to exercise the ministry and was still under probation, to notice the fact
of his preaching, without pronouncing a judgment upon it. But when the
usual document of removal was asked for at the Monthly Meeting, on behalf
of John Yeardley, the meeting paused upon the words which noticed his
offerings in the ministry, and solemnly resolved then and there to give
him a full certificate as a minister in unity, and to "recommend him as
such to the Quarterly Meeting." It happened that men and women Friends
were together, the latter remaining whilst Joseph Wood laid a concern for
some religious service before the joint meeting.

John Yeardley remarks on this act of his late Monthly Meeting:--


The concurrence of my friends with my small offerings cannot but feel
comfortable and encouraging to a poor timorous creature like me; but the
awful consideration of ranking among the servants who speak in the Lord's
name humbles me to the dust. Surely those who are designed to minister
before the Lord in his holy temple ought to bear the inscription of
holiness upon them. The means by which this inscription, is obtained is so
painful to flesh and blood that we are always ready to shrink from the
operation. When we have borne the furnace heated to a certain degree, we
are ready to fancy nothing but pure gold remains; until the refining hand
sees meet to administer fresh [trials], then we are ready again to cry
out, If it be thy will, let this cup pass by.


In the Sixth Month he joined Joseph Wood and William Midgley of Rochdale,
in visiting some neighboring meetings. Of Kendal, which was one, he says
it appeared to him "as if a remarkable revival was taking place in those
parts;" and he concludes his short account of the journey with an