Since the above was written, the Editor has found this document entered in a catalogue of George Fox’s Writings, preserved in London. This catalogue, (which appears in a handwriting very like that of Thomas Ellwood,) commences with the year 1644; and under each successive year, are entered the pieces written by George Fox; and frequently the first and last concluding words of each, are also introduced. Under the 6th month, 1689, is found the title of the present document, with the first sentence of it, and the last viz. -“who is over all, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen. A postscript is added viz. -“It may be serviceable for them that come after.” ]
Concerning our Monthly and Quarterly and Yearly Meetings, wherein the Lord Hath Owned, Prospered, and Blessed them; which hath been of Good Service, to His Glory, and the Comfort of His People.
The first Monthly Meeting was on this wise in the North: -though we did meet concerning the poor, and to see that all walked according to the Truth, before we were called Quakers, about the {Page 312} middle of the nation in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, and part of Leicestershire, where there was a great convincement.
In 1653, in Cumberland many of the Elders came to me at Swarthmore in Lancashire, and desired that they might have a Monthly Meeting, to look after the poor, and to see that all walked according to the Truth, &c; and they had a meeting settled there for the same purpose
Then after [wards,] when the Truth was spread in Cheshire, Lancashire, Westmorland, Cumberland, Northumberland, Bishoprick and Yorkshire, and the edge of Wales, there was a meeting at Swarthmore, of some of the Elders of most of these places where we did consider to have Monthly Meetings, ordered by the power of the Lord, in most of these places. And then there was a Yearly Meeting settled at Skipton in Yorkshire, for all the northern and southern counties; where in the wisdom of God, they did see that all walked according to the glorious gospel of God, and that there was nothing wanting among them; and if there was, one county assisted another, either in relieving the poor, (in the Lord’s counsel, ) or in advice in sufferings, or any other matters.
After [wards] many Friends the Lord opened their mouths, and some of them went to London, and some to Bristol, and other places. The substantial men and Elders in the Truth came to the Yearly Meeting at Skipton, both from Bristol and London, and other places and there they gave an account of the prosperity and the spreading of the Lord’s blessed Truth, and of what Friends the Lord [had] moved to go beyond the seas: for all that did travel into any parts, (in the motion of the {Page 313} Lord, ) or beyond the seas, they made the Monthly, Quarterly, or Yearly Meetings acquainted so that all went in unity in the Spirit and fellowship of the church of Christ, and power of the Lord: and if there was occasion Friends assisted them with that which is the least love. And all these meetings looked to see that all walked according to the gospel of Christ, and were faithful; and that all the poor in all the counties were looked after. And then the Yearly Meeting was removed to John Crook’s; and all things there were looked into as before. And many that were there, were moved of the Lord to go beyond the seas: and marriages were looked into there, and settled, as they had been before at the meeting at Swarthmore, when many Friends met together out of many counties. And after [wards] the Yearly Meeting was kept at Balby in Yorkshire, where there were many thousands of people: and likewise at Skipton the same year, by the Elders there ordered from all parts, in the year 1660. And from thence, it was removed to London the next year, where it hath been kept ever since, as being looked upon a more convenient place.
And there we had intelligence from all parts beyond the seas, how Truth prospered and spread, both in England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, America, Holland, and Germany; and how Friends did walk in the Truth, in their conversation, both minister and others, and as becomes the gospel; and to see that the camp of God was kept holy and clean to his glory; and if there was any need of books concerning spreading the Truth beyond the seas, or any other parts; and all the sufferings were brought or sent up hither (viz. to the Yearly Meeting, ) from all parts of the world where Friends were. And {Page 314} Friends [were] to assist and relieve them, in what they could, at the Yearly Meeting, (or the Meeting for Sufferings in their absence, ) with the King, Council, or Parliament, that were in his dominions and they that were of other kingdoms or governments out of his dominions, we applied to the ambassadors or great persons here, or wrote unto them beyond the seas, to the Kings, Princes, or Governors &c., to relieve Friends in their sufferings, &c. assisting them in what we could for their relief: and such as were taken captive by the Turks, the Yearly Meeting assisted and relieved, or in their absence the Meetings for offerings; and if there was any occasion for a collection, to help, to refresh and relieve captives or prisoners, or for other needful services. And there was not any public collection, but what was done at the Yearly Meeting (with the consent of all Friends from all parts, ) for all general services; and there it was agreed upon in unity and in the Lord’s power, by the consent of all Friends that came out of all counties to the Yearly Meeting. And then, in the absence of the Yearly Meeting, if there