The Experience with T. Shillitoe.
The first day after his arrival in America, Thomas Shillitoe[171]
attended Hester Street Meeting, in New York. He tells that "it
was reported that he had come over to help the Friends of Elias
Hicks."[172] As this Friend came into collision with Elias several
times, and was second to none in vigor and virulence among his
antagonists, either domestic or foreign, it seems proper to review his
connection with the controversy, because some added light may thus be
thrown on the spirit and purpose of the opposition to Elias Hicks.
[171] Thomas Shillitoe was born in London "about the Second month,
1754," Elias Hicks being six years his senior. His parents were not
Friends. At one time his father kept an inn. Joined Grace Church Street
Monthly Meeting in London about 1775. Was acknowledged a minister at
Tottenham in 1790. He learned the grocery business, and afterward
entered a banking house. Finally learned shoemaker's trade, and had
a shop. Was married in 1778. Came to America in 1826, arriving in
New York, Ninth month 8th. While here traveled extensively, visiting
certain Indian tribes. In 1827 he had an interview with President
Andrew Jackson. He left New York for Liverpool in Eighth month, 1829,
having been in this country nearly three years. Thomas Shillitoe died
in 1836.
[172] "Journal of Thomas Shillitoe," Vol. 2, p. 150.
Of the experience on that first meeting in America the venerable
preacher says: "I found it hard work to rise upon my feet, but
believing that the offer of the best of all help was made, I ventured
and was favored to clear my mind faithfully, and in a manner I
apprehended would give such of the followers of Elias Hicks as were
present a pretty clear idea of the mistake they had been under of my
being come over to help their unchristian cause."[173]
[173] "Journal of Thomas Shillitoe," Vol. 2, p. 151.
He had not been seen at that time to converse with a single friend of
Elias Hicks, and there is no evidence that during the three years he
was in America he mingled at all with any Friends who were not of the
so-called orthodox party.
During the week following his arrival in this country, Thomas Shillitoe
visited Jericho by way of Westbury. Regarding his visit he says:
"We took our dinner with G. Seaman; after which we proceeded to
Jericho, and took up our abode this night with our kind friend,
Thomas Willis. In passing through the village of Jericho, Elias
Hicks was at his own door; he invited me into his own house to take
up my abode, which I found I could not have done, even had we not
previously concluded to take up our abode with T. Willis. I refused
his offer in as handsome a manner as I well knew how. He then pressed
me to make him a call; I was careful to make such a reply as would
not make it binding upon me, although we had to pass his door on our
way to the next meeting. I believe it was safest for me not to comply
with his request."[174]
[174] "Journal of Thomas Shillitoe," Vol. 2, p. 154.
G. Seaman, mentioned above, became the first clerk of the Orthodox
Monthly Meeting of Westbury and Jericho, organized after the
"separation," and Thomas Willis was the Friend who should probably be
called the father of the opposition to Elias Hicks. Had the English
visitor determined from the start to hear nothing, and know nothing but
one side of the controversy, he could not have more fully made that
possible than by the intercourse he had with Friends on this continent.
To show how bent he was not to be influenced or contaminated by those
not considered orthodox, it may be noted that while in Jericho he was
visited by Friends in that neighborhood, who urged him to call on them.
He was at first inclined to acquiesce, but after "waiting where the
divine counsellor is to be met with," he changed his mind, remarking,
"I afterwards understood some of these individuals were of Elias
Hicks's party."[175]
[175] "Journal of Thomas Shillitoe," Vol. 2, p. 154.
The New York Yearly Meeting of 1827 was attended by all of the
ministering Friends and their companions from England, viz: Thomas
Shillitoe, Elizabeth Robson, George and Ann Jones, Isaac and Anna
Braithwaite. There seems to have been a foreshadowing of trouble in
this yearly meeting. Elizabeth Robson asked for a minute to visit men's
meeting, which met with some opposition, and was characterized by
confusion in carrying out the purpose. Elias Hicks says nothing about
the matter in his Journal, and no reference was made to this Friend in
his personal correspondence. The English Friends left New York before
the close of the Yearly Meeting, to attend New England Yearly Meeting.
It is not our purpose to follow the wanderings of Thomas Shillitoe
in America. He was at the New York Yearly Meeting again in 1828, at
the time of the "separation." Touching this occasion, the minutes of
the meeting in question furnish some information, as follows: "Thomas
Shillitoe, who is in this country on a religious visit from England,
objected to the company of some individuals who were present with us,
and members of a neighboring yearly meeting, stating that they had
been regularly disowned," etc.[176] For thus dictating to the yearly
meeting, Thomas Shillitoe presented this justification:
[176] From Minute Book of New York Yearly Meeting, session of 1828.
"I obtained a certificate from my own monthly meeting and quarterly
meeting, and also one from the Select Yearly Meeting of Friends held
in London, expressive of their concurrence with my traveling in the
work of the ministry on this continent, which certificates were read
in the last Yearly Meeting of New York, and entered in the records
of that Yearly Meeting; such being the case, it constitutes me as
much a member of this Yearly Meeting as any other member of it."[177]
[177] "Journal of Thomas Shillitoe," Vol. 2, p. 311.
