CHAPTER VII.

_WORK IN ENGLAND AND IRELAND._

"Their single aim the purpose to fulfil Of truth from day to day; Simply obedient to its guiding will, They held their pilgrim way. Yet dream not hence the beautiful and old Were wasted on their sight Who in the school of Christ had learned to hold All outward things aright."

WHITTIER.

Eli and Sybil Jones reached Baltimore in the middle of winter, and experienced the joy of being once more among Friends and in their own loved country. Having been kept and continually supported to accomplish their work, they now were filled with thanksgiving to Him whose pillar of cloud and fire had gone before them by day and by night, and they were prepared in spirit for the still longer journey which was before them. They visited friends and relatives on their way to Maine, and were everywhere joyfully received. Their children had all passed the time of their absence pleasantly, and had gained in mental and physical growth.

It was an interesting sight when their townsmen met to welcome them home. One can see them in the monthly meeting, which was held at this time. Many who came but seldom, rode over the hills that day to sit down on the unpainted seats and listen if they did not worship, and an unusually large number were present when the hushed stillness told that meeting had begun. One father and the mothers of the two ministers were there, brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts; many who had always known them, and some who had never seen them,--all bowed their heads before the Mighty One, and

"Low breathings stole Of a diviner life from soul to soul, Baptizing in one tender thought the whole."

Even the cold-hearted felt a warmth steal in, and the low-spirited were exalted in their minds. No one who sat under that silence doubted that the Lord was speaking to "the spirit's finer ear;" and when the seal was broken and the moved lips opened in vocal thanksgiving many hearts rose in harmony. A brief, quiet prayer from a full heart, when the spirit of the whole meeting rises with it, reaches where eye cannot see, and comes not back void. Words are human, but power is divine.

We can see Eli Jones rise from his wonted seat and slowly speak his text: "When the poor and needy seek water and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys. I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water." His companion sees many before her who have grown cold while they have been answering the call from Ethiopia, and sweetly she asks them to whom they will go if they forsake Him who alone has the words of eternal life. Together they sound the alarm and call upon their friends and neighbors to stand firm and quit them like men while they go out again to reap in other vineyards. At the close of this day Sybil Jones could say, "He brought us unto his banqueting-house, and the banner over us was Love."

Once more they separated from home-friends and took their little children to West Hill, N. J., the lovely home of Eliza P. Gurney, who had asked that the two youngest boys, Eli Grelet and Richard Mott, might be left with her during their parents' absence.... On First day they attended the meeting at Burlington, and sat in company with Stephen Grelet and Richard Mott, for whom the boys had been named. Stephen Grelet, that great apostle, who had given messages from the King of kings to potentates and princes in all the countries of Europe, who had shown men's equality by holding his finger to the Pope's extended finger, and who was now waiting to be ushered into another and a higher court, addressed them thus: "The Lord has provided for your children in your absence, and thus given striking demonstration of His love to you; and now this testimony is applicable to you, my dear friends: 'I will be with thee whithersoever thou goest, and will guide thee with mine eye, and afterward receive thee into glory;' so go, dear friends, cheerfully, for the Lord will be your all-sufficient Helper."

After visiting their other children, at Haverford College and at Providence, they finally sailed from Boston the 31st of 3d mo. on the steamer "Niagara" for Liverpool. A goodly company of Friends from Lynn and elsewhere were on the wharf to wave them adieu.

It was an uneventful passage, except that an iceberg was discovered exactly in their course just in time to turn the ship from the danger. Sybil Jones writes of it: "I got on deck while it was in full view, and gazed with wonder and delight upon this magnificent frosty traveller from the frigid North to milder skies. It seemed like an island all of light consolidated into form, or as a cathedral whose stately spires pierced the eternal sunshine. The first rays of the morning sun gave to its pure, spotless whiteness a brilliancy and beauty that seemed almost of heavenly extraction. It reminded us of the infinitely more splendid and soul-ravishing charms of nature's God and heaven's eternal King, of whose mercy it seemed the white-robed harbinger."

