Chapter XXV: Putting Off the Harness

During the series of visits, reported in the twenty-second chapter, Elias was ill a number of times, and was forced to rest from his labors. On the return trip from central and western New York, he visited for the last time the Hudson Valley meetings which he attended on his first religious journey in 1779.

He arrived in New York the 8th of Eleventh month, attending the mid-week meeting at Hester Street that day. On First-day, the 15th, he attended the Rose Street meeting in the morning and Hester Street in the afternoon. Second-day evening, the 16th, a largely attended appointed meeting was held in Brooklyn. He then proceeded toward Jericho, arriving home on Fourth-day, the 18th of Eleventh month, 1829.

The "Journal" is singularly silent regarding this Brooklyn meeting. Henry Byran Binns, on what he considers good authority, says, "Elias Hicks preached in the ball-room of Morrison's Hotel on Brooklyn Heights." To this statement he has added this bit of realistic description:

"The scene was one he (Whitman) never forgot. The finely fitted
and fashionable place of dancing, the officers and gay ladies in
that mixed and crowded assembly, the lights, the colors and all the
associations, both of the faces and of the place, presenting so
singular contrast with the plain ancient Friends seated upon the
platform, their broad-brims on their heads, their eyes closed; with
silence, long continued and becoming oppressive; and most of all,
with the tall, prophetic figure that rose at length to break it."[216]

[216] "A Life of Walt Whitman," p. 16.

Whitman's own reference to this meeting is still more striking. He says that he, a boy of ten, was allowed to go to the Hicks meeting because he "had been behaving well that day." The "principal dignitaries of the town" attended this meeting, while uniformed officers from the United States Navy Yard graced the gathering with their presence. The text was, "What is the chief end of man?" Whitman says: "I cannot follow the discourse, it presently becomes very fervid and in the midst of its fervor, he takes the broad-brim hat from his head and almost dashing it down with violence on the seat behind, continues with uninterrupted earnestness. Though the differences and disputes of the formal division of the Society of Friends were even then under way, he did not allude to them at all. A pleading, tender, nearly agonizing conviction and magnetic stream of natural eloquence, before which all minds and natures, all emotions, high or low, gentle or simple, yielded entirely without exception, was its cause, method and effect. Many, very many, were in tears."[217]

[217] "The Complete Writings of Walt Whitman." Issued under the editorial supervision of his Literary Executors, 1902, Vol. 3, p. 258.

With the account of this journey of 1829 his narrative in the "Journal" closed. This paragraph formed a fitting benediction:

"The foregoing meetings were times of favor, and as a seal from the
hand of our gracious and never-failing helper, to the labor and
travail which he has led me into, and enabled me to perform, for the
promotion of this great and noble cause of truth and righteousness in
the earth, as set forth in the foregoing account, and not suffering
any weapon formed against me to prosper. 'This is the heritage of
the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith
the Lord.' For all these unmerited favors and mercies, in deep
humiliation my soul doth magnify the Lord, and return thanksgiving
and glory to his great and excellent name; for his mercy endureth
forever."[218]

[218] "Journal," p. 438.

It should be remembered that Elias Hicks was then past his eighty-first year. He started on this last long religious visit, Sixth month 24th, and was therefore absent from home one week less than five months. He says himself, in the last sentence of the "Journal": "We traveled in this journey nearly fifteen hundred miles." These are words as impressive as they are simple.

During this trip many families were visited from the Valley of the Genesee to the City of New York, where he tarried several days that he might see his friends in their homes. Whatever may have been their mind in the case, he doubtless felt that they would look upon his face no more.

But Elias Hicks was not yet free from his religious concerns, for on First month 21, 1830, he asked for a minute, which was granted by Jericho Monthly Meeting, and is as follows:

"Our beloved Friend, Elias Hicks, presented a concern to make
a religious visit to the families of Friends and some Friendly
people (as way may open), within the compass of this and Westbury
Monthly Meeting, which claimed the solid attention of this meeting,
was united with, and he left at liberty to pursue his prospect
accordingly."

