Fry, Elizabeth Gurney, 1780-1845; Prison reformers -- Biography
As the years rolled on, her boys went to school also; but they were
followed by a loving mother's counsels. From her correspondence with
them we cull a few extracts to prove how constant and tender was her
care over them, and how far-reaching her anxieties. Two or three
specimens will suffice.
Upon the departure of each of her boys for boarding-school she wrote out
and gave him a copy of the following rules. They are valuable, as
showing how carefully she watched over their mental and moral welfare.
"1st. Be regular, strict in attending to religious duties; and do not
allow other boys around thee to prevent thy having some portion of time
for reading at least a text of Scripture, meditation and prayer; and if
it appear to be a duty, flinch not from bowing the knee before them, as
a mark of thy allegiance to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Attend
diligently when the holy Scriptures are read, or to any other religious
instruction, and endeavor in Meeting to seek after a serious waiting
state of mind, and to watch unto prayer. Let First Day be well employed
in reading proper books, etc., but also enjoy the rest of innocent
recreation, afforded in admiring the beauties of nature; for I believe
this is right in the ordering of a kind Providence that there should be
some rest and recreation in it. Show a proper, bold, and manly spirit
in maintaining among thy play-fellows a religious character, and strict
attention to all religious duties. Remember these texts to strengthen
thee in it. 'For whosoever shall be ashamed of Me, and My words, of him
shall the Son of Man be ashamed, when He shall come in His own glory, in
His Father's, and of the holy angels.' 'But I say unto you, whosoever
shall confess Me before men, him shall the Son of Man also confess
before the angels of God; but he that denieth Me before man shall be
denied before the angels of God.' Now, the sooner the dread laugh of the
world loses its power, the better for you.... But strongly as I advise
thee thus faithfully maintaining thy principles and doing thy duty, I
would have thee very careful of either judging or reproving others; for
it takes a long time to get the beam out of our own eye, before we can
see clearly to take the mote out of our brother's eye. There is for one
young in years, much greater safety in preaching to others by example,
than in word, or doing what is done in an upright, manly spirit, 'unto
the Lord, and not unto man.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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