filass -fi / "7-7 «-r 3£> SELECTIONS FROM TH LETTERS AND MANUSCRIPTS OF THE LATE SUSANNA MASON; WITH A BRIEF MEMOIR OF HER LIFE, BY HER DAUGHTER. RACKLIFF & JONES, PRINTERS, S. W. CORNER OF GEORGE & SWANWICK STREETS. 1836. P!?4 ■ 01: Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1836, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. CONTENTS. Biography of Susanna Mason, . Letter to Sarah Orrick, 1769, . Criticism, . Letter on Profane Swearing, Letter to C. M. of Philadelphia, 1770. Letter from C. M. to S; M. 1770, Letter dated Mount Welcome, Cecil Count}-, Letter dated Mount Welcome, Cecil County, Self-Communion, Letter describing a Love x\dventure, Letter to P. M. Philadelphia, 1770, Letter to C. M. of Philadelphia, 1770, Letter to C. M. of Philadelphia, 1770, Extract from a letter, dated, 1771, Letter to P. M. of Philadelphia, 1772, Extract from a Letter to a Friend in England Extract from a letter, dated 1773, Letter recounting a lover's mistake, Answer to a piece published in the Pennsylvania signed " an Old Bachelor," Sketch of a visit to Deer Creek in 1828, Letter to Richard Hopkins, South River, 1774, Letter to Susan Hopkins, 1774, . Answer from S. H. to J. C. 1774, Letter referring to a wedding, Letter to Philadelphia, 1776, Mags Page 9 27 29 32 36 38 40 45 53 54 58 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 71 74 82 SI CONTENTS. Letter to C. M. 1776, . . . Letter to C. M. 1776, .... Letter to Christopher Marshall, 1777, . The Christian's Strength, 1777, . Letter to Levin Hopkins, 1778, . Letter to Levin Hopkins, 1778, . Letter to M. O. 1778, .... Letter to Friends in Lancaster Jail, 1778, A Brother personated, . . . A Poetical Address to an Officer of distinction, 1778, Fragment, ..... Sketch of a Journey through some parts of Pennsylvania Letter dated Philadelphia, 1779, . . Observations respecting S. M. Letter to Dr. ,1783, Letter on Education, .... Extract from a Letter to a desponding friend, . Letter respecting domestic disasters, A Dream, ..... Reflection, ..... Repentance, ..... Supplication, ..... Observations, ..... Character of a genuine Christian and Minister of the Gospel, ..... A just representation of a Pennsylvania farm, Slavery, ..... Letter to J. G. 1790, . . . . Occurrence, with remarks, " Prosperity makes friends, and adversity tries them," Thoughts upon Education, Christian Charity, .... Page CONTENTS. Philom's Vision, .... On the Ministry, .... The way to administer reproof, . Memoirs of S. M. written by herself, A sketch of Ellicott's Mills, and an account of Benjamin Eanneker compiled from remembrances of 1796, A Poetical Address to Benjamin Banneker, 1796, An Address to the Deity, 1796, . . To an amiable young Friend who expressed a desire to become a subject of the Muse, 1796, Remarks relating to S. M. Letters to her daughter, 177 209 213 215 240 244 249 249 251 . 252,254,255, 256, 258, 260, 261, 262, 265, 267, 271, 289. 259 268 277 281 283 284 287 292 294 296 299 300 302 304 307 308 310 311 273, 275, 279, 280, Letter to her son, in 1797, Extract, 1797, . . Letter to her cousin, E.M. 1797, Letter to E. M. Philadelphia, 1798, Letter to C. and P. M. and Family, 1798 Letter from South River, 1800, . Remarks, Letter to H. O. Philadelphia in 1803, Letter to C. and P. M. 1804, Letter to E. M. 1805, . Remarks, Letter from Benjamin Swett to Susanna Hopkins, 1772, Letter from Anthony Benezett to S. H. 1775, Letter from Job Scott to Susanna Mason, 1788, Extract from a Letter from Catharine Haines to S. M. Letter from Catharine F. Wistar to Susanna Mason, Selections by S. M. Poetry, ...... INTRODUCTION. Long- shall my care the sweet memorials save," The hand that traced them rests within the grave." E. Smith. With a desire to preserve from oblivion every deli- neation of the mind and character of a beloved mother, I have long been collecting such letters as are yet ex- tant ; but from among the numerous epistolary friends who, from early life till within the last eight years of her sojourn with the children of probation corresponded with her, I regret that so few compositions have been gathered. Several that are here presented signed S. H., were taken from rough draughts found among her pa- pers, some with neither superscription nor date ; but they have been arranged according to the supposed pe- riod of time in which they were written, before she had so fully submitted to the refining process of truth, which, in after years, circumscribed her pen to more serious themes. I am well aware, that the happiest efforts of her pen previously to her marriage, are among the missing, as letters to her, from men, eminent in talents and exalted in piety, evince that her literary productions were highly 2 VI INTRODUCTION. appreciated by them ; but they have long since ceased to mingle with the habitants of earth, and their descend- ants are scattered, and to me unknown. But these, defective as they may appear to the criti- cal observer, will, I believe, be perused with interest by those to whom her memory is still precious ; and being frequently solicited by many to give them access to the manuscript in my keeping, I have become wil- ling to dispose them into a little volume, in order to gratify all who may wish to scan its pages. " Thoughts on Education," I believe were written with a view to publication, as the theme was dear to her heart, and her desire active, to arouse the attention of pa- rents and teachers to the importance of impressing upon the youthful mind the culture of the moral law, as given in its purity by the Saviour of men. " The Reverie, or Vision, written by a Mother for the instruction of her children," was more particularly designed for their bene- fit. It appears in part, to be an imitation of allegories to the same print, already extant ; but should it serve to arrest one soul gliding down the current of Time, re- gardless of the vortex into which habits adverse to the precepts and doctrine of the blessed Redeemer fail not to draw the mind, I trust her motive will be answered, for the word of the Lord, through whatever medium conveyed to his rational creation, " shall not return unto him void, but shall accomplish that which He please, and prosper in the thing where unto it is sent." It may be observed by the dates, that at least thirty INTRODUCTION. Vll years have rolled away since the last traces of her pen : and taking into view the advancement of literature in this country since that day, allowance must be made by the connoisseur in modes of expression, should excep- tions to harmony fall upon his ear. My endeavours have been to preserve her sentiments unchanged ; hence her own phraseology has been retained in every import- ant point she has touched upon. Some words now obsolete or seldom used, will occa- sionally present, but they may be found in the Diction- ary compiled in part by Thomas Dyche, author of the Guide to the English Tongue, and completed by Wil- liam Pardon, which was published in 1771, and to which she most probably referred. With a desire that the attention of the reader may dwell upon the doctrine of self-denial, regeneration, and an humble walk before God, which she has placed among the essentials to salvation, more than upon scholastic at- tainments, this volume is submitted to the Public. A SKETCH CHARACTER OF SUSANNA MASON In drawing the distinguishing features of a charac- ter, that from the earliest dawn of remembrance has been associated with the warmest affections of the heart, it may be supposed that the delineation has received some touches from the hand of partiality ; but from the memoirs, letters, and other writings here presented, a pretty correct estimate of her mind may be gathered. She was the daughter of William and Rachel Hop- kins, of Deer Creek, Harford County, Maryland. Her father was a Member of the Religious Society of Friends, her mother belonged to the Episcopal Church, and was a diligent adherer to its rites and ceremonies for many years after her marriage ; the daughters, three in number, were committed to her guidance in spiritual matters; the sons attended worship with their father, though without restriction on either side. Most of her early years were spent in acquiring the best education that country schools at that time afford- ed ; but to her own energies, love of literature, and re- 2* 10 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. fleeting habits, she owed more than to aid received from teachers. She was endowed with a lively imagination ; her wit keen and well directed against the follies that so frequently blemish the beauty and dignity of the ra- tional creation, cast her at a distance from the vain de- votees at the altar of self complacency, and caused them to shrink from her critecism. But she was aware that this propensity needed a vigilant guard, which may be deduced from the following fragment found among her papers: " I experience with Paul, a law in my mem- bers, warring against the law of my mind, and inducing me to do at times, that which I would not, a disposi- tion to sport and vagary, and in my most serious mo- ments, when occasion presents, I see it as quickly as a spider a fly that is entangled in its web, of which the wily creature takes advantage. Perhaps the ease and tranquillity of my present condition in life, render me more obnoxious to such temptations which I know to be hurtful to the better part. I sometimes feel a long- ing of soul to partake more fully of that cup and bap- tism, which I am sensible can only purify from all dross and defilement ; but should they be administered in larger draughts and deeper plungings, perhaps feeble na- ture would shrink and repine under them." In early life, an attachment subsisted between her and a young clergyman, and his premature death, probably strengthened the bias of her mind to retirement, read- ing, and reflection. She had an uncle and aunt Hall, residing at Mount MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 11 Welcome, in Cecil County, Maryland, where many of the hours of her youthful hilarity were spent, and from whence some of her letters are dated that describe her amusements and avocations whilst there. She also made frequent visits to Philadelphia, where she was kindly welcomed by her affectionate relatives, Charles and Patience Marshall, in whose house of hospitable fame she ever found an agreeable home. Here, her so- ciety was courted and her talents appreciated by many of the first order in the literary galaxy of that day, and among her intimate friends were enrolled the names of Benezet, Duche, Hopkinson, and many others of dif- ferent religious denominations ; for she was not a secta- rian, but willingly accepted the fruits of mind wherever offered, and assimilated with practical piety regardless of its external habiliments. As nearly as can be ascertained from circumstances, she became a member of the Religious Society of Friends, about her twentieth year. It is to be regretted that so scanty a record of this interesting period is ne- cessarily made, as the contemporaries of the morning of her day have all filled up their measure of probation, and been added to the myriads of spiritual beings from whom no tidings return to mortal ears. In 1779, she entered into matrimonial connexion with George Mason, of Chester County, Pennsylvania, and removed to reside with him on his paternal inheritance. Of this seat of industry, rural beauty, and comfort, she has given a correct delineation in a poetical epistle, ad- 12 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. dressed from a friend in the country to a friend in the city. Here, blessed with peace and competency, she proved herself a grateful receiver by " a closer walk with God," and having embraced the cross of Christ in the morn- ing of her day, she was concerned to fill up her mea- sure of duties with a steady eye to the divine injunc- tion, to do unto others as she would they should do unto her. Not long after the transfer of her right of membership from Deer Creek to New Garden monthly meeting, she was successively appointed an overseer and an elder in the church, and in the relative respon- sibilities devolving upon each of those stations, she en- deavoured to act as a steward who must render an account, seeking after the wandering sheep of the flock, and with the persuasiveness of gospel love, tempting them back to the fold of safety. Her society was particularly attractive to those in early life who were in quest of improvement: with these she harmoniously blended in social communion, not closely scanning their inexperience, but holding out incentives to press after the useful and the refined in mental acquisitions : she was frequently made the con- fident of their attempts to select the fruits and flowers of literature, and her aid invited in the arrangement thereof. Her tender regard for the feelings of those placed in the station of domestics in the family, was worthy of remembrance and of imitation ; every re- quest her children made of them, must be in respectful MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 13 terms ; nor did she tolerate a rehearsal of their defects, or the unguarded expressions of dislike or discontent, which are often elicited from these children of toil un- connected with any requisitions on the part of those who claim their labour. Once going to her with tidings from the kitchen respecting one who occupied that de- partment, which I thought must gain access to her ear, after hearing the matter, she proposed a humiliating re- ward for the tale : It was a just rebuke which I have appreciated through all the subsequent periods of my life, often having had to mourn over the latitude which many parents give their children in this particular. When I had sufficiently recovered from the mortifica- tion to hear an admonition, she called me to her and remonstrated on the impropriety of watching over any one for evil ; that I was not acquainted with the many things that occurred in the line of their daily avocations to fret and try their tempers, and should they say or do any thing under excitement of this kind, it was very likely they would soon feel sorry for it, and hope it was unnoticed ; that it was not doing as I would be done by to expose their weakness and destroy her confidence in them. But the better to guard the susceptible minds of those committed to her maternal guidance, she kept us from associating with those whose labour was needful to her, but whose manner and converse were often baneful to the inexperienced, hence we were her hourly companions ; by her we were instructed in the rudi- ments of education, and till the most of us had attained 14 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. our twelfth year, were we not entrusted to the care of other teachers. Frequently were we directed by her to an unfailing monitor in our own breasts, and desired to test our con- duct by its unerring standard ; if peace were wanting, then had we transgressed against that all-seeing eye who scans the inmost recesses of every heart, and dis- covers every secret motive, whether it centre in selfish feelings or have its basis on the love of God and man ; and ever shall I have cause to commemorate with gra- titude, her vigilance in setting before us the awful con- sequences of a departure from strict veracity. To give the greater force to her precepts, frequently were the pages of the inspired penmen opened to our inspection, and portions selected to suit the occasion : thus the fate of Ananias and Sapphira admonished us on one point, whilst the different states of Dives and Lazarus urged to an humble walk before God, who makes the lowly in heart the objects of his peculiar care and love. It was her invariable practice to peruse every book before we were privileged to read it ; having, as she apprehended, made her pathway to the kingdom of pu- rity and peace more difficult to tread by her own in- dulgent excursions over regions of fancy and falsehood ; she was particularly careful to warn us of the danger, and to guard every outlet of our mind from seeking af- ter, or participating in the deleterious fruits which clus- ter around an untutored imagination ; and knowing our incompetency to discriminate between the sweet native MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 15 flowrets of the wild, and the poisonous herbage that lux- uriates in equal beauty before the observer, inexperien- ced in research into the component properties of the human mind, she permitted no tale of fiction, save the Vicar of Wakefield, to be placed within our reach ; this, with selections from Homer's Iliad, his Odyssey, the allegories of Addison and Johnson, the poetry of Thomson, and other chaste and approved authors, formed our light reading. Thus did she endeavour, day by day, to acquit herself of the solemn obligation to train us up in the fear of the Lord, and to preserve us from the desolating inroads of a selfish worldly spirit ; and however far we may fall short of attaining the mark to which her aim was directed, yet to her, I believe, the language is applicable, " let her alone, she hath done what she could." In the cause of injured innocence she was intrepid. Regardless of the high standing of the calumniator as to wealth, power or influence, she stepped forth the advo- cate of the wantonly assailed character, and silenced detraction, either by opposing truths in her possession, or an inquiry whence came the liberty to assail th© absent, or cast a venomous weapon at an unarmed and unsuspecting brother or sister in the common relation of life. The cause that she knew not she searched out, not for the mean purpose of relating to others a tale of human weaknesses, but for the benign object of restoring to the path of rectitude those who had wan- dered therefrom. 16 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. With a mind duly impressed with the scriptural truth, that "to him thatknoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin," it was her practice to seek those who were bearing deteriorating charges and tell them thereof, thereby giving them an opportunity to rebut falsehood or take the admonition to amend their ways. In thus doing, she felt that she was discharging an obligation which, as Christians bound " to watch over each other for good," was due at her hands. The people of colour who were placed under her care and direction, shared her endeavours to promote their present and future good, and like her own children, were instructed at stated hours in the day in reading, sewing, knitting, and other useful branches of educa- tion. She had been reared on the labour of slaves ; her mother introduced a number into the family at the time of her marriage, in addition to those held by her father ; and at the period when it became the discipline of the Society of Friends in Maryland to free itself from this piece of injustice to these oppressed children of the same heavenly lineage, and created for the sa*me glori- ous end, according to the purposes of Infinite Wisdom, who " made of one blood, all the nations of men to dwell upon the earth," her father mis takingly imagined their services were indispensable in carrying on his husbandry, and preferred relinquishing his right of mem- bership, to awarding them their native rights ; this the more strongly impressed upon her mind, the debt due from her to these defrauded people, who, after the de- MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 17 mise of her mother, were all manumitted by her de- scendants ; those whom she took into her own family- she regarded with parental desires for their advance- ment in the scale of being, and endeavoured to raise their minds to a just estimate of their designed dignity on the theatre of action. Culinary preparations were abridged on the first day of the week, in order to make way for their attendance of religious meetings, where they were seen nearly as punctually as her own children, and ever were they as ready to administer to her comfort, as if a bond of consanguinity had bound them thereto. To their kindness to her through a season of peculiar trial meted to her in the inscrutable wisdom of Him who oft- times makes darkness his pavilion, she has paid a tribute of grateful remembrance in a short memoir of that deso- lating period, wherein a son, daughter, and little coloured girl were all called from time into eternity, in the short space of four days ; and she immediately after, was laid on a bed of excruciating bodily suffering, and her mind enveloped in clouds and thick darkness, wherein she was led to bewail her condition as one without hope ; but He who apportions to his children the discipline needful for their refinement from the dregs of earth, in his own due and appointed time, was pleased to say, " it is enough,' ' and gave her " the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness." Her health, long delicate, sustained a shock at that time, from which she never wholly reco- vered. Having removed with her family to Baltimore, 3 18 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON* a few months previously to this afflictive season, she found a change of air needful to her wasted physical powers, and accordingly went into the country, where she remained till the autumn, when, finding herself much recovered, she returned to the city and resumed her domestic duties : and in accordance with an im- pression long resting on her mind, that she was called to exert the talents entrusted to her, in giving instruc- tion to the rising youth, for this purpose she opened a school, which was soon filled with as many as she felt competent to manage ; but as the warm season again returned, her strength failed, and my father being dis- posed to explore the western wilds, for a situation more healthful and agreeable to him, and where his two remaining children might be brought up detached from the contaminating examples that surround those who are cast among " the busy haunts of men," set out on that expedition, and my mother concluded to break up housekeeping, store the furniture, place my brother at a school, provide situations for her trusty domestics, and take me with her to her sister Waters, in Prince George's county, from whom she had long been sepa- rated. This plan she put in execution, and to which she refers in her memoirs. Here, most of the summer passed away, but her feeble frame needed more efforts to regain its wonted powers, and her mind being turned toward her beloved friends in Philadelphia, thither we bent our course. There she spent several weeks in pleasant intercourse with many who were dear to her, MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 19 and with whom she had often taken sweet counsel in her frequent attendance of the Yearly Meetings held there, and of which she had been an active and useful member till her removal from within its verge. My father having by this time returned from his western expedition, so well pleased that he contem- plated locating his family there the succeeding summer or autumn, wished once more to view his paternal habi- tation, and mingle with the kind friends and compa- nions of his " gone by days," came and met her in Philadelphia ; and . after a time of consultation, they concluded to leave me under the charge of their valua- ble relatives C. and P. Marshall, that I might have an opportunity of attending school, and gaining instruction in many useful things. This was a close trial to both, as we had never long been separated from each other ; but before we parted she gave me many admonitions, and directions how to demean myoolf. Her deep soli- citude for my present and eternal welfare, is depicted in lively colours in some of her letters addressed to me during the period of my sojourn there. Among the objects of her coneern was a fear that my reading would not be judicious, and in serious accents she warned me against the perusal of novels : on this point her testimony was strong, being built on experience, and any book prejudicial to the morals, or subversive of the order of the gospel, if found in the hands of her sons, was apt to find an appropriate position in the fire ; they, never presuming to inquire concerning its fate ; 20 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MA.SON. for, with a strength of affection seldom if ever surpass- ed, she blended a firmness that made her word a law, and rendered a second solicitation to swerve therefrom needless. She carefully surveyed her motives for a refusal before the words passed her lips, and the futile promises so often made and so often broken by many parents, how they will act in case of future default, were to us unknown. When we committed deeds worthy of punishment, it was then inflicted so as ul- timately to spare her feelings the repetition of unplea- sant contests, to promote our happiness, and to relieve those with whom we mingled from the annoyance of witnessing commands reiterated, but still eluded or wholly disregarded. Hence arises a proneness in chil- dren to evade the truth, seeing its mandates are not implicitly obeyed by those on whom their penetrating eyes are turned for example. After* short sojourn in Chester County, they re- turned to Baltimore, and in the spring my father again set out for the west, with a determination to make ar- rangements there for the reception of his dispersed family. My mother remained in Baltimore with her kind and sympathising friends, J. and M. Carey ; be- ing separated from husband and children, and uncertain where her lot in life would be cast, she passed through deep baptisms, but the sustaining arm of Almighty Goodness was underneath, and preserved her feeble bark from sinking beneath the beating waves. Thus months passed on, and seeing no way to leave the city MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 21 except on occasional visits to her friends and relatives in different parts of the country, her mind was ardently engaged to press after a state of entire resignation to the will of her heavenly Father, who, knowing the in- firmities of his children, graciously administers the very regimen suited to a cure ; and though bitter the com- pound, yet she patiently and meekly accepted the cha- lice from his sanative hand, and found living virtue therein, and "like ships in seas, whilst in" she dwelt " above the world." My Father having selected a spot he thought would answer his purpose, was engaged in culturing and mak- ing the requisite preparations before introducting his family, unused to the difficulties and privations experi- enced in newly settled countries, but owing, as she be- lieved, to a secretly guiding power that often wisely frustrates many a seemingly fair prospect, he could not find, liberty to proceed, but remained to gather in his produce and settle up his business there. Eighteen months had now rolled around, and her health somewhat renovated, she determined upon re- suming her school, and meeting with every encourage- ment she desired, she once more found herself sur- rounded by a numerous flock of little immortals, for whom she was deeply interested, and who took so firm a hold upon her affections, that her most pleasing avo- cations were in their service. Her dispersed family be- ing once more collected, time glided on in a smooth and gentle current, and her heart expanded in gratitude 22 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. to the Author of every good and perfect gift, in that the well spring of life was again open and hei spirit privi- leged to drink from its invigorating stream, whilst re- newed health, peace, and competency were her portion. In the liberty that truth gives, she was now seen the cheerful companion in the habitations of her many kind friends, and her feelings enlisted in the innocent plea- santry of those in the morning walks of life ; she fre- quently was my attendant in the visits I made, and my contemporaries gave to none other a warmer welcome to their social board. To the poor and the afflicted she was a kind benefac- tress and friend. Moved with sympathy for sufferings her own resources were inadequate to meet, she promo- ted the organization of a female association for their re- lief, in the winter of 1797 ; the first, I believe, of the kind in Baltimore, at least none existed at that time to explore the lowly dwellings of the widow and the fa- therless, and to pour the oil of gladness into their hearts, by supplying the pittance needful to their con- dition. This society elected her its secretary, which office she held for several years, whilst it continued its successful operations in meliorating the wants of those who were unable to help themselves. But not to this class only was her benevolence ex- tended. To those whose improvidence had reduced them from affluence or a comfortable competency, to need the bread that had once fallen from their own ta- bles, and whose children were sharing the penalty of MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 23 parental prodigality, she extended a helping hand, and with her own, and occasional supplies from those to whom she had related the tale of their woes, she fre- quented the markets, and with an eye to economy but to wholesome fare, procured for them the needful sup- plies from week to week, till the severity of the winter was passed, and work suited to their capacity to exe- cute more readily attained. Eight years were thus numbered without any thing materially diverse from the lot of mortality to mark their course, though' her health was very precarious, and several violent spells of illness aroused our fears ; but at length in the vicissitudes of life, and in the ful- filment of the inscription attached to all of earth, I saw with an anxious eye the inroads of that disease, which when once entered is seldom dislodged till its work terminates in the silence of the grave. An increased cough, hectics, nightly sudorifics were the harbingers that conveyed to my mind the dread tidings that she, whose counsel had been my guide in juvenile days, and whose companionship had enlightened and cheered my maturer years, was about to leave me desolated of all that gave most of value to human life. For two years she continued to vacillate from great languor to renewed strength ; but at length the period came, when the measure of probation was filled, and the redeemed spirit called to join its kindred throng " In worlds beyond the sun, Where Time's far wand'ring tide has never run." 24 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. She was confined to her chamber only two weeks, and during that time conversed but little ; she said she regretted the doctors had prescribed anodynes for her cough ; that she would refuse taking them were it to do over again, in order that her mind might be more alive at such an important period, though she could not see how the scale would turn, but she was resigned either way ; she believed her work was done ; she charged me ne- ver to lose my hold on the precious Faith which in the course of her vicissitudes, she thought she had some- times nearly done. Among the many evidences that in foretaste she was participating in heavenly scenes, a few days before her release, when just arousing from a slumber, she called me to her bed side, and queried who were all those lit- tle girls and boys with wings on their shoulders, and who looked like angels ; she said her chamber appear- ed to be full of them. I told her she had been dream- ing, that I was alone with her ; but it was some time before she was convinced that I was not mistaken — then repeated, " I suppose it was a dream ; I thought, too, that something had separated me from thee, and I was distressed and searched every where, at last I found thee changed into a little child." The night previously to her close, she slept pretty well; but about eight o'clock in the morning, her coun- tenance changed, and her breathing became more dim- cult, presaging the rapid approach of the awful hour. Her near relations, most of whom being in town, at- MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 25 tending Yearly Meeting, were sent for. Her sister H., to whom she frequently refers in her writings, residing nearly a day's ride from the city, did not arrive in time to be recognised by her ; I seated myself on the head of the bed, and watched the fading embers of life which occasionally emitted a brightness that gave credulity to hope that the parting scene might be delayed, and a mo- ther's accents again fall sweetly on my ear : but it was all fallacious— about five o'oclock in the afternoon, the enfranchised spirit took its flight from earth, and I doubt not, found an entrance into joys unutterable, there to perpetuate in angelic anthemes the wonders of redeem- ing love ; proclaiming, " blessing, and glory, and wis- dom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever." She departed this life on the 11th of the 10th mo. 1805, in the 57th year of her age, and this brief record of her excellence, I believe is due from her affectionate Daughter. TO SARAH ORRICK. Deer Creek, 1769. My Dear Aunt, Were there any probability that time or distance would erase you from my memory and affection, the privation in the heart of your Susan, would certainly ere this have taken place ; especially as I have had no proof that my dear aunt retains her remembrance of me, since our sorrowful parting, within an hour of your sailing for the Eastern Shore, where I suppose your time and thoughts have been engrossed by your gay and agreeable acquaintances. But be assured that in all the gay circle, you will not find one that loves you more than Susan. With the sensibility of a heart anxious for your wel- fare, 1 perused the sum total of your worldly felicity, in your letter to uncle Hall, which I suppose we may include in a well-chosen partner for life. Did I not tell you there was more in store for you than ever was re- vealed by any of your good doctors of physic or divi- nity in Cecil ? Please to present my intended uncle with my best respects, and tell him your niece reverences him as the happy gentleman, who, with the blessing of Provi- dence, I hope, will render you as completely blessed as the vicissitudes of time and temporal enjoyments can possibly admit. 28 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. But a wish for your happiness extending no farther than the verge of time, would in reality be no happi- ness at all, or at best but a dream : For it is an estab- lished maxim, that worldly enjoyment is always grea- ter in expectation than in fruition, and often much less in retrospect ; but the solid and leading pleasure I sin- cerely wish you, is only to be found in the perfection of every Christian virtue in time, and the reward of such virtue in eternity. I have lived a very recluse life since I have been se- parated from my friend B. and you. 1 have made an acquaintance with a very worthy young gentleman of the clergy, whose library supplies me with an ample field for all my thoughts and meditations upon the most important subjects, and my evening's entertainment is generally one of those instructive pieces among the trees of this our rural seat. After this description of my life, you cannot expect I have any news to enter- tain you with. The current topic of conversation among the gentle- men (they being mostly politicians) is the affairs of State, and every brave son of Liberty is for leaving to posterity that inestimable blessing, by breaking off every connexion he possibly can with Europe. The good wives, inspired with the same noble resolution, are turning around the spinning wheel, in order to im- prove that most useful branch of the American manu- factures. I hope, my dear aunt, that when you commence MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 20 wife, we shall see you an illustrious pattern to the ma- trons of this age, and that the name of the worthy Sa- rah Chilton, will make a figure upon record with the names of the rest of the wives in the noble cause of liberty. But the parting prayer of your Susan is, that your name may be found written on the everlasting re- cord of the book of life, with the name of your affec- tionate niece, Susan. " As an apology for the mode of addressing an indi- vidual in the plural number, the preceding letter was written at an early age, and before the author was a member of the Religious Society of Friends : whose peculiarity in this respect is deduced from scripture example, without any exception, from the first recorded converse with the head of the human family in the gar- den of Eden, till the exiled disciple of the Son of God closed his account of divine revelations in the Isle of Patmos. CRITICISM. The subsequent piece in the form of a letter, appears to be a criticism upon some exceptionable points in the work alluded to, but upon whom she thus comments, is unknown to the transcriber. It is without date ; but, presume it may be placed at an early period, from the circumstance of the plural number being used in her address to an individual." 