On their return voyage, the ship, sailing at a rapid rate in a dense fog, found itself almost upon a gigantic iceberg, a mighty pyramid of ice. It seemed to all on board that the ship must be crushed. An infidel who was a fellow-passenger hurried on deck and cried out, "In an hour we shall all be lost, but let us die like philosophers."--"No," said Sybil Jones, rising to her feet; "if we are to meet death, let us do it as Christians." In God's goodness all were spared.

They were delighted with their first sight of England, to find such abundant verdure instead of the snow and ice which they left on the hills of New England, and they were more delighted still to find warm hearts waiting for them, among whom was Benjamin Seebohm, who had been a former messenger of good to them. It was nearly time for Dublin yearly meeting to begin, and they crossed over to Ireland to attend it. This was an occasion of great interest, and the two American Friends had weighty service to perform; but Sybil Jones was taken ill with severe irritation of the spine while the meeting was still in session. She finally found relief for that time, and was able to attend some of the meetings. Their friend Mary James Lecky was always ready to attend to their comfort, and they did not want for pleasant homes.

Their visit to Balitore is thus described: "We left for Balitore in the comfortable coach of our dear friend Mary J. Lecky. Our route was most pleasant and interesting--beautiful groves, rich fields of waving grain, with herds and flocks scattered over the flowery lawns; stately dwellings and white cottages, with now and then some ancient castle in ruins, wearing a vesture of deep green woven by the evergreen ivy, which flourishes in rich foliage on its time-beaten walls and dilapidated towers. The golden furze may be seen in abundance on hill and dale, and is a lovely ornament to the variegated scene. The hedges that skirt the way are bespangled with yellow and crimson primroses, bluebells, violets, and many other little wild flowers, forming a radiant wreath entwined with the graceful ivy. We admired the scene, and talked much of Erin, the green isle of the ocean. At one o'clock we arrived at Balitore, or, as it is sometimes called, the 'Classic Vale.' Dear Elizabeth Barrington--the 'Princess Elizabeth,' as she is sometimes called--gave us a cordial welcome. The charms of this little village, loveliest of the plain, are sweetly enhanced by the memory of departed worth, talent, genius, virtue and piety which once flourished here."[5]

[5] It was at Balitore that Edmund Burke received his early education, at the Friends' school conducted by Richard Shackleton, to whom he often wrote and attributed much of his careful training.

Day after day they attended meetings and visited families, though Sybil Jones was in such a state of health that it was merely her will which kept her from bed; she continually spoke of the "frailty of the tabernacle," but the strength of the spirit forced the body to obey and do its part of the work; and as the time drew near for the London yearly meeting they turned thither. Everywhere they directed their eyes a new beauty of landscape, a majesty of mountain, or a charm of antiquity met them; but Sybil Jones was forced to close her eyes on all this outward loveliness, and as as she rode along, reclining on her seat, she comforted herself "in the presence of Him who verily knows what is best for us; health and life, with every other blessing, are in his hand."

The meeting began on the 17th of Fifth month, and now for the first time in their lives they were sitting in the parent yearly meeting of the Society of Friends. For more than two hundred years the Friends of Great Britain have annually assembled in London, and the power of these meetings is wonderful. Some of England's greatest minds have sat in silent waiting there, and have raised their voices in regard to the proper ordering of the household of faith, and some of her lowliest sons and daughters have not been hindered from sitting in the same seat with these great lights, and their words have been listened to with equal deference. English conservatism has kept this meeting much as it was in earlier days, while broad ideas and liberal notions have been disseminated, so that no stiff cloak of formalism has settled over the body. The Spirit which giveth life is sought for, but the iron yoke of the letter does not rest upon them. The voices of "just men made perfect" have, in all the generations since George Fox, pleaded from full hearts that the Lord might have here a "peculiar people," separated from the world and satisfied with the one honor of being "fellow-citizens with the saints."

