The Monmouth inquirer., 1923-05-10
St. Peters Church,
Freehold and It's Rectofs
BIZ MAxcY APPLEGATE. SR.
REV. GEORGE KEITH, FOUNDER OF
FREEHOLD.

This meeting was not only for wor-
ship but also tor business, as / said to
the people at our parting; it was Friends
Monthly Meeting, in which their poor
fatherless and widows, were taken care
Of and such other things that concern
them as Il people. Two Friends were
desired to stay, to hear what George
had to say to them who remained,
which said two Friends gave Il us an
account afterwards, that George said
to the people after we were gone, that
the Quakers had left none to dispute
with him but an ass and a fool; when +
heard it. | said, could you not have
replied, an ass was once made suf
fcient to reprove the madness OF the
Prophet.
George called to see me the next
day. and said you had the advantage
over me yesterday, for you persuaded
me to be quiet until you had done. and
then you would-not stay to hear me-;
neither indeed were we under any
obligation so to do. | told him, / hop
ed that truth would ever have the adj
vantage over those who opposed it,
dltO 81 W. pal tCQs u lnCb AEdlA uROA
Rhode Island the Governor of which
place was a Friendly man, having heard
Of my intention of coming thither. or
dered the Deputy Governor, when /
came to have me to him. which he
did; and when he saw me at the door,
and after enquiry heard my name, he
took me by the hand and led me like
a brother. or more like a tender father,
into a room sitting me down by him.
and then began to say, | have heard
much Of you and desired to see you
long. and am glad you are here. | re-
member he asked, whether | thought
the sourness in the minds Of the Pres
byterians against us, was not rather
ahated. | told him, | did believe it was
and did our Friends but observe to
walk wisely, and to live up to what
they protested, they would overcome ii
all. He said that was the way and there
was not another comparable to it. !
then desired him to be at the meeting
next day, George Keith proposing
to be there, in all likelihood it would be
very large; which he promised he
would, and accordingly came.
George made little disturbance in
the beginning Of the meeting, hut
commanded the Governor to quiet the
|Ouakers. A priest said, MIR. Keith you
ought not to command the Governor
but entreat him; well then, he entreat-
ed the Governor to quiet the Quak eFs.
that he might be heard; whereupon
the Governor like a man Of justice and
wisdom stood up and said; It was not
In his power to quiet the Quakers; in
a smuch as the House is theirs; and
they have appointed the meeting, it is
but reasonable that they should have
their liberty, and if they be willing.
when they are done, you had your
liberty to say TO those who will stay
ia hear you. So the Governor being
next me, leaned his hand upon me,
and went away, in a sober manner,
George was quiet and we had a good
meeting and so parted,
After most of the Friends were gone
I went to the meeting House door to
hear what George said; he held his
. Biblein his hands and said it was prom
ised. : that the Gospel should be
preached unto every creature under
heaven: but if was truly translated
it would be in every creature tnot IN
every creature as horse, COW but IN ev-
ery rational creature of mankind) and
then their meeting broke up in eonfu-
sion.
NV next remove was to Long Island
where | met with Thomas Story and
John Rodman; John desiredThomas u
me to be assistant to him in preparing
a writing against George Keith when
he came to Flushing meeting upon the
aforesaid Island, which wrltlng was to
the effectthat he had received a certain
portion of money willed by Thomas
West, to the people~of London and re-
ceieing as his share IN distributing
over ffty hounds and severely censur-
ing George Keith for keeping part of
the money for himself for he was at the
time in America. lThis presentlnent
takes up two pages of the book
/ told George that I was much
ashamed Of his comp imenting great
people. for / observed he sometimes
said thee and thou; and sometimes you
and sir; sometimes put his hat of and
sometimes kept it on. l told hlm be-
fore | would be so unhandy, il in end
ed to be ceremonious, | would have
gone to school a while before | would
shame myself as he. had done. 1t l
have not wrote the very word, IN ali
my accounts in the preceding pages |
have the substance; and for a conclu
sion, [ had to say to George Keith,
the hand of the Lord was against him
and would follow him unless herepent
ed
The Quaker account follows with
q long admonition to those who let the
the spirit Of envy. prejudice and pride
rof heart get the better OF them; which
too much learning of George Keith,
with his natural abilities was his over
.fhrnuv