Later Ministerial Labors.
In the fall of 1799 a concern to visit meetings in Connecticut was
followed. The trip also took in most of the meetings on the east bank
of the Hudson as far north as Dutchess County. He was absent six weeks,
and attended thirty meetings.
Fourth month 11, 1801, Elias and his traveling companion, Edmund
Willis, started, on a visit to "Friends in some parts of Jersey,
Pennsylvania, and some places adjacent thereto." A number of meetings
in New Jersey were visited on the way, the travelers arriving in
Philadelphia in time for the Yearly Meeting of Ministers and Elders.
All of the sessions of the yearly meeting were also attended. It does
not appear that Elias Hicks had attended this yearly meeting since
1779. Practically all of the meetings in New Jersey and Pennsylvania
were visited on this trip. It lasted three months and eighteen days,
during which time the visitors traveled 1630 miles.
The personal correspondence of Elias Hicks yields one interesting
letter written on this trip. It was written to his wife, and was dated
"Exeter, 4th of Seventh month, 1801." We quote as follows:
"We did not get to Lampeter so soon as I expected, as mentioned in my
last, for when we left Yorktown last Fourth-day evening, being late
before we set out, detained in part by a shower of rain. It was night
by the time we got over the river. We landed in a little town called
Columbia, where dwelt a few friends. Although being anxious to get
forward, I had previous to coming there intended to pass them without
a meeting, but found when there I could not safely do it. Therefore
we appointed a meeting there the next day, after which we rode to
Lampeter, to William Brinton's, of whom, when I went westward, I
got a fresh horse, and I left mine in his care. I have now my own
again, but she has a very bad sore on her withers, somewhat like is
called a 'thistlelon,' but is better than she has been. It is now
just six weeks and four days since we went from this place, which
is about 48 miles from Philadelphia, since which time we have rode
813 miles and attended 35 meetings. Much of the way in this tour has
been rugged, mountainous and rocky, and had it not been for the best
attendant companion, peace of mind flowing from a compliance with and
performance of manifested duty, the journey would have been tedious
and irksome. But we passed pretty cheerfully on, viewing with an
attentive eye the wonderful works of that boundless wisdom and power
(by which the worlds were framed) and which are only circumscribed
within the limits of their own innate excellency. Here we beheld all
nature almost with its varied and almost endless diversifications.
"Tremendous precipices, rocks and mountains, creeks and rivers,
intersecting each other, all clothed in their natural productions;
the tall pines and sturdy oaks towering their exalted heads above the
clouds, interspersed with beautiful lawns and glades; together with
the almost innumerable vegetable inhabitants, all blooming forth the
beauties of the spring; the fields arable, clothed in rich pastures
of varied kinds, wafted over the highways their balmy sweets, and the
fallow grounds overspread with rich grain, mostly in golden wheat, to
a profusion beyond anything of the kind my eyes ever before beheld,
insomuch that the sensible traveler, look which way he would, could
scarcely help feeling his mind continually inflamed and inspired with
humble gratitude and reverent thankfulness to the great and bountiful
author of all those multiplied blessings."
This letter constitutes one of the few instances where Elias Hicks
referred to experiences on the road, not directly connected with his
ministerial duty. The reference to Columbia, and his original intention
to pass by without a meeting, with its statement he "could not safely
do it," is characteristic. Manifestly, he uses the word "safely" in a
spiritual sense. The call to minister there was too certain to be put
aside for mere personal inclination and comfort.
The reference to his horse contains more than a passing interest.
Probably many other cases occurred during his visits when "borrowing"
a horse was necessary, while his own was recuperating. It was a slow
way to travel, from our standpoint, yet it had its advantages. New
acquaintances, if not friendships, were made as the travelers journeyed
and were entertained on the road.
On the 20th of Ninth month, 1803, Elias Hicks, with Daniel Titus as a
traveling companion, started on a visit to Friends in Upper Canada, and
those resident in the part of the New York Yearly Meeting located in
the Hudson and Mohawk valleys. When the travelers had been from home
a little less than a month, Elias wrote to his wife, from Kingston,
a letter of more than ordinary interest, because of its descriptive
quality. It describes some of the difficulties, not to say dangers, of
the traveling Friend before the days of railroads. We quote the bulk of
the letter, which was dated Tenth month, 16, 1803:
"We arrived here the 3d instant at the house of Joseph Ferris about 3
o'clock at night, having rode the preceding day from Samuel Brown's
at Black River, where I dated my last. We traveled by land and water
in this day's journey about forty-five miles. Very bad traveling
over logs and mudholes, crossing two ferries on our way, each four
or five miles wide, with an island between called Long Island. About
six miles across we were in the middle thereof, the darkest time
in the night, when we were under the necessity of getting off our
horses several times to feel for the horses' tracks in order to know
whether we were in the path or not, as we were not able to see the
path, nor one another at times, if more than five or six feet apart.
Some of our company began to fear we should be under the necessity of
lying in the woods all night. However, we were favored to get well
through, and crossed the last ferry about midnight and after. Landed
safely on Kingston shore about 2 o'clock, all well. Since which we
have attended ten meetings, three of them preparative meetings, the
rest mostly among other people. We just now, this evening, returned
from the last held at the house of John Everit, about four miles
west of Kingston. We held one yesterday in the town of Kingston in
their Court House. It was the first Friends' meeting ever held in
that place. The principal inhabitants generally attended, and we have
thankfully to acknowledge that the shepherd of Israel in whom was our
trust, made bare his arm for our help, setting home the testimony he
gave us to the states of the people, thereby manifesting that he had
not left himself without a witness in their hearts, as all appeared
to yield their assent to the truths delivered, which has generally
been the case, in every place where our lots have been cast.