4 30 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. A part of this letter merits the attention of the sex to which it is inscribed, and manifests that the author is well acquainted with the rocks and shoals upon which numbers have been cast away. Finding him so good a critic on our foibles and vanities in the first part, I expected to discover the same accuracy and depth of penetration throughout the whole performance, but was not only disappointed, but displeased, when in general terms he confines the brightest genius of our sex to eco- nomy and household affairs, as the only things for which nature formed them, and which are the highest qualifications they are capable of attaining. Do not you, my friend, think the person very contracted in his notions who would have us to be nothing more than domestic animals ? He was certainly very ignorant of the designs of nature, for in the beginning, she designed no superfluities, without which our time could not be wholly engrossed in providing the necessaries of life. The motive for exciting us to this wond'rous degree of perfection, and the sweet'ner of every toil in attaining it, according to his estimate, is this : The hope of be- ing rewarded at last with the affection of (whatever Nature intended in the formation of man, she now rarely produces) a man of worth. If it be an estab- lished maxim, that the stream can rise no higher than the fountain whence it flows, what then becomes of the immortal part, which, with lenity, he allows us to have ? This scheme for the improvement of the mind of a fe- male, is but a negative one, and terminating here, would MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 31 in reality be no improvement at all. It is a known truth, that there are those of the sex who, so far from being 1 excited to the performance of this duty by the motives above mentioned, are actuated by a divine energy, which aspires after a more lasting happiness than aught on earth can give. Their sole ambition is to prepare for the fruition of such happiness in time, and to perpetuate it through eternity, by following the great model of Christian perfection, and thereby gain a noble victory over their own passions, and become wise in the knowledge of themselves. And if inclination should lead them to search into systems of divinity or philosophy, it is in order, in this twilight of human understanding, to gain a more explicit knowledge of the Deity they worship, and to seek him in his attributes, that they may the more adore his goodness. It is not for want of understanding, that such are not acquainted with the arts and sciences ; but a well-in- formed judgment teaches them that the above mentioned attainments in true wisdom, will procure for them more lasting happiness, fame, and renown, than all your sci- entific knowledge in astronomy, geometry, metaphy- sics, &c. &c. If the victory over our passions, the true knowledge of ourselves, and the serving of God, be the most wor- thy pursuits in life, then judge, you who are capable of forming a right judgment, whether we, though so much the subjects of your satire, may not vie with you in point of real merit. S. Hopkins. 32 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. My Dear I know I owe thee all that is due to friendship ; bnt whether a solution of thy question may properly be said to be thy right, is a matter I have doubts about ; however, as there can be no great danger in the present ease, I will venture to answer thy request, and inform thee what manner of person, fortune, family and cha- racter it is, that is likely to prove successful with the celebrated Belinda. As to his fortune, I am told it is unexceptionable, and his family respectable. His cha- racter may not be fixed in all points, of which I can give thee some idea. It happened that I was at a quilt- ing some time ago, where were several agreeable but talkative women, both married and single ; of course our conversation was diversified; among the topics, Lemuel's expected marriage with Belinda was one. Some asserted that he was a good natured man ; others were of a different opinion, giving for a reason that he was much addicted to profane swearing in common con- versation. Some alledged that it was only a custom he had unfortunately imbibed, and that he meant no harm by it; others again, thought it was impossible he could be amiable, believing no person swore unless out of humour, and that there was an evident want of delicacy and taste in a lady to whom an habitual swearer was agreeable. In short, his character was dissected and held up to view in every possible point, but upon the whole, I found swearing was the most sable part. Though I had frequently seen him, yet I had formed MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 33 but a slight acquaintance, till some time in the preced- ing summer I paid a visit to the agreeable G.'s, where one morning as I sat with the family, which consisted of the old gentleman, his wife, their two daughters and young Charles, with pen, ink, and paper on a little ta- ble near the window ; and having a mind to amuse my- self, in order to be a little retired without quite with- drawing, I unfolded a screen that was intended to keep out the cold air, as occasion needed. I had not long been thus fixed, when a person came in, whom by his voice and salutation I knew to be Lemuel : he appeared quite in good humour, but as usual, interspersed all his discourse with swearing. As I sat concealed, with ma- terials before me, it just occurred to take down what he said in writing ; accordingly I began — wrote on the head of the paper, " A gentleman's salutation and sub- sequent discourse." In the very first line were two oaths ; he afterwards entertained them with an account of a fox-chase, that he with some others had had the day before ; the sequel of which was, that after several hours embarrassment and difficulty, they lost the fox. As he was very earnest in this narrative, I suppose he swore the more vehemently. Though the volubility of his tongue outran the expertness of my pen, yet, upon the whole, I believe I took it down nearly verbatim, not omitting any of the swearing part. Though he does not lack good sense, yet I assure thee, his discourse ap- peared very ridiculous on paper. After I had taken down a sufficient specimen, I underwrote, " Know ye 4* 34 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. not that for every idle word a man shall speak, he shall give an account in the day of judgment?" And having an opportunity to withdraw, by him unseen, I went into the kitchen and desired the girl to go in and shut up the screen, which (as he since told me) he never ob- served. I went round and entered the front door, as if just returning from a walk ;. he spoke very pleasantly to me, and after we had talked over the state of the weather and several other never-failing topics, he arose and humming a tune, walked several times across the room, took a transient view of some pictures then askance at himself in a glass, walked up to the table where the paper was, just cast his eyes upon it, and turned upon his heel, walked to the other end of the room and back again, several times, till at length, the oftener he looked on the table the more his curiosity was raised, and stooping down he muttered a line or two ; then taking it up he read it silently, held it in his hand awhile, then read it again. " Well, now," said he, " who has done this ?" Young Charles going to him, took it from his hand and read it, partly audibly, and partly to himself. The old gentleman then de- manded what it was, and desired them to hand it to him, and putting on his spectacles read it aloud. As neither he nor any of his family were in any wise ac- customed to the use of such expressions, they sounded very uncouthly from him ; the girls laughed immode- rately, but to me it was a serious thing, fearing he would be offended ; but he had never seen my hand- MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 35 writing, nor knew what kind of a genius I was, and my coming in as I did, seemed to clear me of all suspicion. He looked like one thunderstruck and in amazement ; however, after awhile he assumed something of his usual cheerfulness, but it was evident it was forced, and soon after told us he was our humble servant, and went away. For several days we were at a loss to con- jecture what effect the matter would have upon him ; but after awhile he came again and saluted us with his accustomed pleasantry, but swore none at all. I was very sociable with him, and bantered him upon being the victor among so many combatants for such a prize as Belinda, which he appeared to relish very well. But the first opportunity he had, he told me he had a favour to ask, and begged I would not refuse it. I told him I was disposed to obey him in any thing reasonable ; he then queried if I could tell him who wrote the paper he found on the table ? I told him if he would take no means of revenge, either directly or indirectly, against the person who did it, I would, which he promised he would comply with ; I then told him how I was fixed when he entered ; that it was a sudden turn of thought, without purpose, end, or design, when I began, but it just crossed my mind that perhaps such a picture of himself might alarm and convince him, which induced me to leave it there, and not with any intent to ridicule or offend him. He then asked to see it; I told him I had burnt it ; he said it was kind, and that he never ap- peared so ridiculous in his own eyes ; that swearing 36 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. was a practice he had ever despised, and had from time to time determined to break himself of it, but through the prevalence of habit he had omitted it, but now was resolved to make a beginning. We had some serious conversation on the subject, and I have hopes that I shall make a proselyte* I have seen him several times since, and we are upon very good terms; so that I think Belinda's chance with Lemuel is by no means the worst. To C. M., of Philadelphia, Maryland, Jan. 1770. My Dear Friend, The hours I have spent with you, afford me a very pleasing retrospect. How delightful the society of those similar to each other in taste, sentiment, &c. Yet this is a satisfaction in which I have but a small share in the part of the world where it is my lot to be situated. Such is the constitution of temporal things, that we must not expect every earthly good at one time, and we must be satisfied with such a portion as Providence sees meet to bestow upon us. I cannot think myself unhappy whilst blessed as I am with kind indulgent parents, who limit none of my desires that are within the bounds of their circumstances, and through whom, I now enjoy the privilege of being retired from the MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 37 world, with a few books, suitably adapted to improve the mind. But indulgent Heaven never gave us time and oppor- tunity, powers and faculties, without intending we should improve them; and I retain so much of the tincture of my mother Eve, as still to desire an increase of knowledge ; but in this thirst I hope I am blameless, for the kind of knowledge I aspire after, is that from which our first parents fell, and it is a natural propen- sity of the mind to regain it. Surely it is not beyond the bounds assigned to our sex to soar above the narrow skies, and by profound contemplation, search into the attributes of the Deity we profess to worship. Though we must know that the utmost stretch of human comprehension can trace but a faint delineation of the great Original, but to those who seek from right motives, it may perhaps be given to conceive of the Deity somewhat consistently with truth. The attribute which is the most pleasing sub- ject of my musing mind, is that which many have de- fined God in his essence to be, and that is love. The mystery that angels desire to look into, that de- sire I to be acquainted with, which is the redemption of fallen creatures through Jesus Christ. Here is a field for the most ardent stretch of thought, though the boldest flight of intellectual powers can never compre- hend the height, the depth, the length and the breadth of the love of God to his creature man. Yet, the wider the field, the more room there is for imagination to 38 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. roam. Are we not then the more liable to err ? Sensi- ble of my own imbecility, I am fearful of diving into matters wherein I have no business to intermeddle whilst on the stage of time. But I know not how to bound my desires ; and when I turn my view outward and see the differing, and seemingly jarring opinions of good men, in regard to the dispensations of Providence to his rational creation, I am at a loss where to fix my assent and where to withhold. But from this external view I seldom derive any advantage. I find more benefit in examining what passes within my own breast, than I think I should receive from what pertains to the opera- tions of nature, were they all displayed to my finite view. Philadelphia, April 4th, 1770. Honest Susan, I must be indulged in addressing thee after this man- ner, being fully convinced it is applicable to my friend Susan, by the frequent and agreeable conversations dur- ing thy sojourn amongst us, as well as by the preser- vatioTi of that spark of friendship, which by thy kind letter I find retains all its lustre. Notwithstanding thy diffidence lest a multiplicity of business should so en- gross my attention as not to be able to make a suitable return, I am now willing to remove thy doubts by scribbling a few lines, though they may not be worth Memoirs of susanna mason. 39 reading among the budget our friend Porter* will- bear thee. I have now to observe respecting thy letter, that as thou hast but little company of congenial taste and sen- timent, and delightest in reading and retirement, these, if blended with contentment, are better than all the gaiety and pleasures of this life. I fully approve the subject of thy musing mind, when it is on so exalted a theme as the redemption of man- kind by Jesus Christ : this I hope we may ever have in view, as it is our principal duty and interest. May we, my dear friend, profit by the manifestations of Divine Grace communicated, and come to know our day's work to be accomplished with our day. Surely were we to number with greatful hearts the many fa- vours and mercies bestowed, that extraordinary ray of Divine Light emanating from the Sun of Righteousness, would at last swallow up all in victory. Considera- tions like these, my friend, should teach us to abhor every appearance of ingratitude to so kind and merci- ful a Being, and stimulate us to press onward to a state of perfection. The promised reward to those who di- ligently seek, is that they shall be as Kings and Priests, and shall reign with Christ in his kingdom. These are the first fruits unto God of a sweet savour over which the second death can have no power. Our wor- thy friend, Porter, has frequently favoured me with his company ; the truly Christian sentiments entertained *A young Clergyman. 40 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. by him, engaged me to desire he may be preserved in simplicity, which is Godliness, and as he is now return- ing home, I recommend him to thy care and notice. My spouse and little flock are all in the enjoyment of health, which I hope is thy case, with every other blessing. My wife frequently speaks of thee with pleasure, on recalling the agreeable hours you have spent toge- ther. Her love is to thee ; also our little Bell desires hers may be accepted : and believe me to be sincerely, thy affectionate friend, C. M* Mount Welcome, Cecil County. Thy friendly sympathy, my dear girl, so tenderly expressed, was very consolatory. I doubt not, to you who are spending your time so pleasantly amidst wed- dings and festivity, my present allotment may seem trying, to be thus confined a prisoner on this side the water, for such a length of time. I believe it would be so in reality, were it not for the consciousness I feel of being in the line of duty. This, where the mind is not agitated with vain hopes, or fruitless fears, may render almost any situation, if not agreeable, yet tole- rable. My aunt has been very poorly all winter, and the child we hardly expect will live. I have sat up with MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 41 it half of every night for three weeks, which I find very trying on my constitution. Though I am out of my ordinary line in some things, yet even here, I meet with various occurrences, novel and entertaining. Being persons of note and distinction, we are con- sequently visited by the better kind of people, among whom are two clergymen and their wives, and one without a wife. One is a resident, and has a meeting- house about nine miles distant, where he officiates when the weather admits ; the second is upon a visit with his wife to her relations in this quarter ; and the third su- perintends a school in the neighbourhood, till opportu- nity offers for him to get into better bread. Those three have circularly preached at three differ- ent neighbours' houses ; my uncle's is one of them ; and when it happens there, I have opportunities of hearing them. One of them is an orator, and can adapt his discourses very well. He was one time expa- tiating very eloquently upon the uncertainty of time, and the carelessness of too many in suffering it to lapse away, without improving it as the consequence requires, when he observed several young persons very inatten- tively smiling at each other ; fixing his eye upon them, and reaching his hand toward where they sat, he added, this, my young friends, is a glaring instance of your carelessness and disregard, but the time may come, and sooner than you are aware, when you may think a thou- sand worlds a small compensation for the loss you may 5 42 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. sustain by your present inattention to your truest inter- ests. This rebuke, thou mayest be assured, sobered them for awhile. He is a man naturally of a good understanding, very facetious and pleasant in conversation, has a share of wit and humor, and mostly leaves us in better spirits than he found us. The second is of a singular make, both in person and mind ; and I should pay very little attention to him in any respect, further than civility, were it not that he serves to develop the difference that exists among men. He is esteemed a good man, but by no means formed for a dramatist of any kind. In the first place, he is uncommonly hard featured, which is an unfortunate circumstance to one so universally gazed at as their ministers while preaching generally are by these peo- ple. A handsome person, graceful carriage, and good delivery, are certainly more than half in enforcing their precepts. In the next place, he has so little sensibility in his looks, that all his declaiming and emotions cannot touch a single cord of out feelings ; he also disclaims plagiar- ism, which, upon occasions, might help him out in hard, knotty points, in which he is apt to deal, and set- ting up for an original, he is often so hampered and embarrassed, that he reminds me of the old proverb, " give a man rope enough, and he will hang himself." His sermon one day, consisted chiefly, in attempting to prove that the Almighty foreknew and foreordained, MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 43 before Adam was created, that he should fall, and that it was best he should fall, because thereby the justice and mercy of God became manifest in the eternal de- struction of the reprobate, and in his unmerited love in the redemption of the elect, through Jesus Christ. Af- ter he had declaimed 'upon this subject with great ve- hemence, for more than an hour, he desisted, leaving his audience and himself (I am persuaded) not one whit wiser or better than when he began ; for my part, nothing but the novelty of his figure and subject en- gaged my attention. , In conversation he is stiff and formal, aiming at mystery or sublimity in all his re- marks and communications, and I generally make my face longer than usual, and am very grave in his pre- sence. The other is a single gentleman, lately ordained, and by no means disagreeable in person or conversation ; his subjects, both social and public, are mostly well chosen, and his manner of treating them would be ele- gant, were they not too much interspersed with enex cogitable terms and expression, nowise adapted to the capacities of his hearers, they being (a few families ex- cepted) rather of the lower class. It was my lot, the last time he preached, to sit pretty near him ; after the sermon was ended he laid upon the table a little pocket bible, which he had held in his hand, and often looked into whilst speaking, wherein, I suspect, he concealed notes to assist his memory, Several persons went up to speak to him, and the table 44 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. being in the way, some one gave it a shove close to where I sat, when I recollected I had in my pocket a petition written by Dean Swift, praying a Pastor, in a catalogue of long hard words, to adapt his discourses to the A, B, C darian conceptions of his hearers ; this I slipped into his Bible ; it was written small, on thin paper, and nowise discoverable. He quickly after put it in his pocket and went away. I have heard my parents say, that from infancy I have had a turn for sly mischief ; and to this day I find, when opportunity offers, I spy it as quickly as a cat does a mouse. At times I indulge this propensity; at others, obey the dictates of prudence in restraint. I am here paying the debt of my mother, who says that my aunt, in her younger years, did the same for her when she was alike circumstanced ; and if I can but persevere to the end with the same cheerfulness that I have hitherto done, I may, perhaps, afterwards prescribe a clue for finding the philosopher's stone, which I am told lies in a contented mind. True, but let me not boast too soon, though at present many plea- sant reflections upon the blessings I enjoy, and my ex- emption from any real cause of inquietude, may shut out discontent and sorrow from my bosom ; yet it may be, that events which now lie concealed in the darkness of futurity, may some day prove my magnanimity, and leave me as divested thereof as the murmuring galley slave, chained to the oar for life. But why do I anti- cipate what may never be ? " Thy will be done," is a MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 45 sovereign remedy for all temporary evils. In this re- signed disposition, I remain, as heretofore, thy affec- tionate Susan. Mount Welcome, Cecil County, Maryland. My Dear Friend, Being still a prisoner on this side the Susquehanna, where agreeable variety is sometimes wanting to diver- sify the scene, I thought I would so far indulge the scribbling vein, as to present thee with a few more of my lucubrations. I hope soon, however, to converse with thee through a more animated medium, as I think there is some prospect of my being released ere long. My aunt is getting better, and the infant over whom I have kept nightly vigils for more than three weeks is now recovering. He was a fine healthy boy till about three weeks old, when he was taken very sick, and continued casting up every thing he received into his stomach almost as soon as it was down, and then ap- peared hungry and ravenous again. It reminded me of Luther's kiln crops on Changling Head. The little creature daily pined away, and grew weaker and weaker, till we had not much prospect of his recovery. Various were the conjectures of the neighbourhood re- specting him ; but at last he vomited a worm of con- siderable length, and. is now likely to do well again ; since which, being a little more at liberty, I was soli- 5* 46 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. cited by several young acquaintances to accompany them upon a visit to a respectable family a few miles distant ; and having my uncle and aunt's concurrence, I went, and was pleased with the people, they being of the sober kind of Presbyterians. The first night we were there, the junior part of the company being in a room by themselves, soon began to be talkative and merry, and sang several songs. A proposal was made for every one in company to do the like. As I was the only one in the garb of a Quaker among them, I felt some tenaciousness to support the character as I thought it ought to be maintained. Whilst I was con- sidering how I should act, the good man of the house, not approving (as I supposed) of singing vain songs, summoned us all to attend upon family worship, at an earlier hour than usual ; he read a chapter, sang a hymn, and then offered up prayers. The part of scripture he chose was 2d Peter, 3d chap. When he came to the eleventh and twelfth verses, he made a pause, which, whether he had selected it out for his purpose, or whe- ther it was accidental, I could not tell ; but he per- formed the whole with a degree of solemnity that set- tled the spirits of the company the remainder of the evening. Among those of the family collected, I ob- served several blacks, who were warmly and decently clad, and whose sleek skins bespoke no want of bread. I also found they had instructed them to read the Bible, and were careful to get them to meetings on the Sab- bath days. MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 47 The next clay we were informed, that the young peo- ple belonging to a certain congregation were to meet at a house not very distant, to exercise themselves in sing- ing hymns and psalms ; and it was proposed that we should go also. As to the propriety of my doing so, I did not stand to consider it ; and the matter being novel, I agreed to make one of the party. Accordingly, to- ward evening we repaired to the place, and found a pretty large collection of young people, with a few el- derly ones, and their minister : these latter, I appre- hended, were to see that order was kept, and thought myself in no danger of being excited to any undue levity ; and what they were about to learn, was to me- thodize that part of their religious worship. When about thirty were collected, we were invited up stairs, into a room warmed by a stove. Here they exercised themselves for several hours, singing by rote, or by note, as seemed best to suit. I tried to feel if there was any thing like devotion, worship, or religion in it, but I must confess that I was not sensible of the least shred or trace, though I cherished nothing but charity and love toward the performers. When they had gone through what they deemed sufficient, the minister, about nine o'clock retired, and went home. He had not long been gone, when a man entered the room with a violin, the vibration of which soon set some of them to dancing. Among this company was a young doctor, in whom, when a lad, was discovered some genius for learning; and his parents, though but 48 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. low in the world in respect to wealth, concluded they would do so much toward the gospel of Christ as to make him a minister. Accordingly, by dint of indus- try, they scraped as much together as was sufficient to give him a liberal education ; but a clerical profession not suiting the turn of his mind, he directed his atten- tion to physical subjects, and became a doctor. The education and opportunity for improvement that were bestowed upon him were not lost, for he is now a sen- sible, polite young man, and by no means a novice in conversation. To him I observed, I did not expect to see such a contrast as music and dancing immediately after singing spiritual songs. He answered, that he saw no contrast in it, but that it was alike innocent. Indeed, upon second thought, I might have said so too, (as it seemed to be but a second part of the same tune.) He further observed, that he could say his prayers and think as good thoughts when he was dancing as at any other time. I told him, as to that, his experience had the better of mine, as dancing was a diversion I was not accustomed to, and I believed it was of small import- ance to the suggester of all evil how well we thought or prayed, provided we did not practise Godliness. He then instanced Yorick's French Peasant, whose grace after supper was a dance, by way of returning thanks, with joy and gladness, to the beneficent Creator, for all his benefits. I remarked that to me, this, as well as several other of Yorick's occurrences, had more of the air of novelty than truth in them, therefore unsafe to MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 49 be adopted as a precedent for the conduct of others. However, I was solicited to share in the exercise, but excused myself. Their spirits being raised by this kind of hilarity, when they grew tired of it, they changed the diversion by setting on foot several plays, which at first were exhibited only by a few, in order to excite mirth in the rest, but at length something more general was proposed, to draw pawns from all that were present. I was in a sad dilemma, not knowing how to get away without offending the company, nor could I by any means think of submitting to the familiarity which this kind of diversion leads into, but I soon hit upon an expedient ; as the heat of the stove did not suit me, I went and sat by it till I became sick, of which when I complained, the doctor advised me to try the fresh air. I went immediately down stairs where the elderly people whom I first mentioned were sitting ; they fur- nished me with a drink of cold water, which, with a little fresh air let in at the door, soon recovered me, and I took my seat with them. I found them busily engaged in conversation. Among these was a man of no small ability for disputing, in which indeed they all claimed superiority. Here, again, I found myself in a box ; one of the women took notice that my dress was a very good silk, but she thought the colour rather grave for a young person. I told her I preferred it to one of a gayer hue. Another then asked me why the Quakers dressed so differently from other people. I 50 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. told her we found the advice of Timothy ii, and 9th verse to correspond with our religious opinion in re- spect to our clothing. The man above alluded to, re- marked that he should be inclined to think there was something of religion in it, if he did not see that though our dress was grave, yet we admitted that which was costly ; and for his part, he thought the superfluity of dress consisted more in the expense than in the shape and colour. As he had me at a disadvantage, I justi- fied it upon another scale, which was, that a plain dress was more becoming than a gay one. He said that he thought plainness best became handsome women : but in proportion as they were wanting in beauty and good qualities, the trappings of dress became more necessary to set them off; for, said he, take a right down ugly woman, who has neither sense nor merit, and dress her as some of your sort dress, rough and plain, and she is just nothing at all. The doctor who had come down to see how I was, asserted that for his part, he could conceive nothing upon earth more like an angel than a beautiful young Quaker, in whose coun- tenance presided mildness and innocence, in a neat plain dress, especially, continued he, (looking me ear- nestly in the face) when there are added a few strokes which denote the most refined wit and understanding. I was going to give him a nod of thanks, but an after thought prevented me. I told him that my ideas of angelic forms were different ; and if we might com- pare earthly visible beings with invisible heavenly ones, MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 51 I thought a real Christian, young or old, whose coun* tenance wore that signature, under the exercise of true devotion came the nearest to my conception of an an- gel. The elderly man asked me if I meant every one who sat in a silent meeting, with plain clothes and de- mure looks, under which, he had no doubt, the devil was often very busy, and he had known great decep- tion couched under some of them. I told him, no, nor those who in preaching, counterfeit emotions they do not feel, and in repeating their prayers with mock so- lemnity, turn their eyes up to the ceiling; nor faces drawn out of their natural shape by affected devotion ; I did not mean grimace, but reality. He said the Qua- kers were a people he had a great respect for, and were it not for their denying the sacraments and the Lord's supper, he knew of no people, excepting his own so- ciety, he would more readily join in communion with. Several messages had been sent requesting my com- pany up stairs, which, to avoid, I was under the neces- sity of going deeper into those matters than otherwise I should have done. One of the women, who valued herself upon being a minister's daughter, and the ad- vantages of her education, desired I would inform her why the Quakers differed from all the other Christians in regard to the sacraments. I was not disposed to give a direct answer, which she observing, said, I have often wondered why the best and wisest among you, when questioned, can give no account of your faith. You have some writers that pretend to do it, who, I 52 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. am told, define every thing mystically ; and I have often thought they have made the word of God so ab- struse, that very few of you understand your own prin- ciples. I told her they did not deny either the baptism or the Lord's supper ; but as it required experimental knowledge to make us sensible how we held them, it was like prostituting things sacred to profane uses, to make them a subject of common chat, which we might learn from our Saviour's injunction, " cast not your pearls before swine ;" but to a sober inquirer, who was desirous to ask for information, and not disputation, the least child, in experience, among us, would put him in a way of being informed. She said, from her educa- tion, she was perfectly acquainted with practical reli- gion, and for her part, she would be glad were it to be- come more and more a subject of conversation. I told her, if she derived benefit from it, it would be well to make it a practice ; that, according to Dr. Young, "Those who make no other use of their religion but chat, 'T would be hard indeed, should be debar'd of that." I began to think we had better part while we were friends, and desired they would use their influence for an adjournment, which they did, and the company broke up about two in the morning. We had no supper, and as soon as we reached my uncle's we regaled our- selves on some cold fare and retired. When I laid down, I could not close my eyes to sleep, till I had ex- amined what had passed, and the share I had had in the transaction ; and though I felt little or no condem- MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 53 nation, yet I believed were I to go again knowing what would be acted, I should not come off so clear : I then returned thanks to my kind Preserver, for all his fa- vours, not forgetting that of my being born a piece of a Quaker. Now, my dear, I think it is time to come to a pe- riod, which I shall do in subscribing myself thy affec- tionate Susan, SELF COMMUNION. Let thy zeal be exercised in thy own reformation* \efore thou attemptest'the reformation of thy brother or sister. Thou art very skilful in excusing thy own faults, but thou art slow in framing an excuse for the actions of others. Take heed to thyself ; consider at what a fearful distance thou art, from that charity which hopeth all things, beareth all things. Measure the space between thee and that humility and contrition of heart that knoweth no indignation nor resentment against any being but thyself. Here in thy own heart is thy harvest-field, where thou canst profitably labour, and where thy diligence will be requited with the wages of peace in time, whilst the cheering promise of gathering fruit unto life eternal, will be thy confidence through the burden and heat of the day. 6 54 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. Philadelphia. If meeting with kindness and respect from a number of agreeable friends, relations, and acquaintances, and in sharing a pleasing variety of amusements can be supposed to confer happiness, then thou mayst think me very happy indeed, for these I have met with in this city far beyond my most sanguine expectations. But from my feelings at times, I am inclined to think that true happiness is something more sublime than the ele- vation of spirits which such circumstances are calcu- lated to excite. I confess that amidst the hours of my most thoughtless vivacity in company with those who discover nothing more profound than myself, I am sometimes impressed with such a humiliating concious- ness of what I am, and what I may expect to be after a few more fleeting days are numbered, that I feel a void which none of those pleasures and amusements are capable of filling, an anxiety they cannot allay, or in any way satisfy. But this is a subject I shall at pre- sent leave, in order to give thee some account of those occurrences which diversify my time and attention. Thou mayst remember, that in some of our social interviews, we sometimes disputed on the force of love ; how far it was capable of operating, so as to take life. My sentiments were, that no person died merely from disappointed love ; thou thought the contrary. If the following narrative will throw any light upon the sub- ject, so as to determine the matter, it is entirely at thy service. A few evenings since, I had just returned from MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 55 a ride with a pleasant party, and was rehearsing over the occurrences of the day, when a person came run- ning into the house, in great haste, for some volatiles, adding, that a gentleman had fainted in the street, close by. He was readily supplied, and we repaired imme- diately to the front door to see what was going on ; but the object of our inquiry was so closely surrounded by the kind and the curious, that we could not discern him. After a time he was sufficiently relieved to be removed, and being near the place of my sojourn, was brought in and placed in the front parlour. I waited till the bustle was a little over, and then went in to in- quire concerning the cause of his indisposition. He was seated in an arm chair, with several around him ; his faintness had passed away, but he was crying like a child that had been beaten. I supposed he was trou- bled with