This is the last minute ever asked for by Elias Hicks. But evidently the visits contemplated were never undertaken, for about that time he had a slight attack of paralysis, which affected his right side and arm. Still the next day he attended a meeting at Bethpage, and a little later quarterly and monthly meetings in New York. In both he performed ministerial service with his usual power and clearness. From a little brochure printed in 1829, we quote:

"In the Monthly Meeting, he took a review of his labors in the city
for many years; and then expressed a belief that his religious
services were brought nearly to a close.

"After adverting to the great deviations that had taken place in the
Society, from that plainness and simplicity into which our principles
would lead us, he added, 'but if I should live two or three years
longer, what a comfort it would be to me to see a reformation in
these respects.' He then spoke in commemoration of the goodness of
his Heavenly Father, and closed with these memorable words: 'As
certainly as we are engaged to glorify him in all our works, he will
as certainly glorify us.'"[219]

[219] "Life, Ministry, Last Sickness and Death of Elias Hicks," Philadelphia, J. Richards, printer, 130 North Third Street.

But the time of putting off the harness was near at hand. On the 14th of Second month, 1830, he suffered a severe attack of paralysis which involved the entire right side, and deprived him of the use of his voice. When attacked he was alone in his room, but succeeded in getting to his family in an adjoining apartment. He declined all medical aid. In a condition of helplessness he lingered until Seventh-day the 27th, when he quietly passed away. Although he could only communicate by signs, consciousness remained until near the end.

The funeral was held in the meeting house at Jericho, on Fourth-day, Third month 3d. Without a storm raged in strange contrast to the peace and quiet within. A large company braved the elements, to pay their respects to his worth, as a man and a minister, while a number of visiting ministering Friends had sympathetic service at the funeral, after which the burial took place in the ground adjoining the meeting-house, where he had long worshipped and ministered.

The last act performed by Elias Hicks before the fatal stroke came, was to write a letter to his friend Hugh Judge,[220] of Barnesville, Ohio. Between the two men a singular sympathy had long existed, and to Hugh, Elias unburdened his spirit in this last word to the world. In fact the letter fell from the hand of the writer, after the shock. It was all complete with signature and postscript.

[220] Hugh Judge was born about 1750 of Catholic parents. Joined Friends in his young manhood in Philadelphia. Removed to Ohio in 1815. Died Twelfth month 21, 1834. He died while on a religious visit to Friends in Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. Was buried at Kennett Square. He was a recorded minister for many years.

This letter really summarizes the doctrine, and states the practical religion which inspired the ministry and determined the life and conduct of this worthy Friend. It may be well, with its suggestive postscript, to close this record of the life and labors of Elias Hicks:

"Jericho, Second month 14th, 1830.

"Dear Hugh: Thy very acceptable letter of the 21st ultimo was
duly received, and read with interest, tending to excite renewed
sympathetic and mutual fellow-feeling; and brought to my remembrance
the cheering salutation of the blessed Jesus, our holy and perfect
pattern and example, to his disciples, viz: 'Be of good cheer, I have
overcome the world.' By which he assured his disciples, that, by
walking in the same pathway of self-denial and the cross, which he
trod to blessedness, they might also overcome the world; as nothing
has ever enabled any rational being, in any age of the world, to
overcome the spirit of the world, which lieth in wickedness, but the
cross of Christ.

