_WORK IN ENGLAND AND IRELAND._
"Their single aim the purpose to fulfil
Of truth from day to day;
Simply obedient to its guiding will,
They held their pilgrim way.
Yet dream not hence the beautiful and old
Were wasted on their sight
Who in the school of Christ had learned to hold
All outward things aright."
WHITTIER.
Eli and Sybil Jones reached Baltimore in the middle of winter, and
experienced the joy of being once more among Friends and in their own
loved country. Having been kept and continually supported to
accomplish their work, they now were filled with thanksgiving to Him
whose pillar of cloud and fire had gone before them by day and by
night, and they were prepared in spirit for the still longer journey
which was before them. They visited friends and relatives on their way
to Maine, and were everywhere joyfully received. Their children had
all passed the time of their absence pleasantly, and had gained in
mental and physical growth.
It was an interesting sight when their townsmen met to welcome them
home. One can see them in the monthly meeting, which was held at this
time. Many who came but seldom, rode over the hills that day to sit
down on the unpainted seats and listen if they did not worship, and an
unusually large number were present when the hushed stillness told
that meeting had begun. One father and the mothers of the two
ministers were there, brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts; many who
had always known them, and some who had never seen them,--all bowed
their heads before the Mighty One, and
"Low breathings stole
Of a diviner life from soul to soul,
Baptizing in one tender thought the whole."
Even the cold-hearted felt a warmth steal in, and the low-spirited
were exalted in their minds. No one who sat under that silence doubted
that the Lord was speaking to "the spirit's finer ear;" and when the
seal was broken and the moved lips opened in vocal thanksgiving many
hearts rose in harmony. A brief, quiet prayer from a full heart, when
the spirit of the whole meeting rises with it, reaches where eye
cannot see, and comes not back void. Words are human, but power is
divine.
We can see Eli Jones rise from his wonted seat and slowly speak his
text: "When the poor and needy seek water and there is none, and their
tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of
Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers in high places, and
fountains in the midst of the valleys. I will make the wilderness a
pool of water, and the dry land springs of water." His companion sees
many before her who have grown cold while they have been answering the
call from Ethiopia, and sweetly she asks them to whom they will go if
they forsake Him who alone has the words of eternal life. Together
they sound the alarm and call upon their friends and neighbors to
stand firm and quit them like men while they go out again to reap in
other vineyards. At the close of this day Sybil Jones could say, "He
brought us unto his banqueting-house, and the banner over us was
Love."
Once more they separated from home-friends and took their little
children to West Hill, N. J., the lovely home of Eliza P. Gurney, who
had asked that the two youngest boys, Eli Grelet and Richard Mott,
might be left with her during their parents' absence.... On First day
they attended the meeting at Burlington, and sat in company with
Stephen Grelet and Richard Mott, for whom the boys had been named.
Stephen Grelet, that great apostle, who had given messages from the
King of kings to potentates and princes in all the countries of
Europe, who had shown men's equality by holding his finger to the
Pope's extended finger, and who was now waiting to be ushered into
another and a higher court, addressed them thus: "The Lord has
provided for your children in your absence, and thus given striking
demonstration of His love to you; and now this testimony is applicable
to you, my dear friends: 'I will be with thee whithersoever thou
goest, and will guide thee with mine eye, and afterward receive thee
into glory;' so go, dear friends, cheerfully, for the Lord will be
your all-sufficient Helper."
After visiting their other children, at Haverford College and at
Providence, they finally sailed from Boston the 31st of 3d mo. on the
steamer "Niagara" for Liverpool. A goodly company of Friends from
Lynn and elsewhere were on the wharf to wave them adieu.
It was an uneventful passage, except that an iceberg was discovered
exactly in their course just in time to turn the ship from the danger.
Sybil Jones writes of it: "I got on deck while it was in full view,
and gazed with wonder and delight upon this magnificent frosty
traveller from the frigid North to milder skies. It seemed like an
island all of light consolidated into form, or as a cathedral whose
stately spires pierced the eternal sunshine. The first rays of the
morning sun gave to its pure, spotless whiteness a brilliancy and
beauty that seemed almost of heavenly extraction. It reminded us of
the infinitely more splendid and soul-ravishing charms of nature's God
and heaven's eternal King, of whose mercy it seemed the white-robed
harbinger."