hypochondriacal notions, and sat some time viewing him with great commiseration ; at length, I ventured to ask one of his attendants if this were the case ; he answered, "no." " Has he just lost any near friend or relation ?" " No. " Is he sick ?" " No." I was fearful I should appear impertinent by further in- terrogations, and desisted. As I sat pondering what should occasion such distress, I concluded it could be no other, than that he had offended Him who made him, and that he considered himself under His divine displeasure. I could conceive no other cause in nature sufficient to excite in a man such emotions of sorrow. After some time he appeared a little more composed ; 56 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MA-SOX 1 . when I seated myself near him, and began to console him in the best manner I was capable, by reminding him of the goodness and mercy of the Almighty, who never afflicts but for our restoration, or refinement in virtue. He said he knew all that ; through favour he was at no variance with his Maker ; as to matters be- tween them he felt no inquietude ; he was perfectly re- conciled to all his dispensations concerning him, which he was fully satisfied were ordered in best wisdom. Here again I was utterly defeated, and had to leave him without any clue to his perturbation. He was soon after sufficiently calmed to make his departure ; but still my curiosity was not satisfied. However, in a few days, I was invited to meet a dinner party at the house of a friend. I had not long been seated, when in came this very gentleman, with a lady leaning on his arm : his air, deportment, and countenance, were entirely changed, indicating that his trouble, whatever it might have been, was removed, and joy had displaced sorrow from his heart. I did not long remain ignorant of the cause. This lady, I found, was the object of his wishes, of his adoration ; and she, knowing the ascendancy she had over his affections and his reason, ruled, at times, with the most arbitrary and insolent sway: whilst he, poor soul, though a man of very good sense in common affairs, in this, was the most perfect dupe I ever be- held. She is, professedly, a religious character, and ce- lebrated for the strength of her understanding ; but her vanity, to me, in this instance, was very disgusting. MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 57 After a little acquaintance with her, she informed me, in confidence, that she had occasioned the disorder I had witnessed in him a few evenings before, which she recurred to with much seeming satisfaction, praised him for his nice sensibility, of which she gave me another instance. She said she had spent some time in the country ; that whilst there, they had kept up a regular correspondence. Once she had written a letter to him, but being disappointed in an opportunity to send it, she kept it till she returned, and then delivered it herself. He opened it in her presence, and as he read the tears trickled down his face., till at last he had to leave the room, to give vent to his tender emotions. Upon taking in at once, the idea of the whole matter, the fainting, the bustle in the street, my mistake, her account, and their present deportment, I burst into a fit of laughter, without considering whether proper or not ; but soon recollecting it was inconsistent with good manners to treat so lightly an affair, which to her ap- peared serious, I restrained my levity. I think my argument has gained no strength by this relation ; and whether the poor dupe may not yet be so far trifled with as to weep his life away, time must determine. Upon pondering matters since, and observing how materially religiously disposed people err at times in conduct, I am ready to believe their errors arise from the want of a due restraint upon their passions. To ef- fect this object, much sincere labour is requisite, to 6* 58 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. subject them even to the laws of reason ; and I am fully satisfied the sooner we begin, and the more earn- est we are in the work, the more rational will our lives and conduct be in the sight of men, and surely- more conformable to the example of Him who has left it as an indispensable duty, and a proof of true recti- tude, to deny ourselves, to take up our daily cross, and follow him. May we, my dear friend, ever keep an eye upon the straight gate and the narrow way, through which only admittance is gained into the heavenly Father's King- dom ; and with holy confidence encounter and put to flight every temptation to wander therefrom, is the part- ing salutation of thy Susan. To P. M., Philadelphia. Baltimore County, Mel, March 20th, 1770. My Dear Cousin, Lest those friendly impressions which I desire to perpetuate in thy mind should be buried in oblivion, be pleased to accept this small token which is enclosed, and one for little E., who, I suppose, has before this time forgotten " Tuty" as she used to call me. How gladly would I testify my affection to both of you by doing all in my power to render it agreeable to you to spend some time in this healthful part of the world. The vernal season win soon arrive, when each rural MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 59 scene will be clothed in all its beauty, and in other re- spects I think we can hold out some inducements for you to visit us, I dreamed a few nights ago that I saw thee ; a se- rene and pleasant smile sat upon thy countenance, which indicated a happy mind ; thy face wore the bloom of a rose, in the morn of a spring day sun, and thy dress was neat and elegant ; now, if there be any thing in dreams, I hope this portends thy future good. May it please Divine Goodness to restore thy health, that thou mayst continue to be a comfort to the best of husbands, and that the minds of your tender offspring may still be instructed in the ways of piety by thy pre- cept and example ; so that in the first dawn of their reason, a foundation may be laid whereon their happi- ness will stand securely when all sublunary things shall have been involved in one common fate. And through whatever dispensations Providence may see meet to lead thee, may thy foundation of everlast- ing bliss be built upon the Rock of ages ; then neither the storms nor the tempests of life, nor yet the shock of death, that most gloomy hour, shall be able to shake the solid basis upon which thy hopes are built. 60 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. To C. M., of Philadelphia. Deer Creek, Maryland, May 8th, 1770. My Esteemed Friend, The reception of thy kind epistle was an acceptable proof of the continuance of thy friendship, which I shall ever be pleased to possess, and be assured that I am proud of my capacity to return a greater degree of true regard, than I have any right to expect from my friend CM. Thy sentiments on this point, as well as on many others, agree with my own ; that is, if domestic scenes, rural life, and a few good books to employ hours of leisure, be mixed with content, they will ensure more peace of mind than all the amusements of the gay, or pursuits of the ambitious, for the scene of action on the stage of mortality will shortly be closed, and then we shall find it, as thou hast said, " to be our principal interest to know our day's work to be fully accom- plished," that we may not experience a separation from Him, with whom our union is our only happiness. I hope the consideration of those mercies thou hast mentioned, will ever be sufficient to suppress every feeling of ingratitude towards so kind and beneficent a Creator. I believe that all he does to, and for us, that all his dispensations tend toward the accomplishment of his grand design in creating finite intelligences, which, under his government and direction, would be verging onward to a state of perfection. MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 61 This idea of God's providence, I think, ought to be sufficient to inspire true resignation and pure love to the Deity, whom many profess to worship, but under very different apprehensions of his attributes. But, if in this Babel of opinions, we can find humility and love, we find the Kingdom of Heaven. Baltimore County, Nov. 30th, 1770. Dear Cousin, I have, at length, arrived safely at my own habita- tion, but by some means I took a cold, and a pain in my side, which detained me a week at the house of a very honest farmer, about twenty miles from home, where I was kindly cared for. Our prospects of hu- man life appear very different in sickness and in health, which thou, in thy present declining state, may per- haps experience. Did we always enjoy uninterrupted health and pros- perity, we should be likely to forget what poor frail creatures we are, and that we are daily obnoxious to those casualties, which sooner or later will sweep us off the stage of mortality into that eternal world, where true piety only will give distinction. How vain, then, it is, to value ourselves upon any thing less solid and permanent than that piety, which will, in the winding up of this momentary scene, recommend us to a place in the mansions of everlasting bliss. That thou, my 62 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. cousin, mayst find a seat there, is my ardent wish. But in order to obtain this blessedness, it is necessary to turn the eye of the mind inward, and there to culti- vate the talent bestowed upon us by our great Master, who will shortly demand the interest with the sum given to improve upon. Were this improvement our principal study and pursuit, we should find little or no time or inclination to explore the defects of others, and by examining our own hearts, we should see our failings, numerous as they are, more clearly than those of other people. Be pleased to tell John Proud I will accept the book he offered me. My respects to Uncle and Aunt Howell. Thy affectionate cousin, Susan Hopkins.. Extract from a Letter, dated 1771. My sister H. and I intended to see you in Philadel- phia last spring, but her only son was taken ill with a hectic fever, and the doctor thinks unless some unex- pected alteration takes place, it will ere long termi- nate his earthly sojourn. I have had a violent cold, which has nearly laid an embargo on my faculty of speech, but through mercy the powers of reflection are still continued, which af- ford me sufficient entertainment. A well disciplined mind surely is the source of our highest enjoyments ; MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 63 but I candidly confess that mine are not always suffi- ciently concentrated there, nor do I believe they ever will, till I have made a greater sacrifice of my own will and inclinations. The nearer I seem to approach Christianity, the straighter the gate, and the narrower the way appears, so that it may well be said, flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom. But I hope, that through that Infinite Power which must fight all our battles for us, if we ever become con- querors, my spiritual enemies will yet be subdued, and my mind be prepared to receive, and to communicate all the good entrusted 'to my stewardship. To P. M. of Philadelphia. Deer Creek, 5th Mo. 1772. Dear Cousin, Although the quietude of a rural situation furnishes nothing of moment to communicate to thee, yet still gratefully recurring to every instance of thy kind atten- tion to me, I cannot rest satisfied without sometimes re- peating that thou yet hast a part in the affections of thy cousin. The beauties of the vernal season afford me at present a pleasing variety of amusements. The woods, fields, and meadows display a lovely green, the fruit trees diffuse a fragrant smell, and the birds among the branches delight the ear with their melody. With my 64 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON-. work, a book, or a friend, I sometimes spend an after- noon in some shady retreat, where the great Author of these and of every other blessing, is generally the sub- ject of converse or of contemplation ; and having some domestic cares, such as the tillage of a garden, and poultry of different kinds to look after, I find but little time to spend in idleness; and if Cousin C. and thyself will favour us with a visit next month, we will treat you to chickens and peas, strawberries and cream, (in which, when in season we always abound,) together with a hearty welcome to our mansion, where I shall be highly delighted to have an opportunity to retaliate some part of thy kindness to thy SUSAN. Extract from a letter not dated, to a friend IX Ex GLAND. When I agreed to correspond with thee across the At- lantic, I little expected thou wouldst pitch upon a sub- ject upon which I feel extremely awkward, especially when writing to a gentleman ; because there are two things commonly used in treating upon it, the one is to dress out a little truth with much fiction, the other is coquetry, which I believe are often practised by both sexes, and as to the symptoms thou mentionestof pal- pitations, tremors, &c upon opening my letters, sigh- ings and dreams afterward, I confess I am inclined to believe they are indications of the hypochondriac rather MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 65 than lover, and would recommend to thee, not to sit too intensely at thy studies ; use exercise, drink a moderate proportion of wine every day, and eat heartily of rye mush and milk. * * * * * * $ * $ * * * * * * Let no local attachment disqualify thee from acquiring every useful and ornamental accomplishment and ex- cellence, which such an opportunity is calculated to afford. Solomon wisely observes, there is a time for all things, and for every purpose under the sun ; therefore let me advertise thee that the present epoch with thee will be much misapplied, if not engaged in gaining a just and competent knowledge of men, manners, cus- toms, laws, politics, &c. If to these thou should add a close investigation into the avenues of thy own heart, and trace thy high lineage, even an heir of immortality, yet still a child of the dust, thou wilt be the less likely to become initiated into the popular vices of the old- world. Extract from a letter to a friend, dated 3d Mo. 1773. I appeared to be verging toward a state of health. when I was taken with the meazles and was violently held. My friends were fearful of the consequences ; 66 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. but I had no expectation that my state of probation was so near its end as they supposed. My mental eye surveyed vicissitudes yet to come, before this mutable scene shall for ever close with me. May that solemn period, when it shall arrive, find me engaged as the faithful steward of whom we read, diligently watching, and faithfully discharging my duty. Let us, my dear friend, mutually endeavour to be ready, for we "know not the day nor the hour when the Son of Man cometh." My dear father, though upward of three score years of age, has suffered with the same disease : this, added to other bodily infirmities, has made the conflict go hard with him. I hope these admonitory lessons upon the uncertainty of human life, may induce me duly to appreciate each added day as a loan from the bountiful Donor, in order that I may fill up to his glory the station he has assign- ed me among the children of the dust. Which is, " to do justly, to love mency, and to walk humbly before Him." Deer Creek. Right or wrong, subject or no subject, still thou in- sistest upon the maintenance of a correspondence with Cleora ; thou sayest it is the most fashionable way of writing letters, to say a great deal, very handsomely, about nothing ; but I confess it is an art in literature I have not yet acquired ; and unless I really find some- MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 67 thing to say, I am like Yorick, when, after several fruitless attempts, he throws down his pen in despair, exclaiming, " I cannot write this self-same letter !" But I have now a little matter, though it is not of much account, yet it may serve to amuse thee, and at the same time to show how ready I am to obey thy commands. I lately made an excursion from home of about five and twenty miles ; as I expected a female relation to accompany me back, I rode alone in the chaise ; my brother Charles escorting me on horseback. The roads were bad most of the way, so that I had no leisure to amuse myself with any thing but taking thought how I might best avoid being overset. When we came to the Falls of Gunpowder, it was exceedingly dangerous crossing, especially to such as were not acquainted with the way, and being fearful, I drove up to a house not far off to make some inquiry about it ; when out stept a handsome young beau, assuring me it was quite a risk for a stranger to attempt it, and kindly offered to conduct me over. I told him I would be obliged to him if he would ; he instantly stept in, with a pleasure in his countenance that I could not account for. He had not been seated more than three minutes when he thus accosted me : " Well, madam, you are a widow, and I a widower." As it was an assertion, and not a ques- tion, I did not contradict him. He then asked me how long Mr. H. had been dead. I told him about eighteen months. He queried if I did not incline to marry 68 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. again. I told him a person who lost so good a hus- band as he was, ought to be very careful how she made a second choice. He said that was true, and doubted not I had prudence to direct me in so important an af- fair, adding, that if it were agreeable to me, he in- tended to pay his addresses to me. I observed, that he was in every respect an entire stranger to me, never having, to my knowledge, either seen or heard of him before. He wondered that I should so soon have for- gotten him, it not being more than three months since he had the pleasure of conversing with me at such a place, and thought he had then given me some intima- tion of his intentions ; that I had with me three beauti- ful little daughters ; and notwithstanding my forgetful- ness, and insensibility towards him, the impression which my beauty and agreeable conversation had made upon him, was not so easily effaced. I told him, as to intimations, I did not build much upon them, and that there was not the least trace of his person or any inter- view with him, in my ideas. He was amazed at that. He then proceeded to tell me his name, place of resi- dence, &c. ; referred me to several gentlemen of note, whom I knew, for his character, which, he said, were he not conscious of being clear from blemish, he would not presume to offer to a lady of my most distinguished merit. He then gave me a minute detail of his estate, which was considerable, and in which he assured me he did not deceive me, as he looked upon it to be every lady's right to be made fully acquainted with the cir- MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON 69 cumstanees of her proffered lover, before much proce- dure toward marriage. I told him it was candid. He then insisted, if, upon inquiry, I should find what he said was true, that he might be admitted as my admi- rer; he would leave every other contingency at present, not doubting I would use him generously, let my in- clination turn as it might. As we had now crossed the Falls, and driven more than a mile beyond, I began to turn the discourse, by apoligizing for the trouble I had given him. He said he thought it none, but rather a fortunate circumstance that he had met with ,such an opportunity of serving me. I told him I could not impose upon his goodness by putting him to further trouble, as he would have to return on foot; and laying hold of the reins, stopped the horse, at the same time telling him I acknowledged his kindness, and when it should lay in my power, he might rest assured I would make him a grateful return. He seemed quite elated at this declaration, and I was sensible he put a construction upon it that I had not in- tended ; then pressing my hand several times, he stept out of the chaise. I again thanked him for his kind- ness, but told him I believed he had been mistaken in his object ; that I was not the widow H . " Not Mrs. H. ?*' said he. "No," said I, "I am not." Never did I see any creature so confounded. The horse was impatient to be going, and sat off; I looked back at some twenty yards distance, and he was standing still in the very same spot where he had alighted. 70 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. Though I meant no more by not undeceiving him sooner, than a little piece of diversion, yet I could not justify my conduct upon the principle of doing as I would be done by, however blameable he might be, for making suit to a person he had so little acquaintance with. The mystery was this : My sister H. had met with him as she journeyed home from South River, with three of her children, whither she had been on a visit to sister H. Snowden. I was riding in the same chaise, drawn by the same horse, with the same kind of a rid- ing dress, and strangers say there is a great likeness. S. H. " From this novel courtship, a curiosity may arise to know whether the astounded lover ever after sought an alliance with the widow H.; but, disheartened by his mortifying mistake, he abandoned his purpose, and ne- ver again ' intimated his intentions' to her, or had an interview with her. From many little occurrences I have heard related of her, she appears to have been pretty severe upon the self-presuming lords of creation. As an instance, one of these, in the form of a beau, a stranger to her, thinking to gain the favour of the fair, by unbending himself in long-continued freaks of frivo- lity, without any reference to those whose minds were stored with materials for rational pastime, at length de- sisted, and addressing her, said, " well, Miss, I have turned fool to-night just to please the ladies." She MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 71 gravely remarked, that he had acted his part so well, that she thought he had always been one. This appro- priate rebuke silenced his folly for the remainder of the evening." " In the subjoined piece, written in answer to a com- munication published in the Pennsylvania Magazine, signed " An Old Bachelor," she has personated her sister, the widow H., and correctly delineated the cha- racter of her husband, to whom she was very early in life united, and over whose death, and her own desola- tions, she was early called to mourn." Eliza would not wish to intrude, or presume to op- pose to the more experienced in life, or skilled in the science of human nature, her sentiments, which have been formed in obscurity, and nursed in the shades of rural retirement ; but my experience, somewhat differ- ent from any I have seen exhibited in the Pennsylvania Museum upon the subject, may at least serve to fur- nish variety. When I was young, and my bosom a stranger to care — when judgment and sober reason had fixed upon my understanding but few principles for the govern- ment of my future life, or yet had rectified the foibles of the thoughtless vivacity of youth, I was courted by Gulielmos, a man of sobriety, understanding, and a competent fortune ; he possessed also many amiable 72 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. qualities of heart, which shone conspicuously through every part of his conduct, and attracted my highest es- teem ; on this was founded my sincerest affection. Till Hymen had completed our union, my most san- guine expectations had never portrayed to my imagina- tion the height of that felicity which a tenderly affec- tionate and sensible companion is capable of conferring. He seemed sufficiently blessed to see me happy, and omitted nothing in his power to make me so ; nor days, nor years, effected any change in his tender assi- duities. He was a fond, indulgent parent. Often have I seen his countenance glowing with parental delight, while the innocent prattlers, climbing his knees, would lisp their tender ideas, which he never failed to assist, with such instruction as their infantile reasons were capable of receiving. He was a kind master ; his do- mestics paid the utmost cheerful obedience to his com- mands, through affection rather than fear. His conduct and example rendered his family regular and peaceful, and diffused happiness through all his borders. His heart was susceptible of the most tender feelings, yet, when death robbed us of a lovely boy, and under trials of a like nature, resignation and true Christian fortitude beaming from his brow, bespoke the inward rectitude and composure of his soul. He was magnanimous and brave, both in prosperity and in adversitiy ; neither de- pressed by any worldly loss, nor elated by any fortui- tous event. Thus armed with divine philosophy, he rose superior to the evils of time, and tasted, by antici- MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 73 pation, that happiness which he was formed to enjoy. To the poor, the widow, and the fatherless, he was a never failing friend and assistant ; a useful member of society, both in a public and private capacity ; and he endeavoured to promote order and happiness, by the means of perfect veracity and uncorrupted justice. But how shall I recite the sad sequel, or recount the scene of my deepest sorrows? When the returning sun of eleven summers had matured our felicity, and cemented our u. ion by five of the most engaging ties, the greatest of all afflictions severed from me this inestima- ble blessing. It is foreign to my purpose, nor indeed has language energy to describe the anguish of my soul on this occasion ; but let it suffice to add, that taught by the melancholy dictates of a bleeding heart, the short- ness and uncertainty of all earthly enjoyments, I be- came sensible that nothing but the comforting prospect which Christianity affords, can yield true support to a mind labouring under trials like these. And however we may neglect to improve, and enrich the mind with the truths of religion, yet a day will come when we shall need all the consolation it is calculated to administer. To conclude — whatever reflections the wisdom and sagacity of the Literati may suggest, or the stupid du- plicity of Ignoramus declare, upon the subject of mar- riage, it is evident beyond a shadow of doubt, that, to a mind like Gulielmos', it is the highest state of human felicity, and resembles that of the beneficent Beings above, whose joys are increased by participation. 74 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. " The following brief sketch of the location of her native home, with the appending scenery ; an account of the marriage of her sister H., her place of residence, &c. was taken in the summer of 1828, whilst on a visit there, and is here offered as a further development of circumstances connected with the days of her youth." Beer Creek, 8th Mo., 1828. Though imbecile must prove my effort to delineate the varied feelings associated with the picturesque scenery now before me, yet in order to preserve a faint semblance, I have entrusted to my pen the pleasing task of tracing a week spent upon the native soil of her, whose maternal eye watched with unwavering solici- tude my walk through early life, and whose memory is still cherished with all the strength of affection which marked that period, when her approving smile shed light upon my path, when Hope bore me on her pin- ions to the same exalted summit of moral, intellectual, and religious excellence, whereon she stood. The ancient mansion where the day first dawned upon her being, is situated on one of the most elevated points in the surrounding neighbourhood, commanding an extensive view of country, beautifully diversified with hill and dale, wood and lawn, throughout which many a streamlet winds its way. Here, in this lovely spot of creation, calculated to inspire fancy and elicit sentiment, dwelt a band of brothers and sisters, ten of MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON* 75 whom have resigned to nature the little boon she lent ; dust has mingled with dust, and ashes with ashes ; one only survives to recount the incidents of the morning of their' days. Here, imagination unrestrained has wandered over years long since numbered ; their juve- nile sports, their active career of life, their " sober au- tumn fading into age," and their "pale concluding win- ter," haVe all passed in review before me, and given to my thoughts a pensive sadness that I would not ex- change for the gayest hour of thoughtless mirth my spirit ever .knew. In a morning's ramble with my uncle and an interest- ing cousin, I called to see the nearly desolated habita- tion of an aunt, once the loved and favourite sister of my endeared mother, and with whom she had spent many a pleasant intellectual hour. On her nuptial hour with one of the best of men, the sun of prosperity shone with peculiar brightness, but arrested ere the meridian of his day, by that potent arm which has con- signed to the " clod of the valley" successive genera- tions since the world began, she was left a young and an unskilful pilot on the waves of Time. Trained up in the lap of ease, and measuring the ingenuousness of others by her own guileless motives, she knew not the wiles of the world ; but she was soon taught, in the school of experience, to feel her hold upon its favours was unstable — her confidence in its promises baseless. It was then a time to test a sister's affection ; it was then that she, who was afterwards my revered mother, 76 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. cheerfully resigned the comforts of her paternal abode* to share her cares and to solace her widowhood. Here, as I surveyed the effect of Time's dilapidating hand upon the several departments through which I wandered, nry mind was drawn into reflections replete with instruction ; life, in its pristine colours, arose be- fore me, and whilst I turned aside to pay the tribute of a tear to its faded and its fading glories, my thoughts soared beyond its narrow bounds, and triumphed in the consciousness that " When, suns have waned, and worlds sublime Their final revolutions told, This soul shall triumph over Time, As though such orbs had never roll'd." But, quickly blending with the exalted theme a hu* initiating view of my own internal domain, I saw my liability to diverge from that centre toward which divine love had again and again drawn my heart ; I felt that idols had shared the homage due only to the true and living God, and secretly did I aspire for renewed sta- bility of mind to direct all my affections aright, to place my all of hope in Heaven, to draw my all of joy from its unadulterated stream. We then pursued our walk to see a cousin, the daughter of the aunt alluded to, where we spent the re- mainder of the day. The cheerful sprightliness that prevailed in this unostentatious dwelling, where dark boding sorrow once had its reign, for she was a widow, MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 77 and the mother of a numerous flock, soon dissipated the sombre hue my spirits had previously imbibed, and in rational converse " unheeded flew the hours." About dusk, seated on an old plough horse, which my uncle had directed to be sent for me, and attended by his son on foot, I had a ride which Napoleon, mount- ed on his charger, and scaling the Alps, might have envied. " The yellow moon, hanging on high," shone in all its brilliancy ; the shrill notes of the little choris- ters of the night were heard in lively cadence ; a mur- muring stream, gently gliding on, lent its music to the ear, and lighted windows, seen in the distance, all combined to throw a magic charm over my mind, which, blending with its morning seriousness, caused a mood just suited to contemplate such a scene with delightful emotions. My thoughts aspiring to the Sovereign Architect, and Lord of all, felt and acknowledged his might, his majesty, his goodness, and his love, whilst they encircled, as emanations of his benignity, those friendships which from time to time had arisen, like verdant spots on life's desert waste, and tendered to my heart a sweet respite from darker hours. A welcome reception awaited my return, and a plea- sant evening succeeded, but the excited feelings which I had cherished through the day banished sleep beyond the midnight hour. The next morning I bade adieu, perhaps for ever, to this endeared spot of creation, where oft, when night and silence held their reign, I had communed with the grave, and measured out the 78 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. little span, that at its utmost bound must soon be jour- neyed over, and this fragile frame reach its last, its quiet resting place, and "the immortal spirit, emancipated from earth, read its final doom." To Richard Hopkins, South River, Deer Creek, Jan. 25th, 1774. Dear Cousin, To be silent, when I have an opportunity of convey- ing my thoughts to thee, would tacitly imply an indif- ference nowise agreeable to the present feelings of my heart, for be assured, my cousin, a longer acquaintance has produced a nearer union, not only with thyself, but with thy nearest friend, and the family to which thou hast lately been allied. I often look back with pleasure upon the moments I have spent with you, and dare I in- dulge a wish for any thing not placed within my power, it would be frequently to chat away some of my winter evenings with you; but I have no doubt your enjoy- ment is full, without such an addition to your social entertainments. I, too, have my home delights, with my friends present, but my absent ones share largely in my thoughts and my esteem. Deer Creek affords no new thing worth communicat- ing, excepting that matrimony is flourishing among us, and old and young are running their heads into the noose, which I suppose thou wilt approve. I hope MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 79 thou wilt have every cause still to commend the tie, and that you may long enjoy all the happiness that marriage in its most exalted state can bestow ; and may you never cease to remember with gratitude the good hand whence every blessing flows, nor be content with only gaining an easy and prosperous voyage through Time, but provide, as you glide onward, for a safe landing upon the eternal sfmre, where shortly we must all arrive. I shall be very glad to hear from you ; do not miss giving me that satisfaction by the first opportunity. I desire to be affectionately remembered to thy father-in- law, Samuel Snowden, and wife, and in a very especial manner to thy Nancy. I remain, dear cousin, thy friend, and affectionate Susan. To Susan Hopkins. March 13th, 1774. I would as soon believe a priest, nay, one of your own clergymen, who changes his mind once in every twenty-four hours ; I would take even his word before yours : and, what is worse, I will never believe you again. And mayst thou be the wife of some flattering priest, whose resolution has not the strength of a cob- web, whose habitation is in the barrens, live on corn bread and herring, or die that despicable creature, ■ 80 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. Yet, yet, my Susan, do not be angry, thou hast not of- fended me, my dear girl, and though I am vexed at the very heart, it is not at you. Farewell, and believe that I love you as much as ever. J. C. From S. H. to J. C. Deer Creek, 1774. Dear me ! what have I done, or what has any body done to thee, that thou shouldst curse me so ? Why, as uncle Toby* says, " I would not curse the dog so." What ! marry a priest, reside in the barrens, live on corn bread and herrings, or die that despicable crea- ture, O, my patience ! what 's the matter ?" Thou art not angry with me ; "I never offended thee ;" but thou art vexed at the very heart about something. Well, what shall I say ? I have a feeling heart, and would wil- lingly yield thee all the comfort and consolation within my power ; but shall first presume that some ill wind from the West has chagrined thee ; by the West, I do not mean the place where the sun sets, nor either of the two-and-thirty points in the compass. What then? Inasmuch as thou knowest, it is not worth while to use any metaphors, allegories, parables, or paradoxes, about it, we will suppose it to mean " a priest," or " one of your own clergymen, that changes his mind once in * Tristrum Shandy, MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 81 every twenty -four hours." I will not say he is an unwor- thy subject of thy disgust, lest I offend thee, and shall leave thee to make thy own estimate of his merit ; but were it left to me to weigh it, I believe I should make use of the apothecaries' scale and weights. But that is not the matter — we will suppose, for instance, that he, or some other thing, has heartily vexed thee. Now, what I am at, is to restore thy quiet and peace of mind. Phi- losophers and wise men have given us divers maxims and advices to prevent or cure such things ; but the mis- fortune is, when Ave come to be tried, they are so very hard to be put into practice. I knew a religious young man, who fell desperately in love with a young woman, (as I thought,) no way worthy of his attachment. After giving him encourage- ment, she conceived hopes of another that she prefer- red, and treated him with disdain. This was a heavy stroke upon him, which to alleviate, he applied himself more closely to reading religious books, Epictetus, Seneca, and I know not whom of the ancient philoso- phers ; but it was an over match for all the religion and philosophy he was able to attain, and he seemed about to sink into a profound melancholy. He, in confidence, let me into the whole affair, and expressed his utter in- ability to quiet the commotion of his mind, by any means he had hitherto used. As he was a relation I dearly loved, and in wlrose welfare 1 was deeply inter- ested, I became solicitous to find some