FRIENDS' REVIEW. VOL. VII. A RELIGIOUS, LITERARY AND MISCELLANEOUS JOURNAL. PHILADELPHIA, ELEVENTH MONTH 12, 1853. EDITED BY ENOCH LEWIS. PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY SAMUEL RHOADS, Price two dollars per annum, PAYABLE IN ADVANCE, or six copies for ten dollars. Postage on this paper, when paid quarterly or yearly in advance, 13 cents per annum in Pennsylvania and 26 cents per annum in other States. No. 9. silence, to feel that which is beyond words. Our hearts were contrited; and, after a considerable time, dear Stephen addressed them, Enoch Jacobsen interpreting sentence by sentence. These simple-hearted people were much affected and yet comforted. I added a few words towards the close. "We went next to the farther end of the town, to call upon Enoch's mother. His sister, who is married, and has four children, lives with her; and his youngest sister was also there. We had a religious opportunity with them, in which SOME ACCOUNT OF THE RISE AND PROGRESS OF Stephen had much valuable matter to communi THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS IN NORWAY. (Continued from page 115.) cate. They seemed contrited. In the 8th month, 1818, our friends Stephen Grellet and William Allen, accompanied, agreeably to the expectation indicated in the forego-dren. ing letter, by Enoch Jacobsen, arrived at Stavanger. Of the visit to that place and their labors among the few professors with Friends, the subjoined accounts are chiefly extracted from the Life of William Allen. "8th month, 27th. We went a little way out of Stavanger to Lars Larsen's to attend the usual meeting. There were seven men, besides ourselves, and about as many women; also two chilAfter we had remained some time in silence, S. Grellet spoke in ministry, Enoch, as usual, interpreting; prayer was then vocally offered, which was also interpreted. Towards lishing a system of discipline, adapted to the the close of the meeting, the propriety of estabcircumstances of those professing with Friends in this place, was submitted to them. Several expressed their concurrence with our proposal; they appeared in a tender state, and I believe were much comforted. "A few plain rules of discipline were accordingly prepared; and, being much approved by the little community, were gladly received and adopted." "In the afternoon, we went to wait upon a person, who is a Lutheran, and holds the office of dean. We spent about an hour with him, and were kindly received. We conversed about Bible Society business. He says that there is a great want of Bibles amongst them; and that, out of five or six hundred families in Stavanger, not more than fifty have a Bible; that the people are willing to subscribe and pay for them; The help thus afforded to these sincere-hearted and some have actually paid; but they cannot people was evidently very seasonable: and W. get them from the so-called Bible Society of A. speaks with satisfaction of the religious inChristiana. We purpose to attend to this sub-tercourse which he and S. G. had with them. ject when we go there. The dean expressed great regard for our religious Society as a body; and, after this conference, which seemed of considerable importance, we parted in love. "We then went to the house of Lars Larsen, a carpenter, who is considered firmly settled in the principles of Friends. A young man, a fisherman, who lives with him, also professes with us, and had been rowing a considerable distance in his boat, till his hands were blistered, to give notice of the meeting to-morrow. We sat down together to wait upon the Lord, and, presently, two young women, in the station of servants, came in also; and, truly, we were favored in From other information it appears that the first meeting for discipline was held at Stavanger, on the 29th of the 8th month, 1818, when eight individuals were recognized as members of the Society. Elias Tasted was appointed clerk of the two months' meeting. He had been married on the 15th of the 7th month, this being the first marriage amongst Friends in Norway.* The queries and other matters relating to the discipline, were sent to Christiana, that they might correspond with the meeting at Stavanger; Four of this little company afterwards emigated to America. Elias Tasted and his wife are all that remain of them now, in the year 1818, at Stavanger. but this correspondence was only kept up about two years. Of this meeting, W. Allen remarks, "Feelings of sweetness and solemnity prevailed, and the business was got through satisfactorily." He and coffee with them about seven o'clock. Proceeding on their journey, W. A. remarks, 8th month, 30th. W. Allen says, "The Friends here hold two meetings on First Day." They have hired a large room, which is well adapted for the purpose. More came this morning than we expected, and there were about fifty present in all. The people were remarkably quiet, and it was a satisfactory time. After dinner, I felt sweetly comforted with a sense of the Divine presence and love; and, about three o'clock, we prepared to go to the afternoon meeting. I was apprehensive