"Some may query, what is the cross of Christ? To these I answer, it
is the perfect law of God, written on the tablet of the heart, and in
the heart of every rational creature, in such indelible characters
that all the power of mortals cannot erase nor obliterate. Neither is
there any power or means given or dispensed to the children of men,
but this inward law and light, by which the true and saving knowledge
of God can be obtained. And by this inward law and light, all will
be either justified or condemned, and all be made to know God for
themselves, and be left without excuse; agreeably to the prophecy
of Jeremiah, and the corroborating testimony of Jesus in his last
counsel and command to his disciples, not to depart from Jerusalem
until they should receive power from on high; assuring them that they
should receive power when they had received the pouring forth of the
spirit upon them, which would qualify them to bear witness to him in
Judea, Jerusalem, Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth;
which was verified in a marvellous manner on the day of Pentecost,
when thousands were converted to the Christian faith in one day. By
which it is evident that nothing but this inward light and law, as
it is heeded and obeyed, ever did, or ever can make a true and real
Christian and child of God. And until the professors of Christianity
agree to lay aside all their non-essentials in religion, and rally
to this unchangeable foundation and standard of truth, wars and
fightings, confusion and error will prevail, and the angelic song
cannot be heard in our land, that of 'glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace and good will to men.' But when all nations are
made willing to make this inward law and light the rule and standard
of all their faith and works, then we shall be brought to know and
believe alike, that there is but one Lord, one faith, and but one
baptism; one God and Father, that is above all, through all, and
in all; and then will all those glorious and consoling prophecies,
recorded in the scriptures of truth, be fulfilled. Isaiah 2:4. 'He,'
the Lord, 'shall judge among the nations, and rebuke many people; and
they shall beat their swords into plough-shares, and their spears
into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation;
neither shall they learn war any more.' Isaiah 11. 'The wolf also
shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the
kid; and the calf, and the young lion, and the fatling together;
and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall
feed; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall
eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole
of the asp, and the weaned child put his hand on the cockatrice's
den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for
the earth,' that is our earthly tabernacles, 'shall be full of the
knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.'

"These scripture testimonies give a true and correct description
of the gospel state, and no rational being can be a real Christian
and true disciple of Christ until he comes to know all these things
verified in his own experience, as every man and woman has more or
less of all those different animal propensities and passions in their
nature; and they predominate and bear rule, and are the source and
fountain from whence all wars, and every evil work, proceed, and
will continue as long as man remains in his first nature, and is
governed by his animal spirit and propensities, which constitute the
natural man, which Paul tells us, 'receiveth not the things of the
spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know
them, because they are spiritually discerned.' This corroborates the
declaration of Jesus to Nicodemus, that 'except a man be born again
he cannot see the kingdom of God;' for 'that which is born of the
flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit.'

"Here Jesus assures us, beyond all doubt, that nothing but spirit
can either see or enter into the kingdom of God; and this confirms
Paul's doctrine, that 'as many as are led by the spirit of God are
the sons of God, and joint heirs with Christ.' And Jesus assures us,
by his declaration to his disciples, John 14:16-17; 'if ye love me
keep my commandments; and I will pray the Father and he shall give
you another comforter, that he may abide with you forever, even the
spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive;' that is, men and
women in their natural state, who have not given up to be led by
this spirit of truth, that leads and guides into all truth; 'because
they see him not, neither do they know him, but ye know him, for he
dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.' And as these give up to be
wholly led and guided by him, the new birth is brought forth in them,
and they witness the truth of another testimony of Paul's, even that
of being 'created anew in Christ Jesus unto good works,' which God
had foreordained that all his new-born children should walk in them,
and thereby show forth, by their fruits and good works, that they
were truly the children of God, born of his spirit, and taught of
him; agreeably to the testimony of the prophet, that 'the children of
the Lord are all taught of the Lord, and in righteousness they are
established, and great is the peace of his children.' And nothing can
make them afraid that man can do unto them; as saith the prophet in
his appeal to Jehovah: 'Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose
mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee.' Therefore let
every one that loves the truth, for God is truth, 'trust in the Lord
forever, for in the Lord Jehovah there is everlasting strength.'

"I write these things to thee, not as though thou didst not know
them, but as a witness to thy experience, as 'two are better than
one, and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.'

"I will now draw to a close, with just adding, for thy
encouragement, be of good cheer, for no new thing has happened to
us; for it has ever been the lot of the righteous to pass through
many trials and tribulations in their passage to that glorious,
everlasting peace and happy abode, where all sorrow and sighing come
to an end; the value of which is above all price, for when we have
given all that we have, and can give, and suffered all that we can
suffer, it is still infinitely below its real value. And if we are
favored to gain an inheritance in that blissful and peaceful abode,
'where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest,'
we must ascribe it all to the unmerited mercy and loving kindness of
our Heavenly Father, who remains to be God over all, blessed forever!

"I will now conclude, and in the fulness of brotherly love to thee
and thine, in which my family unite, subscribe thy affectionate
friend,

"ELIAS HICKS.

"To Hugh Judge:

"Please present my love to all my friends as way opens."