Memoir

Preface

Some selections from the correspondence of Priscilla Gurney having appeared in a periodical, and excited much interest, the Editor of the following brief " Memoir" has been requested to prepare, for the press, a Biographical Sketch of her character, and of the incidents of her life.

The experiences recorded in the following extracts from her Journal and Letters, — her sound reflections on Divine things, — the weighty impressions made upon her mind, through the teachings of the Holy Spirit, and the many striking lessons of instruction which are intermingled with illustrations of these workings of the spiritual life in her own soul, are calculated to serve as waymarks to the christian traveller as he journeys onward to the heavenly Canaan ; and he may be encouraged to "run with patience the race set before" him, by

VI PREFACE.

tracing the footsteps of this dedicated servant of Christ, whose course on earth, though short, aflforded a remarkable evidence of the sanctifying and preserving efficacy of Divine grace, and of its sufficiency to enable those who unreservedly yield to its power, to bring forth "much fruit" to the praise and glory of God; and proving, in no common degree, that " honourable age is not that which standeth in length of time, nor that is measured by number of years ; but wisdom is the gray hair to man, and an unspotted life is old age."

s. a

Chelmsford, Fifth Month, 1856.

Contents

Pages

Youthful Days of Priscilla Gurney— Death of a Sister-in-law — Of her Father — Correspondence — Illness of a Brother — Winter at Clifton — Speaks as a Minister amongst Friends — Death of Henry Gurney — Of her Brother John Gurney — Journey to Nice with Invalids — Residence at Nice 9 — 94

Priscilla Gurney quits Nice — Visits the Friends at Congenies, &c. — Returns to England — Attends the Yearly Meeting in London — Returns to Earlham — Death of Rachel Gurney — Correspondence — Marriage of Joseph John Gurney — Benevolent Occupations at Home — Religious Engagements in Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire— General Visit to the Meetings of Friends in Ireland — Yearly Meeting in Dublin — In London — Returns Home ' . . 95 14X

Chapter I. 1809-1817

Youthful Days of Priscilla Gurney — Death of a Sister-in-law — Of her Father — Correspondence — Illness of a Brother — Winter at Clifton — Speaks as a Minister amongst Friends — Death of Henry Gurney — Of her Brother, John Gurney — Journey to Nice with Invalids — Residence at Nice.

From a variety of circumstances, the large family of Gurney, of Earlham, has become generally known, as consisting of persons who, from conspicuous piety and benevolence, have been interesting to the christian world. Placed in a prominent position through ^he advantages attendant on wealth, talent, and education, they exercised no common degree of influence on the extensive circle in which they moved; and, from the example of their father, John Gurney, who evinced through life much nobility of mind and a generous nature, they imbibed, from their earliest years, a disinterestedness of character, which, as it became directed by the sanctifying injfluence of religious principle, induced these young persons largely to diffuse around them the channels of blessing which were so richly placed under their control. Two of their number — the late Elizabeth Fry, and her brother Joseph John Gurney — were conspicuously devoted to the cause of christian philanthropy,' and their memory is cherished with reverential esteem and love by many, among the varied classes of society, who witnessed their untiring efforts to promote the glory of God, and the well-being of His rational creation. In the published memoirs of these two excellent persons, sketches of the domestic circle at Earlham have been so fully drawn, and so extensively read with lively interest, that any minute recapitulation of them will not be requisite in introducing to the notice of the christian reader the circumstances which marked the brief, but remarkable, earthly course of Priscilla Gurney, the youngest of the seven sisters, who, with four brothers, were, at an early age, bereft of maternal care and instruction.

Their mother, who was characterized by peculiar loveliness of mind and person, and by a pious and well-directed solicitude for the true happiness of her children, was removed by death from her important sphere of usefulness, when the eldest of her flock was only seventeen years of age ; leaving to her sorrowing husband the responsibilities that now so weightily devolved upon him. He was an indulgent and affectionate parent, greatly beloved by his immediate family ; his mind was vigorous and intelligent, his manners kind and courteous, securing the high esteem of his fellow-citizens of Norwich. His eldest daughter, Catherine, was, in an unusual degree, qualified to watch over and to promote the right education of the younger members of the motherless group, and her influence was greatly blessed to them. For many years, Earlham was a peculiarly favoured and cheerful abode ; its inmates enjoyed much liberty; — some amusements of fashionable life wore indulged in ; yet the pursuits of literature and refined taste, united to careful and diligent attention to the duties of benevolence and charity, uniformly occupied the greater portion of their time. As they became matured in age, the love of pleasure was gradually tempered, and their minds were impressed with a deep conviction of the vanity and unsatisfying nature of all merely temporal gratifications. Their bright sunshine of unalloyed prosperity became overshadowed by some dark clouds of affliction, and their youthful hearts, subdued under the chastening hand of a gracious Almighty Father, felt the need of a solace which earthly delights can never permanently supply : they sought the blessings of the redemption that is in Christ; and, although derived to them through somewhat diverse channels, they became partakers of the peace and love of God.

