"

CANADIAN QUAK.ER HISTORY

Newsletter

CANADIAN FRIENDS HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
I SSN 0319-LOWTHER AVENUE, TORONTO, ONTARIO M5R 1C7
Yonge Street Meetinghouse - 1810

CON TEN T S

Third Mo.(March) 1977
PAGE ADAM SPENCER Death Notice Introduction Sources ';tAt Rest - Adam Spencer called Home" Brief History of the Spencer Family Lines on the Death of Late
Adam Spenoer (Poem) Removal to Thorald Logging Bee Flax Production Additional Notes Relative to His Decease Norwich Gazette, September 19,1809
Interesting Reminisences Continued Schools Adam's Brothers and Sisters Parents Joined Society of Friends "Separation" of 1828
Society of Friends Religious Doubts Norwich Gazette, September 26,1989 ReligiouB Awakenings Joined Society of Friends Marriage 1834
------------------------------------------------Norwich Gazette,August 29,1889 3
------------------------------------------------Norwich Gazette,September 5,1889 9
~--------------------------------------------.---

**~.*.**.*~

*"**.~*.*"*.* * **~.*.***.* * *
Correction; Bus Tour; Gift to Library;'\. 19-20
Research in Progress; Fees; Victoria (B.C.)
Minutes Microfilmed; A Quaker Smile.
------------------------------------------------Norwich Gazette, Octobe~ 3, 1889 17

NEWS AND NOTES

RECYCLED PAPER

CANADIAN QUAKER HISTORY

CANADIAN FRIEI\IDS HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
ISSN 0319-LOWTHER AVENUE, TORONTO, ONTARIO M5R 1C7
Yonge Street Meetinghouse

Third Mo. (March) 1977

PAGE ADAM SPENCER Death Notice Introduction SoU%'Ces
------------------------------------------------Horwich Gazette,August 29,1889 3
I!At Rest - Adam Spencer called Home tt Brief History of the Spencer Family Lines on the Death of Late Adam SpenOer (Poem) Norwich Gazette,September 5,1999 Removal to Thorald Logging Bee Flax Production Additional Notes Relative to His Decease Norwich Gazette, September 19,1889 Interesting Reminisences Continued Schools Adam's Brothers and Sisters Parents Joined Society of Friends "Separation" of 1928
Society of Friends Religious Doubts
-----------------------------~-------------------
Norwich Gazette, September 26,1989 Religious Awakenings Joined Society of Friends Marriage 1834
Norwich Gazette, October 3, 1899 17
**,*,*,,*,,* ft.,ftftft*************.****,.******* NEWS AND NOTES Correction; Bus Tour; Gift to Library; ~ 19-20

LED PAPER

*****************************************************************
N 0 RW I C H G A Z E T T E

August 29. 1889

SPENCER - In South Norwich, on the 2Jrd 8th month. 1889. Adam Spencer,in his 78th year.
I N T ROD U 9 T ,ON This issue of the Canadian Quaker History Newsletter presents Adam Spencer's "diary" - "or rather history of old time experiences" and related articles including his obituary - which were printed in the Norwich Gazette over a period of five weeks after his death on August 23. 1889. Carson Bushell a member from Port Rowan discovered the "diary" in the Ontario Arohives on microfilm of the Nowich Gazette then brought it to the Assooiation's attention. Grace Pincoe arranged to have them photoprinted and has copies in Friends House Library Toronto. A granddaughter, Mrs. Ida Cattell, whom Carson Bushell. frequently visited, died only in January at the age of 93, in Tillsonburg. A great granddaughter Mrs. E.W. Nickerson (nee Margaret Phoebe Rock) lives in Detroit. We are told the old Spencer house and Spencer's Flour Mill still stand at Spencer's Hollow now known as Rock's Mill and Rock's Hollow respectively, near Springford, about five miles west and south of otterville. Warren Rock who had been operating the mill died in 1971. Another descendant, a member of the stover family now operates it. Adam Spencer's personal record is a primary source for research i~ the early history of Southwestern Ontario, for the study of Friends in Canada and for those interested in Quaker Journals. It holds interest for the general reader as well. For quicker reference several things should be noted here. The events are not necessarily related in chronological order, also specific facts may be related in more than one place. We are presenting the material here just as the editor of the Norwich Gazette presented it in 1889. headlines. captions and all. We added page numbers, since the original Gazette is not paged, and column numbers for easier locating. Obvious typographical errors are corrected. The "diary" tells its own interesting tale of pi~neer life in Southwestern Ontario. The account takes on greater significance when we learn that Adam was the long-time Clerk of Canada Yearly Meeting (Orthodox) and an important figure in the history of Canadian Friends. Our records show that on "29th, V. 1843" Adam Spencer was

