declare of His dealings with me and His counsels to others in the assem-
blies of the people.

When we assemble with our friends, be the gathering large or small,
as the mind is turned from all things outward and we feel to adopt the
language: "Here am I, oh Lord; what wilt Thou have me to do?"
how the heavenly incense of His love pervades the soul, of what little
moment do the things of earth appear, and as we thus come into the
presence and enjoy the communion of the Father of Spirits, how this
love fills the heart, begetting desires that all mankind might come, taste
and see how good the Lord is.

Let us then, dear cousin, when thus assembled and the cumbering cares
of earth intrude upon this sweet, silent communion, and the roving cogi-
tations of the imagination of the creature keep the mind unsettled, do
as did Jacob of old, watch for the blessing until the darkness of this
night of conflict shall pass away, and the day dawn upon us in which we
can behold the beams of the sun of righteousness, and witness a growth
in those things He reveals unto us, and our strength be renewed to com-
bat and overcome the alluring things of time. And let us, too, oftener
than the returning morning, remember the Lord our God. Let the con-
stant desire of the heart be, while engaged in our outward and necessary
vocations, that in all things we do all may be done to the glory and
honor of the Great King of Kings. It will avail us but little to com-
mune with Him when assembled with our friends unless we are con-
cerned each moment of our lives to watch unto prayer, and that contin-
ually agreeably to the testimony of the Blessed Jesus, " What I say unto
one I say unto all, watch and pray, lest ye enter into temptation."

Trials and deep proving are yet the portion of some of us in the trans-
action of the concerns of Society, yet we are afforded an evidence that



Letters from 1858 to 1861 67

there is yet a remnant left who are concerned for the promotion of the
cause of truth and righteousness in the earth, believing that the Lord's
table will be filled and if the guests bidden do not come He will call in
others from the highways and the hedges until it is filled.
Thy attached friend and cousin,

John J. Cornell.

The following letter was written to one who was awaiting the
execution of sentence of death in the city of Rochester :

Fifth month 8, 1858.
Marion Ira Stout:

My Unfortunate Brother. — We are children of one common Father and
hence, though thou hast been convicted of the greatest crime a man can
commit against his fellow-men, I still feel we are children of this common
Father and thou art therefore no less my brother; but thy present situa-
tion demands my pity, my sympathy and the extension of that love which
is universal in its nature because it springs from no less a fountain than
an omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent God, and under this feeling
and in obedience to what I believe to be the requisitions of that God, I
am induced to address thee in the language of sympathy and to declare
unto thee what appears to be His counsels concerning thee. I am aware
that though I may pen sympathetic words, yet they are but a faint type of
the real depth of feeling a truly loving heart has for thee. Yet as I have
not the opportunity of vocally expressing the exercise of my mind to thee,
there seems no other way left but to communicate with thee by means of
the pen.

The dispensations of that God before whose tribunal thou must, in ac-
cordance with the judgment of men, shortly appear, are always in love
to the children of men, for no matter how little or how widely we err
from the moral or divine law He convicts us through the medium of
the witness placed in our hearts, for He willeth not the spiritual death
of any and the greater the error the deeper the conviction in order to
show us our real condition and to induce us to return and receive that
free pardon which He graciously condescends to grant to all who in sin-
cerity return to Him and repent.

With thy guilt or innocence, or with the justice of the sentence pro-
nounced upon thee, I have nothing to do, and it would avail nothing,
however averse my feelings and sentiments were to that sentence, but
the object of this writing is to consider thy situation as thou art now
placed. A few more days to exist here and then, by the hand of thy



68 Autobiography of John J. Cornell

fellow-man, in obedience to the law of the land to be launched into
eternity. Though ere that time (such is the uncertainty of human life)
the hand that pens this may be cold in death, and the spirit which dic-
tates it be wafted to the presence of the great I am. Yet there is a pos-
sibility that a long life may be granted me, but thy days are numbered
and the solemn call goes forth to thee — Prepare, prepare to meet thy God.

