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
On the 6th they went to Berne, and the next morning they inspected
Fellenberg's institution at Hofwyl.
It is, says John Yeardley, what it professes to be, for education in the
fullest extent of the word, to give to those committed to their care an
education suited to their circumstances and their future prospects in
life. There is a first-rate boarding school, for young gentlemen; a middle
school, for tradesmen, &c.; a [boys' and] girls' poor school of industry,
for those who can pay nothing.--(_Letter to Josiah Forster_.)
To J.Y. the most interesting department of this institution was the school
of industry for poor children, in which at that time a hundred boys were
clothed and educated. He describes at some length, and with evident
approbation, the system on which the school was conducted; but adds, "I
cannot say much as to religious instruction."
From Hofwyl they proceeded through Lausanne to Geneva, where, being
desirous of improving themselves in French, and the season not permitting
them to travel, they hired a lodging, intending to remain two or three
months.
As on their former visit, they held frequent intercourse with pious
persons, several of them well known in the Christian world; such as
Gaussen, Bost, and L'Huillier. Of Theodore L'Huillier. minister of the New
Church, John Yeardley says:--
Though a moderate Calvinist, he embraced us at once on the broad principle
of Christianity. We became acquainted with him two years ago, but think
him now much deeper in the root of real religion.
11 _mo_. 19.--We called yesterday evening on our dear friend Owen,
and met there a pious lady, Fanny Passavant. We had much serious
conversation, I hope to profit, at least to our own minds; for we were
given to see a little the importance of the situation in which we stand,
and the necessity of being, in our intercourse with these religious
persons, wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
1828. 1 mo. 13.--We have had much satisfaction in becoming acquainted with
Ami Bost. He was one of the first who bore testimony to the light which
broke forth in the corrupt church of Geneva, and he suffered much in
defending the doctrines of the New Church. In Germany he was, with his
wife and six or seven children, driven from town to town by the police,
for holding religious meetings in his house, and for refusing to have his
children baptised. His sentiments in the office of the ministry and the
appointment of preachers, are in perfect unison with those of Friends;
also on the ordinances of the Supper, &c.
1 _mo_. 20.--During the greater part of our stay at this place I have felt
my mind extremely poor, but a secret desire and prayer has been maintained
to be preserved in patience, believing it to be as necessary to learn to
suffer as to do. And although it is apparently little we can do here, we
have felt repeatedly the assurance that it is the ordering of Best Wisdom,
and as such we are well satisfied.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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