Memoir and Diary of John Yeardley, Minister of the GospelYeardley, John
Religion
Memoir and Diary of John Yeardley, Minister of the Gospel
Yeardley, John
Clergy -- United States -- Biography; Quakers -- Biography; Yeardley, John, 1786-1858
In Duerkheim there are eleven converted Jews, who dare not meet except in
secret for fear of the rabbins. One night the rabbins attempted to take
away their bibles and other books, but they received a hint of their
intention, and sent the books to Fitz's house. One of them, a servant
girl, as soon as she heard that some Christian friends were come into the
town, went to Fitz's, and took up one of the books we had given him. She
read a little in it hastily, put it in her bosom, and ran home. Her
curiosity and love of the truth impelled her to come to our hotel, and
wait unobserved in the hall to catch a glimpse of us as we came out. We
felt much for these awakened ones of Abraham's offspring; their oppressed
condition rested much upon our hearts; but as we had no opportunity of
conversing with them, I wrote a few lines from Friedelsheim to the young
woman, and sent them with some books by Fitz, who accompanied us to that
place. _Tuke's Principles_ finds much entrance among the awakened
Jews.
Travelling through Spires, Carlsruhe, and Pforzheim, they came on the 16th
to Stuttgardt, where they found Henry Kienlin, of Pforzheim, who, as the
reader will remember, had won so large a place in their love and esteem on
their former journey.
He not only, says John Yeardley, professes our principles, but bears a
clear and fearless testimony for them. His wife is of the same mind with
him, although she does not yet show it in the simplicity of her dress.
On the 18th, we set out in company with our good friend to Ludwigsburg to
see the prison. There are about 600 prisoners, of both sexes, for the most
part employed in labor. Order and cleanliness prevail, and the food is
good. The governor, Kleth, is a worthy, pious man; he himself reads the
Holy Scriptures to the prisoners, and endeavors to promote their spiritual
improvement. When we entered a room in which were a number of men, they
rose, and stood serious and quiet as though they expected we should
address them; and for a short time the love of God was felt amongst us in
an impressive manner; but nothing was given us to utter.
It will be recollected that when John and Martha Yeardley were at
Stuttgardt in 1826, they met with the Pastor Hoffman, and that they
desired to visit the institution at Kornthal, of which he was the
director, but were obliged to forego this visit in order to hasten forward
to Basle. They now prepared to discharge this debt of Christian love.
Kornthal is situated four miles from Stuttgardt; it was founded in 1819 by
dissenters from the Moravians and Lutherans, and consisted in 1825 of
about seventy families. J. and M.Y. went there on the 19th.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account