admittance having been denied them to Mount Pleasant meetinghouse. The Yearly Meeting standing adjourned to ten o'clock this morning, Friends were advised to make a formal demand of the men's and women's house; Friends therefore, assembled in the yard of the meeting-house at Mount Pleasant, and the trustees for the property, with two of the representatives went into the meeting-house, the separatists' meeting being then sitting in it, and in an audible manner, demanded quiet possession of the house to transact the business of the Yearly Meeting of Ohio select; after much quibbling on the part of the separatists, when pressed to give a decisive answer to this question, whether they were willing quietly to resign the meeting-house? the answer they gave was, "There is no reply;" the separatists' then resumed their business. Notice was now given, that Friends being kept out of their house, would open their Yearly Meeting in the yard; men and women collected accordingly at the front of the meeting-house, the men to the cast and the women to the west: here we had a large and solemn meeting. The pacific nature of our holy profession was again manifested by Friends, after having asserted their right and made a formal demand of their property, then submitting to hold their meeting in the open air, rather than resort to force, their disturbers being less perhaps than one-third of their number. Divers living testimonies were borne to the praise of that Almighty arm, which had thus far in mercy sustained Friends, and preserved them in meekness and patience, amidst their accumulated difficulties. Friends were informed, that, in consequence of the injury which Jonathan Taylor, the Yearly Meeting's clerk, had received yesterday from the pressure at the table, he was unable to give his attendance, the assistant clerk was therefore requested to open the adjournment, which was accordingly done; after which the Yearly Meeting was adjourned to Short Creek meeting-house, in which not a few of our company on this solemn occasion were bathed in tears; some of the youth also distinguished themselves in this respect amongst others.

Fourth-day, 10th of 9th mo., Friends met according to adjournment, and were favoured with a solid sitting together; the meeting being opened, a minute was made, excluding from the several sittings of this Yearly Meeting such members of Society as had united with others in producing the riot at Mount Pleasant meeting-house, and who had otherwise identified themselves with the separatists.

Fifth-day morning, the Friends again met; the meeting continued large, and the weather being fine, was a favourable circumstance, as many were obliged to take their seats under the temporary awnings out of the meeting-house, the windows having been taken out to accommodate the numerous company. The clerks being obliged, with other Friends, to be in attendance on the

judge, relative to the riot on Second-day, such of the representatives as were not thus engaged, retired into the wood opposite to the meeting-house, to consider of suitable Friends to serve the meeting as clerks during their absence. Friends were favoured with a quiet, comfortable sitting together.

Sixth-day morning, the meeting again assembled, and matters which came before it were conducted in great harmony; the trials which Friends had passed through, had brought them very near to each other, baptizing them together under a sense that the concerns of the church they were met to transact, were not their own, but the Lord's, who I believe was much looked unto for counsel and help throughout this time of close travail and exercise of spirit.

Seventh-day morning, the meeting continued to be largely attended; Divine goodness still condescended to own us together with his enriching presence, to the contriting of our spirits, causing tears of gratitude to flow down the cheeks of many in the meeting. In the afternoon, I attended an adjournment of the meeting for sufferings, in which we were again refreshed together, under a renewed sense, that the Lord is still in mercy condescending to offer his help to our poor revolting Society.

First-day morning, feeling drawings in my mind to attend Harrisville meeting about seven miles distant from Short Creek, accompanied by my friend Rowland Green, we proceeded there; we had not long been seated in the gallery before one of the preachers of the separatists accompanied by many more of his associates, entered the house, and occupied a great deal of the time of the meeting; when he took his seat again, I felt it laid upon me to inform the assembly that the individual who had spoken had no right to stand up and preach in that meeting, he having been disowned by the Society of Friends. Although this meeting was a very suffering one, yet on comparing my feelings of mind with my companion's on our way back again, it appeared we neither of us felt cause for regret that we had given up to attend this meeting; believing our sufferings therein, would not all be in vain. On our way from meeting, we were joined by a goodly looking, middle-aged woman Friend, apparently under great affliction, which I found was occasioned by her husband having joined the Hicksites, and he was now staying behind with them.

Second-day the Yearly Meeting again met; when a report from the Indian Committee was received, from which it appeared the school had been suspended: Friend's minds were exercised with desires, that they might not remit their care over this part of our fellow-creatures, as far as their means and ability was equal to.

