22nd. Faster-day, in the forenoon on Matt, xxviii. 5. afternoon on Colossians iii. 1. In the evening Ephesians

v. 15, 16.

After morning meeting I was agreeably surprised by my daughter visiting me, who had been to the south three or four hundred miles with a female preacher. The night before, they had come to Harrisburg, and some friends brought her in a carriage to see me. It was truly a joyful meeting but how much more so when friends meet in heaven to know pain and parting no more.

23rd. One of the friends carried us in his Barouche to my next place, Elizabethtown, and were kindly received by Mr. Mackey, who agreeing to change days, we went on to Springville to Mr. Wilton's. Several friends visited us before preaching. It was a blessed time.

24th. A Methodist called Moore visited us. He had been brought up among the Friends: but when he was converted, he felt an inclination to join the Methodist society. He attended our meeting the night before, as Methodists often do, where I have been. He related his christian experience with much feeling.

After dinner friend Wilton carried us in his carriage on towards our next place this is often done if the preacher walks. I spoke on Matt. xi. 28-30. Friend Mackey spoke after me. I was informed that a Catholic Priest was at the meeting, no one introduced him to me, nor did he introduce himself.

I had intended to proceed on to Harrisburg, but was desired to attend a funeral. It is customary in America to bury the corpse the day after the person deceases. They rested the coffin on a bier, then four men took up the bier and so carried it to the grave. I think this is a convenient method of carrying corpses. It was affecting to see the husband following his wife to the grave leading two little boys. But friends and families should live under the consideration that they must soon part; and so live as to meet again in glory.

At the grave I read from the 20th verse to the end of the xvth chapter of Paul's first Epistle to the Corinthians, spoke a little on the solemn subject, and then went to the chapel and spoke on Job xix. 25-27. There was reason to hope that she died in the Lord.

27th. Went to one Mr. Saddler's in Cumberland County, where I spoke in the evening. Several preachers were there of different denominations. One elderly man of German family, belonging to the people called Dunkers, a Baptist Society, who baptize with the face downwards; the other Baptists, and most other sects that immerse, immerse the person, face upwards. He spoke after me in German. That part for nearly 100 miles is inhabited chiefly by Germans. As a people, 1 think the Germans exceed all people I ever met with! Their plainness, modesty, hospitality, industry and fidelity have much endeared them to me.

Most of them, especially the men, understand English, as well as German. All public business being transacted in English, it is reedful for the men to be able to speak it. On this account English Emigrants have the advantage of the Continental Europeans.

28th. Went to friend Heck's to dinner. In the evening spoke at a Chapel belonging to the United Brethren in Christ.

Lord's-day 29th. At 10 spoke at the same chapel. In the evening at Mechanicsburg, we had a lively time, several prayed; a Minister's wite with great power and liberty, and praised the Lord aloud.

30th. After breakfast I went to a Draper's shop to buy an article of clothing; when I was about to pay for it he refused taking any thing, saying you have preached to us, and gave me an invitation to take dinner with him. His name is John Close. He told me that his father came from Germany when young. In the Revolutionary war the Dunkers, Quakers, and Meneese refused to fight, and his father for one ;-that the Americans levied heavy fines on those who so refused. They now have recovered the loss; he keeps two carriages of different descriptions, has a large house, and premises of fine land, where he cuts three crop of hay in a year. There is rich land in that neighbourhood (as before noticed) and deserving people. Those who suffer for conscience' sake lose nothing in the end.

In the evening spoke again in the chapel. Being invited we accepted lodging and entertainment at Mr. Close's,

though not in Society, they were very kind. May the Lord remember them for good.

1832 May 1st. We left the dear friends at Mechanicsburg;

before we went Mr. C. presented me with a valuable token of respect, from his shop.

We went about four miles to Henry Longernecker's. Spoke in the Schoolhouse near his house in the evening on Prov. iii. 35.

Mr. L. in the afternoon conducted us down a valley at the bottom of his farm where was a Limekiln in working. They burnt with wood placed in the bottom, and the stones laid thereon, as in Dauphin County.

2nd. We went on to Lisburn, about 3 miles. We had directions to Isaac Lloyd, Esq. He was not at home but his wife received us kindly; in the evening he returned. He was Justice of Peace, which office gives the title of Esquire.

