear Fribnd, Thomas B. Gould: 
 
 I have at times thought to address thee in a few lines, 
 I trust from near unity of spirit which binds together the 
 whole household of faith, extending over sea and land; 
 if nothing more, than to serve as a token of my remem- 
 brance of thee and thine, and of the many hours spent 
 together, in sweet communion ; knowing at times what it is 
 to Buffer together, and favored at seasons to be permitted 
 to rejoice together, so that we have cause to number our 
 blessings, under all our privations. And what a mercy, 
 from Him who knows what is best for us, that a little evi- 
 dence is at times vouchsafed, that we have so merciful a 
 High Priest, touched with the feeling of our infirmities, 
 and knowing how to succor all those that put their trust 
 and confidence in Him ! 
 
 Thou knowest well, dear friend, what it is to have deep 
 afflictions and many discouragements, when at times almost 
 ready to say, " Carest thou not that we perish?" But, 
 through adorable Mercy, thou hast at seasons felt the 
 lifting up of His countenance upon thee, and the Sun of 
 righteousness to shine on thy path, and been ready to 
 say, " What shall I render unto thee, oh, Lord, for all thy 
 benefits !" Then is there not cause to lift up the head in 
 hope, trusting in the Lord, journeying forward in the way 
 
292 LIFE AND LBTTERS OF [1848. 
 
 He is pleased to lead? My mind is engaged for thy en- 
 couragement, bo that, in tin- final completion of Hie great 
 and sovereign will, thou, with all the faithful, mayst Enow 
 a being gathered into that rest prepared for the people 
 of ( rod 
 
 When we take a new over our tried Society, and se< 
 many who have stood as bright and shining lights, and 
 now their brightness is eclipsed, a veil drawn over their 
 brightness, is it not enough to make the faithful tremble 
 for themseb es, saying, % * Who is sufficient for these things?" 
 — having cause to fear thai too many, from not dwelling 
 low and humble before the Lord, have been dandled as on 
 the lap of Delilah; and strong men have fallen asleep, 
 until Bhe has taken the seven locks of their strength, as it 
 respects their best interest : and then, in this situation, 
 when attempting to move in a sphere they once were en- 
 abled rightly to move in. behold their strength is gone ! 
 Yet, unwilling their loss should be discovered and their 
 nakedness appear, they must be doing something, lest they 
 lose their reputation. Thus they join with the great, the 
 popular, the worldly and high-minded, or follow in their 
 tracks, and fall an easy prey to speculative opinions and 
 traditions of men: tossed to and fro, carried about with 
 every wind of doctrine — almost anything rather than lose 
 their great name ! Well, surely, such do not produce the 
 peaceable fruits of righteousness, but on the contrary, dis- 
 order and confusion. 
 
 I have long believed, as Friends remain faithful, keeping 
 their ranks in righteousness, they need not he over anxious 
 as to the future. 1 have an anshaken belief that the Lord 
 will ever have a living remnant, whom he will he pleased 
 t<> set His name amongst : so that I i'eel desirous that 
 Friends making so high a profession may he more ami 
 more bringing forth fruits agreeable thereto ; and I hope 
 ;iml trust it is so. Ami now. in drawing to a close, dear 
 friend, I can say we are favored with health, our friends 
 generally so. . . Mary unites with me in affectionate 
 love to thee, t<» Martha, and your dear children, to thy 
 dear parents and their family, to all our friends as though 
 
 named, in thy freedom. I can truly Bay 1 love all who 
 
L848.] tiim.m i 01 ld. 298 
 
 e the unchangeable truth. Farewell. From thy at- 
 tached friend, 
 
 Princi I Gardner. 
 
 From T. B. (!. to John L. Kits. 
 
 NewtobTj 3d mo. iTtlu 1848. 
 My dbar Friend : 
 
 Thy Inter was duly received, and we were truly glad to 
 hear from thee, although the remembrance of thee and of 
 thy timely visit had not passed away. We have often re- 
 curred to it. as one of the pleasant things permitted for 
 our encouragement, in the course of our solitary pilgrimage 
 through a wilderness country, where but few travellers are 
 met with who are willing to pursue the same course, and 
 
 to give US the light hand of fellowship. 
 
 Thou mayst suppose that I have been unmindful of thy 
 request, to give thee an account of James Scribbens; but 
 
 notwithstanding the delay, it has not been forgotten; al- 
 though, being compelled to rely upon tradition, after taking 
 some pains. 1 find myself wholly unable to tell thee even 
 where he was born, or when he died. The anecdotes which 
 I have heard of him, were chiefly related to me by several 
 worthy Friends, since deceased, and independently of each 
 other, hut all substantially agreeing : That he was a man 
 of very small natural talents indeed, not having common 
 sense, or being capable of procuring his own livelihood, or 
 even of knowing when he had eaten or drunken suffi- 
 ciently : but that he had a very striking, convincing, and 
 remarkable gift in the ministry conferred upon him, under 
 the exercise of which it was no unusual occurrence for him 
 to bring tears from the eyes of the audience, to such a 
 spree, that there would be wet spots upon the floor be- 
 tween the benches on which the people sat; although, on 
 his first rising, his appearance was so contemptible, and 
 his matter so incoherent, and sometimes [apparently] so 
 nonsensical, that it produced laughter among those 4 who 
 were assembled. But the old man would pull the cap 
 which he wore upon his head, one way and another, and 
 say to such as made themselves merry, " My good Master 
 
294 LIFE AM' LETTERS OF [1848, 
 
 has not come yet. When Be does come, you will laugh 
 on the other Bide of your mouths !" — which was generally 
 verified, as the Life and Power arose into dominion; the 
 lellency of the Power being n I more fully appa- 
 
 rent, by the manifest weakness of the instrument made 
 use of, thai no flesh should glory in the Master's presence. 
 Abigail Robinson (Mary R. Morton's Bister), a very supe- 
 rior woman, and an excellent minister, who lived and died 
 in this town, told me, many years ago, thai when Jan 
 Scribbens had a concern to travel as a minister, Peter 
 Davis (of whom Joseph Oxley makes honorable mention in 
 his Journal, and who, by the way, was John Wilbur's 
 grandfather), generally, if not always, went with him, to 
 take care of him; for, Bhe added, he was not capable of 
 taking care of himself out of meeting. And I have heard 
 J. Wilbur say, that his grandfather Davis found it par- 
 ticularly necessary to watch over him at the table, it being 
 customary in those days to put eider and other strong 
 drink upon it ; and when James took up the tankard, 
 Peter would say, "Take care, James; that's strong cider/' 
 When they came to Newport, to attend the yearly meet- 
 in-'. A. Robinson informed me, they were wont to lodge at 
 the house of her maternal grandparents, Thomas and Mary 
 Richardson, which, as 1 am passing, I will say was at that 
 time the house for Friends of note to lodge at : T. and ML 
 Richardson being truly honorable elders; and he was for 
 a long time Clerk of the yearly meeting. Their house 
 was thronged with company of the best and most discern- 
 ing kind. Yet it had been handed down from them to 
 Abigail Robinson, that (I think on more than one occa- 
 sion) after dames had been powerfully engaged in testi- 
 mony in the 1 large public meetings during yearly meeting 
 week, on returning to his lodgings, before a room lull of 
 company, he boasted that he preached, and thai he 
 
 preached excellently. tOO. " No, James," said Mary 
 
 Richardson, '-thou art greatly mistaken: thou hast not 
 preached this day.' 1 — Why, he was sure he bad, and that 
 he did it well. — "No, James, it was thy Gfrtft that 
 preached,' 1 said Mary Richardson. 
 
 On one occasion of his being in Newport, I think, it so 
 
1- 18.] THOMAS I I !•. 
 
 ha] ■ ; alone, 
 
 by an envious priest, who w ire of 
 
 I challenged him to a public di ipute in 
 relation to Friends' principles and doctrines, which he 
 readily accepted. A time and place were fixed, upon the 
 spot, and James ran home to his lodgings, and reported it 
 to his friends; who, not a little alarmed at the intelligence, 
 told him it would never do; that the priest was a man of 
 md learning, and would certainly get an advanto 
 r him, and that he mui bis o% n infirmiti 
 
 and the honor of Truth. But James was inflexible, and 
 quit ident of bucc< 98 ; 3aid that he had accepted the 
 
 challenge, and it would be dishonorable to flinch : and not 
 only bo, but that u ] od Master would Btand by him, 
 
 and Bupport His own caug Friends finally yielded, and 
 bore liim company, and. in the language of my informant, 
 he came oil' "entirely notorious I think I had this 
 from John Wilbur. 
 
 James Scribbena belonged to South Kingston Monthly 
 Meeting, and lived sometimes with one Friend, and some- 
 times with another, in different parts of the Narragansett 
 country. JI<- was usually employed in some way which 
 did not require much skill or thought; and at one til 
 while residing in the family of a Friend who lived near 
 one Doctor MacSparran (an Episcopalian missionary, who 
 was Bent over from England by u The Society for the 
 Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Pan-.*' and settled 
 in Narragansett, in 17-7. I think, and ap] to have 
 
 been a learned and eloquent man), and being engaged in 
 repairing a breach in a stone wall (or fence), by the road- 
 
 e, the Doctor, who entertained a most contemptible 
 opinion of the Quakers in general, and of James Scribbens 
 in particular, in passing by on horseback, reined up his 
 horse, and thus accosted him: "Well, James, how many 
 ton- of pudding and milk will it take, to make forty rods 
 
 hen I was a child, and before one of these aneedot* elated 
 
 to me, or I had otherwise heard his name, I frequently heard | 
 who -we re not connected with Friends, use the proverb, "Afl weak as 
 
 Scribbens." I have no doubt it had relation to him. I have also heard 
 ee that time. It is a common saving here. 
 
296 LIFE AM) LETTERS OF [1848. 
 
 of stone wall?' 1 Whereupon James dropped the stone 
 which he 1 i * 1 < 1 in his hand, and looking at the self-suffi- 
 cient Doctor, said. " Just as many as it will take, of hire- 
 ling priests, to make a Gospel minister !" 
 
 .... It so happened, that a man of note and learn- 
 ing, whose name L have forgotten, although I think lie 
 was a lawyer and a statesman, and eminent iii both re- 
 Bpects, attended a, meeting in which James Scribbens 
 preached; and was so affected by what lie heard, that at 
 the close of the meeting, he requested some Friend with 
 whom he was acquainted, to introduce him to the speaker; 
 commending the sermon in strong terms, and remarking 
 that so great a preacher must be a very sensible and 
 learned man, and that he wished to have some religious 
 conversation with him, and to ask him some questions. 
 The Friend (whose name I have also forgotten), endea- 
 vored to divert him from his purpose, by explaining the 
 nature of our principles with regard to the ministry ; that 
 it was neither natural nor acquired abilities, but the recep- 
 tion of a heavenly gift, and the renewed extension of 
 Divine favor, which rendered the labors of our ministers 
 so weighty and powerful: that they were not however 
 always alike favored; that this gift was sometimes be- 
 stowed in a remarkable manner, not only upon illiterate 
 men, but upon those of small natural understanding ; so 
 that if he were introduced to such in private, after wit- 
 nessing their public services, he would be at once sur- 
 prised and disappointed. It was difficult to put the 
 inquirer by ; but the Friend at length succeeded, telling 
 him withal that J. S. would probably attend a meeting at 
 another place the next day, I think. To that meeting, 
 however, the interested man followed James Scribbens; 
 who was again engaged in testimony, in such a way as to 
 increase the desire he felt to be introduced to and converse 
 with him; of which 'lie failed not to inform the Friend, 
 who had invited him to attend it, and who found it still 
 more difficult at this time to prevent their coming in con- 
 tact with each other, than before. Hut he finally suc- 
 ceeded, and also gave similar information of another meet- 
 ing at some distance, to which J. Scribbens was bound. 
 
1848, ] thom is ' u>. 297 
 
 This meeting proved to be a time of more eminenl favor 
 than either of tfa rs; and al the close of it a detei 
 
 nation was manifested to converse with James, which the 
 Friend could no longer resist. He accordingly introduced 
 the parties to each other al another Friend's house (where 
 I think they all dined): but the man whose feelings had 
 been so wrought upon, and whose expectations had been 
 raised to Buch a height, manifested his surprise and disap- 
 pointment, upon attempting to enter into religious con- 
 versation with J. S., by exclaiming to the Friend who had 
 d«>ne his best to prevent it. •• He is a fool !" — and instead 
 of putting difficult theological questions to this weak but 
 sometimes highly favored instrument, for solution, he sim- 
 ply asked him the meaning of some ordinary words in the 
 English language; to which James with great simplicity 
 replied, that he did not know. — "But," said the inquirer, 
 "you ma.de use of those word- in your preaching today." 
 — " Very well," said J. Scribbens, "I knew then .'" In 
 the conclusion, this man confessed that he had read many 
 books upon the subject, but that his acquaintance with 
 James Scribbens had furnished the most conclusive evi- 
 dence of the truth of the Quaker doctrine of divine imme- 
 diate revelation, that he had ever met with. 
 
 It is said, there is but a step from the sublime to the 
 ridiculous ; and so it is related of James Scribbens, 
 that while riding in the woods, he was sorely affliated with 
 toothache ; and verily thinking he should not live, he dis- 
 mounted, tied his horse to one tree, and lay down under 
 another to die. Directly it occurred to him, that if he 
 should die there, people would say that he died drunk, 
 and what a reproach it would be ! So he got up, and 
 with a piece of chalk which he took from his pocket, Avrotc 
 upon the tree, "James Scribbens died with the tooth- 
 iiehe," — and lay down again to die. By-and-bye his tooth 
 ame easier ; he mounted his horse and rode off, leaving 
 the notice of his death, and the cause of it, plainly in- 
 scribed upon the tree. 
 
 Xow, although I have, in a bungling way, and without 
 regard to order and method, put down the chief of what I 
 have heard respecting J. S., yet I want thee distinctly to 
 
N 
 
 298 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1848. 
 
 understand, that even if thou should think it worth while 
 to print any part of it, I shall expect thee to put it into 
 better shape than this for the press. The last anecdote, and 
 several other particulars, I have merely noticed, to give 
 thee as full an idea of the man as I well could, with the 
 scanty materials at command. I intended to have written 
 to John Wilbur for information respecting him, but owing 
 to my many engagements, have omitted it, until it was too 
 late, if thou get this in any reasonable time. I should 
 think lie would be as likely to know about him as any- 
 body now living, if not more so. Christopher Jlealy once 
 lived in the same neighborhood, and may probably have 
 
 some knowledge of him 
 
 Fourth mo., 2<L — I am just in that nervous, depressed 
 state of mind, that I seem ready to doubt of "any good;" 
 and almost everything — even those comparable to grass- 
 hoppers — have become burdensome. Not but that I am 
 still truly glad to receive letters from my friends, and the 
 reading of thine again, yesterday, was momentarily re- 
 freshing, in the feeling of life and Gospel fellowship in 
 which ii was evidently written. But it has not dissipated 
 the gloom with which I am surrounded, almost over- 
 whelmed, so that I had almost come to the conclusion to 
 write no more letters ; hoping thus to escape the commis- 
 sion of some folly; which I am quite sure I should com- 
 mit, were I either to undertake to set forth by number 
 the clouds which appear in the horizon, according to my 
 apprehension, or to frame an image of the good things of 
 which thou speakest, and of which, I doubt not thou wast 
 authorized to speak. To one who can feel for those who 
 are in bonds, as bound with them, — to a member of that 
 body in which, if one member Suffers, all the living mem- 
 bers suffer with it, — what I have written will he sufficient, 
 if not too much. And so, with unfeigned love to thee, 
 and a sincere desire to be remembered for good, in the near- 
 est approaches of all saints to the Lord, 
 
 I conclude, and am thy friend, 
 
 Thomas B. Gould. 
 
1850. ] THOMAS B. GOULD. 
 
 To William Hodgson, 
 
 Ei 26th of ninth month, 1850, 
 
 My dsab Friend, William Hodgson, Jr.: 
 
 [f 1 should undertake to teach thee, as Job's 
 rters did him, how to conduct thyself under afflicti 
 thou might justly reply to me as he did to one of them: 
 ** Lo, mine eve hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and 
 understood it." Still I cannot doubt thou hast very close 
 trials and exercises to pass through, by the permission, if 
 not in the ordering, of Him "Who setteth the solitary in 
 families/ 1 and who hath unquestionably clothed some with 
 the Bpirit of mourning and lamentation, and made them 
 Bkilful therein. And surely the day in which we live calls 
 for it; for it is a day of treading down and perplexity, 
 wherein the wayfaring man ceaseth, and many of the 
 standard-bearers have fainted: even sueh as seemed strong 
 for the work ; but they have seen that "rest is good, ami 
 the land that it is pleasant;" and so they have deserted 
 the standard of truth, and bowed their shoulders to bear 
 another yoke than the cross of Christ, and so become ser- 
 vants unto him wdio always was an enemy thereto. 
 
 In times of great trial and difficulty, when some of those 
 upon whom we had been accustomed in some sort to lean, 
 (or of whom we had expected that they would lead forward 
 in the work of rebuilding the wall which has been broken 
 down, or in setting up the gates of that city, which have 
 been burnt as with fire,) have been removed by death, and 
 taken from the evil to come, and others have been wounded 
 by the archers in the enemy's camp, and have fainted and 
 fallen on the right hand and on the left ; how much harder 
 work it makes for such as are left, for those who dare not 
 desert their posts and flinch in the day of battle, because 
 they prefer the welfare of Jerusalem and the prosperity of 
 Zion above their chiefest joy. And thus it frequently 
 happens that such as did consider themselves in the rear, 
 are constrained to move forward and to stand in the breach, 
 although by so doing for Zion's sake, they are still more 
 exposed, as a mark for every archer. Neither can, these 
 lay down their defensive weapons, put off their clothes, or 
 
LOT LETT: 
 
 v will 
 
 I to th< . 
 
 _ 
 
 | 
 
 s 
 
 S 
 _ - 
 I lay in Zion. for a i 
 
 t whos 
 make .found 
 
 - 
 
 eh. But tl 
 - 
 5 their giving iem 
 
 d them i 
 stores . to lie down I 
 
 :ill wal an hir. 
 
 :u afraid. He will 
 
 - : II will hi th< 
 
 ga will I 1 not : them, saith the 
 
 Suffer, I rord 
 
 me 
 m or through a mean instrmn nd a weak broth 
 
 * which thou hast, 
 
 who has 1 u with 
 
 r thee from th :ith 
 
 .ithfui don t 
 
 cause through ;; lid run 
 
 3 
 
 hich w 
 
 v would c 
 
 that 
 man and with 
 
 lu- 
 
I860.] tii 
 
 mind, is, 1 • •■ Penii ! jusi I 
 
 n. but n i Bal 3 loi althoi 
 
 of Bound wor ntend, 
 
 in i i way and ti >und «i 
 
 al& '• r of the ! 1; but 
 
 it may be detected by those in wh< int- 
 
 ideth, ] q ii denietb the power thereof. And 
 
 from Buch we have aj authority for turning ;iv. 
 
 for coming out from among them and being Beparate from 
 them ; an not the gracious prom 
 
 i. saitb the Lord ':" 
 I I ad no e ation of • L r thus when I commenced, 
 
 and it will doubt em Btri that I haye \ bus 
 
 itten ; : things ha ted to my mi 
 
 under a :"■ of much sympathy and near unity v 
 
 . under Borne Bense of th< of 
 
 things among you, J have put them down in gi om, 
 
 and L'T'-a* fidence in thy discretion, the recep- 
 
 : or rej i of. And it' it ma; con- 
 
 vince thee how glad I should hai to have communed 
 
 a little with thee, hen thou wast here, ")• be 
 
 of the least encouragement t<> thee, when thou walkesl by 
 the way and r I do beli lording to 
 
 Bmall i e, I have had bo tperimental knowle< 
 
 of similar trii which have fallen, and 
 
 may yet fall, to thy lot), my object in writing will he, at 
 least in . Ami bo, with the salutation 
 
 J remain thy affi 
 
 Ti: B. Gould. 
 
 To Charles Peri 
 
 b of 3d mo., l B52. 
 
 My dear Friend : 
 
 Thine of i' h inst. was duly and from that 
 
 time t<» the ]. . J h;r. i :<'ll thee how 
 
 truly acceptable and deeply inte ie and 
 
 my dear M. We had heard nothing of our d 
 
LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1852. 
 
 friend J. Wilbur's getting along, except his arrival at New 
 Hope (\ think it was), and of his expecting to attend 
 
 Duck- Quarter the next day 
 
 What the result of this visit may be, I suppose the 
 wisest amongst as, or even among them, can scarcely 
 foresee: km ..!' tin- weakest and hindermost of the 
 flock, like myself, may possibly be permitted to hazard the 
 expression of a belief, that our dear aged friend's head will 
 continue to be covered in the day of battle, and that He, 
 who hath evidently called him forth and gone before him, 
 will " deliver him from the people and from the Gentiles :" 
 inasmuch as it is evident, that they are not all Israelites who 
 have keen accounted such, or who still doubtless consider 
 themselves "masters in Israel." How strange and unac- 
 countable it seems, that poor should have keen 
 
 apparently so ready to go on his errand, and so prompt to 
 deliver his message at Damascus! For I suppose there is 
 little room to doubt, that he was sent by authority of the 
 chief priests and rulers of the synagogue. But if the ut- 
 most stretch of that popular (shall I use the expression?) 
 Christian virtue, charity, will not admit of the supposition 
 that he did it ignorant ly, yet is it not possible that even 
 one who has been as eminently favored as he has doubtless 
 been, may. by letting in the reasoner, and adopting the 
 doctrine of expediency, become so blinded as to think that 
 he was doing the truth a service? 
 
 Notwithstanding, BO far as thou hast informed me, there 
 ms to have been, considering all the circumstances, a 
 remarkably "open door" set before our dear friend, yet I 
 cannot doubt but he lias also been "in deaths oft;" for it 
 is an awful thing " to be baptized for the dead :" and I am 
 ready to Bay, -till more so, to have to stand, as it were, 
 between the living and the dead : and if I am not mistaken 
 
 in my own feelings in regard to the nature ok his servii 
 
 it ha- keen somewhat in this line. Oh! may the plague 
 
 be stayed! He is almost constantly in my mind. I have 
 
 thought ok writing to him, just to let him know that much ; 
 km really am so xcvx poor a- t<» feel myself unable, totally 
 unable and unworthy even to hand a cup of cold water in 
 the name of a di-ciple. J)ut 1 do nevertheless BtlU love 
 
_\ I T1M.M \s B. GOULD. 
 
 the brethren ; and when thou art writing, if ii be not too 
 much trouble* thou mi him know thai 1 love the 
 
 fathers and the elders also. And when thou sees! thai 
 mother in Israel, his wife, whom I have ever loved 
 cerely, and desired to honor in the truth, do please tell 
 her, it' thou judgesl it meel for me to Bay so, thai I have 
 thought much of her in her loneliness, and under her por- 
 tion of the burden of this weighty and (is it no1 ?) rather 
 peculiar work and Bervice; and that I have fell for her 
 too, according t<» my -mall measure; jusl querying of her 
 withal, whether David's men. who staved by the stuff, did 
 i the spoil with those who went forth to battle? 
 lint I did nol expect to have run on thus when L com- 
 menced, or to have written many line-, being also pressed 
 for time. Thou must, dear Charles, excuse the haste, cVc, 
 and BO I conclude, with dear love to thee and thine, and 
 the rest of our dear friends there, as if named. 
 
 Thy sincere friend, 
 
 Thomas B. Gould. 
 
 To William Hodgson. 
 
 Elmside, Newport, 15th of 4th month, 1S.V2. 
 
 My dear Friend, 'William Hodgson, Jr. : 
 
 It may seem strange that I should inflict one 
 
 of my poor scrawls upon thee, just at the commencement of 
 your yearly meeting, when thy time and attention will no 
 doubt be fully and more profitably employed. And yet it 
 did seem right, even for me, to send thee a salutation of 
 love, and to bid thee "good speed" and "good cheer" just 
 at this time. 
 
 Is there not such a scripture as this : " Go thy way, cat 
 thy bread with gladness, and drink thy wine with a merry 
 heart, for now thy work is accepted ?" I may not quote 
 it correctly, for it is long since I have read it, or even 
 thought of it, till since I have been writing these last few 
 lines. But really, my dear friend, is there not cause for 
 thee, and perhaps others, to be encouraged ? I am not 
 indeed looking for or expecting great things (and hope I 
 shall not be so understood), or for any great and remarkable 
 
304 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [18 
 
 change to take place immediately; although it may 
 
 all things are possible with Him whose power is omni- 
 potent, and whose name is Wonderful; and we kno*w that 
 He can, if He pleases, change the hearts of the children 
 of men, as a man changes the water-course in his field; 
 and will He not overturn, overturn, overturn, until He 
 comes to reign, whose only right it is to reign in His 
 Church and anion-- His professing people? Yea. and is 
 it no1 manifest that He hath arisen already, and com- 
 menced the work, going, as of old, before His disciples 
 into GaliL 
 
 .... I cannot doubt that the company and .services 
 of our dear aged friend, John Wilbur, have been truly 
 acceptable and encouraging to thee and many more; while 
 to many among you who do not pass for Gurneyites, I 
 suppose the fact of his being there has produced similar 
 sensations to what those unsound professors formerly ex- 
 perienced, when they were wont to exclaim, upon the arri- 
 val of G. Fox amongst them, " The man in leather breeches 
 has come !" I think no one could have gone thither, whose 
 visit would have been less acceptable to such as these, or 
 so difficult for them to escape from the effects of it; nor bo 
 likely to be really and extensively useful in the promotion 
 of the great and good cause which even these still prof 
 to have in view and at heart; although the singleness and 
 uprightness of their purposes, and the usefulness and ac- 
 ceptability of their services, seem to be rendered exceed- 
 ingly doubtful, by the continual "bleating of sheep, and 
 lowing of oxen," and an evident intention of saving the 
 besl of these, with the king, alive, however great the 
 necessity, or positive the injunction, utterly to destroy 
 Amalck. Well, those things which oppose and resist the 
 progress of this people, and hinder them from following 
 their Leader, and supporting, in their ancient purity, the 
 doctrines of the I Jo-pel. and the testimonies of truth, which 
 have been given us to bear, will continue to oppose and 
 resist, as they did Israel of old, until they are overcome 
 
 and removed OUl of the way. And when we shall have 
 
 been emptied from vessel to vessel, and sifted as from sieve 
 
 to siei as to be brought OUt of the mixtures, where- 
 
2. ] THOMAS i:. GOl LD. 
 
 with even Ephraim hath mixed and is mixing I 
 
 the people, until he hath lost his Btrength, althoi 
 he seemeth not to know it : then, may we not hope tl 
 as a people, in some places at Least, there may be a re- 
 
 ;il of strength, and of a degree of ancient zeal for the 
 
 d's honor, and that the truth may again prosper, and 
 Bhine forth with its wonted brightness? But with regard 
 to some, who appear to have Badly failed, and stopped 
 
 it of the mark, turning back in the day of battle, al- 
 though they had been eminently favored and eminently 
 useful, apparently, having been manifestly preferred to 
 Manasseh, art thou not often ready to adopt, in relation 
 to them, the mournful language, "How shall I give thee 
 , 0! Bphraim? how shall I deliver thee, ! Israel? How 
 Bnal] I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Ze- 
 
 a*:" I cannot doubt that thou art often greatly dis- 
 
 I for Buch as these, and that thy soul is in bitterness 
 
 on their account, as for thy first-born. But the measure 
 
 suffering must be filled up; and it is required of some, 
 not only to stand in jeopardy every hour, but in the gap 
 
 . as a mark for every archer, while they are deserted 
 by many who have stood for a time exceedingly near. To 
 witness the desertion and the fall of these, and to be bap- 
 tized for them, is very close, hard work, sufficiently so to 
 make us of all men most miserable, if it were not for the 
 consolations of the Gospel communicated, with the pro- 
 mise. I will stand by thee and deliver thee; I will never 
 thee, nor forsake thee. Be thou faithful unto death, 
 and I will give thee a crown of life ! And is there not also 
 
 solation in the belief, that He who hath promised, is 
 able to raise those up also who may have fallen, to heal 
 those who have been wounded, and even to breathe again 
 upon, re-animate, and bring together, such as have been 
 scattered hither and thither, and become exceeding dry, 
 like the dry bones of the valley; causing them again to 
 stand upon their feet firmly, and even to fight His battles? 
 I may acknowledge, perhaps, with safety and in confidence 
 to thee, that, even at this distance, and without having 
 ever stood, like thyself, in very close connection with some 
 among you, whom I have nevertheless "e.-teemed very 
 
 26* 
 
306 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [18-" 
 
 highly in love for the work's sake," my spirit has been 
 often, and is, clothed with mourning for them, earnestly 
 if it be possible, thai they may be induced to 
 ie down, that they may be made willing to be of as 
 little account aa the truth is, and to continue to follow in 
 the footsteps of tic flock of the companions of Christ, let 
 who will turn aside, and although Buch as were accounted 
 members of Israel, and of the family, should be lacking 
 in their tribes, having chosen to remain in Egypt, "where 
 also our Lord is crucified." When I have considered how 
 valiant some of these were in contending for the faith, and 
 how much better they seemed qualified for it than any of 
 us (only excepting that able and veteran soldier, J. W.), 
 and moreover, that like the men of Ephraim formerly, 
 they Beemed almost ready to chide with us if they were 
 not called to the battle, and placed in the forefront of it 
 too, — which place, for one, I have ever been more than 
 willing they should occupy, having always esteemed " the 
 gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim/' in a certain sense, as 
 being u better than the vintage of Abi-ezer" — when I have 
 considered these things, it hat med not only very sad, 
 but very Btrange and unnatural alsp, that there should be 
 any cause to fear that David's description of the death of 
 Abner might in any event be applied .justly to any of them. 
 And yel it does not seem probable, though their hands are 
 not bound, nor their feet put into fetters, that they will be 
 Blain while fighting the Lord's battles, in whose victorious 
 army they were wont to be ranked among the "first three 
 mighty men." But how true it is, that the race is not 
 always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong; nor 
 durable riches and righteousness to men of great natural 
 understanding, or even of uncommon spiritual gifts and 
 large experience of thi and mercy of the Lord 
 
 in the land of the living; unless there is an abiding in 
 humility and in the Vine of life ! How ninny .-tars, appa- 
 rently of the first magnitude, the dragon seems to have 
 obtained power, nearly or quite to sweep down in these 
 days, and in this time of times upon which we have fallen; 
 wherein it doc- seem as if everything that can be shaken 
 or removed, would be shaken and moved out of the way; 
 
■J. I THOMAS B. QOULD. 
 
 not tli*' earth only, but heaven also; that that which can- 
 not be shaken may remain; even the ne^ heaven and the 
 in w earth, wherein righteousne - shall dwell! For 1 do 
 believe that there are those now living, who will afresh 
 ive the injunction, i" u be glad and rejoice forever in 
 that which I create;" forasmuch as He whose promises are 
 unfailing will, in His own due tinou Jerusalem a 
 
 rejoicing, and her people a joy." 
 
 Thou wilt not, 1 trust, suppose that I have had any- 
 thing in view, more than what is included in, or conveyed 
 by the declaration, that "they who feared the Lord spake 
 often one unto another ;" and however thou may receive 
 this il writing, it ha£ done under a sense 
 
 of much weakness, and in fear. 
 
 I Bhall feel quite anxious to hear how J. W. fares next 
 week ; as also how you are getting along with the committees 
 apart for your especial benefit and restoration to the 
 body of modified Quakerism ; which at best is but as cank- 
 ered gold, or as wine mixed with water, in comparison 
 with ancient Quakerism, with primitive and vital Chris- 
 tianity 
 
 It is late, and I must bid thee farewell ; although I feel 
 almost reluctant to part with thee even so; for thou hast 
 n brought very near. 
 
 Thomas B. Gould. 
 
 To Peleg Mitchell. 
 
 Newport, 18th of 5th mo./ 1852. 
 
 My dear Friend : 
 
 At Greenwich, in the public quarterly meeting was 
 
 largely opened, upon the nature and qualification for the 
 performance of true worship under the Gospel dispensa- 
 tion. He was lively and skilful in administering and di- 
 viding " the word of the truth of the Gospel ;" showi 
 with clearness and effect, how, as individuals and meetii 
 are gathered to that spirit, and truth, and power, in whi 
 alone true and acceptable worship can be performed, all 
 forward spirits and unsanctified offerings would be kept 
 down, and that would rise into dominion and prevail over 
 
LI] !■: AND LETTERS OF [1£ 
 
 all, which remains to be the crown of glory and diadem of 
 
 auty in every rightly gath< jsembly. As 1 sal he- 
 
 Bide him, and 1 with admiration and joy at the 
 
 excellence of the gift, not wholly without feelings of 
 thankfuln the divine Author and heavenly Giver 
 
 reofj I could not repress the fervent though secret p< 
 tion : that neither one thing nor another might be permitted 
 
 tarnish its lustre, that the gold might not become dim, 
 nor the most fine gold changed !* 
 
 1 must conclude, with dear love to thee and thine, in 
 which my dear M. unit* , 
 
 Thomas B. Gould. 
 
 To Martha S. Gould. 
 
 New Bedford, 10th month, 11th, 1S52. 
 
 My dear Martha : 
 
 .... The kindness of Friends everywhere could not 
 needed : and I have also got along in other re 
 
 my humbling admiration, and even to my astonishment : 
 
 doctrines of the Gospel, and the mysteries of the 
 
 kingdom, having never been so largely opened to me 
 
 or through me before. Dear cousin Francis Taber is wvy 
 
 ble, and was, before he went to Nantucket : but he told 
 me after the select meeting last fourth-day, that he felt 
 better, adding emphatically, "for it has been a good meet- 
 And it was bo, Indeed, and a truly remarkable one, 
 of which, dear Mary Macey, Mary Davis, and others, bore 
 public testimony in the meeting. On sixth-day evening, I 
 had an appointed meeting at Siasconset: the house ¥ 
 filled, and the people were remarkably attentive and quiet 
 
 throughout 
 
 On first-day, the afternoon meeting was put off till four 
 
 nek. Public notice was given, and the house was very 
 
 rly tilled. The morning meeting was no1 a small one. 
 And in the evening a meeting of the colored population, 
 
 no of their own meeting-houses, which was tilled, and 
 
 *The secret impression of danger implied above, as prompting the 
 petition in the mind of T. 1> <■.. tor the of this individual, was 
 
 iwfully verified i afterwar 
 
_\ ] THOM IB B. GOl LD. 
 
 was to the sal iod of Friends al least. The onlj re- 
 
 ining aative Indian left upon the island [Nantucket] 
 happened also to be, or was present; of which, when I 
 
 it, I was glad, li was an interesting meetii 
 In the midst of a large opening d'^v me), I fell a full stop 
 and sal down, though not apparently so abruptly as to 
 
 particularly noticed; whereupon dear C arose, and 
 
 had a lively and striking testimony, in harmony with my 
 
 own feelings. Dear followed him, af hich L 
 
 was favored in a few words to obtain relief, and the m< 
 
 ing closed, in as hard a rain and as dark a night. I reckon, 
 
 dear Mary Barnard and Sarah Paddack, and 
 Thaddeus and Eliza Coffin were out in; for we literally 
 
 led home, through Band and water, and they seemed 
 almost like quicksands to, me, when I thought of the 
 women, and the first two especially. We had an exceed- 
 ingly rough passage, the fir§t half of it, today. . . . 
 
 1 expect to have an appointed meeting at Fair Haven, 
 the village opposite to this place, to-morrow evening ; to 
 attend Dartmouth meeting on fourth-day morning, and an 
 appointed meeting at Padanaram in the evening ; North 
 Dartmouth meeting on fifth-day; an appointed meeting 
 in Slocum's Neck fifth-day evening or sixth-day; possibly 
 one at the head of>Westport River on seventh-day, and 
 probably both meetings at this place on first-day next; to 
 go to Fall River on second-day, and to return home the 
 same evening 
 
 Know assuredly that I am thine affectionately, 
 
 T. B. Gould. 
 
310 LIFE AND LETTEBS OF [1( 
 
 C 11 A PTEB V 1. 
 
 On the 7th day of eleventh month, 1852, Thomas B. 
 Gould attended a public meeting for divine worship in 
 Friends 1 meeting-house near Little Oompton, a village on 
 tlic eastern passage into Narragansett Bay. An indi- 
 vidual present, not a member of the Society of Friends, 
 attempted to take down in writing what was delivered by 
 Thomas on that occasion : probably not being then aware 
 of the strong objections held by the speaker, in common 
 with Friends generally, against the practice of writing 
 down, in a religious meeting, communications of that 
 kind. This person afterwards sent a transcript of it to 
 the Friend who had accompanied Thomas to the meeting, 
 and the following copy is believed to be substantially 
 correct, as far as it goes. It may safely be inserted in 
 these pages (since the decease of the speaker), as afford- 
 an interesting and instructive view of his doctrine and 
 expression in preaching the Gospel; and without any in- 
 tention of introducing, or sanctioning, the practice of pub- 
 lishing the communications of our ministers, in a general 
 way. 
 
 After Bitting for some time in silent waiting on the 
 Lord, he i and declared as follows : % * I believe that 
 
 it is quite possible for men and women, while they con- 
 tinue to observe forms which have been abrogated, to aim 
 sincerely at the substance; and also, that it is equally 
 pos -i 1 le for those who reject the use of forms, to fail of 
 to an experimental knowledge of the substance ; 
 and y<t it is exceedingly important that all men and all 
 
 Women Should he really and truly qualified and prepared 
 
 t«> worship and serve Him who created them, and who not 
 
1852. ) Tlh-V tfi p.. ,;,■! [ D. 81 I 
 
 only cr them, bul created them for the vn-v purp< 
 
 of worshi] ing, and glori 
 
 nd, hath not 
 ujK.n His rational, accountable creation, the mea 
 lining to the knowledge of Hi*. ' the v. 
 
 I the manner in which we should come before the 
 d, and bow ourselves before the mosl high God, in 
 li a manner as will find acceptance with Him who has 
 d declared to be the God of knowledge, and thai by 
 Him the actions of all creatures are weighed in the <• 
 scales of divine justice, of divine wisdom, of divine know- 
 ledge; and Hisjudgmenl is just, for just and true are all 
 His ways. And yel it is or maybe matter, and should 
 be matter of great encouragement to us, and of thankful- 
 38 by us, that mercy still covers the judgment-seat, 
 that God i> indeed merciful and long-suffering unto the 
 children of men, and that, although they may pass a 
 -•rear part of their lives in a state of lamentable forgetful- 
 38 of Him, and want of right qualification to worship 
 and serve Him; yet in His unutterable mercy and un- 
 bounded love. He is not slack concerning His promise-. 
 but is faithful toward us; not willing that any should 
 perish, but that all should come to the knowledge of Him 
 and of His truth, and so be prepared to worship and <vr\c 
 Him in spirit and in truth, and finally be saved with an 
 everlasting salvation. 
 