When, in 1792, John Gurney was deprived of his tenderly beloved wife, the loss, which to himself was well-nigh overwhelming, could be but very inadequately appreciated by his children. The three elder ones, Catherine, Eachel, and Elizabeth, could, however, in some measure, estimate it ; but a profound experience of sorrow, and of the awfulness of witnessing a summons from the endearments of domestic life and from the possessions of wealth and luxury, appears to have been, for the first time, abidingly made on the minds of these young persons, by the death of Elizabeth Gurney, the fondly beloved wife of their brother, John. She was a near relative of the Earlham family; and, from their infancy, a strong attachment had bound them to each other. She was united to her affectionate husband but a little more than a year, when, in the Fifth Month, 1808, she was removed from the circle of which she was the ornament and delight. " This," says J. J. Gurney, in his autobiography, " was our first grand draught of family affliction since my mother's death ; a draught which, in the bitterness and dismay of our spirits, we all drank together to the very dregs. . . . Never shall I forget the overwhelming woe of our beloved brother. His bodily health was dangerously affected by his long watching and nursing; but, thanks be to the Author of all good, the affliction was blessed to his soul, and was the means of bringing him, in repentance and humiliation of spirit, to the Saviour's feet."

During the brief period in which the cup of temporal enjoyment appeared to overflow, the residence of John Gurney, jun., was at Lynn ; but, after his bereavement, he was tenderly cherished by his father and sisters under the paternal roof; and it is in the endearing character of a sympathiser in his aflfl-iction, and an acute sharer in the deep sorrow that was again soon afterwards dispensed to the family, that we first become intimately acquainted with the subject of this memoir. Priscilla Gurney had hitherto been occupied in a comparatively inconspicuous pursuit of diligent, though quiet duty : she had, from her childhood, been inclined to commiserate the sorrows and sufferings of the poor; she had been accustomed regularly to visit those of her own district, to relieve their wants, to inspect the instruction of their children, and especially to help and comfort the sick and aged. But additional interests of a most weighty character now claimed the solicitudes of the Earlham household, and called forth the energies of Priscilla's mind. Scarcely a year had elapsed after the decease of Elizabeth Gurney, when the health of the beloved and honoured head of that large family began to sink under the pressure of internal disease. His symptonis did not, in the view of those around him, assume a serious aspect, but he was, himself, strongly impressed with a belief that they w^ould terminate fatally. In a letter to his sister Buxton, written in the Fourth Month, 1809, 2

Joseph John Gurney thus alludes to the indisposition of his father: — "He is certainly better, and much more comfortable, though I believe him to be still persuaded that he is in great danger. This idea is most groundless, accoi'ding to all the best opinions, but it is impossible to root it out of his mind." That the apprehension of his very critical state was graciously designed to stimulate the dear invalid to a diligent use of the few fleeting months that were yet to be added to his earthly course, appears evident from the visitation of divine love that was, in a striking manner, mercifully vouchsafed to him.

Early in the ensuing autumn, when, from deep mental conflict and increased bodily suffering, John Gurney was becoming an object of most painful interest to his affectionate children, another source of anxiety claimed their attention. Several of the family were attacked by scarlet fever. Priscilla appears to have been the first who was affected by this disorder, then Daniel, and afterwards Joseph ; each of them being favoured to surmount the disorder ; but their faithful and excellent attendant, who had, for more than thirty years, been the careful nurse of the whole circle, and justly held by them in high esteem, was, whilst engaged in her assiduous efforts to promote their recovery, seized with the fever in its most alarming form, and soon removed from them by death. This distressing event was quickly followed by a dispensation of a most afflicting and solemn cliaracter. Their beloved father's state of health became rapidly worse, his sufferings were great, and his spirit was sorely agonized ^under a sense of ^'his past errors and infirmities;" but, says his daughter Rachel, "he wrestled with God in prayer, and grace and help were given him." He repeatedly addressed his family in a very instructive manner. He " spoke of the purity of the law laid down by our Saviour, extending even to the thoughts and desires f and, ere the hand of death was laid upon him, and the mortal anguish for ever closed, his soul was favoured " to rise out of the fiery furnace, purified by the Great Refiner." " He frequently expressed that, he feared no evil, but believed that, through the mercy of God in Christ, he should be received in glory." " He continued in the possession of joy and peace" until, as we may reverently believe, he was permitted to unite with the ransomed above, in the endless song of praise to the Lord God and the Lamb.