When we add to this pen -portra! t of th~ sterner side of his character a brief reference to his sweetness of disposition in home Hfe, to the
fact that in the ne! ghborhood of his home there are tears in every voice as they tell of hiG never kindness, that old and young alike reverence his memory and all expr-eS3 the feeling today that the main spring has gone out of their lives, He began to t'eali ze how use ful , how nob le t how self-sacrificing,and how deservedly to be Imitated, is the life that has just closed.
After the interment a large gathering of friends and people of this
community assembled at the hall in G.C. Sutton's block now being used as
. a meeting-house pending the completion of the new building now in course of.erection for that purpose. A lar'ge share of the time of the meeting was devoted to thought and lent prayer, as is usual with the Society. Hervey Haight expressed, at considerable length ,the thoughts aroused by the sad occasion, explaining the duties and Obligations of sundry channels of the Christian life, and pointing to the reward and the rest of the hereafter. Add.ressing the mourners in concluding, he spoke as follows: I feel constrained to say a few words to the mourners - to those who have been bereft of a kind parent, a dear father of whom ye have had excellent teaching,.lhose voice ye have heard instructing you, and whose counsel has dropped upon you:::' ears like dew on the grass in the morning. No doubt it is a great bereavement to you and that your hearts have been crushed the depth of sorrow, and have been so touched that it has seemed at times as if they would break, because of the ties of relationship which bind families together in love. You are not alone in your loss; death has taken away one '.:hom 'de loved~ one wh'.Jm vU:C "i~et;pected. and it does so touch those tender chords of our betng that seems as if we could hardly endure it. But you do not mourn. thout hope, for you knO'i'1 that our loss is hLs eternal gain; he is L1Ken from us and we shall hear his voice no more, in our caunse h(', \fill not mingle with us here again, and it i indeed a Beareh :)f tender thought Hi th us, and we do mourn and sorrow for the 108s eV,-:1i.t t is his eternal gain. For we have heard his voice, his excellent counsel has dropped upon our ears, we have mingled in sccial:;e35 with him and have en;oyed his presence from time to time t and hi!": d\!rith so grieves us. It touches the very tenderest chords of our hearts to lose so kind a fri.end. so good a counsellor t one who has borne. thf~ hea t and burden of the day and has stood as a pillar in GOd!8 m.l.l ant church, We trust t and we know, that God hath taken him to tlirnsclf, to d"ell in His presence for ever and for ever more, I\nd may \IC :~ake earnest heed to the good counsel which has fallen fr'om the friend H~IO has this day been laid away in the tomb, and may we make our calling anel election sure so that each of us may join him in singine the es of Zion with God for evermore.

