On this page
-
Text (2)
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
lnjUdidibusjy imitated hi this land of liberty &nd toleratfon . The / following facts respecting the life , labours and suffering ' s of this faithful servant of God , will serve to illustrate the character of one who vvas honest enough to be bold , and bold enough to be honest , " in what she believed to be the cause of God and truth .
Mrs . Barnard was born about the year 1754 , of parents who were members of the Baptist Society , but in the 18 th year of her age became convinced of the truth of the principles of the Society of Friends , and at her own request was admitted into membership with them . Being endowed with a clear and discriminating
understanding , possessing graces and gifts of no ordinary character , and feeling it her duty to bear a public testimony to the truth , " she was strengthened and encouraged by the sympathy and counsel of several valuable friends to
give up freely to these requirings of duty . " In the discharge of her ministry in the meetings to which she belonged , and also in the
neighbour-Ing States , she met with great acceptance for about twenty years , and as her discourses were pertinent and instructive , her delivery peculiarly eloquent and impressive , she became a minister of considerable eminence , and in that station , as well as in her private character , was regarded with
general affection and esteem . At an early period , her mind was much exercised upon the evils attendant ou war , and being fully convinced that all war is inconsistent with the spirit and precepts of true religion , she hesitated not to declare that the kind and benevolent Father of the universe never did , at any time whatever , command or approve of war in any form . This testimony in her visit to England brought on her the charge of disbelieving the Scriptures , and she was there accused and condemned as an Infidel , siienced as a preacher , and finally on her return to her own country , in the year 1802 , was disowned .
Since that period she has submitted to all the reproaches and obloquy which ignorance , bigotry and fanaticism could cast upon her ; and although she has been stigmatized alternately as a Unitarian , Universalist
Untitled Article
or an Infidel in clis ^ ti rse ^ 'Y ^ sJ ^ tes submitted witft meefctt ^ s aiM | c ^ et * - ftilffess to her lot , and Hfe ^ atterjtfir endured persecution for righteousness ' sake . There has , however , always been a goodly number of the most
pious and intelligent of her own society who have ( teemed it a privilege and honour to cultivate her acquaintance , and not unffequently have visits been made to Hudson for the express purpose of enjoying the society artd conversation of this { rifted woman .
A few weeks previous to her de cease she had visited this city and was received with the greatest cordiality by many of her former acquaintance , and she viewed with
uncommon pleasure the increasing spirit of inquiry , as well as the tolerant feelings prevailing in the society to which she formerly belonged , and for which she continued to feel an
unbroken attachment . She lived and died a rational Christian ; her works of piety aud love prove the sincerity of her faith , and she has gone to receive the rewards of a tried , suffering and faithful confessor of the truth as it is in Jesus .
" Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord , they rest from their labours and their works follow them . "
Untitled Article
Sir , Evesham , Sept . 6 , 1826 . With your leave I will annex the following extract from the last letter to me from my very dear and excellent friend Hannah Barnard , witk
whom I had corresponded about twenty-four years , with great satisfaction and pleasure . Our acquaintance will , however , I trust , be renewed in a future life of progressive
improvement in virtue , knowledge awl happiness , never to terminate , through the free , unpurchased mercy and goodness of God , the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ , and of all his
rational offspring - The letter is dated " Hudson , Au £ . 2 ] , 1825 . " After mentioning some very curious and well- authenticated ^ anecdotes respecting the Society of Friends in Philadelphia in former times ,
adds " , As to the state of the Society m this country , so far as I can learn , the opposition to Elias Hicks seems m this Yearly Meeting [ that of New
Untitled Article
526 * HtiMttfi BdttiU&d .
-
-
Citation
-
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Sept. 2, 1826, page 526, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2552/page/18/
-