remedy, and hit upon one, which, I believe, was very helpful ; but I 8* 82 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. fear to tell it thee, lest it encourage the indulgence of chimera or castle building, which the mind, familiar with tales of fiction, is prone to create ; but I ventured to recommend to him what Sterne has thus expressed : " Sweet pliability of man's spirit ! that can at once surrender itself to illusions which cheat expectation and sorrow of their weary moments ; when (says our au- thor) my way is too rough for my feet, or too steep for my strength, I get off it to some smooth velvet path, which fancy has scattered over with rose buds of de- light ; and having taken a few turns in it, I come back strengthened and refreshed." The event was, that he recovered his tranquillity of mind, and it was not long before he met with an object more deserving, who, sen- sible of his merit, repaid his affection and esteem as it deserved. I could mention several such instances, which may serve to show, that could we anticipate a few years, and look back upon present circumstances and occur- rences, we should find that which we deemed our greatest evil, was the best that could have happened to us ; and that which we most desired, the worst that could befall. Therefore, seeing we are so shortsighted it behoves us, as much as possible, to meet all events with an equal mind, nor ever complain of the trials that cross our way, for they are incident to human life, the inheritance of the children of the dust. That it is bet- ter to get over them by any means not really prejudi- cial, than to indulge in the remembrance of them to our MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 83 hurt ; and, though I admit ideal pleasure is innocent and allowable upon some occasions, in order to elude the force of hurtful commotions and disquietude of mind, yet, beyond all dispute, Truth is the only sure basis of all permanent happiness ; and the more we habituate the mind to the contemplation thereof, and to the practice of its dictates in, the less need we shall stand of illusive enjoyments to qualify the bitter draughts which more or less are administered to all, as they pass through the transitory vale of human life. If we can but order the point of the compass between murmuring and improper elevation, so as to hit a state of resigned cheerful thankfulness, there is no doubt but the drama will end well at last. With unfeigned love, I remain thy friend, Susan. Deer Creek. My Dear Girl, My last gave thee an account of the wedding, but as the messenger was then waiting, I had to leave part of my story untold, so I shall resume it just where I left off. When the wedding feast was over, which lasted two days, and the company was repairing home, the agree- able family, with the bride and groom joined in impor- tuning me to stay a few days longer. I pleaded that I 84 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. should have no company, as it did not suit my brother to stay, the old gentleman engaged that I should not want an escort, for if nobody else will, my son, said he, shall see you safely home. I looked at his son to see if I could translate his countenance into a concurrence with his father's proposal ; he also looked at me with a kind of benignity which, as I felt rather disposed to comply with their request, served just then to satisfy me. This son is a young widower, having buried his wife about eighteen months since. I was told, that for a time his grief was very great, but since, it has appeared to sub- side, his behaviour is grave and sedate, seldom mixing in young company, and he is very reserved toward our sex. Though whilst I was there, we several times entered into conversation, in which his politeness and good sense appeared, but at the same time there was a gravity in his manner that produced something of an awe and timidity in me lest I should seem to make too free. After spending three days longer very agreeably, the time drew near when I must return home, and no other company as yet appearing, I confess, I never, upon a like occasion, felt under such an embarrassment. Wil- lingly would I have foregone all the pleasure I had de- rived in staying. This said widower had not offered to wait on me home, nor seconded his father's propo- sal in words, though I had heard him giving directions to some of the domestics what to do in his absence, which implied that he intended to go, yet I reasoned thus — perhaps politeness and respect for his father may MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 85 induce him to submit, but it may hurt his more tender and delicate feelings, and he may wish me further than be thus situated. If he had offered I should have felt no scruple about it, and to excuse him without assign- ing a cause, might be misconstrued. This point was too delicate even to be hinted at ; what then was I to do ? As I was pondering over the dilemma I was in, whom should I see riding up, but my old friend and former preceptor Joseph Wilson ; he inquired when I intended to return home, and what company I expected ; offered to escort me himself if I would wait till he ac- complished some business he had to attend to a few miles further on. But, said he, perhaps you have com- pany you like better. I told him I had none without giving my friends trouble, and I would accept his proffer- ed kindness. Edwin then ventured to say, that he did not think it a trouble ; however, I chose to wait for Jo- seph. In the mean time, the bride and groom, with their retinue, took their departure forOlney, and most of the family escorted them part of the way, so that I was left with the junior part of the household and Ed- win. I suppose he had seen my embarrassment and perhaps suspected the cause. Being left in some- thing of a lonely situation, he seemed more particularly disirous to contribute to my amusement. As he was a reader and a virtuoso in collecting manuscripts both in prose and poetry, he brought me a large bundle, and laying it on the table, desired me to amuse myself with the contents till his return, as he was under the neces- 86 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. sity of riding a few miles, but thought he would be back in about an hour. After his departure I opened the bundle and found several smaller parcels tied up by themselves. Among them, was one more carefully folded up and tied with a piece of black riband. This, I first opened, which contained several pieces of poetry which I supposed were written by himself in his earlier days, and one addressed to him by his wife, written not long before her death, wherein she informed him of a presentiment she had of her approaching dissolution ; her submission to the Divine will ; mentioned the near unity that had subsisted between them, and in moving terms request- ed his tender care toward their dear little Lydia. I almost repented my curiosity in reading it, for be- ing considerably affected, I could not refrain from tears, and unwilling to be seen by any of the family, I put them carefully up, walked out alone, sat down in the shade, and indulged reflections intermingled with tears, which, according to Yorick on Sensibility, were a convincing proof that I had a soul as well as he, and after washing my face in a little stream, and wiping it with my pocket handkerchief, I went in and found him punctual to the hour he was to be absent. Joseph soon after came, and we set ofT homeward; Edwin escorting us several miles. Conduct so becoming his situation, with the amiable qualities which he discovered gained my esteem — quite disinterestedly I assure thee, for I MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 87 have not the most distant view of standing in any other relation to him than as a friend. Though I hold Cupid in some sort of respect, yet I choose to distance his mark till I see my own advan- tage, and wish not to become myself, nor have others the sport of his vagaries. I am, as ever, thy attached Susan. To , Philadelphia. Deer Creek, 1776. My Dear Cousin, We arrived safely at home on the day after leaving Philadelphia, and found the whole system of our con- cerns in as good plight as we left them, which was a matter of satisfaction and thankfulness. My sister for awhile seemed to enjoy the favour, but beginning to reflect how uneasy she had been without a cause, and that the opportunity of enjoying the society of her friends in Philadelphia was past and probably might never occur again, she was not a little displeased with herself, but I endeavoured to reconcile her by remind- ing her that what was past could not be recalled, and that the happiness most worthy of her pursuit was still within her power, and no way dependant on outward place or circumstance. I am thankful that from a gift of nature I am as little liable to vain and fruitless anxi- 88 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. ety as most people, and sometimes I think I can sub- scribe to those lines of Dr. Young, " What e'er the colour of my fate, my fate shall be my choice, For I determine whilst I breath, to praise and to rejoice." Yet no doubt there are troubles and misfortunes in life which might greatly stagger my philosophy and cause my feeble bark to recede from its wonted course of re- signed thankfulness ; but Hope is an anchor that will sustain through all evils incident to human existence, provided Religion take the helm and we be vigilant in well-doing. Deer Creek, 1776. My Dear Cousin C. M. My sister's great anxiety about home was causeless ; for when we arrived there, we found all well, which occasioned her to reflect upon herself, for suffering her mind to become so disturbed. I hope experience will teach her more wisdom ; however, I am disposed to believe that we are sometimes impressed with a pro- phetic sense of what Providence is about to bring to pass, but did we rightly conceive of his unceasing goodness, we should readily allow it to be a weakness, if not a crime, to encourage any great degree of anxiety. I am, indeed, yet less at home than I think consis- tent with my truest interest; the mind, which may properly be termed one's-self, being often absent ; but MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 89 I hope a little more time and recollection will bring me back to my usual enjoyment of those quiet scenes, and enable me to fix a more steady attention toward the attainment of the one thing needful, which maketh rich, and addeth no sorrow with it ; every other pur- suit is liable to vexation and disappointment, but in this, no casualty can frustrate our best endeavours. It was thy desire that I should write to thee ; but what consideration can I propose to a mind far more capacious than my own ? The subject of my medita- tions would be nothing new to thee. Couldst thou find entertainment in a descriptive view of the lofty trees, verdant fields, and the murmuring streams, which oft have afforded me agreeable amusement for a pensive hour? The autumnal season begins to display a more solemn scene. Nature, on the decay, though attended with pleasing variety, cannot, I think, fail to excite serious impressions upon every attentive mind. The similarity that appears between the external creation, and the changes and different stages of this our pilgrimage state, seems as if the All-wise Disposer of all things intended thereby, continually to remind us of what we are, and what we soon shall be. May a due improvement of every visible, as well as internal manifestation of Divine power, wisdom, and goodness, prepare us for the winter, and closing period of our day. The bearer of this, just calling, who is a near neigh- 9 90 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON* bour, going to hazard the chance of war, bids me con* elude. How different, my friend, are those hostile scenes from the peaceable state prophecied by Isaiah, when " swords shall be beaten into ploughshares, and spears into pruning-hooks, when nation shall not rise against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." Does not it seem strange that the reverse of this, should be consistent with the permission of the Most High, whose kingdom consisteth in righteousness, peace, and joy, and who, according to an ancient testimony, " rules in the kingdoms of men, and gives them to whomsoever he will ?" But we must not, in this dark state of things, pretend to scan the doings of Provi- dence. I doubt not, when the grand arcanum of his economy in human affairs shall be unfolded to our view, that, with pleasing wonder, we shall trace all his dispensations toward his creature man, through paths of unerring wisdom and boundless love, and acknow- ledge, with humble gratitude, that he is just and equal in all his ways. To CM., Philadelphia. Deer Creek, 1776. My Dear Cousin, A melancholy kind of satisfaction attended the peru- sal of thy kind letter, which contained the particular MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 91 information I had been anxious to gain, whilst it re- vived my sorrow for the death of my dear friend. I have truly borne a sympathising part with you all, but more especially with her endeared partner, " When such friends part, 'tis the survivor dies." But I hope the same divine philosophy that armed his soul with fortitude at the trying scene of her departure, will still support and enable him to rise superior to his own loss, whilst with the eye of faith he beholds a beatified spirit entered into endless joy and felicity. What a lesson, my dear friend, is death to surviving mortals ? But is it not too often the case, that, when we have paid the rites of decent sorrow to the memory of a departed friend, and indulged a few serious reflec- tions on time, death, and eternity, the impression wears off, without taking that effect upon our minds which such events are calculated to produce? I wish this were less my own experience. I well remember, that once when I attended a dear brother in his last illness, and was witness to the throes and agonies of his soul, lest he might not be sufficiently purified, or in a state of preparation to appear before the tribunal of a just Judge, his groans, and intercessions to the Throne of forgiving Mercy, sounded in mine ears long after he had gone to make the dread experiment. My feelings, at that time, were not to be described, and I resolved, with Divine aid, to be constantly pre- paring for death, that its awful period might be met 92 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. without fear. Seeing the shortness of our passage from the cradle to the grave, it appeared only worth while to contemplate those regions which lie beyond the narrow boundaries of Time. But as my sorrow subsided, the world, which in many forms insinuates itself into the heart, began gradually to steal its affections from the one thing needful ; and now I frequently find myself under the necessity of retiring within, to supplicate the Throne of Grace, that I may be delivered from its temp- tations and its snares, lest I be carried away, and at last be excluded from the arms of Divine Mercy. My brother W. has had a long and painful struggle ; his disorder was inflammatory fever, but through mercy he is now rising from the bed of affliction, and I hope he will be truly thankful, nor be like a people formerly, whom the hand of Almighty Power led through the Red Sea, and set their feet on the banks of deliverance, " They sang his praise, but soon forgot his works." A few lines from thee, will at any time be gratefully received and acknowledged, by thy affectionate cousin, Susan. To Christopher Marshall. Deer Creek, January 30th, 1777. My Dear Friend, So thoughtless was thy messenger of affection, that not till yesterday did it make its appearance. When I MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 93 examined the date, I could not forbear chiding its tardy movements on the way. I have no doubt the effect of thy great loss is still manifest. Death makes sad inroads upon our finite enjoyments, but if under these, and all other trials, we can be truly resigned, I am convinced that the painful feelings of human nature in the hands of Infinite Wis- dom and goodness, are made subservient to our truest interest. May this be the conclusion of all the trials and vicissitudes that may attend thee through thy pil- grimage state. Since thy letter was written, I understand that you have been expelled from the city by well grounded fears of the enemy. It appears to be a time when the judgments of the Lord are in the earth. I hope the inhabitants thereof will learn righteousness. This is the important year, when, according to Clerke, the Millennium is to commence. The prospect, at present, is very different. Let the voice of liberty stun the nation with feats of valour ; but what is the glory of her prowess, when compared with the victory which a silent, humble, per- severing diligence over the empire of our hearts ob- tains for us, whereby our spiritual enemies are put to flight, and we enabled to stand fast in that true Chris- tian liberty, which pertains to the children of God ? 9* 94 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. THE CHRISTIAN'S STRENGTH. Resiga'd a Christian meets the ills of Time, Nor fears the storms of this inclement clime : Tho' thunders roar and terrors round him spread " Eternal sunshine settles on his head." He fears his God and hath no other fear, His mind unclouded and his conscience clear, His prospects vast, outshine the noontide beam, His Faith no fancy, and his Hope no dream, He fears not men of high or low degree, No earthly power can bind his liberty ; Beyond their ken his treasure lies conceal'd He only wishes 't were enough revealed, That men might know its worth and prize it too, He gladly would expose it to their view. If suffering best should answer that design, To suffer, freely doth himself resign. He to the smiter turns his ready cheek, As taught of Him who saith " I'm low and meek." No provocation can his spirit move To aught contrary to the law of love, But prays with Him whom on the cross we view " Father forgive, they know not what they do." The royal law rejoiceth to fulfil And only recompenseth good for ill. Thus to the world proclaims, come taste and see The love of God, behold how good is he! Of bitter things he makes a wholesome sweet, And rugged paths he smooths beneath our feet, MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 95 And tho' the wicked may our hurt intend, E'en Angels stand to guard — the good man's friend. Remember Joseph whom his Brethren sold To the erratic Midianites for gold, To bondage they the faultless youth consign'd, But Providence had other things design'd; Mark the vicissitudes through which he past, Which paved his way to dignity at last. The Christians strength and confidence, is He Who hath set bounds and limits to the sea, " Thus far saith He no further shalt thou go," Beyond its bound no turgid wave shall flow Though swelling high. Firm on a rock he sings, Glory and honour to the King of Kings :* And though the fig tree strew no blossoms round, Nor cheering juices in the vine be found, The olive fail, the labour of the field, In golden crops shall cease her meat to 3>ield, The flocks cut off, the shepherds pen no fold, The stalls forsook, where once the herd were told, Yet in the God of his salvation, he Doth still rejoice in deep humility ; His heart responds to the angelic host, And praises Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. * Habakkuk ili. 17,18. Beer Creek— -1777. 96 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON, Beer Creek, 1778. Dear Brother Levin, I cannot but esteem thee an honest fellow, for the candour of thy opinion in the matter I had entrusted to thee : such openness is worthy of true friendship. When my friend speaks in my commendation, I am not sure that his motive is only to please ; but when he disapproves I think he is sincere. I agree with thee, that Friends have no business to run after newspapers, or political publications. I sel- dom read either, as they are, generally, receptacles for such things as are of little importance to the Christian, whose converse is, or ought to be, in heaven. But as there is a danger of being led out into the spirit of the world, so likewise we ought to be careful that we get not too much contracted into the narrow shell of self- love, which concerns not what becomes of the rest of the human family, so we can think ourselves safe. To me, there is something God-like, and divine, in reach- ing after the most dissolute and wicked amongst men, in order to bring them home to a sense of duty ; but as I pretend to no fitness for such an undertaking, I must leave it to those more equal to the task, and only in- quire a little, how it is with thee. Art thou advancing in the path of Christian perfection ? Or, art thou in a departure from thy first love, and, like the Church of Laodicea, becoming neither hot nor cold? It's true I am no priest, therefore confession is not due to me, but MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 97 let the examination pass through thine own heart; it will do the best no harm, often to be looking how their accounts stand, lest they insensibly slide and fall away from grace and truth. I know there is inherent in us a certain wandering of the desires, and backwardness to that constant labour and advertency which is indispensably needful for our perseverance in a religious progress, which, if remitted by us, we shall presently have but little else left of re- ligion but the mere shell ; hence I believe it is, that we have so many nominal Christians, who profess but pos- sess not. I do not accuse thee, my dear boy ; I only speak to thee as I speak to the heart of thy affectionate sister, Susan H. Deer Creek, 1778. My Dear Brother L., It has not been for the want of a due share of affec- tion that I have conversed so little with thee, in an epistolary way, since thy removal from us. Thy omis- sion of that golden rule of doing to others as thou wouldst be done by, has, perhaps, occasioned me to be rather remiss ; but the voice of thy complaints hav- ing reached me, I was willing to silence them, by re- moving the cause. I cannot, however, promise that my lines shall be made acceptable to thee, by a com- 98 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. munication of good news ; for, indeed, I find such a eall to industry at home, in a two-fold sense, that I sel- dom look or ask for any other intelligence abroad, than to know whether our friends are in the fruition of health : this blessing, with the additional ones of domestic peace and competency, they pretty generally enjoy. I was glad to find by thy letter to mother, that thou art pleased with thy present situation, not only because I wish thee happiness, but I look upon it to be the in- dispensable duty of every Christian to be content, and humbly thankful for such a distribution of the good things of this life as Providence may see meet to as- sign him. A cheerful, resigned contentment, is cer- tainly the most acceptable tribute of gratitude that we can pay to the Divine Disposer of events, and Author of all our mercies ; and, since we learn, both from ob- servation and experience, that unmixed felicity is not the portion of this life, let us, my dear Levin, endea- vour to secure that happiness in the next, by duly im- proving the fleeting moments as they pass, observing, with a persevering and steady eye, the counsel and in- struction of that oracle within, which ever leads its true votaries in the way of self-denial and the cross. We were lately at the Grove Quarterly Meeting, where were several of the most eminent amongst us, whose lively and powerful testimonies carried an evi- dence of their mission. On first day, at New Garden, appeared Jacob Lindley ; and it happening that I fell in company with him and his sister, we accepted their MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 99 invitation to their father's house. I was glad of an op- portunity of forming an acquaintance with a person of whom I had conceived so exalted an opinion, and found no cause of diminution by an improvement thereof. He is certainly one of the brightest ornaments of Christia- nity ; calculated, both by nature and grace, by the en- gaging, cheerful affability of his behaviour, as well as by the energy and power of his public testimonies, to promote the cause of God and religion. How lovely is religion, when it appears in the bloom and vigour of life ! when the faculties, shining in their fullest magni- tude, are brightened and improved by the noblest of all pursuits and attainments ! I have often, my dear brother, been uneasy, because of thy being situated, where it is to be feared, there are too few to whom thou oughtest to give the right hand of fellowship, or converse with upon subjects that might be to thy edification. The way of life and salvation, as our blessed Lord declares, is straight and narrow, and if we be not ex- ceedingly careful and watchful over ourselves, we shall imperceptibly wander from the path ; therefore, let us be diligent in well-doing, for "it is the diligent hand that maketh rich." I am, as ever, thy affectionate sister, S. H. 100 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. To M. 0. Deer Creek, 1778. I hope, my dear cousin M., thou hast not attributed the slowness of my answer to thine, to any want of that true affection peculiar to members of the same body. Though I sensibly feel this precious bond, yet so it is with me, I am not always at liberty to express my feel- ings, either verbally or in literary method, nor can I, in some matters that may appear trivial, safely or pro- fitably act in mine own will or time ; but ever find it meet for me to advert to that sure word of prophecy, unto which we all do well to take heed. It is an an- cient prophecy, and, I believe, fulfilling in this our day, "A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me ; him shall ye hear in all things :" which, as I apprehend, refers to Christ and his Spirit in the hearts of believers ; whose spi- ritual voice, if inwardly attended to, is to be heard in all things, teaching and directing his followers what is for the good of souls and the honour of His great and holy name, and what is not. "Without some such mani- festation of the Divine mind and will, revealed in us from time to time, I have no idea that we can rightly speak or act in his cause, however warm our zeal may be : and it may be, yea, I know it to be the case, that the work of grace may more effectually be carried on in the hearts of those whose desires are measurably turned heavenward, by entering into true stillness, and MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 101 waiting upon God in the silence of all flesh, than in a multitude of words ; the experienced Christian knows there is at times a sublimity of divine feeling, in pro- found meditation ; — true prayer and praise ; that lan- guage has not energy to describe or express. This the unrenewed part of man or superficial Christian, calls mysticism or enthusiasm, but which to denominate truly, is no other than the pure and spiritual worship of a pure and spiritual God, and which unites us to him in the bonds of indissoluble love. " Come then expressive silence muse his praise." Though I count myself a very little one in the flock and family of Christ, and of small experience in the myste- ries of his Kingdom, yet I find that I have no might nor sufficiency of mine own, nothing laid up in store for the morrow that I can command in my own will and time, but am only so far fed and supported as I rely on, and receive of the divine bounty from one moment to another. True it is, that they who know an ad- vancement in Christian perfection, must also know all self-dependence, self-sufficiency, self-complacency, &c, brought down, and laid low in the dust of self-annihila- tion, and God alone to be all in all both in and for them. To thy expectation that my letters will prove spiritu* ally useful, I have only to say, that we are likely to be helpful to each other in proportion as our minds are engaged to inquire where the Shepherd of Israel, the Beloved of our souls doth feed his flock* and cause them 10 102 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. to rest at noon day ; in which inquiry, if we are enabled to discover to each other the footsteps of the flock that lead to the Shepherd's tent, the only useful end of a communication of sentiments is answered ; for it is the Shepherd only that can conduct us to the banqueting- house, and fill us with the dainties of his Kingdom. I have sometimes been called home from expecting or looking outward for help, by these expressions of an eminent saint, " O God who art the truth, make me one with thee in everlasting love. I am often weary of reading, and weary of hearing ; in thee alone is the sum of all my desire, let all teachers be silent, let the whole creation be dumb before thee, and do thou only speak to my soul, lest being outwardly called, and not inwardly quickened, I die and become unfruit- ful; lest the word heard and not obeyed, known and not loved, professed, and not kept, turn to my con- demnation." I hope by this time, thou hast perfectly recovered from the ill consequences of thy journey from Deer Creek. Please to remember me affectionately to thy uncle and aunt, and believe me to be thy affectionate friend and cousin, S. Hopkins. " The following communication was addressed to a number of Friends, at that time confined in Lancaster MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 103 Jail, on account of their testimony against contributing to the support of the war, then existing between Great Britain and her colonies in North America." To Friends in Lancaster Jail. Deer Creek, 1778. Esteemed Friends, Think not that He who hath appointed unto you your measure of sufferings hath forgotten to be gracious, or that his providential care toward the sheep of his pas- ture, and the flock of his fold is less now than in ages past, or that he permits the partial hand of justice to fall more heavily upon some than others, but for the wisest purposes. The Most High, certainly presides over all his works, insomuch, that a sparrow does not fall to the ground without his notice, and behold, ye are of more value than many sparrows ; therefore be encouraged still to trust in him who will never leave nor forsake his de- pendent children. Endeavour to draw your minds into the same state of seclusion from the world's intercourse, as are your bodies, so shall those walls, those bolts and bars which deprive you of your personal liberty and commerce with the world, prove an asylum from its snares and temptations, and thereby afford more abundant opportunity for the work of inward purifica- tion to be carried on, which will gradually lead and initiate you into that glorious state of true Christian liberty, which pertains to the children of God. 104 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. I believe the prayers of many are for you, that you may be strengthened and established in faith and pa- tience, amongst which, be assured, are those of your truly sympathizing friend, Suasan Hopkins. "In personating a beloved brother, who was lan- guishing under bodily and mental sufferings, she thus writes:" For me no hope unfurls her spreading sails, No pleasing views invite the wafting gales ; No cheerful fancy paints the coming day, But leaden moments slowly roll away. Youth, health, and joy together, blasted, fled, E'en hope itself is numbered with the dead. With painful thought and sadness I deplore That pristine vigor I enjoy no more. Like roses blighted in their early prime, Or age that droops beneath the hand of Time ; Or like the insects of a summer's day, I too, ere long, must surely pass away. Low in the tomb forgetful I shall sleep ; There shall mine eye no painful vigils keep. But oh ! full well I know my early days Have not been spent in Wisdom's pleasant ways, My golden hours inglorious I have past, Nor dream'd their lustre would decline so fast. Oh ! that my soul an early vow had made, That I this early vow had duly paid, MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 105 To Him whose smiles can banish care away, And on my spirit shed meridian day. Sweetly resign'd I now had laid me down, Nor chang'd my prospects for a monarch's crown. TO AN OFFICER OF DISTINCTION, 1778. If he be a statesman or a magistrate, he founds all his politics upon justice, and pursues his ends without the low, vulgar artifices of a little mind. If he be a general of an army, or a soldier, he looks upon him- self as the executor of divine justice, by war ; but he banishes all private views, false glory, unbridled ambi- tion, barbarous cruelties, and unjust exactions, says Plato. When martial fire inspires thy soul, To take the hostile field, Let mercy all thy force control, When e'er thy foe shall yield. Disarm'd, forget that late his aim To take thy life did bend ; The golden rule, mark well the same, And treat him as thy friend. Let not thine hand inflict distress, Where pity may be shown ; Grant injured innocence redress, And make her cause thine own. 10* 106 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. That charity which thinks no ill, Pacific is, and kind, Makes heroes greater heroes still, And shows a noble mind. When thou shalt judge of wrong and right, Be calm as summer's eve ; Be mild as morn, serene, as light, Lest passion should deceive. Rather let guilt escape thine hand, Nor share the justice due, Than wrong be done at thy command, On those upright and true. Ah! show thy kindness to that stock* From whence thyself did spring, Nor ravage a defenceless flock For what their fleece will bring. That monster, persecution, shun, Nor give her edicts place, Lest by her rules such deeds be done, As freedom shall disgrace, Or, lest her hideous, gorgon head, Into dominion rise, And o'er the land destruction spread, In liberty's disguise. Omniscient good presides o'er all, Let man do what he will, By him doth kingdoms stand or fall, He rules omniscient still. * General Green was educated a Quaker. MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 107 Trust thou in Him, he can defend, And crush the force of wrong, Nor on unrighteousness depend, To make your barriers strong. Whilst men by virtue do maintain Their native dignity, No earthly power can forge a chain To bind their liberty. But when debas'd the minds of men, Corrupt in manners too, A servile state befits them then, Then liberty adieu ! Let each repent, and mend his way, Be merciful and just, And humbly walk from day to day, And place in God his trust. By other means our punishment We may make more condign, But can 't deserved ill prevent, Though hand in hand we join. FRAGMENT. We find, by all we learn in doctrine or experience, that we are as highly culpable for time, gifts, blessings, and opportunities misspent and misapplied, as for deeds that wear a darker aspect. 