 "I may acknowledge that my feelings, since taking my 
 seat in this meeting, have been of a rather peculiar and 
 truly exercising nature ; under a consideration, an hum- 
 bling consideration of the great need there is amonir the 
 children of men, of greater dedication of heart unto the 
 Lord, of a more serious and earnest engagement of spirit, 
 to know for ourselves, how we shall come before Him in 
 the manner that will find acceptance with him ; for it is 
 indeed our reasonable service. An experienced apoe 
 made use of strikingly earnest and persuasive lang 
 when he said, 'I beseech you, brethren, by the mercies of 
 God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy 
 and acceptable unto Him, which is your reasonable [ 
 vice.' I may not quote the language precisely as it 
 stands recorded in the Holy Scriptures of the New Testa- 
 
312 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1£ 
 
 menl ; for it bo happens that I have not recently road the 
 :<•: neither ha ! . all studied, or so much as con- 
 sidered, what I Bhould Bay, or what I should -peak unto 
 you, previously to my entering under this roof. For it is 
 not in accordance with the principles which the Society of 
 Friends hold and most assuredly believe in, to premeditate 
 what they shall Bay, or what they Bhall speak, on such 
 >ns as this; neither is it, or over was it. my prac- 
 tice. I am not ashamed to acknowledge it ; nay, verily, 
 but on the contrary, i'^v some reason or other, — I know 
 not, neither am I curious to know, — I believe it to be in- 
 cumbent upon me thus publicly to acknowledge it. It is 
 not the practice of any authorized minister of this Society, 
 when they assemble with their brethren for the purpose of 
 performing worship unto God ; — it is not their practice to 
 sit down in a meeting and consider what they shall speak 
 unto the people; but rather, to turn their minds inward 
 unto Him, unto that God who is a Spirit, and who is to he 
 worshipped in spirit and in truth ; to get themselves unto 
 the watch-tower in the secret of their own souls, and there 
 to hearken what the Lord shall say unto them by the 
 manifestation of His own Spirit and of llis own power: 
 and not only so, hut what they Bhall answer when they 
 are themselves reproved — for men and women, although 
 they may have received a gift of the ministry from our 
 Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, yet they are men and 
 women of like passions, and subject to like infirmities as 
 others, and I have sometimes thought arc permitted to be 
 
 ailed by greater temptation-. 
 
 "And yet there are assuredly no idlers in the Lord's 
 house, or amongst his people; and it is indeed a great mis- 
 take for any t<> Buppose, when they assemble themselves 
 together for the worship of God, that any man. however 
 eminently gifted, can possibly he enabled to perform, for 
 them, divine service, divine worship: but it does indeed 
 
 , ('times, and it may frequently happen, that among such 
 
 are gathered together for the worship of God, into a 
 
 -taic of solemn, awful, reverential silence before Him, 
 
 thai some one or other among these inward spiritual 
 
 worshippers may be renewedly qualified and raised up to 
 
;. ] THOMAS B. GOULD. B18 
 
 Bpea rord in due Beason unto such as are weary, to 
 
 e forth a word of exhortation or reproof, accordi 
 the Lord's Spirit shall give them utterance and qualify 
 them so to do; and such an engagement may indeed be 
 blessed both to Buch as are exercised in it, and to Buch as 
 hear them. But it is no1 worship, merely to assemble 
 jcther for no other purpose than to listen to the words 
 of ministers. There m us t be a preparation in the hearts 
 of those who hear oven the Gospel itself, or else we Bhall 
 not be edified at all thereby. For we have the testimony 
 and authority of the Holy Scriptures for declaring, that 
 ept the word preached be mixed with faith in those 
 
 who hear, it Bhall not profit the people. And faith is a 
 heavenly gift. It is the gift of <iod. It is not a mere 
 notion; it is not a mere assent of the understanding to the 
 
 truths of the Gospel as they stand recorded in the Holy 
 Scriptures; it is something beyond this, more excellent, 
 more heavenly, and more powerful; for it was by faith 
 that the elders obtained a good report, and if we are 
 ever so happy as to obtain a good report, it will be by 
 faith also. 'Faith is the substance of things hoped for, 
 and the evidence of things not seen.' 'And this,' said 
 an experienced apostle, 'is the victory which overcometh 
 the world, even our Taith.' Now that which can enable 
 any man or any woman to overcome the world, must be 
 something more than a wind of doctrine, something more 
 than an assent of the understanding to certain principles 
 and doctrines, however excellent. It must be something 
 practical, inward, and powerful in its nature, which shall 
 enable them to renounce the pomps and vanities of this 
 wicked world. 
 
 " Such was the nature of the saints' faith. They pos- 
 sessed a living, efficacious faith, which was able to save their 
 souls. It was a shield unto them, whereby they were 
 preserved from the temptations and the snares with which 
 he assailed them, even as he assaileth us. For who of us 
 are free from the temptations and snares of the enemy ? 
 Are we not some of us made experimentally certain, that 
 the adversary goeth about as a roaring lion seeking whom 
 he may devour ; and not only so, but as a cunning, crafty 
 
 27 
 
314 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1858. 
 
 pent, seeking whom he may deceive, and whom lie may 
 betray, whom he may induce to turn from the worship and 
 service of that God who created them, unto the worship 
 and service of the enemy, the adversary, the evil one* 
 It remains an undeniable truth, thai his servants we arc 
 unto whom we yield our members to obey. 
 
 "It is in and by Jesus Christ alone, that we may find 
 acceptance with Cod the Father, who is a pure and holy 
 Spirit, and requireth pure offerings and sacrifices to be 
 offered unto Him. Neither is there any other name or 
 power given under heaven, whereby we can he qualified to 
 offer acceptable offerings unto God the Father, but by and 
 through the name of His only-begotten, well-beloved Son, 
 our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. All divine worship 
 and service is to be performed and offered up in His name 
 and by His power ; for there is no such thing as salvation 
 in any other, or acceptance with God the Father by any 
 other. Men have sought to climb other ways into heaven, 
 and to perform divine service in strength which came not 
 by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; but such have not 
 therein found acceptance, such have offered an impure and 
 unholy offering ; because they were not acquainted with 
 the ministry of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, 
 which the Lord hath pitched, and not man. They have 
 offered in the time and the way which they have devised 
 in their own hearts. They have warmed themselves at a 
 lire of their own kindling, and lain down in sorrow at the 
 end ; because there is none other than the fire of God's 
 own altar which can enable us to worship God in spirit, 
 and to have no confidence in the flesh. These are the true 
 worshippers in the temple, whoever they are and wherever 
 they are. If they are not yet completely redeemed from 
 some observance of forms and ceremonies, yet are they 
 the true worshippers in the temple, the living members of 
 the church and body of Christ. These are all in some 
 measure gathered unto that which is within the veil, 
 whither Christ Jesus, our forerunner, hath entered. These 
 arc made partakers of the hidden manna, which cometh 
 down from heaven, and givcth life unto the world. These 
 do not merely make a profession of performing divine ser- 
 
).} TH0MA8 B. Q0ULD. 815 
 
 ■ ; but they have known wha4 it is to sanctify the Lord 
 in their hearts, and He has become their hope, and their 
 aid, and their souls are bowed in awful reverence before 
 Him, Baying, 'Lord, what will thou have me to do, and 
 Imw shall I appear before thee, in order that I may re* 
 ceive a little strength renewedlv from Thee? 1 Ami 
 they are gathered into a Btate of silent, patient waiting 
 upon Him. Their expectations are from Him, and from 
 Him alone ; and Buch do at times and seasons joyfully ex- 
 perience the truth of that Scripture, that * they that wait 
 upon the Lord shall renew their strength. 1 They shall, 
 and do, and arc enabled to renew their spiritual strength 
 in and by Him, and by the assistance which He, of His 
 goodness and mercy, is pleased to afford unto them, 
 whether it be immediately or instrumentally communi- 
 cated. For as God is a spirit, the soul of man is a spirit, 
 and it doth not require the intervention of words, in order 
 that He may communicate substantial good to our souls. 
 He can cause us to hear His voice, even the voice of His 
 only-begotten and well-beloved Son, although no words 
 should be vocally and literally sounded in our ears. 
 
 " What great encouragement there is then, for such as 
 may be much removed from the opportunity of participa- 
 ting in the many helps which arc provided in His church 
 and amongst His people. They cannot be excluded from 
 the instruction which comes from Him, or from the high 
 and holy privilege of waiting upon Him and worshipping 
 Him. Jacob worshipped, leaning upon the top of his 
 staff, and we have no account that he had any company 
 save the presence of that God whom he worshipped. Well 
 now, if we are favored to feel and know something of His 
 presence with us, something of instruction from Him how 
 Ave shall worship and serve Him, then we may rest as- 
 sured that we are in His house, even in the house of God, 
 whether we have any other than a stone for our pillow, 
 yea or nay. Remember how it was with the patriarch 
 Jacob, when he saw the heavens opened, and a ladder 
 which reached unto heaven, and angels of God ascending 
 and descending thereon. Why, he said, ' This is none 
 other than the house of God!' And that is none other 
 
81G LIFB AND LETTERS OF [1& 
 
 than the house pf God, in which we are made sensible of 
 His presence, of the manifestation of His Spirit and of 
 His power : and it doth indeed become such as are so made 
 sensible of it, to pul off their shoes from eft' their feet, for 
 the place whereon they stand is indeed holy ground; and 
 as they are thus prepared by the Lord Himself to stand 
 in awful reverence before Him, He will open their ears to 
 hear His voice, and will teach them and instruct them as 
 man never taught or could teach them. They shall find 
 their bouIs sustained by the bread of life, by the Word of 
 
 Grod Himself. For it is declared, that man shall not live 
 
 by bread alone, — that is. by outward, elementary bread, 
 — but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of 
 God and of the Lamb. And so they will joyfully and 
 happily experience, as David did, that it is good for them, 
 both patiently to wait and quietly to hope for their God ; 
 and thus they shall renew their spiritual strength, so that 
 they shall be enabled to run in the way of His divine and 
 holy commandments without being weary, and to walk 
 therein, even in the way of life and salvation, without 
 fainting. 
 
 " And Christ Himself, the Son and sent of God, is the 
 way of life: * I am the way, the truth, and the life; no 
 man cometh unto the Father but by Me.' And if any 
 man attempt to climb up any other way, or offer up any 
 sacrifices and offerings, except it be by and through Him, 
 the great High Priest of our profession, by whom all offer- 
 ings are to be offered up, such will not find acceptance; 
 they will but offer the sacrifice of fools, considering not 
 that they do evil when they pretend to draw nigh unto 
 God, and to make mention of His glorious, holy name, 
 while their hearts are far from Him! Oil! lie will be 
 Sanctified in those that come nigh Him; and 'let him that 
 nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity/ IS a 
 divine injunction which will stand true to the end of time. 
 Oh ! have we, some of us. ever been made justly sensible 
 of the holine8S, the wisdom, the mercy, and the power of 
 God? Most men. when they are brought, or about to he 
 brought, into the presence of the great ones of this earth, 
 the great men of this lower world, feel more or less of awe 
 pervade their minds. Well now. He is King of kings, and 
 
.:. | THOMAS B. GOULD, 817 
 
 Lord of lords, the blessed and only Potentate. Hia name 
 is high and holy. It is above every other name that can 
 
 jsibly be named, 'and His name is called the Word of 
 I:' and He hath caused His name to be proclaimed 
 
 ore Him, and at the name of God and of Christ, even 
 at the name of Jesus, 'every knee shall bow, and every 
 tongne confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of 
 God the Father. 1 Oh! how serious, how solemn a thing 
 
 it 18, for US to feel and know that we stand every moment 
 
 in His presence ! And how necessary it is for us, that we 
 
 should live and walk in His fear! For the fear of the 
 L<»rd is the very beginning of wisdom, and to depart from 
 evil is understanding: and if we are brought under a true 
 sense of His fear, and sufficiently humbled before Him, 
 lie will, I am persuaded, teach us of His ways, and how 
 we may appear hefore Him. So that, if any lack wisdom 
 as to this matter, if they lack wisdom as to how they shall 
 appear before the Lord, and how themselves before the 
 Most High God, let them ask of Him who giveth liberally 
 and upbraideth not. Let them hearken unto Him, and He 
 will instruct them, when they listen to the inspiring word 
 of His own divine Spirit and power, as it is proclaimed in 
 their souls ; and so they shall be livingly instructed in the 
 way and the manner by which they shall be qualified and 
 enabled to worship and serve Him with their spirits, in the 
 I rospel of His Son." 
 
 From T. B. G. to Charles Terry. 
 
 Newport, third month, 30th, 1853. 
 
 My dear Friend, C. Perry: 
 
 I am not insensible how r forcibly, though 
 
 briefly, thou hast commented upon the many remarkable 
 passages and incidents of thy grandfather's letters and 
 journey. But it is not just now, and has not been this 
 long while, either a new moon or a Sabbath-day with me ; 
 and yet I have not felt like venturing out to " gather 
 sticks,'' or even like attempting to kindle a fire with such 
 as I have on hand, however dry and combustible they may 
 be. Still there seems to be need enough of fire, for it is a 
 
 27* 
 
S18 LOT \M« LBTT1 - [l v 
 
 I, wintrj a it artificial heat -rem- unlikely to 
 
 do ain and the query often recurs, " Who shall -h 
 
 For *■ 1 am i, and no man :" 1 am 
 
 liki 1 man ' mind, or like a broken vessel : the 
 
 chief, if not the only - the fi tinned 
 
 f the Ioyi the brethren, and esj lly of the 
 fathers ami the elders, the faithful, valiant, ami truly 
 Me lal - in the great ami arduous field oi' the 
 
 8t; although 1 do not feel worthy or able to 
 them: ami yet, according to my small ability, 
 I think I have travailed and sympathized with them, or 
 f them, often sincerely desiring that He would he 
 pleased t< se and qualify, and send forth more 
 
 laborers into Hi- harvest : for such as are rightly qualified, 
 and willing, and faithful, are indeed very few. While on 
 the other hand, there are BO many busybodies, who have 
 not tarried at Jerusalem until they were endued with power 
 from on high; whose time is always ready, and who either 
 run while there is a tumult, and consequently have no eer- 
 d tidings, - «nng ;<> the wind, and reaping the whirl- 
 wind: - : great Bwelling word- of vanity, prophesy- 
 ing Falsely : the people all the while beii _ - bewitched 
 
 with their - re Ties and enchantments, that they lore 
 
 ■ 
 
 hai >, and therefore multiply their teachers kle 
 
 their itching ears for them. 
 
 All these things operate as a discouragement; and unless 
 there is a double portion of faith, long experience, and I 
 am ready to add, a threefold commission, how shall the 
 query be Burmounted, ** Who is sufficient for these things 
 who shall he aide to endure the perils which all must 
 encounter, who venture out in these perilous times, times 
 of peri] by -• a ami peril by land, and even greater than 
 all th« tnbined, perils among false brethren? Oh! 
 
 h<>w 1 d<> feel for him [J. W.]. in going again as into the 
 very mouth of the lion 1 For it is mournfully evident that 
 there is that which is of the same nature, even among 
 those where, as 1 suppose, his lot is now cast (notwithstand- 
 ing their professions ^i^ love, and unity, and harmony): in 
 opposition to everything that has a tendency t<» rend the 
 veil, and to make a distinetion and separation between the 
 
I 358. ) 'J ii' KM LO. 
 
 precious and the file, between tli.it which is of the L 
 
 :tn<l go in tin- « 1 i \ i 1 1 < * h:i riu< -ir. . and thai \shi<-h • of 
 
 I I :i. and consequently in the enmif fu- 
 sion, r «»i- lai manifested by sue! 
 
 and over the number of his di which they sureb 
 
 not obtained \\h<» take counsel of man, and und< 
 nil.- by man's falh dom. Dm their ships may b<- 
 
 broken :i- ;tt I i and the mouth - of the Ii"; 
 
 I. For I he Lord ii -till able t<> -\<>\> tie- moui 
 of linn-, and t<» quench the violence of fire, although it n 
 burn n< • hemently or hiddenly ; and to bring forth 
 
 such n- are faithful, unhurt by the ad without even 
 
 the smell of the other upon them 
 
 With lov< •• friend, 
 
 T. i;. Gould. 
 
 To William Hodgson. 
 
 Xi 5th month, I 
 
 My i>eak Friend : 
 
 Thou hast h- i much and se often in my remem- 
 
 brance for ;i month or two past, that I have been upon 
 the point of writing to th< I again ; and I cer- 
 
 tainly think I Bhould have don.- this, had I been in 
 
 possession of as many and as large opportunities of leisure 
 
 jome ]><•"])!<• 
 
 It is probable thou hast heard, that the quarterly n 
 ing united with the concern of our dear, aged, and devoted 
 friend, J. Wilbur, and endorsed the certificate of South 
 Kingstown Monthly Meeting, by which he was liberated 
 (so far ;•- Friends there could do it) to pay a visit in 
 pel love to Friends and others in <ire,«tt Britain and 
 Ireland. . . . I doubt not, that there are many amoi 
 von. and such too, as " seem to be," not only " somewhi 
 but very wise in such matters, avIio have already come to a 
 judgment, and decided against the rn, as not in the 
 
 truth, or in the order of Society, or of the Gospel, if not 
 .-I- being either childish, or wilful and presumptuous in 
 him, and also as manifesting weakness and folly in th 
 
320 LIFE AM) LETTERS OF [IS.".-". 
 
 bodies who have officially sanctioned it. There is, how- 
 ever, to me some cause for encouragement, when I am 
 favored to Bee and to feel that different meetings of 
 
 Friends, or even Bolitary individuals amongst them, have 
 sanctified the Lord In their hearts, as to lei Him truly 
 become their fear and their dread; in whose fear the 
 beginning of true wisdom, as well as the increase and per- 
 fection of it, and of holiness also, most surely is. For out 
 of this fear, and without a degree of that holiness which 
 can only he known and perfected therein, no man can e 
 the Lord, or expect to receive a true answer from Him, 
 however frequently, from his position or station in the 
 professing church, he may seem called upon to judge of 
 such important concerns as relate to His service and the 
 affairs of His Church. What a dangerous snare "the 
 fear of man'' often becometh, to those who are governed 
 by no higher rule or criterion than man's fallen wisdom! 
 How frequently they become entangled in the conse- 
 quences and contingencies which they have vainly, if not 
 presumptuously and of themselves, sought to avoid ; not 
 seeing the end from the beginning with the eye of faith, 
 which t lie Lord alone can open, and which He will not 
 Suffer to "wax dim" while any continue to be pure in 
 heart. 
 
 Thou mayst well ask why I should write thus to thee. 
 I can only say that it has come of my reflections or im- 
 pressions of the state of things, I am ready to add, even 
 with some of you. Yet I truly and comfortably, ami, as 
 I think, upon good ground, hope better things of thee. 
 even such as accompany salvation and deliverance From 
 the wiles, and baits, and refined delusions, in which great 
 men, and rich men, and wise men have been ensnared — 
 yea, and women also, — who have received precious gifts 
 and had long experience, attaining to such eminence 
 and high stations in the church, as to have become unduly 
 elated; and who love to bear rule over those whom they 
 may consider of less note ami importance than themselves j 
 but who, having l<opt their own habitations in the truth, 
 and in the valley of humility, where the dew of heaven 
 resteth long, the fatness and blessing of the earth also 
 
1 - "•:;.] THOMAS B. GOULD. 821 
 
 whioh lieth under, has been given to them; and their bows 
 hav( strength, and the arms of their hands hi 
 
 d made8trong by the power of the mighty God of Jacob. 
 But the dragon hath really been permitted to "sweep' 1 
 others somewhal "down," although, through the power of 
 his delusions, and their own Belf-sufficiency and self-confi- 
 dence, they are not fully and rightly sensible of it ; yet 
 the sweetness, the tenderness, and the true zeal and 
 heavenly divine life are mostly gone; and in the room 
 thereof another thing has conic up, merely in the image and 
 likeness of thai which was and is divine, and ought to be 
 ssed and owned, in whomsoever and wheresoever it 
 may appear. And oh, what an abundance of creaturely 
 activity this leads into, in one way or another! Bow 
 
 •client and desirable it seems, to those who look only 
 upon the surface ! What an abundance of love and devo- 
 tion ! What zeal for the outward order! How careful 
 to preserve the farm of godliness; and alas! how ready to 
 ih ny the power and the //7c, when it seems likely to he set 
 over the form and the letter ! 
 
 New, whatever any may think of our dear friend J. W.'s 
 concern, and however it may result, when it comes to be 
 laid before our yearly meeting of ministers and elders ; I 
 have no doubt, nor the shadow* of a doubt, that it has been 
 right that he and Friends should be brought under it thus 
 far. lie may indeed be released from it: the resignation 
 of his mind to perform the visit, may be accepted instead 
 of the deed. J5ut I think clearer ami stronger evidence 
 of its being in the ordering of Divine Wisdom, than was 
 afforded at the time of our quarterly meeting, could hardly 
 be expected or desired in any similar case: and I should 
 not be at all surprised if he be eventually liberated. . . . 
 
 To Joshua Maule. 
 
 2 Ith of sixth month, L853. 
 
 . . . . lie [Francis Taber] is in a very declining 
 state, and not likely to last long, with an affection of the 
 heart and dropsy combined. I believe. But he. as well as 
 my own dear mother, has lost none of his interest in the 
 
322 LIF! WD LETTERS OF [1858. 
 
 cause; and although we greatly misled him during yearly 
 meeting week, with other worthies who have been removed 
 Bince you were here ; yet our meeting was, I believe, ae-j 
 knowledged by all, to have been the largest held here 
 Bince the separation, and I think not less satisfactory 
 than any other. The children and young people, of 
 whom there were Scarcely any present for several years, 
 have grown in years and stature, and I hope, as regards 
 Borne of them at least, in the truth also; yet 1 regret to 
 Bay that many of them are not, either in appearance or in 
 fact, as plain and consistent Friends as could be desired. 
 Then again, although many of the elders have been re- 
 moved and are removing, I think that others of a younger 
 class have really deepened in the root of life, and con 
 quently become more skilful in the management of the 
 affairs of truth and of the Church. There were three 
 sittings of the select yearly meeting, one more than 
 usual, in consequence of the opening of our dear aged 
 and devoted friend, J. W.'s weighty and important 
 concern, and the preparation and approval of his cer- 
 tificate 
 
 The public meetings were large, and I think on the 
 whole ended well and satisfactorily ; although there were 
 some appearances in two of them, which added nothing to 
 the weight, however much to the measure. In that on 
 first-day morning, our dear friend, N. P., was largely 
 opened and eminently favored In the after- 
 noon, hut one voice was vocally heard, and that Friend 
 was not very lengthy ; the rest of the time being spent in 
 solemn silence; and although the earlier portion of the 
 meeting was sufficiently exercising, yet truth rose into 
 dominion, and crowned all in the end, as was believed by 
 many Friends, as well as some others who were prepared 
 to acknowledge it. On fifth-day, dear Mary Macey 
 Opened the public meeting with the injunction, " Keep 
 silence before me, oh, ye islands, and let the people re- 
 new their strength ;" being largely, though not lengthily, 
 hut closely and weightily engaged in a searching testimony 
 
 against those things which stand opposed to an increase 
 
 01 spiritual strength. Dear J. W. followed, in much the 
 
5. ] THOMAS r. GOULD. 
 
 of labor; no! long : and Elisabeth Hill. \% 1 1 « » is 
 :i sweet and lively minister, much deepened and enlarged 
 in her L r it'i since you were here, followed him in an m <•<*« •] >- 
 table and weighty manner. i Then, I am sorry to Bay, 
 the ark of truth's testimony was twice considerably 
 jostled, however unintentionally so, by inexperienced 
 hands being unadvisedly set t<> it. Alter which there 
 was an apparent necessity for the solemn injunction first 
 uttered in that meeting to be again revived : and the at- 
 tention of the people was recalled to that Power, which 
 
 was and is aide to say, M Peace, be still," and to produce 
 
 a inreat calm. The instructive circumstance of Simon's 
 wife's mother lying sick of a fever, when the Master 
 himself came and laid His soothing and cooling hand 
 upon her. with the notable, strengthening, and calming 
 effect immediately produced, even such that she arose 
 and ministered unto those who were present, was also 
 briefly adverted to f and the meeting ended solidly, and, 
 
 I think, pretty well 
 
 Farewell, in every way. 
 
 Thomas B. Gould. 
 
 To AVilliaxM Hodgson. 
 
 Elmside, Newport, 7th mo., 20th, 1S53. 
 My vjsby dear Friend, William Hodgson, Jr. : 
 
 Poor, and stripped, and weak, and short- 
 sighted as we are, and even likely, in some respects at 
 least, to be still further stripped and weakened; yet we 
 are, in great and unmerited mercy, sometimes helped and 
 strengthened with a sight and sense of things which many 
 prophets and wise men have desired to see, and have not 
 seen them. So that we are a little encouraged and re- 
 animated to hold on, and to press on, even to that which 
 is not visible to any eye, save the inward eye, which the 
 Lord opens and re-opens by the repeated application of 
 the eye-salve of His kingdom. And oh ! what fulness 
 there is in that heavenly expression, "My kingdom is not 
 
 * Since deceased. 
 
824 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [185$ 
 
 of this world ;" and what consolation all the patient suf- 
 ferers for it will find, in the continued verification of this 
 
 truth, lmwcvcr tribulated their way through this world 
 may be ! How repeatedly, as their eves are kept single 
 
 to the mark for the prize of their high and holy calling, 
 will they be confirmed in the truth, " But now," — even 
 now. in the midst of their afflictions, arising from the 
 mixtures and impurities of such as are really striving to 
 become heirs of both kingdoms, whatever their preten- 
 sions, or even their hopes may he, — " But now is my 
 kingdom not from hence !" Neither is it very remark- 
 aide, that such as are preserved in singleness of heart 
 and eye unto the Lord and His honor, and the coming 
 and establishment of His kingdom, and that alone, in 
 themselves and others, should be favored to see beyond 
 others, whose eyes the god of this world hath really 
 blinded, lamentably blinded, and in some cases, it is to 
 be feared, not in part only ; although they may, with 
 great self-complacency, account themselves much wiser in 
 their generation than the children of light 
 
 J. W. came here a week ago last sixth-day. and stayed 
 the night at father's, and the day following I took him io 
 Fall River. A very pleasant visit and precious time we 
 had together; though he seemed, as it is natural he should 
 be, much bowed under the weight of his prospect. . 
 
 27th. Being at Fall River a week ago last first-day, 
 and so far on my way, after meeting I rode over to New 
 Bedford to see our dear friend, Francis Taber. Israel 
 Buffinton went with me. He seemed overjoyed to see us, 
 and rather more comfortable in body than we had expected 
 to find him, though much changed since I saw him in the 
 fourth month : but still clear as a hell in his understand- 
 ing, lively and fervent in spirit, manifesting a continued 
 and earnest engagement for the welfare and faithful main- 
 tenance of the cause and testimony of truth. We felt 
 well repaid for our ride in the dust and heat. 
 
 What sad work they have made in England with poor 
 L. M. II.! Neither does the Philadel- 
 phia % * Friend" seem to hesitate copying from the " British 
 Friend," that mixed account of the yearly meeting in 
 
1858.] THOMAS B. OOULD. 
 
 idon, including (whatever else they may have eschewed), 
 that part in which we arc spoken of as 3epa 
 
 I ).» the managers of the American " Friend" wish 
 their readers by degrees to become accustomed to hear as 
 ken of in that opprobrious manner, and bo to be gradu- 
 ally reconciled to it ': In this and similar ways, I do con- 
 sider the good cause, which we have feebly endeavored to 
 espouse, has been much injured, and the hands of our 
 adversaries and the adversaries of truth greatly strength- 
 ened : neither do they tail to sec it. and to take advantage 
 of it, however reluctant any may be to have the real ten- 
 dency, if not the design, of their conduct detected. . . . 
 I remain as ever thy sincere friend, 
 
 Thomas B. GrOULD. 
 
 Draft of a Letter from T. 13. G. to Caleb Haworth. 
 
 Elms id Ej Newport, 24th of 9th mo., 1853. 
 
 My dear COUSIN, Caleb IIawortii: 
 
 I have at times felt, and continue to feel not 
 
 unfrequently, a good degree of that precious unity and fel- 
 lowship with thee in spirit, which is beyond words or letter- : 
 and which, while it is mercifully and preciously continued, 
 precludes the idea of any change in those who are the sub- 
 ject- or the objects of it, except such as is consistent with 
 the truth, and that growth in the'same which must neces- 
 sarily, in some good degree, be experienced by as many as 
 do keep their habitations therein. But, my dear cousin, 
 while I can in truth and sincerity address thee with full 
 confidence in thy integrity, and steadfast abiding in the 
 truth and in the faith: although I am and have been for a 
 long time wholly destitute of any outward information or 
 clue to thy standing whatever; yet I am not insensible to 
 the changes, the great, if not the radical changes, which 
 time and circumstances have manifested in ninny, who 
 ined formerly to stand as firmly as thyself. In tin's 
 respect, we of the " smaller body" in New England, con- 
 tinue to have much to suffer, many and close trials of our 
 faith and patience to pass through, beside those which are 
 common to others, if I may be allowed the expression. 
 
 28 
 
326 LIFE AND GETTERS OF [18^:!. 
 
 For our situation is peculiar, and rery clearly distinguish- 
 able, so that we seem to furnish a ready mark for every 
 archer. And when those who, for a long time, stood with 
 us fearlessly in the breach, desert their posts, and go over 
 to the rank- of the enemy openly, or by directing their 
 arrows secretly at us, endeavor to wound and weaken us, 
 and really increase their ranks and strengthen their hands, 
 it is verv discouraging, and causes close looking to the 
 Foundation, and feeling after the cause; that we may 
 know the one to sustain us. and be enabled to support the 
 other according to the ability received, and to what may 
 be required at our hands. However, I do not wish to be 
 understood to say that any of our members here in New 
 England have turned back, or given up the ground which 
 we were compelled to take, at the time of the separation 
 (for we did not make the division : our adversaries, and 
 the adversaries of truth made it, and drove us into the 
 position which we now occupy ; there being no alternative, 
 unless we had proved derelict from our duty and our princi- 
 ples) ; but there are many in other places, especially in Phila- 
 delphia and Ohio, who, to save themselves trouble, and 
 under the plausible delusion (as we believe), of keeping 
 the outward order ami unity of the Society unbroken, are 
 striving with all their own strength and the strength of 
 their influential stations, to patch up and smooth over that 
 which is wrong in the r<3ot, as well as in the branches and 
 fruit; not appearing to care what becomes of the testi- 
 mony, nor of such as have been made willing to part with 
 all, reputation, and ease, and in some instances almost 
 life itself, rather than to compromise that testimony. All 
 this is repeatedly sacrificed by such as still claim to be 
 the champions of sound doctrine, and to have no unity 
 with innovations or innovators; though they tolerate, 
 and wink at, and give more and more encouragement to 
 both, while they increase the burdens, and augment the 
 reproaches, of such as they themselves acknowledge to 
 
 have Buffered faithfully in opposing the same. But, they 
 
 Say, it is very important that Friends should continue a 
 united body, and show an undivided front to the world: as 
 if the niMlberS, who still meet in one house and constitute 
 
I 8 < •• | THOM \> r.. QOl CD. 827 
 
 u eting, could gh e credit to our testimonies in 
 the Bight of tin world ; which is quite keen enough to dis- 
 that the harmony is interrupted, and the power in 
 which Friends id and acted is very much I 
 
 There are Borne of as in this country, and I doubt not 
 ili- such with you, who go bowed down nnder a 
 
 of these things, not knowing what will be the end of 
 the inconsistencies and confusion of tongues, which appear 
 and are heard in the camp. 
 
 But of one thing I feel confident, that in the end it will 
 be made manifest, that no good has been gained by Beeking 
 to save that alive which has been and is appointed for de- 
 uction ; although it maj be done under the specious pre- 
 tence of offering it in sacrifice. Everything which oppo 
 
 of the children of Israel, of the true seed, 
 
 ?h* to be removed from the camp, ought to be faithfully 
 
 tified against; the idol^ both of Bilver and of gold, 
 
 -'it to be "put away" from amongst us; and when the 
 
 trumpet shall be Mown again in Zion, with that certain 
 
 Bound which is still able to awaken such as have fallen 
 
 asleep, and to prepare them to fight the Lord's battle, 
 
 there is much that will be slain, which passes now for the 
 
 best of the sheep and the oxen. Then a solemn assembly 
 will be called, and a fast sanctified; and the priests, the 
 ministers of the Lord, will he clothed with the spirit of 
 true mourning, and be made skilful in lamentation: and 
 there will then he hope that the Lord will be jealous for 
 His land, and pity His people, and cause them to arise and 
 slime, because their light has come, and the glory of the 
 Lord ^ arisen upon them. How different from glorying 
 in our shame, while our confusion covers as, even to that 
 degree that we cannot see ourselves as we really are; vainly 
 supposing that we are rich, and increased ^ ith goods, anil 
 have need of nothing, while we are really poor, and blind, 
 and naked, and stand in need of every thing ! oh: what 
 an apprehension of fulness and safety appears in the printed 
 account of London Yearly Meeting! Such sufficiency to 
 act; and what an abundance of activity.' And amidst all 
 
 this, the one thing needful seems to be almost wholly want- 
 
LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1853. 
 
 ing. " Oh, my people ! they which lead thee cause tl 
 i- err 3 and destroy the way of thy paths!' 1 
 
 1 i hi I bad i!«» intention <>{' writing at Buch length when 1 
 
 took up my pen; merely thinking 1 would say to thee, as 
 dcai- John Wilbur is L r oiiiL r over, that I hope tnou wilt meet 
 with liim (for I trust thou canst receive him. notwithstand- 
 ing his bonds); for it' his life should be spared, with our 
 
 own lives, to see him again, it would he bo pleasant to my 
 
 dear wife and to me to have BOme aeeount of thee by him. 
 
 I have no doubt it will be considered as a very presump- 
 tuous, or a very foolish art in him. to attempt to cross the 
 ocean again at his time of life, and under existing cir- 
 
 cumstances. both with you and us. But I have no doubt 
 
 ■ 
 
 myself of the rectitude of the concern, however it may 
 terminate ; whether he lives to get there or not, and whether 
 way is made for him publicly or not : and surely, with any 
 man of his capacity and sensibility, nothing less than the 
 most imperative sense of religious obligation could have 
 induced such a sacrifice. Neither can 1 doubt there are 
 some, scattered up and down, who will be prepared to re- 
 ceive him, and to receive him with open arms, although it 
 may cause them some, perhaps much. Buffering. 
 
 ( )h ! that there was more of a willingness, both with you 
 and u>, to sufl'er ! And will not Friends have to come to 
 this before they get hack, or can L r et hack to primitive 
 ground? The mode of suffering, to he sure, has changed: 
 formerly it wa<< from without; now it is from those with 
 whom we have peradventure been accustomed to take sweet 
 counsel, and to go up to the Lord's house in their com- 
 pany. After all. I have sometimes doubted, whether we 
 Could take the spoiling of our goods, or endure long im- 
 prisonment b, any easier than we can risk our rights in reli- 
 gious society, and the loss of a good name therein. I know, 
 
 by experience, that the last mode of suffering is not easy 
 to he endured. I remember my affliction, the wormwood, 
 
 and the gall. But I Was Sometimes permitted to feed a 
 consoling a88Urance that mv life would he given me for a 
 prey : and that nothing would he permitted to harm me, if 
 
 J faithfully followed that which ] was favored to see f 
 
 riirht and eood. And I have had no cause to repent having 
 
1 868. ) THOMAS B. QOULD. 
 
 done bo. Bu< it' I had consulted expediency, and looked 
 at the consequences, I believe whal little I had would ha 
 ;i taken from me; yea, that 1 should have suffered I 
 
 <>f all ! Many, very many, have split apon tin- rock, not 
 looking a1 the mark for the prize <>f the 1 1 1 i_r 1 1 and holy 
 calling, with a Bingle eye. 
 
 It remains to be a- true, that u he thai receiveth whomso- 
 ever I Bend receiveth Die," as that Christ's >hrep hear I lis 
 
 voice and follow Him, hut will neither receive nor follow 
 the voice of the stranger. Hoi? unsafe it is to depart from 
 this ground, even in what may be considered little things, 
 the multitudes who have recently fallen in this way, both 
 
 on the right hand and on the left, hear mournful wit- 
 
 
 From T. I>. G. to William Hodgson. 
 
 Newport, 10th mo., 13th, 1853. 
 My DBAK Friend, William Hodgson, Jr.: 
 
 It seems to me that there is great delusion 
 
 somewhere : that this Bpirit of amalgamation is splendidly 
 delusive; and the tendency of it is glossed over with a 
 very smooth and exceedingly fine-looking varnish ; but, 
 after all. a slight knock often proves sufficient to crack the 
 varnish, and to show that all is not glorious or harmonious 
 within; that the boasted patience is not exactly the pa- 
 tience of the saints ; neither is the unity talked of, like the 
 unity of the one true and living faith which they kept and 
 possessed, ami by which they obtained the victory over its 
 enemies and theirs, instead of being obliged to surrender 
 to them, and being overcome by them. 
 
 I understand that B. II. said, in their select yearly 
 meeting, that neither body in New England received your 
 w * Report" in the spirit in which it was written; and that 
 both bodies had done violence to the discipline and order 
 of the Society. Dost thou take him to be an ori<jin<il cha- 
 racter '.' I should much like to know wherein we have vio- 
 lated the discipline; and should scarcely fear to ask him 
 who invented the slander, whether we did not receive the 
 Report of your meeting for sufferings, in as creditable a 
 
 28* 
 
330 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1854. 
 
 spirit (not to speak of common civility, or Christianity 
 either), as our acknowledgment of its reception was re- 
 ceived, by the power which ruled in your yearly meeting? 
 How much religious good can be reasonably expected to be 
 gained by anybody, from continuing to meet, year after 
 year, in the present disjointed and unsound state of Ohio 
 Pearly Meeting (and perhaps some others), is scarcely a 
 question in my mind. On the whole, I think, whatever of 
 
 g 1 remains among them there, is quite as likely to be 
 
 increasingly tinctured with the leaven of the Pharisees 
 (thou knowest what that was declared to be), as it is. to be 
 instrumental " in restoring that which has gone astray, 
 and gathering them into the true sheepfold. But time 
 will undoubtedly make manifest what the real object is. 
 The tree will be known by its fruit. 
 
 Thou art doubtless aware ere this, that our dear friend, 
 J. Wilbur, sailed on the 28th of last month, in the ship Ni- 
 agara, with his son Amos for a care-taker. I hope ere 
 this they have safely landed on the shores of that once 
 eminently favored isle. I spent a day or two with him at 
 Fall River, and took leave of him there, the evening before 
 he sailed. lie seemed fresh and lively in his spirit, and 
 increasingly bound to the service; expected to proceed 
 directly to London, and to remain for a time about there. 
 I was glad to find that L. A. Barclay heartily united with 
 him in this prospect. I was reluctant to leave him short 
 of the ship, and I know it was some disappointment to 
 him : but my dear mother was so poorly, I could not feel 
 easy to go further from home. Except, however, a very 
 ill turn during my absence, she has continued much in the 
 same state as when I last wrote to thee 
 
 T. B. Gould. 
 To William Hodgson. 
 
 Elm side, 2d mo. 8th, L85 i. 
 My DBAB Fribnd, William HODGSON, Jr. : 
 
 I have almost daily thought of writing to thee. 
 
 ami truly 1 have much wished to do "<>: but for several 
 
 iks after 1 received thy letter, my precious, lamented 
 
I B5 I. ] THOMAS B. QOULD. 
 
 mother lay bo very ill, and in Buch a Buffering condition, 
 that I could not do it : and during the last week of her 
 life, by constant watching, both day and night, at her bed- 
 Bide, and exposure to strong currents of air (which were 
 indispensable to her), 1 contracted a very severe cold, or a 
 succession of them, which Bettled on my lungs, and which, 
 a few days after the funeral, laid me upon my own bed, 
 and confined me there for many weeks, in great suffering, 
 and danger of my life also; and i have been since, until 
 yesterday, wholly confined to the house, when I went over 
 to father's for the first time, it being very pleasant. But 
 I have already found that 1 could not even do that with 
 impunity, though with great caution ; my lungs, or bron- 
 chial tubes, being yet in Buoh a weak and disordered con- 
 dition; although 1 am in hope-, when the weather gets 
 finer, that I may once more get about again, nearly as I 
 have been accustomed to do. 
 
