Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1837-1839, 1838-06-02
FRIENDS wORsHIPPINC PLACES.

Tho following beautiful description Of the reli-
gious worship and meeting houses Of the Society
Of Friends, is extracted from the knickerbocker:
s'ln the valley Of the Susquehannah and Schuyl-
kill, tho richest land in the State, the Friends
have created almost paradise. Tho whole face
of the country is a succession OF farm after farm,
cultivated with the neatest care. Your eye is
cheercd as you pass through this delightful region,
with villages full Of plenty, and all the extcrnals
Of happiness. You are now stopping lrred BY the
GOODNESS Of the shade and the rurality Of the
scene, beneath group Of locusis aud elms. A
low, plain building stands moJostly little farther
on, as il it had set itself down there, to escape
the noise, and dust, and observation Of the travel
Ter. il is the Friends place Of worshipping God.
II you enter it., you will find neat array Of pine
door sanded, the windows clear and transparent.
You are charmed with the elegance Of the strict
est simplicity.
''Wouldst thou know, says tho thoughtful ELLA, ;
what trno peace and quiet mean; wouldst thou,
find y refuge from the noises and clamors Of the
multitude; wouldst thou enjoy Mt once solitude
and society; wOuldst thou possess tho depth Of
thv own spirit in Stiffness without being shut out
from the consolatory faces Of thy species; woudss
ihOl be alone, and vet accompanied; solitary, yet
not ,!esoIatc, singular, yet not without some to
keep thee in countenance; an unit in aggregate
como WITH me into q Quakcr's meeting Nothing
plotting, nought cabalIing, unmischievous synod
COOvOCauOO WITHOUT SutIs&ue. Parliament WStOOUt
debate! what lesson does thou read to council
and to consissory! My spirit hath gravely felt
the wisdom Of your custom, when sitting among
YOU in deepest peace, which some out-swellihg
tears would rather confirm than disturb, have
reverted 10 the times Of your beginnings, and the
sowings Of the seed BY Fox and Dewsbury.
have witnessed that, which brought before my
eyes your heroic tranquility. inexiblc to the rude
tests and serious viocnces Of the insolcnt sodery,
republican or royalist, sent to modest you; for We
sat beiwixt tho fires Of two prosecutions, the
cast and off-scouring Of church and presbytery.
l have seen the rceling sea-ruffian, VINO had wan
d<red into your receptacle, with the avowed in
ten,ion Of disturbing your quiet, from the very
spirit Of the place, receive in q moment . new
heart, and presently sit among We ~ . lamb a.
midst lambs. I remember Penn before his ac-
cusers, and Fox in the bail-dock, when he was
lifted up spirit, - he tells Us, and ''she judge
and the jury became dead men under his feet"
s.Surcly. no place can be 50 st, in which to APP
proach God, rs that where, BY the ahseuce Of all
art and pcmpous decoration, our minds ean rest
without effort upon Him alone. The Savior went
into mountain to pray; but n, for social Pus-
poses, and the effect of sxample, 10 worship to
gesher, We necessarily use somo hcuss; but it
were better il were sever % simpie.-Kirk White
mys:
.s(:c shos . The hcuss - prayer,
10 the wssdlaads will repair"