108 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. Witness the different sentences to those who had wisely improved their talents, and the slothful servant who had buried that committed to him in the earth. The lamentable consignment of the latter was into outer darkness, weeping, and gnashing of teeth. Extract from a Sketch of a Journey through some parts of Pennsylvania, written to a friend. We pursued our route by the written directions thou gavest us, and without missing our road, arrived at Ephrata about five o'clock 'in the afternoon. As thou hast been there, I shall not give a description of the place, the habits, manners, and customs of the people. The inhabitants treated us with great hospitality, and satis- fled our curiosity in every particular. We inquired of the Sisters whether they would encourage us to come and live with them ? They told us we looked too nice and delicate to bear the austerities and arduous labour they sometimes had to undergo ; but they, being used to it, were content. Their minister, P. Miller, pre- sented us with a confession of their faith, which is short. We spent the last evening we were there with three of the Brethren, who, for some religious reasons, had se- parated themselves from the rest. With a view to hear what answer they would give us, we proposed to them, that as we were young people, whose situations in life were amidst the allurements and temptations of the MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 109 world, and being desirous to make good our journey- heavenward, whether from their own experience they could recommend it as the safest way, to come and join them in their recluse abode ? They remained some mo- ments silent : at length one of them replied, that " he should be unwilling to discourage any desire in us, pro- ceeding from the right spirit, but a man's enemies were those of his own house, his own evil passions and pro- pensities, which, until the strong man armed, even the power and love of God, had so far obtained possession of the habitation of our hearts, as to bind and keep them in subjection, we should carry them wherever we went, and their fruits would appear in some form or other, in every place or circumstance in life ; and he could not say that the beams of divine love shone any brighter, or the heart was any more susceptible of its influence in Ephrata than in any other part of the enlightened world ; that even there, we might not be so free from temptation as we supposed ;" and gave it as his opinion, that we might fill up our several stations, perform our duty in our present allotment, and be as much in the fa- vour of God, and as near to his Kingdom, as if our dwellings were in the seclusions of Ephrata. An an- swer so in unison with my own views on the subject, was very satisfactory. We next went to Litiz, where we were kindly re- ceived and conducted through all the apartments. I asked some of the Sisters whether they were really contented and happy in their sequestration from the 110 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. busy world ? whether there was no uneasy void within at times ? They answered they were happy, and felt none * * * * * We then proceeded to Lancaster. The Yearly Meet- ing held there was in session. The first day we dined with a family of note, to whom some of us were re- lated. The master of the mansion said grace ; and after we were seated, he surveyed the table, then the side-board, which were sumptuously spread, and ob- served, that he was fearful we should not be able to make out our dinner. One of the company queried, " Why not ?" He said he saw no plumb pudding served up, and he thought this was our plumb pudding feast, which he did not know but we were commanded to eat, as the Jews the passover. One of the guests, being a moralizer, observed, that something useful might be in- ferred from the joke : for instance, said he, address- ing himself to us, we will suppose that your religion is a plumb pudding, and yours, sir, turning to the gen- tleman of the house, this loin of veal ; they are both very good, and if received into a healthful stomach, they will afford gratification and nutriment. So, the religion of each, though not exactly the same thing, yet it is the food of the soul, and if properly exercised in a right disposition of mind, will answer the same great pur- pose to each of you. We were pleased with his judicious remarks, and having nothing in reality to differ about, wit and plea- santry crowned the board* MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. Ill Philadelphia, 1779. Thou art, my friend, not a little mistaken in sup- posing the town has made me what I shall never be, nor aim I to be, " a fine lady." I am too much ground- ed in my country airs and habits, to be so soon meta- morphosed ; as to being agreeably entertained and hav- ing opportunities to converse with those as wise as my- self, I grant thee. But a person may pass here, as well as in the country without any uncommon share of un- derstanding. A tolerable external appearance, a mode- rate degree of wit, a little modest assurance, and some- thing of politeness, are sufficient qualifications to gain as much kindness and respect, as is needful. But in my opinion, Nature has been no more bountiful in be- stowing her gifts upon the town, than the country peo- ple ; yet in point of education and polish, they have rather the advantage. There is also a kind of varnish with which some are glazed over, that is neither edu- cation nor true polish, but something more superficial ; I mean those, to whom the advantages of dress, or for- tune, give an air of consequence and dignity, and who have attained by frequent intercourse with the world an easy affability and assurance, with a smattering of wit, and some knowledge in the art and mystery of repar- tee: These, with some, pass for knowing sensible people ; but, for my part, I have notions of my own about persons and things, which, upon some occasions, 112 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. I find differ from general opinion, of which I shall give thee a few instances. My kind friends with whom I lodge, were desirous of introducing me to an acquaintance with a young, ©r unmarried woman, (for she is not very young,) who is counted very sensible ; she being also very rich was an- other thing in her favour. It was not long before an opportunity offered. We were invited to dine at the same place on a public occasion. When she came in, I observed great respect was shown her by the com- pany. My first remark upon her was, that she looked very consequential, and took every thing that was spoken as addressed to herself; of course she had more to say than any of us. When we sat down to dinner, she took the right hand of the mistress of ceremonies, who politely asked to what she would be helped. She made her remarks upon several dishes, but at length fixed upon one, as she said, the most favourable to the mental faculties. The sauces, most of them, had some quality not salu- brious to the stomach. The catsup excited thirst by being too powerfully impregnated with saline proper- ties ; the vinegar, acid to excess ; the mustard, tyran- nical ; the wine and beer too potent, and the cider cor- rosive. For my part, I could hardly forbear smiling, as I thought our kind entertainer might conclude she was finding fault with all the victuals and drink upon the table. After we retired from dinner, I attended closely to her conversation, to find if there were any thing in it MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 113 that might justify the report I had heard of her under- standing ; but, really, I could not discover that her ideas were anywise elevated above the common level. The only difference I could perceive between her and the generality, was, that she was better versed in dic- tion, and however trivial the subject, she did not fail to dress it up in fine language, and I thought sometimes made an elbow in her discourse for the sake of taking in a hard word. I fear thou wilt think me too censorious, but I would not upon any account say so much to any other person who knew of whom' I was speaking. My view in sending thee a few disagreeable pictures of nature de- formed, is to show thee how widely they differ from the native innocence and simplicity of which my dear C. is a lovely sample. The next person that I became acquainted with, who, in my estimation, fell short of common opinion, was a young widow, that is accounted not only sensible, but very religious. Upon a short acquaintance, it was evi- dent that she possessed a good share of understand- ing, which was improved by reading, and an inter- course with the better sort of company ; but self, which seems to be interwoven, in some shape or other, into the very essence of our being, I could plainly perceive was the idol of her affections ; and, in almost every thing she discoursed upon, it could be seen, that un- derneath there was a spirit of self-exaltation very op- posite to that true humility which is a distinguishing 114 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. mark of real religion. Hence I could discover that, in both these points of religion and understanding, there is a tinsel, which at first sight, or a superficial view, dazzles a little, but, on a nearer scrutiny, has little reality in it. Now, however short I may fall of the standard of a religious person, I firmly believe that there are none truly so, nor yet in the way of becoming such, who are not following the only way prescribed by Christ as a rule for every disciple of His to go by, without re- gard to name, or religious distinction : that is, "to deny ourselves, take up His cross daily, and follow Him" — which is a spirit very different from that seen in many high professors of different religious societies. My criterion of a good understanding is, when a per- son can (as is said of the good Scribe) bring forth out of the treasury of his own heart, things new and old, and vary his subjects as occasion may require, or be silent if silence be most fit and requisite ; and if he can con- vey his ideas with ease and elegance, it is a pleasing embellishment, but if not, if he can in any way blunder out his just sentiments so as to make them understood, it is nevertheless a proof of a good understanding, and the worst that can be said of it is, that it wants the-cul- ture of a more liberal education, which all are not so circumstanced as to have bestowed upon them, yet that deficiency does not set aside or alter the natural gifts of heaven. Setting aside that stiffness which country people MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 115 sometimes discover upon entering into company they may esteem their betters, and which some mistake for want of sense, (which is only the want of polish) al- lowing for the advantages that the city has over them in this respect, I really do not think there is any dif- ference as to genuine good sense between town and country people. And indeed from some observations. I have made upon the manners and customs of some of my young acquaintances, I have thought that their time and attention was spent too much in trifling and dissi- pation, to admit any real improvement in those things which would tend to their greatest advantage : and though I am much pleased with the variety and kind entertainment I meet with, yet my choice for a resi- dence for life, would be amidst purling brooks and rural scenes. OBSERVATIONS RESPECTING S. M. " Nothing has come into my hands relative to her marriage and removal from the land of her nativity, which took place in 1779, and but few records have been found of several succeeding years : yet I have ne- ver supposed that her energetic mind, bound down to a round of household occupations, found no appropri- ate seasons to unbend itself in her favourite pursuit after literary enjoyments, or that her pen was suffered to lie dormant whilst friendship was pleading for its 116 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. offerings and claiming as its meed a detail of events since changing the halcyon scenes of early days, for the responsible station mutually devolving upon those, leagued by the sacred tie, to promote each others' hap- piness in the varied relations of this probationary state. " The subjoined letter is the first in date that I have found written by her after her marriage. It evinces the same vein of severity that was more freely indulged in " gone by days" upon the follies of those whose ta- lents were designed by the beneficent Bestower thereof, to take a wider and a deeper range through the channel of Time, than was manifested by the communication to which this was a reply. As she premised, the object of her solicitude here alluded to, having slackened his hold upon the dignity of his station as a rational and immortal being whose end is to glorify God by employ- ing the faculties he has given him in deeds of useful- ness suited to his day and generation, and in rendering unto him the praise for every ability to advance the cause of truth and righteousness upon the earth, de- clined from all the ennobling powers of his mind in proportion as he embraced the fashionable foibles that invited his acceptance, till finally he sank into the aw- ful vortex of sin and iniquity, and closed his wretched existence devoid of that cheering hope which illumi- nates the Christian's pathway through the ' valley and shadow of death,' and spreads before him in bright- ness and in beauty, the morning of his resurrection into life eternal." MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 117 Kennet, 1780. The Doctor's (what shall I call it) billet, (this will do to distinguish it) without a date, I received last 2nd month. As it expressed the continuance and reality of thy friendship, it was, on that account acceptable, for however vague and random thy expressions in other re- spects, in that 1 willingly believe thee, to be literal and sincere. But I must confess, that if I had not known the handwriting, 1 should be ready to question who wrote it, never having received any thing like it from thee before ; I have been endeavouring to account for it in the most favourable manner that it will admit. I remember that it was said of John Milton, that his fancy and genius were different at different seasons, which occasioned great inequality in his literary compositions, also that the moon has an influence upon the intellects of some people. Perhaps it was near the change or full when thou ivrofe it. It is also said of Arion, the musician, that he had a certain coat that he used to wear when he strove for mastery in his art ; — now perhaps thy new situation has occasioned thee to get a dress that has a less friendly effect upon thy understanding, than thy old one. However, upon examining thy letter, I find that thy design was to dress it up in some new or modish fashion, which thou callest the " Shandean style, such as the ladies were thou art, are fond of;" I cannot answer for their taste, but I have seen imitators of that style before, whose performances had no other tincture 11* 118 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. of Shandy in them, than a few indelicate strokes, which are certainly the most exceptionable parts of his works. Now my advice, if I may presume to offer it, is, that thou hadst better keep to thy natural good sense, pro- priety of sentiment, and elegance of diction, than aim at that in which thou art by no means calculated to excel. Thy acknowledged conformity thus far to fashion, induces me to credit a report which has gained here, that thou hast entered pupil to a dancing master : nay, a person of some veracity, says he was travelling not far from town, when he observed a tall man riding before him, who alighted from his horse, turned a little out of the road, and began to dance and cut many capers, he supposed him to be deranged ; therefore made up to him, and accosting him with the greatest freedom, queried what he was about ? The man told him his pathos was stimulated upon meditating the beauty and elegance of a certain gavot which he had been learning, and which just then coming pat into his mind, he was afraid he should lose the impression, if he did not immediately fix it by stepping it. Now do send me word whether thou wert the person or not. I must allow that to the simple and insignificant, who, if they were not about that, would be doing nothing of more consequence, dan- cing, abstractly considered, may to them be as innocent as saying their prayers ; but when viewed with several other circumstances which generally are connected with the practice, it does not appear so harmless. But to see a man of the age of twenty-seven, or upwards, grown MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 119 to be (like Saul) head and shoulders taller than the generality, with an understanding proportioned to his stature, doing his honours among a number of half grown boys and girls, while the master is teaching one, two, three, and a scrape, and demurely setting one of his feet sideways, and the other parallel in order for the next manoeuvre, how grotesque ! Figure to thyself, thy old acquaintances with whom thou hast often smoked reli- gion, philosophy and politics by our country fire-side, viewing thy movements, and let me know in thy next what thy feelings would be. Forgive me, my friend, if I have indulged too much severity ; I think thou art sensible that a more sincere friendship seldom, if ever existed in the bosom of a female toward one of your sex, than in mine towards thee ; and I would not run the risk of gaining thy dis- pleasure as I have hereby done, were it not designed for thy benefit. To me, it is a very serious matter to see a friend I esteem, whose situation in life exposes him to various temptations to vanity and folly, so readily close in therewith. My heart forebodes that the next step will be to fashionable vices, and when a person begins to slide down the hill of immorality, it is hard to say how fast and how far he may go. Farewell, and rest assured that none more sincerely desires thy pre- servation from evil, and thy advancement in that which is good, than thy friend, Susan Mason. 120 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. Kennet. My Esteemed Friend, Thy last agreeable lines, received the 9th instant, were very acceptable and satisfactory, especially that part which informed, that from an impulse of duty, thou hadst come to a conclusion to superintend a school. I have no doubt, qualified as thou art, it will prove a blessing to those children who may be so favoured as to come under thy tuition. The education of youth, I have often thought, a matter of sufficient weight and importance, to receive a supernatural intimation or re- velation ; and if individuals kept their places in the or- der of truth, and obeyed the pointings thereof in their own minds, I believe there would not be such a scar- city of suitable teachers. I have ever conceived it to be a highly important trust, and the conscientious and upright discharge of duty therein, as honourable and dignifying as that of preaching the Gospel. So that, upon a proper acquittal of thy charge in this matter, I shall think the second seat in the ministers' gallery, might be more unfitly occupied than by thee. There is one branch of useful literature, in which schools, generally, are deficient; I allude to composi- tion. How many of both sexes do we find, of good natural abilities, and upon whose education much has been bestowed, mere dunces in composition, unable to trace their ideas upon paper, either with ease or ele- gance ; and their failure may be attributed to the want MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 121 of proper culture, more than to any defect of under- standing. A youth, who was lately introduced to my acquain- tance, as a person of understanding and eruditon, put a performance of his into my hands, which I apprehend he thought well done; it was a letter addressed to his tutor, and is an instance, among many, of the loss sustained for want of proper instruction. I really thought it a curiosity ; it commenced thus : "If the contents of this exordium be presumption, I hope you will not exclude me from your beatifying re- gard, for my puerility and temerity." It was a sample of bombastic phraseology throughout, and I lamented that his style had not received the needful attention from those to whose training he had been committed. 1 Extract from a letter to a desponding friend. Thy knowledge and understanding far exceed mine. Thy extensive erudition has made thee acquainted with the languages of different nations. Travelling has gained thee a knowledge of their religion, manners, and customs. The sciences afford an ample field of study and speculation for the exercise of thy capacious mind. The many conspicuous virtues that aggrandize thy soul, render thee the object of just admiration and esteem. These endowments, with the advantages of wealth, we might suppose, would place thee among the happiest 122 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. of men. But thou art depressed and gloomy in spirits ; proceeding, perhaps, from mere imaginings, more than from any real cause of inquietude. However, if such as thou, so favoured, so blessed, can be so chagrined, so disquieted and low spirited, we may justly conclude that the world, and all its stupendous gifts, cannot con- fer happiness upon a rational, reflecting mind, such as I believe thine to be. Though I really esteem thee much, and desire thy happiness nearly as I do my own, yet I cannot divest myself of pleasing impressions, nay, I truly enjoy thy disgust of " all thou hast, and all thou art," and am thankful for thy self-abnegation, be- lieving it is an evidence of Divine love to thy soul, whereby he is about to bring thee acquainted with his law, and induce thy willingness to accept everlasting instead of perishable good. I am very desirous that thou shouldst not weary thyself with unprofitable thoughts and conjectures upon things that may never happen. If it be consistent with Best Wisdom, to take from thee thy good name, (which possibly may be thy idol,) I doubt not he will support thee under it, and endue thee with strength to bear every loss, becoming a wise man and a Christian. It is not now thy business, anxiously to be inquiring how thou wouldst behave under such and such circumstances. The best thou canst do, is to endeavour to act consistently with thy present situation, leaving the future to Him who has set limits to the sea, and who prescribes to the boister- ous waves of affliction their bounds ; " hitherto and MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 123 no further shalt thou go." Then be not disheartened, but strive to acquire those dispositions whereby the mind is brought to acquiesce in all the dispensations of unerring Wisdom, He has in mercy tarnished all thy pleasant pictures of seeming good, for the purpose of substituting in thy affections those that are eternal. Then seek ability to bless his power and to magnify his love in this, that he has drawn thee into a wilder- ness state of feeling, where he can more availingly speak comfortably to thy soul. Kennet. Notwithstanding my friend has ranked me among the insensibles, or such as remain a considerable part of their short existence in a torpid state, yet, be as- sured, I very feelingly sympathize with thee under thy late misfortunes. The loss of several hundreds by bankrupts, is indeed an adverse stroke of fortune, and which, as thou sayest, had it been spared thee, might have contributed to set thee off to better advantage in the world. The loss of thy horse, and favourite dog, what trials can equal them ? But do not mistakenly imagine that the world glides along so easily with me, or that my temper is so even and well modulated, that I feel no pain from cross oc- currences. I can tell thee of several accidents which have lately befallen me in the course of my affairs, by which I was rather chagrined. 124 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. I had set a goose upon eleven eggs, and often visited her to see if all was well with her, when yesterday ntorning I went to pay my usual civility to her, and, to my astonishment and vexation, I found an old sow had demolished the whole nest of embryos, leaving such marks of her carnage, as convinced me she was a most voracious creature, and I was then ready to conclude, wisely prohibited by the Jewish legislator from being eaten ; again, I thought if they were not made to be eaten, I know not for what they were formed, for, while they live upon the earth, they are only a nui- sance. I then took my little gang, and went to inquire after the welfare of a turkey, into whose maternal care, a few evenings before, we had committed seventeen eggs ; the situation of her nest was of her own choosing, under a honey-suckle, not far from a little stream of water, and a meadow lay before it. This creature, thought I, surely has some sense of pleasure from the beauties of nature, and purposes to regale herself, dur- ing the solitary weeks of incubation, with the fragrance of the honey-suckle, the murmuring of the rivulet, and the loveliness of the verdure that covers the mead. To render her situation still more secure from the weather, we had officiously placed over and about her some boards and rails. But how shall I recite the sad catastrophe ? The whole fabric had fallen down, crushed all the eggs, and broken one of the poor crea- ture's legs, whereupon there was no small outcry and MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 125 lamentation among the little fry ; some were most moved with compassion for the afflicted turkey ; some blamed, and others excused. When I had returned to the house, I found the pet lamb had been in the garden, and cropped all my early sallad. Was ever being so unfortunate ! I could scarcely eat my breakfast for very vexation, and do not know but I should actually have taken to my chamber, had not my attention been diverted by an old man who came to the door asking charity ; I invited him in, and gave him his breakfast, and as I thought I traced marks of good breeding in his manner of expression, rather above the vulgar style, I became curious to know his story. " I was," said he, " born in Yorkshire, Old England ; my father was a considerable farmer, and having but myself and one daughter, he gave each of us a good education, but unfortunately for us, my mo- ther died when we were nearly arrived at the state of a man and woman ; my father afterwards married a young wife ; they had several children, and fortune not favour- ing them as heretofore, his circumstances were declin- ing, when I left him, and came to America upon re- demption. I was sold to pay my passage, and met with a hard place ; but time worked it over, and when I became a freeman, I applied myself to industry,, and got a little forward in the world, and married a wife, who, for the time she was with me, was a very agreeable companion, and an industrious helpmate. When this unhappy war commenced between Eng- 12 126 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. land and America, we lived upon a rented farm in the Jersey, and had a store of horses, and stock, household furniture, &c. to render us quite comfortable, when the army on each side alternately stripped us of every thing we had in the world, not leaving us a second suit to put on : — my wife soon after died, and I was struck with the palsy, which disables me from working for my living, and I am now begging my way to a relation that I have living in Charleston, South Carolina." I was moved with compassion, and gave him some assistance, and reflecting that, however tried we may be, we may find others still in a worse situation. I became resigned under those accidents which before had set so heavily upon me, and which, as the best advice I can give, is recommended to thee, by thy friend, S. Mason. "I should feel some hesitation in adding a dream to the contents of this volume, knowing that any deffer- ence thereto is considered by many, as a proof of a weak and credulous mind. But those who believe in Scripture testimony, must admit that the purposes of the Most High in ages past, were frequently communi- cated to his intelligent creation through this medium. And I believe that he still continues at seasons to speak his will in dreams and visions of the night, to those, to whom in the dispensations of his wisdom, he sees MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 127 meet to unfold the future, in order to answer his own inscrutable designs." A DREAM. " There are, (says George Fox) three sorts of dreams. Multitude of business sometimes causes dreams, and there are speakings of God to man in dreams, and there are whisperings of satan in man in the night season." From what cause soever the following might arise, it deeply impressed my mind, and I was ready to believe that He, who hath followed me with many a tender visitation even from my very infantile years, was about to show me in a vision of the night what his purposes were, concerning me in future, that I might be encou- raged to press forward toward that City, whose builder and maker is God ; being many times much discouraged, from a sense of my own weaknesses, love of ease, and many besetments, I was sometimes ready to conclude it was in vain for me to set my face Zionward. On the 21st night of the 1st month, 1781, I had a dream, the first whereof I remember, was my being very ill, lying upon a bed at a friend's house near a large city, and though my situation seemed to require some care and attendance, yet the family all appeared too busy about their domestic concerns to pay me any, and care and industry were sealed upon their counte- nances. As I lay considering what I had best do for myself, I remembered a kind friend who lived in the adjacent city, with whom I thought I had some acquaint- 128 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. ance : here I concluded I would arise and go, and ac- cordingly got out of bed, and began to put on my clothes which appeared dirty and not fit to be seen abroad in : however, I was the more eager to be going to the friend's house where I expected to get clean ones. As I was wondering how I should pass along the most remote from observation, a maid-servant of the family came and opened a back door, and directed me to a retired way, but when I attempted to go on, I found it so blocked up with huge pieces of timber, workmen hewing them, and such a variety of lumber that I could make but little pro- gress. I had no sooner surmounted one obstruction, than another lay in my way, and the difficulties I had to encounter appeared greater than to run the risk of general remark, so I turned into the high road, but found even then, that I did not know as perfectly where the friend lived as I had supposed : I made some inquiry, but none gave me any clear intelligence, and some gave wrong directions. I saw on the way a spacious build- ing, with a large porch before the door, at which many roads met. As I drew near, I observed a number of men and women sitting in the porch, who appeared to be of the gayer kind of Quakers ; those seemed to be much engaged in hearing and telling each other some new thing, and in making remarks upon travellers as they passed to and fro. Through this company I had to pass into the house, not knowing what it was, or who lived in it, but thought it might be a suitable place to inquire the way; when I entered, I found it a place of MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 129 merchandise, where great numbers where employed in buying, selling, and making up parcels, so that there appeared scarcely a vacant spot in the whole house, and business was carried on with the greatest interest. After I had viewed it, I began to make inquiry of ore whom I took to be the master of the house, if he could direct me to my friend ; but for some time he seemed too busy either to hear or heed me ; however, I continued to ask ; he then told me to go out and take the straightest road. I felt some indignation at his conduct, both as to his worldly-minded ness, and his inattention to me, as he appeared to be a tolerably plain Friend, and in good esteem among them. I went out, determined to make no more inquiry of any of them. Still in doubt and uncertainty which road would lead me the most direct, I chose one, and being in great haste, I seemed to fly, yet still was uncertain of my being in the right ; but observing, as I ran, that it grew darker, and that there were buildings which looked like desolation, and persons whom I knew standing about the doors, that appeared miserable, I became more confident that this was not the city I sought; I expected, every minute, that some plain path would strike across, that so I might turn out of this way, but none appeared, and the houses became so close that there was no space between them ; the fur- ther I went, the more gloomy and terrible it appeared, and every countenance that I beheld wore the impres- sion of woe and misery. I then made a full stop, took 12* 130 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. a view of the place, and found there were three rows of buildings, made of straw and other light combustibles, which led to the brink of a great water, and to which I could see no opposite shore, though it was so dark, ex- cept now and then, that I could not discover any thing distinctly. I queried of myself, what place is this ? I have heard of hell, and this looks like it; hopeless misery seems to reign ; what shall I do ? I can never stay here, and yet I see no way out ; the street before me leads to yonder boundless ocean, and that, back to the great house of merchandise ; on the right hand and on the left no way appears ; alas ! what shall I do : which way shall I go to avoid being shut up in some of these habitations of misery ? As I was thus stand- ing in the greatest perplexity, not knowing which way to turn, I saw a light, and heard a voice say unto me, "be encouraged, thy way lies through the very houses and habitations of this hell, and place of misery." " What," said I, " will become of me, should some of those ill-favoured demons enclose me, when I enter their wretched abodes ?" "Fear not," said the light, or voice, " there is no other way for thee to get to the city thou seekest." I felt rejoiced and strengthened, that I had a director, whose counsel I could rely upon, though di- rected by it to that which, as I viewed it, was exceed- ingly hard : to enter these houses, where dismal dark- ness reigned, and horrid objects presented on every side, and which a glimmering light served only to make more terrifying. However, I pressed on through MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 131 the first, second, and third rows, a narrow street being between each. When I had passed the third row, this light, or voice, told me I had now to travel through a dark valley, but " set thy face toward the city, and press forward." Fears then arose, lest some of those wretched beings whom I saw, should pursue me in this dreary vale which lay before me, where no track or footstep was to be seen, and darkness, even to be felt, held her empire. I had not gone far, before three of those demons overtook me, two men and a woman, and one came and grinned horribly in my face ; upon which I asked them what they wanted, and told them if they meant to strip me of what little money I had, I did not much regard that, but desired them not to offer me any further insult, for I had powerful friends in the city, to whom I would complain of them. "You don't know us," said one, " of whom, then, would you complain?" When he had so said, a clear light shone round about me and them, and I saw them plainly, and told them their names and occupations, and appealed to a fourth, who by this time had come up, if I were not right. The one who first accosted me, told me that woe and misery were their portion, and they wanted to make me as wretched as themselves. This, I thought, he spoke with a voice that excited pity, and all fear being now taken away, finding they had no power to hurt me, I began to exhort them to turn from their evil ways, and the Lord, in mercy, might be pleased to change their miserable condition ; but the three turned and went 132 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. away ; the fourth, I observed to be a builder in this dark valley, where nothing appeared to be complete or finished; some houses only planned, others were raised ; some of a higher, others of a lower construc- tion, and though they appeared to be busy, yet nothing went forward towards completing the work. I now thought I met with several who were bound for the city, and we seemed helpful to one another a little way, but when we came to the suburbs I saw them no more. As we approached the city, it began to grow lighter, like the twilight in the evening, and I could just discern many of my old acquaintances, whom I was glad to see. Sometimes I sat down before the doors to converse with them, or went in to pay, as it were, a running visit, but found, when I came out, that it had grown darker. I said to the same light, or voice, (which be- came now more visible, and intelligible,) I believe I rather lose ground by stopping in this manner; it told me to proceed, for my difficulties were not yet at an end, so I went forward towards the middle of the city, without regarding or noticing any that I saw on the way, till coming to an exceedingly large unfinished building, I was shown a pair of stairs, which I had to ascend ; some of the steps were missing, others loose, and others fastened so that it required all my vigilance and care to see where to set my feet, lest I should fall through. When I had gained one ascent, there ap- peared a broad flat step ; then I had a second flight to go up, where there were not so many steps missing, or MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 133 loose ; and then a third, the last were mostly firm, and well fixed. When I arrived at the top, there was some- thing overhead like a canopy. I stood still, and looked around me ; it appeared as a beautiful summer's morning, just before sunrise. I saw divers walking under this canopy, whose countenances appeared calm, sedate, and heavenly. I stood still, enjoying the beautiful prospect before me, and looking back on what I had passed through, my soul was filled with ecstasy, with which I awoke, and something like a heavenly sweetness re- mained with me for several days. " God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men in slumberings upon the bed, then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their in- struction." — (Job, xxxiii. 14, 15, 16.) REFLECTIONS. The similitude of the mustard seed* and its growth, and the more secret operations of the little leaven in the three measures of meal,f I believe include the states of all who so walk in the path of rectitude as to an- swer the end of their creation. The tree represents the more opulent state, whilst the other presents a situa- tion of mind, not less acceptable in the estimation of Him who dispenseth his gifts to his creatures in greater * Matthew xiii — 31. f Matthew xiii — 33. 134 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. and smaller proportions. To some he commits one talent, to another two, to others five, but the one talent is as capable of gaining another, as the two of four, or the five of ten ; and as we are found occupying and improving, so will our attainments and our reward be. We are not all called into one line of usefulness, — were parents to attend more to what is generally termed genius in their children, and dispose of them accord- ingly, than to honours, wealth and preferment, I believe human life would not present such a confused system as it now does, but like a well constructed machine composed of many parts, all would work together for the good of the whole. Whatever change may suddenly be brought about so as to produce universal righteousness and order, by Him who has all power in his hand, and who acts by the laws of immutable wisdom, we know not. But cer- tain it is, that that reformation which many desire, and some are looking for with the eagerness of expectation, must be individual before it can be general. Surely the present aspect of things among men calls loudly for rectitude of conduct on the part of adults, and a proper mode of instruction for the young. MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 135 " Among some of her fragments was found inscribed the following piece." REPENTANCE. " Though the righteous fall seven times, they shall rise again." These encouraging expressions having very often livingly revived in my mind, I hereby insert them. Having given way to resentment on a trying occasion, and manifested it by some expressions before several, who, no doubt were sensible of its inconsistency, with a truly Christian spirit and disposition, and feeling in- quietude of mind, and a want of that peace which is only to be found in reconciliation with God ; I have been deeply bowed under an humbling sense of my own great imperfection and weakness, insomuch that I abhor myself (as it were,) in dust and ashes, and have been wont to cry out, "forgive me Lord, as I forgive those that trespass against me ; lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil." Hereafter lay what thou pleasest upon me, only give me strength and patience to bear, as becometh a follower of thee ; take what thou wilt from me, only deprive me not of thy holy spirit, nor hide thy presence from me, without which, I have found by experience all Nature and Creation to be but a howling wilderness, a desolate waste. 