We have not sufficient time OP space at our disposal this week to allude further to this sad event but might mention here in passing that Adam Spencer had been the clerk of the Yearly Meeting since the separation up to last year's Yearly Meeting; when that meeting assembled he resigned the position on account of the infirmities of increasing age; and a year or two ago he entered a lIailsr resignation of the clerkship of the Quarterly Meeting which position he had held for years. On Monday morning the editor of the Gazette paid a visit to the home whence the deceased had gone to his mansion above, and had an interesting interview with several members of the family, the particulars DI which will be given to our readers in future issues of this paper. We nay~aleo in our possession a very interesting document written by the deceased whteb sets forth at length the early struggles of the family in this country and gives an interesting narrative of early life in general In this part. whilst it also deals with the various stages of religious thought through which the Friend who is now at rest passed in the process of the development of his religious belief. This also will be published in future issues of the Gazette, as . well aware of the fact that they will be of very great interest to a large share of our readers. The following sketch of the family history.wltten by Adam Spencer in the 77th year of his age, in compliance with a request for the same by his son, Elgin, will in the meantime prove of deep interest to our readers: The following brief history of the Spencer family is partly of a tradi tional character; particulars having been related in my hearing by my honored father, Robert Spencer. I do not remember hearing the name of our great grandfather, who came over from England via Ireland about the year A.D.l736. My own grandfatherls name was Robert Spencer. He was born in Ireland (of English parents) about the year 1733. He was one of a large family, among the brothers was one named Theophilus, and another Caleb. The youngest sister's name was Hannah. She married Thomas Brown, and had six children viz. Vernon, James (and a son who died in early life) Marthe, Elizabeth and Abigail. Thomas Brown served as a soldier in the Revolution War under Washington. The first incident known in active life of grandfather Robert Spencer, was his marriage with Catherine Sternburg, or German parents. Her rather, Adam Sternburg, lived on the Mohawk River in New York State. He had a farm on each side of the River, which required frequent crossing 9 and the daughter Catherine early became an expert manager of a boat. Rober~ Spencer and wife settled on a farm of 200 acres at S6hoharie,o beside the Mohawk. The Indians owned a tract of land along that river, and the Red Men formed a part or their neighbors. The general kindness shown them by cur grandparents, made very warm friends of the Indians. On one occas1.on grandfather made il rolling bee and a.ked only his white neighbors~ which seemed to hurt the feeling of the Indians. He afterwards said to them IIhe did not invite them to come with the whites for fear the latter would look down upon the Indians, but he had plenty left for them to do , and he would be thankful if they would help him," The Indians came and did much more work than the white men had done$ and seemed pleased with the notice given them. During the time of living on the farm at Scaohavle they had six children born to them, viz: Jacob, Abigail, Elizabeth, Sarah. Robert and Adam. The latter- was a child at his mother's breast when grandfather joined the British atandard, ~s a member of a volunteer corpSt which company were noted for their daring bravery. Robert Spencer's action in joining the British incensed his neighbors l many who were in sympathy with

the Rebela (a8 they were called) that in his absence the family was robbed
and sadly dispoiled their gO{)d8 ~ and soon the family were taken to
Montreal, Canada, by the Kings conveyances. and for eight years Robert
Spencer did not see his family! farm at Schoharie was confiscated to
the State'j) but at the close of the war th~ British government gave to the
sufferers land in Canada in of their los$es as w~ll as a reward for
their services. When RobllJrt got hie discharge from the army, he
went direct to Niagara and wrote s family to join him there. By the
help of the Kings conveyam::es~the scon joined the husband and
father. In a short t he drew 200 acres of land t situated at the summit
of the banks of the Whirlpool~ wh6r~ the united family settled~ and soon
su.cceeded ill maJd"ng a comfortrsble nOtTle, But a few years elapsed when a
serious occurrence caused mourning to the family. The mother was induced
to assume the care of an invaHd child belonging to an officer living at
Youngstown. The child soon made ~uch improvements that the father wished
;;0 see itt and he would furnish child with the needful supply.
Accordingly Robert Spencer and wire undertook to cr03S the Niagara River
in a boat t from Queenstown. 'l'he ice was running at the time and the boat
was Upset, and the l!iife with her infa.nt cat'il! was drowned and Robert Spencer
barely escaped with his life.
This made a serious blank
Jacob the eldest son want

Elub~H!!quently

to work for himself, and the dallg:ht~!'s father took to himself a second ~ife,

married, and the

It was not many years until grandfather made oval' the whirlpool farm
to John Fralick and wife for his support, to his son-in-law and daughter
Abigail~ and he became an in."Il&ta of that fami.ly. Jacob the eldest son was
about to take a wife and settle cn a farmi but heforethe marriage he saw
an instance of perfidy in his bethrothal which so disgusted him that he left
the country. About sIx 1</eeks afteI'wat"ds, father received a letter from him
saying that if he did not return [50011, they would navel' hear from him again,
and no tidings ever afterwards cnme from him.
Robert and Adam arriving at matu!'ity took up 200 acres of land in the township of Stamford at a ciY.lled !1Beech Woods". There the two brothers built a small house and baeh~ until Adam the yoWU!;est marrIed Ann Corwin. They lived a~d ~ until ten children were born to them viz Robert, B1j.~ebeth, Ca:th~rlne s Sarah. Joseph t Benjamin, AbJ.gall. James, Alexarider! and Am;. Adam came to hh death by drinking cold wat~r, whIle ver';! l.Ja.rm. One of legE became diseased, mortification set in, the 1 was amputated, but he died soon after. This was in the fall of 1815.