Eli and Sybil Jones had many comforting sessions in this meeting, and they not only did the work which was in their hearts for the strengthening of those assembled, but they were themselves made more strong and more useful members of the Church for this work in the harmonious company of united English Friends.

The effect of their utterances and the impressiveness of the gathering were beautifully and eloquently described by Elihu Burritt, who was present, and who was afterward associated with Eli Jones in the Peace cause. This passage is from his diary, dated the 21st of fifth month:

THE QUAKER MEETING.

"LONDON, May 21, 1852.

"This has been a day of deep interest. In the morning I went to the meeting of public worship in the Devonshire House, which was filled to the utmost capacity by Friends from every part of the kingdom. As a spectacle no human congregation can surpass it in impressive physiognomy. The immaculate purity of the women's dresses as they sat a mountain multitude of shining ones, arising in long quiet ranks from the floor to the gallery on one side of the house, the grave mountain of sedate and thoughtful men on the other, presented an aspect more suggestive of the assemblies of the New Jerusalem than any earthly congregation I had ever seen. In a brief time the last-comers had found seats or standing-places, and then a deep devotional silence settled down upon the great assembly like an overshadowing presence from heaven. The still, upbreathing prayer of a thousand hearts seemed to ascend like incense, and the communion of the Holy Spirit to descend like a dove, whispering its benediction and touching to sweeter listening serenity those faces so calm with the breath of its wing; and out of the deep silence of this unspoken devotion arose one, with trembling meekness, to unburden the heart of a few brief message-words to which it feared to withhold utterance, lest it should sin against the inspiration that made it burn with them. From another part of the house arose the quavering voice of prayer, short, but full of the earnest emotion of supplication and humble utterance of faith and thanksgiving. Then moments of deeper silence followed, as if all the faculties of the mind and all the senses of the physical being had descended into the soul's inner temple to listen to and wait for the voice of the Spirit of God. How impressive was the heart-worship of those silent moments! There was something solemn beyond description in the spectacle of a thousand persons of all ages so immovable that they seemed scarcely to breathe. The 'Ministers' Gallery' was occupied by a long rank of the teachers, the fathers, and the mothers of the Society from different parts of the country, who seemed to preside over this communion like shepherds sitting down before their quiet flocks by the still waters of salvation. In the centre sat a man and a woman a little past the meridian of life, and apparently strangers in the great congregation. The former had an American look, which was perceptible even to the opposite extremity of the building, and when he slowly arose out of the deep silence his first words confirmed that impression. They were words fitly spoken and solemn, but uttered with such a nasal intonation as I never heard before, even in New England. At first and for a few minutes I felt it doubtful whether the unpleasant influence of this aggravated peculiarity would not prevent his words of exhortation from having salutary effect upon the minds of the listening assembly. But as his words seemed to flow and warm with increasing unction, little by little they cleared up from that nasal cadence and rounded into more oral enunciation. Little by little they strengthened with the power of truth, and the truth made them free and flowing. His whole person, so impassive and unsympathetic at first, entered into the enunciation of these truths with constantly increasing animation, and his address grew more and more impressive to the last. He spoke nearly an hour, and when he sat down and buried his fingers under his broad-brimmed hat, and the congregation settled down into the profound quiet of serene meditation, I doubted whether it would be broken again by the voice of