 Speaking of my beloved mother, I think she was the 
 greatest sufferer that I ever saw ; and it has been my lot 
 to witness a good deal of suffering. But her mind was 
 preserved in the most perfect calmness and peace to the 
 last : and there was even a heavenly expression of hu- 
 mility, tranquillity, and resignation, resting upon her coun- 
 tenance, which attracted the attention, and elicited expres- 
 sions of admiration, from transient beholders. One giddy 
 young woman, who happened to go into her room, remarked 
 to my wife, on leaving it, "What a feeling of peace and 
 quietness pervades even the rooms of such as are prepared 
 for death ! I was very much affected by it, all the while 
 I stayed there. She must be very good!" This seemed 
 striking to me, and the more so, as nothing had been said 
 by any one, to lead to it. Indeed, dear mother would not 
 allow anything of the kind to be said to her. She very 
 seldom alluded to herself in any way, during her sickness : 
 and when she did so, it was always with the most unaf- 
 fected humility and abascdness of self, that I ever wit- 
 nessed. A few hours before she was released, she desired 
 me to give her dear love to Friends in Philadelphia whom 
 she knew, and she mentioned thee by name. This last I 
 have felt bound to say, and the rest thou must excuse, if 
 
832 LIFK AND LETTERS OF [1854., 
 
 thou canst. Her memory is precious to me beyond what 
 I can express, even if it were desirable 
 
 Sow silent and cautious "The Friend" continues to be! 
 Truly, if Friends had only been as "wise and prudent" 
 previous to the Hicksite separation, the errors of Hicks- 
 ism would not have been exposed; every man would not 
 only have been allowed to enjoy, but also to promulgate 
 his own opinions: and what an edifying degree of love, 
 and unity, and harmony might now have been enjoyed, by 
 those who professed to hold to sound principles, with such 
 as had adopted the infidel sentiments of Elias Hicks ! 
 Well, this ma;/ be in the ordering of Divine Wisdom, but 
 I doubt it. I have no confidence whatever in the modern 
 doctrine and practice of expediency. This prudential 
 wisdom, I cannot away with it. . There are many 
 
 articles in " The Friend," that arc neither wholly clear, nor 
 wholly dark to me ; a kind of mongrel, apocryphal pro- 
 duction. It would be very desirable to have things made 
 so plain, that there could be no mistake about them. And 
 there is some consolation in believing, that there remains 
 to be a beautiful simplicity in the truth; although judg- 
 ment seems to be often " turned away backward, and truth 
 to have fallen in the streets, so that equity cannot enter." 
 But it was (was it not?) when the Lord "saw that there 
 was no man," no faithful, unflinching advocate for truth, 
 and "wondered that there was no intercessor," that " His 
 own arm brought salvation, and His righteousness it sus- 
 tained Him," and the truth of His cause. May it be so 
 now ! 
 
 Second month, 11th. I have had an ill turn since I 
 commenced this letter, by reason of which it has been de- 
 layed longer than I intended. I am too weak and nervous 
 to write, now; but I thought I would try to add, that a 
 Friend from Vermont has recently visited nearly or quite 
 all of the meetings, and many of the families, in this 
 yearly meeting, and also appointed a number of meetings 
 amongst other people, to very good satisfaction. I had 
 never BO much as heard his name mentioned, until I heard 
 of his being in Ohio at the time of their last yearly meet- 
 ing, and that he was not allowed, or rather advised not to 
 
1854.] THOMAS B, GOULD. 
 
 attend it. I have never heard him myself in il 
 of his gift, except in a private opportunity in my own 
 in, while I lay ill in bed. Thai opportunity occurred 
 wholly unexpectedly and remarkably to me, just before he 
 left, after having spent several days and nights (on and 
 off) at our house. A very precious solemnity Bpread o 
 11-. and continued for some time before a word was uttered; 
 under which our hearts were contrited, and united in a 
 good degree of that heavenly fellowship which is Bome- 
 times preciously experienced; and to the apostolic de- 
 scription of which, he added, "Truly, our fellowship is 
 with the Father, and with his Son, Jesus Christ/ 1 II< i 
 certainly reached and spoke to my condition, in a manner 
 very striking to me, and he could have had no outward 
 clue to it whatever. 
 
 There is nothing in the appearance, or perhaps in 
 the natural talents of the man, aside from his gift, which 
 seems very likely to produce a sensation ; but as I 
 have previously been quite as much edified and encour- 
 aged by the manifestation of " the Lord's power through 
 a ploughman," as by " the wisdom of the north, or the 
 eloquence of the south,'' there is a satisfaction to me 
 in recording this fresh instance of it. And moreover, I 
 thought it might possibly be interesting and somewhat en- 
 couraging to thee, to hear a report of good things coming 
 again, as it were, out of Nazareth; of one, whom many 
 would consider as an alien, a separatist, and an outcast, 
 being shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace, so 
 that his feet appeared "beautiful upon the mountain" of 
 the Lord's house and holiness ; although this beauty can 
 only be discerned by such whose ej^es have been opened, 
 and are kept open, by the repeated application of the eye- 
 salve of the Kingdom. In being with, and thinking of, 
 this Friend, I could not divest myself of painful reflections 
 and impressions, with regard to that state of things which 
 had excluded him from even a seat in Ohio Yearly 
 
 Meeting 
 
 Farewell. 
 
 T. B. Gould. 
 
834 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1854. 
 
 To Peleg Mitchell. 
 
 Elm8ide, Newport, 27th of 2d mo., 1854. 
 My dbab Friend, Pblrg Mitchell: 
 
 .... went up to see my precious mother, a 
 
 few weeks before she was gathered to her everlasting rest, 
 and it was to their mutual satisfaction. Oh! my dear 
 
 friend, it had never been my lot to lose so near and dear 
 a relative before, and the stroke was unutterably severe. 
 Sometimes I think I could have borne it easier, it' she had 
 nol been so great a sufferer ; and at others, that all she 
 suffered was necessary, to enable us to give her up. I am 
 satisfied that her sufferings were not on her own account ; 
 and neither these nor her virtues can ever be forgotten 
 while memory lasts. Greater humility, stronger and more 
 prevailing faith in the Divine goodness and mercy, or better 
 evidence that all would be and is well with her, I never 
 wit nosed. 
 
 There was an unusually large attendance at her fune- 
 ral, notwithstanding the day was wet and lowering ; 
 and just before the hour, it came on to be very cold 
 and blustering, the wind having changed. An unusual 
 covering of solemnity spread over the company, and seemed 
 to pervade the whole house, which was full of people. Not 
 a word was uttered; no sound was heard but that of the 
 wind outside: all was peace and quietness within ; and just 
 before the close of the opportunity, the sun, which had 
 been hitherto obscured, broke through the clouds, and pene- 
 trating through the cracks between the window-shutters, 
 filled the house with a mild, subdued, and mellow, yet 
 glorious autumnal light ; and I could not help thinking 
 that it was a lit emblem of that more glorious, heavenly 
 light, in the full fruition of which her purified spirit was, 
 
 without doubt, everlastingly centred; notwithstanding the 
 
 boisterous winds and tempests through which her gentle 
 spirit had had to pass, in the course of her journey through 
 this bleak, unfeeling world, and which had been per- 
 mitted to beat againM her. in her passage through the 
 dark valley of the shadow of death : although, before the 
 
 close, there was a great, a perfect calm, and she was per- 
 mitted to pass sweetly, quietly, and so gently away, that 
 
I.] THOMAS B. GOULD. 885 
 
 we could do! define the precise momenl of our unutterable 
 loss, or her eternal gain. . 
 
 1 Buppose we may look for him [J. Wilbur] home again 
 very Boon, it' he has no1 already embarked. I should uot 
 
 surprised if he should be at the meeting for sufferin 
 in the fourth month, at New Bedford. But even if he 
 should be, what a blank there is there! How little a 
 while those two worthies, Francis Taber and Job Eddy, 
 
 were separated! In how short a time, WC who are left 
 
 behind, were bereaved of them both ! " Lovely and pleasant 
 in their lives, in their deaths they were scarcely divided/ 1 
 
 But where shall we look for their equals, and who shall 
 arise to fill their places? Truly, the prospect of a succes- 
 sion of such standard-bearers looks gloomy to me. The 
 old people have gone and are going into the earth, and the 
 young ones into the air. I often feel exceedingly discour- 
 aged ; and in this respect, I suppose I am not entirely alone. 
 Dost thou see the "British Friend?" In their twelfth 
 month number, they came nobly and boldly out in defence 
 of the truth. In that of first month, they did pretty well, 
 although they showed fcigns of faltering; and in the second 
 month number, they seem nearly to have nullified all the 
 good they had done, by far-fetched and needless enco- 
 miums upon the abundance of the labors of their nume- 
 rous delegations, and missions to the uttermost parts of the 
 earth ; as if one fountain could send forth bitter water and 
 sweet, at one and the same time ! 
 
 As ever, thine, 
 
 T. B. Gould. 
 
 To Charles Perry and Ethan Foster. 
 
 Elmside, third month, 2d, 1854. 
 
 My dear Friends : 
 
 I unite fully with Ethan in the fear which 
 
 he expressed in his letter to me, and I am almost ready to 
 say, in the belief, that on account of the great degeneracy 
 and corruption, both in church and state, a day is approach- 
 ing, and almost at the door, which will try the faith and 
 foundations of men, in a nearer and more personal manner 
 than what has long been known, or is at all expected by 
 many. And I am often ready to query, notwithstanding 
 
336 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [18o4. 
 
 I thus write, Who will be able to Btand? Who, even 
 amongst us, will be able Co endure the devouring fire of 
 persecution for righteousness 1 Bake, when it Bhall extend to 
 our persons and our estates, and even our lives also? I 
 can by no means Bay that I feel able to endure it ; I have 
 no strength nor confidence in myself to speak of or to boi 
 of; out 1 think I feel more ami more, the necessity of en- 
 deavoring to cleave fasl to that whicb is able to sustain all 
 those who do pul their whole trust and confidence therein. 
 even the unchangeable, immovable Rock. But when I look 
 . upon the prospect and condition el" things in the Church 
 ami in the world, I am often rendered entirely disconso- 
 late : BO that I am, as it were, compelled to ilee to the Rock, 
 and to get under the shadow and shelter of it, fur prut 
 
 tion and defence 
 
 As ever vour friend, 
 
 Thomas B. Gould. 
 
 Elmside, 23d of fourth month, 1854. 
 
 Draft or v Letter prom T. B. G. to Joseph Brintox. 
 Deab Joseph : 
 
 The deep interest which I have long felt in 
 
 the proceedings of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, — as that 
 which, according to mv sense of feeling, embraces within 
 its limits the largest and soundest body of old-fashioned 
 Friends, — has by- no means abated; and I do earnestly 
 desire that the time may be hastened, when the Lord shall 
 arise for the help and deliverance of these from that which 
 
 grievously oppresses and afflicts them. But, whether it 
 may be for "a time, times, or half a time" — whether the 
 time may be shortened for the elect seed's sake, or He may 
 
 Seem to tarry long, and suffer the contradictions of sinners 
 
 againsl Himself, yel I am persuaded that, in His own time, 
 
 He will come, and will nol tarry beyond it ! Then will 
 such as have continued with Him in temptation and through 
 suffering, inherit the kingdom prepared for such, and for 
 
 Midi only, from the foundation of the world. Then will 
 they he permitted to return to the place of true rest, to 
 return and come to /ion. the city of the saints' solemnities, 
 and the tabernacle which shall not he taken down, which 
 in itself remains to he an " eternal excellency," and will, 
 
I. ] MOM IS B, GOULD, 887 
 
 ie the joy and the praise of the whole 
 
 earth : although it m;iv seem to be forsaKen, and those who 
 
 prefer jperity aoove their chiefesl joy, may 1"- deemed 
 
 M aliens, and spoken of as outcasts, whom f n seek 
 
 . or seem to care for. But such as these, wherever 
 
 btered by the overwhelming flood which the dragon has 
 been permitted to pour out of his mouth, do uevertheL 
 experience a fellowship in Buffering, one with another, and 
 with the Captain of their salvation (who was Himself made 
 perfect through sufferings ; so thai at times they can 
 adopt the language of the experienced Apostle, when he 
 said, '"1 am exceeding joyful in all my tribulations ;" and 
 again, M Although no affliction for the present may seem to 
 be joyous, but grievous, nevertheless it yieldeth the peace- 
 ful fruits of righteousness to those who arc exercised 
 thereby.' 1 So that all depends upon our being rightly 
 
 ircised by that dispensation we may be called to pass 
 through, ami on our continued faithfulness unto Him who 
 hath called us, whether it be in suffering or rejoicing ; there 
 being danger on every hand, both right-hand errors and left- 
 hand errors; and such as the enemy cannot destroy in one 
 way, he may betray in another, where they less expect his 
 attacks. But help, all-sufficient help, is laid upon One who 
 IS able to keep us from falling, and to present us faultless 
 before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy. 
 
 I have no hesitation in confessing my entire 
 
 conviction that in true unity there is strength, and what- 
 havc a tendency to separate true Friends more 
 widely from each other, certainly does weaken them ; and 
 a desire to promote or maintain this unity, is w T idely dif- 
 ferent from a combination or confederacy against the truth. 
 I think the great pains which have been taken by some in 
 Philadelphia to keep their members, who felt some sympa- 
 thy and unity with us, away from us, has already done us 
 great harm, and perhaps little good to them; for certainly, 
 in a general way at least, those who have taken the pains 
 to come and see for themselves, have not, I believe, gone 
 away feeling less interested (shall I say unity?) with us, 
 
 than before they came 
 
 Thy sincere and affectionate friend, » 
 
 T. B. Gould. 
 
 29 
 
338 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1854. 
 
 CHATTER VII. 
 
 A RELIGIOUS engagement had been gradually maturing 
 in the mind of Thomas B. Gould, to pay a visit in the 
 love of the Gospel, to Friends in some parts beyond the 
 limits of his own yearly meeting. This prospect of service 
 at a greater distance from his own home than it had ever 
 before fallen to his lot to travel, was attended with cir- 
 cumstances of peculiar trial. He was at this time greatly 
 enfeebled by illness; and the sad reports which were 
 spread abroad, of the prevalence of cholera in some places 
 which he felt himself led to visit, were sufficient to cast 
 down his particularly sensitive feelings. This formidable 
 disease attacked his native city of Newport at this junc- 
 ture; and very near the time fixed for his departure to 
 Ohio, his own home was invaded, and four of his children 
 were prostrated by it, two of them being reduced very 
 near to the gates of death. He w T as brought into a great 
 strait. He had been afraid of meeting the disease abroad, 
 and discouraged about going, on that account; though not 
 to such a degree as to cast away the shield of faith, or 
 actually to shrink from complying with what he believed 
 was really required of hiiu. But now the trial was changed, 
 and his nature was almost ready to recoil at the thought 
 of leaving home, in the condition into which his beloved 
 family were brought. Yet even here, and when the query 
 was put by the good Remembrancer, " Lovest thou me 
 more than these i He that knowcth the secrets of all 
 hearts was pleased to accept the acknowledgment, "Lord, 
 thou knowest all things ; thou knowest that I love thee;" 
 and waiting faithfully on the all-merciful Hand of Him 
 who afflicts in mercy and loving-kindness to His poor ser- 
 
1854.] THOMAS B. GOULD, 839 
 
 van rmitted to feel the arm of the Almighty 
 
 ended for his help, and for the confirmation of hie faith 
 and confidence in Him ; and enabled to acknowledge, that 
 "day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night 
 Bhoweth knowjedge" of I lis mercy and of His goodn< 
 His children were all favored to recover, he regained his 
 own health very considerably, and was made remarkably 
 serviceable, by personal attentions, in relieving tin* dis- 
 of many poor destitute persons in the cholera hospital 
 of Newport, who had been shamefully neglected by some 
 having charge of them. Thus all the home discourage- 
 ments were taken away; and all fear was banished from 
 his mind, in respect to the prevalence of the complaint in 
 the places to which his sense of religious duty was about to 
 lead him ; and he bade farewell to his family and friends, 
 in due time to accomplish what lie had in view. 
 
 Another cause of discouragement attending this prospect 
 of distant service, was one connected with the distracted 
 state into which the great prevalency of the Gurney 
 schism had thrown the Society of Friends. The tem- 
 porizing and compromising system, which had sprung up 
 within Philadelphia Yearly Meeting a few years before, 
 had spread into Ohio, and had, in both those yearly meet- 
 ings as well as elsewhere, greatly broken the ranks of 
 those who had at first stood firmly against the innovations 
 of the modern school. A " middle party" was the result 
 of this new T defection, more plausible and far more difficult 
 to contend against, than open Gurney ism itself, inasmuch 
 as its aim was more hidden and insidious, and its mode of 
 procedure more illusory, slippery, and uncandid. But the 
 tendency of this system of policy was, and still is, to lead 
 into confusion, to destroy the vitality of the testimony of 
 those who became entangled in it, and gradually — though 
 of late rapidly — to carry them within the power of that 
 very vortex which they once saw, understood, and ab- 
 horred. Many of its positions were untenable by right 
 reason, and distinguished by great inconsistencies, such as 
 have rarely been met with in the Society of Friends ; in 
 whose history, hitherto, the plan of temporizing and com- 
 promising with that which was opposing the pure truth, 
 
840 LUTE AND LBTTBRS OF [1854. 
 
 and rending the body from its foundation on the immu- 
 table Rock, had been unknown. 
 
 This spirit was characterized by a constant tendency to 
 make concessions to the Grurney party, and a connivance 
 
 at many of their irregular transactions, notwithstanding 
 its high and unfounded charges against those who could 
 
 not unite with it herein, of departure from the order and 
 discipline of the Society. These concessions and conni- 
 vances, including an inordinate deference to London Yearly 
 Meeting, and desire to cling to it even in its present posi- 
 tion of sanctioning error and schism, were "with the vain 
 hope of producing a reconciliation between elements essen- 
 tially opposed to each other. But this system — not stand- 
 ing upon the ground of the unchangeable truth, but on 
 that of policy and supposed expediency, and the alleged 
 duty of " submission to the body" (or, in other words, to 
 the majority)^ — had no convincing efficacy. Most of its 
 power was attributable to the influence of certain members 
 active in its promotion, to the great numbers naturally 
 pleased with a way so much easier to the flesh, than that 
 of " earnestly contending for the faith once delivered to the 
 saints." ami to its | ion of the pen, in the two yearly 
 
 meetings in America especially affected by it, and of an 
 influential press in the one, the echoes of which were heard 
 among the hills of the other. 
 
 There might certainly have been something amiable and 
 attractive in the position of attempting to soothe the trou- 
 bled waters, had this position been carried out consistently 
 with a firm and unflinching maintenance of the Truth as it 
 is in Jesus, — from which no church of Christ can safelv 
 abate one jot or tittle. But this system, while it professed 
 to disapprove of the innovations in doctrine, and lamented 
 the changes of discipline and practice which have been 
 made in BOme place-. BOOU showed its proclivity for the 
 
 oular Bide of the question, began to hush up the further 
 exposure of the doctrinal errors of Grurneyism, and mani- 
 fested a settled aversion and hostility to the % * smaller 
 bodies;" alleging that they (not the (Jurney party, who 
 were in the majority), were the separatists from the So- 
 ciety ; refusing the reception and publication of their docu- 
 
1. ] THOMAS B. QOULD. 
 
 ments, and denying them the right to have their memb( 
 and ministers recognized, in the meetings where it had the 
 power to prevent the reading of their certificates, or the 
 appointing of meetings at their request. Tims, though 
 -till professing a degree of unity with them as individuals, 
 and fallaciously conceding to them in word*, the right of 
 Buch recognition as was needful to secure them in the en- 
 joyment of their rights as members, by a strange incon- 
 sistency, it refused them the very means by which that 
 membership could l>e placed beyond doubt or cavil ; as 
 Thomas B. Gould soon found exemplified, in his own case, 
 
 in Ohio Yearly Meeting. In short, it may be truly said, 
 that this system (very similar to that which in England, 
 in 1836, frittered away and frustrated the issuing of a 
 clear testimony against Beaconism), has for more than ten 
 years, in Ohio and Philadelphia Yearly Meetings, kept the 
 iety in perpetual distraction (instead of the hollow har- 
 mony which it aimed to promote), by its too successful at- 
 tempts to turn aside the living sense and solid judgment 
 of the church; which would otherwise have carried the 
 testimony of truth over the heads of opposers, would have 
 convinced many honest but entangled minds, and would 
 have prevented much of the defection, and many grievous 
 departures, which have taken place in several yearly 
 meetings ; and thus the Society might have been enabled 
 to go forward in true harmony and peace, as in years gone 
 by, under the guidance, care, and help of its holy Head 
 and High Priest, the Immanuel, God with us, the Way, 
 the Truth, and the Life. 
 
 Such was the spirit and system which T. B. Gould 
 foresaw that he must encounter, as well as original Gur- 
 neyism, in visiting Ohio Yearly Meeting ; and such was 
 the spirit which rendered the separation that occurred 
 there at that time, so defective in its results. 
 
 The reader may, by the foregoing remarks, be prepared 
 to understand certain allusions and circumstances, men- 
 tioned in his letters during that journey, which mi^ht 
 otherwise be obscure or almost unintelligible. 
 
 Although only forty-one years of age, he had now been 
 in the exercise of the public ministry of the Gospel, for 
 
 29* 
 
342 LIFE AND LETTERS OJf [18o4. 
 
 fourteen years. Haying faithfully occupied the gift re- 
 ceived, he bad been made ruler over more, had grown 
 from a Btripling to the stature of a man in the Lord'.- ser- 
 vice, and was made " an ambassador for ( Ihrist," a u stew- 
 ard of the mysteries' 1 of the Kingdom, and, we humbly 
 believe, u a pillar in the temple of the Lord, that should 
 go no more out." His ministry was Bound in doctrine, 
 weighty in Bubstance, earnest and dignified in aspect, full 
 and clear in expression, watchful and calm in delivery, 
 beautiful in the elucidation and confirmation of the great 
 truths of religion by that which u was written aforetime 
 for our learning ;" reaching the witness in the hearts of 
 
 the hearers by a wonderful sweetness to the spiritual ear, 
 and by the baptizing power which accompanied it, and 
 demonstrating to the candid mind, beyond a doubt, that 
 its spring was from the living fountain, which issues from 
 under the altar of the Lord. Yet " this treasure" was in 
 an ** earthen vessel/ 1 and was all of Grace, no glory be- 
 longing to the instrument. 
 
 From T. B. G. to William Hodgson. 
 
 Elmside, [3th of 7th month. 1854. 
 Ml DRAKLY BBLOVED ELDER BROTHER : 
 
 .... I never remember to have felt more peaceful, 
 quiet satisfaction, at t lie close of any yearly meeting, or 
 for a longer period thereafter, than since the last. But 
 to or for everything there is a season, if not an end; and 
 bo 1 have found it in regard to what I may perhaps be 
 allowed to term thai sabbath of rest; for oh ! what plung- 
 ingS have been my portion since, and continue so to he; 
 in and under which, thy very seasonable and salutary 
 acknowledgment of fellow-hip therein, was bo far truly 
 comforting and encouraging 
 
 With what perspicuity and fulness hasl thou reached 
 
 and covered the whole ground occupied by that "plant," 
 which I greatly fear has become like a "degenerate plant 
 of a strange vine" unto Sim, who designed to make it a 
 
 plant of true excellence and high renown! It certainly 
 
 did, for a while. >hine forthwith great brilliancy; the 
 
L854.] tih»m.\> i:. «;<•! i.D. 8 L8 
 
 iVuit v tedingly Bweef to the taste, the form ther< 
 
 vras beautiful and comely, and its Bmell delightful. Bui 
 for want of keeping close enougb to That from which it 
 derived all it- excellence and comeliness, I greatly fear 
 that the "harvest will be an heap" of trouble "in the 
 day of iiriof and of desperate sorrow." In addition to 
 what I have lately had to Buffer on .my own account, 1 
 have felt much of the "bitterness 01 death/' on account 
 of Buch as Beem evidently to have forgotten the God of 
 their salvation, and to have become unmindful of the Rock 
 of their Btrength, When last In that locality. I had pub- 
 licly to proclaim, in the hearing of such as vainly sup- 
 posed bo, that the bitterness of death was by no means 
 past ; seeing Agag was yet alive, and that wicked woman 
 ebel, who calletb herself a prophetess, was still suffered 
 
 to teach, and >educe, and to bring into spiritual Sodom 
 and Egypt, where our dear Lord was and is crucified : yea, 
 
 it seemed to me as if there had been an inscription afresh 
 written, comparable to that in Hebrew, and Greek, and 
 
 Latin, and Bet over His head.* And yet I have lately 
 had reason to fear, that I am not myself entirely clear of 
 blood-guiltiness, because of my having let some know how 
 dearly I loved them ; but the full amount of esteem which 
 I felt for, and expectation which I had of them, I never 
 did disclose to the party referred to. Oh ! how necessary 
 and how profitable wisdom is to direct in all things, if it 
 were only sufficiently Bought after and abode in! ... 
 
 30th. — I wrote the foregoing on the day of its date, 
 being ;it the time in a very suffering condition from an attack 
 of asthma, dyspepsia, and bronchitis combined; and unable 
 either to lie down, or to take sufficient nourishment of any 
 kind to prevent great suffering from hunger, besides the 
 difficulty of breathing. The last symptom was some- 
 what relieved in about ten days from the commencement 
 of the attack, by repeated discharges of blood from 
 the bronchial membrane, as my physician said, and of 
 which I have no doubt. By this, with the remedies used, 
 I have been and am greatly weakened, being scarcely able 
 
 •" This has since been sorrowfully verified. 
 
314 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [L v 
 
 to write these lines ; neither have I attempted to write one 
 line before, since the former date. . . Notwithstanding 
 
 my weak and Buffering state many ways, I got to monthly 
 meeting last fifth-day ; and therein was constrained (not 
 willingly), to lay before Friends a concern which has 
 ripened and settled upon me, to visit the meetin 
 Friends in some p;wts of New York, Philadelphia, Balti- 
 more and Ohio Yearly Meetings, and it" way should open 
 i'<>Y it. to attend the last-named yearly meeting; and also 
 in the course of tlie visit to appoint some meetings among 
 those not of our Society, as Best Wisdom may direct. I 
 did and still do believe, the time had fully come for me to 
 lay this burden hefore Friends. I had a secret hope they 
 would take it upon themselves; hut they did not. It was 
 united with feelingly, and a committee of four Friend-, 
 two men and two women, appointed to prepare a certifi- 
 cate, and bring it before an adjournment of the monthly 
 meeting, which was held yesterday; when the certificate 
 was passed. It remains to be seen, what the quarterly 
 meeting, which occurs next fifth-day, will do with it. 
 Thou mayst rest assured, that it has not been without very 
 close conflicts, and the exercise of some faith, which has 
 been mercifully a little renewed at times, that I have ven- 
 tured thus far. Few persons, I apprehend, have greater 
 natural reluctance to such work, and to leaving home, 
 even when in tolerable health, than myself. And in my 
 present weak and suffering condition, along with the cir- 
 cumstances of the times in the Society, and the preva- 
 lence of cholera in many places, it seems to me very doubt- 
 ful whether I shall, if indeed I am able to set out, ever 
 roach my home again : neither do I know of any com- 
 panion. But my dear Martha, although she says she could 
 not consent to my going rMW, if I were in other respects 
 ready, on account of my feebleness, still feels confident 
 that I shall begin to improve after quarterly meeting, and 
 Continue to gain strength as I proceed on the journey. 
 La8l night I got no rest at all, being unable to lie down, 
 or to Bleep in my chair, till after six o'clock this morning; 
 when I Was favored to get a choice nap, only wakening up 
 in time to get to meeting. 
 
1S">4.] THOMAS B. SOULD. 84 
 
 • > 
 
 I btl oth, 4th. 
 Yesterday was our quarterly meeting. It was much 
 larger than was expected, and considerably larger than 
 been usual when held here, although few beside our 
 •i members were present ; and it proved a season nol 
 m to be forgotten, both as regards the public and also 
 the last meeting. In the former, after a time of great 
 famine and Btrippedness, dear J. Wilbur was raised up 
 with a small opening, and in greal bowedness evidently : 
 but the waters gradually arose, until they could not be 
 passed over, by reason of tin 4 breadth and length, as well 
 as the depth thereof; and they Beemed to be of a renew- 
 edly healing quality, comparable to the river of the water 
 of life, afresh sel in motion for the especial benefit of the 
 car- ons and daughters present, some of whom I trust 
 
 were mercifully baptized therein. Dear Elizabeth Hill 
 followed him, in a lively manner : and Phebe Foster fol- 
 lowed her, in a BWeet and touching communication, though 
 short. She was evidently clothed with a garment of 
 humility ; and when she sat down, the meeting was re- 
 markably covered with the spirit of prayer and thanks- 
 giving. 
 
 After the ordinary business had been 
 
 gone through, thy poor correspondent opened his con- 
 cern, and laid the certificate of the monthly meeting on 
 the table : whereupon J. Wilbur said, that although it 
 was the province of the quarterly meeting to judge of 
 such concerns upon their own merits, yet he thought it 
 best that the certificate of the monthly meeting should be 
 then read ; which was done ; and the whole meeting 
 seemed to be dipped into much feeling, and a longer than 
 usual, and very profound silence prevailed ; during which 
 my own mind was mercifully brought, as I humbly trust, 
 into entire resignation, either to go or stay ; although up 
 to this time I had tried to hope, that by some means or 
 other the thing might be stopped in the quarterly meeting, 
 and the burden thereby transferred from mine to other 
 shoulders. At length dear J. W. stood up, and remarked, 
 that his mind had been very forcibly turned back to the 
 time, and impressed with the declaration of the Saviour, 
 

 846 LIFH AND LETTERS OF [1854. 
 
 when he Bent the primitive disciples forth, and told them 
 thai they should bear witness of Him and for Him, at 
 Jerusalem, in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of 
 the earth ; how he not only sent them forth, but gave 
 them their message, even the word of the Lord to deliver, 
 going before them, and abiding with them, their sure pro- 
 tection and all-sufficient Helper. He had been renewedly 
 comforted in believing that this thing was of the Lord ; 
 that He was about to send forth a messenger, and that 
 Himself would give the message; that He, as He was 
 relied upon in singleness of heart, would be mouth and 
 wisdom, tongue and utterance. He then feelhiLrlv alluded 
 to the -traits and baptisms that must needs have been 
 passed through (as well as what might be expected to 
 come), before such a prospect could have been yielded to 
 in these perilous times ; but he did believe that a few 
 standard-bearers had been preserved, and would be pro- 
 ved, even amongst US, and that the law would continue to 
 be sent forth out of Zion, and the word of the Lord from 
 Jerusalem. This is the substance of a part ; but there 
 was much more which I could not properly put down, and 
 perhaps I have related too much already. However, 
 while I felt none the less sensible of the awful respon- 
 sibility, or of my own utter weakness, nothingness, and 
 insufficiency, it was truly strengthening and encouraging 
 to me. There was another long and solemn pause, during 
 
 which many hearts were tendered and affected even to 
 
 « 
 
 tears, and all present who could have been expected to do 
 in due time expressed their unity. Dear J. W. went 
 with me into the women's meeting, where it met with a 
 very Bimilar reception : although here, as in the men's 
 part, it took many, if not most present, entirely by sur- 
 prise : and after the female members of our own quarter 
 had expressed themselves, Elizabeth Hill seemed con- 
 strained to acknowledge her near unity and sympathy, 
 
 with considerable more, somewhat after the manner of J! 
 
 W. in the other meeting ; and there was a fuller cndor- - 
 nient prepared and placed upon my certificate, than I 
 
 could have bad any expectation of 
 
 And now, my dear friend, let me add, that my health 
 
L854.] THOMAS B, GOULD, B47 
 
 improved, my appetite ia better, though still poor, 
 
 ami 1 am >till Buffering a good deal with asthma, bul no- 
 thing to be compared with what I did two weeks 
 and witn what diligence 1 can, 1 am making ready to 
 out; not knowing what will befall me on my journ< 
 Bavins that "the II<»lv Ghost witnesseth. that bonds and 
 afflictions await me," and, ii may be, of n<> ordinary kind; 
 although 1 am not prepared to Bay how it may be as to 
 u every city," neither am I looking for great things in 
 any respect, or to make an extensive visit within the 
 limits of any yearly meeting : and if I can but be favored 
 to do what my hands may find to do, whether it be in 
 silent Buffering or in active labor, and to do no harm, it 
 
 will be all that I can expect, and in that case I may not 
 
 lose a sufficient reward. My deai- friend, Israel Buffin- 
 
 ton, expects to hear me company, and with him I am fully 
 satisfied. 
 
 J. J. Gurney, when here, seemed to be under some 
 guard, while attending the yearly meeting : and I could 
 not say much more about his ministrations at that time, 
 than that the whole course and tendency thereof was 
 wrong-end-foremost and out of joint ; not one ray of 
 light, life, or Gospel authority. After the yearly meet- 
 ing, he had an appointed meeting here in Newport. He 
 
 3 long silent therein, which I believe was unusual with 
 him ; and when he did at length speak, he still seemed 
 rather guarded. But he did nevertheless say, in the 
 course of his communication, that "simple faith — mere 
 
 denee, — formed a fundamental link in the great chain 
 of Christian doctrine, in the Gospel of life and salvation." 
 This I consider unsound doctrine. In a neighboring 
 meeting, he declared, that the best of men before the 
 flood had but a very little light, or a glimmering ray of 
 light ; that the light which they had, even the best of 
 them, was not to be compared with what was or might be 
 now enjoyed by the weakest Christian. An old elder 
 wdio was present, said to me afterwards, that, although 
 Joseph John might consider himself one of the best and 
 strongest of Christians, he doubted much whether he had 
 quite as much light as Enoch ! . . . Farewell. 
 
 T. B. G. 
 
LIFE AND LETTEBS OF [185 1. 
 
 From Mar* Davis to T. B. G. 
 
 Dartmouth, eighth month, 20th, 1854. 
 My beloved Friend, T. I). Gould: 
 
 I know not the cause why I have fell my mind unex- 
 pectedly drawn to write a few words to thee. When thou 
 wast brought to my mind, thou appeared rather poor and 
 low in spirit, a condition that has been the clothing of my 
 mind as with a garment for a long season ; so that I have 
 
 rcely been able to look up: yet I desire not to com- 
 plain, but to acknowledge my unworthiness. 
 
 I believe it right for me to say, that when I heard of 
 thy concern to visit the suffering seed in different parts of 
 the Lord's heritage, I felt in my heart to bid thee God 
 speed ; and the language that our valued friend, James 
 Tucker, adopted, on taking leave of my dear husband and 
 me, when we were going out on such a mission, was re- 
 vived: lie said, "Go, and the Lord be with you. Be ye 
 wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." I desire this 
 may be thy experience: and 1 believe, dear friend, thou 
 knowest, without my telling thee, that the Blessed Master 
 will not be wanting on J I is part : but will, as our trust and 
 confidence is in Uim, be ever near such as He is pleased 
 to call and send on His service, will string their bow, and 
 cover their head, as in the day of battle ; while such as are 
 disposed to run unsent, and when there are no tidings 
 ready, although they may overrun the true messengers, 
 and arrive at the very place where the message is to be 
 delivered, yet they are to be set aside as useless. I could 
 add much, of my own true love and regard, but I feel a 
 
 care lest 1 should exceed, and burden thy mind 
 
 Thy friend sincerely, 
 
 Mary Davis. 
 
 From T. B. G. to John Wilbur. 
 
 Newport, 25th of eighth month, 1854. 
 
 My endeared Friend, J. Wilbur: 
 
 It was truly kind in thee to write to me from Fall River, 
 and ever since I received thy letter I have wanted to tell 
 
I B64.] THOM \> B. GOULD. 849 
 
 the : variety of e;i alllir- 
 
 tiom — bringing into fresh conflicts of spirit, and lose 
 
 trials of the little grain of faith — have hitherto unavoid- 
 ably pre\ ented me. 
 
 e week ago lasl seventh-day, I took our two ol 
 - with me to Fall River, intending to be there o 
 :-day, and to bring the girls home too on second-day; 
 which I did, reaching home about four o'clock p.m., safely 
 and well. But about one o'clock, third-day morning, I [arry 
 was taken alarmingly ill ; and about four o'clock p.m. of 
 the same day. Ecroyd was even more alarmingly attacked 
 with the same disease; which Doctor King positively pro- 
 nounced to be clmlcra. neither is there any doubt of the 
 fact. In the Bhort space of three and a hall* hoars from 
 
 the time Ecroyd was taken, all apparent pulsation ceased, 
 
 he became cold all over, and had every appearance of the 
 
 very near approach of death; and this, notwithstanding 
 we U8ed every means in our power or knowledge to cause 
 a reaction, before the Doctor came. lie continued in this 
 
 state, sinking lower and lower, full four hours and a half. 
 We put mustard on his feet, and rubbed him with warm 
 mustard-water and cayenne, wrung cloths out of hot mus- 
 tard-water, c^c, but nothing would do. His eyeballs were 
 fixed and turned up, with the lids half closed; and although 
 he could speak, yet towards the last he could not see. We 
 considered him nearly gone, and so did the physician; 
 when I proposed putting him bodily into a tub of warm 
 mustard-water, which we did ; and although at first it 
 -reined as if he would not live to be put into the tub, yet 
 in a few moments he began to show signs of sensibility; 
 and the Doctor, who sat feeling for his pulse, looked up 
 joyfully, and announced that he could now feel them at 
 intervals, and added, " They get better and better; now I 
 believe he will rally and do well." Thou canst judge of 
 our feelings when, on putting him into warm blankets, we 
 found him gradually becoming naturally warm, and his 
 pulse quite regular, and also restored to sight. 
 
 When dear little Ecroyd had thus revived, I turned 
 towards poor Harry, who (though he was first taken with 
 much more apparent severity, ami fifteen hours before his 
 
 30 
 

 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [18o4. 
 
 younger brother), had seemed to be better, and, we had 
 thought, was doing well : but our attention waa somewhat 
 diverted from him by the very alarming state of Ecroyd, 
 Harry had very much changed for the worse, and was now 
 rapidly sinkio ime state of collapse ; but on put- 
 
 ting him in a warm mustard-bath, he also pretty soon revived, 
 ana they arc now both doing well. The next seventh-day 
 morning, our two youngest children were taken with the 
 same disease, and both very severely; but having provided 
 ourselves with proper medicines, and also obtained some 
 sa<l experience, the means employed were blessed in such 
 a manner as to arrest its progress; and although the little 
 babe is still far enough from being well, we are in hopes 
 he will continue to improve. 
 
 It is now first-day, the 27th. I had expected to leave 
 home last sixth-day evening, but the dispensation of an 
 all-wise Providence, herein adverted to, rendered it imprac- 
 ticable and apparently improper for me to set out at that 
 time. Israel Buffinton was here yesterday, and we ex- 
 pect to go to New York to-morrow evening; although by 
 constant watching and anxiety, as well as having my hands 
 alternately in hot water and ice, I have contracted such a 
 cold that I am quite a cripple from extreme lameness and 
 pain in my hack. I Low I shall do I know not ; hut through 
 it all, my concern has not abated; neither has the grain 
 of faith, previously vouchsafed and continued, been lost 
 sight of or diminished ; although I am not looking for any 
 mighty work to be called for, or to be done by me. But 
 if 1 can only be preserved from doing any harm, and from 
 bringing reproach to the precious cause, I think I can say 
 that I feel willing to suffer and to be reproached ; for I do 
 know that the cause is good and worth suffering for. And 
 hard as it has been and is for me to leave my beloved 
 family and Friends here, yet I feel anxious to be on my 
 way, not knowing how long time and opportunity for the 
 accomplishment of my work, or rather, for the idling up 
 of my small measure of suffering, may be lengthened out 
 
 to me. But, whether longer or shorter, 1 do earnestly 
 
 desire that it may be accomplished, that so a place of rest 
 may be obtained at last, through unmerited mercy and 
 
I. I THOM \s B. GOULD. 351 
 
 redeeming love. Ami oh ! mv dear, fatherly friend, mine 
 
 been opened the hand of the Lord in this 
 
 afflictive dispensation of lli- divine providence and inscru- 
 
 i thai 1 can say, day unto day has uttered 
 
 speech, and nighl unto nighl has shown knowledge. 
 