Deeply as thou hast sinned there is yet time to make thy peace with
Him, for if it is not made here it cannot be made hereafter, for as the
tree falls so it must lie. Leave all vindictive feelings, all revengeful
thoughts against thy fellow-men, no matter how much thou thinks they
have wronged thee, for thou cannot stand pardoned in the sight of
God while cherishing these feelings. If they have wronged thee and
unjustly condemned thee to a dishonorable death remember the blessed
Master was thus unjustly condemned and ignominiously put to death,
and yet He could in that hour say, " Father, forgive them, they know
not what they do," and to this state of love and forgiveness it is absolutely
necessary for us to attain ere we can find acceptance with the Lord our
God.

But oh, if thou art indeed guilty, as thy fellows think they have found
thee, lose not a moment, waste no time in vain regrets or expostulations
or pleadings ; listen not to hope that man will relent, till thou hast made
thy peace with thy God, until thou hast received the assurance that He
has forgiven thee, and then all thou will have to do will be to bow to
the decrees of men to satisfy them by the surrender of thy natural life.
But over the spiritual life they have no control or power. Young though
thou art in years, and had thou not yielded to temptations many happy
and useful might have been thy days, but were a pardon to be granted
thee and thou set at liberty by man such is the organization and the
prejudices of society that thou would carry the mark of Cain upon thy
brow. Go where thou would the harrowing thought would still upbraid
thee that thou had shed the blood of thy brother and sent him, perhaps
unprepared, into the presence of his God.

Then if the short time that is left thee be wholly employed in endeav-
oring to receive a pardon from thy God, and thou art able to realize it,
all will be well with thee, for if we are prepared for the final change
it will not matter in what form it comes or at what period of life.

Then let me entreat thee once more to lay aside all feelings toward
thy fellow-men, of curses or desires for revenge, and set about the
work of preparation in earnest, listen to the pleadings of those whom
thou hast chosen as thy spiritual advisers, though they differ from me
in the form of worshipping God, yet that matters not if in sincerity
of heart, prompted by the love of God, they use their efforts in thy



Letters from 1858 to 1861 69

behalf, I can bid them Godspeed, but remember all their efforts will be
unavailing unless thou, too, enter into the work. Put not aside that silent
though powerful pleader in thy own breast, that which has already shown
thee how far thou art guilty, that which has reproved thee, that which
made thee feel disquieted, but put up the earnest petition to Almighty
God to be merciful to thee a sinner, bow in contrition of soul before Him
and thou may be able to realize that though thy sins be of a crimson
• lye they shall be made white as wool, though they be as scarlet, they
shall be as snow. My very soul has been poured out to my God for
thee, my erring brother, in earnest supplication that He would, ere thy
time on earth be finished, forgive thee and afford thee a feeling sense
that thy sins had gone beforehand to judgment. Yes, when my head
has been reclined on my pillow in the silent watches of the night, thou
hast been brought to my remembrance and my prayers have been offered
to Him in thy behalf.

If then, my brother, a frail creature like myself, can thus be moved in
tender sympathy and compassion for thee, how much more will that
Great Being, who is all love and whose judgment seat is covered to an
hair's breadth by His mercies, have compassion on thee if thou will only
turn unto Him with sincere repentance. Remember how it fared with
the poor prodigal mentioned by the Blessed Jesus in one of His parables,
who, though he had wandered far and wide from his father's house, yet
when brought to a great strait, turned about and became willing to be
anything in his father's mansion so that he could be fed from his bounty,
and mark the tender compassion portrayed when his father met him while
yet afar off, as he kissed him and bade that the fatted calf be killed and
a time of rejoicing made, and again the Blessed Jesus declared "that there
was more joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth than over ninety
and nine just persons that needed no repentance." And as thou art
brought into a great strait, O turn then to thy Heavenly Father; leave the
things that are past, close in with the offers of restoring love which
have been made to thee, and as thou are faithful thy few remaining days
I cherish an ardent hope that the presence and power of thy God will
enable thee to forgive all men for whatsoever they may have done to
thee and afford thee that peace which will rob death of its sting and be
the reward of thy coining in even at the eleventh hour.

