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
He is beloved by his employers, and has an
excellent certificate from the pastor, of his moral and religious
character.
On the 2nd of the Eleventh Month they went to Zurich, and the same day
drove out over a very bad road to Pfaeffikon to visit the Herr von
Campagne.
We had a cold wet journey, but the good old man gave us a hearty welcome
to his house. He is seventy-six years of age. He asked us pleasantly how
we came to think of visiting an old man who was on the brink of the grave.
He had heard much of Friends, and wished, he said, to become personally
acquainted with some of the Society. He is a most benevolent character,
but we could not unite with all his religious views; he does not think it
necessary to meet for religious worship; in short, his principles are much
the same as those held by Jacob Boehmen.
We slept at his house, and next morning returned to Zurich, where we
called on our particular friend Professor Gessner and his family, and we
rejoiced mutually to see each other again.
In the afternoon they called on Pastor Koch, tutor to the young Prince of
Mecklenburg, who was at that time in Switzerland, and the next morning,
First-day, as they were holding their little meeting for worship, the
Prince himself, with Herr Koch and the Herr von Brandenstein, gave them a
visit. The Prince spoke English; and J.Y. says:--
I had a strong impression to speak to him in a serious way, which I was
enabled to do at some length. On parting he held me with both his hands in
mine, and said, "I thank you, sir, for your kind and instructive
communication; I shall never forget it so long as I live."
A little before twelve o'clock, he continues, came our kind young friend,
Hannah Gessner, to accompany us to the ancient and worthy Bishop Hess. He
is in his eighty-seventh year, but lively in spirit and active in mind. He
is uncommonly liberal in his religious opinions, and his enlarged heart
seemed to overflow with Christian love towards the followers of Christ
under every name. He treated us as a father, and I felt instructed in
being in his company. He gave us his portrait as a token of respect and
friendship.
In the evening we took tea with Professor Gessner's sister, Lavater, in
company with seven of the professor's daughters and sons, who are all
serious persons. After some conversation on the order and ministry of our
Society, it was proposed by dear Hannah, through her aunt, whether we
would like to have a Meeting or the Scriptures read. After a portion of
Scripture had been read silence ensued, in which my dear M. Y. and I said
what was on our minds in testimony and supplication. It is a time of
precious visitation to some of them. We felt sweet unity with Pastor
Gessner, and believe him to be a gospel minister. On parting he took me in
both arms, and said, in such a feeling manner that the words went to my
very heart, "The Lord bless thee, and put the words of his wisdom into thy
mouth."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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