In the afternoon, we took tea at the house of a Methodist; Doctor Lewis of the town came in and took tea with us. I spoke on Isaiah lv 1. They had a good chapel lately built in which we had a large congregation. After preaching a Doctor Smith invited us to dinner next day. Here the rich and poor meet together, as if the Lord was the maker of us all,- -no dissenters in the United States, because there is no National Church propt by human law. Here is no National religion to boast its power of prerogative," Stand by for 1 am holier than thou." Rich and poor, learned and unlearned, unite to worship God, or receive each other into their houses as friends or brethren, though they may belong to different Societies.

In the evening spoke at Harrisburg on Rev. viii.

4th. This morning read the confession of Daniel Shaeffer, who was hanged at Lancaster on his own confession, on the 13th of April last, for killing a woman called Elizabeth Bowers. No suspicion had fallen on him but seeing another hung, and hearing the Minister while praying with him, say a murderer might be pardoned,— he was struck with an unusual feeling, wept, went into a public house and declared he had murdered E. Bowers. Probably they thought him in jest, drunk, or mocking,

so that one struck him with a club across the shoulders, and threw him out of door. He then went to a Justice of the Peace and confessed his crime, was sent to jail, tried, and executed.

One

When

He

His statement was, that one day jesting with this woman, who lived alone, he said he would come one night and sleep with her. She not showing any marks of resentment (probably not thinking him in earnest) he took it for granted she was willing he should visit her. night he took it into his head to visit this woman. he came she refused him admittance, on which not willing to be disappointed, he broke open the door. found her sitting on the bed. He by force accomplished his purpose, and then thought on the law, which it seems before, the devil had kept out of sight. Thinking she would prosecute him, he strangled her. She being found dead, was thought to have died suddenly a natural death. But behold the power of conscience; he was constrained to confess, though there was no other earthly witness against him.

How dangerous is foolish talking and jesting. When men commit one sin, they often commit a second to hide the first; this still makes the bad matter worse.

May all who read this take warning not to indulge in jesting; for if not in murder, it often ends in other evils; at least it is incompatible with christian sobriety; and females should at once shew contempt at such jests, and spurn such men from them.

The Conference, or preachers' meeting before spoken of, was appointed to be at Linglestown about eight miles from Harrisburg: this was the first day of meeting. A farmer living near Linglestown being at Harrisburg, took me in his carriage to his house. There I saw a translation of the Christian Pattern by John Payne. He says the Author of the Amaranth, a collection of religious Poems printed 1767, gives the following account of Thomas a Kempis [or Thomas of Kempis.]

"All that I have been able to learn in Germany, upon good authority, concerning Thomas a Kempis is as tollows. He was born at Kempis or Kempen, a small walled town in the Dutchy of Cleves and diocese of Cologn.

His family name was Hamerlin, which signifies in the German language, a little hammer. We find also that his parents' names were John and Gertrude Hamerlin. He lived chiefly in the Monastery of Mount St. Agnes; where his effigy together with a prospect of the Monastery was engraven on a plate of copper that lies over his body. The said Monastery is now called Bergh-clooster, or in English Hill-cloister: many strangers in their travels visit it. 66 Kempis was certainly one of the best and greatest men since the primitive ages. His book of the Imitation of Christ has seen near forty editions in the original Latin, and above sixty translations have been made from it into modern languages.

"Our author died August 8th, 1471. aged ninety-two years. He had no manifest infirmities of old age, and retained his eye sight perfect to the last.

66

"In the engraving on copper above mentioned, and lying over his grave, is represented a person respectfully presenting to him a label, on which is written a verse to this effect where is peace ? for thou its path hast trod. To which Kempis returns another label,

:

In POVERTY, RETIREMENT, and with GOD.

"He was a canon ruler of Augustine's, and sub-prior of Mount St. Agnes' Monastery. He composed his treatise of the Imitation of Christ in the sixty-first year of his age, as appears from a note of his own writing in the library of his convent.'

After dinner I walked into town. In the evening we went to the chapel. It had been proposed for me to preach, and Dr. Elliott, a minister from Lancaster, to speak also. I spoke on 1 Sam. xii. 24. Friend E. spoke. on the same subject. We had a large congregation from different parts.

Lord's-day 6th. Friend Elliott spoke at nine on 1 Cor. ii. 2. Friend Winebrener spoke after him in German, on 1 Thess. iii 12, 13. In the evening Edw. West spoke from 2 Cor. xiii. 5. Dr. Jacob Myers spoke after him in Ger man. Our meeting continued till after ten. The number of preachers assembled was twenty-two in all.

9th. Returned to Harrisburg, and examined a proof of Discourse on females' preaching. About 7 or 8 o'clock the morning as I went on, I met the country people