On their return voyage, the ship, sailing at a rapid rate in a dense
fog, found itself almost upon a gigantic iceberg, a mighty pyramid of
ice. It seemed to all on board that the ship must be crushed. An
infidel who was a fellow-passenger hurried on deck and cried out, "In
an hour we shall all be lost, but let us die like philosophers."--"No,"
said Sybil Jones, rising to her feet; "if we are to meet death, let
us do it as Christians." In God's goodness all were spared.
They were delighted with their first sight of England, to find such
abundant verdure instead of the snow and ice which they left on the
hills of New England, and they were more delighted still to find warm
hearts waiting for them, among whom was Benjamin Seebohm, who had
been a former messenger of good to them. It was nearly time for Dublin
yearly meeting to begin, and they crossed over to Ireland to attend
it. This was an occasion of great interest, and the two American
Friends had weighty service to perform; but Sybil Jones was taken ill
with severe irritation of the spine while the meeting was still in
session. She finally found relief for that time, and was able to
attend some of the meetings. Their friend Mary James Lecky was always
ready to attend to their comfort, and they did not want for pleasant
homes.
Their visit to Balitore is thus described: "We left for Balitore in
the comfortable coach of our dear friend Mary J. Lecky. Our route was
most pleasant and interesting--beautiful groves, rich fields of waving
grain, with herds and flocks scattered over the flowery lawns; stately
dwellings and white cottages, with now and then some ancient castle in
ruins, wearing a vesture of deep green woven by the evergreen ivy,
which flourishes in rich foliage on its time-beaten walls and
dilapidated towers. The golden furze may be seen in abundance on hill
and dale, and is a lovely ornament to the variegated scene. The hedges
that skirt the way are bespangled with yellow and crimson primroses,
bluebells, violets, and many other little wild flowers, forming a
radiant wreath entwined with the graceful ivy. We admired the scene,
and talked much of Erin, the green isle of the ocean. At one o'clock
we arrived at Balitore, or, as it is sometimes called, the 'Classic
Vale.' Dear Elizabeth Barrington--the 'Princess Elizabeth,' as she is
sometimes called--gave us a cordial welcome. The charms of this little
village, loveliest of the plain, are sweetly enhanced by the memory
of departed worth, talent, genius, virtue and piety which once
flourished here."[5]
[5] It was at Balitore that Edmund Burke received his early education,
at the Friends' school conducted by Richard Shackleton, to whom he
often wrote and attributed much of his careful training.
Day after day they attended meetings and visited families, though
Sybil Jones was in such a state of health that it was merely her will
which kept her from bed; she continually spoke of the "frailty of the
tabernacle," but the strength of the spirit forced the body to obey
and do its part of the work; and as the time drew near for the London
yearly meeting they turned thither. Everywhere they directed their
eyes a new beauty of landscape, a majesty of mountain, or a charm of
antiquity met them; but Sybil Jones was forced to close her eyes on
all this outward loveliness, and as as she rode along, reclining on
her seat, she comforted herself "in the presence of Him who verily
knows what is best for us; health and life, with every other blessing,
are in his hand."
The meeting began on the 17th of Fifth month, and now for the first
time in their lives they were sitting in the parent yearly meeting of
the Society of Friends. For more than two hundred years the Friends of
Great Britain have annually assembled in London, and the power of
these meetings is wonderful. Some of England's greatest minds have sat
in silent waiting there, and have raised their voices in regard to the
proper ordering of the household of faith, and some of her lowliest
sons and daughters have not been hindered from sitting in the same
seat with these great lights, and their words have been listened to
with equal deference. English conservatism has kept this meeting much
as it was in earlier days, while broad ideas and liberal notions have
been disseminated, so that no stiff cloak of formalism has settled
over the body. The Spirit which giveth life is sought for, but the
iron yoke of the letter does not rest upon them. The voices of "just
men made perfect" have, in all the generations since George Fox,
pleaded from full hearts that the Lord might have here a "peculiar
people," separated from the world and satisfied with the one honor of
being "fellow-citizens with the saints."