And now, in the love of the Everlasting Father, under which I trust
this was written, I bid thee affectionately farewell and remain thy com-
passionate and sympathizing friend,

John J. Cornell.



jo Autobiography of John J. Cornell

Mendon, Seventh month 17, 1858.
To E. Newport :

Much Loved Friend. — It being a rainy afternoon and, in consequence
being unable to proceed with the labor of gathering the harvest and feel-
ing my mind drawn to address thee, I may acknowledge the receipt of
thy very welcome and acceptable epistle of the Twenty-eighth of last
month, bearing to me news that the mutual endearing interest which
sprang up between us while thou were here, yet existed. So desirous have
I been to continue our correspondence and again mingle in feeling through
the medium of even written language, that previous to the reception of thy
letter, I bad resolved to devote the first opportunity when my mind was
properly qualified to writing to thee, even at the risk of appearing too
forward.

Often of late have I mingled with thee in feeling, oft have I recalled
the intercourse of the few hours we have spent together, which were to
me dear ones of refreshment and encouragement, to persevere in the path
of obedience to the requisitions of my God, unworthy as I am of the
high gifts bestowed upon me. As I contemplate the various duties which
at times open to my view, as I look over the work that lies before me
and which I feel it is for me to accomplish, when I reflect on the humbling
and necessarily clean-handed work thou wast led to point out for me
and feel how little strength and ability 1 possess, were it not for the
confidence I have that "in my da] s,> shall my strength he," that noth-
ing will he required hut what ability will be given to perform, I should
almost despair of reaching the port and haven of rest wherein 1 may lay
down in peace, rejoicing in the arm - of my Savior. I know it is set down
as a rule in writing or in conversation to say but little of one's self, but I
do not feel as though I was writing to a mere passing acquaintance or
friend, hut to a companion to whom 1 can unburden the trials, the working
and the travail of my mind, and find a sympathing, soothing response,
an affectionate welcome and an encouraging interest. Were thou of my
own age or of corresponding degree of religious experience I might
perhaps be qualified to hand Eorth a word of counsel or encouragement,
but as thou hast passed far beyond my presenl experience 1 feel that I
can only interest thee in my communications by evincing to thee the true
state of my mind that thou may watch its advancement even as a mother
watches the unfolding of her babe's infantile mind, and as it marks each
step onward in the path of right a feeling of joy and satisfaction covers
the mind.

It has been my lot since thou w ert here to mingle with the afflicted and
bereaved as one of them, and to open my mouth as ability was afforded
to counsel and console, and in the occupancy of that gift, which I feel



Letters from 1858 to 1861 71

has been entrusted to me, I find a little more enlargement seems to be
required of me and I am often led into close dealing with states, but I
still feel like a captive struggling for liberty. Much is opened to me in
great clearness and sometimes, when the opening is extensive, as under
the word of command, I rise and proceed a little way, the impression to
stop is given and thus far I have been favored not to overstep it. I feel
this to be a trial of my integrity, and that confidence in my God which
I felt in passing through the wilderness state, as I then witnessed of
being ministered unto and sustained and encouraged, so I now hope when
it shall please Him whom I profess to serve to break the bonds I shall
be liberated. I as yet feel but little liberty to peruse the scriptures,
though I still retain the estimation I have felt for them as a secondary
means of instruction, yet am fully sensible that I must not depend upon
anything but that which He is pleased to furnish me with from day to
day.

Though various baptisms are meted out to me, yet for the most of
the time I am in the enjoyment of that sweet peace which is the reward of
duty performed, and of which one who has not given up to follow the
Master can form no adequate idea. And now in a continuation of that
cementing love of the Blessed Master, under which we have thus far been
enabled to mingle together in such sweet communion and fellow feeling,
and trusting that such may be our experience, not only through time, but
throughout the endless ages of eternity, in which desire my endeared com-
panion wishes to be included.

I subscribe myself thy much attached friend and fellow-servant in the
work of the Lord,

John J. Cornell.