136 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. " Subjoined, is this solacing testimony to forgiving Love." For ever magnified and praised be thy great and glo- rious name, in that thou hast accepted me in this thing, hast pardoned my transgressions, and put to silence the accuser in me, who had suggested that I need not now any more look toward thy holy Temple, or stand for thy cause, seeing that I had erred. O ! may every deviation in thought, word or deed, make me more and more sensible of the frailness of my nature, and the necessity of its being refined by the fire of thy baptism, before I go hence, and of dying daily to self, in order that I may more fully witness the arising of that life which is hid with Christ in God, which is that white stone whereon is inscribed, a new name that none can read save those that have it. SUPPLICATION. O Thou, in whose hands are all our ways, if consist- ent with thy purposes concerning me, grant that my allotment in thy family may be sequestered and re- mote from observation. That I may find and enjoy thee, sitting under mine own vine and fig tree, neither making such high professions or pretensions towards thee, as shall unnecessarily draw upon me the attention of any, nor yet withstanding any mark of discipleship thou mayst see meet to guide into. In all things glo- rifying thee, yet truly meek and low in heart, ascribing MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 137 unto thee the praise of thine own works, prizing that humble self-abased state of mind, where only thy children can dwell in safety, above all gifts. S. M. OBSERVATIONS. A truly humbled, mortified Christian, whose growth and experience in the perfect way has placed him upon a summit above the reach of the praise or the blame of men, will, invariably pursue his Christian and moral duties, nor turn aside-from his purposes of doing good, though all men pass censure upon him. He continues firm and steadfast in his purposes through good and through evil report, knowing his ways are ordered of Him who is the perfection of wisdom, and who will in the end, be justified of those who walk in his counsel. Upon this principle only is any individual justifiable in persisting in a line of conduct, contrary to the general rule of propriety. But inasmuch as we are fallible creatures, and the deceiver near, it would be well for us carefully to examine the foundation whereon we stand — the motives that actuate us. Upon a slight view we may think ourselves whole and very safe, when a strict scrutiny might discover the case to be far other- wise. There is no medium between right and wrong, truth and error ; one or the other must influence our minds and prompt to action. If it be the latter, in thos3 who 13 138 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. who have advanced far in years, under the repute of being truly wise, and who have often administered wholesome counsel and admonition to others, I have sometimes observed a certain unpliant disposition, and backwardness to admit they have erred, or been mis- taken ; which have frequently proved fatal to themselves and to others. He who adjusts all things by num- bers, weight, and measure, will one day precisely deter- mine. When that awful period arrives when streams flow backward to their source, and actions are laid open and traced to their original spring, I believe many seem- ingly guilty, will be found innocent; whilst others, deemed whole and sound, and who appear to lack no- thing, will, when weighed in the balance, be found wanting. The mystery of iniquity is great, and the subtle devices of the adversary not a few. Then, does it not behoove all carefully to proceed in the way of sal- vation, digging deep, and laying our foundation upon the immoveable Rock ! For, in mutability, we may expect the powerful assaults of storms and floods, which will sweep off every fabric, however fair its aspect, and broad its base, if erected on the sandy ground of self- security. " Amongst her fragments, I found the following por- trait of a practical Christian, and minister of the gos- pel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ ; whether MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 139 drawn from an original, or only taken from her own views of the needful and attainable purity that should designate the professors of this high and holy Name, I cannot determine. That it is a state we are called to press after, I have no doubt, or the injunction would not have been given, by unquestionable authority, ' be ye perfect.' How lovely is such a picture of the harmonizing influ- ences of Divine love ! How inviting to embrace its refin- ing, regenerating power, whereby the human mind be- comes divested of all its asperities, is re-moulded into an heavenly image, and peace and happiness enter its asso- ciates on the journeyof life ! Whilst, on the other hand, we realize in our own experience, as well as read it in the example of others, that the ' way of the transgres- sor is hard,' and his end without hope — that blessed hope which is an * anchor to the soul, both sure and steadfast,' enabling the battered bark to ride out the storms and tempests of time, and to moor at last in the haven of eternal rest." Character of a genuine Christian, and Minister of the Gospel. His life is an amiable transcript of his Redeemer, and, like him, he goes about doing good. He shines forth as a light in a dark place. His influence is known and felt by a sure, though a silent operation. His cha- racter is impressed with the image of the Deity, bear- ing the signature of unfeigned truth, and pure disinter- ested goodness. He is conspicuous in the sweetness of 140 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. his temper, the meekness of his deportment, the unaf- fected decency of his conversation, and his readiness to oblige, by the frequent sacrifice of private ease, to the interest, comfort, and convenience of the brethren. Above all, is his easy, cheerful, affectionate method of communicating what he knows to be useful and neces- sary, in temporal as well as in spiritual concerns. His is no sour, forbidden aspect. His house and his heart are open to all who need his assistance. The loveli- ness of true religion appears in his whole conduct: even those who will not imitate, dare not condemn him. He is not only a professor of the name, power, and spi- rit of our blessed God and Saviour, but he is a partaker of Christ in spirit, life, and conversation. A plain, meek, humble man of integrity, disdaining the artifices of the hypocrite. A man fearing God and hating ini- quity. A man sanctified by the Holy Spirit, unto un- feigned, constant love of the brethren in Christ. A man sound in faith, in patience, in charity. He is a preacher of Christ and his righteousness in his conversation, as in his ministry and doctrine, wherein he is exemplary to believers. He is given up to serve the truth, and being of a tender spirit, truly sympathizes with the sufferer, pouring the oil and the wine into every wound, whether self-inflicted, or received through the indiscre- tion or the malice of others. He sees before him, in every human being, a brother or a sister, destined for immortality and eternal life. From those hungering and thirsting for heavenly sustenance, he withholds not MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 141 the gifts entrusted to him. To the sorrow-stricken, naked and destitute of consolation, he is found adminis- tering the word of life. Whilst the sin-sick, prison- bound soul, is equally the object of his solicitude and his love. In the fulfilment of his duty to God and man, he takes not to himself any praise, knowing the ability to receive or to do good is derived from Him who is the source and centre of every blessing. From the hu- miliation which marks his course through life, we may safely conclude, that when his work shall terminate on earth, his portion will be with those who are initiated into the joys of an endless eternity, with the welcome salutation, * " Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for the righteous from the foun- dation of the world," J2 just representation of a Pennsylvania farm ; ad- dressed from a friend in the country, to her friend in the city. The wintry storms, lo ! now they 're past and gone, And verdant carpets deck the flow'ry lawn, The feathered tribes attune their throats to sing, And hail the glad return of cheerful Spring ; The turtle's note again is heard to coo In plaintive notes within our borders too ; * Mark xxv. 34. 13* 142 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON* The fruit trees now in vivid bloom excel,. And tender grapes give forth a goodly smell, Creation smiles and all her works look gay, Come forth my friend, my sister come away, See Nature's book her fairest leaves unfold, Of charming landscapes, beauteous to behold ; Hills towering high, and vales descending low, The distant plain where trees promiscuous grow Field beyond field in richest verdure clad, And blooming orchards make the peasant glad, The winding streams where finny nations play, Through fields and meads roll on their wand'ring w; In murmuring accents sometimes heard to pass And sometimes steal in silence through the grass, With treasures rare, add nurture to the soil, Which with full crops repay the labourer's toil, 'Tis not the least of wonderful to see The ehymic art of the industrious bee, " Extracting sweetness from each op'ning flower'* " Gainst future want she plies the present hour." E'en meaner insects raise our wonder too, When close surveyed with microscopic view. i Here flocks and herds are in fat pasture seen, And little lambkins frolic o'er the green. The sturdy oxen and the stately steed, Tear up the clod where Egbert sows the seed : Industry now leads forth her healthful train By useful labour each pursues his gain. Sire, son, and hireling hie with equal haste, Share the same labour and the same repast. No tardy slave impedes the needful toil, Their sweat we need not to enrich our soil MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 14.3 Huge timber felPd surrounds the busy mill, And heaps of stone supply the blazing kiln ; At eve thou'lt hear in mingled notes a noise Of fowl, of beast, of jovial men and boys, Of waters pouring down the distant flood Which echo answers from the neighbouring wood. Here frugal plenty on our board is seen, A house convenient, mostly, neat and clean ; A few choice books, a few choice friends I boast, Which seem to vie which shall engage me most, Four darling objects of parental care, Blooming in youth, of either sex a pair, — My Egbert too, if I his worth might tell, In modest merit, -few would him excel : For scenes like these, couldst thou awhile forego The noisy town its pageantry and show, Come take thy welcome, come, make no delay, For times and seasons quickly pass away. Never make your children mere creatures of burden for the sake of gathering riches ; but allow them lei- sure for cheerful relaxation and for mental culture. Re- member they are destined for immortality. " In reference to the subject of slavery, she thus writes to a collective body of Friends :" 1787. It is not only the enlargement of an oppressed peo- ple that we seek ; but we feel an ardent desire that the 144 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. possessors may become separated from that iniquity. Many amongst us have found by experience, that they could not enter into the glorious liberty of the children of God, whilst they continued to hold their fellow-be- ings in bondage ; and, after giving them up, according to Divine requisition, they have been made favoured instruments in the Lord's hand. Whilst the unfaithful and unbelieving, in this respect, have, with sorrow, been observed to become as the heath in the desert, that knoweth not when good cometh, even after frequent visitations of Divine love, have manifestly been extended to them. May none continue to reject the call of the Most High, "Come out and be ye separate there- from," nor reason away the secret monitions of truth in their own minds, lest, when inquisition for blood is made, they be found among the guilty. To J. G. Kennet, 10th Mo. 30th, 1790. 1 feel it a delicate point to express to thee, my friend, the overflowings of my mind, lest the freedom should hurt thy feelings and cause unpleasant impressions, which are very foreign from my purpose I assure thee. If I presume further than I ought, be pleased to impute it to a like officious care and concern which sometimes prevails, even more than is prudent in an affectionate mother toward her son ; — such in measure is the tender MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 145 regard I feel for thee. I yet well remember the slip- pery paths of youth, the many innate propensities and powerful incitements to wander from strict rectitude ; which, with the concurrence of other unfavourable cir- cumstances, sometimes involve the comparatively inno- cent and virtuous in many difficulties, and from our inquietude under them we are ready to conclude that Providence has marked us out victims of his displeasure, though in our own view not more deservedly so, than numbers we behold enjoying his smiles and his bene- dictions. Thought crowds upon thought, reflection upon reflection, till w-e are ready to conclude it had been better for us had the part we contribute in the great chain of existence, been assigned to some link in Crea- tion not subject to reason and intelligence. If this have been thy case, attend to the counsel of one who has had the same in her own experience, and who at times has been favored to see in a mystery the wonderful dealings of Almighty God toward his creature man. When we are crossed in those things which we esteem to be bless- ings, we are apt to conceive that great, or perhaps the greatest of evils has befallen us. But in our appre- hensions of good and evil, when compared with the Most High, it may be said "as the Heavens are higher than the earth, so are my thoughts higher than your thoughts, and my ways than your way." It is an undoubted truth that the love of the most tender fa- ther towards his only son, is but a faint similitude of the heavenly Father's love toward the workmanship of 146 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA. MASON. his hands. His omniscient eye beholds us wherever we are, or however circumstanced, and his guardian power protects us from surrounding evils when we neither see nor apprehend danger ; — into whatever con- dition or circumstance he permits us to be brought, though to our circumscribed view it may seem owing to chance, or we may consider it as an indication of Divine dereliction, yet witness the instance of Joseph, whom his brethren sold into Egypt. I have no doubt it is the very means whereby Infinite Wisdom intends to bring about our true interest and advantage. This He will assuredly effect in his own time, if we do not wil- fully and perversely couter-act his gracious designs. The want of patience, even where we run into no ex- treme of vice, may overturn the whole scheme. Our progress, according to scripture and our own experience, from infecility to true fecility, is from tribulation to patience, from patience to experience, and from experi- ence to hope — that hojoe which maketh not ashamed, but worketh for us a great and exceeding weight of glory. Let me therefore with the warmth of parental love and solicitude, recommend as a matter of the utmost consequence to thy present and future happiness, an earnest labour for patience, resignation, and an humble acquiescence with thy present allotment. As thou at- tainest thereto, thou wilt assuredly find an internal se- renity and peace which the world can neither give nor take away, and I fully believe, that after a short time of trial and probation, thou wilt find all else that is needful MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 147 added. Since I have thus far presumed, let me further recommend that thou apply thyself to some profitable employment, requiring attention ; I am satisfied it sets the mind most at ease from corroding thoughts. Shouldst thou incline to diversify the scene by an ex- cursion into the country toward our habitation, be assured a visit from thee will be kindly received by thy countryman, my husband, and by me thy affectionate and sympathizing friend, Susanna Mason. The peculiarity of the following occurence I thought worthy of some remarks : The 20th of the 5th month, 1793, being the day of our Quarterly Meeting for business, at London Grove, it was attended by our friend John Simpson. After meeting was over, he expressed to one present a desire to speak to me, of which being informed, I went up to him. He took me by the hand and said, " my dear friend, I have often remembered thee, from one circum- stance, which was, my being at your house soon after thou wast married ; observing thy dress, I took occa- sion to remark to , who was there also, that thou wast very fine." " Yes," said he, " she is aMa- rylander, and they are like terrapins, carry all they are worth upon their backs." " A few years after, I heard thy name called, and saw thee at a Select Meeting in Philadelphia. It occurred to me that the terrapin had 148 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. crawled along very well to get there already ; and at the time, I had to remember the race between the hare and the tortoise. The hare thought very little of the tor- toise, and supposed he might indulge himself in a sleep by the way, and still keep before the tortoise ; whilst he was doing this, the tortoise passed him and won the race." He then encouraged me to persevere in the way of well-doing, through every obstacle that might cross my path, and though my progress in the work of religion might seem small, comparable to the creeping of the tortoise, yet not to be discouraged, but endeavour to creep along, and the end would assuredly be blessed. I was so far sensible of my own deficiency, and the smallness of my progress in the work of religion, as to prevent my placing his comparison of the hare and tor- toise much to my own advantage ; but it occasioned the following reflections : That it is unsafe for any one, however exalted his state and condition may be, either as to spiritual or temporal worth and acquirements, to indulge a disposition to speak in a contemptuous man- ner of those he may deem his inferiors ; because in spirituals, nature and grace, good and evil, are ever striving for the mastery over us, and we are mutable. So that, in the nature of things, it is possible for those who have run well for a season, and have advanced pretty far in a good way, through the prevalence of na- ture, or evil, to step retrogade, instead of forward : whilst those who were as the weakest and hindermost of the flock, may, through the effect of grace, (which MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 149 is not bounded by man's uncharitableness,) step forward, and even outstrip such strong ones as those who think they stand firm ; and yet these lowly ones feel assured they have nothing whereof to boast. As to temporals ; the wheel of fortune, as the vicis- situdes of human affairs are often termed, may turn, and the highest to-day, may be the lowest to-morrow. When this happens, in either case, such expressions as tend to undervalue or evince contempt, are often re- membered and applied to the disadvantage of those who spoke them. In the present instance, whether applica- ble or not, I shall leave. John Simpson had remem- bered it upward of thirteen years, and applied it as be- fore cited. I had further to reflect upon the occasion : For those who make high religious pretensions, to cast unkind, ungenerous reflections upon any, behind their backs, evinces that they are, at the time, off their guard, or that they are, in reality, not what they ought or pretend to be, which time and circumstances will make manifest. "Prosperity makes friends: adversity tries them." How prosperous soever the wicked may be for a season, yet disgrace and condign punishment are often nearer than they are aware. This is instanced in the case of Haman ; whilst, in the conduct of Harbona, we 14 150 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. discover the proneness of many to turn with the tide of human affairs. In a state of prosperity, it is hard to know our real friends, or secret enemies. Harbona, no doubt, had paid the accustomed honours and ceremo- nies to Haman, whilst court favour shone upon him, and whilst he had gifts and preferments to bestow ; but it is by no means improbable, that at the same time, he envied him his exaltation, and despised him in his heart. Yet, not till royal displeasure marked him a victim to disgrace, did he presume to lift up his voice in condemnation against him. How preferable is the smallest token of sincere regard, to all the titles, empty forms and ceremonies, that time-serving sycophants can lavish upon us ! " This compendium upon Education, appears to re- fer more particularly to those of the same Religious Society of which she was a member ; but as it contains an urgent call to heavenly-mindedness, as a necessary preparation to train up a child in the way he should go, the perusal of her sentiments cannot intercept the diligence of any in pressing after this desirable attain- ment." MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 151 THOUGHTS UPON EDUCATION. " Like tender osiers children take the bow, And as the twig is bent the tree will grow." Though parents or tutors cannot confer grace, nor impart powers which heaven has not implanted, yet by care and attention to the trust reposed in them, they undoubtedly may answer to the mission of him, who was the forerunner of Christ, " in preparing the way of the Lord, and making his paths straight." To a common observer, it is evident, that the natural understanding and endowments of young minds, may be enlarged or compressed, according to the culture they receive ; though there may be some instances, where, through Divine regard to the creatures of his forming hand, valuable men and women have arisen, upon whom very little proper cultivation had been bestowed. Yet there is reason to believe, that they might have been much more extensively useful, had their education been more proportionate to their abilities, and adapted to the good- ness of their dispositions. On the other hand, in- stances of much pious care, and of expensive tuition, have been subverted to ill purposes ; but still it is en- couraging to observe, that the effect of a liberal and pious education is rarely so defaced that marks thereof will not remain, and often prove " as bread cast upon the waters," to be " gathered after many days." That the mind of man is capable of great improve- 152 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. ment, is set forth by the parable of our blessed Lord, comparing the Kingdom of Heaven to a grain of mus- tard seed, which, in its first state, is a very small seed, but being sown in a garden, or field, (which denotes a place of cultivation,) becomes the greatest of herbs, shooting out branches, and becoming a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge under the shadow thereof. That this seed is sown in every heart, is a part of our Christian belief, and why it does not fruc- tify and grow, so as to produce the same or similar effects in all, is a matter highly worthy of considera- tion. Let all, upon whom devolves the important trust of training rational and immortal minds, seriously examine how far this deficiency may be owing to any error or neglect of theirs, that, when called to give an account of their stewardship, they may be ready to answer to their faithfulness herein. The wise legislator of the Jews, from a sense that no time or opportunity should be lost in the instruction of children, in those things which they were to observe as the rule of their conduct in riper years, left to that people the following precepts : — " The words that I command thee shall be in thine heart, (a necessary preparation for what follows,) and thou shalt teach them diligently to thy children ; thou shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou risest up, and when thou iiest down." From which we may learn, that the in- MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 153 formation of young minds is not to be a casual thing, or performed only at set times, but it ought so to engage our attention, that as often as opportunity presents, we should be prepared with needful instruction, caution, or counsel. That too high a value is frequently set upon know- ledge in the sciences and the languages, is no proof that they are not fit studies for the mind of man ; but there are instructions necessary to accompany them, which, it is to be feared, are too often omitted, or per- haps not rightly apprehended by some tutors. Hence ensues that knowledge, spoken of by the Apostle Paul, "which puffeth up and maketh a man vain." But were they fully apprized that the utmost stretch of human knowledge consists in knowing how little can be at- tained and comprehended by the finite powers of man, which, after intense application, finds many objects of its search can be but dimly seen in this present state, and could they become acquainted with the whole con- tained in the book of nature, it would be no compensa- tion for their ignorance in those things which relate to their eternal interest, they would, perhaps, better under- stand the rate at which human knowledge should be valued. What the Apostle Paul remarks respecting the ex- cellence of charity, which signifies the love of God and of our neighbour, and which is set above all other gifts and acquisitions, should be adopted by every one that is willing to have his or her judgment regulated by 14* 154 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. the standard of truth : — " Though I speak with the tongue of men or angels, and have not charity, I am be- come as sounding brass, and as a tinkling cymbal." (1st Corinthians, xiii.) I believe if a few summary rules were conscientiously inculcated by precept and example, that a blessing would follow, and parents thus engaged, would " see of the travail of their souls and be satisfied." To commence this great work, it is needful our at- tention be directed to the first buddings of vice, steadily endeavouring to prune away the branches. To eradi- cate the root is the prerogative of Him who is the re- surrection and the life in every soul, and till his in- speaking word of power shall wither and pluck up every plant in the garden of the mind, which is not of the heavenly Father's planting, we can do no more than nip the buds and crop the branches of the degenerate vine, which else might luxuriate, and so wholly take posses- sion of the soil as to choke the good seed of the King- dom. Hence the necessity of encouraging every pro- pensity that leans to the side of virtue ; early impressing upon youthful minds their duty to God, how much, and for what they stand indebted to him. He re wards the good and punishes the evil doers, yet is in himself so transcendently lovely, that for his own sake he is worthy the homage of the whole heart. Bind them in the strongest terms to a strict adherence to the truth upon all occasions, nor drive to extremity to avoid cor- rection. Mimicry, repeating the ludicrous, or profane MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 155 sayings of others, prying into matters which do not concern them, divulging secrets, proneness to take offence, needless attention to diet, to trifling ornaments and to dress in general, domineering over servants, ex- posing their failings, and exacting from them offices which they themselves would healthfully and more pro- perly be called to fulfil, are all matters of serious con- sequence, and need a parent's vigilant eye. Teach them the art and mystery of keeping silence, and when they are sufficiently disciplined therein, they may be the better qualified to speak and converse. Restrain them from all vain boasting' of their own acquirements, endea- vour to inspire a veneration for virtue, and an abhorrence of vice, and pity for the vicious. Allow them leisure to acquire a competent knowledge in profitable reading, and introduce them at times into suitable company; but guard them against forming indiscreet friendships, whereby many of the inexperienced have been lured into an entangled maze and suffered deeply thereby. I am now but little turned from the meridian of life, and in the course of my observation thus far, I have found that those who have discovered marked evidences of vanity on account of any acquisition, perfection, gift, or favour of Providence, have in their allotment in the world, met with some mortifying circumstance, some cankerous evil which they could no way avoid ; whilst others of seemingly far less merit, have passed on clear of such humiliating trials ; for which I have assigned this reason, that * God will not give his glory to another, 156 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. nor his praise to graven images ; but he that glorieth, should glory only in this, that he understandeth and knoweth the Lord, who exerciseth loving kindness, judgment and righteousness in the earth." As to the openly profane and wicked, whose conduct seems to set Omnipotence, and his laws at defiance, I have nothing to say. My mission is to endeavour to arouse those, who mistakenly attempt to reconcile wrong practices, with Christianity and good manners. These form a class of people I shall denominate time- killers ; who probably owe their errors to a misguided education. Having had much care and cost bestowed upon them in early life, to teach them excellence in mere externals, or ornamental accomplishments to the neglect of improvement in their intellectual faculties, they conceive what they have attained to be objects of the greatest importance ; hence it comes to pass that when they have arrived at years wherein we might sup- pose them capable of exercising the abilities which God has given them to some good purpose, they do little to any useful end, and some employ themselves in worse than nothing ; whereas, if they had been properly cul- tured and taught to understand in what the chief dignity of nature consists, they might have arrived at honoura- ble and useful distinctions in life, according to their several capacities ; but from the vacuum within, and the want of matter to furnish agreeable and profitable enter- tainment, they are driven to many inventions to get time over. The card table and games of chance are MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 157 among their expedients for time-killing, and as they do not play for money, they are sure there is no harm in it. But if rational and immortal beings, " created but a little lower than the angels," and whose state in eternity depends upon the use and improvement of their short and uncertain tenure here, cannot find occasions for a more profitable exercise of their talents, and who, if they were not thus diverting themselves, have neither thought nor capacity for any thing better or higher — there I shall leave them ; recommending to their peru- sal that passage of scripture respecting the unprofitable servant, who through sloth and wrong indulgence had wrapped up his talent and buried it in the earth, but whose excuses availed not to save him from a state of outer darkness, or a separation from the Divine harmo- ny, for God is light, and in him is no darkness. In near affinity to these, are those called time-servers, who fill up the chasm between religion and irreligion ; who, without any hypocritical views, readily incline either way, as suits the occasion ; and from a certain flexibility in their dispositions, can conform themselves to whatever kind of company or conversation they hap- pen to fall in with. This condescension, they say, is due to politeness, and tends to enliven the spirit of so- cial communion; that they can mechanically join in with the conversation and passtimes that please others, without entering into the spirit of it themselves. If such can reconcile this tax upon politeness to the testi- monies of the witness within, the straight and narrow 158 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. way, and doctrine of the cross, pointed out by our Sa- viour, and are sure that their example casts no stum- bling block in the way of any honest inquirer after the way to Zion, then I leave them to carry their polite- ness with them to that heaven which they are antici- pating. Though I have heard these excuses for time-serving, I cannot pass them by as just or valid, nor accept of such an affront upon genuine politeness, which, I am convinced, is of heavenly lineage ; a communicable perfection of the Most High, flowing through channels of love, charity, benevolence, good-will, self-sacrifice, and all the philanthropic dispositions which reflect His goodness ; and whatever does not stand the test of sin- cerity and truth, and wear the seal of heavenly-minded- ness, is false coin in comparison as the gaudy tinsel to the pure gold. A genteel behaviour and pleasing address comport well with politeness ; but the thing itself is a compound of many virtues. Let none then be deceived, or endea- vour to deceive, by passing off their cheap tinsel ware, composed of unmeaning titles, bows, gestures, and compliments, for which they had no draught upon any of the benign dispositions, and then think themselves entitled to the appellation of polite. But let them care- fully examine the basis of their politeness, and perhaps they will find it to be an unwarrantable desire after po- pularity, or a dastardly spirit of denying Christ before men. MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 159 To the errors of education may be attributed the mis- takes of many who deviate on the other hand. They are not concerned on account of others, as to pleasing* or displeasing them, further than suits their interest ; they set no value on refinement of manners, polite ac- complishments, human literature, knowledge of the world, books, or men, only as needful to the purposes of plain industry, and putting them on the alert in seeking their own advantage in transacting their mundane affairs ; which, to be sufficiently prepared for, requires an in- timate acquaintance with the dark side of the human character. That no man was formed for himself only, is an al- lowed and approved maxim. Each individual owes many services to the community at large, indepen- dently of, and even contrary to his own inclination and pleasure ; and according to his ability to render these services, he stands debtor to the community until they are paid. In order to qualify a youth for the dis- charge of these obligations, it is needful to commence very early to break the shell of self-love, into which some are naturally more contracted than others, by teaching them liberality in distributing justice, vera- city, submission, an obliging behaviour, and all the social virtues. Where this is wanting in forming the mind, they become obstinate, obdurate, tenacious, self- willed, and uncivil in their behaviour and treatment of others. I believe that so much may be paid to dress, and ad- 160 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. dress, as to give the youthful a becoming, modest as- surance in company, that they need not feel abashed on account of their awkwarci and uncouth appearance. If this have been disregarded, they often acquire a turn for low company, where they can be more free and easy ; and when such get from unpler the power of re- straint, they are very apt to be more vain, fantastical, and ridiculous, than those who have had proper regard paid to them in this particular. Were such parents to consider, that human learning, when properly applied, is a hand-maid to virtue ; that a knowledge of the world, books, and men, when discreetly culled and digested, and the good and useful extracted and sepa- rated from the evil, is a store-house of many valuable materials, very necessary and important in conducting the concerns of this world, and often proves an index to higher and holier interests in the world to come, they would not view it in so neglected a light. But from a mistake in this, they only bestow a small smat- tering of learning, and then tell them they have enough, by which they are built up with a conceit that they are sufficiently learned, and in what they do not understand they think there is no good. Hence, when they grow up, they often become intolerably vain and conceited, when more learning, properly inculcated, would show them that they were mere ignoramuses ; that they had nothing of which to boast or be vain. But not having acquired a relish for reading, they can find no time to read, and an acquaintance with the manners and max- MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA. MASON. 