 The manner in which my humble prospect was received 
 and approved by our quarterly meeting, has been very 
 confirming and comforting to me, although it has also in- 
 creased, it' possible, my sense of awful responsibility. 
 Dear Mary Davis has Bince written to me in the same 
 way, and Mary Macey has Bent me a sweet m of 
 
 unity and encouragement, and bo has Mary Barnard. 
 
 It is very sickly here; more bo than I have ever 
 
 known in my time. There have been more than fifty ca 
 of cholera which have proved fatal, — many of them in the 
 course of a few hours, — in this small town, within the last 
 lour weeks. Most of these have been among the poorer 
 class of natives and foreigners; yet several very sudden 
 deaths have occurred among the middle and upper class 
 of society, and many, very many, more of these have been 
 attacked with cholera and other diseases which follow in 
 its train, which have been controlled or arrested. 
 
 The cholera hospital, to which the poor Irish and others 
 have been carried. — reight or ten cases sometimes in one 
 day. — is right east of our house, in those red buildings just 
 beyond our premises. As many as four corpses have been 
 taken from there alone in one day. several times in the last 
 two week-, and buried immediately after death, without 
 the least ceremony. I have been much at the hospital 
 since our boys got better, from a sense of duty; and have 
 done what I could to relieve the sufferings of the poor 
 dying creatures, with some little success, although more 
 has been made of it by the people of the town than I 
 wished or merited. But they have been wholly forsaken 
 by the Catholic priest, and by the self-styled Sisters of 
 Charity, of which last, through the prevalence of Roman- 
 ism, we have a number here. But my going to the hos- 
 pital has at least had the effect to arouse the sympathies, 
 and to call up the action, of other.-, who kept at a very 
 safe distance before. I found them not only shamefully 
 
352 LIFE AND LETTERS [1854. 
 
 neglected, but actually abused by the nurses, who w< 
 paid no less than ten dollars per day for their worse than 
 
 useless attendance. They — the nurs< ordered me out, 
 
 when I firsl went, although I said not a word; and when 
 I refused to go, they threatened to keep me there, alleging 
 that such were the mayor's orders. But I told them 1 
 Avnuhl report myself to the mayor, and take the conse- 
 quences. I did bo immediately, who thanked me for my 
 attention, and said, that no other person, except the phy- 
 sicians, had interested themselves at all ; and that himself 
 was worn down with the claims upon his time and atten- 
 tion, caused by the prevalence of the disease, lie freely 
 issued a written order for my admission, whenever I saw 
 fit to go, and required the keepers or nurses to treat my 
 suggestions with attention. The next morning, I went up 
 there again, without showing my order; when they sought 
 to drive me out, telling me that it was in violation of the 
 mayor's orders, and that thev did not want me there: to 
 
 which last I assented, but the first I denied. Pretty soon 
 
 « 
 
 one of them asked me if I had got liberty of the mayor. 
 I told him I had, and more than that also The 
 
 result was their discharge, and the obtaining of better men, 
 and more skilful and conscientious nurses, at a more reason- 
 able price. But the mayor was not to be blamed; for at 
 the first the panic was so great, that none but the in- 
 
 reckless and worthless could be got 
 
 Farewell : and do remember me for good, in your nearest 
 approaches to the Lord. 
 
 Tiios. B. Gould. 
 
 To Martha S. Gould. 
 
 Baltimore, 30th ul' 8th mo., 1854. 
 Ml DEAR WlFB AND ( 'HILDRBN : 
 
 DearRoberl Scotton came in [to Philadelphia] 
 from Frankford early in the day. on purpose to meet us, 
 
 and had just left W. II.'s. when we reached there. We 
 ] assed him in the Street, and I pointed him out to Israel, 
 
L854.] TH0MA8 B. GOULD, 
 
 although I did aol know who he was, and still less though! 
 Ms coming to the city to meet as. Sot, like Paul al 
 the Three Taverns, it furnished a Fresh occasion to thank 
 the Lord and take fresh courage. He came to William's 
 early this morning, and freely wenl with us to the West- 
 ern meeting; which was large and very quiet, no1 a dog 
 moving his tongue, although some in thai nature were 
 there; and Roberl Scotton spoke of the meeting as being 
 to his entire satisfaction, and also, in his judgment, a re- 
 markably favored one, notwithstanding very close things 
 indeed were given me to deliver. 
 
 [Alluding to an individual who had been 
 reached hy his testimony <m that occasion, he says :] So 
 thou seest, my Master was pleased to give me favor in the 
 heart of one stranircr at least; and not onlv so. but Ho 
 surely did fulfil I lis promise to me, which I received before 
 I asked for my certificate, namely: u I will show thee a 
 token for good, that thine enemies may see it and be 
 ashamed ;" ami also, "I will go along with thee, and help 
 thee, and make thy way for thee." .... 
 
 I enjoyed the ride through the country here very much, 
 especially as my mind was clothed with a feeling of pre- 
 cious quietness, peace, and thankfulness, beyond what I 
 have ever known; and in the desires raised for my own 
 preservation, thou, my dear heart, and all at home, were 
 sweetly included. Farewell ! 
 
 Thine entirely, 
 
 T. B. Gould. 
 
 To William Hodgson. 
 
 Colkbaik, Belmont Co., Ohio, 9th mo., 2d, 18.34. 
 My very dear Brother: 
 
 Thy letter to brother Joshua did not get here until 
 some time after we did; so Ave hired a two-horse carriage, 
 and came up from Wheeling, getting here about ten o'clock 
 yesterday morning, weary and dirty enough, I can assure 
 thee; but my heart was filled with thankfulness, inasmuch 
 as my good and gracious Master was not only pleased to 
 renew His promise to me (when, as we commenced going 
 
 30* 
 
354 LIFE AND LETTERS 01 [185 I . 
 
 up the mountains, my faith began to fail as to our living 
 to gel over them), thai we should be preserved, bo that no 
 evil or accident should befall as, but also to fulfil it. at 
 least as to the outward. This morning, brother Joshua 
 thought best to take us to the boarding-school before meet- 
 ing : where we met with a cordial welcome from the super- 
 intendent, N. P. EL, and his wife. The extreme heat of 
 tlu i weather exceeds anything 1 have ever before known, 
 both day and night : and it has been bo, all the way and 
 all the time, since we left Baltimore, except just on the 
 
 top of the Alleghany Mountain-. 
 
 Joseph Hobson was truly kind and open, 
 Baying he was right glad to Bee me hero; and so was dear 
 honest old Robert Holloway, who is a lively, old-fashioned 
 minister, though very much despised. They two went 
 with me unflinchingly to [the select] meeting. 
 
 Not a word was uttered by any one, until 
 W. Kennard proposed that the clerk should open the 
 meeting; which he did, and proceeded to read the minutes 
 of several of the strangers present ; after which he added, 
 "There is also on the table a minute or certificate from 
 New England, and I am ready to query whether the meeting 
 will not pursue the same course with regard to it, which 
 has been taken in former years." .... [After the 
 usual minute was made, in regard to the certificates, which 
 had been read] J. Kenworthy inquired whether the other 
 minute [or certificate] which the clerk had referred to, was 
 from a branch of New England Yearly Meeting with which 
 this yearly meeting formerly corresponded, or whether it 
 came from the " Smaller Body," &c. The clerk did not 
 condescend an explanation. Ann Taylor, Esther French, 
 Edith Griffith, and many others, male and female, broke 
 out into a continuous Btring of abuse against the k * Smaller 
 Body," and the presumptuous but apparently unknown 
 individual who had intruded himself upon that meeting; 
 making use repeatedly of very opprobrious epithets, some 
 of them vehemently calling for the name of the intruder : 
 which, however, neither the clerk nor any other person 
 
 present thought lit to give them. ... I plainly saw 
 
 that, under the circumstances, silence would be decidedly 
 
!. ) THOMAS B, GOULD. 
 
 my best \ j e< I 1"' ] 1 ftlled upon to say, " thai ii 
 much as the question had been asked, whether the certifi- 
 cate referred to came from a branch of Now England 
 ¥early Meeting, with which this meeting formerly corres- 
 ,. lf<l. I thought it right that both the meeting and the 
 individual should know that it did, and thai moreover the 
 certificate was endorsed by a quarterly meeting, which, 
 after a careful and apparently impartial examination of 
 the whole Bubject, of the unhappy separation which had 
 taken place iii New England, including the ground and 
 cause of it, the yearly meeting of Friends in Philadelphia 
 had solemnly decided t<> he the ancient and regularly esta- 
 blished quarterly meeting of Rhode Island;' 1 and 1 added, 
 that "this decision was duly authenticated, and had also 
 been printed and published' 1 [as J, K. expressed thai he 
 had not before been aware of the fact]. ... I saw 
 how it was with some, who really, 1 have no doubt, felt 
 much sympathy for me, but for tear of adding fuel to the 
 fire which the Ourneyites kept up, let them have it their 
 own way without a word in my favor — making a sacrifice 
 of me, rather than prolong the discussion, or further en- 
 danger the quiet and pea.ee of the meeting. But my good 
 Master stood by me and helped me, bearing up my head 
 above the billows ; so that I could even hold up my head, 
 and sit very quietly and patiently through it all, not feel- 
 ing in the least moved or disheartened by it. because He 
 had, measurably at least, prepared me for it before I left 
 my home. . . . The vituperation of the Gurncyitcs 
 was [at length] diverted from my shoulders considerably, 
 and turned upon Philadelphia Yearly Meeting ; at which 
 I was not sorry, as it afforded me some relief: and all op- 
 position to my sitting, finally ceasing, the clerk proceeded 
 with the ordinary business. This seemed to me to exhibit 
 a very low, weak state of things 
 
 The meeting for sufferings was held in the afternoon, 
 at three o'clock ; which, after all, and under the circum- 
 stances, I thought it best for us to attend, being also ad- 
 vised to do so, by several Friends 
 
 After meeting many Friends gathered around us. and 
 seemed right glad to see us 
 
356 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1854. 
 
 First-day, I have been here at Mount Pleasant all day, 
 
 sitting in silence and astonishment at the captivity of this 
 people. In the morning meeting, E. I\ <«. stood op early 
 — proceeded to denounce one — guilty of unforgiven sins of 
 the deepest dye, warned him of the danger of his being 
 
 suddenly cut <>{]'. \e [See letter to -I. AY., 
 
 E. F., and <\ P., of 9th mo., 9th.] 
 
 Second-day evening. There was no attempt made to 
 keep us out of the meeting, as was expected, this morn- 
 ing. 
 
 B. Hoyle opened the meeting, and the 
 
 assistant-clerk rend the report- of the quarterly meetings, 
 and, with the clerk, the minutes of all the strangers pre- 
 sent, except my own and that of I. Buffinton. Benja- 
 min even called for such minutes as Israel Buffinton >, 
 that is. for such as not being for members of the select 
 meeting, had not been laid on the table by the clerk 
 thereof; and in such a way as to render our sitting there, 
 unaccredited, likely to straiten us additionally, and to be 
 noticed by others. Then opened such a tirade of abuse, 
 as never fell to my lot before ; there was a deal of it, in- 
 termixed with some little censure of the clerk, for having 
 proceeded so far with the business as he had done, while I 
 was present; — all which I bore in silence, until they began 
 to reflect darkly on me, for not only having produced no 
 certificate, but also for not having explained the reason why 
 I had not. I then thought it was time for me to speak ; 
 and accordingly stated, in substance, that I not only had 
 yielded to come here under a deep sense and clear convic- 
 tion of religious duty, after having turned the fleece, and 
 proved it, both wet and dry, but that 1 had also received 
 the lull unity and concurrence of the monthly and quar- 
 terly meeting- of Rhode Island; that these had been duly 
 laid before the first sitting of the Select yearly meeting; 
 but that, owing to the manifestation of a similar feeling 
 there, to what had been shown here, and the regard which 
 the clerk of the select meeting paid, as I supposed, to the 
 feelings of those of opposite sentiments, and in order to 
 prevent such an exhibition there as had been made of op- 
 posing sentiments here, they had not been produced; not- 
 
1 85 I. | THOMAS B. aOTJLD. 
 
 withstanding they came from b quarterly meeting which 
 had been decided to be the true Rhode [sland Quar- 
 terly Meeting, after careful and impartial investigati 
 
 the whole subject, by a yearly meeting which has 
 been considered to be one of the most solid and 
 weighty yearly meetings ra the world.* I also declared 
 thai my companion, [srael Buffinton, was duly furnished 
 with a minute of concurrence from Swanzey Monthly 
 Meeting ; and how the separation took place there : who 
 were the separatists ; and as for what had been charged 
 
 pecting my disownment, that it had only been done 
 by a body of separatists; for I had always been a member 
 of Rhode [sland Monthly Meeting of Friends, and there- 
 fore was nol an intruder, but had a right to a Beat. I 
 said considerable, and was on my feet three times I think : 
 which I found necessary to 3o, as they called some of my 
 statements in question. But as I further explained and 
 proved my statements, they soon began to call on their 
 own partisans to give over; and finally dropped me 
 almost entirely, and turned upon the clerk ; who, to save 
 himself' or the meeting, lowered the ground too much, I 
 thought, for his own safety or that of the cause ; telling 
 them they might make the meeting as select as they 
 chose, provided they did it consistently with our prin- 
 ciples or discipline, and did not appeal to the civil autho- 
 rity : — and I, said he, will not object to it. lie repeated 
 this several times : hut it did him no good, for they would 
 not let him go on with the business while we sat there, 
 which he was evidently disposed to do : and so, after sit- 
 ting four hours in this way, the meeting adjourned. The 
 representatives met after dinner, and had a very stormy 
 time, some being determined that B. Iloyle should not be 
 clerk any longer ; and so fourteen representatives, out of 
 forty-two, determined to carry in the name of Jonathan 
 Binns for clerk, and James Bruff for assistant-clerk. 
 The question was asked by some " middle" man, whether, 
 if T. B. G. and I. B. were excluded, they would then 
 consent to have Benjamin Iloyle's name carried forward ; 
 
 * Philadelphia. See its ' ; Report on the Division in New England." 
 
I. II i: AND LETTERS "T [185 !. 
 
 but they answered, No ! — he had done enough, beside 
 this, to disqualify him, and it would make no difference at 
 all. 
 
 Third-day. This morning 1 went to the second and last 
 sitting of the select yearly meeting. There was not the 
 least sign or word of dissatisfaction with my sitting there- 
 in, Bhown by any one, K. P. <J. however delivered another 
 loud ami pointed call to repentance for unutterable sins. 
 
 The yearly meeting convened at eleven o'clock 
 
 It was again Bupposed that they would forcibly keep us 
 out of this, the second sitting of the yearly meeting ; but 
 no such thing was done or attempted. As Boon as the 
 meeting was opened, one Jabez Coulson said lie was 
 directed by a large part of the representatives to prop* 
 th" name of Jonathan Binns for clerk: which was directly 
 united with by many, in quick succession ; when Nathan 
 Hall said, he was requested to inform the meeting, that 
 the representatives had been together, but were unable to 
 agree upon any names to oiler for clerk and assistant. 
 The usual minute for the continuance of the old clerks 
 was proposed to he made, and Btrongly Urged by Friends. 
 
 But there were some not disposed to be put 
 
 down at all. although many of their own party halted 
 long. It was, I should think, nearly two hours, after 
 they began to urge them to go, before they could get 
 their new clerks to the table, and it was some time after 
 this, before he ventured to make and to read the minute 
 of their appointment. 
 
 After a deal of time had been wasted in listening to 
 them, and their many and high charges against B. Hoyle 
 (who has gained nothing in any way by his weak endeavors 
 
 to compromise matters with them), and Philadelphia 
 Yearly Meeting, and myself, Friends finally adjourned 
 to ten o'clock to-morrow (fourth-day morning), and left 
 them sitting in the house, where they remained two hours 
 longer, making >i\ in all. I never uttered a word during 
 either this or the select meeting to-day : hut it Seemed 
 
 more than they could well hear (or indeed some others 
 
 either), even to see me sitting there, though clothed in sack- 
 cloth and ashes 
 
!. ] THOM \> B. GOULD, 859 
 
 A ;il ire gone. I lia\ e ne\ er j el had quite 
 
 trying a Bervice ae this to pass through; and yet I ha 
 not been permitted to doubt the rectitude of my comii 
 
 \jb we passed ou1 of the meeting-] . and I 
 
 red only about one-fourth of the whole number left 
 
 behind, it did feel to me as it* "the people were Btill too 
 
 many." .... B. BEoyle plainly declared to the Beparar 
 
 3 to-day, that New England Yearly Meeting hada right 
 
 suspend the article of <>ur discipline respecting the ap- 
 pointment of clerks, and fully admitted the larger body to 
 be the yearly meeting ! When he Baw that it did no good, 
 but much harm every way, he declared that he had re- 
 peatedly done violence to his own feelings to please them ; 
 hut this helped him m> more than the other: ami it is pos- 
 sible he may in time learn that honesty is the best policy 
 after all. 
 
 All this, and much, very much more, we have 
 
 Been, felt, and Buffered in silence. But my Master told me 
 this morning, that He would fight for us. and we should 
 hold our peace; and I have obeyed Him herein, although 
 many Friends evidently wonder at my silence, and others, 
 
 I believe, are equally afraid of me 
 
 T. B. Gould. 
 
 From Nathan Hall to William Hodgson. 
 
 Barrisville, Harrison Co., Ohio, 
 9th month, 11th, 185 I. 
 
 Dear Friend : 
 
 I have just returned from a meeting at Harrisville, ap- 
 pointed by our mutually beloved friend, Thomas B. Gould ; 
 who requested that I should give thee some account of his 
 getting along in these parts, his engagements and present 
 indisposition preventing him from writing to as many of 
 his dear friends as he would wish to. 
 
 I know not whether thou hast had a letter from him since 
 his arrival here, or not; but suppose thou hast had some 
 account of him, in connection with the separation that has 
 recently taken place in our yearly meeting. Information 
 so received may give an unfair statement of existing facts, 
 as it is reported, even in this vicinity, that he was the cause 
 
360 LIFH AND LETTERS OF [185 !. 
 
 of the separation; and some hard things arc said of him, 
 both in public and private, relative thereto. I am not 
 about to give an account of the separation (as thou hast 
 doubtless had diver- more full relation- of it than my pre- 
 sent purpose or limits will permit), further than delates to 
 our friend, T. B. Gould. His certificate, with a number 
 of others, was produced to our select meeting on seventh- 
 day. The meeting pursued its usual course, which is, to 
 read no such documents from any portion of the Society in 
 iv England. Of course it was not produced to the yearly 
 meeting on second-day morning; but it being known that 
 he and companion were present, it was strongly urged by 
 the Grurneyites, that no business Bhould he done till the 
 meeting was made .-elect. This they made the principal 
 bone of contention during most of that sitting. But it 
 
 O I 
 
 was several times distinctly stated by a part of the repre- 
 sentatives, who met in the evening to propose the names 
 of Friends for clerk and assistant, that they would not 
 agree to the name of 13. II. for clerk; that lie had "dis- 
 qualified himself for that service years ago;" and that, 
 rejecting T. B. <i. and companion, would not change their 
 intention of offering other names, which they then pro- 
 posed. So that it would be doing injustice to New Eng- 
 land Friends, to say that they were the cause of the sepa- 
 ration. And even if it were so, surely it would have been 
 a very frivolous excuse for such a desperate course as was 
 pursued. 
 
 W. and C. Evans, and our New England 
 
 Friends, were of course all the strangers that remained 
 with US. The latter had not much vocal service in the 
 meeting, no doubt very sensibly feeling somewhat trammel- 
 led by the circumstance of their not being fully acknow- 
 ledged. They were ;u meeting at Concord yesterday. I 
 thought Thomas was favored, and very much so at the one 
 appointed in our meeting-house to-day. It was compo 
 partly of non-professors^ and professors of various kinds, 
 Borne that seldom attend any of our meetings; and being 
 
 nearly all entire Strangers to him, he had no outward 
 mean- of knowing their condition; yet I think it was as 
 
 appropriately spoken to, as 1 remember to have heard on 
 
1854.] THOMAS B. 001 i.i'. 
 
 1 think I never heard the comi ing, 
 
 and F our S:i\ iour, * ith I [is mediatorial oflG 
 
 rly brought to view al any time; declaring wl 
 He had done for us without us, and showing the ne< 
 of receiving Him in his second coming, or spiritual appear- 
 ance; and that the first was unavailing without the I 
 He seemed fearfully and awfully impressed with the Btate 
 of some present, and labored earnestly, and may it be 
 effectively, for their restoration. This is more than pru- 
 dence would dictate to say to a minister, but I have only 
 said it of him, and thou wilt see that he is not hurt by it. 
 
 He has a meeting to-morrow at Flushing, and 
 
 next day at ( ruernsey. ..... 
 
 I am, with love, thy friend, 
 
 Nathan Hall. 
 
 From T. 1>. Gh to John Wilbur, E. Foster, and 
 
 C. Perry. 
 
 Coleraix, Bblmokt Co., Ohio, 
 
 9th to 19th of 9th mo., 1854. 
 
 My dear Friend? : 
 
 The yearly meeting concluded about eleven, a.m., and 
 avc have been allowed to sit without any one (except those 
 who have seceded) objecting thereto; although it has been 
 very manifest that our presence was quite as galling to 
 niiiic that remained behind, as to those who left. We 
 have had a most trying week of it indeed. However, no 
 objection whatever was made to our sitting in the meeting 
 for sufferings. . . . The same morning I went to the 
 Belect meeting. . . . There were many strangers pre- 
 sent with minutes, who all went with the Beceders except 
 W. E. ; but their certificates were all read, and minuted 
 as being satisfactory, and their company acceptable. 
 
 Dear J. II., who kindly took me into the 
 
 meeting and into the upper gallery, did -peak once or 
 twice, to express his desire that the meeting might be 
 allowed to proceed quietly with its business; which it was 
 finally allowed to do in my presence, although I was singled 
 out, and preached to, # and prayed for. in the most pointed 
 
 31 
 
862 LIPH AND LKTTBRS OP [1854. 
 
 manner imaginable. The nexl day [first-day] in the 
 :i public meeting, in the morning, E. P. G., very early, 
 and before the meeting was near gathered, commenced 
 speaking, in whal seemed i' ( >r a time to be a most loving 
 and peaceable manner ; but after having sufficiently daubed 
 her own partisans with untempered mortar, and jried 
 " peace, peace/ 5 where there was no peace, Bhe singled 
 out an individual then present, who was "going about 
 sowing discord among brethren/ 1 She was %ure there 
 erne, and thought there might possibly be more than one; 
 but one there was of this description, who was guilty of 
 the most "abominable and unforgiven sins;' 9 describing 
 them, or attempting to do so, but in a vague and indefi- 
 nite manner. However, they were of an unpardonable 
 nature, and Bhe asserted that Bhe was divinely commis- 
 sioned to pronounce woes and judgments upon the devoted 
 head of this " poor, miserable sinner," and to say that 
 unless very speedily repented of, it would be forever too 
 late, this being the very last call, and she the favored in- 
 strument of its delivery, and also of the malediction, which 
 was this: that they u would sink his guilty soul down, 
 down, down, to the lowest hell, where the WOrm dieth not, 
 
 and the lire is not quenched," &c. ! This Bhe repeated 
 three several times, and then referred to Ezekiel's vision 
 of the image of jealousy, and the chambers of imagery, 
 with the abominations committed therein by the ancients 
 of Israel, repeating in the course of this division of her 
 Bubject, nearly the whole of the eighth chapter of EzekieL 
 Her appearance was splendidly delusive, seeming very 
 like her who sat "as a queen and no widow," vainly and 
 wantonly supposing that she Bhould Bee no sorrow. . . . 
 lint I never felt <>r sat a meeting myself more quietly or 
 peacefully in my whole life, feeling an evidence in myself 
 
 that these things were all false a- applied to me; and 
 
 my L r o<>d and L r raei<>u> Master Btanding by me. and 
 strengthening and comforting me, yea, ami upholding 
 me also by His Spirit, in a manner altogether beyond 
 what I can express \s lor me I had nothing to 
 
 do, hut to B6t an example of >ileiiee. 
 
 . . , In the last sitting of the -elect meeting, m> oh- 
 
1854, | Tih'M Lfi B. 001 i.i>. 
 
 was made to my sitting, nor any allusion whatever 
 le to me, except bj E, P. I i.. who declared that the 
 day of my visitation, or of mercy and grace to me (as I 
 understood her) was extended beyond what fehe had previ- 
 1 v thought or seen, although it was nevertheless extremely 
 doubtful whether 1 would repent : and it' not, down, down, 
 down, I must speedily g The answers to the queries in 
 the seled yearly meeting, and the BUtnmary thereof, were 
 managed (with one exception >. so as to represent that things 
 
 re in harmony and unity ; of which took special and 
 
 most satirical notice. J. Kenworthy and others had, in 
 the former Bitting asked B. II. &c, if they really thought 
 that the "smaller body/ 1 and its members were in the 
 right, why they did not say so, and openly acknowledge 
 us; for. said he, and with great effect upon them, I 
 k * Friends, there is but a right and a wrong : there is but 
 truth and error !" I sat among them in the select meet- 
 ing with my lips wholly sealed, except as previously stated, 
 but beholding with my inward eve, how the potsherds of 
 the earth dashed one against another, and the abomina- 
 tions committed by the elders of Israel in their secret 
 chambers of imag'ery, even such as have been accounted 
 as the ancients of them ! . . . The division immediately 
 followed this sitting of the select meeting. 
 
 On second-day toorning B. II. had encouraged 
 
 BUch as were there without minutes (such minutes as had 
 been introduced and read from the Belect meeting), to ex- 
 plain the ground or cause of their presence; and 
 
 had accordingly done so, and several others; Israel Buffin- 
 ton's minute had also been laid on the table, and no notice 
 taken of it whatever: when the Gurneyites, having pre- 
 viously said abundance against our sitting in the meeting, 
 without any notice having been taken of it (except that when 
 they requested all such as were not members to withdraw, 
 and insisted on our doing so. dear old Robert Holloway 
 said lie did not know of any not members, or who had not 
 a right to Bit, being present), oommenced calling directly 
 upon us, to know, if we had certificates, why wo had not 
 produced them; and if wo had no credentials, they re- 
 quested us to make a verbal statement of the occasion and 
 
864 i.H'i: AND LETTERS OF [1854. 
 
 circumstances of our coming and being there, &c. T now 
 fell tlif time had come for me to Bay, "that I had come 
 amongst them under a solemn and convincing sense of re- 
 ligions dm v ; the concern having long rested with much 
 weight upon my mind, and this time having been clearly 
 pointed out, as the proper one to come here in, after turn- 
 ing the fleece again and again, and proving the religious 
 rectitude of the concern, both wet and dry. And not only 
 so, but mv concern was fully united with by Rhode Island 
 Monthly Meeting of Friends, of which I had always been 
 a member, and I was furnished with its certificate, and the 
 endorsement of Rhode Island Quarterly Meeting, duly 
 signed by its clerks; which quarterly meeting, after a 
 careful investigation of the whole subject, bad been decided 
 by Philadelphia Yearly Meeting to be the true and regu- 
 larly established Rhode Island Quarterly Meeting. These 
 certificates were duly presented to the select yearly meet- 
 ing held here the day before yesterday ; but owing to the 
 manifestation of a similar spirit of opposition, to what we 
 have seen here, and from a feeling of tenderness in the 
 clerk (as I suppose) towards those of opposing Bentiments, 
 
 they were neither read there nor introduced here. How- 
 ever, Friends, you may rely upon it. that, after what has 
 been said here. I would not remain in this house another 
 moment, if I had not felt it my duty in the first place to 
 
 come, and in the next place to remain in this meeting, and 
 if I did not also know that I have a right so to do. So 
 that I wi8h it to he distinctly understood, that I do not 
 consider myself a.- an intruder, neither did I ever intrude 
 myself into any place where I had not a right to go. I 
 do not ask for the privilege of silting here as a favor. 1 
 
 claim it as a right." I said considerably more in regard 
 to [srael BuffintOU and his certificate, and its having come 
 " from the ancient Monthly Meeting of Swanzey, from which 
 those who now constitute the larger body in Now England 
 first separated themselves, leaving the regular clerk at the 
 table, and the Monthly Meeting of Friends of Swanzey in 
 the houde, in the regular transaction of its business: that 
 the same class of persons afterwards separated themseh 
 from Rhode [sland Quarterly Meeting, received the re- 
 
■I.] THOMAS B. GOULD. 
 
 ports from th< Mid spurious Monthly Meeting of Swan- 
 
 . and fully identified themselves therewith. It v. 
 
 te yearly meetinc called the 'larger body. 1 
 of which bo much has been said. But, Frien Is, they are 
 a body of separatists from the order and discipline, as well 
 as from the principles and doctrines, of Friends. I>y these 
 I freely acknowledge that 1 have been disowned: but I 
 never was, in any manner. OU1 of unity with or disowned 
 
 by Friends, as so often stated in this meeting, nor until 
 after the separation had occurred from Rhode Island Quar- 
 terly Meeting; which a yearly meeting, that has been con- 
 sidered one of the most solid and weighty yearly meetings 
 
 in the world (tli.it of London not excepted), has clearly, 
 
 and fully, and unequivocally decided to be the ancient and 
 
 rularly established Quarterly Meeting of Friends in 
 
 Rhode Island." Hereupon the most violent Gurneyites, 
 
 even those who had Stated that they were able to prove my 
 
 disownment, and held up the written documents which they 
 had in their hands, making a flourish of them, began to 
 say, in different parts of the house, that they were fully 
 satisfied that it would never do to discuss this question in 
 that public manner, although they were willing to meet me 
 in private! " But," said they, u Friends, we are losing 
 ground; let us say less, and act more firmly." And drop- 
 ping me, they called upon the clerk to make the meeting 
 -elect, saying they were satisfied he had it in his power to 
 do bo; and that if he had not given us his countenance, 
 
 and manifested a disposition to go on with the business in 
 our presence (blaming him, and rebuking him sharply for 
 
 having gone as far with the business in our presence as he 
 had), we would neither have been there, nor persisted in 
 our resolution to sit there, after all that had been said 
 against it by them. Whereupon the clerk began to clear 
 himself from the charge of accountability, (dearly showing 
 them that he did not want us there; which had a tendency 
 to manifest what spirit he was of. to some honest Friends 
 wdio had been greatly blinded and deceived. But the Gur- 
 neyites would not accept it, and cried out the more vehe- 
 mently against him, saying he had wholly and previously 
 disqualified himself for acting as clerk. B« II. then tried 
 
 31* 
 
366 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF 
 
 [1864, 
 
 more fully to clear himself of as, and threw as more com- 
 pletely into the hands of the ( l-urneyites, who gnashed upon 
 
 u- with their teeth, almost <>r quite literally, and seemed 
 ready to destroy us. But 1>. II. said again and again, 
 ** Friends, you may make the meeting as Belect as you 
 please, and I will not object to it, provided you do bo con- 
 sistently with our principles, and do not appeal to the civil 
 magistrate." Bui they paid no intention to his earnest 
 efforts to Bave himself, no matter at what cost, and charged 
 him with treachery, &c, more vehemently than ever, 
 elearly showing that they had no confidence whatever in 
 him ; and who could wonder? I then purposely said, that 
 the clerk was in no way responsible for our presence; that 
 he had been scrupulously careful not to give us the least 
 encouragement; and that it would be great injustice to him 
 to charge him therewith ; that, as regarded myself, I had 
 no wish t<> deceive any one; I meant to he an honest man, 
 and was willing that every tub should stand upon its own 
 bottom. This evidently displeased the clerk : hut lie 
 showed his duplicity still further hy saying, c * Friends, you 
 must Bee how that the individual has assumed the whole 
 
 responsibility of his being here to himself/' This was not 
 
 true: I had done no such thing: hut I elearly saw and 
 understood his design to make me appear ridiculous, and 
 
 presumptuous also. But an adjournment being proposed, 
 in order to give them an opportunity to make the meeting 
 Belect, I let it pass, biding my time. Between this and 
 the next Bitting, no one attempted any private labor with 
 us, as had been proposed, to keep us out : neither was the 
 least impediment thrown in the way of our going into the 
 house. At the next Bitting the separation occurred. . . 
 On fourth-day, a committee was appointed to prepare a 
 
 statement of the facts of the .reparation. On fifth-day 
 afternoon, a paper was brought in and laid on the table, 
 
 purporting to have been prepared by the committee. . . . 
 
 This narrative of facts was read early in the meeting, and 
 united with, without much, if any, objection hy any one; 
 hut it brought me under great distress, a- 1 foresaw, when 
 
 B. II. wrested my word- (when I had merely exonerated 
 
 him from all responsibility touching our presence) into a 
 
185 I. ] THOU 18 r-. GOULD, 
 
 presumptuous assumption of the responsibility myself; 
 which I had neither thought, said, nor intended, but, on 
 the contrary, had expressly referred the responsibility to 
 Him who brought me under the concern to come, and who 
 required me to stay, and had made me willing to Buffer for 
 Hia name and cause 9 sake ; whose name and cause [, at 
 the same time, declared to be exceeding precious to me, 
 90 than any other consideration whatever; which 
 declaration was also mercifully attended with a convincing 
 evidence of its truth, which not even the Gurneyitea could 
 gainsay or wholly resist, and some of them openly acknow- 
 ledged it at the time. I > 1 1 I said not a word now. until 
 after they had gone through all the queries and answers, 
 and we had had abundance of what is called preach- 
 ing, from . , , and others. Near the c] 
 
 of the meeting, I stood up, and said, in substance, that I 
 had never considered it a light matter to utter a word, or 
 to occupy a moment of time, in BUch an assembly as that : 
 but under a serious consideration of the nature of the 
 document which had been read early in that Bitting, I felt 
 a necessity laid upon me to Bay, that if that part of it 
 which stated that I had assumed the whole responsibility 
 of my presence in that meeting, could be so altered as to 
 say, that the individual referred to had fully exonerated 
 the clerk from all responsibility respecting his presence, it 
 would l»e trulv relieving to mv feelings, and also in accord- 
 ance with the truth. 1 also appealed to them with some 
 effect, in the language. "All things whatsoever ve would 
 that men should do to you. do ye even SO to them," &C, : 
 and added a doubt, as this circular was to be appended to 
 all their epistles, whether that part of it which stated that 
 the clerk had repeatedly expressed his entire willingn 
 that those who objected to our sitting in the yearly meet- 
 ing should make ir as select as they pleased, provided they 
 did it in accordance with our principles, and did not appeal 
 to the civil magistrate, — I meekly expressed a fear, whe- 
 ther the retaining of this part of the statement would be of 
 an// & r ice to the Cleric, and that it might injure his repu- 
 tation and lower his standing with the onlv class of Friends. 
 in the different yearly meetings, who could be expected to 
 
LIFE AND LETTERS OE [1854. 
 
 advocate the reading of the epistles which were to be sent 
 forth, bearing his signature as the Clerk of Ohio yearly 
 Meeting: and so it might seriously affect the decision 
 which would have to be made between the reception of 
 their epistles and those of the separatists; and also the 
 cause and reputation of truth, which L plainly declared 
 was of tar more value than any personal considerations 
 whatever; and that I could truly say, that I was quite 
 willing, bo far as I was personally concerned, to be of no 
 reputation, either here or elsewhere; <>r, in other words, 
 " L am willing to Buffer for His name and cause 1 sake, who 
 is everlastingly worthy: I have no desire. Friends, to be 
 in any hotter repute than the truth is, amongst you!" 
 This brought great solemnity over the meeting; very many 
 Friends wept much. . . . The document was referred 
 back to the committee for alteration and amendment, . . 
 . . This paper was brought into the last sitting of the 
 yearly meeting. ... It appeared to have been very 
 materially altered throughout: the most objectionable pas- 
 sage, respecting myself, was altered in conformity with my 
 suggestion or request, bo as to say that I fully exonerated 
 the clerk from the responsibility of our presence. In other 
 parts <>f this paper, too, where we had, in the first essay, 
 been spoken of merely as individuals, we were now spoken 
 of as Kriomls. members of the Society. &c. — and in other 
 respects, too, with more consideration and respect. It 
 was then sent into the women's meeting, to he entered on 
 their minutes; hut they were unwilling to have it go upon 
 their records, by reason of the expressions of I>. II. 
 being Btill retained therein, respecting his willingness that 
 we should hi' excluded from the meeting, cVc. Very general 
 
 and decided objections were made hy the women Friends 
 to this part of the document, and it resulted in their send- 
 ing two of their number into the men's meeting, to inform 
 it how very unsatisfactory it was t<» them. . . . They 
 both spoke with great effect, in the men's meeting, in our 
 favor, and against those actions ami expressions, respect- 
 ing as; Baying that women Friends were deeply grieved, 
 
 that the clerk Bhould have BO >pokeli respecting the two 
 Friends from New England j that he had no right BO to 
 
ha ken, and oughl no1 to have don< B. I !. 
 
 made some little effort to defend himself, bi thai 
 
 one of the individuals had expressed himself ed with 
 
 it. Oilier- said, ii was merely a statement of fad 
 
 dd n"i noit be altered. Finally, dear [srael Buffinton 
 
 id, that, although he deeply regretted the clerk'- having 
 
 Baid so, at the time, yet, as he did repeatedly so expi 
 
 himself, it could not now be helped, and he felt satisfied, 
 
 willing, it Bhould stand as it did. This was the first 
 
 and last time that [srael Baid anything in the yearly 
 
 meeting, and it was well-timed indeed : he also had dis- 
 
 nment to see that the retaining of this part would do 
 
 B. II. and his party far more harm than it would do us. 
 
 And I was, I confess, astonished at the blindness which 
 
 must have overtaken poor , or otherwise he must have 
 
 en it. 
 
 What Israel Baid, Beemed to satisfy the women, and they 
 returned directly to the women's meetii The essa 
 
 of epistles to the other yearly meetings had all been read 
 before the women came in; and after they were agreed to, 
 I let Friends know, " that I thought it right for me to ac- 
 knowledge, that I had listened to the reading of them with 
 much interest, and had truly considered it a privilege to 
 be present : but that I had also been led to consider, that 
 if these epistles were really and truly the language of the 
 Spirit to the several churches to which they were addressed, 
 the matter of their reception or rejection was in such case 
 a very Berious one; inasmuch as they who refuse to receive 
 whatsoever and whom -never the Lord sends, refuse to 
 receive Him, and they that refuse to receive Him, refuse 
 to receive Him that sent Him." After somewhat more in 
 this line, I let Friends know my own firm and renewed 
 belief, however it might be. as to the matter of their recep- 
 tion. " that there would be no necessary cause of discour- 
 nent. if they should not be received and acknowledged 
 by some of the yearly meetings with which this yearly meet- 
 ing had heretofore corresponded; that we were living in si 
 dark and cloudy day: that the spirit of the world and of 
 the age had so blinded the eves and hardened the hearts of 
 many up and down amongst Friend- as a people, that it 
 
870 Lli'i: AND LETTERS of [1854: 
 
 seemed as if they would ool or could uol believe, although 
 a man should declare the truth unto them; thai this was a 
 spirit of unbelief in and departure from the truth ; that 
 Bucb was the blindness which had happened unto Israel, 
 thai it Beemed to me there was greal need, even for some 
 who had been eminently gifted and deeply experienced, to 
 be so humbled under the ajighty hand of the Lord, as to 
 availingly put up the petition for an increase of faith; 
 that bo they mighl be able to adopt the language, Lord, 1 
 believe, help thou mine unbelief; and that their eyes mighl 
 be opened to Bee the way and work of the Lord in this our 
 day and time, which was a dark and stormy time; bul the 
 darkness and the light were, in a sense, alike unto Jlim ; 
 lie had His way in the sea. and J lis path in deep wat« 
 
 and his footsteps were not known, except to such as were 
 made willing to follow Him even to prison and to judg- 
 ment ; thai clouds and darkness were round about Him, 
 bu1 righteousness and judgment were the habitation, of His 
 
 throne. That [ did verily believe it was at least by Ik- 
 permission, thai things were being so shaken ; and that, if I 
 was nol mistaken in my feelings, the language was applica- 
 
 hle, * Yei once more I shake not the earth Only, hut also 
 
 heaven,' and thai everything that could be shaken would be 
 shaken, that that which was immovable might remain : 
 yea. that lie would * overturn, overturn, overturn,' until 
 He came whose right it was to rule and to reign over all, 
 whose power was in itself over all the powers of darkm 
 and who would yet, I firmly and rcnewedly believed, he 
 magnified in the Bight of those wh<> had in different degr< 
 become forgetful and distrustful of his power. But it was 
 
 better to trust in the name and power of the Lord, than 
 
 to put confidence in princes ; for the Land) and His believing 
 
 followers WOUld have the Victory in the end, and Mich as 
 
 rejected Him, ami turned hack from following Him, would 
 he confounded and brought to nought/ 1 But 1 cannot 
 attempt to give even the substance of what was spoken, 
 
 any further \ Solemn pau>e eii>ued, during 
 
 which, Ann Branson and 1\ Fiflher came in: and I did 
 
 rejoice that my gracious Master had raised me up before 
 
 they came, and showed me a token for good, which mine 
 
I. j TEOMi 90ULD. 81 1 
 
 miea had Been and fell ale >. b< I do beli< 
 
 somewhat ashamed. 
 