another exhortation. But in the course of a few minutes the form of the woman who sat by his side--and it was his wife--might be perceived in a state of half-suppressed emotion, as if demurring to the inward monitor of the Spirit that bade her arise and speak to such an assembly. It might well have seemed formidable to the nature of a meek and delicate woman. She seemed to struggle involuntarily with the conviction of duty, and to incline her person slightly toward her husband, as if the tried attributes of her heart leaned for strength on the sympathy of his, as well as on the wisdom she waited from above. Then she arose calm, meek, and graceful. Her first words dropped with the sweetest enunciation upon the still congregation, and were heard in every part of the house, though they were uttered in a tone seemingly but little above a whisper. Each succeeding sentence warbled into new beauty and fulness of silvery cadence. The burden of her spirit was the life of religion in the heart as contrasted with its mere language on the tongue, or what it was to be really and truly a disciple of Jesus Christ. Having meekly stated the subject which had occupied her meditations and which she had felt constrained to revive in the hearing of the congregation before her, she said: 'And now, in my simple way and in the brief words which may be given me, let me enter with you into the examination of this question.' At the first word of this sentence she loosed the fastenings of her bonnet, and at the last handed it down to her husband with a grace indescribable. There was something very impressive in the act as well as in the manner in which it was performed, as if she uncovered her head involuntarily in reverence to that vision of divine truth unsealed to her waiting eyes. And in her eyes it seemed to beam with a heavenly light serene, and in her heart to burn with holy inspiration and meekness, and to touch her lips and every gentle movement of her person with an expression eloquent, solemn, beautiful as her words fell upon the rapt assembly from the heaven of tremulous flute-like music with which her voice filled the building. Like a stream welling from Mount Hermon and winding its way to the sea, so flowed the melodious current of her message, now meandering among the unopened flowers of rhymeless poetry, now through green pastures of salvation, where the Good Shepherd was bearing in his bosom the tender lambs of his flock; next it took the force of lofty diction, and fell, as it were, in cascades of silvery eloquence, but solemn, slow, and searching, adown the rocks and ravines of Sinai; then out like a sweet-rolling river of music into the wilderness, where the Prodigal Son, with the husks of his poverty clutched in his lean hands, sat in tearful meditation upon his father's home and his father's love. More than a thousand persons seemed to hold their breath as they listened to that meek, delicate woman, whose lips appeared to be touched to an utterance almost divine. I never saw an assembly so moved, but so subdued into motionless meditation. And the serene and solemn silence deepened to stillness more profound when she ceased speaking. In the midst of these still moments she knelt in prayer. As the first word of her supplication arose the men, who had worn their hats while she spoke to them, reverently uncovered their heads as she kneeled to speak to God. Long and fervent was her supplication. Her clear sweet voice trembled with the burden of the petition with which her soul seemed to ascend into the Holy of holies, and to plead there with Jacob's Father for a blessing upon all encircled within that immediate presence. She arose from her knees, and the great congregation sat down, as it were under the shadow of that prayer to silence more deep and devotional. This lasted a few minutes, when two elders of the Society, seated in the centre of the 'Ministers' Gallery,' shook hands with each other, and were followed by other couples in each direction as a kind of mutual benediction as well as a signal that meeting was terminated.--At this simple sign the whole congregation arose and quietly left the house. Such was the experience of a couple of hours in a Quaker meeting."