By some arrangeme.nts Rooe:r't
shed his I.!laim to the IIBeech Woode"
property about the date of Adams mardage in 1799 01' 1799 ~ and purchased 100 acres of land in Pelham (no",. knoW1~ as Church F~I'l!l) 3/4 mile north-west of Font Hill. He soon mar:ded Ollr honO\U'!!Ht J!io'ther, and B large shaM of hard labor was -::heir unIted ion. In the year 1812 they removed into the township of Thorold. Thev had acqulr~d 300 acres of land on what is now known as the "Quaker Road." 1'he:r>8 ogain father had enough to do in lifting up the axe upon the thick tre6S~ mother had a full share of burdens in providing for the WCl.nts of an incl~easing family. She ga,ve birth to thirteen children. To those ~ who aN! acquainted with pione'!t' life can be understood
the toil, perseverance and indomitable courage which had to be endured by Robert and Sarah Spencer. He was his own carpenter, blacksmith~ tanner and shoemaker etc. , while she supeI'intended the preparation of the wool and flax, and the spinning of the same~ and when the fabrics returned from the weaver,she made the garments. In fact. industry and frugal! ty formed the hasis of their success. Their home became furnished wi th the necessities of l i fe, and many a needy and weary person partook of their hospitali ty. As time passed on, gr-andfather madE! frequent ViB1 ts to his childr'en who were scattered wi thin a radius of twel VB mi les of his home. He had his favourite horse, Which he rode upon. The "'1"1 t:er can remember the exciting shouts of"grandfather ll which saluted the old man's ears from the children, as he rode up the lane heading to the house of his son Robert. His visits to the said home became more freauentf and each time his stay was lonf,er. At length he said to Robert and Sarah"if they were willing he would like to make his home I,d th them. \I They pave him a cordial we1com~ and the father and grandfather became an inmate of his son Robert's family. He gave no reason for his desire to change but no doubt there was fe~t a congeniality in Robert's family, that he did not witness wherE! he left. This was about the year 1815. flfo ,"as 5ix feet in heip:ht t well proportioned and muscular. There was an elas to his step for one of his years. He walked upright; was a shrewd observer of men and things. and would give pet-nicknames, descriptive in character '.there he thought parties did not keep ri~ht time. He occasionaL_y '.fOrked at shcemakine or mending. In the sprinr. of 182::3 he nilrne8sed his horse to a buggy intending to go to the store for tohacco. The v:ritel" wa.s invited to go Hith him (being then a lad of 11~ years), and when about two miles on the road, the hor-se suddenly took fright t ran out--s~cle the road and ':lYe!' a lop, throwing both occupants out. Thev were both bildly hUl't B;randfather so seriously that he died of the effects of hir:l wounds four cavs afterviards. His event ful life' urrQinat!'!i

Then it had to pass undsr the hands of a swingler who separated the refuse from the fibre. The prc''::elM of cleaning was very dusty and unpleasant. The flbr~ was then tak~n to the house and the next process was perfonned by the wom~n. By me~ns of ~ machine called a hatchel the tow was removed from the pure and both were spun on small wheels adopted for the purpose" The f6m~le portion of the family would sit lin concert with feet on the treadles of the WhEH and hands on the distaff, discussing or singing as the case may be.
_N_?_r_w_i_c_h_~_z._e_t_t_e_t..S_.e p.j._e_m_b_e_r 5-'-~_1_9_B_9_._Pa."'"~'-'!_3"""~__f2!~. __ __