 \\ . Kennard, on taking my hand at the i 
 the lasf Bittii arly meeting, told me emphati- 
 
 cally, thai he had near and good unity with me and my 
 testimony in that meeting, and also in the public meet 
 <>n fifth-day. Bill notwithstanding the unity and near 
 fellowship of very many Friends, B. II. undertook to lay 
 an injunction upon them, no! to appoint meetings for me 
 at all. Be professed a willingness that I should attend 
 them as they cane- in coarse, but declared that it would be 
 going beyond the yearly meeting, to appoint meetings, 
 rtificate had not been read therein nor re- 
 ceived thereby. But dear Robert Holloway, a sound, old- 
 fashioned minister, who with Joseph Hobson, a valuable 
 elder, had Btood unflinchingly by me the whole week, told 
 
 them this Would not do; and BO called the ministers and 
 
 elders together at the School (after we had left for brother 
 Joshua's), and said to them, "Friends, if that dear Friend 
 
 from New England feels a concern to appoint a meeting in 
 any place, and calls the select members and overseers 
 
 ;ether, and lavs it before them, and they unite with it, 
 who has power to say no, seeing they are the proper au- 
 thority, according to our discipline, to decide upon such a 
 concern V All present acknowledged it was so, but B. II. 
 and J. E., neither of whom said anything. Robert then 
 said, "There is no question, then, but Thomas can appoint 
 meetings, if the select members and overseers agree to it:" 
 and he was answered in the affirmative, except by the two 
 who remained silent. Robert then rode several miles out 
 of his way, to brother Joshua's, to inform us hereof, and to 
 encourage me to attend to my prospect faithfully, as very 
 many other Friends all over the yearly meeting had done 
 before 
 
 The meeting at Harrisville, on second-day, was large 
 and much favored, people flocking to it the more, I sup- 
 pose, on account of the unwonted notoriety winch the 
 Grurneyites, and some others not known by that name, 
 have given us. At the conclusion. X. II. expressed to 
 me his full unity and entire satisfaction ; and encouraged 
 
872 LIFE AND LETTKKS OF | L864. 
 
 me to keep steadily to my prospect, regardless of gain- 
 savers. Indeed there were many tears shed at this meet- 
 ing; great, stoat-looking man, not a member, (for 
 
 ueral notice was given) was so broken, and shed so many 
 tears, through the melting power of Truth, which did mer- 
 cifully overshadow us in a remarkable manner, that they 
 literally ran down his cheeks and dropped in such profu- 
 sion as to make a large wel -pot on the floor of the house 
 where ho sat. But I relate it only by way of acknow- 
 ledgment of the goodness and nierey of my good and 
 gracious Master, who lias hitherto fulfilled the promise 
 which lie made to me, before I left my/) wn habitation, 
 that lie would Stand by nie and help me ; and lie hath 
 
 performed His promise to me, in a manner that has been 
 
 marvellous in my own eye.-, and as I humbly trust to the 
 Strengthening of many, and to the promotion of J lis own 
 praise and glory : which, with the cause of truth and right- 
 eousness, was what L singly had in view in coming hither, 
 and have been made truly willing to suffer for, 
 
 .... We went to Guernsey Preparative Meeting on 
 fourth-day, lodging the previous night with our dear faith- 
 ful friend, Robert Qolloway. The meeting was large; 
 
 and I was pretty soon raised up in it, having very clear 
 doctrine to deliver, and feeling, I believe, somewhat as 
 Paul did. when he spoke of fighting with wild hearts at 
 Ephe8US. But they sat silently and very quietly until I 
 had d<»ne. when both a man and an English woman spoke 
 newhat by way of censuring me and excusing them- 
 selves, or trying to turn off what they clearly showed they 
 had felt keenly : for my testimony had been to the good old 
 way, and against new notions, calling the attention of such 
 as had turned aside out of the wav, uiito Him who remains 
 to be the only Way of life ;tnd salvation, as well as the 
 1 [( aler of breaches, ami the Restorer of path- for the lame 
 to walk in. The man said, it was not the first time the 
 
 old adversary had transformed himself int.) the appearance 
 of an angel of light, and Bought to deceive the very elect 
 
 by preaching BOUnd doctrine! But it neither moved nor 
 
 harmed us ^fter this meeting, we rode over to Robert 
 
 Smith's, at Stillwater £fl we rode away towards 
 
L854.] THOMAS B. QOULD. 
 
 Ridg< M< :iiL r , and wife walked along by the side 
 
 ig us i" go to their house. Bui 
 we had eaten at the same table for Dearly a week, and 
 often side by Bide, and as at the close of the yearly m< 
 ing he had bidden me mosl emphatically " farewell," with- 
 out savins one word about it till now, although he knew 
 of my prospect of visiting some of their meetings; I did 
 not incline to go, or to take other notice of what he said, 
 about our coming hack and lodging there and seeing if 
 he did not treat us kindly, &c, than to say, that I should 
 like just to see his house. He finally asked me, if he had 
 not treated me generously? — acknowledging, withal, that 
 he had been most kindly treated at my house; to which I 
 
 replied, in the hearing of his wife, for whose ear, as well 
 
 as for his own. I intended it, " B , I am greatly con- 
 ned for thee ! 1 am afraid, if the Philistines press thee 
 much further, or much harder, thou wilt fall upon thy own 
 
 sword, as Saul did!" lie replied, " I am obliged to thee, 
 Thomas;" and so we parted, without my seeing his house, 
 which he said was near, but hidden by the forest trees. 
 
 ... I was silent therein [Ridge Meeting], until near 
 the close; when I found an engagement to stand up, and 
 was mercifully favored in so doing, to my great relief, 
 and. for me, with much clearness and demonstration, 
 
 though not lengthy. While I was on my feet, wept 
 
 like a child. . . . lie seemed as if he could not do 
 enough for us; and well he might, for he had not had 
 Strength to stand firmly in the presence of B. II. and 
 W. E. But I had perceived some change in his feelin. 
 before the week was out, and he expressed satisfaction 
 
 with our visit AVe returned to Robert Smith's. 
 
 and lodged there, feeling my mind drawn towards that 
 family; with whom we had a precious opportunity in the 
 morning, before Ave set out for Plainfield ; wherein I had 
 to open the mystery of iniquity, and the manner of its work- 
 ing in this our day: and to show them, that it is sometimes 
 necessary to contend earnestly for that faith which was 
 once delivered to the saints, or else we shall certainly 
 make shipwreck of faith and a good conscience, and lose 
 that goodly inheritance received from our forefathers 
 
 32 
 
:>74 LIPH AND LETTERS OF [1854. 
 
 and which ought neither to be sold, nor exchanged for an- 
 other 
 
 After th ting at Plainfield, we went to visit an aged 
 Friend, by the name of Aaron Roberts, who was very low 
 with dysentery. On Bitting down by his bedside, he soon 
 said, before a word had been ottered, u ] feel sweet unity 
 with your spirits." I was just ready to say the same 
 thing in refi rence to him. There was no need of many 
 words here, and I merely expressed the sense given me, of 
 his having fought the good fight, and kept the faith, and 
 of there being a crown of righteousness laid up for him in 
 heaven, whether an entrance into the heavenly kingdom 
 should be sooner or later granted to him. I was after- 
 wards informed, by his family, of his having frequently 
 expressed the full assurance thereof 
 
 We returned to brother Joshua's last evening [the 18th 
 of the month], and intended resting here to-day; for 
 although 1 scarcely ever fell so well during a whole week, 
 as I did during the week of yearly meeting, when I had so 
 much to bear in all other respects, yet no sooner was my 
 way opened amongst Friends, and all other things seemed 
 to be much more favorable, than 1 became very unwell, 
 and have travelled over a great deal of had roads in much 
 physical Buffering; and attending a meeting every day for 
 a week (exeept one), was of itself wearisome to both body 
 and mind. But a severe attack of asthma, first-day night, t 
 prevented me from getting much sleep, or lying down; 
 and it continued through second-day so badly that I could 
 not write 
 
 Yours sincerely, 
 
 T. B. Gtoi Li). 
 
 To Martha s. Gould. 
 
 Somertox, Belmont Co., Ohio, 1 5th of ninth mo., 1854. 
 My dbab Martha : 
 
 I received thy letter, giving me the first account of 
 
 dear little Mattie's having had the cholera. laBt seventh- 
 
 dav afternoon, on returning to brother Joshua's after the 
 close of yearly meeting. It affected me deeply, but 1 was 
 
i L] THOMAS '■.. GOl u>. 875 
 
 enabled, after cl inflict, afresh to resign vou all into 
 
 the hands of Him who doeth all things well ; who did un- 
 questionably call me forth, and hath gone before me in a 
 marvellous manner, making darkness light before me and 
 ed paths straight ; also Literally opening a way where 
 there seemed to be, and was, no way until He opened it ; 
 
 n giving me favor in the Bight of the Egyptians, caus- 
 ing the wrath of man to praise Him, and restraining the 
 remainder thereof ! 
 
 P>. II. and others manifested no more disposition to 
 show us any favor, after the separation, than they did 
 before ; and our certificates were not only not read, but 
 everything which he had said against our Bitting was in- 
 
 porated or included in the Account of the Separation. 
 prepared nominally by a committee, but written by 
 
 I felt drawn to attend Concord Meeting on first-day. 
 Public notice was given in the immediate neighborhood, 
 
 and the house was filled : many Friends, elders, and over- 
 's coming thither from neighboring meetings, and at- 
 tending the meeting; in which my gracious Master showed 
 me a manifest token for good. After meeting, about 
 twenty of these Friends from a distance went to brother 
 Joshua's to dinner, and a precious time we had ! To 
 BOme of these I opened my prospect of appointing a 
 meeting at Harrisville the next dav, and at Flushing 
 on third-day ; which was fully united with, and they 
 were appointed ami held accordingly, to the satisfac- 
 tion of Friends, the meetings being large, and the houses 
 filled. 
 
 From Flushing we went to Guernsey, and, attended 
 their meeting, on fourth-day, which was large : stopped 
 at Stillwater, where B. Hoyle lives, and lodged at Robert 
 Smith's. Here we called the ministers and elders to- 
 gether, and I laid my prospect before them, to attend the 
 Hidge Meeting, which lay beyond Stillwater, yesterday : 
 to have an appointed meeting here at Somerton to-day ; 
 to return to Stillwater, and have an appointed meeting 
 there to-morrow; and then proceed to Plainficld, the next 
 first-day. They sat long upon it, and finally decided not 
 
876 l.lli: .\M> LETTERS 01 [1854. 
 
 to appoint a meeting for as al Stillwater, although Eliza- 
 
 ! i Smith and otl ad {'nil unity with it. I>. IL's 
 Friends urged us to alter our course, and attend Stillwater 
 Meeting nexl first-day : bul I lei them know that my 
 prospect as to time and place, &c, was clear, and that if 
 they were unwilling to meet us on seventh-day, we should 
 L r <> "ti directly to Plainfield, whicb we expect to do. We 
 then went to the meeting at the Ridge, and in this meet- 
 ing was broken to pieces, and was as kind and 
 
 tender as possible, and rode over to this place with us, 
 where William Kennard resides. William had told me, 
 at the close of the yearly meeting, thai he had unity with 
 my service in their great public meeting at Mount Pleasant 
 on fifth-day (the Gurneyites were 4 all present); notwith- 
 standing my service therein had been very close and 
 searching, commencing with the passage: "By the rivers 
 of Babylon, there we sat down," &c. ; being also led to 
 Speak to the children of the captivity, in the land of their 
 captivity. 
 
 Sixth-day ei ening. The meeting at Somerton this morn- 
 ing was a favored one. and after it we went to dine with 
 Anne Conrow. Many other Friends dined with us; and 
 after dinner, falling into silence, dear I{. P. had a lively 
 testimony to hear, expressive of heavenly fellowship. 
 William Kennard followed her in a remarkable manner, 
 expressive of lull Gospel fellowship with us, and of a 
 clear and undeniable evidence that our coming was of the 
 Lord; "who had called and qualified a minister and mes- 
 
 Benger of the unchangeable Gospel, and sent him forth to 
 
 raise the ancient Standard of truth in its purity ;" also a 
 belief that SOme had been gathered to it by mean- of a 
 
 faithful suffering for ami testimony to it, and that many 
 
 nim-e would vet. by BUCh means, he induced t<> rally to 
 
 this standard, &c I was wholly Bilent. William Ken- 
 nard rode this morning several miles. t<> labor with 
 
 , who had been previously notified thereof, to induce 
 
 him to come t<> our meeting; hut In 4 would not. He 
 s.-iid. with great inconsistency, that he had lull unity 
 with me as a true Gospel minister, hut this matter of 
 appointing meetings was going beyond the yearly meet* 
 ing, \c 
 
L] THOU 18 B, 0OULD, 81 i 
 
 Iii the last Bitting of the yearly meeting, 1 
 
 had a i jearchii imony given me to bear, relative 
 
 to the >f the Church in general, and of this yearly 
 
 meeting in particnlar; and also to the state of deeply 
 experienced and eminently gifted persons present, which 
 
 and others fully understood and could nol gainsay, 
 
 and with which W. K . expressed full unity 
 
 T l W. BODGSON. 
 
 Eta bmond, Ohio, 20th of 9th mo., L854. 
 )Iv dbab Brother, \\\ Hodgson, Jr.: 
 
 We took leave of each other in great unity and 
 tenderness of spirit, and wenl on our way rejoicing, towards 
 Plainfield Meeting, which we attended on first-day last; 
 and public notice being freely given, the house was very 
 closely filled, and a precious meeting we had. For here, 
 as in all other places where I had requested such public 
 notice, the hearts of the people seemed to have been pre- 
 viously prepared for it. In the meeting at the 
 Ridge I was long silent, not expecting to have anything 
 to say ; but as the time to break the meeting drew near, 
 my Master raised me up in a short testimony to His own 
 power, and the sufficiency of it for the accomplishment of 
 His own work, without the help of man's contrivance, and 
 against his will and working. . . . We attended Short 
 Creek Monthly Meeting yesterday, in which I was silent 
 until after the shutters were closed : and so also were all 
 others present, and there were many. 
 
 L am leaving this part of Ohio with a very quiet, peace- 
 ful mind, for which I desire to he thankful. It is near two 
 o'clock, fifth-day morning, and I have not been able to 
 sleep at all, since a short nap about this time yesterday 
 morning. My general health is better than for the next 
 week after yearly meeting, when I was very poorly, al- 
 though we had a meeting every day except one ; and yes- 
 terday, at Short Greek, was a most trying time; yet, for 
 the last three or four days and nights, I have been SO very 
 asthmatic, as not to admit of my lying down, except for a 
 very short time. I have been writing now, in addition to 
 
 32* 
 
31 S LIFE AND LETTERS OF [185 J. 
 
 a hard day's travel, six boors ; 1 1 1 < I more, alone in the 
 parlor al this tavern, my kind companions having befen in 
 bed during the whole of this time; and we are to start at 
 half-past six in the morning. 
 
 Love to thee and thine, even much more than T can 
 speak or write adequately of. Farewell, till we meet. 
 
 Thomas P>. Gould. 
 
 To Martha s. Gould. 
 
 Richmond, Ohio, 20th of 9th mo.. 1854. 
 My deab Martha : 
 
 We left brother Joshua's this morning about nine 
 o'clock, and have stopped for the night at a tavern in this 
 place, <»n our way to Salem, which we expect to reach to- 
 morrow evening. Brother Joshua and his sou Jacob, and 
 Nathan Cook and wife, came with us. Joshua has hitherto 
 taken us through the country, wherever we have been, in 
 his own carriage, and expects to continue with us until we 
 reach Philadelphia : which has been and is a great comfort 
 
 and help to US 
 
 1 was not able to walk thither, having for the 
 last three daysand nights, suffered extremely with asthma, 
 except just while we were Bitting in Short Creek Monthly 
 Meeting, held at Short Creek yesterday: in which I was 
 
 i WW' 
 
 wholly silent, except a short testimony in the meeting for 
 business, partly in reply to the objections made by the 
 Gurney people against our sitting, or being allowed to sit 
 there, and partly by way of a call upon them to give over 
 
 their disorderly proceedings, and return to first principle-, 
 
 as th<- <»nly way whereby they could he restored to the 
 unity of the faith, and the peace and harmony of the So- 
 ciety could he restored, while they remained members 
 
 of it, &c. J which had BUCh effect upon some of the more 
 
 moderate among them, that J. L., a- 1 suppose, per- 
 ceiving it, and fearing the consequences, turned angrily 
 
 round, looked up in my face, and told me to >it down ! 1 
 paused a moment, looked at him, and he turned away his 
 face ami was silent ; when I proceeded with what I had to 
 say, without altering my position, or the tone of my voice; 
 
L864.] THOU Lfl B. QOULB. 81 9 
 
 neither was I conscious of being in the least affected by 
 it, in any way. But this ia the firs! time thai any of th 
 people have manifested public opposition tome, or have 
 failed to listen with respectful attention, while I was 
 speaking; excepting the uneasiness of ES. P. Gurney and 
 Ann Taylor, during pari of the time I was on my feel in 
 the great public meeting al Mount Pleasant, during yearly 
 meeting. At Short Greek yesterday, whicb is a very large 
 monthly meeting, and a majority of them ( lurneyites, J, 8., 
 an elder, compelled us to take the head of the meeting: 
 but I had no commission to draw the bow, or to shoot a 
 Bingle arrow there, in the public me< ting. Several of these 
 people have at different times borne apparently an involun- 
 tary testimony to my sincerity, and also to my being a 
 Gospel minister; and yet tlfey Bay that I cannot consist- 
 ently be received as such, because I am a member of the 
 "smaller body," and have only been acknowledged by it, 
 and since the separation. On the other hand, some of the 
 more moderate, but wavering ones among them have, as I 
 am informed, been convinced of the rectitude of our posi- 
 tion, and have freely acknowledged that their states and 
 condition have been spoken to in a manner which they 
 could not gainsay or resist. And I do know that our visit 
 has been to the comfort and strengthening of many 
 Friends ; which, with the incomes, and. at times, the 
 abounding of peace and consolation, amidst all our trials, 
 affords a merciful and abundant reward; for all which I 
 desire to be thankful 
 
 In the last number of " Friends' Review/' there is a 
 pretty full and pretty fair account of the separation. What 
 they say was expressed by me, is very just, so far as it 
 goes: and what they say about the relative numbers, is 
 quite as near the truth as the account in " The Friend." 
 I judged that about one-third went off with the Gurney- 
 ites ; many stayed with them, when Friends first left the 
 house, at the time of the separation, merely from curiosity, 
 and to see what they would do ; and a sorry time they had 
 to keep their own men together. 
 
 The meeting at Plainfield, last first-day. was very large, 
 the house being exceedingly crowded. It was also an emi- 
 
880 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1854. 
 
 nently favored meeting; my L r <><»d and gracious Helper 
 enabling me to speak to the states of thai mixed multitude, 
 in a manner which was to my own humbling admiration, 
 and to the satisfaction of Friends. This is the meeting 
 where, many years ago, they refused to appoint a meeting 
 for Jonathan Backhouse, of which I have often heard thee 
 
 speak A. P. said thai my coming here at this 
 
 time was in answer to prayer; for she had prayed that the 
 1 1 >od Shepherd would Bend one of his anointed messengers, 
 from among the " smaller body," to visit this land; and 
 that, when she heard I was coming, it rejoiced her heart, 
 and she could hardly wait to see me. They were all united 
 
 in giving public notice of the meeting Before we 
 
 left , Ave had a very solemn parting opportunity 
 
 together. Many other Friends were present, but my gra- 
 cious Helper enabled me so to divide the word of life among 
 them, as to reach their several conditions without giving 
 any offence. There was not, I believe, one dry eve in the 
 r<-om. and some, not of the family, wept aloud during the 
 
 whole time, and for some time after. As for poor , 
 
 her eyes were not dry much if any of the time after she 
 sat down in the meeting at IMainlield. while we stayed in 
 
 the neighborhood. In the public meeting, it fell to my lot 
 to show the difference between the true Gospel worship and 
 the true Christian ministry, and a mere profession of it 
 and of religion without coming to the experimental heart- 
 work, and knowing the power of it revealed in our souls. 
 1 was afterwards told that there were many of other per- 
 suasions present, beside those of no profession, and Hicks- 
 ites; none of whom escaped, and some were very plainly 
 
 readied. 
 
 With love unfeigned, I am thine, 
 
 T. 15. Gould. 
 
 To Lydia Ann (Iould. 
 
 Alliance Station, 21st of 9th month, 1854 
 My dbab Sisteb : 
 
 Thy truly acceptable letter v. as duly received last second* 
 day 
 
L854.] THOMAS B. GKMJLDt 
 
 .... e whole country through which we have tra- 
 
 . Bince rig the ( >hio R 
 
 hills andclales; in comparison with the former of which, 
 
 Tammany (Miantonomi | hill would sink into insignificance. 
 
 They are generally either cultivated to the very tops, or 
 
 .red with timber; many of the trees being more than 
 
 hundred feet high, and three or four feel through at 
 
 the butt : and often running up to the height of fifty or 
 
 sixty feet without a Bingle branch, though of solid oak. . . 
 
 We crossed the Ohio River on a wire bridge, nearly one 
 
 hundred feet above the level of the stream Our 
 
 first business, after crossing the bridge, was to go up one 
 of what they call the " river hills :" but I should think it 
 might safely be called a mountain, for it was six hundred 
 feet high, and the distance to the top of it by the road, 
 nearly three miles ; but we had. in this case, a plank road 
 nearly all the way up, and to brother Joshua's door. . . . 
 
 At Harrisville [appointed meeting], while on my feet, I 
 
 noticed a great, strong, fine-looking man in the meeting, 
 
 who seemed to have much to do to hold up against what 
 
 was said; hy-and-hye he began to weep, and continued to 
 
 do so until the tears rolled down his cheeks, and dropped 
 
 on the floor to such a degree as I had not before seen in 
 
 any case; for, when I passed by where he had sat, there 
 
 was a Spot on the floor literally wet with his tears. There 
 
 was another man at their meeting, a Friend (which the 
 
 former was not), who had been very undecided in regard 
 
 to the great question which is dividing the Society: who 
 
 told Nathan Jlall that lie was now convinced where the 
 
 Btrength lay. for his state had heen so spoken to in this 
 
 meeting at Harrisville, that lie had no doubt remaining. 
 . . . 
 
 At Flushing we lodged at [saac Mitchell's, who. with 
 
 his wife, was as kind as could be ton-. They live in a 
 
 most outlandish place to get to, through the woods and up 
 
 and down the hills; but when once there, it is really very 
 
 pleasant, until one has to get away again. They live, too, 
 
 in the midst of a thickly-settled neighborhood of nice 
 
 Friends, their nearest neighbor being one of the clearest- 
 
 sighted ministers in this yearly meeting. She. with many 
 
 other Friends, came in in the evening, and a time of 
 
882 LIFE AND LETTSRfl OF [1854. 
 
 silence occurring, Bhe had weighty encouragement to 
 
 offer 
 
 From Flushing we went to Guernsey, and attended their 
 preparative meeting as it came in course. There the most 
 active and violent leaders of the separatists live; two of 
 whom, after 1 sat down, undertook to clear themselves 
 from what had been expressed, by denying thai they bad 
 departed from the truth and faith of Friends ; bul it 
 amounted to nothing; neither did they any greater harm 
 to us, than t<> cut one <>f the straps of brother Joshua's 
 carriage, that which held the trunk-rack up. which we dis- 
 covered before we put the trunk upon it. We lodged here 
 at dear old Robert Hollo way's, a valuable minister. . . . 
 
 Farewell. 
 
 T. B. Gould. 
 
 To Martha S. Gould. 
 
 Prakkford, Pa., 29th of 9th month, 1854, 
 My dear Martha : 
 
 My Last letter to thee was written at Richmond. We 
 went the next dav to Salem, where Ave arrived about sun- 
 
 . and were most kindly received by W. and P. F., who 
 heartily agreed to have public notice given of our intention 
 of being present at Salem Meeting the next first-day. The 
 
 day following we went to Middletown. about twelve miles 
 
 oil'; Samuel Street taking us in Ins carriage. . . . The 
 ehh-r> and overseers, being called together, freely and 
 unitedly agreed to appoint a public meeting there for us 
 the next day. ami to call the members of two other meet- 
 ings, further off, to our meeting at Middletown : which 1 
 was quite willing they should do, although 1 told them i 
 did not think it would be required of me to visit those two 
 meetings. However, a considerable number of their mem- 
 bers came to Middletown, and it proved to he a large and 
 
 satisfactory meeting ; and. after dining with a large company 
 of solid, agreeable and clear-sighted Friends at the house 
 ofW. II and having had a remarkable parting 
 
 opportunity with them, w e returned to Salem, lodged at 
 \Y. Fisher's, and attended their meeting next day; which 
 
1854.] THOU LS B. GtOULR 
 
 and eminently favored Thai 
 
 rnoon ral miles to an 
 
 at N to which the sound Friends of Springfield 
 
 and one other meeting, 1 think, were also invited : and 
 divers of them came. The meeting was trery lar >me 
 
 twenty Friends went out toil from Salem; many more 
 werethere than could gel into the house; and yei it was a 
 Bolid, favored time, Btrength being given me for the lab* 
 of the day, in a sufficient and abundant portion. This 
 closed my public service in Ohio. We returned to Salem 
 
 the same evening, with dear Robert French 
 
 Robert 1ms been, from the time of our first meeting with 
 him, on seventh-day of yearly meeting week, like a dear 
 brother and father to me. We lodged that night at his 
 house most pleasantly, and spent second-day in taking 
 leave of Friends in Salem : taking tea at William Fisher's, 
 where upwards of forty Friends came also, to take leave 
 of us ; and a solemn and affecting parting opportunity we 
 had, which will not, 1 trust, soon be forgotten. . 
 
 We took the ears for Pittsburg about sunset, arriving in 
 that smoky city about nine o'clock the same evening: 
 which Ave passed through in an omnibus, and it was a 
 gloomy ride : for, in addition to the ordinary smoke, they 
 had fires burning in the streets, all over the city, on ac- 
 count of the cholera ; which had raged there just previously, 
 to the extent of one hundred deaths per day, as Ave were 
 told, and no doubt it was so. But we passed safely through 
 it, through favor; as we did, the next day, through Colum- 
 bia. Avhere it had been quite as bad. Many of the inhabi- 
 tants had deserted it, and Ave were told that it was im- 
 possible to get graves dug fast enough for the dead : and 
 so the poor bodies were taken to the graveyard, and left 
 above ground whole nights, until graves could be dug for 
 them. We got some sleep aboard the car ; and 
 
 Avere favored to reach Philadelphia at nine o'clock on third- 
 day evening; where I joyfully received and read thy 
 letter, it being the first line I had received from thee, 
 dear heart, since the day Ohio Yearly Meeting closed. 
 
 We attended the Southern District Monthly Meeting on 
 fourth-day. ... It passed off Avithout opposition : 
 
88 I LIFE AND DETTEES OF [185 L 
 
 II. C. and J, B. expressed unity with my testimony; 
 although it was very close; and at Arch Street yesterday 
 much the same. We have an appointed meeting here to- 
 day, t0 which 1 UOW must gO« 
 
 T. r>. Gould. 
 
 To M. S. Gould. 
 
 At the souse of James Moon, 1 2th of 1 tli mo., L854. 
 M V BNDEARBD MARTHA : 
 
 My last was written at Frankford, since which I hare 
 not been able to write one word, although I have thought 
 of it. and w ished to do it. much oftener than the returning 
 morning, I can assure thee. Bui we have ^rm so con- 
 stantly engaged, a meeting almost every day, and Beveral 
 times two meetings daily, with long rides between them, 
 and much company wherever Ave have been, that I could 
 not do it : and BO thou wilt have to excuse me, as I trust 
 thou canst and wilt do. 
 
 The meeting at Frankford was well attended, and satis- 
 factory to all, 1 believe. E. Pitfield, without knowing of 
 my concern, was drawn thither: and attending the meet- 
 ing, labored quite extensively in it before 1 said a word; 
 neither did I know of her being there at all, until I heard 
 her voice. We dined together at William Kinscy's. went 
 hack to the city, took tea at B. Albertson's, lodged at 
 William Hodgson's, and the next morning left for West- 
 town, in company with dear brother Joshua. Brother 
 Joseph met us at Westchester, and took us to Westtown. 
 At the depot there [several other Friends] met us; and 
 laying before them my expectation of being at Westchester 
 meeting the next morning (which was first-day), ami that 
 
 I wished public notice given, and also wished a meeting ap- 
 pointed on second-day at \\ biteland, they cordially assented 
 to my propositions. We went the next day to Westtown, 
 
 where we pas.-ed the afternoon pleasantly with J. and 
 
 II. S., &c, and the next morning, brothers Joseph ami 
 Joshua went with us to Westchester. The meeting was 
 large ami favored, though my line of labor was rather 
 close, commencing with the passage, " There is no king 
 
I. ) THOMAS B. GOULD. 
 
 saved by the multitude of an host, neither ighty man 
 
 delivered by much Btrength. An horse is b train thing for 
 
 : neither can he deliver any by his great strength. 
 
 the ej the Lord is upon them that fear Him, to 
 
 deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in 
 
 famine/ 1 Soon after dinner we wenl back to 
 
 Westtown, and attended thai meeting in the afternoon. 
 
 Here we parted with dear brother Joshua; we 
 
 ha<l been daily together for a month, I think, in great 
 nearness and b^ eet fellowship. 
 
 We had a pleasant ride with David I md passed 
 
 the night at his house in like manner : had a good meeting 
 the next day at Whiteland, which Samuel Cope attended, 
 and afterwards took us in his carriage to his own house to 
 
 . and to dear Moses Baily's to lodge; who, with his 
 
 wife, and their only son, was truly glad to see us 
 
 The next day we attended Sadsbury Monthly Meeting; 
 where our certificates were read, and our services publicly 
 approved in the monthly meeting, both men's and women's; 
 though not minuted, or endorsed, it not being, as they said, 
 their practice in any case. . . . 
 
 The next day, Bradford Monthly Meeting was large, 
 notice having been given of our coming: and a time of 
 great enlargement and much favor. After tin's we went 
 to Morris Cope's, and met with a cordial reception from 
 him and his wife. We attended London Grove Monthly 
 Meeting the next day. in which, as at Bradford, oiir certi- 
 ficates were real in both men's and women's meetings, and 
 
 our service.- approved unreservedly Morris Cope 
 
 went with US, the next morning, to Nottingham Monthly 
 Meeting, within the limits of Baltimore Yearly Meeting. 
 There we were not only received joyfully, but our certifi- 
 cates were read in both meetings, and our services ap- 
 proved 
 
 At Little Britain we had a good meeting; M. 0. hav- 
 ing a testimony early therein, which opened my way to 
 great enlargement, both doctrinally and practically. And 
 truly, in this respect, the favors vouchsafed in every meet- 
 ing, except that of Short Creek, in Ohio, have been mar- 
 vellous in my eve- Although I have been so fre- 
 
 33 
 
386 lifh and lbttebs of [18f>4. 
 
 (jin ntly and continually engaged, yet fresh matter has 
 been abundantly Bupplied in every meeting; bo that those 
 who have followed lis from meeting to meeting have not 
 been wearied by a thrice-told tale; for which Favor I have 
 
 n truly thankful, as for many others which I cannot 
 mention. But I think I may Bay thai my Btrippinga and 
 plungings have been commensurate, or at Least correspon- 
 dent, to the favors vouchsafed. 
 
 Little Britain is twelve miles from Nottingham ; at both 
 which places there is an interesting company of Friends, 
 and tliev have nice new and commodious meeting-hone 
 
 After dinner at Little Britain, Ave rode ahout 
 
 twenty-five miles, crossing the Susquehanna River near 
 Port Deposit, and lodging at Gideon Smith's, at Deer 
 Creek. Attended that meeting On first-day morning, 
 which was large, BOme notiee having been given. Here 
 were many clever Friends, who were truly glad to see us, 
 and some Gurneyius. even some from the city of Balti- 
 more, who were very civil and quiet. After meeting we 
 dined at an inn, there being no Friend's house near enough, 
 or on our way to West Grove, in Pennsylvania : which we 
 reached ahout seven o'clock in the evening, having again 
 crossed the Susquehanna River. We lodged at the house 
 of Levi Wickersham ; and word having been previously 
 sent on, we attended an appointed meeting at West 
 Grove on second-day morning at eleven o'clock; and 
 another at New Garden at four o'clock the same afternoon. 
 Both of these meeting- were large and favored. The 
 former place was the residence and meeting in which deai- 
 old William Jack son lived. We saw his grave and that of 
 his wife, and also the house and room in which they both 
 lived and breathed their last. It is of logs, and very plain 
 and old, but large. We Baw the house where John Church- 
 man lived, ami passed the meeting-house which he at- 
 tended; a large old building, one half of brick, the other 
 of Btone. It is now, with the ground in which he was 
 buried, in the possession of the Elicksites, who are quite 
 numerous, hut scarcely a Friend in the neighborhood. We 
 parted with Morris Cope in unity and brotherly feeling ; 
 
 and Thomas WhitSOn and Thomas Harvey took US to New 
 
I. I IH0MA8 i:. GOULD. 
 
 - l*'ii, where we met with Hannah C. Haines; and after 
 eting there that afternoon, we took tea and lodged at 
 
 Thomas Lamborn's Thomaa took us the next 
 
 morning twelve miles, to an appointed meeting at Bir- 
 mingham; where, to my surprise, I saw Beated in the 
 gallery, when 1 entered the meeting, William Scattergood, 
 Nathan Sharpies, and Edith Bate, who had conic over from 
 
 icord to meet us The next morning, William 
 
 Scattergood brought us in his carriage twenty-three miles 
 to Philadelphia, dined with as at William Hodgson's, and 
 came also with us on the boat to Bristol; where we parted 
 
 with him, he returning to Philadelphia 
 
 Farewell ; thy own, 
 
 T. B. Gould. 
 
 From Wm. Scattergood to M. S. Gould. 
 
 CoNOORDYILLK, Pa., 10th mo., 13th, 1854 
 
 bbmed Friend, Martha Gould: 
 Having had within a few davs an acceptable visit from 
 thy beloved husband, I feel inclined to drop thee a line or 
 two, by way of information as to his getting along in this 
 neighborhood. Not that I doubt thy receiving from other 
 sources, and also from himself, similar accounts; but be- 
 lieving that thou wilt be glad to have the tidings of his 
 Buccess confirmed. I am not afraid of the repetition, if so 
 it should prove. He signified, himself, that he found it 
 somewhat difficult to find suitable opportunities for writing; 
 and thus, unless volunteers are found, thou mayst not 
 know how to follow him in what has appeared to some 
 who have looked at his present engagement, as a perilous 
 encounter with the spirit of the world. I can truly say 
 I have sympathized with thee in thy anxious thoughts 
 about him, under the circumstances in which he has gone 
 forth in the present concern ; but so far as I have been 
 able to perceive and to learn, he has witnessed the truth 
 of the declaration to one of the tribes in Israel of old : 
 " As thy day, so shall thy strength be ;" and I trust also 
 that his shoes will have been found to be as iron and brass, 
 not wearing out to the end. We received notice here on 
 
388 LIPB AND LETTERS 0* [1854. 
 
 lond-day evening last, of his intention or prospect of 
 having a meeting al this place the next day in the after- 
 noon : and the way appearing clear, it was accordingly 
 appointed for three o'clock on third-day ; and was at- 
 tended by a larger number than is commonly found at 
 any <•{' our meetings, whether appointed or otherwise. 
 The Bervice in it, both in testimony and prayer, was, as 
 far a- I can understand, satisfactory, and to my <>wn feel- 
 inga was attended with that calming, Bettling influen< 
 which 1 believe should attend the ministry of the Gospel 
 
 Of peace. 
 
 In looking over Thomas's movements, both within the 
 
 limits of our yearly meeting and in other places, I have 
 thought it might he compared to the circumstance of 
 Haman being compelled t<> lead the king's horse, while 
 Mordecai rode : for truly the spirit of Hainan has been 
 largely found among us hereaway, even in those who have 
 been largely confided in by the King of kings : who have 
 
 thereby been led to exalt themselves, and to despise and 
 contemn those who would not how to the glory which, 
 
 though not of themselves, they were determined should be 
 regarded as their own* This spirit, emanating from indi- 
 vidual- in high Standing, and spr< ading hither and thither, 
 has affected many who were afraid to think for themseli 
 and drawn them aside from the simplicity of the truth ; 
 Inn on the present occasion, has been made to bo^v at the 
 clearly heard command of the Kin-- of kings, in favor of 
 those who have spoken good for Him, and discovered the 
 treachery of His pretended friends. 1 would that the 
 comparison might be carried out, and that the Bang 
 would in His wisdom, and in mercy to His Church, com- 
 mand thai this unrighteous, overbearing spirit might he 
 hung upon that gallows upon which it has been intended 
 that the humble pleader- lor the truth should he exposed. 
 I have Been and felt (I think) that QOthing hut the com- 
 mand of the Lord of all, could have carried thy dear 
 Th >ugh the irarious exercises to which he 1 
 
 been exposed since his leaving home, giving him wisdom 
 and understanding, and a ready answer to those who. 
 
L854. ] THOMAS B. GOULD. 
 
 though making high professions, are Becretly enemies to 
 the i of I Inrist. 
 
 And now I desire to encourage thee, and to strengthen 
 thy hands to take thy share of the labors of the da 
 believing as I do, thai those who "stay by the stuff/ 1 in 
 patient endurance, will be favored to partake with those 
 that go forth, of the Bpoil of the enemy ; and thai both of 
 you. when favored to meet again, will be enabled k * to 
 rejoice in the Lord, and joy in the God of your salva- 
 tion/' I can truly >ay 1 long for dear T., whom I can 
 truly call my brother, that he may be enabled, when re- 
 duced again to his station at the King's gate, which may 
 yet again be his place and portion, to maintain his 
 faith and patience, till the King, having put down this 
 proud spirit that is among us, shall call for him, and 
 give him the seals of the kingdom, and that authority 
 without which we are truly hut empty and unprofitable 
 
 ■•■Is. 
 It seems likely by what he said, that his tarriance here 
 will not be much longer. He left Philadelphia now about 
 two weeks Bince, attended the West Chester Meeting on 
 first-day morning, the first of the month, AYesttown in the 
 afternoon, Whiteland (appointed) second-day ; on third, 
 fourth, and fifth-days was at Sadsbury, Bradford, and 
 Fallowfield or London Grove Monthly Meetings; on 
 sixth-day at Nottingham Monthly Meeting, within the 
 bounds of Baltimore Yearly Meeting ; and in all these 
 monthly meetings his certificate was rend, and satisfaction 
 felt with his company. On seventh-day last, I under- 
 stand he had an appointed meeting at Little Britain, a 
 branch of Nottingham Monthly Meeting; to Deer Creek 
 on first-day, then returned back into Chester County, and 
 on second-day had a meeting at Wcstgrove in the morn- 
 ing, and at New Garden in the afternoon. Then on 
 third-day came to Birmingham to a meeting in the morn- 
 ing, and as I mentioned before, to Concord in the after- 
 noon. I may acknowledge that I have been struck, 
 stranger as he must have been very much among Friends 
 here, at the wisdom which has guided him in his move- 
 ments so far, within the limits of our yearly meeting; 
 
390 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [185 L 
 
 and I may also say. I am thankful thua to perceive that 
 the goodness ;in<l mercy of our Boly Head and Sigh 
 
 Priesl arc not taken away from us; but that, as lie is 
 Boughl unto and followed in simplicity, lie .-till conde- 
 
 nda to guide by His counsel, and strengthen for the 
 work of the day. 
 