Priscilla Gurney had sufficiently recovered from the effects of the fever to admit of her devoting herself, with most affectionate tenderness, to the duties of her afflicted parent's chamber; and she " left him almost less than any one." Six weeks after this solemn event, she writes, in a letter to her beloved sister Fry : —

We have so many objects to interest and engage us that we seldom can feel any painful vacancy ; but this does not,

16 MEMOIR OF PRISCILLA GTJRNEY. [1809.

I believe, prevent us from mourning, as we ought to mourn, for the loss of such a father as ours was. The recollection of him is dearer to me than I can well describe ; and the separation from him, and from dear nurse too, is often most truly affecting to my feelings : but it is a sorrow so mercifully united with hope and comfort, that we ought rather to rejoice in their removal to a better state.

In the altered situation of the bereaved family, various circumstances concurred to bring the members of it under a serious consideration of the religious course which they believed to be most likely to conduce to their right settlement in christian truth. At a time when their hearts were rendered peculiarly impressible by heavy affliction, and acutely alive to the soothing effect of sympathy and to the consolations of the gospel, they became intimately acquainted with a pious and zealous clergyman of the " Established Church," Edward Edwards, of Lynn. He evinced a deep interest in the spiritual condition of these young persons, and was instrumental in imbuing their minds with a clearer comprehension of the fundamental principles of New Testament doctrine. This naturally induced a strong mutual attachment, which at length resulted in the union of several of the family with that section of professors with which their kind instructor was connected. But whilst some of them were attracted in that direction, others soon afterwards yielded to an influence of a different character. The example of their

1810.] ME.M01R OF PRISCILLA GURNEY. 17

beloved sister Elizabeth Fry, who had become a decided Friend, and who had, in a remarkable manner, been enabled to uphold, in great brightness, the standard of christian excellence, operated powerfully, yet almost imperceptibly, on several of the family circle; and this, together with a consequent increase of acquaintance, not only with the principles, but also with many devoted members, of the religious Society in which they had been nominally educated, was, under the Divine blessing, the means of strengthening their attachment to the worship and views of '' Friends," and they eventually became firmly established in their christian profession.

Notwithstanding this diversity in the external manifestation of their conscientious im23ressions, there was much of the true " unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" preserved amongst them, and the fruits of gospel love, and of submission to the cross of Christ, were evidenced in life and conduct.

Some letters from Priscilla Gurney to her sister Frj^, written in the year 1810, describe the serious considerations into which her mind was introduced, whilst yet somewhat undecided as to her own future course, as well as her earnest desire to be guided by the Holy Spirit. The style of expression will show that she had not been accustomed to adhere to the correct grammatical language used by '• Friends."

My dearest Betsy, — I have been wishing to answer thy letter ever since I

received it It is always interesting to hear

at all intimately from thee. I am sure I can feel for thee in what thee must have had to go through lately ;* but I am never inclined to feel much anxiety about thee. There is so much cause for hope that thee will be carried through every trial, as thee has hitherto been. Thee wishes me to send thee a particular account of myself; but I really hardly know what to say. When I think of thee I feel so ashamed of myself. I do not know how to communicate all my great weakness and deficiencies, and this, I believe, is one reason why I do not write oftener to thee ; but I may truly say that I often think of thee, and feel very near to thee in heart. Thy sympathy, even at a distance, is very valuable and helpful to me. I have sometimes suffered painful discouragements, chiefly from finding my heart still so. attached to the world ; but more often, lately, I have been hopeful and comfortable ; indeed, I have no cause to be i^wcomfortable, except from my o"\vn want of faith and continued deficiencies. Some pains that I feared so much seem so unexpectedly removed. I felt so much anxiety lest we should be any source of pain to dear Catherine, t but nothing can well have exceeded her conduct towards us. She gives us the most entire liberty to pursue that path which is the most for our good and happiness : I do not mean only in judgment, but in feeling; for she has fully expressed to us that, let us be what we

* In reference to E. J. F.'s early engagements as a gospel minister.

f Catherine Grurney had returned from a lengthened stay at Lynn, where she bad become united to the "Established Church/'

may, if we act from conscience, she does not think it would

give her any pain I think I never felt more

truly united to her, or more happy and easy with her, than I do now. Her cheerfulness, calmness and steadiness, is the greatest support to us all ; and what a blessing it is after all we have suffered !