THE LATE

SPENCER
Additional Notes Relative to his Decease In further reference to the death of the late Adam Spencer. by way of addition to our remarks on that subject last ~e.kt which by the way were copied bysev@t'al of ou!" contemporaries, thus showing the status of the deceased in the estimation ,'f the outside public, we append a few notes t~ken during a conversation members of the family at the old homestead , and at the store, th of which were lined with manuscript bearing the famili~r hand"'ITit of th~ departed pioneer. In fact all around were the evidemces of the 1I'.'ork.:;f brain and rambling around the garden and looking down upon the romantic scene, in t.fhich the mill stood out as an important feature, the evidences of the work of his hands were equally patent. In the home we had the opportunity of meeting the aged partner of hh life who is patiently and trustingly fOT the call to come up higher. lovingly cared fot' by the younger members of the family, from W~O!Il we gathered the rollowing facts: Adam spencer had been somewhat poorly all winter f but was, first confined to his bed on the 25th of last month, with the distressing experiences usually attending c5t;ca!.' of the liver and stomach. Up to that time, though unwell t he had held many interesting meetings,and not very.long ago a meeting for worship took at the bouse, a large number of friends being present, The lest meeting he attended was held at the old meeting house near his home. t ( ) whi.ch he was able to walk. Throughout his
sickness he waa very cheerful; !! great deal, bearing hls tria.l with great patience and "'us tmatior. ~.:m.d ever thoughtful of the
Befc!"e the fotal oharacter of his disease was known he was anxiously IcC/kin? forward to an enlarged field and increased operations in religious work~ of the fact of his having given over the management of the buslness l.rrto younp.l!:t" hands, ever qualifying his projects tdth the expression HIf th~ LordwH1. '! His end was perfect peacs. In a.conversation.with ,1ocob Gain'9!' h(~ refet'red to the fact that it was hard to leave the 11tHe. girls ~ to '.-lhom he was deeply attached, and who returned his love with compound He r'eferred a little to the Society of Friendr:; and in tones of sl,)oke of the recent separation of the two bodies. He that rt message be given to each and all of them, that massage being that he bore no ill-will to any, that he desired that his love be given to each t":xl ClIL His eonvE!rsation was principally

he said tt! feel weak; I shall soon In '::;O!wersing with a friend on the subject he rema!'ked that h~ they r,muld kno\>' each other in heaven, but the great white tht'on~ and the Father sitting there with Jesus at his side would absorb alI atterr'~1(Jn. His last words were: "I am almost of heaveut A little before

d~1ath

'i>lelfal"e of those around him.
walk the streets of the New Jertlsal'2m. If
,. , I ahall loon be at rest;" then, after I!I pause. liMy heart _,II indicating that it was paining him. To the last he was conscious. At 1:35 on ~iday evening, the 23rd t the spirit fled to the God who gave it, sorrowing relatives surrounding the bedside as he breathed his last. Fifty-seven years have elapsed since his conversion, and forty years since he first commenced his ministry and for any success that had been attained during that ministry desired that praise should be given to God a.lone. He settled In the location that will bear his name for all time to come, about thirty-three years ago) carrying on the farm and the two mills. He rebuilt the saw-mill and buH t the present grist-mill which is well fitted modern improvements. He settled his boys there on various POI't (if the large trsct of land which he owned. It seems unnecessary to say that he expressed a desire that everything in connection with his funeral should be plain in the extreme. Several incidents in connection with his father's life were mentioned by the family but enough has been given just now to indicate the character of the death of our late friend, enough to show that aB he lived so he died, strong in reliance on the promises of the Savio~i and illustrating to the full the genuineness of his own practical faith in the teachings which will now prove his most lasting monument in the memories of his widely-extended circle of friends and relatives.

OLD TIME EXPERIENCES

In the Bush and on the Farm Interesting Reminiscences from the pen of the late Adam Spencer - Continued When the spinning was done the yarn was sent to the weaver, care being taken to have a fine piece for bettel" wear and some coarser. Each farmer endeavored to keep a flock of sheep the wool from which was also manufactured into suitable fabrics. After shearing the wool was sent to the carding machine and made into rolls after which the women would spin thQm into yarn ; a large wheel was used for the purpose t the spinners being employed on their feet. The yarn was next sent to the weaver, to be made into flannel which was afterwards made into bedding or underwear. Some parts of the flannel was sent to the fulling mill and cloth dressing made.