 I oughl perhaps to say, that on fourth-day Thomas had 
 n<> meeting. I took him and his companion to Philadel- 
 phia, and accompanied them in the steamer to Bristol, 
 where I led him in charge of a son of James Moon, to he 
 at tlie wedding yesterday. So far as L could understand 
 his prospects, I did not sec that lie would be kept front 
 home longer than next week out; and I hutnhlv trust ho 
 
 < » 
 
 may be SOOn restored to thee, with sheaves of peace, and 
 with his faith renewed and strengthened in that Arm of 
 Power which has been the support of the righteous in all 
 generations. 
 
 I have left my writing till so near the closing of our 
 mail, that I have written in haste; and might say much 
 more, hut this may perhaps suffice to let thee know that 
 He that puts forth hath gone before, preparing the way 
 in the hearts of the people and their rulers; so that I 
 trusl this visit will be a sealing stroke to the prevalence 
 of that temporizing spirit, which lias so abundantly pre- 
 vailed within our limits, as well a- elsewhere ; and if so be, 
 we are permitted to see the church once more rising out 
 CUrity and out of darkness, let us he engaged to 
 give the glory to 1 1 i 1 1 1 to whom alone it hclongeth: wdio 
 hath preserved US in His mercy from the snare of the 
 enemy, and whose gracious design it is that we should live 
 to His glory, and he instrumental in promoting His cause 
 
 in the earth. 
 
 With love to thyself and thy children (with whom Tho- 
 mafi has made US a little acquainted), in which my wife 
 and daughter unite. 
 
 I am affectionately, 
 
 thy friend. 
 
 Wm. Scattbrgood. 
 
!. ] THOfl LS ::. GOl u>. 881 
 
 From T. B. I L ro Josni a M mm:. 
 
 Medford, N. J., IGlh of LOth mo , 1 35 1. 
 Ml DBAB BrOTHKR, J. MAULE : 
 
 The meetings, both at Birmingham and Con- 
 
 •d, were Bolid, Favored seasons, and the Latter eminently 
 ii in testimony and supplication. At Birmingham 
 it fell more to my lot to open the mystery of iniquity, 
 well as of godliness, which was done somewhat closely in 
 divers important respects and particulars, which made the 
 Bervice trying; but a good degree of resignation was wit- 
 nessed, and 1 trust of faithfulness also, 1 afterwards un- 
 derstood there were several Grurney people present, and 
 Le of them were from the city; to which William Scat- 
 tergood very kindly took us the next day in his carriage. 
 . . . The day after, which was the twelfth of the month 
 and fifth of the week, we attended meeting at the Palls, or 
 Fallsington, which was large, and very solemn from first 
 to last. Jonathan Chace and Jane Moon were marriedat 
 this meeting; after which my mouth was opened in testi- 
 mony, in a manner very unusual for me, both as regarded 
 %j ' %/ > < 
 
 the copiousness of the subjects spoken of, and the demon- 
 Ettion and power attendant. However, the effect pro- 
 duced by my feeble labors in all these meetings has mani- 
 festly appeared to be, to bring the minds of Friends into 
 an increasing unity and heavenly fellowship with us, and 
 one with another, in Him who remain.- to be Head overall 
 things to his Church and people. Blessed forever be the 
 name of our all-sufficient and adorable Helper, and Preserver 
 hitherto ! .... On the 14th we had a meeting, and a 
 very remarkable one too, through the renewings of Holy 
 Help, at Byberry, The day was wet, but notice having 
 been extended also to the Hicksites, many of them came, 
 and afterwards seemed kind and tender, several of them 
 inviting us to their houses to dinner, and showing US many 
 other attentions; insomuch that I supposed they were 
 really Friends who did so, though no harm came of my 
 mistake in any way, I believe. Indeed the house was so 
 small, when I came to see it, in comparison with the old 
 
392 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1854. 
 
 meeting-house, which they are, it is Baid, sufficiently nume- 
 rous nearly to fill, thai I doubted whether they would 
 condescend to come to it ; Friends being very few in num- 
 ber here, I was told, and much despised by many of the 
 Qicksites. Bu1 after meeting, I found Friends were really 
 much fewer than I had expected. However, this judging, 
 in a Bort, or for a time, according to appearances, and 
 after the manner of inch, did no harm; for I had at last 
 to stand up with these singular expressions : " Who art 
 thou, who queriest, ' whal good can be expected, by coming 
 
 here and sitting down with a small and despised company, 
 who are no hetter than I am? Indeed I did not expect 
 to gain any good by coming here. I am a moral man; 
 quite as good or hetter than my neighbors who profess a 
 
 more orthodox faith : but it is a rainy day, and I might 
 a- well spend my time here as elsewhere; I have nothing 
 else to do V Having Baid this much, I saw a smile play 
 over the features of a hard-looking old man, who was 
 dressed Bomewhat plainly, and at the same time I felt 
 inwardly convinced that he was the very man. the thoughts 
 of whose heart had been made manifest. I was told after- 
 ward.-, thai this man was a real Hicksite, that is to Bay, 
 an infidel : and that, on being notified of the meeting, he 
 said he did not know whether lie would come to it or not; 
 that he was willing to be preached to, hut did not like to 
 be preached at! Tin' mysteries which these poor deluded 
 people have Stumbled at, and refused to hclieve in, were 
 largely opened, and the necessity of true faith and obedi- 
 ence weightily enforced; which would enable them to ac- 
 cept the plan of salvation, and the means provided for 
 
 them, in the < rOSpel of peace and reconciliation. Although 
 I did not at all Suppose the number of those present, who 
 
 had imbibed this spirit of unbelief, was near bo large as 
 
 musl have heen the ca>e if all the Hicksit&S present were 
 
 really unbelievers, yet 1 was mercifully preserved from 
 Baying anything which could have limited the application 
 t<> a few individuals, except, as above stated, in the very 
 
 commencement of whal was uttered 
 
 Farewell. Thy loving brother, 
 
 T. 11. COULD. 
 
1 85 I. | THOM \- B. 301 i.i'. 
 
 To Joshua ami Sarah M i\ lb. 
 
 Blmsidb, N'i v. i ' 10th month, I 35 I. 
 
 M V DB \K BROTHEB AND SlSTEB : 
 
 I tliink it will be two weeks to-morrow, Bince I wrote 
 to you from tin* house of our dear friends, J. R. and M. S. 
 . of Medford, New Jersey; and believing yon will 
 be glad to know thai I was favored to reach my own home 
 in peace and safety, and to find my dear M. and the chil- 
 dren well, I have taken up my pei to give you the infor- 
 mation; which 1 should have done sooner, but have b< 
 
 asthmatic, and otherwise indisposed since my return, 
 thai I could nol well write more than I have been al 
 lately compelled to do. 
 
 1 think I told you in my last, thai 1 attended Medford 
 meeting on first-day. . . . The meeting was large, and, 
 I believe, satisfactory to Friends, but trying and laborious 
 to me. 1 lodged at J. R. \l that night; divers 
 
 Friends met us there. The day following we had an ap- 
 pointed meeting at Rancocas, which was large and well; 
 many great and heavenly mysteries being opened, as I 
 trust, in the life and power of truth. Here dear Rachel 
 Roberts, the widow of Ebenezer Roberts, met us, and, with 
 divers other Friends, dined with us at the house of Ezra 
 and Phebe Haines; and, after visiting a family in the 
 neighborhood, we returned the same night with J. and M. 
 Reeve to their house; and they and their children went 
 with us the next morning to an appointed meeting at Crop- 
 well, and to another in the afternoon at Lower Evesham; 
 botti of which were large, divers Friends From neighboring 
 
 rtings coming in, and some of them such as J did not 
 expect to see. Rut it did appear that lie who sent as 
 forth, opened the way for us, and gave us favor in the 
 sight of the people, filling my heart with faith, and open- 
 ing a door of utterance, and, I trust, of entrance also, in 
 a manner which was wonderful to me, and, I beli 
 many more, considering what a poor weak vessel I am. and 
 where I came from. For some who had evident 1 
 disposed to doubt whether any good thing could come out 
 of Nazareth, were induced to "come and see" where the 
 
394 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [18f>4. 
 
 Master dwells ; even with such as have no might of their 
 own, with Mich as are poor and of a contrite spirit, and 
 who tremble at His Word ; and not only bo, but 1 do hum- 
 bly trust that, through the gathering influence of J lis hea- 
 venly lovfe, Borne of these will be enabled to abide with 
 Him, even as in the day of His temptation ; and that He 
 an ill appoint unto them a kingdom, k *a> My Father hath 
 
 appointed Unto Me." 
 
 The meeting at Lower Evesham was long silent; per- 
 haps my faith, or that of others, has seldom been reduced 
 t<» a lower ebb. But water came at length, by the -way of 
 
 the wilderness, so that they who had been brought together 
 did not perish with thirst, as some, I believe, had sup- 
 posed : and when the day dawned, the sun shone gloriously 
 upon the water, and the armies of [srael were given to 
 drink, and the Moabites were discomfited, and the victory 
 ami- great in the end, the shout of a Kins being heard in 
 the camp; and the voice of thanksgiving and praise was 
 
 uttered by dear in such a manner that, if it had 
 
 been called for, I could audibly have said. Amen ! We 
 went the same evening to Moorestown, lodged at the widow 
 Rachel Roberts's, and attended their meeting the next 
 day. where Josiah and Maria Reeve again joined us. In 
 this meeting the door was unlatched for me; but it was 
 only to open up to view the mystery of iniquity, Mystery 
 Babylon the Great; though " built like Zion, painted just 
 like Zion, and made to look" as nearly as possible " like 
 Zion," yet it was Babylon still ; and I had to tell them 
 that there was nothing to be found in Zion, but the image 
 and likeness thereof might be found in Babylon. ITard 
 work and close work I had of it here, to my great sur- 
 prise, for I had expected different things. But finding 
 Babylon begin to totter, as a token of its fall, after a while 
 I Btood up ;i second time, having the mystery of godlir 
 to "poll, and the everlasting Gospel to preach to them that 
 dwell on the earth, &C. J and the meeting ended with solemn 
 supplication for the children of the captivity, for the lost 
 Bheep of the hour of [srael, and the dispersed and scat- 
 tered of Judah; that they might be mercifully restored 
 
 to their own land, and brought back to David, their right- 
 
L] THOMAS B. GOULD. 
 
 i'ul King, within the walla of Jerusalem, "whose walla arc 
 sa 1 . . and her gates prait 
 
 We dined :it Samoel Matlack's, with Hannah Warring- 
 and- many other Friends, Chancing to ask Hannah, 
 whal wasthemal wtlI she quickly answered, 
 11 Thou hasi answered the question thyself in meeting this 
 day: if thou hadsl prophesied smooth to as, I should have 
 doubted thy authority : but there is a cause for all thy 
 amongsl as, and 1 had near unity with thee 
 therein/' Soon after tea, we returned to the widow 
 Rachel Roberts's to lodge. . . . The next morning, 
 S. Matlack took us in his carriage to the city. We dined 
 at W. H.'s, and spent the remainder of the day and even- 
 ing in visiting divers Friends 
 
 William Kinsey took us the next morning [first-day] 
 to Germantown meeting, which was large, notice having 
 been given of our coming: the house was very nearly full, 
 and much labor fell to my lot. ... I stood up with 
 the words, k * Suppose ye that those men upon whom the 
 tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, were sinners above 
 all men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, nay: but 
 
 ;ept ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish:" and pro- 
 led to show that, all men who had not received the gift 
 of repentance towards God and of faith in our Lord Jesus 
 Christ, nor been enabled to bring forth fruits meet for the 
 same, stood in need of repentance and amendment of life; 
 and such were accordingly called upon to repent and believe 
 the Gospel, even that Gospel which is not a mere theory, 
 but the power of God unto salvation, and deliverance from 
 the power and dominion of sin and Satan. They were 
 called upon to repent and believe the Gospel, because the 
 time was at hand in which every man's faith, and work-. 
 and buildings would be tried, and the nature thereof dis- 
 covered ; and so it was absolutely necessary for all to ex- 
 amine themselves, and try themselves, whether they were 
 in j ion of the true faith, which works by love to the 
 
 purifying of the heart, and giveth the victory over the 
 world, the flesh, and the devil ; or whether they were 
 merely in possession of a literal, historical, manufactured 
 faith, which they had framed to suit themselves and to 
 
896 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [185 !. 
 
 ve their turn, while they irere conscious of being led 
 captive by their soul's enemy al his will, or being sub- 
 jects of the prince of the power of the air, the spirit 
 whirl) now ruleth in the children of disobedience. Hard, 
 close work 1 had with the high pro;' of a merely 
 
 notional religion; but was enabled to obtain some relief, 
 ami sal down a while; during the former pari of which the 
 solemnity was great, and prevalent apparently over even 
 the strongest of the city Grurneyites, many of whom 
 were present, beside several Friends, who had come out 
 from the city. But I did not feel clear: and eventually 
 had to stand up the second time, with the account of ten 
 of the tribes of [srael being rem from the house of David, 
 on account of the unfaithfulness of David's sons, who had 
 reigned in his stead, or after him, &c, — how Jeroboam 
 was raised up and chosen in a remarkable manner, to reign 
 over the house of Israel in Samaria; and how jealous he 
 became of the men of Israel going up to Jerusalem to 
 worship, Lesl their hearts should return to David their 
 king; and SO he set iij) a separate altar in Bethel, and 
 another in Dan: — that be became so far degenerate, as to 
 set up an idol calf worship, saying, "These be thy gods, 
 
 oh Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt :" 
 
 which became a great snare unto Israel, and they departed 
 
 not from the sin of Jeroboam, who caused Israel to sin, 
 for many generations. But there was a prophet of the 
 Lord, sent out of Judah, to cry against the separate altar 
 which hail been set up in Bethel : and he cried against it 
 
 in the word of the Lord, Saying, "Oh, altar! altar! thus 
 saith the Lord, thou Bhalt he rent, and thy ashes shall he 
 poured out ! A child shall he horn unto the house of 
 Judah. Josiafa by name, and upon thee shall he oiler the 
 
 priests of the high places, "which hum incense upon th< 
 and men's bones shall be burnt upon thee!" They were 
 told how Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense, 
 when this cry was uttered against hi- idol worship and 
 separate altar : and how he stretched forth his hand 
 ainsl the Lord's prophet. Baying, ** Lay hold on him!" 
 
 — that the hand which he put forth against the prophet 
 Was withered, SO that he could not draw it back to him 
 
1 85 1. 1 Tih'M I BOULD. 
 
 I he * as fain to appeal to the L< ophel 
 
 p, >aying, "Entreat no* the face of the Lord th; I 
 thai my hand may be i ed to 
 
 which I being complied v. ith, it wj tored, 
 
 \ all this was opened and applied to the Btate of indi- 
 viduals and things, in a manner so close thai it was hard 
 for me to utter, and for those concerned to bear ; and I did 
 not kn<»w l)iu -nine from the city, and one in particular, 
 
 WOUld lia\ ■ OUt Of the house. Dear noticed 
 
 this man's m also, and was rather expecting that 
 
 he would leave; but he did not, and the mi 
 d solidly. 
 . . . . V. to the North Meeting in good season, 
 
 which was large, the seats on the ground ftoor on the 
 women's side being closely idled, and nearly so on the 
 men 9 a side. ... It was more than an hour silent, and 
 I was in hope it might have ended so; but was eventually 
 raised up with the language, "Woe unto them that go 
 down into Egypt for ships, that stay on horses and trust 
 in chariots, and fear not me, saith the Lord!" — querying 
 very closely of some, in the language of the prophet to 
 some of old : '* What hast thou to do in the way of Egypt, 
 to drink of the waters of Sihor ; or what hast thou to do 
 in the way of the land of Assyria, to drink of the waters of 
 the river?" — and also declaring, "Thou shalt be ashamed 
 of Egypt, even as thou wast ashamed of Assyria:" re- 
 minding them, some of them especially, that the Lord's 
 people went down aforetime into Egypt, and the Assy- 
 rian oppressed them without a cause; and that, as was 
 tin- case formerly, bo it would be now: the Lord would 
 bring down the stout heart of the proud king of Assyria, 
 and humble the pride of his high look- : yea., although 
 some might exalt themselves as the eairle, and seem to 
 " make their nests in the rocks, and in the very top of the 
 ragged rocks," yet " from thence will I bring them down, 
 saith the Lord?" For that the day of the Lord would 
 come "upon every high tower, and upon every fenced 
 wall, and upon all pleasant pictures, and upon all the 
 ships of Tarshish : and the haughtiness of men shall be 
 humbled, and the loftiness of men be laid low." &c. Cut 
 
 34 
 
:J!»S Lin: and LETTEBS of [1854. 
 
 k -iiiiio you thai fear my name, shall the Sun of righteous- 
 ness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth 
 and grow up as calves of the stall : M — ye shall tread down 
 the wicked, who shall lie as ashes under the Boles of your 
 feet. Therefore "say not, a confederacy, unto all th< 
 who would say. a confederacy, bul sanctify the Lord (rod 
 of hosts in your hearts,' 1 — even Him who ran Bave by 
 many or by few: and "let Him be your fear, and let 
 Him be your dread;" yea, I say unto you, fear Him! 
 Such was the substance of the earlier portion of what was 
 expressed in the North Meeting ; but there was much more 
 both of a doctrinal, practical, and encouraging nature, 
 addressed also to particular states and conditions; some 
 of whom I trust were a little helped and strengthened. 
 The meeting closed with solemn supplication, poured forth 
 by Elizabeth Pitfield. With her we took tea and spent 
 the evening. . . . Many Friends came in to see us and 
 take leave of us; among whom S. Hillman came early, 
 and Stayed till nine o'clock. E. Pitfield ministered to us, 
 in the language addressed to the primitive disciples and 
 messengers of the I tospel : " When I sent you forth with- 
 out purse, or scrip, or a change of raiment, lacked ye 
 anything '.' — and they said unto Him, Nothing, Lord !" &c, 
 and the opportunity (dosed with the language of supplica- 
 tion, for the blessing of preservation in the remaining por- 
 tion of labor and suffering which may be allotted in this 
 probationary state, as well as of thanksgiving and praise 
 for the unmerited blessings and favors which had been 
 received al the hand of the Lord, and manifested for the 
 help and encouragement of J I is poor and afflicted people, 
 who have none to look to or trust in, but His worthy name 
 and power ahme. 
 
 I called and spent an hour with aunt S., and returned 
 
 tO Our Lodgings at W. II. s. I>ivcrs Friends met us at 
 the boat the next morning, when we took our leave of 
 
 them, and proceeded to New York. Here we took the 
 
 steamer for home, where I arrived about Tour o'clock the 
 next morning, and found my dear Martha and the children 
 
 overjoyed to welcome me home again. 
 
 .... My visit both there and in Ohio affords me solid 
 
I - 4.] TBOMAfi B. SO! u>. 
 
 satisfaction. . . . Still I have nothing to boasl <»f. of 
 to glory in. Bavc my infirmities, which form b ^ery poor 
 ground and cause of glorying. And truly 1 can say, thai 
 although I was brought very low, before I was made will- 
 ing to L r ". yet it has been my lot to have been brought 
 lower Bince; and at this moment it seems very doubtful, 
 how and when 1 shall be able to accomplish what remains 
 of my prospect, respecting the meetings in New Xork. 
 My health has been very poor Bince my return ; I have 
 lost my appetite, and some pounds of flesh, and am so 
 
 weak and >iek, that the Wilting of these sheets has heen a 
 
 work of time and labor to me. . . . 
 
 It is now the 8th of eleventh month. I wrote the first two 
 pages of the other sheet, the day before leaving home to at- 
 tend our meeting for sufferings and quarterly meeting, held 
 on the first and second of this month at Fall River. My 
 
 dear Martha went with me The weather, which 
 
 had heen very fine and warm since my return, until last 
 seventh-day. then suddenly changed to quite cold, and I 
 took a very severe cold riding home ; which has so seriously 
 affected my throat and lungs, that it would not be at all 
 surprising if I should he laid up for this winter, as I was 
 
 the last, and as I have heen since my return I 
 
 do hope you got my letter from Jersey, and that you will 
 write so, m, and tell me of Friends in Ohio; to whom my 
 heart is strongly bound, many of them in the fellowship of 
 
 suffering for the cause' sake 
 
 T. B. Gould. 
 
 To Joshua Maule. 
 
 ElmsIDE, Llth of 11th month, 18.51. 
 
 My dear Brother, J. Maule: 
 
 I never once thought of thy giving any copy 
 
 of the former letter, though it did occur to me that thou 
 might feel inclined to read either the whole or some parts 
 of it, as thou might think suitable, to some of those dear 
 Friends at Ilarrisvillc : which I could not ohject to, if thou 
 thought it might he in any way encouraging to them. In 
 this respect I have long since been made willing to sacri- 
 
LIFE AM) LETTERS OF [1864, 
 
 Bee my own feelings, which would certainly lead me to 
 k seclusion and retirement, and by no means notoriety, 
 I'Vw can imagine what my naturally itive feelings 
 
 have caused me to Buffer in this respect. Now my object 
 in giving thee, in my last letter, some accounl of the man- 
 ner in which 1 was led, was to commemorate the mercy 
 and goodness of my all-sufficient Helper, in furnishing 
 me, even to the last, with new matter, with matter adapted 
 to the varied condition of those to whom I was called to 
 minister, stranger as 1 certainly was, as to the outward, 
 both to their persons ami states. In this respect (ami I 
 knew thou wouldsl both understand it and rejoice in it) I 
 have great cause for thankfulness; ami many more had 
 reason to rejoice, ami did rejoice, that the Great Head of 
 the Church had regard not only to the low estate of His 
 poor messenger, who went forth, and from meeting to 
 meeting, without either purse or scrip, but also to the 
 e of His professing, but degenerate, Church and peo- 
 ple, ami bo caused the secrets of many hearts to be re- 
 vealed! One Btriking instance of this hind has come to 
 my knowledge since my return home, by a letter to Nancy 
 Buffinton from Lydia Reeve, in which she gave an account 
 of the meeting at Prankford. I was a total stranger 
 
 the:-", and I told them so, except to a very few Friends 
 who Bat near me. But I had to speak to Hicksites, and 
 Gurneyites, and Friends, to some of different sorts ami 
 grades of infidelity and unbelief, and even to Mich as wished 
 to disbelieve even in the existence of a God, or any divine 
 revelation whatever. And in treating of the divine testi- 
 mony and authority of the Holy Scriptures in general, and 
 also with regard to the coming ami offices of the Saviour 
 of men. His miraculous conception, holy life, suffering 
 death, ami propitiatory sacrifice for the sins '^i' the whole 
 world. — r stopped there, not feeling led to go further 
 therein: and proceeded with other matter and doctrine, 
 it was opened to my view in that which I knew could only 
 lead me aright; and Bal down, after proceeding to con- 
 siderable length, ami speaking to a variety of Btates ami 
 conditions, Hut I had nol long resumed my seat, when I 
 had to stand up again, and say 3 in substance, that, unl< 
 
! 85 l.j THOMAS B. QOULD. l n I 
 
 I a\ n - wholly mistaken in my Peelings — adding emphati- 
 cally, and I think 1 am not — there is at least one person 
 present, who has taken exception to what has been ex- 
 pressed, as it' there had nol been, in terms of sufficient 
 fulness, an acknowledgment of all the offices of Christ; 
 because His being raised from the dead on the third day, 
 and His ascending into heaven (and being Been in Sis as- 
 cending) and Bitting down on the right hand of the throne 
 of the Majesty on high, as our Mediator and Advocate 
 with the Father, where He ever liveth, making intercession 
 for a-, had not been folly and distinctly adverted to; and 
 <o proceeded to open these heavenly mysteries more fully. 
 Now L. EL, in giving N. I>. a very full account of this 
 meeting at the time, or very soon afterward.-, remarked 
 that, at the close of this meeting, a Gkurney woman (who, 
 it seems, was present, although it was an appointed meet- 
 ing, and judging after the manner of men, I should not 
 have supposed such were likely to be present) — this 
 Gurney woman remarked, in reference to the very singu- 
 lar manner in which I was led to stand up and speak the 
 »nd time, "that she did not understand how T. B. G. 
 came to know just what she was thinking of!" However, 
 in thinking of these things (and there were many such 
 instances). I have had cause to remember this scripture, 
 in substance, at least, "Rejoice not that the spirits are 
 made subject unto you" (even although it were only through 
 the renewed manifestation and revelation of the Lord's 
 own name and power), " but rather rejoice that your names 
 
 are written in heaven !" 
 
 Affectionately, 
 
 Thomas B. Gould. 
 
 To William Scatteroood. 
 
 XEwrouT, 30th of lltli month, 1854. 
 
 My dear Friend, William Scattergood : 
 
 I was favored to reach mv own home on the -4th of last 
 month, and from that time to the present have frequently 
 felt inclined to address a few lines to thee; not that I have 
 much to say, more than that thou and thine have been 
 
402 LIFE ANIi LETTERS OF [18* I , 
 
 often in my affectionate remembrance, since I was bo kindly 
 cared for under your hospitable roof. Yet this is not all 
 which I have wanted to acknowledge: thy great kindm 
 in taking my dear companion and myself into the city, and 
 also in going with as to Bristol, has not been Forgotten; 
 an<l even more than this, I have wished to acknowledge 
 thy truly acceptable, and very kind and considerate letter 
 to my dear Martha during my absence 
 
 And truly, in this journey. J have had frequent 0( 
 sions reverently to acknowledge, that He who remains to 
 be Lord of all. and Head over all things to His Church 
 and people, even the least and hindermost of them, still 
 leadeth the Mind by a way which they know not, except 
 
 I [e is pleased to open it before them, and in paths which 
 they have not previously seen : yea. lie maketh darkn* 
 light before them, and crooked paths straight. 
 
 Many of those people [Hicksites at Byberry] seemed 
 much tendered, and were very kind after meeting; and if 
 Friends, such as are called orthodox, stood more in the 
 life and power of truth, I should not wonder if there was 
 yet a gathering to the Tower and the Life, even from 
 amongst those who have Ion-- wandered from the Father's 
 house, " feeding upon the husks which the swine do eat." 
 "spending their money for that which is not bread," and 
 wasting their substance for that which satisfieth not. May 
 the Lord hasten it in His time! 
 
 At S. Nfatlack's, soon after meeting [Moorestown, — see 
 
 letter t<» d. Maule]. OUT certificates were read, which brought 
 a feeling of solemnity over the company; during which 
 dive)-- testimonies were home to the excellency of that 
 Power which is "lie in all the living, and by which they 
 are baptized into one body, and enabled to drink of one cup, 
 even the cup of the New Testament in His blood, whose 
 
 blood is the life, and the body IS of Christ : «>f whom all 
 the living do know what it is to feed upon it: and that, 
 except they eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Sou of 
 Man, they can have no spiritual life in them; neither is 
 this an imaginary eating or drinking, hut a real participa- 
 tion in 1 [is body and blood. 
 
 And yet it does not appear as if those who 
 
L854.] 'in i.d. 108 
 
 t rule egnong Friends in Ohio were ye1 prepared to 
 I the right hand of fellowship to as in New Eng- 
 land, .-i- a yearly meeting. Well may we query* When 
 w\\\ the wound which the daughter of my people has re- 
 ived, be healed, and the breaches made in the walls of 
 Zion, be repaired? Ye\ I trusl thai we are as well pre- 
 pared, by the things which we have already suffered, to 
 endure this hardness and standing aloof, as those are, 
 who are virtually Baying to us, "Stand by yourseli 
 for it' we are not more holy, we are more regularly orga- 
 / than y<>u." And 1 shall be mistaken, if the shak- 
 ing that has already commenced does not continue, until 
 the honest-hearted are brought to their senses; so as to 
 that it is not in the outward order, but the inward life 
 and power, that the true succession stands ; and that the 
 form without the power is eren to be "turned away from;' 1 
 and so become prepared to acknowledge those who come 
 in the name, and stand in a measure of the power of the 
 Lord : who can save by many or by few, and who has not 
 ordinarily manifested His arm of power and strength, 
 while there was an undue reliance upon the " multitude 
 of an host." My dear wife desires to be affec- 
 tionately remembered to thee and thine, in which I do 
 fully unite, and remain 
 
 Thy sincere friend, 
 
 Thomas B, Gould. 
 
 To William Hodgson. 
 
 Elmside, 14th of 12th mo., 1854. 
 
 My dear Friend, 
 
 I think there is much allowance to 
 
 be made for different temperaments, even natural tempera- 
 ments ; for it often happens, that it is long before all the 
 old inhabitants of the land are driven out : and there cer- 
 tainly is great allowance to be made for different degrees 
 of religious experience and growth in the truth. Hut 
 according to my little measure and sense of feeling, there 
 is scarcely a more discouraging or trying feature in the 
 besetments of the present day and time, than the great 
 
104 Lira AM) LETTERS OF [18">4. 
 
 diversity of Bentiment which really does exist, in regard 
 to what may be called minor matters — I am ready to Bay 
 " technicalities," — even among Friends of pretty good and 
 perhaps nearly equal experience. 1 was constantly re- 
 minded of it. and struck or impressed with it, in my Late 
 journey; and marly. — shall I say? — overwhelmed with it, 
 on my return home, or BOOH after. I can look upon it in 
 no other light than as a sad evidence of the strong desire 
 
 which Satan has, to have those, who may peradventure he 
 
 said to have endured perhaps the first and second shaking ; 
 
 that he may sift them as wheat is sifted in a sieve, even 
 
 again, and again, and again, until everything that can be 
 
 shaken or sifted out is removed. But surely the watch- 
 men will see eye to eye, when the Lord does bring again 
 Zion : and some signs of it I thought I could discover, at 
 times, while 4 in your yearly meeting, and also in Ohio* 
 At least there was a shaking of another sort from what I 
 have been above speaking of, even as among the dry bones 
 of the valley, and a coming together of bone to his bone, 
 and sinews came upon them, and llesh covered them ; and 
 they arose and stood upon their feet, by the power and 
 quickening virtue of the breath of life which came from 
 the Lord, and which cometh and can come from Him 
 only. And if we were only sufficiently concerned to feel 
 this, t<> wait for it, to go not, as dear William Leddra 
 Baid, one step without it, without feeling it, without know- 
 ing it to be "our life," then we should know Him who is 
 the resurrection and the life ; and not only so, but also 
 witness the precious unity, fellowship, and oneness which 
 remains to be in Him. lie would not heal the wounds of 
 the daughter of Zion deceitfully; but he would heal them, 
 ami build up the breaches in her walls, and restore paths 
 for the lame to walk in. Ami there would be a blessed 
 experience <>f the truth and fulfilment of that gracious 
 promise, k *My people shall dwell upon Mount Zion in 
 Jerusalem ; they shall dwell in sure dwellings and in 
 quiet resting-places, when it shall hail, coming down 
 upon the forest, and the city shall he low, in a low 
 
 place. 91 
 
 Hut why should I write thus to thee? I am sure I had 
 
L I Tii"M.\- it. <;<au>. M)5 
 
 no such expectation or intention when 1 began; Thou 
 must try * for u pouring out " im- 
 
 pr< thee, my dear elder brother, Bui it 
 
 d thai good woman, Lydia A. Barcli md 
 
 consolation in ><> doing : and truly, I have rery often 
 thought and felt what a privilege it is, to have a friend one 
 can feel freedom with; and what a consolation to receive 
 letter- from such! How juBt and forcible her remarks 
 are! What a precious letter! The reading of it did 
 od. 1 fear her day of active usefulness in the 
 church militant is over, but she will leave behind her a 
 bright example of primitive faithfulness and consist- 
 ency 
 
 15th of the month. [Speaking of A. B., then ill, he 
 says:] In th jpect of her and dear L. A. Barclay's 
 removal, one cannot help remarking how the choicest and 
 most faithful and usefu] instruments are being, in all pro- 
 bability, released from further service in the church mili- 
 tant, at a time when both Gog and Magog Beem to he 
 gathered together to battle against the Lord and I Lis little 
 despised army of tappers. But the sword of the Lord's 
 mouth is able to put to flight the hosts of the alien.-' 
 armies, and to manifest openly and renewedly, that there 
 is "no king saved by the multitude of an host, neither is 
 a mighty man delivered by much strength; that an horse 
 is a vain thing for safety, neither can he deliver any by 
 his great Btr< ngth : but that the eye of the Lord is upon 
 them that fear Him, upon them that hope in His mercy, 
 to deliver their souls from death, and to keep them alive 
 in famine/' And. as thou remarked in thy last letter, I 
 hope He may be pleased to arise for the help of His poor 
 and afflicted people, and accomplish His purposes respect- 
 ing them in His own time and way 
 
 Farewell. 
 
 T. B. Gould. 
 
40G LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1855, 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 From T. B. G. to William Hodgson. 
 
 Newport, Est mo. 9th, 1855. 
 
 My dear Friend, 
 
 I recollect distinctly, having quoted, in the 
 meeting at Germantown, the sixth verse of the ninth 
 chapter of Isaiah, and that, after quoting the language, 
 " His name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor,' 1 J went 
 on to Bay, "I purposely avoid distinguishing between the 
 terms." I intended to guard against such a distinction. 
 Since I came to age, I. have always regretted the comma 
 between the words "Wonderful" and "Counsellor." Of 
 latter years, I have been frequently pained by hearing 
 them quoted in the gallery, with a long pause between 
 them. It did not use to be BO: the early Friends, ordina- 
 rily at least, when they used the passage in print, seemed 
 to use the word, wonderful, in that sense that I understood 
 
 it and used it, on the occasion referred to. I have no 
 
 d<>ubt thai His name is Wonderful, and that it maybe fitly 
 bo expressed at times; but in that place and on that occa- 
 sion (as well as at other times), I wished to convey the 
 
 idea, or rather to enforce the doctrine, that He is a It T <>n- 
 derful Counsellor) as well as "the mighty Cod. the ever- 
 lasting Father, and the Prince of Peace." And it seems 
 to me to be more in harmony with the rest of that pas- 
 sage, so to use or quote it. 1 desire to be preserved from 
 needle-- and useless, as well as doubtful disputations, and 
 J am not aware of being much given to it ; neither is this 
 
 a subject that J ever spoke o[\ or heard spoken of, before, 
 
>, | THOMAS B. GOULD. 107 
 
 that I know; and vol it is one thai 1 have often thought 
 of, 1 was under the impression thai there were in that 
 assemHj such as rainly trusting in the name of 
 
 Christ, calling it Wonderful (as it truly is, and holy also; 
 for Ili> name is called, and He is, the Word of God and 
 the Power of God), without knowing Him to be their 
 Qsellor to instruct them, or being willing to walk in 
 
 the light of His counsel. I have never thought that the 
 
 < 
 
 punctuation and heading of the chapters, or the division 
 into chapters and verses (however convenient), was infalli- 
 bly correct. I have no doubt, that in Borne places the 
 true sense has been marred or obscured, by the manner in 
 which this has been done [by commentators], as well as by 
 mistranslation, &c. : — although sufficiently clear, for all 
 that : and I fully believe that the translators were even 
 very much favored therein. But still I never like to hear 
 the II"ly Scriptures termed the "sacred volume; 9 * an ex- 
 pression which has been very common of late, but which 
 I have always, I believe, avoided using; they not being, 
 according to my observation, ever so termed in the Bible; 
 and it seems to me that the terms, sacred and holy, apply 
 to the matter and the doctrine, rather than to the mere 
 book or volume 
 
 Second month, Gth. 
 
 P. S. — I returned home from Providence last evening, 
 and found thine of the 30th ult. had arrived in my absence. 
 
 I have had a suffering week of it physically, 
 
 having been very closely employed, and laboriously too ; 
 
 and have returned home, feeling almost worn out in that 
 respect, yet mercifully somewhat comforted and refreshed 
 
 in spirit, which is a great favor Our quarterly 
 
 meeting was large, for us, and I thought a favored season, 
 though mostly held in silence. C. W. spoke first, and was 
 followed by N. P., in a short, but sweet, appropriate, ami 
 lively testimony. No other voice was heard. I was greatly 
 surprised, on reaching Valley Falls, third-day morning, to 
 find that dear Rachel Thornton had been released during 
 the previous night. I had not heard of her being more 
 poorly, and had looked forward with pleasure, in hope of 
 
408 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [18 
 
 enjoying her company once more. Dear J, W. and myself 
 yjsited the poor bereaved daughters thai evening, We 
 had not more than taken our . when a preci< er- 
 
 ing spread over us; and J. \\Y> mouth was soon livingly 
 and powerfully opened, referring to Naomi and Ruth, and 
 to the godly resolution of the latter, encouraging them to 
 adopt it. and to follow their dear departed mother, as she 
 had followed Christ; expressing also a firm belief and 
 assurance that the dear departed friend had been merci- 
 fully permitted, through greal tribulation, to enter into 
 that everlasting rest which remaineth for the people of 
 God. Ob sixth-day, the funeral took place at ten o'clock 
 
 at the house; and. after the body was interred, a large 
 
 and solemn meeting was held in the Baptist meeting-house, 
 near the place of interment ; many Friends, who bad come 
 to the quarterly meeting, staying to the funeral, and a 
 goodly number of the inhabitants of the village. J. Wil- 
 bur soon stood up with the words, "Mark the perfect man. 
 and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace:" 
 and after briefly referring to the deceased, as a mother in 
 Israel, and to bis belied' that, through faithfulness to her 
 
 Leader, the great tribulations through which she bad 
 passed bad wrought for her a far more exceeding and 
 eternal weight of glory, and also speaking very weightily 
 and pertinently to her relations and friends, he proceeded 
 to -bow the great necessity which exists for all to know a 
 living engagement to prepare an habitation for the God of 
 Jacob to dwell in. even the perfecting of holiness in the 
 fear of the Lord; seeing that He dwelleth not in temples 
 made with bands, nor yet in nnsanetified hearts : and pro- 
 ceeded to point out the work of righteousness, ami the 
 necessity of the new birth unto holiness, without which no 
 man sball see the Lord, nor experience Him to dwell with 
 and in him. The very pith ami substance of the ( Christian 
 religion — of ** primitive Christianity" — was revived and 
 borne testimony unto, and a very solemn covering pre- 
 vailed over the meeting ; under which I should have been 
 
 glad it bad been permitted to dose without any addition; 
 
 tor to me the cup Beemed lull, and the service of the 
 meeting accomplished. But there was something more 
 
1 355. | THOMAS B. GOULD, L09 
 
 attempted, which added nothing to the weight, in my view, 
 though otherwise harmless. Surely wisdom remains to be 
 the principal thing; and how desirable il is, with all our 
 gettings, to get wisdom and understanding also! Ami 
 silence often is wisdom; while Beeking to add words without 
 renewed divine authority, surely and always is folly. In 
 public communications, our dear, aged friend, J. W., 
 surely does increase in brightness; and the weight of his 
 spirit in private alSo is truly expressive of a religious awe, 
 verifying the expressions of I tavid, k * They that be planted 
 in the house of the Lord -hall flourish in the courts of our 
 God. They Bhall still bring forth fruit in old age; they 
 shall hr fat and flourishing." 
 