was any occasion for the relief of any captives, or prisoners, or sufferers, either in Turkey or any parts beyond the seas, or here in England, to help the sufferers, concerning Truth’s affairs, and other public services, - the Yearly Meeting did desire the Meeting for Sufferings, between Yearly Meeting and Yearly Meeting, to assist and relieve poor Friends in their sufferings, both in England and beyond the seas, and all other needful services; and to give them a true account next Yearly Meeting of what they had laid out, and to whom, and for what services; and at the Yearly Meeting they made up their accounts, and had {Page 315} discharges under their hand. So once a year the number of all the prisoners, both in England or beyond the seas, and that are captives in all other kingdoms and dominions, Friends are to have an account [also] the number of all Friends that have died prisoners for Truth; and of all Friends in the ministry that have died every year. And at the Yearly Meeting, Friends have an account once a year from all the Yearly Meetings in the world which are about twenty-six;1 and Friends at the Yearly Meeting write to them again at their Yearly Meetings so that once a year at the Yearly Meeting, God’s people know the affairs of Truth, how it spreads, and how all walk according to the Truth having a heavenly correspondence one with another in the heavenly society and fellowship. And also if there be any differences from any part about any matter that cannot be ended at their Monthly or Quarterly Meetings, then they present it to the Yearly Meeting, where some are chosen to make an end of it: or any matters concerning sufferings, there it is answered at the Yearly Meeting, sent thither from the Quarterly Meetings; for what the Yearly Meeting receives is from the Quarterly Meetings, by them that are ordered from the {Page 316} Quarterly Meeting to the Yearly Meeting, that be substantial elders, that know the affairs of the church of Christ in their county; they bring up their sufferings or any other case: but for private or particular letters, they seldom receive any, unless it be upon necessity or urgent occasions that fall out after the Quarterly Meeting; for in all counties their sufferings or any other case, are first brought to their Monthly Meetings; and if not ended there, then it is brought to their Quarterly Meetings; and if not ended there, then it is presented to their Yearly Meeting; where some are chosen out to hear it, and make a final end of it in the Lord’s wisdom, in truth and righteousness without respect to any.
For, in the first conversion to Christianity, after Christ was ascended, there were seven men of honest report and full of the Holy Ghost, and of wisdom, chosen out to be deacons. &c, and to look after the poor, and widows, and to see that nothing was wanting; then all was well: and Nicolas, a proselyte of Antioch was one; and you may see how he run out into bad things, and drew a company after him, that were called Nicolaitans, whom God hated, as in Rev. ii. 15. And when the Gospel was spread abroad in the world by the apostles, and any difference was in the churches, they went up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders; and they declared all things that God had done with and by them and there they decided the differences: and the apostles and elders, the church at Jerusalem, wrote Epistles and sent them by Paul and Barnabas: as they went through every city, they delivered them the decrees to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders {Page 317} which were at Jerusalem: and so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily, Acts xvi. 4, 5. And the apostles, the ministers of Christ, ordained elders in every church: so there was not a church but they had their elders also, Acts xiv. 23: so you may see there was not a church but they had their elders then there was more than seven deacons, when elders were ordained in every church. And the apostle saith to Titus, ”For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting,” or left undone; “and ordain elders in every city, as I have appointed thee:” Titus i. 5. Concerning both the aged men and aged women, - men “sound in the faith,” &c., and “holy women,” &c: Titus i. 3. And Peter writes “to the elders:” 1 Peter v. 1: and John writes, “The Elder unto the elect lady and her children;” and said, “I rejoiced greatly, that I found of thy children walking in truth:” 2 John i. 4: and many other scriptures might be brought to the same purpose; but this is sufficient to them that are in the same power and Spirit that gave them forth, and to correct the opposers of the order of Truth, by the same Spirit that was in the apostles, to the praise and glory of God: -the Lord increase his Truth and his order. Amen!
Much more I could write of the passages of Truth and its order: but these are short heads and memorandums to Friends that have not known the beginning of it; for many of that separate spirit have talked of things in the beginning, and yet have opposed the order of Truth; …
- In this number were doubtless included the Circulating or County Yearly Meetings in this Country. The following Yearly Meetings have been found mentioned in our records-Lancashire, Bristol, Wales, Aberdeen Edinburgh, Dublin, Maryland, Jamaica, Long Island Rhode Island, Burlington-west Jersey, East Jersey, Pennsylvania, Bermudas, Holland, Dantzic, London and it is probable there were also Yearly Meetings of Colchester, Norwich, Virginia, Antigua, Barbadoes, Nevis; besides other Country Yearly Meetings in England.↩
No comments:
Post a Comment