9th month, 1797, and signed by order, and on behalf of the same, by

SETH HILL EVITTS, Clerk."

On the reading of which, Third-Haven monthly meeting made the following minute: "Which paper and names being read in the monthly meeting, and some time spent in consideration thereof, the meeting agreed on appointing a committee to take an opportunity with them, in a collective capacity, and treat the matter with them, as way may open, as to the grounds of their request;-and report of their situation, and state of unity in regard thereof, to our next meeting." The result of this interview and care, was, that nearly all who had made application (about four hundred in number, including the children who were added) were received into membership; and most of those few who were not thus received, acknowledged it was quite as well for them to be left at present.

Now a new and very interesting order of things commenced. Those who had voluntarily left the society, (for whose use the property, particularly the meeting-houses, were held) and had become members of another body, conceived they had forfeited their claims to the property; but those who remained attached to the old order, thought differently, and were best satisfied that they should continue to meet as they had previously done, in their meetings for worship: and all that was required was, that they should change the time of holding the meeting for business. A preparative meeting being soon established by Friends, this reasonable request was cheerfully complied with, and the harmony of social and friendly intercourse did not appear to be at all affected, by VOL. IV.-22

the separation which had taken place. All met together, on first-days, in perfect harmony and mutual love, occupying the property by mutual consent. Their meetings, in the middle of the week, were held on different days, on account of the monthly meetings of the Nicholites;-those who had joined Friends, changing the day, so as to accommodate their brethren, the Nicholites; who continued to hold the title of the property in their own name, by mutual agreement.

After time and opportunity had been afforded, for showing the effect which the union might have, upon such as had connected themselves with Friends, and finding that the apprehensions, as to the pernicious consequences anticipated from the union, were not realized; but that such as had thus united themselves with Friends continued to be distinguished by their former plainness, simplicity, self-denial, and upright walking among men, those who remained also came to the like conclusion, and generally made application to become members among Friends.

A little while prior to the application of the remaining members of the Nicholite society, a monthly meeting of Friends had been established, among the first applicants, at North-West Fork meetinghouse, in the order of society; to which monthly meeting, the remaining Nicholites applied, and were received into membership, about the year 1801.Previous to which reception, the Nicholites had requested Friends of North-West Fork monthly meeting to appoint trustees to receive a transfer and title to the society property, for the use of Friends; when a regular conveyance of the property was made to trustees thus appointed for the use of the

Society of Friends; and where Friends' meetings have continued to be held, up to the present time. The names of the meetings in the state of Maryland which were formerly meetings of the Nicholites, are Centre, Tuckahoe, and North-West Fork.

It may not be amiss hère further to observe, that there were among the Nicholites, previous to their becoming united with the Society of Friends, several persons who appeared in the ministry, but whose appearances were not generally approved. One of these, who was in favour of introducing singing into their worship, was given to understand, that consistent with the views which they held, they could not admit of such a practice. These, together with a very few others, appeared to be opposed to the administration of a written discipline, and claimed the right and privilege each one to pursue the dictates of his own mind, without suffering the control of any other person, or submitting to the rules of society. But these views were far from meeting the approbation of much the larger and more consistent part of the members; who thought it would be right to testify their disunity with them, and with those who adopted them, if they could not be brought to a proper sense of the tendency thereof.

When the separation was agreed upon, as before related, those who remained attached to the old connexion, apprehending when their numbers should be so reduced, as would necessarily be the case when the others left them-that they might not be competent to manage that spirit of libertinism that had begun to show itself, requested their friends to remain in connexion with them, until some satisfactory result in the matter should be attained.

To this their friends consented, and remained until two who had appeared in the ministry, but were not approved, and who continued to refuse to take the advice of their friends, were disowned. They were then thought to be left in a comfortable state and the separation, as before-mentioned, was effected.

Most of the foregoing was given by E. D. an approved minister in the Society of Friends, and who was formerly a member of the Nicholite society.He is now upwards of sixty-five years of age, and was an eye and an ear witness of much the greater part of the foregoing narrative. Such of the earlier parts of this history, as took place before his time, he has obtained of an aged person of veracity, who lived at the time, and in the neighbourhood of Joseph Nichols; and who lately communicated to him many interesting anecdotes relative to the first rise of this society.

Lambert Hopkins' Account of Joseph Nichols, &c.

My acquaintance with Joseph Nichols commenced somewhere about the year 1764 or 5, when I was about twenty-three years of age, and continued during the space of seven or eight years; in which time considerable intimacy subsisted between us, I being, as it were, his son in the faith. He appeared to me to be between thirty and forty years of age. In stature, he was about the middle size, dresHis sed very plain, principally in undyed clothes. residence was, I think, in the edge of the State of Delaware, not many miles from Dover, where he had a farm. The period at which his ministry commenced, was marked by a laxity of manners, and insensibility of mind, among the inhabitants of those

Joseph told

met together

At this fro

parts of the country; indeed a general blindness with regard to their duty to God, appeared mostly to prevail. A great portion of time was devoted to frolicking and merriment, dancing, fiddling, and other diversions, particularly at fairs. me he was at a frolic where they for merriment, such as dancing, &c. lic he was accompanied by a very particular and intimate friend, who was taken ill and died suddenly at the place. As he reflected on the circumstance, it was made the means of producing a radical reformation in his life and conduct. His mind became enlightened and imbued with heavenly Truth, so that he conceived himself called upon publicly to preach to his neighbours. (at what period from his first change is not now known.) He preached all through the Eastern Shore of Maryland, and some on the Western Shore, as well as in Pennsylvania and Delaware. I have travelled with him to several meetings. In his meetings, he sat in silence until he believed himself called upon to preach. His preaching was remarkably powerful and affecting to the wicked, and was made effectual to the reformation of many. Sometimes, however, he did not apprehend himself qualified for communication, and the meetings terminated in silence. When the question was asked him whether he would preach that day, his answer was, "I mean to be obedient." His meetings were very commonly held out of doors, under the shade of trees, sometimes in private houses, and occasionally in the meeting-houses of Friends; but when these were denied him on account of his not being in membership, they frequently gave him the grant of the seats, which were used

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