showed them to him: 'I am with thee to deliver thee,' and 'Be strong and of a good courage, fear not.' She wrote the date 'November 14th, 1883' against these texts, and there it stands. Truly the promises are fulfilled to her, though not in the way she expected."

The experience gone through at the death-bed of A. left a deep mark on her aunt's mind. She had always been patient and loving to those who had erred, but henceforth her heart was fuller of hope and trust. She wrote thus in her diary at the beginning of 1884:

"A year new in its circumstances and feelings. Do not the words 'Sorrowful yet always rejoicing' describe my feelings. The sore pang ever ready to distress as the wounding things of life give their harsh touch, this is taken away. The tender clinging love is gone too. But anxiety is changed into blessed remembrances, fear into abounding thankfulness, and in a sense I feel it is written, 'Free to serve.' May it be so, body, soul and spirit, during the short remainder of life here, and then, oh, to serve Him and to see His face who is worthy, ten thousand times worthy of all prayer and blessing."

"I

To Hannah Southall.

A. L. Waring.

"16th of First Month, 1884.

DO not mean this as a reply to thine, for this is very different from the letter I meant to write, but I know you will feel especial interest in what is so interesting us. I wonder if any intelligence has reached you of the solemn event which broke up our Quarterly Meeting yesterday without the transaction of any business, but amidst deep sympathy and earnest prayers. Our dear Friend Thomas Pease had not been well, but an attack of influenza seemed to be passing off and he was taking part as usual in different meetings. There had, however, been much anxiety about his son, and this prevented dear S. A. Pease from being present. At the M. and O. Meeting on Second-day evening T. Pease seemed as usual and spoke earnestly on the present tendencies of religious thought-the difficulty of upholding those truths which were the result of conviction, wellconsidered investigation and experience, without being laid open to the charge of narrowness and

bigotry, than which nothing can be more foreign to the mind and feelings. He spoke of the danger of seeing these important principles ooze away as it were, one thing after another, and how great was the need of wisdom in this direction. The next

morning he was heard in prayer, very fervent and earnest and evidently under much feeling. There were several addresses, but more silence than usual, and we broke up to reassemble for a Joint Conference before dinner. A report was read from a committee having the care of the smaller Meetings and —— and

spoke in a rousing way of our failures in that direction and our lack of doing as our predecessors in the faith had done. Soon after, our dear Friend (T. P.) rose to speak. In reference to this subject he pointed out the different state of religious feeling now, and drew attention to the recurrence of revivals of the kind which George Fox, Wesley and others were endowed with gifts to lead. He wished we should not dis'courage ourselves by looking at our small Meetings, but remember the prevalence of our principles in Southern Russia, Constantinople, etc., and in parts of our own country, on the borders of Wales and elsewhere. He spoke, too, warmly of the comfort he had lately had in visiting in our little Meetings individuals of a high standard of Christian life, humble minded, yet exercising a wide influence for good, and full of acts of kindness and love. Then he began to say something of the dangers which threaten from the linking services of religion with the fasts and vigils and saints' days, which come down from a dark age, yet still remain in force. I noticed an agitation of voice, but was unaware of anything alarming till an effort as to repeat a word—and a pause—and in a moment the hurried

It

uprising of the Friends on the other side as they went to his support and laid down the helpless form inside the gallery rails. The consternation was great. We were asked to withdraw, but there was no intimation to relieve alarm and none such could be given. For awhile, however, the anxious groups outside cherished the hope that he was 'coming round,' and it was not till J. S. Fry made his appearance, pale and answering inquiries by saying that Dr.- -thought he had passed away, that the fact was realised. was made evident by seeing the dear sad party on their way to a carriage to take the tidings to his home. We were asked to assemble in the dining hall, and there after awhile the announcement was made and the Clerk read a minute which he had prepared recording the awful event and adjourning all business till the spring. A meeting was then held for prayer, and surely a company has seldom been overspread by a more solemn and united feeling."

To Matilda Sturge.

"21st of Third Month, 1884.

"I am afraid I must give up the Bible Class, which is a disappointment, as I doubt not there will be much of interest in considering the subject to be brought forward. There is often an advantage in the clear explanation of a term, and I hoped to hear defined. what Assurance' is. This might help to answer another question: What prevents our having it? When our kind friend invited us to meet next time at B. House, I doubt whether any of us went away con

*The subject on this occasion was "The Assurance of Faith."

sidering whether we felt sure she intended us to go. We may have had many doubts of getting there, but the doubt if she would receive us if we came never occurred probably to any mind. We all had 'assurance' on that point. Turning to the great invitation of all, we should scarcely like to confess more unwillingness to trust. The promises are too abundant, too definite, on too high authority to allow us to doubt their meaning. So far then as regards the momentous question we have assurance. But assurance of what? The invitation to our friend's house did not take us there; the glad tidings do not bring us great joy unless we receive them. And as in the familiar illustration that I have used there are hindrances which keep some of us away, so there must be something in or connected with ourselves which prevents any of us from consciously accepting the great salvation as it is freely offered without money and without price. The causes are manifold. It will be very interesting and profitable to have light thrown upon some of these, for there are inward fears as well as outward objects that are the more formidable by reason of the darkness. Perhaps some one may be helped to remember that there is no presumption in the most undoubting trust in another who is able and willing to give all and to do all that our deepest need can require. The Apostle wrote to those that believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life (1 John v. 13). So that we have a warrant to expect a share in this highest form of assurance. May a blessing be given as you consider it together, dear friends.

"Affectionately, A. H."