happiness would be the universal order of man’s life on earth.  Millennial glory would crown humanity, and the knowledge of the Lord would be its princely attire.  Then the wolf of worldly rapacity, having lost its power, would dwell with the lamb.  The leopard of crouching deceit, having been deprived of its teeth and claws, would lie down with the kid.  The young lion, tamed, but his courage and strength reserved by being regenerated, would feed with the calf; and the little child of innocent will and teachable understanding would lead them.

But “the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.”  We can not know fully all the blessedness to be realized by doing the will of our Father in heaven.  But this we may be assured of; it will prepare us for that higher life whose brightest glory and most exalted happiness is comprehended in the welcome that all such as do his will are sure to receive:  “Well done, good and faithful servant; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”

After dinner Brother Joseph Arnold and Michael Lion come with me, over a very rough track, to Abraham Summerfield’s, where we stay all night.

TUESDAY, September 2.  In the forenoon preach the funeral of old Mrs. Summerfield; and in connection with it that of the child of Washington Summerfield.  In the afternoon we have meeting at old man Summerfield’s on the Dry Fork of Cheat river.  Washington Summerfield and his wife and soldier White’s wife are baptized to-day.  Stay all night at John Pennington’s.

WEDNESDAY, September 3.  Dine at Widow Cooper’s on the Alleghany mountain, and stay all night at Isaac Carr’s on the North Fork.

THURSDAY, September 4.  Meeting at Carr’s.  Come to Enoch Hyre’s and stay all night.

FRIDAY, September 5.  Meeting at Hyre’s.  German W. Deadenborn is baptized to-day.  Come to Sister Mary Judy’s; stay all night.

SATURDAY, September 6.  Meeting at Sister Judy’s.  Brother Thomas Lion is with me.  Come to Peggy Dasher’s; night meeting at Zion.

SUNDAY, September 7.  Meeting at Henry Moyers’s, in the Gap.  In evening get home.

THURSDAY, September 11.  Council meeting at our meetinghouse.  Decide the question as to what the churches here in the slaveholding States should require of any slaveowner desiring to come into the church.  A very delicate matter to act upon in the present sensitive condition of public feeling on slavery.  But it is the aim of the Brethren here not to offend popular feeling, so long as that feeling does not attempt any interference with what they regard and hold sacred as their line of Christian duty.  Should such opposition arise, which I greatly fear will be the case at no distant day, it will then be seen that it is the fixed purpose and resolve of the Brotherhood to “obey God rather than men.”  It was decided in council that every slaveholder coming into the church must give up his or her slaves as property; and yet not turn them off houseless and homeless, but allow them to remain, and labor, and be fed and clothed as usual, until suitable and lawful provisions can be made for their complete emancipation.