 >nd month, 7th. 
 [Alluding t<> his own health .at this time, he Bays]: 
 Many <>f my friends here, are and have been no! a little 
 apprehensive about it. notwithstanding I am generally 
 about. But I can bear very little exposure, or exertion of 
 any kind, without serious effects following upon it, being 
 often obligdfl to stop two or three times in the course of a 
 walk of a fourth of a mile. Everything, indeed, of an 
 exciting nature, whether of pleasure or of pain, produces 
 nearly the same effect. In the meeting at Fall Uiver. last 
 first-day afternoon, I think I was not on my feet in all 
 more than twenty minutes, and the last half of that time 
 1 found it extremely difficult to utter what I had to say, 
 from pain ami exhaustion. My throat is much better, and 
 has been, since the last occasion of my raising blood, soon 
 after W. Waring was here. What the end of it will be, I 
 know not ; but there is a "need be" of preparation for it 
 undoubtedly. I often think it is not far distant, and it 
 does seem as if it might probably come very Suddenly. 
 Although the pain which I suffer in my chest, cVc is almost 
 constant, by night as well as by day, so that I gel but very 
 little sleep, and it costs little to keep me, yet it is very 
 much increased by exposure, cVc. : and 1 foci it a great 
 mercy that I was permitted to get home before this ex- 
 tremely cold weather came on. The thermometer, at noon 
 yesterday, was five deirrees below zero, and eleven below 
 
 35 
 
410 LIFH AND LETTERS OF [1866. 
 
 Bero at ten o'clock last night : which is six or seven degrees 
 coW r than I ever knew it an this island before, or indeed 
 my father cither I ventured out but one- yester- 
 day, then only to father's; it was quite too much, and 1 
 
 have not tried it to-day My dear M. unites with 
 
 me in love to you 
 
 T. B. (iulLD. 
 
 To Joshua Mauls. 
 
 Newport, 25th of 3d mo., 1855. 
 
 My dear Brother, J. Maulb, — 
 
 Every part of thy letter of the 21st of second month 
 was deeply interesting to me, neither was I disappointed 
 in the account of things; by which it very plainly appears 
 that the bitterness of death is by no means past. A little 
 after. 1 received a letter, much in the same strain as thine, 
 from Joseph Hobson. ... I was much interested to 
 hear who was with you at the time of your quarterly 
 meeting. Everything that relates to the state of things 
 and individuals in Ohio is deeply interesting rV) mc Oh ! 
 how strongly 1 feel bound to true-hearted Friends there! 
 And greatly, though much in secret, do I mourn over 
 many who are in great danger of turning entirely away 
 backward, through the plausible but delusive snares of an 
 arch-enemy, who is quite content that men should pose 
 the form, and he very zealous for the form and outward 
 order, if he can hut deprive them of the power and the 
 life, and the substance ! 
 
 1 am obliged by thy Bending John Vanlaw's letter: how 
 (dear and lively, and to the point it was ! It was strength- 
 ening and encouraging to as Do please tell me 
 
 whatever thou hearest of Friends in Iowa. Do they still 
 keep up their monthly meeting ? 1 hope BO, faithfully, 
 and that they will not be discouraged, but patiently ** abide 
 their time:" and I have no doubt there will be a service 
 in it, that a blessing will rest upon the heads of those who 
 have b mii separated from their brethren, and whose names 
 
 have been casl out as evil, because they could not follow 
 
 a multitude to do evil. I hope they will be preserved 
 
■•"».] THOMAS B. GK>1 l.I>. I I 1 
 
 ,ii making any compromises with the powers thai be. 
 Oh! what harm has come of making compromises and 
 con and giving the ground to the enemies of 
 
 truth, for peace 1 sake! 1 have wanted much to write to 
 Caleb, and tell him bo; i ae J thought he needed 
 
 instruction, but to endeavor to encourage him and his 
 friends, and to strengthen their hands. But I have Itch 
 
 let hitherto My love is to N. P. and M. H., and 
 
 dear little B. Oh, how truly kind they all were to us 
 poor pilgrims and outcasts; and it is not a light or a 
 small matter either, to be willing to be known as the 
 
 tmpanions of Buch as arc bo used/ 1 as we were by some 
 upon whose civility (if not hospitality), we had more than 
 ordinary claims. But, upon them, we had not any other 
 than ordinary ones; yet their hearts were opened to show 
 us great kindness, not by constraint but willingly. . . . 
 As ever, truly yours, 
 
 T. B. Gould. 
 
 To William Hodgson. 
 
 Elmside, 4 tli mo., 9th, 1835. 
 
 Mv VERY DEAR FllIEXD, 
 
 JUn I wanted to say, that, since the Meeting 
 
 fw Sufferings in Ohio, has undertaken to extend their 
 
 jurisdiction beyond their own limits, even within the limits 
 of Indiana Yearly Meeting, and beyond it. and to make all 
 Friends who may remove to that vast territory, members 
 of Stillwater Monthly Meeting; and since the power that 
 controls the Philadelphia "Friend" has seemed to endorse 
 
 this measure, I think that and company ought 
 
 to hold their peace respecting a minute which our yearly 
 meeting has found it needful to make respecting remov- 
 als or settlements within our own borders.. Where was 
 the authority, precedent, or usage, to justify the meet- 
 ing for sufferings in Ohio in taking such a step? What 
 becomes of order here? What will become of discipline, 
 especially if your yearly meeting should continue your 
 correspondence with Indiana ? Ah. I fear that it is hut 
 as the beginning of disorder and confusion, that will follow, 
 
412 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1855. 
 
 if those who are aiming at the same thins do not disre- 
 gard consequences, and gel and keep closer together, and 
 mingle more with one another; that so the advantage of 
 various gifts, and degrees of experience and knowledge of 
 the truth, may be reaped from a united labor, as well as 
 exercise at a distance; according to ancient practice, and 
 the original design of Him who gathered as to be a people, 
 and while the fear of Him had more place amongst ns, 
 and the fear of man less. Friends formerly spake often 
 one unto another ; many ran to and fro in the earth, not 
 in "ereaturely heat or zeal" either; and the Lord heark- 
 ened and heard them, and light and knowledge were in- 
 creased. Oh! what a cruel device of the enemy it has 
 been and is, to put and keep things in such a shape, as to 
 keep true Friends at a distance from each other. t<> sepa- 
 rate verv friends, and to make them actually afraid one 
 of another! But why should I run on in this strain? I 
 am sure 1 cannot tell. Truly, thou never felt nearer or 
 dearer tome: and as your yearly meeting has been ap- 
 proaching, thou hast been increasingly, almost constantly. 
 the companion of my thoughts, in near and true unity 
 (according to my small measure), and with tender, heart- 
 felt sympathy; earnestly desiring that thou mayst find 
 grace to help thee in time of need, and that neither one 
 thing nor another, neither heights nor depths, nor princi- 
 palities nor powers, things present nor things to come, nor 
 any other creature, may be able to turn thee aside from 
 thy integrity in the truth and to the truth ; but that thou 
 maysl be innocently hold in thy assertion of it. patient in 
 Buffering for it, firm in thy adherence to it, immovable as 
 a rock ! This much in brief 1 felt bound to tell thee, 
 though not a tithe of what 1 feel; neither can what 1 feel 
 for thee and manv more up and down amongst you, in the 
 fulness and extent of it. be by me expressed in words. 
 Neither am I devoid of feeling On my own account: and 
 
 surely it could scarcely be otherwise, with such a pr< 
 pect as I bave resting and increasingly pressing upon me, 
 
 a- the time of my departure drawetb nigh; a prospect 
 
 which, though not large, in a sense, yet truly it is large 
 and heavy for me. And I do desire the help of the faith- 
 
1 [ 55, ] THOMAS B. 001 LD. 1 L9 
 
 fill, in a united exercise. Oh, wha< a blessed help and 
 
 •h it was i" me lasi fall! I was as truly sensible 
 
 of khe unity, and travail, and ml ion, and (shall I 
 
 f many, who were dipped into a feeling 
 
 unity with thai concern, even when far distant from 
 
 them, as though I had heard them breathing with my out- 
 
 ward cars. And I have often thought, that the degreeof 
 
 help and preservation vouchsafed, was, after the cause, 
 
 mainly attributable thereto 
 
 Thy true friend, 
 
 T. B. Goulk 
 
 To Ethan and Anna Foster. 
 
 Newport, 15th of 4th mo., 1855. 
 
 My dear Friends: 
 
 Since I received Charles Perry's last letter, written on 
 his return from Boston, we had not heard a word from 
 vou, in any way, until yesterday; when, by way of East 
 
 eenwich. we learned that your beloved little Hannah 
 had been released from all her sufferings. During her 
 illness, I often felt as if I would like to tell you that you 
 had our very near sympathy, but seemed unavoidably pre- 
 vented from so doing; and since we heard of your close 
 bereavement, I have felt as if I must say that much to 
 you, although not expecting to use many words, being, I 
 think. Bomewhat sensible how far short of reaching such a 
 wound any mere words must necessarily come. And yet 
 I have, in a somewhat similar affliction, myself realized 
 some consolation by the expression of the near sympathy 
 of sincere friends. But what more than this could I say, 
 by way of condolence, that you know not already? Time 
 and resignation may, and no doubt will, take off the sharper 
 edges, and partially heal up the wound which has been 
 made in one of the dearest affections of your hearts; but 
 the memory of hopes destroyed will continue. And if this 
 dispensation of Unerring Wisdom and Divine Providence, 
 without whose notice not even a sparrow falleth to the 
 ground, has the happy effect of weakening your hold on 
 the things of time, and fixing them more firmly on those 
 
 35* 
 
414 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1855. 
 
 that are above, and which are both unchangeable and of 
 eternal duration; then you will doubtless be the better 
 prepared to acknowledge, that "affliction springeth not 
 out of the dust, nor trouble oul of the ground :" and that, 
 although uo affliction for.the presenl seemeth to be joyous, 
 but very grievous, nevertheless it will yield the peaceable 
 fruits of righteousness to those thai are rightly exercised 
 thereby, — and so you may be qualified to say, " For all 
 we bless Thee, — mos1 for the severe ;" — " The Lord gave, 
 and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of 
 the Lord ! n . . . Oh! what a blessed thing it is, to 
 have things brought into, and kept in, their proper places ; 
 to have the vessel, whether it be more or less honorable, 
 sanctified, and made meet for the Master's ufee : and so to 
 be furnished with mouth and wisdom, tongue and utter- 
 ance, which all our adversaries shall not be able to gain- 
 say, or entirely to resist 
 
 1 remain, as ever, your sincere and affectionate friend, 
 
 Thomas P>. (Jould. 
 
 The prospect of paying a visit, in Gospel love, to some 
 parts of New York Yearly Meeting, had remained with 
 him ever since his visit to Ohio and Pennsylvania ; hut the 
 time had not appeared to himself to be fully come for its 
 accomplishment, until the spring of 1855; when he pre- 
 pared to leave his home once more, for the fulfilment of 
 what he believed was required of him. Writing to Charles 
 
 Perry, on the 19th of the 4th month, he thus alludes to 
 
 his approaching arduous engagement: — 
 
 The prospect of leaving home is in itself con- 
 siderable, and wears upon me, Or would do BO, even if that 
 
 ami- all. I)iit then there are trials and baptisms connected 
 
 with it. which are far greater and more wearing to poor 
 flesh and blood; so that 1 need the sympathy and help of 
 
 the faithful, in their nearest approaches to the Lord, that 
 
 the precious cause may nol suffer by me: for these are 
 indeed perilous time- for any to go forth in, and especially 
 
 for me 
 
1 - THOMAS B. GO! LD. 1 L5 
 
 To William HODGSON. 
 
 Lin< olk, \'i:i:mont. 6th of 5th mo., 1 3 
 
 Mi dbab Friend : 
 
 I had been much more poorly for a week pre- 
 vious, and quite unable to Bit up, most of the time, nor yet 
 to get any adequate rest or Bleep in bed, my cough wa« 
 constant and distressing, and my body bo full of pain. 
 Yet, notwithstanding this, 1 did bo far recruit before the 
 time came, aa to Bet forth against both wind and tide, lite- 
 rally: lt « » i n u: up the river [or bay] in a sloop, in a gale of 
 wind; but comfortably, compared with a ride in an open 
 wagon, seven miles further than where we landed. But 
 
 we were favored to reach brother George Kenyon's in 
 
 - 
 
 Bafety, before dark: and, through favor, J did not add 
 much to my cold, and was blso enabled to Berve as clerk of 
 the select quarterly meeting next day. the clerk being 
 absent. The select meeting was small, and. I thought, a 
 low time: the quarterly meeting the next day was to me 
 
 a solid and interesting one 
 
 On fifth-day afternoon, after quarterly meeting, avc took 
 the ear to Valley Falls, and reached the house of our kind 
 friends, Harvey and Anne Chaee, just as they did, avIio 
 came in their own carriage. After tea, the family and my 
 dear Israel went to bed, and I lay down on the sofa in the 
 sitting-room, but could not lie even there, and well bol- 
 stered up, too; and bo, without a wink of sleep myself, we 
 Bet out again at one o'clock that morning, to Providence, 
 six mile-, in II. C.'s carriage, with him for a driver; -where 
 at three o'clock, we took the Boston train, reaching that 
 city about sunrise, and at seven o'clock took the Fitchburg 
 and Che-hire, and from that the Rutland and Burlington 
 Railroad, and reached New Haven, Vermont, about five 
 o'clock, p. M. ; from whence, by stage, we came to Bristol, 
 six miles, over one of the worst road- I ever travelled, in 
 an open wagon, too, and heavily loaded. At Bristol, which 
 is at the foot of the Green Mountains, we hired a wagon 
 and driver, and proceeded up the mountain five miles fur- 
 ther, to the house of our kind friends, Pelatiah and Phebe 
 L. Gove ; which we were favored to reach in safety, and 
 
416 LIFE AND LETTERS OF | 1 ^~>~). 
 
 without the least accident, just after dark. They live high 
 up the mountains, and in the midst of them, on either hand, 
 
 cept to the north ; one of the highest peaks of the I rreeri 
 Mountains being due east, and only about two miles to the 
 foot of it from this bouse. Tin- scenery is grand and-wild 
 in the extreme; and, although the weather is cold, corre- 
 sponding with ours in the third month, and the sides of 
 the mountains arc covered with snow, yet it is truly re- 
 markable, and cause of much heartfelt gratitude, that this 
 air does not pinch and search mo like our own : my cough 
 is better, and so is my appetite, and I can draw a long, 
 deep breath, without any pain in my lungs, which is more 
 than I have been able to do for a long while before. 
 
 ()ar ride from Bristol to this place was all the way by 
 the side of New Haven River, a rushing, noisy mountain 
 stream, tumbling over a rough, rocky bed, with now and 
 then a beautiful cascade pouring down the sides of the 
 mountain into the main stream. But canst thou bear with 
 me in all this? Truly, it is a liberty which is granted to 
 me, Or which I am permitted to enjoy: and such scenery 
 
 this is a source of much subordinate enjoyment to me. 
 But that which affords me the most solid satisfaction, is the 4 
 abundant evidence which has been mercifully afforded, that 
 
 I am in my right place at present, in that I did break 
 through the thick cloud of discouragements which sur- 
 rounded me, and came here to visit these honest-liearted 
 Friends. Thou little knowest how I have dreaded this 
 part of my prospect. Scipio I could endure to look for- 
 ward to, but Vermont was bitter and agonizing iii pros- 
 pect, in my feeble and precarious Btate of health. Then, 
 again, I was told that Friends here had, many of them, 
 removed away to Iowa, &c; that others were going, and 
 
 that such as remained were so poor that we should be al- 
 most a burden to them. The first part was too true; hut 
 there is a goodly little company left, to whom our visit has 
 been none the le8S acceptable On account of their having 
 
 been bo much Btripped. It has really seemed to do them 
 >d, for the time being, at any rate, that we were con- 
 strained to pay them a visit ; and I must confess that I 
 
 have hern already amply rewarded for coming, if I should 
 
L855.] TH«.M Lfl i:. GOULD. I IT 
 
 not receive another penny. Bui the draf) which I felt, 
 was bo strong to this pari of the heritage, that I was not 
 be deterred from making the attempt to visit them, 
 cither by the Becrel reluctance which I fell to the journey 
 at tlii d of the year, or by the report which 1 heard, 
 
 that there waa " Dot much here to attract !" [ndeed, there 
 is much roughness of exterior in many, but underlaid with 
 sincerity of heart, and, as I think, more genuine Quaker- 
 ism, more primitive simplicity and Christianity, than is 
 ssed by many who appear much smoother on the sur- 
 face. It is not likely we Bhall be able to visit all tin 4 
 meetings in this quarter. Some of them are remote, 
 and the roads bad, the frost not being yet out of the 
 ground in many places. But the quarterly meeting is to 
 be held next third, fourth, and fifth-days, at Starksbo- 
 rough; of which I was glad, when I heard of it, since we 
 came, and which seemed to be confirmatory of the recti- 
 tude of the time of our coming, although we knew nothing 
 
 of it before 
 
 The meeting here at Lincoln to-day was much 
 
 larger than I expacted, both of Friends and others; and 
 yet they say it is reduced more than half in number since 
 the separation, and quite recently, too, by deaths, disown- 
 
 ments, and removals The meeting, though trying 
 
 and laborious, was relieving and satisfactory to me, and 
 also to others, so far as I could see or judge. But it is an 
 awful service, and seems to be especially so when called 
 upon to stand, as it were, between the living and the dead. 
 and to be baptized for the dead ; and well may we say, 
 "What advantageth it us, if the dead rise not':'' The 
 remark in thine, that thou "looked upon this undertaking 
 as a very different service from that which was laid upon 
 me last fall," was in exact accordance with my own feel- 
 ings and views respecting it. But I could not adequately 
 express to thee in words, even if I had time, and was uot 
 so weary, what preparatory plunges and baptism- it lias 
 been my lot to pass through, or how completely emptied I 
 have been of anything which (so to speak) I had gathered 
 or experienced in that journey : so that I had nothing left 
 to lean or rely upon, but the renewed qualification ; and, 
 
418 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1866. 
 
 eventually, I received an incn 4 faith to believe that, 
 as my y\i- was singly kepi to and upon Him with whom, 
 or in whom, are all the treasures of wisdom and knowled 
 
 the needful portion would nol be withheld Be 
 
 assured that I am, as ever, thy sincere and affectionate 
 friend, T. B. Gould. 
 
 To Martha S. GouLd. 
 
 Shkrwoods, L 7th of 5th month, 1855, 
 
 )lv dbab Martha : 
 
 I wrote to sister Lydia last second-day morning, at the 
 house of Daniel Nichols, of Peru. New Xork ; which letter 
 thou hast doubtless Been, and so J need not recapitulate 
 what I Btated therein. We attended an appointed meeting 
 at Peru, in Friends' meeting-house, at ten o'clock that 
 morning, as was expected. It wa- -mall, there being but 
 few Friends in that place and of this number were Burling 
 
 and Lydia Hallock The meeting was satisfactory 
 
 to me, and, in gome respects, rather extraordinary, — there 
 being much tenderness and brokenneSS apparent in seve- 
 ral : part of which was probably owing t<> its being the last 
 time deai- Lydia Hallock was likely very soon t<> meet with 
 the little company who are left there, by whom she ap- 
 peared to he entirely heloved, and from whom she seemed 
 irery reluctant to part, a- well as they from her. We dined 
 
 at the house of Phebe Hoag ; and most of the members, 
 and some other persons, went and dined with us there, 
 
 making quite a large company Vfter tea, a young 
 
 Friend took L. Hallock and daughter, 1. B. and myself, 
 
 five Or BUS mile- in hi- wagon to Keesville ; where we got 
 into the Stage, and rode BOme eight <>r ten miles further to 
 
 Port Kent, on the western Bhore of -Lake Champlain. 1 lore 
 we waiied until near midnight, for the steamboat southward 
 
 to Whitehall, and arrived there ahout sunrise ; took the 
 
 ear- to Schenectady, and bo to Aulmrn. ahout one hundred 
 and fifty miles, which we reached about -unset. Here we 
 lodged near; the depot, and close to the great State prison, 
 
 in which there are ahout eight hundred prisoners. 1 had 
 
 a good night's rest, and, at eight o'clock this morning, we 
 
1 - )5.] TIK nl'LP. Il'.» 
 
 took stage for this place, and reached Sherwooda Post- 
 
 offifce about noon; where we waited for the mail to be 
 
 opened, and I r 1 thy ■■ elcome letter, w ritten 
 
 first-day, which had all tin- wav in the satne 
 
 carriage with us. a- well ;i- one written to d<>l» Otis bv 
 
 • 
 
 Friends in Vermont, more than a week aL r <>. requesting 
 him to meet us at Auburn. I >ut the dear old man was 
 overjoyed to -re us. The situation is delightful. So is the 
 whole country in itself; ami the beauty, and bo t<» speak, 
 the outward glory of it. greatly enhanced by the freshness 
 and greenness <>{' early spring, the fruit-trees; except the 
 apples, being in full bloom, ami the meadows and pastures 
 covered with flowers. 
 
 After dinner we went t" see Joseph Chase, who is very 
 low He seemed in a quiet, comfortable state of 
 
 mind. . . . AW' have had delightful weather, all through 
 
 « 
 
 Vermont and Northern New York, which was a great favor, 
 where covered carriages are almost unknown, and they 
 have been quite so to us. But it commenced raining the 
 night before last, while we were on Lake Champlain, and 
 
 rained steadily and powerfully all the way to Auburn, 
 clearing up just before we got there, and we should other- 
 wise have been exposed to it. Thus we have been favored, 
 however truly unmerited, and I desire to he thankful. . . . 
 Though I write cheerfully about the weather, scenery. &c., 
 I am not without my exercises, peculiar exercises, adapted 
 to the state of things here, which is peculiar; and so they 
 were in v'ermont. according to the latitude and longitude 
 
 of each place, &c 
 
 Thine, 
 
 T. B. Gould. 
 
 To R. S. Nichols. 
 
 Hector, X.Y., 21 si of 5th month, 1855. 
 
 My dear Friend, U.S. Nichols: 
 
 .... On awaking this morning, after having written 
 to my precious Martha last evening, and been favored to 
 sleep well from midnight till after sunrise, thou wast brought 
 
 so sweetly and renewedly to my remembrance, that I 
 
420 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1855. 
 
 though! I would just tell thee of it. although little more 
 illicit arise. But I know thai thou will be glad to hear, 
 that, notwithstanding I have not been favored with such 
 an unusual degree of strength and clearness in testimony, 
 as was th<' case lasl fall, vet I have been mercifully enabled 
 hitherto t<> answer the service required at my hands, in a 
 manner that has been relieving to my own mind, and also, 
 I think, satisfactory and comforting to Friends. My lino 
 of service has been more like seeking out the lost ami 
 scattered sheep of the house of [srael, than in the way of 
 the < rentiles, or in visiting the " cities of the Samaritans/ 1 
 with whom now, as anciently, the Jews have little or no 
 dealings in a general way. Yet it lias sometimes been laid 
 upon me to cry against the separate altar, which has been 
 up, a- in Bethel or in Dan ; and some of its votaries, or 
 of those who, like Jeroboam, have been concerned in the 
 
 erection and defence of this separate altar and its idol 
 calf-worship, — or, in other words, will-worship, which re- 
 mains to he idolatry. — have sometimes been present: but 
 no one has been permitted openly to put forth his hand 
 against me, or my unequivocal testimony, nor yel really to 
 Bay, ** Lay hold on him!" The preciousnesa of standing 
 within the walls of Jerusalem, the quiet habitation, whither 
 the tribes go up to worship, and where the ark of the Lord's 
 testimony and covenant rests, and is known, and entered 
 into, and abode in: with the beauty of the situation of 
 Mount Zion, and the strength and salvation of its Avails, 
 have been much given me to hold forth to view? and, in 
 short, glorious things have been given me to speak boldly 
 concerning it ; and also of the godliness of Jacob's tents, 
 and bo to labor for the gathering of Israel to their tent; 
 that so. as the valleys, they may he again spread forth, 
 and flourish "like cedar trees beside the waters, and as 
 trees of lign aloes which the Lord hath planted." And 
 
 however limited in ploughing or in planting, nor yet either 
 
 eloquent in Bpeech, or mighty in the Scriptures, and BO not 
 
 qualified to water so extensively, aid perhaps effectively 
 
 a- many, yet the Great Head of the Church has been 
 
 pleased to own my feeble efforts in His cause, and to give 
 some increase of strength and consolation to a remnant. 
 
L856.] 
 
 
 
 TIImM \> 
 
 B. 
 
 Q0ULD 
 
 The 
 
 meei 
 
 tog 
 
 terday 
 
 it 
 
 Sector 
 
 421 
 
 was large, quite fl 
 « U \- numb< Friends being in attendant 
 
 numbers and appearance. Several of oilier persuasions 
 came in, and my mouth was opened largely, in a clo 
 rching testimony; wherein 1 seemed to have stepping- 
 laid for me from one state to another, a1 such dis- 
 tances from each other that I could just reach them by 
 carefully minding my goings, and keeping my feet, or 
 rather by their being mercifully kept; and bo I was pre- 
 yed from falling into the Bnare of judging after the 
 
 hi of the eye, or the hearing of the ear; and I think 
 tin* meeting ended solidly and well. This evening we had 
 an appointed meeting at a Methodist meeting-house, in 
 Truemansburg ; in which Truth favored with more than 
 ordinary clearness and authority, in declaring the doc- 
 trines of the Gospel, and especially as regards the spiri- 
 tuality of them: and there did indeed seem to he a door of 
 entrance mercifully opened in the hearts of a seeking, 
 sober people; and Borne present, who were not for a time 
 at all sober, were eventually solemnized in a truly remark- 
 aide manner. 
 
 We returned to the house of dear Charles and Sarah 
 Owen to lodge, and the next morning set our faces east- 
 ward again, towards Cayuga Lake; about two miles w< 
 of which, we passed by the celebrated Taughanic Falls, in 
 the town of Ulysses. This fall being two hundred and 
 ten feet, and perpendicular, is sixty feel higher than th 
 of Niagara ; but the sheel of water did not appear to be 
 more than twenty or thirty feet wide, and the volume of 
 water is not large, but beautiful indeed 
 
 Believe me to be thy sincere and affectionate friend. 
 
 T. B. Gould. 
 
 To William Hodgson. 
 
 Aurora, X. Y., 28th of fiftb month. 1855. 
 My dear Friend, 
 
 After attending the meeting at Lincoln, Vt., where I 
 wrote thee, we attended their quarterly meeting, held at 
 Starksborough, the same week ; and although it was 
 
 3G 
 
4-2-2 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1855, 
 
 smaller than T had expected, yet it was a good meeting, 
 and 1 was well satisfied in being among them ; my being 
 there did also appear to be satisfactory and encouraging 
 to them. But it did nol appear surprising to me that 
 they should feel somewhat discouraged; for no less than 
 twenty-eight or thirty of their members have either gone 
 this spring, or were about going, to the west, some of 
 them to Iowa and some to Indiana. This has brought 
 the remnant who arc left, under very close and renewed 
 trial ; but it may be of use to them ; and there is indeed a 
 goodly little company left, with whom, some of them espe- 
 cially, my spirit was brought into near fellowship. We had 
 a public meeting one evening in a little village at Starks- 
 borough, in a Methodist meeting-house; which was well in 
 the end, though hard and trying in the commencement; 
 and another at Ferrisburg, not far from where dear old 
 Joseph Hoag lived. There are hut two families of Friends 
 there, and one of them, with wdiom we dined, was just 
 about breaking up to go west. With these and some 
 others of the emigrants I had some tendering labor. . . . 
 We set out the next morning for Grand Isle, in Lake 
 Champlain, a distance of forty miles. . . . We crossc 1 
 the lake hv a bridge three miles in length, one halt' the 
 distance being through a swamp, and among large tr( 
 apparently growing in water; and the other half is built 
 upon a Band-bar in the lake, which Friends used to ford at 
 some seasons of the year, in going to their meetings, be- 
 fore the bridge was built. This last distance, one mile 
 and a half, we had to walk the horses ; and it was the 
 roughest road, and apparently the most dangerous travel- 
 ling, that I ever passed : although I thought 1 had endured 
 some hardness before, in the line of had roads. After 
 riding live or six miles northward on the island, we came 
 t<» a kind Friend's house; where we stayed the night, and 
 the next day. being iirM-day, the 13th of the month, 
 attended their meeting: which was large, public notice of 
 our being there having beeu given. There are hut two 
 
 families of Friends on this island, and one aged woman, 
 
 by the name of M. M , living with her children, who 
 
 are GiirneyiteS. But she ifl a BWeet and lively-spirited 
 
5.] tiimm ks ; . [*D, 128 
 
 minister, evincing remarkable greenness, and clearness of 
 
 at the advanced age of eighty-eight years. She • 
 at meeting; and Dear the close of it, lifted ap her voice 
 like a trumpet, having something like a Beal to sel to 
 what had been previously delivered. At the close of the 
 meeting, on giving her my hand, holding it long and 
 
 jely in hers, and viewing me from head to foot, with- 
 out either of us uttering a word for Borne time, after a 
 little time Bhe said, " Thou art a stranger to me as to the 
 outward; 1 never saw thee before; thou dost not/',,/ like 
 a stranger: I am glad to see thee here; and I am satis- 
 fied, satisfied, satisfied!' 1 — shaking my hand heartily and 
 most expressively. Her daughter stn.nl close by, appa- 
 rently watching us both. The old woman was evidently 
 aware of it. I was deeply interested in her, and admired 
 her shrewdness, or rather her wisdom. But, on inviting 
 me to the house, her daughter seconded the invitation; 
 and 1 conditionally accepted it, and afterwards rode four 
 or five miles to do So. She is a very striking and inter- 
 esting example of primitive simplicity and plainness, wear- 
 ing a brown linen bonnet, with strings of the same mate- 
 rial, &c Friends and Gurneyites meet together 
 
 on Grand Isle, on first-days; quite a company of friendly 
 Hicksites came in when we were there, and many other 
 people, forming a mixed company indeed ; so that it re- 
 quired much careful looking, to find the stepping-stones, 
 and to reach from one to another without slipping. But 
 through favor the meeting ended well, and relievingly to 
 my own mind. The next day a friendly llicksite set us 
 
 r the west side of the lake in his boat, hut would by no 
 means allow us to pay him for it, saying that he had 
 been already more than paid. 
 
 Grand Isle is a beautiful spot ; about the same size 
 as our own dear island, and lying in the lake, much as 
 Rhode Island lies in the blue waters of Narraganseti Bay. 
 The mountains on either side being obscured, when we 
 were there, by a thick, smoky atmosphere, the Bhores of 
 Vermont on the east, and of Xcw York on the west, very 
 much resembled the shores of our own lovely hay. But 
 the shores of Grand Isle itself were in many places lined 
 
424 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1855. 
 
 with splendid arbor vita trees, rendering them extremely 
 picturesque and beautiful. We landed at Plattsburg, wh< 
 our Friend, Daniel Nichols, met us, and took as twelve 
 miles to his house at Peru. The uext day we had an ap- 
 pointed meeting there, which was small, there being only 
 
 three or four families of Friends, and about as many soli- 
 tary individuals scattered among those who are not mem- 
 bers. About twelve o'clock that night we took a steamboat 
 and ran up Lake Champlain to Whitehall; and so by the 
 rails through Saratoga, Syracuse, ^Vc, along the hanks of 
 the Mohawk, to Auburn, where we lodged at a hotel : and 
 the next morning went by stage to Sherwoods, and reached 
 the house <>f my old and dear friend, Job Otis, where Ave 
 met with a most welcome reception. It having been many 
 years since we had met before, the warm-hearted old man 
 was quite overcome, and wept like a child, notwithstanding 
 
 his reputed hardness 
 
 We at 1 elided the meeting at Hector on first-day, a week 
 ago yesterday. It was large, and well, I think ; and some 
 choice Friends we found there, and visited, I believe, to 
 mutual satisfaction. The next evening we had an appointed 
 meeting in a Methodist meeting-house at Truemansburg. 
 among a tender, seeking people, and some light and airy 
 spirits; many Friends also coming to it for miles around. 
 1 felt much openness among them, and the Gospel of life 
 and salvation was largely preached, in a degree, as I hum- 
 bly trust, of its own power On fourth-day we 
 
 attended their usual mid-week meeting here at Poplar 
 
 Ridge, which was a good ami heavenly meeting 
 
 The meeting-house is much too small, and was very much 
 Crowded yesterday. Many Hicksites came in the after- 
 noon, and a few Grurneyites: one of the latter, an aged, 
 plain-looking man. Btopped me. us I was passing him at 
 the close of it, and. in a tender and feeling manner, ex- 
 pressed an earnest desire that 1 might continue faithful in 
 the gift received, and to the testimony given me to hear, 
 
 and BO he made instrumental of good to multitudes, as he 
 1 had been the case to him: adding. *• It is the truth, 
 the very truth, and there i- no other way (A' salvat ion." 
 Both BittingS [of the yearly meeting] to-day 
 
1 v: ' : >. ] THOM iB B. 30ULD. 425 
 
 were mercifully owned, bul little expression ; and the busi- 
 ness much better conducted, and with far moi 
 and propriety, than I expected would be the i tfter 
 
 attending the meeting for sufferings renth-day, w] 
 
 - rather trying to me. However, own thai would no1 
 suffer at all in comparison with thai in , with 
 
 the table. 
 
 We hare a meeting appointed to-morrow evening, at 
 seven o'clock, >!x miles from here, at a village called North- 
 
 ville But H :-ncar 1 o'clock, third-day morning, 
 
 and I must try to ome n farewell. In I 
 
 unchangeable, I trust, to nd thii . 
 
 Thy friend and brother, 
 
 Thomas B. Gould. 
 To Joshua Maulk. 
 
 East Gri bnwu ii. R. I., 6th month, 3d, L855. 
 My dkab Brother, Joshua Maulb: 
 
 I am so lame, and in so much pain with my 
 
 rheumatic affection, that I am not much in a writing 
 mood; but I did want to let thee and dear sister Sarah 
 W, how wonderfully Ave have been cared for, and favored 
 to get along without any accident to harm us in the lea 
 and with a remarkable improvement in my genera] health, 
 as I was unable to sir up much of the time until within 
 three days of my setting forth: which made the prospect 
 of leaving home, and going into a cold, wilderness coun- 
 try, as Vermont seemed to me then to be, and especially 
 with such lung-, and no appetite, nor strength sufficient to 
 do anything about home, look very discouraging. But 
 cither the change of air, or some peculiarity in the moun- 
 tain air, or the journey itself, or all three put together, 
 had a very beneficial effect. I have sometimes thought it 
 owing to the degree of relief afforded by the conscious- 
 ness of being in the way of discharging the service re- 
 quired of me in these parts: to which, after getting home 
 once more (on my return from Ohio, &c), I had felt all my 
 usual and natural reluctance to : out and go forth again, 
 revive. Indeed it would never have answered for me to 
 
426 LIFE AND LETTERS OF | 1 S .V>. 
 
 have :_ r <»nr thither in the winter, or even late in the fall; 
 bo I had to carry thia burden all winter, until way did 
 irly open, which was at length the case, and which in 
 itself afforded some relief. And as to tlie time, I bel» 
 
 ii could scarcely have been better 
 
 The select meeting [al Starksboro'Jiras a trying one to 
 me, and nearly silent; although, towards the close, I was 
 enabled to obtain some relief, and it ended more satisfac- 
 torily than I had expected for Borne time after sitting down 
 among them. The two last-named meetings [the quarterly 
 meeting l'<>v business, and the public meeting on fifth-day}, 
 were very satisfactory, relieving, and remarkable oppor- 
 tunities; the last especially s<>, ending in solemn, vocal 
 thanksgiving, and praise ; in which nearly or quite all 
 present Beemed prepared to unite, and many were exceed- 
 ingly tendered and broken, and so continued to be until 
 late in the afternoon, when Ave parted; they going to their 
 respective places of abode, and we to an appointed meet- 
 in--, at a village about two miles from Friends' meeting- 
 house. It was held in a Methodist house, among a rather 
 uncouth set of people, who were unreasonably long in 
 gathering, and in other respects 1 was much tried. But 
 truth at length arose for our help, and I was enabled to 
 obtain relief, and left them with a peaceful mind. The 
 next day we proceeded to Ferrisbufg, and, in the evening, 
 had another appointed meeting, among a more experienced 
 and cultivated Methodist people. To them my mouth was 
 largely opened in declaring the truth, in a good degree of 
 
 it- ancient and new power: the minds of many were seri- 
 
 ously affected therewith, and the meeting ended solidly and 
 well. ( Mi our way to this place, we passed close by Monk- 
 ton meeting-house and burving-ground, in which lie the 
 earthly remains of that good man, and able minister 
 of the Gospel, Joseph Hoag, Monkton was the meeting 
 he belonged to, and usually attended when at home, and 
 
 his son also, in whose house he died 'The next 
 
 day, being seventh-day, we rode forty miles to Grand 
 [sle. ...'.. 
 
 Thy affectionate brother, 
 
 Thomas B. Gould. 
 
5, ] THOU kfl B, QOULD, ■!-• 
 
 To Willi \m Hodgson. 
 
 Elmside, I9tb of 6th m ... 1 E 
 My deab Friend, 
 
 1 reached my own dear home and beloved 
 family on second-day, the fourth of this month, about 
 noon: where 1 need scarcely Bay, I met a most welcome 
 reception, and was rejoiced to find all as well as I could 
 
 have expected 
 
 I can thankfully and reverently acknowledge, 
 that my northwestern journey affords me, in the retro- 
 spec! inexpressible relief, and solid, peaceful satisfaction. 
 Although I had not many meetings, and it seemed like 
 spending a good deal of time to little purpose, in respect 
 of the small number of meetings, &c, yet many remote 
 
 Corners, and solitary individuals or families, were searched 
 
 out and visited, in the love, and in a measure, I trust, of 
 the power of the Gospel : sufficiently so, at least, to give 
 us. and the testimony given me to bear, sopie place in their 
 
 hearts, and to convince tliem in whose name we came. 
 Neither have I been able to see that I omitted, or left un- 
 done, anything that was required of me at this time. I 
 may also say to thee, that, although I went forth truly 
 without purse, or scrip, or any provision for the journe3 r , 
 yet I lacked nothing, and. as I proceeded, was most abun- 
 dantly provided for, helped, and furnished every way : 
 though 1 had nothing over, nothing to boast of or to glory 
 in, and do sincerely desire that the Lord alone may have 
 the praise of His own work: for it was His work and His 
 doings, and it is marvellous in my eyes, especially, con- 
 sidering what a poor, weak, nothing creature I am. Oh! 
 how greatly I have been and am condescended to and 
 helped! And now my desire is, that 1 may be preserved 
 alive, even in famine, and instructed afresh and continu- 
 ally how to suffer want, as well as how to return thanks 
 for past favors, and humbly to hope for more, even for 
 such, and for such only, as are convenient and proper for 
 me. 
 