A few months later, to the same sister she writes : —

I felt thy kindness in writing to me with all thy numerous engagements. I am glad thee wrote to me what was on thy mind, and I now beg of thee always to say to me, with perfect freedom, anything that thee thinks it right to say. I had rather know all thy fears and anxieties about us, and I really dread shutting my eyes against the truth,

from whatever quarter it may come The

last two months have, in many respects, been very sweet and peaceful ones to me ; though my spirits have been frequently depressed, yet I have internally been generally

calm and at rest I believe, my dear Betsy,

thee art mistaken if thee thinks that I am puzzling and perplexing myself with different doctrines and opinions : I never, that I remember, felt less inclined to do this, or less able to bear it ; and the reading that I have had has not been of that sort. I have read lately Walker's "Christian/' and his "Christ the Purifier," which are only on general principles in which I think all Christians must and do agree. Such books as these are only enlightening and strengthening to me, and I believe really do comfort and do me good. I have also been reading some chapters in the Testament, with Scott's Commentary, which has been a real assistance to me. It has convinced me of two things ; first, how very little I know the Bible, and also that some assistance in reading it is, to some people, very beneficial, though all may not require it ; for, though I firmly believe that we ought not to be guided by any man or anything short of the Divine direction, yet I have no doubt we may be assistants to one another. I must now say a little on our communication with the Edwardses, at least tell thee, as far as I can, my feelings

on the subject Our union with them has

certainly been no indifierent matter to any of us, and it is my firm belief that we may consider our connexion with them as a great blessing. ... . . I think nothing in

life can be sweeter than to feel union in spiritual things with those that are dear to us, and to be stimulated by it to press forward in the way to eternal life and happiness : this has very often been the efiect of their influence upon my mind; it has made me more hopeful, has given me more faith in the efficacy of our Saviour's sufferings and death for our sins, and seems to have taken off that miserable sense of my sinfulness and weakness which often so heavily oppressed my heart ; but I am sure they have not destroyed or lessened my belief in the absolute necessity of obedience to the will of God. I hope I am enabled to desire that I may not choose my own way, but that I may be more and more willing to commit myself entirely to Him who can and will direct us, if we come unto Him in sincerity of heart ; but I must confess to thee that these desires are too often very faint^ and my weakness and inability are very great.

Daring the summer of this year (1810), Elizabeth J. Fry visited her endeared connexions at Earlham. She mentions in her journal having much conversation with some of them upon their religious views, and says, "I felt very fully strengthened to express my mind, and not to shrink; and I believe I did no hurt." On her return home she records, "abundant cause to be grateful that, on leaving Earlham, and my tenderly-beloved brothers and sisters, my mind felt very cle^r, trusting that I had been enabled to accomplish that which came to hand to do amongst them : and I hope without hurting the great cause." The intercourse, which was thus intimately renewed with her sister Priscilla, tended much to strengthen, in the mind of the latter, a conviction which had evidently become more clearly impressed, that the path designed for her by Infinite Wisdom was in the line of dedication to the service of Christ, as a consistent Friend. When this course was opened before her, in tlie light of Truth, she was firm and decided in her endeavour to yield her whole heart to follow those manifestations of the Divine will which were graciously vouchsafed to her. She, however, felt the loneliness of her spiritual allotment ; and, about three weeks after her sister's departure, thus addresses her : —

I have, indeed, very much felt thy loss, my dear Betsy, and have thought of thee since we parted with a deep and tender interest and affection. Indeed it has, at times, been discouraging to me to find Jiow much I have missed thee. I cannot help sometimes longing for thy encouraging and supporting influence ; but I do not doubt that it is for my good to stand as much alone in my present path as I do, for it is too much my disposition to lean upon others ; and I firmly believe that, if my dependence were more solely placed on Him whose help is all-sufficient, I should not be liable to the painful discouragements I now and then experience. My weakness is very great, and it seems at times almost impossible to keep fast hold of what appears to me as right for myself. I fear to give way to anything like a spirit of complaining, knowing what abundant cause I have for thankfulness. But thou so well knowest the present state of our family, that I believe thou canst understand my difficulties, and I have no doubt canst sympathize with me in them. In some respects it is a harder trial of faith to be amongst those who seem diligently, and in sincerity of heart, to be seeking the one thing needful in a difi'erent way from ourselves, than with those whose hearts are in the world. It does bring everything so to the test, which is often a humiliating^ though I doubt not useful trial to us. . . . It would, perhaps, be too sweet and too easy were we entirely united in one path : as it is, how delightful it is to feel as much unity as we all do in the most important concerns. I do not think I ever felt a more uninterrupted harmony and affection to reign amongst us than at this time. I have very often thought of thy dear Joseph's advice to me when he was here, not to be discouraged at feeling in some respects walking alone. This is what I must expect to do, though it is sometimes painful to my feelings. . . . I feel it often an inestimable privilege that my mind has not been more unsettled from Friends, for I do believe it to be so remarkably safe a path, that I increasingly feel