that it would be crowded, curiosity having been excited by the meeting in the morning; and, moreover, they have no public worship in the afternoon, every third First Day, because the preacher goes to another place, and this happened to be the case to-day. 9th month 23d. "Fifth day. Having ar "When we reached the place, we found it rived at Christiania two days previously, we went rather difficult to get in; the room was soon to Canute Halversen's, a person professing with filled, and many were on the stairs. Indeed, I Friends, to attend their small meeting, which is was afraid of some mischief, from squeezing, held in a room well adapted for the purpose. more than two hundred being in the room: most There were about eight men present, besides ourof them were standing. Considering all circum-selves, and four women. I felt something sweet stances they behaved as well as we could expect; and peaceful." and Stephen had a long and satisfactory communication in ministry. After it was over, the people seemed desirous of shaking hands with us, and nothing but respect was shewn us. Enoch acquitted himself exceedingly well as an interpreter. 8th month 31st. "In the afternoon, we had a precious religious opportunity with those who are considered members of our Society. About twelve were present. These poor people were very tender and broken, and we parted with them under strong feelings of sympathy and affection." 9th month 7th. They arrived at Christiansand. Here they do not appear to have found any Friends; but W. A. mentions some of those persons called "Saints." "They attend public worship, but have also their own meetings. We have not found it our place to go after them; but, as some of them had wished to see us, we consented to go, and found between thirty and forty assembled to meet us; most of them were men. They listened very attentively to what we said. Some of them seemed in a very tender, feeling state; and all were respectful and loving.' On their way to Christiania, they stopped at Arendal, a great sea-port. Amongst other occurrences here, he remarks on some of his own exercises, "On returning to the inn, I retired to my chamber, and felt my mind, which had been low before, comfortably stayed on God. "A person, who is one of those denominated 'Saints, called upon us, and asked us to visit them, which we agreed to do, and went to take I In a visit to one of the prisons in Christiania, W. A. remarks, "We were shocked to find about twenty young persons confined here, not for any crime, but merely because they had neglected to learn their Catechism, and consequently could not be confirmed by the priest. Thus they were sent, literally and avowedly, to be prepared for confirmation, to a place where they were confined with felons and criminals of all descriptions. Some amongst them were from twenty to thirty years of age. The officers who accompanied us joined in expressing their abhorrence of this measure; but in this country, such is the sway of the clergy, that a person not confirmed is almost considered an outlaw. We stated our feelings very freely, and have reason to think that the matter will be taken up. "In the afternoon, we had a solid religious opportunity with Enoch Jacobsen, Canute and Ann Halverson, and the young lawyer, Soren Schutz, who are to become the first members of our Society here, according to the principles agreed to at Stavanger. It ended satisfactorily. In the closing pause, I had to offer them a little encouragement. We afterwards went some distance to take tea at the house of a merchant, named Ericksen, who, with some of his family, were piously disposed, and seemed leaning towards the principles of Friends. We had a precious religious niceting with them." 9th mo. 27. "We went to meeting at ten. There were about twelve men present, and seven women. My mind was low; but I thought we were favored with the Lord's presence amongst us. In the afternoon, a few more persons attended than in the morning. I ventured to precede my dear companion in addressing them, and had solid peace in this movement." In the 12th month, 1821, our dear friend, Thomas Shillitoe, arrived at Christiania, being engaged on religious service in Norway, &c. He appears to have continued to labor, in and near that city, nearly six months, attending the little meetings of Friends regularly as they occurred, both on First days and during the week. His notice of his religious services on these occasions, in his Journal, is extremely brief; nor does he mention either the names or number of those who attended, except in a very few instances. He appears to have had useful service in visiting persons of power and influence in and about the city; to have labored for the correction of their faults with much plainness; and, in general, this, his faithfulness, appears to have been duly appreciated. He was treated with much kindness and hospitality. On arriving at Christiania, he was taken by Enoch Jacobsen to a tavern, where he was expected to lodge; but feeling uncomfortable there, he was kindly accommodated at Hans Ericksen's, where he