First day, the 1st of 9th month. I attended an appointed meeting among my relatives and acquaintance at Rockaway, the place of my former residence, when young, while living in my father’s house. The meeting was not large, but proved a precious tendering season. Many hearts were much broken and contrited by the prevalence of divine love and power that accompanied the testimony borne, and spread generally over the meeting, to the praise of His grace who is calling us to glory and virtue. A concern for the guarded education of the youth among Friends has for many years past exercised our yearly meeting; and many advices and recommendations have been issued therefrom to the quarterly and other subordinate meetings, in order to stir up Friends to vigilance and care therein, that proper schools might be established among them, under the care of pious tutors, that so Friends’ children, while getting their necessary school learning, might be religiously instructed, and preserved from evil examples, and the company of such children as are viciously inclined; by which their tender minds might be wounded, and led from the simplicity of truth. In order further to stir up Friends to this concern, our last yearly meeting directed the quarterly meetings to appoint committees to visit the monthly and preparative meetings, to encourage Friends therein. As I was one among other Friends appointed by our quarterly meeting for that purpose, we attended the monthly meetings of New-York and Flushing, in the course of this week. And I am thankful in believing that the service was owned by the Head of the Church, who was graciously near, and furnished with matter suited to the occasion; insomuch, that I have cause to believe that the opportunities at each place were instructive and edifying, affording encouragement to the willing-minded. First day, the 8th of 9th month. I found it my place to be at home to-day, and of course attended our own meeting. Although most of the forepart of the meeting, I apprehended I should be permitted to sit it in silence; yet about the middle thereof, my mind was quickened in the remembrance of the testimony of Solomon, where he tells us, that “Wisdom is the principal thing.” As the subject spread on my mind, I was led to consider how it is that all men speak highly of it, and yet, at the same time, are not at all rightly acquainted with its beginning; and are therefore mostly living all their days without the right knowledge of, and acquaintance with it. For it is not to be derived through any other medium than the true fear of the Lord, which we are told is the beginning of wisdom; and as it is only begun in man by this true fear, so likewise it is the middle and the end; as every advancement in true wisdom is only by the fear of the Lord: surely, then, it is the most precious of any thing to the children of men.