My father was a sert of natural mechanic and could do useful jobs in various departments. He had a blacksmith shop and did his own work and some of the neighbors; he also tanned his own leather and made shoes for his family. He worked in wood and most of his building, and among other things he made a loom and employed a weaver to work it on shares, the weaver to have hie board and apooUng and quil dog and assistance to put In the web for which h@ received half the earnings. The spooling often fell to my lot. I had no objection to the work except that it interfered with my play. Sometimes I managed to play the truant and get out of hearing and the sisters would have to do It; but my father's discipline exercised. salutary restraint upon me. My sisters soon learned to weave which consoled them to earn a good deal of money.
When quite young I helped rather in the blacksmith shop and learned to do II littlo in that way. I 1'11.90 tried my skHl<!t mending my own shoes. The last pair father made were BO much too large that I never enjoyed them; therefore when they were worn I mQde myself a pair which so commended me as a shoema.ker that mother concluded to have file make her a pair which was such an improvement on my first attempt that for some years I made a portion of the shoes for the family. I was about eleven years old when I made the first shoes. A large share of praise was b~stowed upon the youngster ror those feats.
The chances for school l~at':n wcre very limited. The first school house at which r attended was built of round logs notched together at the corners and the open spaces between th~ logs were filled with pieces of wood and fitted for the openings ~nd plastered over with clay; they were called log houses. This one was ahout 18 x 20 feet to the beams on which the upper flool' was laid. The hf!i'll'th was of earth and the back part of the fireplace was built of iron or bog ore and nearly four feet high. Above that the chimney was built ~ strips of wood covered with mud supported em the back wall and on each sIde by circular pieces of wood repbifll! from the logs of the house to the near~st beam, said chimney being so constructed that often the smoke remained in the school room causing much discomfort. The writing desks were made of plank and placed around the inside of the room against the logs. The seats were made of slabs with the round side down and four legs to each bench. The law regulating schools was very meagre. The teacher proposing to teach would get up a. subscription for a term of three months charging a certain amount for each scholar and divide his board among the employerS at an equal ratio according to the scholars sent. which was called Itboarding round" and designed to lessen the cash payme.nt. The subscription would describe what was to be tau8ht. Readingt ~iting, and arithmetic only were taught by all the teachers I went to except one and he tauAht grammar and geography in addition. The teachers were mostly poor scholars themselves. The sessions were fou~ hours each ferenoon and afternoon with a short intermission each session with five and one half days per week, but every other seventh day was taken as a holiday. The &01100113 terms were much detached the schools being witnc,ut a teacher for' months together and the scholars would forget much they hat! learned, During my young days I went to school at detached intervals for two years and one term of three months. I made the greatest advance in arithmetic of which r was particula:rly fond. Again at about sixteen I went one three months to Bchool at which I gained satisfactorily. As I grew in years my reading improved by use and a teacher we boarded when our children were in school gave me useful lessons in writing. From various ways I added to my little stock of learning as occa~ion demanded.

To my parents weI'e horn 13 chIldren. a daughter thl!y called r~~1:'Ywtrich di.~d thE!'n Elizabeth, Mary, Alnr,all and Lvdia~ then rny~e.tf;next~was a ~on wno was named Robert but who died at two Yflars; next vli18 John Henderson, then Robert and William, last vldS a daughter named Anna.,."ho died at the age of twelve. Such a family required much car", ;md Eme;~gy on the part of my parents.
.;as the eldest; then in.infancy. +-hp nex+ born was Thomas

Ca~;ladne

A few years after my birth I1fj parents joined the Society of Friends but did not request for their children to do so, but they were concerned to train us right by example and precept; by them I was early taught that theI'e is a God to whom I was accountable, that there was a heaven of happiness for those who loved and served Him, and also that there was a place of misery for those who disobeyed Him. These things made me very thoughtful while young, particularly after retiring to bed at night, but I got rid of my convictions by the thought that little children were of the kingdom of heaven a.'1d that I wns too young to be held accountable. As years passed on I could not plead sLlch immunity. Then the thought "there is time enough yet" was t110 excuse for a disregard of the wi 11 of God; therefore. although held in restraint by the judicious care of my parents and a great regard to my reputation, I shunned many of the evils in the world yet 1 lived virtually without God and without hope in the world the greater part of my minority. About the seventeenth Veal' of my age, a separation took place in the Society of Friends. The parties were designated by the terms ttOrthodox:' and"HicKsites". The Hid<sites adl1ered to Unitarian doctrines, but the Orthodox held to the Divinity of Christ and the work of the Spirit of God upon the mind of men. The Hicksi tes were the most numerous at Gotham and one who had the care of the meeting house being one of them shut the house against the Orthodox Friends. Ny father offered them the tl.<:le of his dwelling house as. a meeting place until they could be better provided for. Accordingly the meeting was hell: at my father!s for one year and as a result it became a sor1: of headquarters foI" travelling Friends. It was my place to take care of their horses. The example and conversation of those strangers Friends as we call~~d them represented the Christian.
As a consequence of the separation there was much disputing on the subject of religion, There Has also a body of professors "ho called themselves Christians. putting the tbe long sound on the letter "If I In the first part of the '~'ord. Hith these people the ~~ethodists had a controversy. In the hearing of the arguments pro and con there were some things adduced from Scripture against the Di vini ty of Christ which caused a doubt :l.n my mind but whi.ch T did not approve.