remained during the whole of his stay in that city. Their religious meetings were sometimes attended by a few strangers, in addition to those who usually attended; Enoch Jacobsen acting as interpreter. On one occasion, he remarks, "In the afternoon, I was led to speak so pointedly to a state, present, as tried me not a little, after I took my seat again; fearing I had been led astray, in what I had thus communicated, by the grand adversary. This buffeting I was permitted to endure, doubtless in great wisdom, to humble and keep down the creature; until a Friend, who might observe the sadness of countenance I manifested, informed me that what I had to deliver in the meeting was as applicable to the conduct and general character of an individual present, as it could have been had I been acquainted with his whole proceedings for a long time past, and that the individual received it as belonging to himself. "I thought I never more sensibly felt, than during my labors this afternoon, the necessity of the instrument becoming like a clean tube, through which liquor passes from one vessel to another, free from the defilements of all creaturely wisdom or activity, and from all the obstructions of the creaturely will, in doing or not doing." First Day. "Attended the usual meetings, and passed the evening comfortably in the family I am in; the day closing with the language of, Return to thy rest, O my soul; for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee.' First Day (the day of the month is rarely given in this journal). "The meeting this morning was a season of Divine refreshment to those possessed of a sincere desire to be found travelling Zion-ward. What a mercy is this, to know that the Lord is yet with Zion, willing to comfort all her mourners, and to satisfy her poor with bread, wherever scattered, up and down, on the face of this earth. "In the afternoon meeting, for some time, I had hard work to come at any true settlement of mind; but, after awhile, I was favored to get under exercise; and, in time, life was felt to arise. We had four strangers, in addition to our usual number. The meeting closed under a sense that He who promised to be with the two or three, had, in mercy, been mindful of us." (To be continued.) MEMOIR OF JONATHAN HUTCHINSON. 1827, 5th mo. 5. To... Shouldst thou ask the cause of my not writing, it might seem strange for a man out of business to ascribe it to too much occupation. And yet, if I mistake not, this has been the principal occasion, my mind having, for a long time past, been so involved in suffering as in no very inconsiderable degree to seal my lips and restrain my pen. Of these trials I account the general illness with which both my own and my son's family were visited last autumn, to make but a small part. Indeed, I viewed with composure, perhaps I ought to say with hope, the probability that I might be gently passing away. My afflictions, if such I may call them, have proceeded from other sources; and I will not conceal from thee, as a father in the truth, that sympathy with the suffering of many individuals, and solicitude for the state of our poor, yet dear little religious society, in divers places, have often brought me into, and generally kept me in, a reduced and stripped situation of spiritual feeling; so that the caution for which thou hast kindly given me credit, may perhaps, as to outward religious acts, either by word or writing, have on the whole rather increased than diminished. It is not a very difficult thing to assent with the understanding to important truths of any kind; but really to feel the force of these truths is another thing-to be made truly sensible that of ourselves we can really do nothing; and to see that, with the addition of a living and powerful ministry, for such we have, it is impossible, without the blessing of the Lord and their own obedience, either to raise or to support a single spiritual character, or even to keep alive our own souls; for it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. When we consider that time is needful to give these important and humiliating religious experiences, that it is also not until the lapse of years that some of our greatest outward trials overtake us, in the dissolution of our oldest and closest friendships, the loss of adult children, and other painful circumstances; when all this is daily re- | knowledge of Himself, of ourselves, and of each flected on, does it not seem as if some of life's other, may so enable us to walk with acceptance bitterest cups some of affliction's severest before Him, during the remainder of our stay in strokes, and some of nature's greatest bereave-it, as that we may ultimately receive in a better ments were reserved for the latter stages of our world, in such mode and degree as may be conprobationary course? And if we view this scale sistent with his holy will, a full consummation of of discipline as intended, or at least calculated, that happiness whereof, though most undeserving, to wean us more effectually from the present He has given us an earnest and a foretaste here