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
28_th_.--Took tea at the Pavilion, a pleasant country walk of twenty
minutes from town, with Mad'e de Watteville and her daughter. She had
invited a number of friends to meet us. We passed a couple of hours,
pleasantly conversing, mostly on religious subjects. It is a little
extraordinary, with what openness some of these dear people speak to us of
the state of their minds. When the circle was seated, we formed a pretty
large company. The daughter of Mad'e de W. whispered to my M.Y., Are we
too dissipated to have something good? We told her it was always good to
endeavor to retire before the Lord in humility of soul. I trust a parting
blessing was felt amongst us.
30_th_.--From 9 o'clock till half-past 12, we received visits in
succession, I think not fewer than fifteen. At half-past 2, Mad'e de Tavel
accompanied us to the Penitentiary prison. For cleanliness and order, I
think, it exceeds all I ever saw of the kind. I fear the religious
instruction is very superficial; none but formal prayers and written
sermons are used.
31_st_.--Attended Mad'lle Berthom's Scripture class, at the
Institution for the Destitute. There are eighteen girls in the house to
bed and hoard; it has been established about six years. M.B.'s method of
examining the children is the most simple and spiritual of any that I have
seen; she has an extraordinary gift for the purpose.
9 _mo_. 2.--Attended the Monthly Meeting in the missionary room. Many
of the company were peasants from some distance. The singing excepted, it
resembled a Monthly Meeting for worship in our Society; for all had
liberty to speak one after the other, five or six speaking by way of
testimony: the doctrine was sound, and the way in which they coupled this
with their Christian experience was really excellent. I had much unity
with the concluding prayer by Pastor Merley.
2_nd_.--The evening was spent at Mad'e W.'s, with a pretty large
company. ---- proposed for a few verses to be sung; afterwards he read a
chapter, and gave a long exposition, somewhat dry. When this and a prayer
were gone through, it was late; neither my M.Y., nor myself, were able to
express what was on our minds. Some uneasiness and disappointment were
expressed by several; and two of these dear friends came to our lodgings
the next day, with whom we had a precious time. My M.Y. had to speak a few
words to the particular state of M.B., and at the close she acknowledged,
in brokenness of spirit, that it was the truth.
There is a remarkable awakening in the town and canton of Berne, both
among those of the higher walks of life and the peasants; but there is not
strength enough to come out of the forms. There are thirty females to one
man among those who are lately become serious.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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