Eli and Sybil Jones had many comforting sessions in this meeting, and
they not only did the work which was in their hearts for the
strengthening of those assembled, but they were themselves made more
strong and more useful members of the Church for this work in the
harmonious company of united English Friends.
The effect of their utterances and the impressiveness of the gathering
were beautifully and eloquently described by Elihu Burritt, who was
present, and who was afterward associated with Eli Jones in the Peace
cause. This passage is from his diary, dated the 21st of fifth month:
THE QUAKER MEETING.
"LONDON, May 21, 1852.
"This has been a day of deep interest. In the morning I went to
the meeting of public worship in the Devonshire House, which was
filled to the utmost capacity by Friends from every part of the
kingdom. As a spectacle no human congregation can surpass it in
impressive physiognomy. The immaculate purity of the women's
dresses as they sat a mountain multitude of shining ones, arising
in long quiet ranks from the floor to the gallery on one side of
the house, the grave mountain of sedate and thoughtful men on the
other, presented an aspect more suggestive of the assemblies of
the New Jerusalem than any earthly congregation I had ever seen.
In a brief time the last-comers had found seats or
standing-places, and then a deep devotional silence settled down
upon the great assembly like an overshadowing presence from
heaven. The still, upbreathing prayer of a thousand hearts seemed
to ascend like incense, and the communion of the Holy Spirit to
descend like a dove, whispering its benediction and touching to
sweeter listening serenity those faces so calm with the breath of
its wing; and out of the deep silence of this unspoken devotion
arose one, with trembling meekness, to unburden the heart of a
few brief message-words to which it feared to withhold utterance,
lest it should sin against the inspiration that made it burn with
them. From another part of the house arose the quavering voice of
prayer, short, but full of the earnest emotion of supplication
and humble utterance of faith and thanksgiving. Then moments of
deeper silence followed, as if all the faculties of the mind and
all the senses of the physical being had descended into the
soul's inner temple to listen to and wait for the voice of the
Spirit of God. How impressive was the heart-worship of those
silent moments! There was something solemn beyond description in
the spectacle of a thousand persons of all ages so immovable that
they seemed scarcely to breathe. The 'Ministers' Gallery' was
occupied by a long rank of the teachers, the fathers, and the
mothers of the Society from different parts of the country, who
seemed to preside over this communion like shepherds sitting down
before their quiet flocks by the still waters of salvation. In
the centre sat a man and a woman a little past the meridian of
life, and apparently strangers in the great congregation. The
former had an American look, which was perceptible even to the
opposite extremity of the building, and when he slowly arose out
of the deep silence his first words confirmed that impression.
They were words fitly spoken and solemn, but uttered with such a
nasal intonation as I never heard before, even in New England. At
first and for a few minutes I felt it doubtful whether the
unpleasant influence of this aggravated peculiarity would not
prevent his words of exhortation from having salutary effect upon
the minds of the listening assembly. But as his words seemed to
flow and warm with increasing unction, little by little they
cleared up from that nasal cadence and rounded into more oral
enunciation. Little by little they strengthened with the power of
truth, and the truth made them free and flowing. His whole
person, so impassive and unsympathetic at first, entered into the
enunciation of these truths with constantly increasing animation,
and his address grew more and more impressive to the last. He
spoke nearly an hour, and when he sat down and buried his fingers
under his broad-brimmed hat, and the congregation settled down
into the profound quiet of serene meditation, I doubted whether
it would be broken again by the voice of another exhortation.
But in the course of a few minutes the form of the woman who sat
by his side--and it was his wife--might be perceived in a state
of half-suppressed emotion, as if demurring to the inward monitor
of the Spirit that bade her arise and speak to such an assembly.
It might well have seemed formidable to the nature of a meek and
delicate woman. She seemed to struggle involuntarily with the
conviction of duty, and to incline her person slightly toward her
husband, as if the tried attributes of her heart leaned for
strength on the sympathy of his, as well as on the wisdom she
waited from above. Then she arose calm, meek, and graceful. Her
first words dropped with the sweetest enunciation upon the still
congregation, and were heard in every part of the house, though
they were uttered in a tone seemingly but little above a whisper.
