(SOCIETY OF FRIENDS – HICKSITE SCHISM) Fine content manuscript letter signed “Elizabeth Dudley, Clerk” of the “Yearly Meeting of Women Friends held in London,” 3pp. 195 x 250 mm., London, May 5, 1831, an Epistle addressed to “the Yearly Meeting of Women Friends to be held in Philadelphia”. In the wake of the Orthodox/Hicksite schism of 1827-8 the first of many schisms that divided American Quakers during the nineteenth century. The epistle reads in part: “…The receipt of your Epistle of the 4th Month of last year, has made some of us reverently feel that we are members of the same body; that while you suffer, we in degree, suffer with you. This feeling of unity is precious, and induces the desire, that ability may be given us in any degree to comfort the mourners amongst you, or say a word in season to those whose hand are at times ready to hang down, and their knees to smite together; for though ourselves sensible, of weakness, we should rejoice to be the means of encouragement to you. We fully believe that strength has been granted you, to suffer in the cause of Christ, and that many have thereby been purified, and prepared to serve Him with increased dedication. And while we know that former experience cannot present we desire that the remembrance of past mercies may strengthen your confidence in Him who hat helped hitherto, and enabled to fill up your various allotments in his Church. ‘He who died that we might have life, will assuredly care for those who are depending upon Him and evincing their love, by an endeavor to keep his commandments. We feel a tender interest in the present and everlasting welfare of our dear young friends; for those amongst you, who were enabled in the day of sifting and separating, to avow their allegiance to the Prince of Peace; and through much suffering and reproach, to acknowledge ‘Him our holy ‘High Priest. — may those remember the goodness and mercy which touched their hearts; raising the petition, ‘Oh! let me not wander from thy commandments; and may they be often engaged to query how far they have kept the covenants; then entered into, and paid their vows. And to you of every class, who are struggling along, under great discouragements, amidst many proving of faith and patience, at times almost ready to conclude you shall one day fall by the hand of the enemy, we would say Be of good cheer; for greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world;’ and although the season of darkness and dismay may continue long, yet ‘in patience possess ye your souls’ confiding in the assurance, that in quietness and confidence shall be you strength- a very frequent reoccurrence to the example of our ‘Holy Redeemer and the precepts He taught his disciple, does we believe greatly promote our establishment on the true foundation Jesus Christ the rock of ages to Him gave all the proposed witness and we thankfully believe it to be the design of our Heavenly Father that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. The reading of even a small portion of the Sacred Volume, is often found to have a sweet impression on the mind, and proves The watchword to faith and prayer in succeeding hours of temptation and conflict. This our annual assembly has been large, and whilst many of us have deeply felt the removal or absence by reason of infirmities of some, who had long stood as Mothers amongst us, yet we are consoled in the belief that there is a number of the middle aged and the youth prepared by submission to the Cross of Christ for usefulness in the militant Church; and we have often on the present occasion, have been drawn from contemplating the causes of mourning by a reverent sense of the fullness of the blessings of the Gospel. May we all be more and more concerned, to walk worthy of the vocation, whereunto we are called so that we may experientially know Christ to be made unto us, wisdom and righteousness, sanctification, and redemption; then after a short period of probation and suffering, will our immortal spirits through Infinite mercy, be numbered with those, who have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb…”

A few minor spots, light folds, otherwise very fine.

(EXA 483) $750