Third-day morning, the Yearly Meeting again met, and attended to the various concerns which still claimed attention, as having grown out of the present trying state of the Society, from

the unsound principles, which had made such inroads in the minds of many of our members. Under a reverent, thankful sense of the help which had been extended, whilst conducting the several weighty matters before the meeting, and after expressions of concern that Friends might be found walking worthy of the continuance of these Divine blessings, Friends separated in great nearness towards each other; the cheeks of most were bedewed with tears of sympathy and affection, at the prospect of the sufferings that awaited them, through the opposition to be expected from their revolting brethren in their several meetings at home.

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CHAPTER XXXIX.

FIFTH-DAY morning, my companion and myself left our comfortable abode at our kind friend Jonathan Taylor's, and proceeded towards Indiana: in the evening we were favoured to reach Zanesville. It being reported Elias Hicks had been at this place, and procured the use of the Court-house, and held a meeting there, as I had still in reserve some of the Declarations of the meeting for sufferings in Philadelphia, I devoted some time in visiting the preachers of the different religious denominations, (except the Roman Catholic,) and delivered to those we met the Declaration, which appeared to be well received; I also left others for distribution. One individual observed, that he had heard much which had been said on both sides, and had been desirous of seeing something official from Friends themselves; he was therefore glad to receive the Declaration, intending to make it known to his hearers.

First-day morning, attended meeting at Zanesville: it was a quiet time, and I hope a season of instruction to some. After meeting we pursued our journey through Alexander, where I distributed some of the Declaration, and then on to Circleville, where we understood Elias Hicks and several men and women had halted on their way to Indiana, but had not held a meeting there. We took up our abode for the night at a tavern. I called upon some of the leaders of the different religious denominations there, and left some of the Declarations, which appeared to be well received.

Third-day, we proceeded to Dry Run. It felt pleasant to get into a settlement of Friends again, from the difficulty we had experienced in being obliged to be at taverns, spending our evenings in such mixed companies as we frequently met with thereat. The prospect of a journey of five hundred miles before me, after quitting Indiana, when I must have this inconvenience to combat, of being at taverns to victual and lodge nearly the whole of the time, was trying; yet I found it was a subject not profitable for me to dwell upon, satisfied that no unnecessary anxiety of my own could make any change for the better, in the trials which were to fall to my lot.

Sixth day, attended the preparative meeting held at Walnut

creek; notice having been given of my desire to sit with Friends of this meeting, we were informed a general attendance of them had taken place, and we had good ground to believe our visit was an acceptable one to Friends of this meeting.

Seventh-day, we attended the monthly meeting at Fairfield, the meeting for worship was numerously attended by persons not in profession with Friends; it proved to me an exercising season, yet I humbly hope I was found faithful, in declaring that which appeared to be the word of the Lord through me, his feeble instrument. In the afternoon we proceeded to Wilmington, about sixteen miles, and were favoured to reach it before dark; here we were informed E. Hicks and his party had a meeting in the courthouse, which at first was numerously attended; but the doctrines he advanced, caused many of the most respectable of his hearers to leave the house before the meeting was over.

First-day morning, we reached to Centre, attended meeting there; a large proportion of this meeting consists of young people who profess to continue with Friends, but from their external appearance it would seem they were ignorant of what they were making a profession of. I was constrained to endeavour to impress their minds with a sense of the mercy they enjoyed, in that there were yet preserved amongst them so many aged brethren and sisters, who had not dared to bow the knee to the Baals which had of late been travelling amongst them, nor to kiss the image they had been setting up: great quiet prevailed over the assembly.

Third-day morning, we rode to Wainsville; on our arrival we were informed Elias Hicks and his party had possession of the meeting-house, and were holding what they termed, Indiana Yearly Meeting of Friends. This placed me in a very trying situation. I endeavoured to learn whether it was likely their meeting would close that night, and, if not, whether the week-day meeting would be held as usual on the morrow; but this information I was not able to obtain, yet I was given to understand that a public meeting was to be held on the morrow morning in Friends' meeting-house, but that the hour for holding this meeting could not be ascertained. I endeavoured to give the subject all due consideration, my situation feeling to myself a very critical one; as I thought I clearly saw if the meeting was to be held at the usual hour for the week-day meeting, it would be right for me to attend it; but if the hour was altered by E. H. and his party, who had taken possession of the meeting-house, it thereby becoming the meeting of the separatists, I should be excused. I was informed there was a settlement of Friends at Springborough, about eight miles distant, on our way to Indiana; and believing the pointings of duty directed my mind there that night, we concluded to proceed, as we could easily return to