This may have been according to good society order and etiquette eighty
odd years ago, but would hardly pass current in our time. For a visitor
in a meeting to object to the presence of other visitors, on the ground
of rumor and with no regular or official evidence of the charges
against them, would probably put the objector into disfavor. But we
are not warranted in passing harsh judgment in the nineteenth-century
case. The English Friends, right or wrong, came to this country under
the impression that they were divinely sent to save the Society of
Friends in America from going to the bad. At the worst, it was a case
of assuming the care of too many consciences.
Soon after the close of the New York Yearly Meeting of 1828, both
Thomas Shillitoe and Elias Hicks started on a western trip. Elias seems
to have preceded the English Friend by a few days. The two men met at
Westland.[178] At this place Thomas says that Elias denied that Jesus
was the son of God, until after the baptism, and opposed the proper
observance of the Sabbath.[179] Of course, the statements of Elias were
controverted by his fellow-preacher, or, at least, an attempt to do
so was made. It should be understood that Elias denied that Jesus was
the son of God in the sense in which Thomas conceived he was, and he
undoubtedly antagonized the observance of the Sabbath in the slavish
way which considered that man was secondary to the institution.
[178] See page 47 of this book.
[179] "Journal of Thomas Shillitoe," Vol. 2, p. 328.
Part of the mission of our English Friend from this time seems to
have been to oppose Elias Hicks, and turn the minds of the people
against him. They both attended Redstone Monthly Meeting. Here Elias
presented his minute of unity and the other evidences of good faith
which he possessed. At this point Thomas says: "Observing a disposition
in most of the members of the meeting to have these minutes read
in the meeting, I proposed to the meeting to consider how far with
propriety they could read them; after their Meeting for Sufferings
had given forth a testimony against the doctrines of Elias Hicks. But
a determination to read his minutes being manifested, Friends were
obliged to submit."[180]
[180] "Journal of Thomas Shillitoe," Vol. 2, p. 330.
Taken altogether, this is a remarkable statement. The "testimony"
referred to was the "declaration of faith"[181] published by the
Philadelphia Meeting for Sufferings. This document did not mention
Elias Hicks, and failed to secure the approval of the Yearly Meeting,
before the "separation." It is evident that "most of the members"
were with Elias Hicks on this occasion. Only the few opposers were
"Friends"; so the statement infers.
[181] See page 139 of this book.
The two preachers are next heard from at Redstone Quarterly Meeting,
where Thomas was disposed to practice an act of self-denial. He told
the meeting that he preferred his own minute should not be read, if
Elias Hicks's was received. We have some evidence from Elias Hicks
himself regarding this incident, in a letter written to Valentine
and Abigail Hicks, from Pittsburg, Eighth month 5, 1828, stating the
proposition of Thomas Shillitoe regarding his minute. Elias says:
"Friends took him at his word, and let him know that they should not
minute it, but insisted that mine should be minuted, expressing very
general satisfaction with my company and service, and reprobated his
in plain terms, and charged him and his companion with breach of the
order and discipline of the Society, and insisted that the elders and
overseers should stop at the close of the meeting and see what could be
done to put a stop to such disorderly conduct."
Thomas then says that he exposed Elias Hicks as an impostor "in
attempting as he did to impose himself upon the public as a minister
in unity with the Society of Friends; the Society having, by a printed
document, declared against his doctrine, and himself as an approved
minister."[182] Evidently this was another reference to the much-lauded
"declaration of faith," although this did not represent an actually
authoritative declaration of the Society. At its best, Philadelphia's
Meeting for Sufferings was not the Society of Friends; but the people
still wanted to hear Elias. They apparently preferred to interpret him
at first-hand.
[182] "Journal of Thomas Shillitoe," Vol. 2, p. 331.
Thomas Shillitoe tells us that when they crossed the Ohio River he
talked with the woman at the ferry, who protested against the ideas of
Elias Hicks, and then remarks: "She kept a tavern, and I left with her
one of the declarations, requesting her to circulate it amongst her
neighbors."[183] Evidently the publican, in this case, was sound in the
faith as held by the English preacher.
[183] "Journal of Thomas Shillitoe," Vol. 2, p. 332.
Mt. Pleasant was next visited by both Friends, preceding and at Ohio
Yearly Meeting. They do not seem to have come personally into collision
at this point, and insofar as either makes reference to the occurrences
there, they are in substantial agreement.[184] Thomas Shillitoe bears
mildly veiled testimony to the desire of the people to hear Elias
Hicks, in the following statement: "From the great concourse of people
we passed in the afternoon on the way to Short Creek Meeting, where
Elias Hicks was to be, I had cherished a hope we should have had a
quiet meeting at Mt. Pleasant."[185] But the contrary was the case; to
whom the blame was due, the reader may decide.
[184] For other reference to this matter, see page 49 of this book.
[185] "Journal of Thomas Shillitoe," Vol. 2, p. 343.
It is to be presumed that these two Friends, both of whom performed
valuable service for the Society, according to their lights and gifts,
never met after their western experience. For the want of understanding
each other, they went their way not as fellow-servants, but as
strangers, if not enemies. The unity of the spirit was obliterated in a
demand for uniformity of speculative doctrine.