Each succeeding sentence warbled into new beauty and fulness of
silvery cadence. The burden of her spirit was the life of
religion in the heart as contrasted with its mere language on the
tongue, or what it was to be really and truly a disciple of Jesus
Christ. Having meekly stated the subject which had occupied her
meditations and which she had felt constrained to revive in the
hearing of the congregation before her, she said: 'And now, in my
simple way and in the brief words which may be given me, let me
enter with you into the examination of this question.' At the
first word of this sentence she loosed the fastenings of her
bonnet, and at the last handed it down to her husband with a
grace indescribable. There was something very impressive in the
act as well as in the manner in which it was performed, as if she
uncovered her head involuntarily in reverence to that vision of
divine truth unsealed to her waiting eyes. And in her eyes it
seemed to beam with a heavenly light serene, and in her heart to
burn with holy inspiration and meekness, and to touch her lips
and every gentle movement of her person with an expression
eloquent, solemn, beautiful as her words fell upon the rapt
assembly from the heaven of tremulous flute-like music with which
her voice filled the building. Like a stream welling from Mount
Hermon and winding its way to the sea, so flowed the melodious
current of her message, now meandering among the unopened flowers
of rhymeless poetry, now through green pastures of salvation,
where the Good Shepherd was bearing in his bosom the tender lambs
of his flock; next it took the force of lofty diction, and fell,
as it were, in cascades of silvery eloquence, but solemn, slow,
and searching, adown the rocks and ravines of Sinai; then out
like a sweet-rolling river of music into the wilderness, where
the Prodigal Son, with the husks of his poverty clutched in his
lean hands, sat in tearful meditation upon his father's home and
his father's love. More than a thousand persons seemed to hold
their breath as they listened to that meek, delicate woman, whose
lips appeared to be touched to an utterance almost divine. I
never saw an assembly so moved, but so subdued into motionless
meditation. And the serene and solemn silence deepened to
stillness more profound when she ceased speaking. In the midst of
these still moments she knelt in prayer. As the first word of her
supplication arose the men, who had worn their hats while she
spoke to them, reverently uncovered their heads as she kneeled to
speak to God. Long and fervent was her supplication. Her clear
sweet voice trembled with the burden of the petition with which
her soul seemed to ascend into the Holy of holies, and to plead
there with Jacob's Father for a blessing upon all encircled
within that immediate presence. She arose from her knees, and the
great congregation sat down, as it were under the shadow of that
prayer to silence more deep and devotional. This lasted a few
minutes, when two elders of the Society, seated in the centre of
the 'Ministers' Gallery,' shook hands with each other, and were
followed by other couples in each direction as a kind of mutual
benediction as well as a signal that meeting was terminated.--At
this simple sign the whole congregation arose and quietly left
the house. Such was the experience of a couple of hours in a
Quaker meeting."
The last day of the yearly meeting Sybil Jones spoke out her feelings
in regard to total abstinence. She was probably the first person who
publicly stated to an English audience the necessity of taking such
high ground to overcome the evils of intemperance, and, though much
sympathy was expressed, there was a deep feeling on the part of some
against her expressed views. She writes: "This day has concluded the
yearly meeting; my spirit was bound down under a weight of exercise,
but divine help came and enabled me to testify the gospel of the grace
of God in a way most humiliating to the creature; but some, it may be
hoped, were led to examine how far their example of righteousness and
temperance had reached to give a check to the crying sin of this
nation, that not only their husbands and brothers be influenced by
their example, but also their neighbors, and whether there was not
something for them to do in this matter, even total abstinence if it
may be required. When this was done my peace abounded, and I hope no
harm was done. Many dear Friends seemed to feel much sympathy, and a
precious solemnity came over us."
