EXTRACTS FROM THE JOURNAL OF HENRY HULL.
Memoir of the Life and Religious Labours of Henry Hull. Philadelphia: Friends' Book Store, 1873.
Stereotyped edition. Pages 102 - 105.
This Document is on The Quaker Writings Home Page.
After attending South river Monthly Meeting, we had a very large public meeting in the Mason's
Hall, at Lynchburg. The power and authority of Truth reigned, and the practice of holding slaves
was shown to be antichristian. Several meetings coming in the course of this week, we preferred
riding out of our way, to appointing meetings at such places. We were at Beaver-dam, Goose-creek,
and Upper Goose-creek, and had a public meeting in the court-house at Liberty, where it was
thought a Friends' Meeting had never been held before. Whilst I was speaking a woman fell upon
the floor, appearing as if in great agony and groaning in a pitiful manner, as is not uncommon in
the meetings of some societies, and frequently has the effect to excite the preacher to greater efforts.
It was, however, the reverse with me, and I felt grieved. The minds of the people appeared to be
impressed with a degree of solemnity, which made them attentive to what was delivered, and
prepares the mind also to judge correctly, the Holy Spirit bearing witness with their spirits, to the
Truth. It was painful to me to think of the meeting being disturbed, and I therefore requested the
people endeavour to keep still, and if the woman was likely to faint, some persons could take her to
the door for fresh air, upon which she arose from the floor, and apparently much confused, walked
to the door, where she sat quietly until the meeting concluded. I am sensible that the influence of
the Divine Spirit will at times tender the mind, as well as operations upon the body, and that tears
will flow so that it is almost impossible to restrain them. It is, however, necessary for us to guard
against disturbing an assembly whose minds may be gathered into serious attention to
communications, which in Divine Wisdom may be made interesting and instructive to them. God
is a God of order,and must be worshipped in spirit and truth, and engagement to which still and
quietude are peculiarly appropriate, in meetings for the purpose of promoting the knowledge of the
Lord and his ways, as well as for the performance of that adoration and worship which is due to
Him. I cannot unite with the confusion and noses sometimes heart in assemblies professedly
religious, and hailed as the might effects of Divine power, which it is to be feared proceed rather
from the passions and will of the creature; and while these are in an unsubjected state, the mind
cannot be benefited, as the humble and contrite heart often is, when the benign Spirit of the Most
High operates as the refreshing dew upon the tender herb - these are they that "shall grow as the
lily, and cast forth their roots as Lebanon."
We next had a meeting for the poor slaves held in Goose-creek meeting-house, on first-day
afternoon, with the consent of their masters and overseers, several of whom attended. The sight of so
large a number together, as nearly to fill the house, was unusual to me, and their dejected
countenance and ragged appearance affected my mind, and awakened tender sympathy for them,
under which I expressed my desires for their everlasting welfare - endeavoruing, in simple
language, to impress on them the necessity of avoiding every evil practice, in order that the great
God, whose compassions are toward people of all colours and nations, might bless them, and give
them patience to endure affliction in this world, and prepare them for that better world which is to
come, where thy would be freed from servitude and suffering. The poor creatures paid great
attention, and sat with unusual quietude.