Being unable to obtain any apology from their offending members, the Society proceeded to administer its discipline.  A complaint was laid before the Monthly Meeting of New-York, in which Isaac T. Hopper, James S. Gibbons, and Charles Marriott, were accused of “being concerned in the publication and support of a paper calculated to excite discord and disunity among Friends.”  Friend Hopper published a statement, characterised by his usual boldness, and disturbed his mind very little about the result of their proceedings.  April, 1842, he wrote thus, to his daughter, Sarah H. Palmer, of Philadelphia:  “During my late indisposition, I was induced to enter into a close examination of my own heart; and I could not find that I stood condemned there for the part I have taken in the anti-slavery cause, which has brought upon me so much censure from those ’who know not God, nor his son Jesus Christ.  They profess that they know God, but in works they deny him.’  I have not yet given up our Society as lost.  I still live in the faith that it will see better days.  I often remember the testimony borne by that devoted and dignified servant of the Lord, Mary Ridgeway; which was to this import:  ’The Lord, in his infinite wisdom and mercy, has gathered this Society to be a people, and has placed his name among them; and He has given them noble testimonies to hold up to the nations; but if they prove unfaithful, those testimonies will be given unto others, who may be compared to the stones of the street; and they will wear the crowns that were intended for this people, who will be cast out, as salt that has lost its savor.’  We may plume ourselves upon being the children of Abraham, but in the days of solemn inquisition, which surely will come, it will only add to our condemnation, because we have not done the works of Abraham.”

“The Yearly Meeting will soon be upon us, when we shall have a final decision in our cases.  I feel perfectly resigned to the result, be it what it may.  Indeed, I have sometimes thought I should be happier out of the Society than in it.  I should feel more at liberty to ’cry aloud and spare not, to lift up my voice like a trumpet, and show the people their transgressions, and the house of Jacob their sins.’  I believe no greater benefit could be conferred on the Society.  There are yet many in it who see and deplore its departure from primitive uprightness, but who are afraid to come out as they ought against the evils that prevail in it.”

An aged and very worthy Friend in Philadelphia, named Robert Moore, who deeply sympathized with the wrongs of colored people, wrote to Friend Hopper as follows:  “From 1822 to 1827, we had many interesting conversations in thy little front room, respecting the distracted state of our Society, and the efforts made to sustain our much beloved brother Elias Hicks, against those who were anxious for his downfall and excommunication.  This great excitement grew hotter