"We expect to-morrow to return on our way to Adolphustown, taking
some meetings in our way thither, among those not of our Society, but
so as to be there ready to attend Friends' monthly that is held next
Fifth-day, after which we have some prospect of being at liberty to
return on our way back, into our own State.
"Having thus given thee a short account of our journey, I may salute
thee in the fresh feelings of endeared affection, and strength of
gospel love, in which fervent desires are felt for thy preservation,
and that of our dear children, and that you may all so act and so
walk, as to be a comfort and strength to each other, and feel an
evidence in yourselves that the Lord is your friend; for you are my
friend (said the blessed redeemer) if you do whatever I command you."
For the three following years there is no record of special activity,
but in 1806 a somewhat extended visit was made to Friends in the State
of New York. He was absent from home nearly two months, traveled over
1000 miles, attended three quarterly, seventeen monthly, sixteen
preparative, and forty meetings for worship.
The years following, including 1812, were spent either at home or
in short, semi-occasional visits, mostly within the bounds of his
own yearly meeting. During this period a visit to Canada Half-Yearly
Meeting was made.
The first half of 1813 he was busy in his business and domestic
concerns, really preparing for a religious journey, which he began
on the 8th of Fifth month. He passed through New Jersey on the way,
attending meetings in that State, either regular or by appointment,
arriving in Philadelphia in about two weeks. Several meetings in the
vicinity of that city were attended, whence he passed into Delaware
and Maryland. His steps were retraced through New Jersey, when he was
homeward bound.
From 1813 to 1816 we find the gospel labors of Elias Hicks almost
entirely confined to his own yearly meeting. This round of service did
not take him farther from home than Dutchess County. During this period
we find him repeatedly confessing indisposition and bodily ailment,
which may have accounted for the fewness and moderateness of his
religious visits.
In First month, 1816, we find him under a concern to visit Friends
in New England. He had as his traveling companion on this journey
his friend and kinsman, Isaac Hicks, of Westbury. During this trip
practically all of the meetings in New England were visited. It kept
him from home about three months, and caused him to travel upward of
1000 miles. He attended fifty-nine particular, three monthly and two
quarterly meetings.
During the balance of 1816 and part of the year 1817, service was
principally confined to the limits of Westbury Quarterly Meeting.
But it was in no sense a period of idleness. Many visits were made
to meetings. In Eighth month of the latter year, in company with his
son-in-law, Valentine Hicks, a visit was made to some of the meetings
attached to Philadelphia and Baltimore Yearly Meetings. Many meetings
in New Jersey and Pennsylvania received a visit at this time. He went
as far south as Loudon County, Va., taking meetings _en route_, both
going and coming. He must have traveled not less than 1000 miles on
this trip.
Visits near at home, and one to some parts of New York Yearly Meeting,
occupied all his time during the year 1818.
In 1819 a general visit to Friends in his own yearly meeting engaged
his attention. He went to the Canadian border. This trip was a season
of extended service and deep exercise. On this journey he traveled 1084
miles, was absent from home fourteen weeks, and attended seventy-three
meetings for worship, three quarterly meetings and four monthly
meetings.
The years from 1819 to 1823, inclusive, were particularly active. Elias
Hicks was seventy-one in the former year. The real stormy period of his
life was approaching in the shape of the unfortunate misunderstanding
and bitterness which divided the Society. It scarcely demands more than
passing mention here, as later on we shall give deserved prominence to
the "separation" period.
He started on the Ohio trip Eighth month 17, 1819, taking northern and
central Pennsylvania on his route. He arrived in Mt. Pleasant in time
for Ohio Yearly Meeting, which seems to have been a most satisfactory
occasion, with no signs of the storm that broke over the same meeting
a few years later. Elias himself says: "It was thought, I believe, by
Friends, to have been the most favored yearly meeting they had had
since its institution, and was worthy of grateful remembrance."[21]
During this visit many appointed meetings were held, besides regular
meetings for worship. On the homeward journey, Friends in the
Shenandoah Valley, in Virginia, and in parts of Maryland were visited.
On this trip he journeyed 1200 miles, was from home three months, and
attended eighty-seven meetings.
[21] Journal, p. 377.
In 1820 a visit was made to Farmington and Duanesburg Quarterly
Meetings, and in the summer of 1822 he visited Friends in some parts of
Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. On this trip the Baltimore Yearly Meeting
was also visited, as were some of the particular meetings in Maryland.
He did not reach Philadelphia on the return journey until the early
part of Twelfth month. While his Journal is singularly silent about the
matter, it must have been on this visit that he encountered his first
public opposition as a minister. But, with few exceptions, the Journal
ignores the whole unpleasantness.
In 1824 he again attended Baltimore Yearly Meeting. The only comment on
this trip is the following: "I think it was, in its several sittings,
one of the most satisfactory yearly meetings I have ever attended, and
the business was conducted in much harmony and brotherly love."[22]
[22] Journal, p. 396.
On the homeward trip he stopped in Philadelphia. Here he suffered a
severe illness. Of this detention at that time he says: "I lodged at
the house of my kind friend, Samuel R. Fisher, who, with his worthy
children, extended to me the most affectionate care and attention;
and I had also the kind sympathy of a large portion of Friends in
that city."[23] The exception contained in this sentence is the only
intimation that all was not unity and harmony among Friends in the
"City of Brotherly Love."
[23] Journal, p. 396.
His visits in 1825 were confined to the meetings on Long Island and
those in central New York.
In the latter part of the following year he secured a minute to visit
meetings composing Concord and Southern Quarterly Meetings, within the
bounds of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. In passing through Philadelphia
he attended Green Street and Mulberry Street Meetings. This was within
a few months of the division of 1827 in Philadelphia Yearly Meeting,
but the matter is not mentioned in the Journal.