The last day of the yearly meeting Sybil Jones spoke out her feelings in regard to total abstinence. She was probably the first person who publicly stated to an English audience the necessity of taking such high ground to overcome the evils of intemperance, and, though much sympathy was expressed, there was a deep feeling on the part of some against her expressed views. She writes: "This day has concluded the yearly meeting; my spirit was bound down under a weight of exercise, but divine help came and enabled me to testify the gospel of the grace of God in a way most humiliating to the creature; but some, it may be hoped, were led to examine how far their example of righteousness and temperance had reached to give a check to the crying sin of this nation, that not only their husbands and brothers be influenced by their example, but also their neighbors, and whether there was not something for them to do in this matter, even total abstinence if it may be required. When this was done my peace abounded, and I hope no harm was done. Many dear Friends seemed to feel much sympathy, and a precious solemnity came over us."

For weeks after leaving London these "two recruiting-officers labored hard to enlist soldiers for their Captain" through the northern counties of Ireland. Not only Friends and other Protestants came to hear them, but often there were priests present at the meetings, and many Irish Catholics heard them preach the gospel. Sometimes Sybil Jones seemed to be "standing on the verge of eternity," but as the body grew frail it seemed the soul waxed strong and her messages became more impressive. All she saw as they rode from one village to another attracted her attention, and she rejoiced that the Creator had made the earth so fair, while she was brought into great sadness at the poverty and oppression of the unfortunate, and the lack of vital religion which was often found. There was great need of wisdom in telling the whole truth to her mixed audiences, to have it come to them as the one thing they needed to make their unhappy lives happy, and her soul went out in her utterances to their souls and stirred them to believe. There was hardly a town which they visited where error had not been taught and superstitions ruled the hearts of the people, and many who had suffered deep wrongs felt that there was no justice in the earth. To such it was announced, "Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart;" but they felt that "nothing short of the omnipotent Arm could deliver these souls from popish thraldom and make them free through the power of Jesus Christ."

Mary James Lecky continued to accompany them, and she was an almost indispensable companion, providing for their comfort and safety and opening ways for their service which to them alone would have been closed; and as Sybil Jones was under a daily weight of infirmity, she was a strong arm to lean upon, and encouraged her as a sister when her heart grew weak from the abundance of trial.[6]

[6] Mary James Lecky filled her carriage with loaves of bread from the baker's, and as they drove along roads where poverty was everywhere terribly present, she distributed her stores for the bodily needs of the poor suffering peasants, while Sybil Jones earnestly told them of the Bread of life. In the original meaning of the word, "lady" is the _bread-giver_. Did ever two more worthy the name go out to fulfil the duties belonging to that title?

A few passages from their journal will tell much of their earnest efforts and ceaseless longings to help this people, and also the difficulties with which they were beset. At Galway, once a famous seaport town on the west coast of Ireland, they write:

"_9th mo. 15th._ Called at an early hour upon the vicar, an Episcopal clergyman, D'Arcy, who attended our meeting and kindly invited us to come to his residence and he would take us to the school and make way for any religious service to which we felt called. He received us heartily and entered into the plans we wished to execute. He accompanied us, with his amiable wife, to the asylum for aged females and to the school. We had service for Him who sent us, much to our comfort, and, we may trust, to their edification. The dear children listened with delight and interest to all that was offered, and many appeared tender. They are improving finely and getting a good knowledge of the Scriptures, which may be of lasting benefit to them; but oh the hunger and rags were apparent enough to pain the hardest heart. Our company distributed some relief among them as seemed most prudent; the evil might be wholly remedied by giving them work and a fair compensation. The Irish are not naturally idle; there is abundant proof to the contrary.

"_16th, Fifth day._ This morning visited the poor-house and school connected with it; all neat and orderly, good improvement; about thirteen hundred inmates. We had the children collected for religious service, and it was a good time. They were mostly Roman Catholics. They were serious and seemed contrited."

"_17th._ Two friends with my Eli called on the Roman priest and informed him of our intention to hold a meeting for the inhabitants; he was civil, but said none of his people would attend."

At another time, while they were in the city of Galway, Eli Jones was told that he would be stoned by the Catholics if he attempted to preach. He at once called on the priest, told him that he was an American, and obtained a promise from him that his people should be allowed to come to the meeting that evening. Before a large audience of the most bigoted Roman Catholics he arose to preach the gospel of redeeming love. It was the part of wisdom to gain his hearers, for their souls could not be reached until the barrier of their prejudice was broken down. He began: "A virgin shall conceive and bring forth a son, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace;" "Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among women;" "They found Joseph and Mary and the babe." After hearing these passages they were all ready to listen to him, and then, as he says, "I soon left the _mother_ and talked to them of the _child_."

"_The 20th, at Conamarra._ People mostly in rags worn to strings, winter near, hunger everywhere; but a better time is coming, we hope. They seem emerging from the shades of superstition and moral darkness, having seen in some degree the light which enlightened the Gentiles and the glory of Israel. May the bright and morning Star shine in its resplendent beauty over this neglected land! May the labors of the faithful ministers of Christ be more abundant and their service for Him be crowned with cheering success! and may the seed sown, though often with weeping, trembling, and much fear, bring forth an hundred-fold!