Mendon, Twelfth month 3, 1858.
To I. B. W. :

Much Esteemed Friend. — Thou hast been brought so vividly before the
view of my mind to-day, and accompanied with a deep, earnest desire for
thy preservation (as well as my own) from the entanglements, the contro-
versies and the discouragements which surround us as individuals as
well as the society by whose name we are publicly known, that I have
felt it right to communicate to thee my feelings and such other views
as may be presented while I am writing, hoping thereby to strengthen
the bond of affectionate interest that now binds us and perhaps be some-
what instrumental in affording thee some little encouragement in the
path the Lord hath appointed for thee.

Perhaps there never was a day when there was more need of faithful
watchmen on the walls of our Zion than the present, or that these watch-



J2. Autobiography of John J. Cornell

men need to be more vigilant and devoted to the Master with a single
eye to His directions, being faithful to sound the alarm at the approach
of every enemy, let them come in what form they may.

When we view the state of our Society and behold the many things
that have crept in among us having the specious form of godliness, yet
lacking the vital essence, have we not just cause to fear the enemies
within the camp more than those that are without? And does it not
behoove us who have publicly avowed the name of our Lord, who profess
to be His ambassadors, to the brethren, and who consequently stand as
watchmen upon the walls, to be careful of every step we take that we
do not stumble and fall, thus giving the enemy an advantage, not only
over us, but over the flock under our charge? Nor must we be found
sleeping at our posts, lest the eagle-eyed adversary gain an entrance. Nor
when the Master selects us for a situation of difficulty and danger, must
we shrink or plead that we are not worthy of the confidence reposed in us,
but rest confidently on His arm and in His wisdom that He knows us
better than we know ourselves, and knows when and where to send us in
order to rightly carry on the work He designs to accomplish through the
means of our instrumentality.

Thou, no doubt, well understands the frailty of human nature, and that
when we look into our own hearts and find there the deep, sincere and
earnest desire to be found walking in obedience to the call of the Divine
Master, and thus when we turn over the leaves of our mortal lives and
view our acts in retrospect and find here a faltering from duty through
fear of our brother man, there a neglect of the requirement of our God,
through unwatchfulness and perhaps a willful refusal to walk where He
would lead us, and then remember the suffering undergone in order to
be reinstated to favor with Him in whom our heart most delights, how
we are humbled, and in this state of humiliation where is there room in
the heart to judge or hold aloof a brother or a sister whom we dis-
cover has stepped aside. Is this not one of the situations when in our
humiliation our judgment is taken away? How then is the heart moved
with pity for the erring, and how strong the desires that they may be
brought back to the fold and again enjoy the blissful pleasure of being
under the kind care of the Good Shepherd.

The language arises to pen, stand aloof from the controversies that
are existing in our Society. Neither give way to discouragements for that
or any other cause. He whom we profess to serve is able to carry us
through every difficulty, every trial and every temptation with safety.

It is His cause in which we arc engaged and we must know of being
sent forth with new directions for each duty, and that after our obliga-
tion is performed, of returning and sitting as it were at His feet, patiently



Letters from 1858 to 1861 73

waiting until he again sends us, and then when we clearly understand
His directions to run with alacrity as a faithful, obedient child, and not
wait to be compelled to go for fear of punishment.

Oh the deep necessity there is of minding the Master's time instead
ot our own. If He requires us to hand forth something for a brother or
a sister He knows when it is best for us to deliver the message, and if we
move before or wait until after the right time there is great danger that
neither we nor those to whom we speak will receive any benefit from our
labors.

Let us then gather to Him alone and be very careful not to lean on
any secondary means or medium of instruction, nor to rely on the openings
made as it were yesterday, but come each day of our lives into the pres-
ence of the Great King of Kings as empty vessels waiting to be filled by
the waters of life which flow only from that pure fountain that contains
all that is good, ceasing to be anxious about the result of our labors or
to be held in high estimation among men, performing that which is re-
quired at our hand, and when, from whatever cause, we have made a mis-
step endeavor to get as quickly as is possible into that repentant state
in which we can acknowledge our error and petition for forgiveness.

