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
They then went forward to Raneberg, about six miles distant, to see the
_Instrument_ who wrote the letter to the King of Prussia which was
shown to them at Schellershammer. They found him a young man, inhabiting
an apartment in a lonely castle, romantically situated on a high hill. The
access to the spot was through a forest, and by a very bad road. Whatever
prejudice in regard to him they might have imbibed from the style of his
letter was at once dispelled by his appearance; his look was so humble, so
devoted, and with such "extreme sweetness of countenance." John Yeardley
and Martha Savory conversed with him a long time; he did not rightly
comprehend the nature of the Christian ministry, but he listened calmly
and patiently to all they had to say. They left some books with him, and
received some in return, descriptive of the awakening which gave rise to
the division in the society of _Inspirirten_. He was then about to
set out on foot to pay a religious visit to the members of his own
profession in various parts of the country; when at home he worked at his
trade, which was that of a carpenter.
The party retraced their steps to Hanau, and the next day pursued their
way southwards. They passed through Darmstadt and Heidelberg to Pforzheim.
Here they called on Henry Kienlin, whom they found a _Friend_ in
principle and practice, and who had given many proofs of his fidelity to
his principles by the persecution he had endured from his relations, and
the pecuniary loss he had suffered for refusing to comply with
ecclesiastical and military demands. He was a man of station and influence
in the town. He had not previously had personal acquaintance with any
members of the Society of Friends, but had read many of their writings. He
accompanied the travellers five miles out of the town to a little flock of
Separatists, who had not yet obtained religious liberty, and to whom it
was forbidden under a severe penalty to attend meetings held by strangers.
On the visiters entering the house of one of them, a number presently
collected; and as they stood together, a solemn feeling pervaded the
assembly, and John Yeardley was moved to address them in gospel testimony.
Henry Kienlin followed, explaining the principles of Friends clearly, and
giving them some suitable advice. They were laboring under the want of
discipline and organization, and of some one properly to represent their
case to the government. Some of them called the next day at Pforzheim, to
see the Friends again before they left.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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