"_21st._ We arrived at Clifden in time for a meeting held in a courthouse. Many sober people came who seemed glad to hear of the way of life, but others, set on by the priests, disturbed the meeting, so that it was not a very comfortable time; but I secretly rejoiced in being counted worthy to suffer for His name's sake who sent us forth."

On the 28th Sybil Jones was taken very ill with influenza. They were fortunately at Kilnock, among very kind friends. Here they were kept nearly a month. Eli Jones improved all the time, holding meetings almost continually, while his wife, confined to her room, "was in great peace" and the triumphal anthem was on her lips:

"If Thou shouldst call me to resign What most I prize--it ne'er was mine-- I only yield Thee what was Thine; Thy will be done."

After six weeks, nearly all of which had been weeks of illness and hence time taken from the work, she writes: "I like to note now and then the fleet footsteps of Time. I perceive he will not stay his rapid course for me, and therefore I most earnestly pray so to number my days and to apply my heart with diligence unto wisdom that each golden hour may bear upward the incense of a grateful, devotional spirit still more and more dedicated to the work and service, of so vast and infinite importance, that my heavenly Father has assigned to His poor, unworthy child, and that the holy discipline of the cross of Christ may nurture and increase every grace of the eternal quickening Spirit of my dear Redeemer. While the truth is indelibly stamped upon my spirit that I can do nothing without Him, I believe 'I can do all things through Christ that strengtheneth me.' May these afflictions of the shattered citadel, which now confine me to a lonely room and often a sleepless couch, be sanctified to the promotion of righteousness and true holiness in myself and others, that in every dispensation thanksgiving may arise to the blessed name of the Lord!"

Near Lisburn she was again a prisoner from sickness for about four weeks, and earnestly she prayed for guidance and strength to bear whatever came for her.

"_The 30th of 1st mo., 1853_. I think I have seen, by the light that has never yet deceived me, my path across the Channel to Liverpool--that if I trust in my Saviour alone for bodily and spiritual strength, it will be accomplished and marvellous deliverance wrought. This morning I mentioned my prospect to my dear husband of a speedy release from this place. He seemed doubtful of its practicability with safety to my health. I replied, 'Nothing is impossible with God. I believe He will bring us through this Jordan.' We thought of Third day, as a steamer would sail at 4 P. M., but it did not seem clear, and I was thrown into doubting and fear. After seeking divine direction I felt a blessed trust that on Fifth day we might with safety leave these shores.

"_Third day._ My dear Eli mentioned a prospect of a public meeting at Carrickfergus, and this was a confirmation that our plan was right."

On Fourth day they held a farewell meeting, and there was much expression of mutual love, and, the Irish Friends gave thanks for the long service which had been performed in their land. For almost a year the gospel had been preached over the island to high and low, to rich and poor. Eli Jones visited, with perhaps one exception, every meeting in Ireland, and met personally some members of nearly every Friend's family on the island. No suffering or other hindrance had kept these two servants from sowing seed in all kinds of soil, and they came from the field believing that their sowing would bring forth fruit after many days. Sybil Jones went to her train on a couch, and was obliged to make the whole journey to Liverpool in the same way, but she was soon at work again at Manchester. Here she rested while Eli Jones visited the surrounding meetings, and the prospect of still more extended work began to appear to them. Certainly, few laborers have gone out in a more determined spirit to overcome all obstacles to carry the gladdest of all news to ears as yet ungladdened by it. They visited the quarterly meetings at York, Leeds, Lancaster, Darlington, and Birmingham, and Sybil Jones rested while Eli attended Dublin yearly meeting. She was visited by Harriet Beecher Stowe, and they had a time of prayer together. There were many interesting incidents connected with their visits at the different cities and the various homes. Joseph Sturge came to talk with them of temperance and slavery, and told them he intended to contribute to the support of New Garden Boarding-school, where some of the children of the South might have the privilege of gaining better knowledge.