About that time :ny father hired a man as foreman in brick-makinp; who was a Universalist and heldd:e same doctrine as the Hicksites. With that man I had many arguments ns the Di vini ty of Christ I could not answer. About that tim8 l:TI\' brotilec Thorr.as hunded me a newspaper which had enclosed one of h i s fl'Ol11 a stope, it having an extract from the "Age of Eeaf.lon,1I by T. Paine. together' from those various sources my mind Has trow)led with dOlL'::ts i:lla wet''! like fire in my bones and not easily removed. Yet I did not them.
On~1 thing that I rr'ilY mention connection with the separation among the rriends. The hold took upon my parents minds, They seemed borne down by the Hei.ght of it and it Has ir.lPrinted on their countenances, which c,Siused with me i1 secret wi t11 them and was a remote help to m:v se1f.
I may here remark there was about four years of my life which I have looked upon as lost time, which were the years from seventeen to twenty inclusive. 7hose years were devoted (that is, my spare time) to amusement a~d the reading of works of fiction, and withal I became somewhat conceited with my ability as an arguer of religion, although I had no practical religious experience. Yet I was preserved from serious departures ~ld as far as I know maintained a fair character as a young man of the world.
Soon after the commencement of my twanty-fi1"St year a great trial took place in my father's family which brought great sorrow upon my mind. My pleasant pictures were marred and my vain hopes were frustrated. At length I appealed to my Heavenly Father for redress which was the first prayer I ever made to God. The answer was, how lonR have I suffered thy ingratitude? This answer to my petition sealed conviction on rrrJ mind in !'eRaI'd to my sinfulness in the sight of God and I became a mourner in very deed which continued foI' some time without rny being able to take up the resolution to mend my ways. One day I atttended a Methodist meeting which was held in a private house. As the minister read the following text:" Behold the end of all things is at hand; be ye therefore sober and watchful unto prayer"! a change took place in my purpose and I resolved henceforward to turn my face heavenward. r could not retain what the minister further said I was so absorbed with my own thoughts.

An experience of note took place with me before I joined the society. On one occasion! found my two youngest brothers disputing, for which I admonished them and gave them some serious advice. The act on my part was right but for the first time I named the name of Christ as a religious teacher' and W'as important that r should know of departing from iniquity.
My mind was f HIed with a great sense of gull t because

my past sins.

Those sins for which I felt the greatest conde~~&~ion at the time of their commission,appeared to have the penalty of dMth in them, 1 hastened to a retired place and there on bended knees (my Judge appearing to be before me) I pleaded for mercy in the most earnest and penitent manner. Soon my gracious INrd extended the sceptre of his love toward me and the language was presented to my spiritual ear as had been addressed to Israel through the prophet Isaiah. It'I'heugh your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow-; though pen lIke crimson they shall be 85 wool." Gratitude
and praise to God so filled my lli('Juth that I said HI will pra thee t Oh Lor'd, while r have my being, 1 will praise thee before the sons of men. II That was the most blessed experif:'nce so that ! have reason to say tlI love the Lord because he hath heard the voice of my supplication and my cry." That love and mercy has been extended all my lif~ long. My sins had been such in the sight of God and made manifest to myself that doubts would
occasionally arise as to the possibility of their having been forgiven; those doubts were evidently the buffettings of Satan. t! On one blessed occasion a language was addressed to my spiritual ea~ as from my Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ "The t'eproaches of them that reproached thee fell on

me. !I

My glo!' lous Advocl\.te so revealed Himself in me, that doubts never
afterwards troubled me; blessed be the name of the Lord.
Having become a member among Friends and interested in church
affairs time passed comfortably, An ev~nt followed of life-long interest,
on the eIghth day of the Tl'!nth Month of 1834 r was united in marriage
with Catharine Gaine!", daughtE.'lI' of Isaac and Christia.na Gainer, who were
leading members among Friends gave careful attention to the right
training of their childrer. The union proved to he a happy one through life.
rtft chHdren were born to us, fom~ 13C1i1~ and ona daughter, who claimed our united care. It was severml months after our marriage before we
were in a position to kf;ep house by oUTselv@iL I was in the building business and had (I, contra.ct on hend and oU.'" own house to build. At length becoming settled in a home of our own ! ~till worked as a builder, and on the ninth day (If the Tenth ~1onth, ~ our eldest son was born whom we called Jacob C'~iner. About vn~ weel\ after my s later Annie died which was a great trial to my My sister Abigail~wno was married removed to 't~!:rhome in St Catheritl'",~L father's family was reduced to themselves and two youngest sons. parents requested that. should come and live in th~ house with them and take charge of affaiD~r After conaultation with my wife's parents W~ concluded to t~y it iop.:a time. Brother Robert who was eighteen y't:Brs old ~U'IS allowed the time of his minority and. I lent him my ci:up~nt'i.!l' tools. Brother William worked with me on the farm. There was a precious harmony maintained between my mother and wife which made matters very