161 ims of the world (they say) would bring them into an acquaintance with much evil, which might lead them into prodigality, and expensive vices ; hence their un- derstandings become compressed within a very narrow compass, and they are disqualified for many of the common duties of life, or for filling, with propriety, any office of trust or preferment in church or state. If they be raised to any thing above the common level, others are often embarrassed on account of their incapa- city and ignorance. They are like an evil which King Solomon saw under the sun, " servants riding upon horses ;" which surely is a greater incongruity than for "princes to go on foot." If such parents be lovers of mammon, they will not fail to teach their children by example and precept, that arts of industry, and getting forward in the world, are the material excellence, which maxim being so often inculcated, they think it a self- evident principle, and at length the world becomes the God they worship with all their soul, mind, will, and strength ; hence arises unfeelingness toward the poor, thinking if they had done their duty as faithfully as themselves, they would be in better circumstances ; and viewing them (as indeed they do all mankind not as watchful and thrifty as they) no better than Jews or Turks, just meet to be made an advantage of, that there is no harm in overreaching them in a bargain. When they get them into their power, and their necks down their throats, they think they do them unrequitable ser~ vice if they do not bite off their heads. Next, they 15 162 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. have kept them so closely within the bounds of moral rectitude, as to induce a belief that they are sufficiently religious, and they go on, performing their round of la- bour and religious duty as mechanically as a clock its di- urnal revolutions, and as instinctively as the ox repairs to the crib at the accustomed hour of feeding. As their religion and their labour centre in one point, they un- derstand their whole system as intuitively as the most simple operation in nature. Their quota toward de- fraying public expenses is a grievous burden ; if they give alms, or extend any small benefit, they are greatly magnified ; if they pray, or give thanks to God, it is for some earthly good. If they read in scripture of the incompatibleness of the love of the world with the love of God, they think it belongs to others and not to them. From the general tenor of their lives and conversation, it cannot be found that their aims, thoughts, or compre- hension extend any further, go any deeper, or rise any higher, than to plan, scheme, and occupy in the way of their worldly concerns ; to investigate the affairs of the neighbourhood, and gather the contents of a newspaper or some other intelligencer. Thus they grow up, and live on in the world, (unless met in some narrow way, by a miracle of mercy turning their minds into some better path,) under the mistaken notion that they are journeying toward Heaven, whilst their affections are grovelling in the earth. At length the harbingers of death infirmity and old age, overtake them ; they are inwardlj disquieted and uneasy; they wonder what ails them MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 163 they are not burdened with any great sins, and as for smaller ones and weaknesses, God is gracious and will pardon them. As they lived unbeloved they die unla- mented ; and when they are gone, I know of no epi- taph better suited to them than, " Here lies a link be- tween the rational and animal creation." There are few who do not owe some wrong bias to the prejudice of education ; and it would be well for all, as their understandings expand, carefully to examine the ground and foundation upon which they stand. An investigation into truth is not only useful but necessary in order to detect error. For want of this, we often observe a certain fixed attachment to one set of rules and customs in preference to another, for which we can give little or no other reason, than we were taught to believe they were right. Prejudice prevails, not only with some individuals, and societies of people, but is common with families, neighbourhoods, towns, states? and kingdoms ; something like Lord K.'s remarks of the Greenlanders, they think but little of the Euro- peans, considering all real excellence to consist in the art of catching seals, and when strangers come among them, they are valued only as they resemble them- selves. A general acquaintance with mankind has a tendency to remove prejudice, enlarge the mind, and inspire liberality of sentiment toward those who, in some respects, differ widely from that which we have been accustomed to view as the only right standard. This 164 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. is evidenced by finding among the various ranks and conditions of life, men and women of distinguished merit, where, from a slight view, we little expected to find it. Pride is an evil against which most people declaim ; but I believe many are not sensible in what it consists, and from not fully understanding the matter, conclude they are clear, when, in reality, it is one of the govern- ing principles of their lives and actions. Pride is a false estimate of our own merit. What- ever the condition or appearance may be, those who think more highly of themselves than they really de- serve, may justly be termed proud. These we do not find limited to any particular description of people. It is a seed of nature, which, if not weakened by a proper education, and kept down by the gracious dealings of Divine Providence toward us, will grow, put forth branches, and bear fruit. What gives the differing ideas of pride is, that its productions are various, per- haps as much so as any other disposition of the mind, but the root and ground are this very false estimate of our merit. When we value ourselves upon religious attainments, this is spiritual pride. Let each one who wishes to find the lurking place of this evil, examine by this standard : " In what estimation do I hold my own merit ? What signs do I observe of an overweaning conceit thereof?" This would discover the fugitive where it exists. By the same rule we may judge of humility : " Am I little in my own eyes 2 Do I know MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 165 my own nothingness, weaknesses, and imperfections, and do I lament over my own failures ? If so, so far am I opposed to pride, but no further." Outward state and grandeur, and rich and fine cloth- ing, are no certain proofs of a proud heart, any more than the reverse is of an humble one. Some, by plac- ing pride altogether in exterior marks of its predomi- nance, often judge amiss, whilst those to whom more properly belongs the epithet, pass uncondemned. But that those outward badges do not always indicate pride, or furnish a certain evidence of the state of the mind, is no argument that they are to be considered wholly as matters of mere indifference, having no hurtful ten- dency. I am fully of the mind, that were professing Chris- tians to attend more to their inward feelings, and be led and guided by that Divine principle of light and grace, universally bestowed, and instructed to understand its monitions and pointings than is generally the case ; they would be more led out of the pomps and vanities of the world, into a plainer, easier, and more unmixed path. Neither would it require any great degree of religious experience to show, that such things are a superfluous encumbrance to the mind, whereby its spi- ritual growth and improvement are often much impeded. The precepts and example of our blessed Lord, when he pointed all, without exception, into the straight and narrow way, the daily exercise of the cross and self- denial, were no arbitrary infliction of penance, to mor* 15* 166 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. tify and punish us ; but they are really more consist- ent with true Christian liberty, and minister freedom from under hard task-masters and their servile yoke of bondage. Let me appeal to the experience of those captivated by the love of outward splendour, and who adhere to the changing fashions and customs of the world, whe- ther it does not often occasion much fatigue of body and anxiety of mind, to support the appearance they wish? or, if they can be attained without any great ex- ertion on their part, where must the mind be ? The galley-slave, chained to the galling oar for life, may have his mind free to prepare for that state of be- ing, to which the present is but a prelude ; whilst those entangled, captivated ones, jeopard their eternal all for " Straw-like trifles on lifers common stream." This was the confession of some, who I believe were measurably redeemed from the love of the world and its fading glories ; but who, from existing circumstances, thought it expedient to conform to fashion and custom, and appear as though they regarded them as high things, yet had to acknowledge they found them impediments in their way ; burdens they would gladly lay down if they knew how. My own observations upon the many trifling forms, ceremonies, and ridiculous customs which too much prevail in the world, have often made me thankful that I embraced the restraints of a Society, MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 167 whose predecessors walked in the path of simplicity, thereby making my way more plain and easy in these respects. From my connexion and intercourse with many who have been differently educated, I have dis- covered that the sensible and judicious part, consider our aberration from the wholesome restraints adopted by the Discipline of our Sect, as marks of our declen- sion and apostacy, from our principles and profession, which they neither desire nor expect ; but rather ad- mire that noble independence of mind, which asserts its own prerogative, instead of yielding vassallage to the habits of others. This brings to my remembrance an occurrence re- lated by Thomas Colley, a few years ago, when on a religious visit from Old England to these States. " As the King and Queen of Great Britain were taking an accustomed walk, they noticed two young women walk- ing near the same place, very fashionably dressed. The Queen said she supposed them to be Quakers ; the King, from their appearance, had formed a different opinion ; and to ascertain whose conjecture was right, directed their steps toward them. After the usual salu- tations, the King told them of the little dispute he and the Queen were engaged in, and asked them whether they professed to be Quakers ? Upon their answering in the affirmative, ' I am sorry,' said he, ' to see you have so far departed from your original plainness and simplicity.' " I give this as one example, that those who live up to what they profess, are the most es- 168 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. teemed by the sensible and discerning, who know what they ought to be, to be consistent. However indifferent, gay, rich, and fashionable clothing may be to some to whom custom from earliest infancy has made it familiar, certainly it cannot be so light a matter to those who copy after them, contrary to the known rules of the religious society of which they are members, and which is often done in direct opposition to that duty which is due from a child to a parent, who, impressed with the magnitude of the trust, is endeavouring to guard the young and susceptible mind from the desolating inroads of a worldly spirit ; to train it in the way it should go through life's besetting snares, and to point to a sure foundation whereon to build its hopes of happiness beyond the grave ; even to Christ, the Redeemer, the wisdom and power of God manifested within, which crucifies to the world, and the world to us. I have heard some plead as an excuse for the liberty in which they indulge, that they did not see it to be wrong, if they did, they would not persist there- in ; but are we not scripturally informed, that it is only those who are faithful in the little, that shall be made rulers over more, and according as they yield obedience to the small manifestations of truth on their minds, are they made capable of receiving greater degrees of divine light and knowledge. For instance, we know it would be useless to set a pupil to answer a question in algebra, who would never submit to be instructed in the letters of the alphabet ; so in spiritual things, it would be needless to MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 169 make large discoveries, or teach harder lessons to those who disregard the smaller and more easy ones ; con- sequently their ignorance of themselves, and not that the spirit of truth is inconsistent in allowing some who are taught to walk by the same rule, and to mind the same things, to go in the broad path with impunity, and to make the straight and narrow way the only terms of acceptance with others. Let me ask those who plead this excuse, that they have never seen such things to be wrong, whether they have been faithful in all things according to the best of their knowledge ? If 'so, they are excusable for their want of sight ; but if not, this prop falls to the ground. The evangelical Prophet Isaiah thought it not beneath the dignity of his office, to particularize the many orna- ments with which the daughters of that day adorned themselves, and in clear and conclusive terms mentions the displeasure of the Almighty, therewith in the fol- lowing declaration. " In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their .feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon': the chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers, the bon- nets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the head bands, and the tablets, and the ear-rings, the rings and the nose jewels, the changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the whimples, and the crisping pins, the glasses and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the veils." — Isa. iii. chap., from the 16th to the 24th verse. I fully believe, were professing Christians to live up 170 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. to that purity which their religious principles require, there would be little or no difference among us in that which is essential to salvation, and far less in externals than now appears. What language can more expressly set forth the duty and self-denying path of a Christian, than the following excellent form of words, adopted by Episcopalians when they stand surety for a child in its baptism ? They promise and vow three things in its name ; first, that it shall renounce the devil and all his works, the pomps and vanities of this wicked world, and all the sinful lusts of the flesh ; secondly, that it shall believe all the articles of the Christian Faith ; thirdly, it shall keep God's holy will and commandments, and walk in the same all the days of its life. And the child in its catechism is taught to acknowledge, that he believes when he comes to age he is bound to make good this promise. What can the doctrine and self-denying principles of Quakerism require more ? I confess I have regretted that so excellent a form of expression should, through the falling away of backsliders, and the degeneracy of lukewarm professors, so far decline from its original design and import, as to become a mere empty form meaning nothing. There is a species of insanity common to many people, which may be better understood by denning it a chimera of mind or untutored imagination, which is no small impediment to their growth in grace. This MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 171 busy faculty may so expand, as not to be bounded by probability or possibility. Its flights are often very ex- travagant, and to those who suffer their minds to be captivated thereby, it is wonderful what scenes it will exhibit. I believe there are but few who cannot understand me ; perhaps none who have not had illusive scenes and occurrences presented to their view', and so far as these are cherished, so far are they actually insane, though not observable to every beholder. From my own experience, I am confirmed that nothing has a greater tendency to excite this kind of insanity than reading plays and romances, and attending theatrical exhibitions, which being founded generally upon the fictions of fancy, can only feed the mind with the same kind of food. Some of these performances, especially of the tragic kind, take their subjects from detached parts of history, but they are so disguised with hyperbole, as scarcely to bear any resemblance to the facts they are said to dis- play. When the ingenious author can so adapt his story as to work upon those unstable elements, the passions, it produces emotions and transports whereby the senses are actually imposed upon, and the ideas so deranged as to dispose the mind for admitting falsehood for truth, and truth for falsehood. There are some religious de- clamations that have much the same effect. In order more fully to illustrate the plastic powers of 172 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. undisciplined imagination, 1 shall give a few instances : ■ — once, in company with several others, I made a visit to a man that was insane ; we found him sitting on the ground patching an old garment which he wore ; he at first appeared rational and gave sensible answers to the questions put to him, but after a little free communica- tion, began to open his mind to us and told us he was a king, and possessed great wealth and power. He re- lated many occurrences feasible enough to be believed, and sent messages by us to several great men, with a demand upon some of them to remit him a sum of mo- ney, which if they refused, they should feel the effects of his displeasure. I saw another, who imagined himself to be the gene- ral of all the American forces, and that his presence in the field of battle was of the utmost consequence. I also knew a woman who had lived to the age of forty without marrying, and by accounts had never had an opportunity : she, too, was insane, and imagined herself a great beauty and a very accomplished lady ; that several gentlemen of the first rank had sought an alliance with her, and that fine houses, splendid furni- ture, coaches, horses, &c. awaited her acceptance. These ideas, I supposed, being often and long in- dulged, became so fixed upon their minds, that they be- lieved them realities, and no arguments could convince them of their non-entity. Though the powers of imagi- nation may not operate so forcibly upon all, as to impel a belief that its visions are realities ; yet where they are MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 173 indulged only to amuse, they take up time and atten- tention in dalliance with falsehood, effeminate the mind, and disqualify it for the acquisition of those vir- tues needful for the performance of good, and the suf- fering of evil, in a manner becoming the dignity of rational immortal beings. To examine every idea or impression, before we suffer it to fix upon the mind, and to be convinced that it is at least within the atmo- sphere of truth and reason, nor suffer the cogitations to roam beyond their ample bounds, is the part of wis- dom : all beside belongs to the consuming fire. But how shall we give the true portrait, or describe the distinguishing features of a character, that answers to the tree matured, as described in the parable ? For example, we will suppose a youth just arrived at man- hood, whence we will follow him through the different stages of life, to the last and closing scene of his mor- tal existence. He comes up like a fair and promising flower, with the sweetness, mildness, and innocency of an angel inscribed upon his countenance. He does not affect the dignity of importance, yet he gains the ascen- dant by meekness, humility, and an obliging deport- ment. He presumes not to command, but, with the softness of persuasion, dignity and authority set upon his brow, and voluntary obedience awaits his nod. Love, friendship, and esteem, mark his footsteps wherever they tend. His voice is not heard with the loud and clamorous, yet his accents are remembered w ith respectful deference, and the power of truth is to 16 174 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. be felt in all his communications. His example points out, with the most undeniable evidence, the ways of rectitude, and the paths that lead to endless fame. Vice, self-convicted, flies unrebuked before him ; and Folly hides her head under the mantle of Silence, His politeness is from principle; his professions of regard are in truth and sincerity, and he considers every human being as entitled to his condescension and benignity. He is wise without dulness; free, open, and candid, without affectation or folly ; humourous and witty without being ludicrous. In conversation, his mind appears like a well-cultivated garden, stored with the flowers and fruits of every clime and season, which he can cull and serve to the taste of every one, and becomes all things to all men, so as to convey suitable, seasonable, and pleasing instruction. As the spirit of his life is one uniform tendency to do good, he seeks not to unbend it by trifling amuse- ments. Is he called to the service of the public? He is not lifted up with self-importance, but, sensible of the magnitude of the trust, discharge th it with fidelity. He enricheth not himself upon the spoils of another, but considereth the toil of him that laboureth. He draws tight the rein upon the neck of licentiousness, and enfeebleth the hands of injustice and oppression, but exalteth the standard of truth and righteousness. His courage is invincible, and in the way of his duty he turneth not his face from any, nor is he dismayed by opposition in the prosecution of a good design, but MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 175 with the patient labour of persevering industry he bringeth it to pass. Whatever department he fills, or whatever be his rank or condition in life, he is a servant of the High- est, an honour to his kind, an ornament to his country, a jewel of inestimable value to the community, a light to his acquaintance, and a blessing to his family ; in all which he knoweth that he is no more than just to him- self, and to Him from whom he received his ability. If he live to old age, his grey hairs are as a crown of glory encircling his head, because he is found in the way of righteousness, and as he declines toward the verge of time, the consciousness of a well-spent life, and the well-grounded hope of a blissful eternity in view, sweeten every bitter cup, support him with becoming and teachable patience and cheerfulness under the pres- sure and languishment of bodily pain and infirmity, and the God of his life is with him in the last strag- glings of nature, (and may we not add) angels and the spirits of the just who have gone before, meet him at the gates of eternity, and hail him welcome to the seats of everlasting felicity. S. M. Kennet, Pennsylvania, 1794. Having concluded this little essay, I shall subjoin an invitation to those yet strangers to the wiles of the world, when they set out on the journey of life in the pursuit 176 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. of happiness, to consult the experience of the wise King Solomon, who sought it in the heights of ambi- tion, and in all the devious ways that youthful inclina- tions are liable to run ; and after a full trial he concludes the summum bonum of the whole to be " vanity and vexation of spirit," and that a man can do nothing under the sun better than to "fear God and keep his com- mandments." S. M. True Christian charity toward those whose belief on all points does not agree w T ith our own, is an excellent virtue. Thomas a Kempis lived and died in the profession of the Roman Catholic religion. After reading his writings, I believed he possessed a truly Christian spirit; as fully so, as many who suffered martyrdom because they could not join in with the rituals of that Church. All true Christians are of the same spirit, but their gifts are diverse ; Jesus Christ appointing to each his particular office. Let no one condemn the subsequent pages, from a narrow conception that piety is not promoted through any other medium than literary truth and plain matter of fact. MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 177 We have many examples in scripture and in other writings, where truths have been instructively set forth and illustrated in allegories, parables, and similitudes. S. M. PHILOM'S VISION, 1794. WRITTEN BY A MOTHER FOR THE INSTRUCTION OF HER CHILDREN. "Vice is a monster of so frightful mien, As to be hated, needs but to be seen ; Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face, We first endure, then pity, then embrace." I Philom, am a friend to virtue and literature. I was pondering in my mind why vice and ignorance were so prevalent in the world, and why so few in com- parison to the numbers to whom the beneficent Father of all has dispensed talents and abilities capable of high improvement, should nevertheless fall so far short of any distinguishable attainment, and pass through life like ships on the ocean, leaving no traces of their course to serve as way-marks to successive voyagers ; whilst the few who wisely improve the talents bestowed, live for ever more, their reward also is with the Lord, and the care of them with the Most High, therefore they shall 16* 178 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. receive a glorious Kingdom, and a beautiful crown from the Lord's hand, for " with his right hand shall he cover them, and with his arm shall he protect them." (Wis- dom of Solomon chap, v.) I became absorbed in deep though tfulness, and fell into the following reverie or vision. I saw the figures of two persons coming toward me : one appeared advanced in age, yet his beauty and vi- gour were no ways impaired ; majesty was impressed upon his countenance, and a dignity not to be described marked his deportment : the other seemed less au- gust in his looks, but of a very beautiful and comely aspect. I bowed reverently before them, when, with a look of benignity and sweetness, they bid me arise and follow them. I obeyed, and we were instantly seated upon an eminence which commanded the pros- pect of a vast plain, where I beheld an innumerable concourse of people of both sexes, from infancy to old age, all advancing toward sun-setting. After them followed a great collection of ill-formed, disagreeable looking beings, resembling the forms my imagina- tion had often portrayed of elves, satyrs, spectres, spi- rits, imps, &c, who came and mixed with them ; their familiarity was at first very disgusting, but the crea- tures were so officiously complaisant and obliging, that many became not only reconciled, but social and inti- mate, consulting their views upon all occasions, and even dressed them up in a style that gained them easy access amongst all ranks and conditions, from the king MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 179 to the beggar ; and many of them were to be seen in almost all companies, either select or public congre- gatings of people. I queried what this thing meant, and was told by the two venerable beings under whose guardianship I was placed, whose names were Virtue and Literature, that part of the train I beheld were ve- nial sins, such as idleness, ignorance, distrust, curiosity, superstition, effeminacy, affectation, parsimony, prodi- gality, pusillanimity, idle-speaking, &c. I observed among the number an Elf, who, I was informed, had once been a very useful servant, and was still valuable, when kept in proper subjection, but if suffered to rule, became an absolute tyrant, obliging those subjected to her caprice, to attend her footsteps through a round of the most ridiculous turns and meanderings imaginable. Her name, I learned, was Fashion, and no friend to Vir- tue and Literature. After these followed a train of demons, fiends, hob- goblins, and pests, more formidable in appearance, and various in shape, size and aspect ; some ridiculous ; others terrifying to behold. The preceding group at first disdained them, as beings of an inferior order ; but the latter insisted they were of one family ; upon which a warm contest arose, and an examination into pedi- gree was entered into, which resulted in clear proof that a near consanguinity subsisted between them. This point being settled, they soon became friendly and as- sisting to each other. I queried what those hideous creatures were, and was answered that each one was a 180 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. vice, of formidable strength ; that every mortal was subject to be pursued and tempted by one or more of these ; but the Supreme Father and Governor of the Universe, not willing that the workmanship of His hands should become a prey to those evil spirits, had provided armour, and means of resistance as pointed out in Ephesians, 7th chapter, from the 11th to the 18th verses, and by his own immediate interposition and di- rection, strength and succour were afforded to vanquish those formidable adversaries. I observed several en- gaged, for a time, in almost a continual warfare with one or other of the evil spirits. I also saw, with sa- tisfaction, that ability to overcome in proportion to the conflict wherewith they were permitted to be tried, was dispensed, and, like the house of David, they became stronger and stronger, according to their perseverance, which was stimulated by the Omnipotent in power, and boundless in goodness, who deigned to stand on the field of battle, offering the sweetly solacing language, " fear not, for I am with thee." I saw many who put to flight their strong and deadly foes ; for, however long the warfare was continued, however great the ad- vantage appeared to be on the side of Vice, yet, whilst there was a reliance upon supernatural succour, it was administered, the assailants foiled, and the prey plucked frem their very jaws. Then I heard the song of praises resounding on the banks of Deliverance. But those who gave up the contest, and were van- quished by one of the Vices, generally were attacked MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 181 by a number more, who entered each avenue into their hearts without opposition, and corrupted every thought, word, and deed of their lives, so that the very " plough- ing" of such, whatever they did, "was sin." Mourn- ful, indeed, was the situation of the coward, the faith- less, the procrastinator, who were taken captives, and whose burdens were increased in rigour by their tyran- nizing task-masters, in proportion to every successive submission to their sway. I heard their bitter wailings on this wise : " woe is me, the harvest is over, the summer ended, and we are not gathered." Here I beheld Drunkenness ; he had fearful fangs, barbed at the ends. When he had fairly laid hold of any one he rarely ever let him escape ; at least not without tearing the flesh from the bone, and leaving visible marks that he had once been victorious. He stood the most formidable upon the list of Vices, be- cause renowned for strength, and cheerful hilarity. He had the greatest number of evils in his train, and treat- ed his unhappy, deluded captives, with the most de- grading insolence, obliging some to act the part of de- moniacs, others of fools and idiots, stripping them of every thing valuable they possessed, health, wealth, reputation ; and utterly laid waste every talent that rendered them pleasing, useful, or beloved. This Vice was regarded with the greatest abhorrence, when seen the companion and familiar associate of another ; but he had the artifice to make each one believe, as it re- spected himself, that he had no other design than to 182 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. serve him, by removing some physical complaint, lightening the toil of labour, giving respite to sorrow and inquietude of mind, inspiring cheerfulness, vivacity and wit, or granting a harmless indulgence of appetite, and other such kindly offices. When any or all of these were accomplished, he would leave them to be their own masters. Thus did the monster allure many into his foul grasp, and despoil them of Virtue, who might have shone conspicuously among the praise- worthy. dvarice held tremendous sway, and was not wanting in insinuation and address. He could couch the great- est inconsistencies under the specious pretext of pro- viding things convenient, and had the art to make the transaction smooth and easy between laudable endea- vours and inordinate cravings ; so that none but Virtue and Morality could precisely fix the boundaries between them. He wore a disguise, and seldom owned his proper name, but assumed those of Economy, Pru- dence, Needful Care, &c. But under whatever name or disguise he appeared, he ever bore an indelible mark of his identity, by his readiness to accommodate those who were enlisted in his service with plausible excuses for withholding the needful supplies from the poor and the destitute. Under pretext of getting his own, he would stoop to tear the tattered rags from the limbs of meagre Want, and grasp the morsel from his hungry jaws : nay, he was so preposterous, that he would often rob himself of convenient food and rai- MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 183 ment, and cast the gains thereof into fast bound chests and coffers, where it was useless to himself and others. His body was stuck all over with tenter-hooks, which seldom failed to take a bit out of every one who came within their reach. His influence over the human family was known by this criterion : the things of this world, and how to attain them, ever preponderated in their thoughts, and however disinterested their actions appeared to a casual observer, yet every critical inves- tigation into the labyrinth of the human mind, could detect Avarice planning some advantages for them. Pride was another mighty chieftain. He assumed a high, majestic air, carried his head aloft, and stepped forth with state and arrogance to support his imaginary dignity and importance. He formed devices, coined tinsels, cut out honours, titles, and distinctions of va- rious sorts and sizes, built air castles, and vanquished creation to obtain plumes and feathers. Of all the Vices, none appeared more busy than he, nor more elevated when things prospered according to his wishes, but none more mortified and miserable upon a disap- pointment. The loss of a feather, or a compliment, would render him very unhappy, and he would bitterly bewail till some new object started some new enter- prise. Like a ship upon the unfathomed ocean, he was either towering to the clouds, or sinking into the gloomy caverns of despair. He created innumerable wants, and employed many to encompass them. There was no cell so dark or sequestered that he could not 184 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. penetrate, nor any department in life, either political, social, or religious, that he did not enter. To secure vassals, he suited himself to each one's natural turn and disposition, and no one was exempt from his temptations ; but being of low extraction, it was no un- common thing to see him walking hand-in-hand with Meanness. Wrath, Revenge, Hatred, and Envy, who were in- deed dreadful Furies, obliged those they conquered to feed on their own vitals. They formed instruments of war ; Death followed in their train, and with the assist- ance of Pride and Avarice laid the foundations of Hell. Hypocrisy was of all the Vices the most ridiculous ; pretending to be one of Virtue's train, he openly kept the other evils at a distance, but by secret intrigues with them, he had so imbibed their likeness and defects, that he had scarcely a perfect limb or feature, and by often changing his complexion to suit circumstances, became such an incoherent mixture of divers colours blended, that he was the most disagreeable figure imaginable. He wore too faces, the one white, the other black, one leg was shorter than the other, and in order to supply the deficiency and make his gait uniform, he occasion- ally used a stilt ; each eye looked a different way, but that he might not appear to look amiss, he caused a wonderful cross to be erected, and with an engraving tool inscribed it all over with religious devices, so that take him in what attitude you would, his eye seemed directed thereto. This was a mischievous MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 185 stratagem, at which the Supreme Governor of the Uni- verse was greatly offended, and annexed to it a double portion of suffering. Being sensible of his own native deformity, he provided a mask, modelled after the similitude of Virtue ; this he generally wore, whereby many were deceived, and not scrutinizing closely, thought him one of Virtue's train. But it was impossi- ble to contrive it so that it would not every now and then fall off, and so detect the cheat. He would gladly have had a cloak large enough to cover his whole body at once, but in the nature of things this could not be come at, and being accoutred in one too short and scant for his purposes, he was kept continually busy pulling it this way and that, but still some part of his form was uncovered, so that it cost him more pains to hide what he was, than would have made him what he wished to appear to be. Lying was a detestable Vice, and knowing himself despised by most, he endeavoured to hide himself and do execution unseen. Being of a low and