For weeks after leaving London these "two recruiting-officers labored
hard to enlist soldiers for their Captain" through the northern
counties of Ireland. Not only Friends and other Protestants came to
hear them, but often there were priests present at the meetings, and
many Irish Catholics heard them preach the gospel. Sometimes Sybil
Jones seemed to be "standing on the verge of eternity," but as the
body grew frail it seemed the soul waxed strong and her messages
became more impressive. All she saw as they rode from one village to
another attracted her attention, and she rejoiced that the Creator had
made the earth so fair, while she was brought into great sadness at
the poverty and oppression of the unfortunate, and the lack of vital
religion which was often found. There was great need of wisdom in
telling the whole truth to her mixed audiences, to have it come to
them as the one thing they needed to make their unhappy lives happy,
and her soul went out in her utterances to their souls and stirred
them to believe. There was hardly a town which they visited where
error had not been taught and superstitions ruled the hearts of the
people, and many who had suffered deep wrongs felt that there was no
justice in the earth. To such it was announced, "Light is sown for the
righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart;" but they felt that
"nothing short of the omnipotent Arm could deliver these souls from
popish thraldom and make them free through the power of Jesus Christ."
Mary James Lecky continued to accompany them, and she was an almost
indispensable companion, providing for their comfort and safety and
opening ways for their service which to them alone would have been
closed; and as Sybil Jones was under a daily weight of infirmity, she
was a strong arm to lean upon, and encouraged her as a sister when her
heart grew weak from the abundance of trial.[6]
[6] Mary James Lecky filled her carriage with loaves of bread from the
baker's, and as they drove along roads where poverty was everywhere
terribly present, she distributed her stores for the bodily needs of
the poor suffering peasants, while Sybil Jones earnestly told them of
the Bread of life. In the original meaning of the word, "lady" is the
_bread-giver_. Did ever two more worthy the name go out to fulfil the
duties belonging to that title?
A few passages from their journal will tell much of their earnest
efforts and ceaseless longings to help this people, and also the
difficulties with which they were beset. At Galway, once a famous
seaport town on the west coast of Ireland, they write:
"_9th mo. 15th._ Called at an early hour upon the vicar, an Episcopal
clergyman, D'Arcy, who attended our meeting and kindly invited us to
come to his residence and he would take us to the school and make way
for any religious service to which we felt called. He received us
heartily and entered into the plans we wished to execute. He
accompanied us, with his amiable wife, to the asylum for aged females
and to the school. We had service for Him who sent us, much to our
comfort, and, we may trust, to their edification. The dear children
listened with delight and interest to all that was offered, and many
appeared tender. They are improving finely and getting a good
knowledge of the Scriptures, which may be of lasting benefit to them;
but oh the hunger and rags were apparent enough to pain the hardest
heart. Our company distributed some relief among them as seemed most
prudent; the evil might be wholly remedied by giving them work and a
fair compensation. The Irish are not naturally idle; there is abundant
proof to the contrary.
"_16th, Fifth day._ This morning visited the poor-house and school
connected with it; all neat and orderly, good improvement; about
thirteen hundred inmates. We had the children collected for religious
service, and it was a good time. They were mostly Roman Catholics.
They were serious and seemed contrited."
"_17th._ Two friends with my Eli called on the Roman priest and
informed him of our intention to hold a meeting for the inhabitants;
he was civil, but said none of his people would attend."
At another time, while they were in the city of Galway, Eli Jones was
told that he would be stoned by the Catholics if he attempted to
preach. He at once called on the priest, told him that he was an
American, and obtained a promise from him that his people should be
allowed to come to the meeting that evening. Before a large audience
of the most bigoted Roman Catholics he arose to preach the gospel of
redeeming love. It was the part of wisdom to gain his hearers, for
their souls could not be reached until the barrier of their prejudice
was broken down. He began: "A virgin shall conceive and bring forth a
son, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty
God, The Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace;" "Hail, thou
that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among
women;" "They found Joseph and Mary and the babe." After hearing these
passages they were all ready to listen to him, and then, as he says,
"I soon left the _mother_ and talked to them of the _child_."
"_The 20th, at Conamarra._ People mostly in rags worn to strings,
winter near, hunger everywhere; but a better time is coming, we hope.
They seem emerging from the shades of superstition and moral darkness,
having seen in some degree the light which enlightened the Gentiles
and the glory of Israel. May the bright and morning Star shine in its
resplendent beauty over this neglected land! May the labors of the
faithful ministers of Christ be more abundant and their service for
Him be crowned with cheering success! and may the seed sown, though
often with weeping, trembling, and much fear, bring forth an
hundred-fold!