the value of it Dear John went to Lynn this

morning, where he expects to stay about ten days. He has been so very comfortably settled at home that we are all sorry to part with him again. Dear Joseph has been in one of his very sweet minds lately ; it is most encouraging to see him going on as he is. We cannot but long for him not to flinch from the cross of Christ, in whatever

way it may be presented to him I have rather

set my mind on Quarterly Meeting next week : I wish it may prove a stimulus to me. I look forward to the return of the Grove family* with pleasure and comfort. Their influence, I think, will be helpful to me. We had a nice visit from Hannah and Elizabeth, f I thought dear Hannah in a remarkably sweet and open mind, though I did not feel any ability to be intimate with her. She seems really very happy in her prospects. Jonathan, I think, must be a valuable young man.

To a beloved Friend, who had been made willing to devote herself to the service of Christ, P. G. writes : —

Second Month 25tb, 1810.

I cannot doubt thou hast done the right thing, and what was required of thee; and in doing this we experience peace and serenity, which the gratification of our own wills and desires can never give. And though, indeed, we have cause to acknowledge that we are unprofitable servants, yet obedience gives us confidence to cast ourselves upon God, through Jesus Christ our Saviour. May we endeavour, under all circumstances, and in all situations, to cleave unto the Lord, who alone can uphold us, and renew our strength daily. ... A stedfast adherence to what we know to be our duty, though it may sometimes

* Her uncle Joseph Gurnej's.

f The daughters of her uncle Joseph, afterwards the wives of Jonathan Backhouse and Robert Barclay.

bring us into apparent difficulties, is, I have no doubt, a help and a strength to us in our dealings with others. But if thou art sensible of failings and weakness in this respect, I know how to sympathize with thee. It is no easy, no light work, to maintain the watch; but though we may be frequently falling short, so as to feel much discouragement, let us still endeavour to watch and pray, that we enter not into temptation. If we are enabled to see the Truth, and at least at those times when we are alive to it, we must see and feel that, of ourselves, we are wretched and miserable and poor and blind; and this ought to make us humble and meek and lowly in heart ; and the fruit of this spirit should appear towards others, by rendering us patient, gentle, &c., though steady and firm in all we believe to be right.

Soon afterwards she penned the following instructive remarks : —

It is consoling, under the sense and burden of our manifold infirmities, to find that others have had the same trials — the same pilgrimage to pass through. At times the present state of probation, and the prospect of what is at the end of the race, wears a more serious aspect than at others, and seems to come more home to the heart ; and yet, how much more cause we have to wonder that this should have so little efiect upon us, than that it should impress us awfully. Oh, how important it is that we should, at all times, be found watching ! But how far am I from this desirable state ! Almost every day proves my unwatchfulness and want of faith. This makes me feel the necessity of going on quietly, and professing little ; in short, of showing our faith more by our works than by our words.

A few weeks later, she addressed the following letter to her friend and cousin, Anna Buxton (afterwards the wife of William Forster). The similarity of their course, and the manner in which both of them were brought by experimental religion, to an implicit faith in the immediate power and teaching of the Spirit of Truth, united them very closely in the life and love of the Gospel.

Earlham, Ninth Month 29th, ISIO.

I believe I never felt for thee such love and sympathy as at this time It is frequently a support and refreshment to me to turn my thoughts towards thee, and it is an encouragement to me to remember how thou hast hitherto been mercifully led and supported in that path which I have also entered. It is often the earnest desire of my heart that we may, every one of us, whether Friends or not, be enabled to "run with patience the race that is set before us," and labour to enter into that rest which is prepared for the people of God. I do, indeed, increasingly feel the infinite importance of it, though the work is sometimes very hard to our weak and frail nature, and we hardly know how to hold on our way amidst the temptations and discouragements which we are liable to in our pilgrimage here ; yet we know there is an Almighty power which can preserve us through them all, and make our way clear before us ; and to this may we, at all times, and under all circumstances, look for strength.

I feel very deeply interested in Joseph's state of mind