 . I was not without an apprehension, on enter- 
 ing the village [of Northville], that I should have to ap- 
 
428 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [18 
 
 point a nit'i tiflg in their Presbyterian meeting-house. . . . 
 When third-day came, it appeared thai there was no sit- 
 ting of the yearly meeting that afternoon; which afforded 
 ample time to ride down thither, and was a collateral%vi- 
 dence of its being the righl time for the meeting; although, 
 at the time of making the appointment, I had no knowledge 
 of their practice to have no sitting of the yearly meeting 
 on third-day afternoon. My cousin Benjamin and Ids 
 wife were to take Israel and myself down, and did so; but 
 when we got there, I found my Scotch cousin not a little 
 concerned about the whole thing, although she said no- 
 thing, and was kind. But her great joy on first seeing 
 me, appeared changed to apprehension, as to how it was 
 to be got through with, evidently; while my aged aunt, 
 more than eighty years of age, and who had not walked a 
 step for two years, seemed so rejoiced at the prospect of 
 being likely to attend a Friends' meeting once more, that 
 she was making arrangements to be carried to it in her 
 chair, the meeting-house being near their place of resi- 
 dence. And her son, who, until now, had always seemed 
 prejudiced against Friends, seemed to have exerted him- 
 self greatly and remarkably to give notice of the meeting, 
 and to make other arrangements for it. But his wil 
 Scotch pride was up, as well as some fear, evidently, for 
 her " religion- copyhold ; n for she said she had never for- 
 gotten some things I said to her, on taking leave of her at 
 the steamboat at Newport, nor her being at our silent 
 meeting here, four or five years ago. She had always 
 loved me dearly, since she first saw me, but she did not 
 know what the result of this would be; though she would 
 gladly, she said, "have gone to Poplar Ridge on Sunday," 
 if she c«»uld have done so consistently with the rites of 
 
 hospitality due to her old pastor, and her duty to him. \c. 
 Well, we wont to the meeting (when the time came), which 
 proved to be a large one, the house, which was large, being 
 
 nearly filled. My knees were ready to smite together, for 
 
 the whole prospect of this meeting, among my near rela- 
 tives, had keen, from the first, more trying than I can 
 
 express; much more so. even, than among strangers. 
 Several Friends from the Ridge came down to attend it. 
 
1 B55. | THOMAS B. GOULD. I_ ( .> 
 
 The meeting was ?ery early covered vritfa a pre- 
 cious Bolemni imarkablv bo, considering the class of 
 persons present ; I have rarely known the like in any 
 place: and my mouth wa n opened amongsl them, 
 having to tell them, in the first place, thai 1 was not only 
 led to conic, 1 mt also to stand up amongst them, in weak- 
 ness, and in fear, and in much trembling, and without the 
 least expectation of doing any great thing; yet, as an ad- 
 
 ;itc for that cause which is dignified with immortality 
 and crowned with eternal life, under a strong and renewed 
 
 se and feeling of the love of the everlasting and glo- 
 rious Gospel, and of its being, both immediately, and in- 
 strumentally, and renewedly extended to them. And so 
 I proceeded to -peak of the nature and character of the 
 ( rOSpel, its worship and ministry : how this w as received and 
 exercised, and that the true and rightly called and quali- 
 fied ministers of it were enabled to teach baptizingly into 
 the very name of Jesus, ministering a portion of the power 
 of the Gospel, and of the Word of Life and salvation to 
 the people, — and distinguishing between this Word, which 
 by the Gospel was preached unto them and in them, and 
 the words of men and man-made ministers, and hirelings, 
 and all will-worship, which is idolatry; — and showing how 
 this ministry was neither received of man nor taught, but 
 by the revelation of Jesus Christ; that if any speak in 
 His name, he must speak as the oracle of God, and if 
 any man minister, he must do it in that ability which He 
 giveth, that He in all things might be glorified ; — and that 
 they were of the circumcision, and they alone, who wor- 
 ship Grod in spirit, rejoice alone in Christ Jesus, and have 
 no confidence in the flesh. After this, the main doctrines 
 and principles of the Christian religion, as held by Friends. 
 were opened to my view, and largely declared, even the 
 truth as it is in Jesus, and in a measure of its own demon- 
 stration and power; which came mercifully and trium- 
 phantly into dominion in the end, for the time being at 
 least ; — and the meeting concluded, to my great relief and 
 humbling admiration. When the people had mostly left 
 the hou$e, perceiving that my aged aunt, who ^could not 
 walk or help herself at all, was left nearly alone, I went 
 
430 LIFE AM) LETTERS OF [1855. 
 
 to her and sat down by her, while she waited to be carried 
 out; which I n, my cousin James Gould, perceiving, 
 
 he came to us, and inquired of me if I noticed a man. — 
 describing him, — who sat in such a seat, pointing to it. 
 Upon my answering in the negative, he said : " That is the 
 man whom we have on trial, and think of calling to preach 
 ferns: but he is young, still studying for the ministry, 
 only preaches occasionally, and is not yet ordained; and 
 I thought it truly remarkable that you Bhould have been 
 led to speak so much upon the subject of the ministry in 
 general, and the nature of the call to it, and the qualifica- 
 tion for it, in particular, and especially that no assembly 
 of people could either call or ordain a minister; that this 
 was the sole prerogative of the Head of the Church : and 
 that all that even the true Church could do, was to own, 
 concur with, or acknowledge the gift, and receive the 
 minister whom the Minister of all rightly gathered assem- 
 blies might raise up, qualify, and send amongst them. I 
 considered it." he continued, u a striking proof of the truth 
 of what you subsequently said, that neither divine imme- 
 diate revelation, nor the spirit of prophecy, had ceased; 
 and that when it should cease, or if it should Cease, Chris- 
 tianity would cease to exist, because, it' any man have not 
 the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His." I told him I had 
 been unable to tell why I was thus led, since I had been 
 really under the impression that they had no settled 
 minister (knowing their old one had gone), and that no 
 such person was present ; but that I dared do no other 
 than follow my Guide; and that, if a suitable opportunity 
 occurred, he might let his friend know this; adding, that 
 I hoped he would not suppose me to have been invidiously 
 pointing at him. I le -aid, k> he believed no harm had been 
 
 done, he hoped sonic 1 good; at any rate, he might and 
 ought tO he instructed by it, for it was deeper far than he 
 (the minister, SO called) had ever seen, known, or heard, 
 and he was truly glad he was ihere :" to which my aged 
 aunt fully and heartily responded. Her son and 1 to<»k 
 her in our arms, and carried her out of the meeting-house, 
 and -eating her in her carriage. >he rode home, where I 
 Btayed the night. On reaching cousin James's house, a 
 
L855.] THOM \s B, GOULD. 181 
 
 very different feelin apparent in bis wife, from what 
 
 1 had discovered ing. She said, the m 
 
 all too for her and for the people ; but thai 
 
 was deeply concerned for me; that if I went on daily from 
 meeting to meeting, at this rate. 1 would soon be worn out, 
 and thai I must spare myself, &c. But I showed her more 
 fully the ground of my concern, and that 1 must labor, a 
 necessity being laiduponme; and was willing to labor 
 freely, to Bpend and be spent in this cause, until I could 
 .tin relief, and in order that I might finish the work 
 allotted unto me, and the mini-try which I had received 
 of the Lord Jesus, to testify the Gospel of the grace of I rod. 
 But she still Beemed to think, that 1 must study a great 
 deal, and think a great deal, or I could not (as she said 
 Israel Buffinton had told her was the case), be thus engaged 
 nearly every day, and two or three times a day sometimes, 
 for months together. I asked her, if she saw any signs of 
 study or premeditation in me, during the hours I had spent 
 with her. immediately preceding the meeting? " Why, no, 
 she had not : she noticed how freely I had spoken of other 
 matters, saw no signs of preparation for the service of the 
 meeting, and was greatly concerned as to what the result 
 would he. Still," she added, " I watched you very closely 
 in the meeting, and the most orthodox and learned divine 
 could not have delivered a sounder communication, or more 
 fully proved the truth of his positions and doctrines, by 
 numerous and copious ({notations from the Scriptures 
 adding, " they were as correctly given, too, as if they had 
 been read from the book ; and I had previously no idea 
 that the Friends were so entirely sound in doctrine, or that 
 without any premeditation they could be so," &c. And 
 her astonishment seemed not to be lessened, when I as- 
 sured her, " that even when I stood up in that meeting, I 
 had nothing before me save my concern, the evidence that 
 my time had come, and the sentence which I commenced 
 with." She was full of inquiry; much opportunity was 
 afforded for an explanation of our principles on many 
 points ; and, although they would willingly, I believe, have 
 sat up till morning, yet, finding anchorage ground at 
 length, I left them, and went to bed. 
 
432 LIBB WD BETTERS OF [18.")."). 
 
 .... But truly, dear William, T had no intention of 
 ing into such a detail when I commenced, and I fear it 
 will prove tedious and burdensome to thee ; neither have 1 
 done the like before, in respect of this journey ai least. 
 But knowing and feeling how kindly and deeply thou hi 
 been interested in my getting along, I was willing to give 
 thee some account of one very exercising engagement, 
 although, much as I have written, I have not told thee 
 one-half of this, or near it ; but thou canst probably, from 
 this, form some idea of others which were constantly occur- 
 ring ; in which I can truly and thankfully acknowledge, that 
 I did afresh and repeatedly experience verified the truth 
 of a communication which dear Mildred Radcliffe made to 
 me many years ago, to wit : that, if I were faithful to what 
 would he required of me, the key of the treasury and 
 rehouse would be given me, and therein 1 should find 
 all sorts of instruments, skilfully and exactly adapted to 
 every work and service whereunto I should be called. 
 And it is only to the praise of that Grace and Power, by 
 which I am what 1 am, that these things are mentioned, 
 
 and if it may he, for thy encouragement also. 
 
 Nothing out of the usual course occurred in our own yearly 
 
 meeting, except that many Friends who have never failed 
 to get here before, since the 4 reparation, were detained by 
 BicknOSS themselves or in their families. But others came 
 in, who had not previously attended, so that with tie 
 here from abroad, it was nearly or quite as large as com- 
 mon : and I thought the public meetings, as well as those for 
 discipline, were remarkably owned, and more than usually 
 preserved from being hurt by unsanctified and unskilful 
 communications. Our dear friend was largely 
 
 engaged on iirst-dav morning and fifth-day. As for J. W. 
 
 and myself, we were both, I believe, well satisfied to see 
 
 good work well done l.y others, except during a visit which 
 1 was concerned to pay to the women's meeting on third- 
 day afternoon, and some ch»>e Bervice which he (J. W-), 
 had ill the select meeting. Several of the sittings were 
 
 remarkably owned, during the time not occupied by any 
 ministerial labor; and the business was conducted, through- 
 out, in much unity and harmony: although some deeply 
 
1855. ] TII(»M \s i:. GOULD, L89 
 
 -c«l minds were do! insensible of the need of m 
 dedication, closer ei nent, and increased faithfuln< 
 
 in the support of Truth's cause and testimony. . . . 
 The m ended solemnly, silently, and well. 
 
 Farewell. 
 
 A.s ever, truly and rely thy friend, 
 
 Thomas 1». Gould. 
 
 To William Hodgson. 
 
 Elmside, 22d of 6th month, 1 B 55. 
 Mv ENDEARED FRIEND AND BROTHER: 
 
 Thine of the 19th inst", is just received, and was truly 
 acceptable and appropriate. I was particularly struck 
 with thy remarks respecting my own state, in a retrospect 
 of my late little embassy ; for truly the language has been 
 adopted again and again, before I received thy letter, and 
 mercifully verified also: "Return to thy rest, 0! my 
 soul, for the Lord thy God has dealt bountifully with 
 thee." This I can say and acknowledge without boast- 
 ing, or any feeling like unto it. I might also truly add, 
 " What shall I render unto Him for all His benefits?" — 
 although I have been left to feel enough of stripping and 
 desertion, as I trust, to keep me under a true sense, in 
 whom and from whom are all my fresh springs of consola- 
 tion, and ability to do good or communicate it; and that, 
 when all has been done that seems to be required for the 
 time being, I am still an unprofitable servant, having done 
 no more than was my duty to do, and having nothing but 
 what I also received from Him; who is mercifully pleased 
 to accept J lis own work, and to reward abundantly for it, 
 notwithstanding the weakness which still attaches to the 
 creature, and the imperfections of the instrument employed 
 therein 
 
 In great haste, but true love to thee and the oause, 
 
 Farewell, 
 
 Thomas B, (Jould. 
 
 37 
 
434 LIFE AND LETTERS OF [1855. 
 
 To William Hodgson. 
 
 Elmside, 10th of 1 1 ili month, 1855. 
 
 My beloved Friend : 
 
 I have hastily written this much after all 
 
 have retired ; and although it may be too late to be avail- 
 ing, yet L think I shall let it L r <> for what it may be worth. 
 It may serve to show thee, and I hope it will convince you 
 both, that although, bo far as you have seen or could s< 
 appearances have been all against me, yet my will has 
 been good to write, and indeed I have tried hard to do it. 
 And. dear William, hast thou not had sonic sense of my 
 captivity, my deep captivity; of the perishing hunger 
 and the famishing want, which I have endured? Oh, how 
 I have been tossed ! No tongue can utter it, nor the pen 
 of the most ready writer adequately and fully describe. 
 
 And even, now, I see little hope, hut that things will ir<> 
 almost u by the board:" at any rate, such as are saved, 
 w ill he a mere handful, " some on boards and some on 
 broken pieces of the ship :" for the treacherous dealer hath 
 dealt and is dealing exceeding treacherously; and the 
 spoiler hath grievously spoiled, and is spoiling, or seeking 
 to spoil. I believe, some who have hitherto in good degree 
 mercifully escaped. 
 
 Oh : that letter from to W. W. ! I was so 
 
 sorry to hear he had written it! — for what good can he 
 expected from such a time-server as he lias proved himself 
 to be? Ami yet how much it is to be feared, that even 
 such out-of-door sympathy and encouragement will have a 
 "conservative" influence and effect; and is there not 
 reason to fear it was designed to have such an effect ? 
 Alas! how many wheels there are within wheels, in th< 
 degenerate days, these days of treading down and per- 
 plexity! Neither is it to be doubted, that sonic who have 
 been in good measure battle-proof, arc not wheedle-proof ; 
 especially if they "have not known," or do not know, 
 "the depths of Satan, as they Speak" who resort to 
 
 wheedling ) and other unworthy methods of accomplishing 
 
 their ends upon the unsuspecting and unwary. Oh, for 
 
 more honest simplicity and straightforwardness! although 
 
1855, ] THOMAS B. Q01 M>. 185 
 
 it may Bubjecl a man to the charge of u raking up old 
 matters/ 1 and may Beem to shake the very pillars upon 
 which the house is reputed to rest ; said pillars, by the 
 way, being so very tottlish, that, although shoulder may 
 be joined to Bhoulder in the effort to steady them, it will 
 all prove eventually unavailing; for everything that can 
 be Btiaken will be shaken, that only that which is immov- 
 able may remain. Don't regard being called u a disturber 
 of the peace :" the charge seemed as familiar to me, as an 
 
 household word 
 
 Farewell. In unabated and dear love to you all, in 
 which my dear Martha desires to be included, 
 
 Thy sincere though tribulated brother, 
 
 T. B. Gould. 
 
 To Joshua and Sarah Maule. 
 
 Newport, 11th month, 10th, 1855. 
 My dear Brother and Sister : 
 
 We received the letter, containing the afflicting intelli- 
 gence of the sickness of dear little Henry, and the afflict- 
 ing termination of it, a week ago yesterday, and sent the 
 letter by the next mail to Greenwich. It was not for 
 want of near and tender sympathy with you, that we have 
 not Written sooner. . . . No doubt this has been a most 
 bitter cup for you. But what can I say that will have a 
 tendency to sweeten it? You know as well as I do, and 
 perhaps better, where and how to look for help to enable 
 you to bear it, and to reap the benefit designed by this 
 dispensation of Divine Providence, which, in inscrutable 
 and unerring wisdom, has been meted out to you ; and 
 you are, I trust, "in no danger of supposing that it is a mere 
 ••chance" that has happened to you. 1 have myself no 
 doubt, that in this case the expression of the poet will 
 apply with full force : 
 
 u In love directed] and La mercy meant, 
 Arc trials suffered and afflictions sent.' 
 
 And if it should have the effect of further refinement upon 
 you; if it should be a means of weaning you from the 
 
436 LIFE AND LETTERS 01 [1 855. 
 
 world, and rendering yon more meet for the kingdom of 
 heaven, the end will do doubt be happily accomplished. 
 I )ur dear lore is to yon all. 
 
 t. r>. g. 
 
 To C. C. <:., OF VERMONT* 
 
 Elm side, Newport, 12th mo. 16th, 1855. 
 My dbab Friend: 
 
 It is now more than two months since I received thy 
 kind letter, which was very acceptable to me, and which I 
 have often thought I would like to reply to ; but I have 
 had little time of late for writing, and even less qualification 
 
 for ir. Neither is it probable that I can now do much m 
 than just let thee know that thou and thy dear parents, as 
 well as other Friends in your beautiful country, are still 
 had in affectionate remembrance ; nor do I think it prob- 
 able that either your kindness to us as strangers and pil- 
 grims, or the grand scenery in the midst of which you live, 
 and by which you are continually surrounded, will ever he 
 forgottt n while memory lasts. Truly I have great reason 
 to remember mv visit to you. with solid satisfaction and 
 thankfulness ; as it not only proved relieving to my mind, 
 of a heavy burden which had long rested painfully upon 
 it. in anticipation of many difficulties which either had no 
 real existence, or were mercifully made easy and removed: 
 hut your mountain air. the effect of which upon my weak and 
 irritated lungs 1 had dreaded so much, has seemed to prove 
 nf singular benefit to me in that respect; my lungs, since 
 I was there, having been restored to more strength and 
 soundness, apparently, than for a long time before; more 
 so, indeed, than 1 had ever expected they would be again; 
 although my health, in divers other respects, has been 
 wy\ indifferent during much of the past summer and au- 
 tumn. 
 
 .... I never could Bit down and j><(t<-li-)i p what some 
 might call a religious letter; hut which 1 should call dry 
 
 and [ifeleSS, a mere hatch of >eii l inieii t ality. or a repeti- 
 tion of desires and supposed experiences, which, if they 
 were ever well-founded, had become too stale and stereo- 
 typed to he worth anything. 1 would myself prefer to 
 
I v - ••>. j l BOM \> i LD. I ,7 
 
 write and I eive the most ordinary and natural 
 
 thoughts upon common things and occurrenci . 
 
 they were innocent, unh bc a nothing of a higher 01 
 
 does occur in a lively manner; and if thai is the 
 
 children and illiterate persons haveseldom found any great 
 
 difficulty in giving utterance to such impression 
 
 thai thou needed not to have apologized to me, for what 
 
 med i" thyself the commonplace character of thy letter, 
 or for the iniK.ee, n freedom used therein, for [was un- 
 
 feignedly pleased with both 
 
 Av }' :i,1 . v more of your members likely to leave you, and 
 
 Wert : [f so, you must try to keep' up your meetings, 
 and strengthen the things which remain. * J do hope, dear 
 young woman, that thou wilt be careful to keep close to 
 the tendering visitations of Beavenly Good, and the mani- 
 festations of Divine Light and Grace which thou 1 
 already received; and also be obedient to those discoveries 
 of the mind and will of thy Heavenly Father, concerning 
 thyself and the way of truth, which, as thou art faithful, 
 will vet further be revealed. Thar so, as thou growest 
 older in year., thou mayst also experience a growth in the 
 truth, and in the savin- knowledge of Him, whom to know 
 
 ife eternal : and that ethers may continue to be encour- 
 
 1. by thy consistent example, to maintain a faithful 
 testimony to all those precious and peculiar principles 
 which have assuredly been given us to held, including 
 those in regard to plainness both of dress and address, of 
 speech and behaviour. Oh! there is something remark- 
 ably sweet and convincing in the conduct of those young 
 persons, members of our poor, shattered Society, who 
 manifest by an humble, self-denying, cross-bearing deport- 
 ment, that the principles in which they were educated 
 have not been adopted as a thing of course, or receive d by 
 tradition and education merely: but arc the result of 
 heartfelt conviction, ami the manifestations of that Divine 
 Light, which is "the true Light that lighteth every man 
 that cometh into the world." and in which there' is no 
 darkness at all, nor any occasion of Btumbling whatever. 
 . . . This has been written in much haste, and thou 
 
 .;; 
 
I. in: .WD LETTERS OF [1856. 
 
 miisl excuse the appearance of it. I remain thy sincere 
 friend, 
 
 Thomas B. Gould. 
 
 To W. AND E. R. EODGS >N. 
 
 Elmside, 1st month, I9tb, 1856. 
 
 Mv \i:kv dear Friends : 
 
 I received recently a long, good letter, from 
 
 1). II. Without having heard anything of me for a long 
 while, he seemed remarkably dipped into a sense of my 
 -taio; and it was very pleasant and acceptable to me to 
 he thus remembered for e;<><>d by the goodly in the land of 
 the living; although it failed to raise me up. the place of 
 my dwelling being yel " among the pots." Still, if I may 
 be permitted to Bay bo, 1 am nevertheless at times made 
 sensible of the travail, intercession, and help of the faith- 
 ful, when the sceptre is held forth unto them, although not 
 otherwise permitted to behold its extension ; and that, too, 
 in great mercy, even when theydo not tell me BO in words. 
 But 1 do not mean to complain, knowing that I am unwor- 
 thy of the least of the Lord's mercies: and if my life is 
 only preserved, and given me for a prey, and 1 am but 
 enabled to stand in my lot to the end and at the end of the 
 days, it is no matter how low I am brought, either in my 
 own eye- or those of others ; some of whom, no doubt, are 
 ready to say, "Ah ha ! so would we have it !" 
 
 We had the most severe snow-storm, a week 
 
 ago last first-day, that has been known here for many 
 years : and the next third-day night, between ten and 
 twelve o'clock, the "Truro Street House," and four or 
 five other and -mailer houses, were entirely destroyed by 
 fire. All the buildings were of wood, the wind was high, 
 and the secne terrific ! That great house was consumed 
 like a heap of dry shavings, and the whole town, and 
 o untry round, were lighted up with a brilliancy almost 
 equal to daylight. The heavens were overcast with a dense 
 squall cloud, and the ground covered with snow to a depth 
 which rendered many of the streets entirely impassable; 
 
•'.. | TftOMAS B. 001 LD. 189 
 
 the thermom nly two degrees above eero, and the 
 
 \\ A - i that the whole fashionable pari of the 
 
 town being I from destruction, seems remarkable, and, 
 
 under Providence, is mainly attributable to the gi 
 quantity of Bnow on the ground, and on the roof- <»f the 
 houses 
 
 Our rocks and shores present a very different aspect now 
 from what they did when you were here; but truly they 
 are very fine, even in winter; and I think that you would 
 agree with me in this remark, if you could see them now. 
 The contn ween the loi nts and bold promonto- 
 
 ries covered with Bnow, and the deep blue -> a, is very fine, 
 and render- the 3cen$ particularly striking and truly mag- 
 nificent. Last fourth-day the sea was as Btill as a mill- 
 pond. I was at the south shore about a month since, 
 directly after a -Tea; storm; the sea was then almost as 
 white with loam as the ground now is with snow ; and the 
 foam was driven, by the force of the wind, into every little 
 inlet, in such quantities and heaps, that we could not go 
 very near the shore without being ourselves covered with 
 
 it It is, indeed, a great and unspeakable favor, 
 
 that my health is ><> good, and that we arc all preserved 
 in health : and thou wilt not marvel, with the knowledge 
 thou hast of my natural temperament, that it has a good 
 effect upon my spirits 
 
 My M. S. Gt. unite.- with me in dear love to you all. 
 Farewell. * 
 
 As ever, your sincere and affectionate friend. 
 
 Thomas I). Gould. 
 
 The labors and services of this faithful watchman, and 
 Boldier in the Church militant, had been commenced in 
 very early life; and he continued unabated in his zeal for 
 the truth as it is in Jesus, and firm in his testimony against 
 all innovations on it, or perversions thereof. But his 
 Divine Lord and Master now saw it right, in Jli> inscru- 
 table wisdom, after he had suffered awhile in those afflic- 
 tions of the body which still remained for him to fulfil, for 
 
-I 10 LI! i: and LETTERS OF [1856. 
 
 the Church's sake, and For hie entire purification and pre- 
 paration [\>v the world to come, to remove him from further 
 conflict and trial, and receive him to Himself, as fruit early 
 ripened for 1 [is lna\ enlj garner. 
 
 Since his journey in Vermont and New York, his health 
 
 had generally been quite as g 1 as usual for him ; but in 
 
 the latter part of the first month of L856, having taken 
 cold, lie was revisited severely with asthma, which eon- 
 Biderably reduced his strength. After this attack subsided, 
 on the first day of the second month lie was taken with a 
 heavy chill, followed by high fever, and subsequently by 
 acute pain iii his right side, and other symptoms of pleu- 
 risy.* He had much difficulty in breathing, and became 
 rapidly prostrated. During the early part of his sickn< 
 his mind was evidently deeply engaged in frequent waiting 
 on the Almighty, yet without much vocal expression of 
 his Feelings. Hut about the beginning of the second week 
 after the attack, his mouth was opened in thankfulness to 
 the Lord for the sweet incomes of His love and life. He 
 broke forth, that morning, in tin- following acknowledg- 
 ment of His goodness and mercy: **oh! the fulness of 
 joy — the abundance of Jli^ goodness — the sweet peace — 
 
 the glory that J feel ! I could sine; of it ! Yet nothing 
 IS of myself — ii is all in mercy! 1 have not attained to 
 these things through a multiplicity of petitions. Oh no! 
 All that I could do was to throw myself at Jesus' feet; 
 and in His own time, when He saw I had nothing of my 
 own. He was pleased to pour in the oil and the wine." He 
 marvelled that such an experience should have been vouch- 
 safed to him, saying that it was beyoftd anything he had 
 ever conceived ; that lie had never asked anything hut the 
 lowesl seat ; yet. lo! the gates of heaven had been opened 
 
 unto him, and he had heen permitted to see a mansion 
 
 prepared lor him ! Alluding afterward to his bodily suf- 
 ferings, he remarked, that they were intended to bring him 
 
 low. and additionally purify him: adding, " But the Lord 
 
 * This account of hjs sickness and death is compiled from the 
 cnorial of him issued by Rhode [stand Monthly Meeting, and from 
 memoranda and letters from the family, ad< to the editor during 
 
 . or trery Boon after his d< 
 
1 856.] I HOM IS B. 901 LD, 1 \ 1 
 
 Bnpportfl me, and He will supporl me. My life ban 
 it were, upon a single point; I have been aware of my 
 critical situation ; and the power thai supports me is the 
 I l'a power." 
 
 On the ninth day of his sickness he was brought very 
 low, and for several hours appeared to be near the clo 
 in the evening, however, he revived; bul continued fco have 
 very low Binkmg turn- at interval- during the night. On 
 recovering from one of them, he said, " I have had a 
 severe conflict with death; and now the sting of death is 
 taken away." Again, in a few hours, he appeared to be 
 sinking rapidly ; but after a time revived, and exclaimed 
 aloud, u Another victory! another victory! The grave 
 has lost it- terror- now." And once again, toward- morn- 
 ing, on reviving from a similar great prostration, he Baid, 
 "Now 1 have triumphed over death, hell, and the grave! 
 These are hard words, but they are true. Christ has 
 given me the victory.** 
 
 On third-day. the twelfth of the month, his brother-in- 
 law, George Kenyon, coming to sec him, lie said, on his 
 entering the room. "Although my earthly house of tins 
 tabernacle he dissolved. I have a building of God, an house 
 not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.'* Again, 
 " My weaknesses and propensities have been as a cloud, 
 and as a thick cloud, they have been blotted out. My 
 sins have all been forgiven ; I have been sanctified, and 
 thoroughly cleansed.'' 
 
 On fourth-day morning, when asked by J. B., how he 
 had passed the night, he said, "This has been a crowning 
 night to me: I have -ecu things not lawful to be uttered!" 
 The same day. a friend calling to see him, he said, "I 
 seem to have been all day grasping for life, holding on to 
 it as by a single thread ; but I have been wonderfully 
 iforted, and strengthened, and helped/' Then, alluding 
 to a time previous to his illness, he remarked, U I looked 
 all night for my Beloved; I Bought him in the streets, but 
 I could not find Him, He hid Himself i'v<>u\ me: but He 
 has comforted and strengthened me DOW." lie then ex- 
 claimed, "Great and marvellous are Thy works, Lord God 
 Almighty! — just and true are Thy ways, thou King of 
 
442 liii: am> LETTERS OF [1856. 
 
 saints." The Bame day he said, "The Lord had made all 
 hia bed in this Bicknesi — thai it was a< a bed of roses." 
 1 [e was bo low that he waa desired aot to exert himself too 
 much to speak : but he replied, " When the Master is 
 pleased to say it is enough, I can be silent :" that, although 
 he was bo very weak and low, he Bhould be supported; 
 then added, "This is very different from anything I ever 
 anticipated, to have bo much to Bay at such a time as this. 
 There arc times when words must be spoken; and it' they 
 arc not spoken, the very stones would cry out." 
 
 On fifth-day evening, after lying some time in a state 
 of great quietness and exhaustion, seeming scarcely to 
 breathe, he suddenly revived, and exclaimed in a clear 
 voice, "Glory! glory! hallelujah! — Oh! I could sing of 
 redemption, of this great redemption; and of regenera- 
 tion, of thorough, heartfelt regeneration." The family 
 coming into the room, he continued speaking in this tri- 
 umphant strain of praise and thanksgiving for about half 
 an hour; during which, among other expressions, lie re- 
 peated, with great emphasis, "Out of Zion, the perfection 
 of beauty, God hath shined." After this, he again sunk 
 very low for a time; and when a little revived, he repeated 
 this passage: "Filling up that which is behind, of the Buf- 
 ferings of Christ, in my flesh, for his body's sake, which is 
 the Church." 
 
 During the night, he said to those about him: "I am 
 going to take a little rest now, and in that rest I may leave 
 you; if 1 do, you will know that I am safe; I am going 
 to Bleep on dou-' bosom." lie then fell asleep. At 
 
 another time lie said : % * IIow r often, of late, have 1 longed 
 
 for real — rest and quiet! — Oh, how joyous would be that 
 
 resl ! But thi8 desire to go, is not resignation — 1 must 
 know a perfect willingness wrought in me to remain, to 
 perform some service which has been shown me in times 
 past, hut which I shrunk from, on account of the painful 
 nature of it. But Cor this unfaithfulness, 1 might have 
 passed away this beautiful morning, as the i\[\y dawned, 
 and been forever at rest." After a time, lie was favored 
 
 to experience an entire resignation of his own will; and 
 said, "Now> 1 can truly .-ay. not my will, hut thine, ( I 
 
1 S -V>. J THOMAS B. GOULD. I L8 
 
 Lord, be done." It was not until he had thus become 
 fully resigned to perform the deeply exercisin ice, 
 
 which he had fell to be required of him, thai the will ap- 
 pears to have been accepted for the deed, and the work 
 cut short in righteousness. He experienced many low 
 Beasons; and at such a time said : "1 see what is for me; 
 there is great relief, great blessing in Btore for me — but 1 
 am too low to receive it; too ttw. I must be raised up; 
 
 1 can't lay hold of it." And then, after a time of reve- 
 rent silence, songs of praise ami thanksgiving Bowed from 
 his lips, in clear, audible tones. 
 
 At one time, he d all to be very quiet : and said. 
 
 lie wanted to be sure that the Captain of his soul's salva- 
 tion was kept en board hid little barque — he must not lose 
 
 Sight of Him. At another time, he exclaimed. ** Surely, 
 this is the house of God, thfe is the gate of heaven:" and 
 repeated it several times. " Lift up. lift up. oh ye gal 
 that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may 
 enter in." Again, he repeated, "The glorious Lord will 
 l»e unto us a place of broad rivers and streams, wherein 
 shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass 
 thereby." He said, " I see no danger in humiliation, but 
 great danger in exaltation." Sometimes he would ex- 
 claim. "Glory! glory! hallelujah! praise the Lord:" 
 and Baid, "he felt lifted above all things. — the moon was 
 under his feet — his joy was full: there were rivers of joy, 
 fountains of joy. and he was bathing in it." And the 
 room did seem at such times to be filled with the Divine 
 Presence. He said, he had read accounts of the triumphs 
 of ancient worthies, but it had been mere history to him, 
 compared with this. He could not have thought it pos- 
 sible for man so to taste the joys of heaven, and remain 
 in the body. At times, he spoke to the states of those 
 around him, in a manner that was to them truly memora- 
 ble, seeming to have a vivid sense of their feelings and 
 thoughts. On one of these occasions, he had been saying 
 something so remarkable, that his brother-in-law felt a 
 momentary doubt, whether there was not a little undue 
 excitement of mind, but remained silent. The moment 
 this doubt arose, Thomas suddenly stopped, and looking 
 
■1 I \ \AV\: AND LETTERS OF [18 
 
 anxiously a1 him, Baid: " Brother George, thou art doubt- 
 ing! Don't doubl again: it will lead thee into difficulty. 
 What 1 have said, is truth 1" 
 
 At one time, when permitted to be closely tried, he ex- 
 claimed, in tones of agony, "] shall be swallowed up! 
 I shall be swallowed up!" — but very soon afterwards 
 he solemnly petitioned, "Holy Father, vouchsafe thine 
 aid!" — and continued in vocal supplication for some mi- 
 nutes. When he ceased, the overflowings of divine con- 
 solation were so great, that he cried out, "they were all 
 too much ; that there was not room to receive all the good- 
 ness that the Lord had revealed to him, a poor worm of 
 the dust." In speaking of this extremity afterwards, he 
 said, "I was made more than conqueror," &c. On one 
 occasion he said: "My faith is strong; I Jive by faith, 
 yet not I, but Christ within me. Tt is the Lord's power, 
 that supports me and keeps me alive." 
 
 He expressed admiration that lie should be called upon 
 to Bay so much, remarking, Wk I have not been accustomed 
 to speak of my own attainments — Martha, thou knowest 
 that I have not. But now I can do no other." That 
 Mime had passed through these things without saying 
 much, but that it was his duty to proclaim them: and he 
 exclaimed, "Oh. the fulness of Divine Love! it is as a 
 river to swim in!" — often repeating the words, "Holy, 
 holy, holy: worthy, worthy!" vS:c. 
 
 On the eighteenth of the month, lie had a suffering 
 night, and said more than once in a whisper (for now his 
 voice had much failed, and articulation was difficult), 
 " How long, deai- Saviour, how long?" 
 
 He wa< remarkably relieved of anxiety in regard to the 
 -late of the Society: far more so than usual. Speaking 
 of its -battered condition, he said, " We must leave it in 
 the hand- of the Lord; for He will have the ordering* of 
 
 * Son.<- have of late attempted t<» bHow from this saying, that Thomas 
 B. G-ould's view here was to inculcate the need of our giving up "con- 
 tending for the faith" altogether t<> the Lord, in a confidence that He 
 would hims< {/"bring about His own work without the usi of instruments ; 
 h reasonera intending by this, to imply, that a continued holding op 
 of (he testimony through all opposition, is creaturely zeal; ami so to 
 
1 vV>.] THOMAS B. GOULD. 1 15 
 
 the battle ;" repeating it many times over; and adding, 
 k * tlh no cause for discouragement/ ' 
 
 Once when he Beemed to speak, being asked it* he wanted 
 anything, he replied, "I hear Bweet music, rapturous 
 music, songs of the redeemed!" At another time, during 
 this night, he Beemed somewhat restless; when a part of 
 the 103d Psalm was repeated to him. When he heard the 
 words, w * Who redeemeth thy life from destruction/ 1 he 
 I, " Yes, He has redeemed it, and He will redeem it." 
 
 On fourth-day, the twentieth of the month, being two 
 days before his close, lie Beemed to have less to Bay than 
 usual, and to bo very thoughtful. When inquired of, if 
 he felt more poorly, he replied, " My thoughts are full of 
 immortality and eternal life." 
 
 , A friend, who was frequently with him during his ill- 
 ness, thus writes : 
 
 " If I had a memory as some have, how many things 
 of deep interest I could tell ; but the sweet, full, over- 
 flowing sense of his perfection and everlasting happiness 
 is more to me than all. I have read many accounts of 
 great and good men ending their days full of hope and in 
 great peace; but never did I dream that I should have 
 the privilege of being a witness of the power and glory of 
 God through Jesus Christ, being revealed in so wonderful 
 a manner in one of His servants. Thomas said, when 
 recounting the unspeakable favors which he had received, 
 ' that very few in this latter day had been permitted to see 
 what he had seen.' At one time, he thanked the Lord, 
 that he had been counted worthy to suffer persecution for 
 His Name's sake. Once when I went in to see him, he 
 held my hand, and began to speak in the most sweet and 
 prophetic strain, of great companies which should be gath- 
 ered together, to hear the preaching and receive the sweet 
 
 slacken the hands of Friends. But this is evidently a perversion of his 
 meaning ; as the v>ord "ordering" plainly implies that there are to be 
 soldiers, or servants, in their proper allotments, to obey the Divine 
 commands, evidently in allusion to 1 Kings 20:14: and more than 
 once during his sickness, he clearly expressed the u unity of his spirit'' 
 with those who were still engaged in the conflict against spiritual wick- 
 edness in high places j naming several, and sending messages. 
 
 38 
 
446 LIFE AM) LETTERS OF [18;V>. 
 
 outpourings of the Gospel. He said, -There is a new con- 
 gregation to be gathered in Philadelphia. 1 
 
 "He said to his wife, 'there should be such a visitation 
 in the earth, as had never been — such a pouring out of the 
 Spirit — but it would not be in our day — it would not he 
 till the next century. 1 His mind was so filled to overflow- 
 ing, with the enjoyments of heaven, that, much of the 
 time, he hardly regarded his bodily sufferings. — When 
 Martha and Jt. S. N. would urge him to take something to 
 strengthen him, lie would look them sweetly in the face, 
 and say, ' I have meat to eat, that ye know not of.' On 
 fifth-day. when I came from meeting, I found him restless : 
 hut. oh. how heavenly was his face ! I could not see that 
 he was dying — none of us could see it — in wisdom was it 
 hid from US." 
 
 On the twenty-second, the last day of his continuance, 
 he said much that could not be understood, owing to his 
 great weakness, and the difficulty of articulation above 
 alluded to; hut several times in the course of the day, he 
 impressively repeated the passage, " That which may be 
 known of God, is manifest in man." Towards evening, 
 his wife perceiving a change in him, said, "Dearest Tho- 
 mas, art thou going':" After one ineffectual attempt to 
 speak, he made another effort, and said, "Farewell, fare- 
 well, farewell !" which were the last words he uttered. 
 Bui he was entirely sensible to the last, understood what 
 was said, and responded to it by a look, only a few mi- 
 nute- before the close. All the agonies of death appeared 
 to have been passed through, previous to this time; his 
 breathing, which had been difficult, became easy, but shorter 
 and shorter; there was now no struggle, and he quietly 
 and peacefully passed away, aboul eight o'clock in the 
 
 mg. 
 
 Thus did it please the Head of the Church, in His fa- 
 thomless wisdom, to cut short the work, and remove, in 
 the prime of life and the meridian of usefulness, one on 
 whom many hopes had been placed of more extensive ser- 
 vice in a day to come, for the comfort and strength of the 
 remnant left of the captivity; and to whom the hearts of 
 the living in Urael had become closely bound, in that fed- 
 
L856, ] THOlf Lfl i:. GOULD. I 17 
 
 lowship which hath Christ, the Lamb, for its centre — the 
 Lord Almighty for its Alpha and its Omega 1 Bui Be who 
 the eery fountain of wisdom, shall Be doI ever do 
 wisely? And Be that teacheth his servant knowledge, 
 shall Be not know what is best for Bis Church and people 
 in their every need ? 
 
 In a consideration of the calm, composed and heavenly 
 frame of the spirit of this our brother, towards the close 
 of his earthly pilgrimage, oven under the pains of mortal 
 illness and with the near prospect of dissolution, how clear 
 
 is the evidence that his course had been acceptable to the 
 Great Shepherd of the flock : and that he had not followed 
 
 cunningly devised fables in advocating the cause of pure 
 and primitive Christianity, and in standing unflinchingly, 
 through obloquy and persecution, for the ancient land- 
 marks of his profession! Well may Ave adore the good- 
 ness of God in making him what he was through His 
 Grace; for to Him alone all the praise belongs. And in 
 looking at the wonderful foretaste of the joys of Heaven, 
 which was thus vouchsafed to him while in the body, for his 
 own comfort and support, and for the confirmation of the 
 faith of those whom he has left behind, truly may Ave ac- 
 knowledge, that " this is the Lord's doing, and marvellous 
 in our eyes !" 
 

 

 
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