world, and prepare us for a better, by putting below!" those Christian virtues of faith, hope, and love, which we have long professed, to the closest trial just before we quit the stage, is not this somewhat analogous to what is practiced in the schools of literature and science, where the hardest lessons are given to the highest class of learners? To.. "Though I believe it is better that many of our sorrows should be borne, and our prayers uttered in secret, yet I believe there are times when we may with seriousness and discretion open our minds to a friend. Led to it by our mutual sympathies, I therefore incline to tell thee, my dear friend, that thou hast not been mistaken in supposing that the shades of the evening sometimes appear to me rather sombre-that, at other times, I seem to myself feeble and sore broken. Again, the waters are so deep, and the tossing from wave to wave so incessant, that there is no standing; whilst, at the same time, the surrounding darkness is too palpable and dense even for prayer to penetrate. All this has of latter days come within the range of my 7th mo. 7th. To . . . . "Ah, my dear friend, unworthiness is indeed engraven on my heart in characters never to be obliterated; but blessed be the name of a gracious God, the covenant of his mercy is also, I trust, indelibly engraven there; so that, although in days past sin has greatly and grievously abounded, yet, since the kindness and goodness of the Most High appeared to my benighted soul, grace has much more abounded to his praise and my own humiliation. May I never desire to rise above this state of self-experience, and was perhaps never more my abasement until time, with all its trials and temptations, is at an end; and until, should such be my favored experience, death shall be swallowed up in victory! Then, indeed, and not till then, all will be happiness without alloy. In the meantime, let us consider the feeling of a little peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, an unspeakable favor; and even the more negative sense of no condemnation, is a thing by no means to be despised." experience than at the time thy last letter arrived, which was the more welcome to me, because it not only spoke distinctly of such trials as these, but of the possibility of preservation in the midst of them. This brings to my recollection the remarkable language of the evangelical prophet to a tried remnant formerly: Wherefore, glorify ye the Lord in the fires, even the name of the Lord God of Israel, in the isles of the sea.' "That I may ever be found among the remTo. "It may not be always easy for nant, however small its number, who under all the Christian to resemble what I think is fabled circumstances are desirous of pleasing and serving of the nightingale-sing with his breast upon the Lord, is, I think, my continual and earnest the thorn which presses it; nor may it be much desire. On the closest examination I cannot more easy for him to sing the songs of Zion in a discover, great as my weakness is, any change in strange land. And yet, though difficult, I have this secret bent and purpose of my heart, which thought these things, or things comparable to I therefore reverently hope is fixed trusting in them, may not be impossible. All things it is the Lord; and trusting also that, through the said are possible to him that believeth. May it continued assistance of his grace, all may yet, not therefore be possible for the believer to sing before very long, end well for time and eternity. the sweetest of all melodies, the song of resigna- Thus impressed, I therefore conclude to wade tion in the hour of adversity and trial? May it and struggle on, deep and dark though the opnot be possible for him to take down the harp posing waters be; for we know that, although from the willows, and, contrasting the goodness we are every way unworthy of the notice and and mercy which have followed him all his life love of our Redeemer, yet he is altogether worthy long with his own imbecility and unworthiness, of ours. We know also that every blessing we chant the praises of his Preserver and Redeemer beside the proud waters of Babylon, even though her swelling waves, many in number and mighty in strength, should despise his humble and solitary strain? "There are resting-places for the Lord's servants and children, though they may at times but resemble a sunny island in a stormy main,' or a spot of azure in a cloudy sky.' Oh, that the Gracious Being who, even whilst inhabitants of this vale of tears, has brought us to some can enjoy, temporal or spiritual, must proceed from him. Forsaking and forgetting him, to whom then shall we go? I think I never before so clearly comprehended or so highly appreciated the important gospel doctrine of the forgiveness of sins, as during the cloudy and otherwise comfortless season of which I have attempted to give thee some idea. In the midst of surrounding gloom, this cheering and soul sustaining doctrine has been like a lantern to my feet, health and marrow to my bones, all in all to me. Grant me but this, O my Redeemer! I have