In order to be a true Chrlstlan the ,.thole mind must be giver.Lup to the wll1}of, God with faithful watchfulness.into prayers. There are many things i f not resisted and gua:r'ded clgainst choke the wora until it becometh fruitful. For sever'al years I attended m~~dng and lost ground in religious life until there was !!n~ither de~: nor rain nor field of offering."
Belonging to the me~ting was' a mlnister,i!l. man o:fconsiderable affability, affable in his manner and a genial companiclD. H~ largely occupied the time itl vocal ministry nearly every meet and it ~a5 plMsant to listen to him therefore the meeting time was 5p~nt without an earnest seeking unto God to know and to do his will. His ministry was not of a deep guarding character. His sermons were mostl'! drawn fl~om Old Testament history and sometimes appeared more like a than anything else. At length such service began to tire, partie as I Jegan ~gain to realize my own cond:i.tion. I sometimes thought that th<!5 minister feared that the children would wake up and see wOn't was golng on. Ho did not bear a character for upright dealing8'''i~:h l'!l<1ny in the community. Norwich Gazette October 3

ot,D TIME EXPERIENCES

In the Bush and on the Farm
and r thought he so deep waG my conviction of the fact that I lost all confidence in his preaching ~;h:tch was an addiHonal cause for me to seek to the alone source for' A neh' zeal 'i<lS awakened in me. About that tlme the 6ubjecl': of lJav f"chools was introduced and urged with a good deal of forc~ by ministers as an antidote against unbelief ~ etc. I entered the work ~dth a of doing good ~ and also wl'th the thought that Fr-iends 'I'H:1rc a. lukewarn: state. I was superintendent of Cl First DaY'lichool held in a IH!hcc.1 houst: rot' sev~ral years, but was
Oti one occasion I bad dealing!!' with

tried to take advantage,

careful to keep within prop~r limi~6 or r&th~r to to the more literal instruction of the scripture. At onfl tim'S r 'I&utuI'0d en t719 more spiritual exercise and explanation of divine thin~s. Afte~ dicf,i~sing the school as I was leaving th~ house the language accompfiniod with dlvin~ authority arrested me. "Who ht:i1:h t'aquirl!d tlimt!f1 tt"li.lt;ti &~ y~~ h!j'1e~ to tread my courts. Bring no more oblations. I! Such ~/.:lf'! the ~ffect that! dare not resist the solemn cOfiI.mand c;.nd ! LCH.red I.mci~r n st!n~e of G:Hl.ia gre4tr'~!1 and my own unworthyn\l?;ss. t1any montht3 "hile I WcH,; 1'let at liberty to engage in religious s(!rvic~s, OJ;' eVerl to s[JY more than very little about religion. I had 1:0 withhoJ.d rtiy mouth 9'len froz.1 good t I could not understand how some could say th~y t~ere to SrH.1t'lK whi10 restraint was my contimJed discipl.l!H~. fit I D.!ci.:!'le content to bear the yoke i.n my youth t to put l1IJ mouth (;.t.:.st if eo b13 there might be hope. It \-tas to me "the tim~ of 11!i:'A':'!iing th.'! ftohutti.ngs of Him who hath the keys t who shutt~th ctnd 11:.; man or>en<'ith, ~'lhf) opcl1eth and no man shutteth. I have many times ISlnc~ in the ~}c:-.)!'ciM of thiS T:'iniatry , to know the shuttings first to pa3s cve;t' "'Y tllind &nd EIC the t:t'ue o?~rdng6 followed I could rest in confidence that it wan of the Lord and ~ot of my own imagination. The lesson that Jesus taught hin disciples h~ still teaches to everyone of his learners. "iH thout me ye c':.n de nothing. II