Thus shall we be preserved in unity with the members of the church
of Christ and know of our reward being sure each day we live and there-
by become prepared to bear the things of time with joy and not with
grief and when we are summoned hence, we will have the assurance that
there is a mansion prepared for us in the house of our Lord.

Thy much attached friend and fellow-laborer in the work of the Lord,

John J. Cornell.

Mendon, Second month 9, 1859.
To M. T.:

Much Valued Friend. — Thy very acceptable epistle was duly received
and I may acknowledge we shared with thee in thy disappointment, feeling
that we were not only deprived of thy company, but that thou would
have enjoyed those solemn, heart-consoling sessions witnessed in both our
monthly meeting and on the succeeding First-day, for truly they were
seasons wherein we witnessed the overshadowing wing of Divine Good-
ness to be spread over us, and many can bear testimony that they were
refreshed and strengthened.

On perusing the epistle referred to, my attention was arrested with
the remark thou makest in relation to the " cessation of Babel building
and that all might see alike as in the first watches of time," and I feel
drawn to pen some views on that subject, not to find fault, for thou
knowest me too well for that, nor to indulge in anything like criticism ;



74 Autobiography of John J. Cornell

far from it, but in that brotherly feeling thou so well knowest flows toward
thee, to present them for thy consideration. And here I would not have
thee attach any undue weight to them, because I have penned them, but
look to the feeling and evidence within thy own mind for the confirmation
of their truth, and if thou find it not pass them by. If thou dost, then be
encouraged to still press forward in the direction the Lord thy God points
as the way.

The children of men are placed in diversified situations, surrounded by
different circumstances, differently educated, and hence view the same
object in different lights, and therefore it is not strange they should come
to different conclusions. Be not alarmed while I state that, according
to the view T have and the consequent conviction resultant therefrom, that
the deep, bitter persecutions which the followers of Christ have under-
gone, the vast amount of blood that has been shed on account of religion,
the bickerings which have scattered the professors of the name of Christ,
the unhappy divisions in our own Society and the more recent difficulties
in our own Monthly Meeting, and from which we are now suffering,
have all had their origin in the vain attempt to bring all to see alike.
Were not the primitive Christians persecuted because they advanced
something different from the Jewish law? And was it not for fear
that the Jews would be divided on views and hence could not behold the
law alike, and during that terrible season of the Inquisition were not all
the efforts that men could devise brought into action to bring men to see
alike as regards the Roman Catholic doctrines? And where lay the
ground of complaint against Elias 1 licks, bul that he did not see as others
in the Societj did, and hence the effort was made to stop him from spread-
ing his views. And in relation to our own Monthly Meeting, is not the
same cry of unsoundness raised in relation to some of its members?

The Apostle Paul has declared. " There are diversities of gifts, but the
same spirit, and there are diversities of ministrations and the same Lord ;
and there are diversities of operations, but the same God who worketh
all in all." Hence I feel thai it makes but little matter in what way the
tree be pruned and cultivated, if so be that the fruit be good and
abundant. It is the heart and the motive thai prompts to action that our
Heavenly Father takes cognizance of, and not the forms and ceremonies
by which we surround the act. I am a believer with Elias I licks, that
there are true, devoted children of Cod in every nation, kindred tongue
and people, under every clime and in all ranks of men. Vet these cannot
see alike even in what they regard as essential for them.

But in all organized bodies the members thereof must see alike in regard
to the principles upon which the organization is formed. So as relates
to the Society of Friends, all our members, in order to get along bar-



Letters from 1858 to 186 1 7 e

moniously, must acknowledge the immediate revelation of the will of
God to man to be the only guide for him to a glorious immortality and
that man must y.eld an unreserved obedience to this manifested will
ere he can know of progressing towards that inestimable boon. Thus far
all must see alike or we cannot exist as a body, but as I have herein-
before stated, that we are placed under different circumstances, so the
law necessary to regulate us must be different, though leading to the
same great end.

We find there are those among us who are endowed by the Great