been ready to cry, and I have nothing else to hope, to fear, or to pray for. Blessed indeed is the man whose transgressions are blotted out, and whose sins are pardoned: yea, happy, thrice happy, is the man to whom the Lord imputeth not sin. Covered with the robe of righteousness, clothed in the wedding garment of salvation and praise, even the forgiven sinner may triumphantly exclaim, Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly! Thy poor unworthy servant leaning on thy mercy is ready!" (To be continued.) DURABILITY OF WOOD. The piles under the London Bridge have been driven 500 years, and on examining them in 1846, they were found to be little decayed. Old Savoy Place, in the city of London, was built 650 years ago, and the wooden piles, consisting of oak, elm, beach, and chestnut, were found upon recent examination to be perfectly sound. Of the durability of timber in a wet state, the piles of a bridge built by the Emperor Trajan, over the Danube, afford a striking example. One of these piles was taken up and found to be petrified to the depth of three-fourths of an inch; but the rest of the wood was not different from its former state, though it had been driven 1600 years.-Daily Register. EFFECT OF ENCOURAGEMENT. ADDRESS ON SPIRITUOUS LIQUORS. We find by the Cayuga Chief, of the 27th ult., that our pious friend Joseph Tallcot, whose decease was announced near the close of our last volume, presented to the Presbyterian Synod, convened at Geneva, New York, in the year 1816, the following address on the subject of spirituous liquors. The summer of 1816, it may be remembered, was remarkably cold; so that from the backwardness of the spring, the coolness of the summer, and the early frosts of autumn, the crops of Indian corn were greatly reduced; and in some places nearly cut off. The difficulty in procuring food, to which the poorer classes were subjected, in consequence of the deficiency of the supply, while the distilleries were still in operation, aroused the sympathy of our philanthropic friend, and induced him to prepare and present the subjoined address : "A serious and affectionate Address to the pious and influential part of the community, in the western parts of the State of New York, relative to Ardent Spirits. tracts, and by the influence of associations, not only drunkenness, but also the familiar use of that articic. As the subject has not obtained so much concern, and interest, in our western country, as in some other places, permit me to invite you to consider whether there is not something farther for us to do. Being lately in Connecticut, I was informed. that the ruinous effects of ardent spirit had much awakened the attention of the people. Many of the clergy, and others, were engaged in discourA father presented his son to a sagacious pre-aging by their example, by the circulation of ceptor (a friend of the writer) with something like the following statement-I have heard, sir, a high character of you, and I wish to place my son under your charge. I am sorry to say that he has been at other schools, and has made no progress, he has not much talent, and is very idle.' The injudicious parent said other things reproach fully of his son. The gentleman to It commonly answers but little purpose to exwhom he was introduced with this statement, postulate with the intemperate ;-it is to the sosaw that nothing could be so disheartening to ber and influential part of the community we the youth as the idea of inability, coupled with must look to promote a reformation. Dr. Rush, a settled character for idleness, and he put to and others, suppose that 4000 or more of our him some of the most simple questions in arith-citizens are annually sacrificed to strong drinking! metic, which, being within the merest child's How numerous the friends and connections of capability, were answered correctly. He then those who suffer and mourn! How many distold the father there must be some mistake, for consolate widows pining under poverty and want! the boy evidently had talent; and immediately the boy's countenance lighted up with hope. He entered the school, cheered with encouragements, became industrious, and acquitted himself well in his studies. Had this boy been received with his father's injudicious endorsement, he would, in all probability, have remained dispirited, indolent, and perverse. The mind and the moral feeling enchained by a narrow-minded and ill-natured severity, were liberated by wisdom and kindness, and the result was happy. S. S. Journal. : cor How many tender infant minds, who promised to be ornaments to their country, are now rupted, vitiated, and rendered nuisances to society and all this by means of strong drink! Thousands of the benevolent and humane of different religious denominations, being affected with this great evil, have been induced to contribute as little as possible to it, and to counteract it as far as is in their power. Some by relinquishing their distilleries; some by relinquishing their trade in it; others by declining the use of it in raising their buildings and carrying on their |