"_21st._ We arrived at Clifden in time for a meeting held in a
courthouse. Many sober people came who seemed glad to hear of the way
of life, but others, set on by the priests, disturbed the meeting, so
that it was not a very comfortable time; but I secretly rejoiced in
being counted worthy to suffer for His name's sake who sent us forth."
On the 28th Sybil Jones was taken very ill with influenza. They were
fortunately at Kilnock, among very kind friends. Here they were kept
nearly a month. Eli Jones improved all the time, holding meetings
almost continually, while his wife, confined to her room, "was in
great peace" and the triumphal anthem was on her lips:
"If Thou shouldst call me to resign
What most I prize--it ne'er was mine--
I only yield Thee what was Thine;
Thy will be done."
After six weeks, nearly all of which had been weeks of illness and
hence time taken from the work, she writes: "I like to note now and
then the fleet footsteps of Time. I perceive he will not stay his
rapid course for me, and therefore I most earnestly pray so to number
my days and to apply my heart with diligence unto wisdom that each
golden hour may bear upward the incense of a grateful, devotional
spirit still more and more dedicated to the work and service, of so
vast and infinite importance, that my heavenly Father has assigned to
His poor, unworthy child, and that the holy discipline of the cross of
Christ may nurture and increase every grace of the eternal quickening
Spirit of my dear Redeemer. While the truth is indelibly stamped upon
my spirit that I can do nothing without Him, I believe 'I can do all
things through Christ that strengtheneth me.' May these afflictions of
the shattered citadel, which now confine me to a lonely room and often
a sleepless couch, be sanctified to the promotion of righteousness and
true holiness in myself and others, that in every dispensation
thanksgiving may arise to the blessed name of the Lord!"
Near Lisburn she was again a prisoner from sickness for about four
weeks, and earnestly she prayed for guidance and strength to bear
whatever came for her.
"_The 30th of 1st mo., 1853_. I think I have seen, by the light that
has never yet deceived me, my path across the Channel to
Liverpool--that if I trust in my Saviour alone for bodily and
spiritual strength, it will be accomplished and marvellous deliverance
wrought. This morning I mentioned my prospect to my dear husband of a
speedy release from this place. He seemed doubtful of its
practicability with safety to my health. I replied, 'Nothing is
impossible with God. I believe He will bring us through this Jordan.'
We thought of Third day, as a steamer would sail at 4 P. M., but it
did not seem clear, and I was thrown into doubting and fear. After
seeking divine direction I felt a blessed trust that on Fifth day we
might with safety leave these shores.
"_Third day._ My dear Eli mentioned a prospect of a public meeting at
Carrickfergus, and this was a confirmation that our plan was right."
On Fourth day they held a farewell meeting, and there was much
expression of mutual love, and, the Irish Friends gave thanks for the
long service which had been performed in their land. For almost a year
the gospel had been preached over the island to high and low, to rich
and poor. Eli Jones visited, with perhaps one exception, every meeting
in Ireland, and met personally some members of nearly every Friend's
family on the island. No suffering or other hindrance had kept these
two servants from sowing seed in all kinds of soil, and they came from
the field believing that their sowing would bring forth fruit after
many days. Sybil Jones went to her train on a couch, and was obliged
to make the whole journey to Liverpool in the same way, but she was
soon at work again at Manchester. Here she rested while Eli Jones
visited the surrounding meetings, and the prospect of still more
extended work began to appear to them. Certainly, few laborers have
gone out in a more determined spirit to overcome all obstacles to
carry the gladdest of all news to ears as yet ungladdened by it. They
visited the quarterly meetings at York, Leeds, Lancaster, Darlington,
and Birmingham, and Sybil Jones rested while Eli attended Dublin
yearly meeting. She was visited by Harriet Beecher Stowe, and they had
a time of prayer together. There were many interesting incidents
connected with their visits at the different cities and the various
homes. Joseph Sturge came to talk with them of temperance and slavery,
and told them he intended to contribute to the support of New Garden
Boarding-school, where some of the children of the South might have
the privilege of gaining better knowledge.