servile cast, he was often employed as a servant to the other Vices, and accomplished many mischiefs. Sometimes he gained ascendancy over people who would not deign to hold communion with so despicable a Vice for the sake of gain or to do another an injury , but owing to the fertility of their imaginations, a redundancy of ideas was pro- duced, and not setting a guard upon the door of their lips, they flew out of their mouths helter skelter, ex- hibiting a wonderful train of incredibles, marvellous 17 186 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. stories &c. just to excite admiration. Lying and De- traction were great cronies, and frequently were seen walking hand-in-hand with each other. Detraction was of the Fairy tribe, low and light in stature and of dark complexion. By magic he could follow persons unseen, and like a snake in the grass, vent his venom upon them undiscovered: his malig- nant qualities lay in his tongue, he had the longest ears of any other creature in nature, which he could turn every way. He had prying eyes that could peep through the smallest cranny and see what was going forward. He also had a wonderful repository of visionary mate- rials, such as sounds, shadows, and representations ; which, mixing with grosser substances collected from mud pools, sinks, scavengry, &c. he blew over the face of creation with the aid of an air gun ; and it was no uncommon sight to see those ill-looking sprites flitting about in every direction, to the no small annoyance and detriment of many. There were some people who, when they could lay hands upon them, bound them and put them into strong hold and prisons, but in the general they were too much indulged, particularly by those who had neglected to store their minds with ma- terials for innocent and useful conversation ; to these, unless silence were observed, the ill-contrived Imps would find means to introduce themselves and fill up the void, and their influence when obtained, tarnished the fairest complexion, which strongly urged the neces- MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 187 sity of guarding every pass whereby they might gain access into company or conversation. Profane Swearing was an ugly Vice, and though he neither promised nor gave his votaries either pleasure or profit, (his recompense being a very trifling gratifi- cation,) yet he gained an ascendant over many, and where he -was seen, I was sure the other Vices were not far off. Ambition was of no mean extraction, and always went on tiptoe. When he wanted to encompass a mat- ter out of his reach, he raised artificial ground, which sometimes enabled him to extend his arms a vast height. His head' and eyes were continually turned upward, which often occasioned giddiness. As he stood tottering, he frequently fell ; and Disappointment (who was almost his inseparable companion) would deride and intercept his towering aim. Such continued his propensity to be looking and reaching upward, that he seldom desisted whilst there was any ground left for him to stand upon. He allured many by fair promises into his train ; but he was a hard master, seldom re- warding his dependants according to the difficulty they encountered, or the promises he made them. Servility was of small stature, of a mixed complex- ion, short-sighted and somewhat paralytic. He was mostly seen in a cringing posture : when he came into the presence of his superiors, from whom he expected honour or advantage, he would bend himself to the very earth, and was remarkably obsequious ; but when 188 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. in company with his supposed inferiors he was super- cilious ; he was always seen associating with the other Vices. Melancholy was clothed in black ; at the first view I could not determine to what order of beings she be- longed : she did not appear to be a fit inhabitant for any region : and not till I had surveyed her abode, could I say whether she most resembled the Virtues or the Vices. Her dwelling-place was surrounded by thick gloomy shades of discontent, and closed against the light and benedictions of Heaven, by barring the doors. Some faint rays, however, were admitted through a se- cret window, with iron grates, which just served to show the dust and disorder of her room. She appeared, at times, inclined to entertain the Virtues, but first meta- morphosed and dressed them according to her fancy, and stamped their countenances agreeably to her humour, which rendered them scarcely distinguishable as belong- ing to that amiable and illustrious.family, which caused many to shun their acquaintance, as destructive to happi- ness. Upon a nearer search into her apartment, I found some or other of the Vices lurking in almost every by- place, which she made no efforts to expel, but rather cherished and fed. I also discovered that Divine Love, Humility, and Resignation, were her greatest enemies, and had they been suffered to enter her habitation, would have terminated her existence. This at once determined the matter — that she belonged to the Vices. I beheld another Vice, who carried in one hand a MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 189 torch, that had been lighted by the flames of Hell, and was blown by the bellows of the foulest Fiend, which caused the blackness of disgrace wherever it came. In the other hand he held a poniard, which he struck through the hearts of his victims. There were other Vices, such as Camelions, Apes, Foxes, Crockadiles, Snakes^ Owls, Bats, and Spiders ; Centaurs, and the bodies of people united to hogs, dogs, mules, &c. were moving about in all directions ; some were so subtle as to transform themselves into different shapes at will. I observed some who had combated and overcome the more formidable Vices, that were preyed upon by the smaller tribes, whereby their strength, bloom, and beauty were destroyed, their substance wasted, and they reduced to mere anatomies and dwarfs. I also saw at the heels of every Vice a chain, which he en- deavoured to conceal, but I was determined to see to the end of it. Here I discovered an object still more horrible than the Vices, who was bound to this chain by an indissoluble link ; at least, no mortal could undo it. Those who had cause to fear him, evinced great alarm when they found themselves near him. I asked by what name he was called, and was told it was Pu? nishment. I must not omit to mention another Spirit that was going to and fro in the earth, and walking up and down in it. Wherever the Virtues met together, he seldom failed to present himself along with them, though often 17* 190 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. repulsed with scorn and indignation. He was a sly, in- sinuating, enterprising spirit, employed as the last stra- tagem of the Grand Adversary, to lay waste Virtue. He seldom attempted to attack any but the virtuous, and the more eminent in this respect, the more closely they were pursued and beset by him. The artifice whereby he gained his point was to trill soft music, and gently whisper soothing delightful encomiums into their ears, occasioning a pleasing sensation after they had done a worthy action, had witnessed the fervours of devotion, received spiritual gifts and graces, or had foiled the Vices. If he gained admittance in this seem- ingly innocent way, he grew bolder, and persuaded them that they were the peculiar favourites of Heaven, as were some of old ; that the Lord conferred favours and blessings upon them because they were deserving. He next induced a belief that all they had was their own ; that they could maintain it against all opposition ; and thus becoming confident and secure, they gradu- ally declined from a constant reliance upon the only Fountain of all good, in which case Divine Wisdom was pleased to withdraw his bounties, and leave them for a time destitute of those favours upon which they valued themselves. When this did not bring them to a sense of their own insufficiency, and nothingness, he suffered some of the Vices to exercise dominion over them, till they became convinced they were no longer safe or worthy of spiritual favours than whilst their de- pendance was only and alone upon God, and they the MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 191 objects of his forgiving love and mercy rather than of merit. When it so fell out that this Spirit gained the victory, he soon discovered marks of tyranny and in- justice, by stripping his vanquished of all their perma- nent honours and rewards, and substituting those that were superficial. Though he allowed some the free exercise of their virtuous deeds, yet he tarnished them with a dark hue, and occasioned the brightest gold to become dim. In other instances, he stripped them of their beauty, dignity and influence, dragged them in triumph at his chariot wheel, and then consigned them over to the Vices. Upon observing the mien of this Spirit, he walked with the same rectitude as the Vir- tues, prayed oft, gave alms, and was adorned with many beautiful ornaments, such as neighbourly kindness, industry, frugality, generosity, &c, and could he have counted the mystical number seven, might have been a Virtue, but he only amounted up to " six hundred three score and six, and what was wanting could not be num- bered." I queried why he was not a Virtue, and was told the grace of Humility was lacking ; that he was continually ascribing to himself that which was alone due to the Creator, and coveting his attributes. This dangerous enemy was called Spiritual Pride. I cannot describe the earnest solicitude I felt for the fate of poor mortals, on beholding so many detesta- ble, artful, dangerous creatures, all in eager pursuit to make them their prey. My conductors observing this in my countenance, were pleased to enlarge my vision. 192 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. To be thus pursued and tempted, they assured me, was the unvaried lot of every mortal, till the root of evil, whence the Vices draw their sustenance, be withered and taken away from the heart. To effect this was the unceasing purpose of the Great Father of all ; hence, he had compounded in a large vessel, an exceedingly bitter drink, called Tribulation, and so great was his love to mankind, that he sent the only Son of his bosom to partake thereof, who in all respects was like unto us, (sin excepted.) He underwent all the temp- tations and sufferings to which mortals are liable, set- ting us an example of perfection, and inviting all who would be his disciples to follow his footsteps; and after leaving many excellent precepts and doctrines, he suffered an ignominious death upon the cross by the hands of sinners. But he arose again, leading captivity captive, and dispensing the gifts and graces of his spi- rit to man, whereby he may become a joint heir with him in his Father's Kingdom, where he sits a continual High Priest, to make intercession for the forgiveness of our sins. Of this drink there still remains a portion for mankind to partake, that, like him, they might be made perfect through suffering, and have fellowship with him in the path he trod, which only leads to glory. To every one was given a cup, some larger, some smaller, by a hand, to many invisible at the time, but to me it was then plain and bare, in which he dealt out portions according to the size of the cups, with the most exact impartial economy, and by a combina- MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 193 tion of second causes and secret impulses that few could see through or understand, he obliged each one to drink in the measure assigned. When this dispen- sation was administered, great complaints and lamenta- tions resounded from every quarter ; some boldly in- veighed against Providence as the author of their mise- ries ; others ascribed all to chance, or accident, to this or that occurence, or to this and the other person, or they should not have had the bitter draught to drink. I ob- served that though the refractory appeared to drink largely, yet their portions were very little diminished ; numbers endeavoured by their own contrivances to avoid taking any, which occasioned their share to be greater, and far more bitter, than if they had submitted to an overruling Providence ; whilst those who took the cup as primarily coming from the Divine hand, and designed to extirpate the root of evil within, and to re- fine their virtue, often had it replenished with a refresh- ing draught, called Divine Consolation, which made the other much more palatable. Nay, some were so sensible of the salutary effects of Tribulation, that they cheerfully partook thereof, and were desirous never to be without a share, till the gracious designs of Him, who had appointed it, were fully accomplished. Patience followed Tribulation, attended by Resigna- tion and Fortitude, whose benign influences disposed the mind for the instruction of Experience. Experience advanced slowly forward, carrying in one hand a scourge with many lashes, in the other lie 194 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. held a book of useful lessons, which he read to those who were willing to listen to him. To give the more force to his precepts, he opened a door into an Infir- mary, containing the Miserables, commonly attendants of Vice. Here were Poverty, Shame, Contempt, Sick ness, Pain, Debility, Misanthropy, Remorse, and num bers more I could not name. On the other hand he portrayed the attendants and progeny of Virtue Among them I discovered Peace, Competency, Health Joy, Love, Philanthropy, True Greatness, Honour and Dignity. But notwithstanding the forcible lectures and striking examples communicated, many remained infatuated and insensible to their true interest, regard- ing none of these things further than they were en- forced by his scourge. Whilst they felt the smart they would promise amendment, but when stripes were re- mitted, they forgot, grew careless, and violated their engagement. But if ever they embraced Virtue, it was more through fear of the scourge, than from the genu- ine love thereof. However acceptable these might be to the Supreme Being I could not then determine ; but certainly they were not followers of the pure and ex- alted race of Virtues. There were others who stood the tyranny of the Vices, and the bitter lashings of Experience, with amazing insensibility, but their end was without hope. To many and various states, Experience administered suitable instruction ; but there were others that he ap- peared to spare, who were much given up to follow the MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 195 Vices ; at least whatever hidden inquietudes they might suffer, they were not visible to common observation ; they prospered, and accomplished with ease, schemes and purposes which the worthier than they scarcely attained through much difficulty. Their wealth in- creased, and they reigned as kings and princes on the earth. Thus Fortune, blind to the merits or demerits of her favourites, frequently bestowed worldly power, riches, and preferment upon the cruel, the proud, the covetous, and the ignorant, who employed them to no good purpose. They added house to house, and field to field, hoarded up useless ore for usury and extortion, or squandered it in supporting needless state, pleasure, and dissipation, and in strengthening the sinews of Vice and Immorality, according to their several turns and dispositions ; whilst Real Merit was often left to strug- gle with many difficulties, and her ability not made commensurate with her will to aid in deeds of utility, in giving hands to Industry, drying up the tear of Misfortune, causing Poverty to smile, and ministering liberty to the slave groaning under oppression. However intrinsically vain and worthless worldly power, riches, and preferments are, yet divers examples evince that the abuse thereof is highly offensive to God, and punishable by him. Sacred History confirms this in the case of the great King Nebuchadnezzar, who had power and wealth in abundance, but he magnified himself, and respected not the bountiful Giver, and being warned in a dream of the punishment that would 196 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MA.SON. follow unless he broke off his sins by righteousness, and his transgressions by showing mercy to the poor. He disregarded the Divine admonition : hence the chasten- ing hand of the Lord was laid heavily upon him, until he was brought to acknowledge that the Most High ruled in the kingdoms of men. Haman possessed all that Ambition could aspire to, beneath Sovereignty, but it availed not to satisfy him, whilst the inflexibly upright Mordecai sat at the king's gate, and refused to bend before him, or natter his insa- tiable thirst for renown : but mark the sequel ! he was doomed to meet the same ignominious fate he had designed for Mordecai. Dr. Young, addressing himself to a popular man, says, " But great your name — To feed on air, Were then immortals born ? Nothing is great, of which more great More glorious is the scorn." The danger of more secret commendations ; the gen- tie insinuations of well-concerted flattery, the necessity of barring the ear against it, and of chaining the imagi- nation, which is apt to suck in the delicious poison, to the firm mast of truth and sober reason, is beautifully set forth by Homer in the account he gives of the voyage of Ulysses, and the dangers he sustained in returning from the wars of Troy to his native land, where Circe is represented as giving him the following prophetic MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 197 warning against the Island of the Syrens or flatterers, and the way to avoid it. " Next where the Syrens dwell, you plough the seas, Their song is death and makes destruction please ; Unbless'd the man whom music wins to stay, Nigh the curst shore, and listen to their lay." ****** " Fly swift the dang'rous coast, let every ear Be stopped against the song — its death to hear; Firm to the mast with chains thyself be bound, Nor trust thy virtue'to the enchanting sound." My next view was a curtain extended, and I heard from behind it a medley of voices as from a mixed mul- titude. Being desirous to know the cause, I made signs to a sentinel whom I saw standing before it, to draw it aside that I might see what was going on ; but he told me it was the curtain of Death, and seldom raised to discover the secrets there, in order to gratify human curiosity ; that I must first pass through his gate to which he pointed. I turned toward it and saw num- bers going in, but none coming out. I said I had often mused upon future scenes, and thought if he would gratify me with a prospect, I should not make an ill use of the indulgence. With a smile of benignity, he then drew the curtain partly aside, and my human organs being too weak to take in the sights before me, and the sounds I heard so as to understand them clearly, a Di- vine Agent placed in my hands a perspective glass and 18 198 MEMOIRS OP SUSANNA MASON. an ear-trumpet, which enabled me to discern objects and distinguish sounds distinctly. Thus fitted, I looked forward and beheld the most busy scenes imaginable. A vast concourse of people of all ranks, callings, and conditions, engaged in their respective employments, amusements, and recreations. Here were nobility, gentry, statesmen, politicians, civil and military officers, star-gazers, professors of science, scriveners and scrib- blers, merchants, brokers, misers, some hoarding money into coffers, some counting it out for usary. Here also were superstitious worshippers, husbandmen, mechan- ics of all trades, smokers, snuffers and chewers of to- bacco, horse-racers, card-players, gamblers of all sorts, dancers, singers, musicians of divers kinds, slight-of- hand workers, dressers before looking-glasses, play- actors, formal visiters, epicures and pursuers of every kind of sensual pleasure, all occupied in their several avocations. Whatever was necessary, or they desired, was immediately given them. I began to think their situation a very tolerable one, but still there was some- thing ominous of ill ; every countenance was impressed in striking features with despair and misery. I soon discovered that each one was followed by a grim, fierce, unrelenting figure, armed with a sharp pointed scourge, and when any seemed inclined to relax his business or pursuit, whatever it was, he was immediately urged on by the lashes of this despotic attendant. I was at a loss to account for this strange appearance of things, and why there was so much hurry and bus- MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 199 tie in the region of Death. The Divine Agent, before mentioned, then informed me, that whatever it was, whether lawful or unlawful, that had robbed God of his due and right of pre-eminence in the mind and affec- tions in this present life, all that they had chosen and deliberately persisted in till Death had dissolved the earthly covering contrary to the monitions of truth witnessed in themselves, and to the warnings of God's faithful servants and messengers sent to recall them from their wanderings, was now given them in full measure, as a just reward for their works. And not having che- rished any thing suited to their immortal nature, which nothing but immortal substance can satisfy, therefore, as a necessary consequence of their improvidence, such souls must suffer the most exquisite sensations of hun- ger, thirst, nakedness, and penury, without receiving any mitigation from Hope's cordial draught, which often sweetens the bitter cup of human probation. The tyrannic spirits which pursued and lashed them on now, were the very same evil geniuses that had fol- lowed them on earth, urging them into their several tracks, and which they might have resisted and con- quered had they applied for strength in time ; but hav- ing submitted to their yoke, they were still the most arbitrary and severe tyrants over them. Here I made a solemn pause, and closely inspected myself, whether any thing occupied my thoughts and desires, and usurped that place in my affections which was due to God only ; and though sensible of my weak- 200 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. nesses and wanderings of mind, I could say, with Eli- zabeth Rowe, "If I love thee not, what do I love?" and with tears I besought his mercy, that he would not suffer my portion to be with those that forget him. Casting my eyes toward the two-leaved gate of Death, I observed that after the Judge had examined some of them and announced of what class they were, they were immediately arrested by the most terrifying figure I ever beheld, who hurried them away to a place where the focus of my glass was not calculated to ex- tend, but I perceived a great smoke and heard blasphe- mous words issuing therefrom. But there was a num- ber who passed through the gate that remained within my ken ; among whom I observed a class whose minds at the time of their departure from their earthly man- sions, did not appear to be engaged in any of the avoca- tions and pleasures before mentioned. They sat apart by themselves, ruminating upon the cross occurrences, and disappointments incident to human life, till they became the very denizens of woe. Their only enjoy- ment was in sorrow, to which they clung with unshaken tenacity, and unthankfully and ungratefully brooded over their calamities, either in silence or in venting fruitless complaints, murmurings and impatience. — Among these were divers suicides, who had made their exit from Time, in hopes that Death would relieve them from their misery. But Death had no such prerogative, and they were left to the unmolested exercise of those gloomy dispositions which they had willed and persist- MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 201 ed in. Here I called to mind a visit, which (according to Homer) Ulysses paid to the regions of the dead, where meeting with his mother's shade he thus accost- ed it; " But when thy soul from her sweet mansion fled, Say what distemper gave thee to the dead ? Has life's fair lamp declined by slow decays, Or swift expired it in a sudden blaze 1" To whom the Shade replied, " For thee my son I wept my life away ; For thee through Hell's eternal region stray ; Nor came my fate by ling'ring pains and slow, Nor bent the silver-shafled queen her bow. No dire disease bereft me of my breath, Thou, thou, my son, wert my disease and death ; Unkindly with my love, my son conspired, For thee I lived, for absent thee expired." The next thing which arrested my attention was a company who were busied by themselves, because they could not carry on their contrivances without the aid of each other. Foremost in their ranks stood an Artificer forming likenesses, as nearly as could be, of various meats, sauces, delicious wines, fine flavoured fruit, &c. which were made up of wind, bitter ashes, and poison- ous particles, fashioned according to models that he carried in his own brain and polished agreeably to his own inventive faculty. Next in order of succession, followed a company composed generally of the idle and degenerate part of mankind, who personated Kings, 18* 202 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. Queens, Lords, Ladies, Gentlemen, &c. Lastly, fol- lowed a great number of people of both sexes. Every needful apparatus being made for the exhibition of a specious entertainment, the guests were admitted by virtue of a ticket which they had purchased of those mock nobility and gentry. It was wonderful to see the multitudes that flocked to the feast, with all the eager- ness of desire and expectation, when they knew before- hand that it was all sham work ; but seating themselves at the table, the masters and mistresses of the ceremony dispensed the food with much parade, intermixed with many compliments, which the guests with the same kind of politeness praised. They commended the cooks, the skill of the confectioners, the meats were excellent, and extolled the wine and the fruit, upon which regaling heartily, they declared they were ex- ceedingly refreshed. When this sham and mockery was over, the Genius (who had all this time been standing by with scourge in hand to see that the whole was performed according to due order,) took them two and two, and some by dozens, entertainers and guests, and yoked them together, for which he assigned no other reason than that the former could not subsist without the latter, who wished to uphold them, and this had to be done in person, for here there was no doing any thing by proxy. Moreover there was a cap with a turkey's feather in it, given to the Legislature as a reward for its indulgence to this class of people which had to be alternately worn by those who compose that MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 203 body. What appeared singular, the Genius who pre- sided over them, yoked as companions the most opposite characters ; a man of honour with a thief, an economist with a ruined spend-thrift, a prude with a libertine, high blood and rank with the offspring of beggars, idle vagrants with people of honest callings. This was a mortifying piece of vagary, but if they were refractory, to work went the scourge. Thus bound, they were made to parade backward and forward through the won- dering throng, and when they were sufficiently exposed, they were turned back to the place of rendezvous there in continual repetition to go through the same mockery. I also saw another company, who were mostly gen- teel, high looking people. When they went through the gate, many of them produced credentials of their generosity and good acts. They were met by a Min- ister of Justice bearing a pair of scales ; upon exam- ining their hands and foreheads he found inscribed thereon : " blood guilty man-stealing, injustice and op- pression ;" whereat he cried aloud : " this iniquity cannot be purged with burnt-offerings nor sacrifice, but such measure as ye have meted shall be measured to you four times told." Accordingly they were strip- ped of their decent clothing and ornaments, without respect to persons, clad in the coarse habiliments of negro slaves, and given up to the power of those over whom they had once tyrannized. These, exulting in their reversed situation, with unrelenting hearts dis- pensed to them the same measure which they had 204 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. received, four times told. Thus was fulfilled the pro- phecy of Isaiah : "They shall take them captive whose captives they were, and they shall rule over their op- pressors." xiv. 2. It would take a volume to relate the cruel sufferings that I saw many undergo, though some were treated with more lenity than others ; but stripes, hunger, thirst, pain, labour, weariness, and angry threats, were the most common lot. Humanity turned from the sight, and melted into tears of commiseration and pity. But Divine Justice cannot sleep for ever. It must awaken, sooner or later, to render a just recompense and retribution to the oppressor, and to give rest to the oppressed from their " sorrow, and from the fear, and from the hard bondage wherein they were made to serve." Isaiah, xiv. 3. Gladly now would they have exchanged situations with the most abject slave upon earth ; but having re- fused to listen to the calls of justice and humanity, whilst time and opportunity were afforded, the Divine sentence must be fulfilled upon them, till they had paid the utmost farthing in a four-fold proportion. Those who had trafficked in the fruits of the labour of this oppressed people, or had made use of their spoil, were sentenced to repay it in the same manner. Many of these unhappy sufferers appeared deeply concerned on account of others still in the same iniqui- tous practice which had sealed their doom of misery ; MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 205 and upon conferring together, agreed to request the Minister of Justice that he would send one of their for- mer slaves to warn them of their danger, and inform them of their destiny, lest they also should come to a like ignominious punishment ; but he replied, " they have their own natural understandings as men, which if they were not wilfully and obstinately blind, would teach them, that it is out of the Divine order and har- mony for one human being to oppress another ; they have the mind of truth inwardly revealed, which in- structs to do justly, to love mercy, and walk hum- bly before God ; they have the doctrines and precepts of Christ, the Saviour, which command : ' do unto all men as you would they should do unto you ,' they have a Woolman, a Benezet, a Clarkson, a Mifflin, and many more, some of whom, ' being dead, yet speak ;' let them hear them ; if they will not hear them, neither will they be persuaded though one were to rise from the dead." The sentinel, seeing my frail nature no longer able to sustain the view, arose and closed the curtain. I then asked him if I might not see the place and state of those who had died in favour with God ? but he told me, as I was still encompassed with human frailty, it was not meet to unfold so glorious a prospect, lest I should desire the gift more than the Giver, the beati- tude more than the Beatifler ; but I might rest assured, " that eye hath not seen, ear heard, neither hath it en- tered into the heart of man to conceive the good things 206 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. which the Lord hath in store for those who truly love and serve him." I then remembered Experience, and how he was employed when I left him. Though he is mostly slow in his operations, yet, with the most inde- fatigable pains and industry, he had repeated lesson after lesson, the same many times over ; precept after precept, and correction after correction, till he had brought many, of whom I had little hope, to a sense of the error of their ways, and of their miserable condi- tion under the tyranny of the Vices ; and finding them- selves covered with wounds, bruises, and putrefying sores, were desirous to be healed. Experience, after faithfully discharging the trust re- posed in him, introduced Hope to them, who pointed to the Physician of Value. He, in tender compassion, administered relief, healed their maladies, and cheered them with his loving kindness. But with some, who were not continually on the alert, to detect the approach of their enemies, the conflict with the Vices had been prolonged till the afternoon or evening of their day. Their bloom, beauty and strength were nearly ex- hausted, their faculties impaired and their senses be- numbed, insomuch that they now had nothing left for Virtue and Literature, but the refuse of time and talents, which at best are but as the lame and blind offerings, rejected under the law, but under the more merciful dispensation of the Gospel, are accepted, so far as to obtain forgiveness and remission of sins, through Christ, the Mediator. MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 207 Had those delinquents and abusers of Divine munifi- cence offered up their time and talents in the morning of their day, whilst endued with animation and vigour, to the noble purposes for which they were given, they might have been distinguished as stars of bright magni- tude, upon the rolls of virtuous and literary fame, and their names been transmitted to posterity with just en- comiums and deserved praise ; whereas their only hope is, to escape infamy and punishment, and to experience the wonders of forgiving love : content that (as to time) the grave should hide their remembrance in lasting oblivion. When I awoke from my reverie and recovered my recollection, I remembered four promising plants that I had nurtured from their earliest growth, till the suns from eight to fourteen years had so far matured them ; and I became increasingly solicitous to dig and enrich the soil about their roots, to direct the tender twigs as they put forth, to assist with care and caution the gra- dual unfoldings of each promising blossom, and to prune away superfluous and pernicious shoots. In the ar- dency of desire that I might be enabled to discharge the trust committed to me, and that the guardian angel of the Divine presence might encamp round about them, and preserve them within the sacred enclosures of truth, that so no devouring beast of prey, no cankering sin might strip them of their lovely foliage, wound their blossoms, blast my hopes and rising comforts, and ren- der thern unfruitful to God ; my prayers ascended to 208 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. the Most High in the following ejaculation, as nearly borrowed from the Wisdom of Solomon : Oh, God of my fathers, and Lord of mercy, who hast made all things with thy word ! give me wisdom that sitteth by thy Throne, and reject me not from thy children : for I, thy servant and handmaid, am a feeble person and of short time, and of my own ability have no understanding : for though we be never so perfect among the children of men, yet if thy wisdom be not w-ith us, we shall be nothing regarded. And thou hav- ing placed me head of a family, and given me sons and daughters, and commanded me to walk circumspectly before them, to teach them thy laws and to direct them in the way that is pleasing to thee ; oh ! send thy wisdom out of the holy Heavens and from the Throne of thy glory, that being present, she may labour with me, that I may know what is pleasing unto thee ; for she knoweth and understandeth all things, and she shall lead me soberly in my doings, and preserve me in her power. So shall my works be acceptable, and I shall be found worthy to sit in the seat of my predecessors, who have borne thy name and supported thy testi- mony. MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. 209 ON THE MINISTRY. *' In the discharge of the trust reposed in her as an Elder of the Church, she felt herself bound to ad- dress a few remarks to a friend respecting the min- istry, of which the subjoined is an extract." The exercise of thy gift, when among us, threw me into some serious reflections respecting the ministry. I was led, according to my measure, to sympathize in the tried path, which, I believe, often falls to the lot of those who are called into that line of service ; and I was ready to query, why, in the wisdom and goodness of Providence, it should be, that the creatures of his forming hand who have in good measure submitted to his renovating power, are resigned to do his will, and ardently desirous of fulfilling to the best of their ability the task assigned them upon earth, should, in the per- formance of their apprehended duty, mistake, err, and do what at the time is not required of them. But this is the case, I charitably believe, having known some- thing of it in my own experience. Whether a more consistent reason can be given I cannot say? but to me it appears owing to the natural activity of the creature. This activity may be so re- fined as scarcely to be distinguished (except by the Mystical eye and ear) that it is creaturely. Thus it 19 210 MEMOIRS OF SUSANNA MASON. may be with us, even whilst the six days' creation is spiritually carrying on, and the lights placed in the heavens for ruling the day and the night (revelation and enlightened reason) shine with considerable bright- ness, until we come to the seventh day's experience, wherein we witness a rest from all our own activity and conceivings, and the soul comes to sit empty and motionless before God, having no other consciousness than our own nothingness and the all of God. This Sabbath of rest, I believe it highly needful for all who are accounted the salt of the earth to press after, more especially those to whom is committed a dispensation of gospel tidings to declare unto others. From my own experience, I believe, where any un- dertake to promulgate gospel precepts, or to judge of gospel truths, their suitableness as to time, place,