Post, Mary Robbins. Letter to Isaac Post.

Title

Post, Mary Robbins. Letter to Isaac Post.

Creator

Post, Mary Robbins

Contributor

Post, Isaac, 1798-1872

Date

1847-06-25

Description

Handwritten letter from Mary Robbins Post to Isaac Post, June 25, 1847.

Is Part Of

Isaac and Amy Post Family Papers

Rights

The organization that has made the Item available believes that the Item is in the Public Domain under the laws of the United States, but a determination was not made as to its copyright status under the copyright laws of other countries. The Item may not be in the Public Domain under the laws of other countries. Please refer to the organization that has made the Item available for more information. http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/

Identifier

680

Location

Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester

Transcription

(Page 1)

there are many mistakes but I have not time to rectify them

Joseph says George and Ann left this morning

Westbury 6 month 25^th 47

the 1^st of July Joseph desires love to all

My dear Brother

We have a day or two since received thy kind

and interesting letter and I had felt it to be a very long time since

we had been blessed in that way and I fain would have taken

up my pen had not the lumbering things of time pressed heavily on

me added to which the long time which elapsed between your letters

worries me to be sparing of my inflection’s – but as brother Isaac

proposes a change I gladly accede thereto and will endeavour to

do my part fully so far as regards length and frequency howeve [sic]

I trust we shall not monopolize this privelege [sic] but whenever Amy

Sarah or Joseph feel it in their hearts to contribute their share it will

be most thankfully awarded to them

There have been many incidents occurring which I wished to remember

to tell you about which have now lost some of the interest I then attached to

them others I have forgotten – Perhaps Yearly Meeting comes first on the list

I was not in attendance it really seemed quite strange not to be there and

I hear the womens meeting spoken of as being one of great favor harmony and

unanimity – the men’s too is considered by the power to be so too but

Joseph felt less of interest than ever before and were it not for the few

righteous remaining he would be ready to flee from it as Lot did from

Sodom Jacob L Mott showed the spirit he is of too plainly to be mistaken

probably Edmund has mentioned it – in relation to a document from

[Indiana] ^Ohio^ YM on slavery he has been condemned by his own friends for it but

^it^ was no more than many are prepared to act out – altho [sic] they are frequently speaking

of the perfect equality in our society are as good a right to be heard as another

but dont they see it is not so? let any one who is an uncompromising

abolitionist speak on almost any subject and it is easy to see how it is recei

-ved by the would be followers of Fox Barclay and Penn – without examining

what is said they are prepared with a judgement of condemnation Samuel

Hughes who has been held up ^as^ being one of the real kind of friends

preached as friends used to a great while ago he did not meddle with

what is going on in the world &c &c well we were favored to hear the

friend and I may say I was supprised [sic] – and I remarked if that was

a specimen of old fashioned preaching I was not sorry we heard it seldom he

quoted scripture abundantly principly [sic] from the old testament Solomon

and his beloved among the rest – (he appeared to be a goodly man in meetn [sic]

I see him no where else)

(Page 2)

the next day we went to orthodox meeting an Englishman that traveled and

interpreted for Elizabeth Walker and also for Stephen Grilette [sic, Grellet] on the continent

of Europe The [sic] call him the gratest [sic] preacher ever been here from England – and

if I could believe the doctrine he preached I should consider him great too

said much on the atonement faith beleif [sic] and so on which I cannot compreh^end^

at all the latter part of his discourse was of a more practical cast and I could

respond to it – it was a watering time to the household of faith –

Since which Jacob L has been at the two monthly meetings he seems to

me to be a changed man from what he was year’s ago – but I know

too that I see things very differently from what I did and perhaps the chanfe

is on my part John Jackson and Rachel were at Jericho and the contrast between

Jacob and John’s communication’s were very striking John made religion

to be plain and self evident to all the fruits of which were love to

God and benevolence to man and if such fruits were not produced pro

-fession was vain it would not constitute us members of the church

of God – &c &c it was truly excellent – Jacob spoke first said considerable

of Paul said he had no doubt if now here he would be with the Presbyterian a

Presbyterian with a Methodist a Methodist and so on ^all things to all men^ so that by any means he

might gain some Paul was a rapid reasoner he might be compared to a

galloping horse for rapidity in the midst of his reasoning he stoped [sic] short

and knowing Timothys weak state he recommended him to drink no

more water but wine take a little wine for the stomachs’ sake &c

Abraham and the sacrifice too were spoken on – John’s health is feeble

cough and night sweats – he looks miserably made us a delightful visit

it is as a brook by the way to meet such as he Here this is the 30

of 6 month and not on its way many things combine to prevent writing

and [your] I fear I shall not add much at this time George and Anna

Willets are here on a visit we have not had much of their company

They have been at Joseph Hicks’s nights they may remain a day or two

longer – Joseph and self have recently been to see Mary W Frost she is

very feeble but has gained a little since yearly meeting she rides out

in pleasant weather and it does her good cough’s very much the forepart

of the day and raises a great deal she is cheerful through all – I hope

she may be spared to them and us a while longer – but the question arrises

when or how long before we are ready to part with our loved one’s?

We feel ourselves to be striped [sic] and in measure lonely altho [sic] many

(Page 3)

relatives still remain to bless and cheer us – few of whome [sic] sympathize

so fully with us in sentiment as the dear one’s who have left us

I cannot help feeling as tho [sic] it was too much for thee and Joseph to be

separated only think how desirable it would be to be together – I hope

the day is not very distant when we shall meet you if it be only for

a brief season – do let us see you this summer or autumn at fatheres^t^ [sic]

we are expecting it. Catharine Willis is in New York been there 2 weeks

she is better than when she went – her eyes were very band when she went down

probably she may write soon herself and tell of her treatment – &c &c Dr Sweet

saw her and operated on her joints too and if they only remain in place I

should hope she would be greatly benefited – She went to Dr Halloe first

he has a girl he magnetizes who examines patients and prescribes for them

which she did for Catharine I do not hear as she recommended Dr Sweet but

that he saw her at the office incidentally Henry is going down for her – he may

have gone to day – I suppose you have had a visit from Isaac and Mary

in this Mary wished to go to Rochester to see you and Isaac too but pro-

-bably hay time coming on so near may influence him somewhat – we did

not know of Marys going in season to write by her – I spoke of the wom

-en’s Y Meeting being satisfactory I have since heard some remarks as tho [sic] it was

not so much so “that it was rather dry did not seem like YM” I am ri[obliterated]

glad when it seem’s dry to some of the bodyites our last monthly was

a very dry lifeless concern to Joseph and self and I have heard it was

so to some others – well they are reaping the harvest of the seed they

are and have been sowing – how can they expect to reap wheat when tares

were sown – for it remains true “such as ye sow such shall ye reap”

I feel but little interest in the doings am for the most part a looken [sic]

on E S Willets and W T Cock are overseers W is the new one

There has been a proposition to hold a meeting at Oyster bay under

the care of a committee once a month first day afternoons which has

been considered again and again ^only twice^ without concluding to do so – the

meeting was informed that the house was repaired at considerable

expense with a view to something of the kind – We are told there are

quite a number of friendly people there who would be glad of an opportunity

of attending Joseph has just come from meeting (I have by the way been at home)

and says Isaac Rushmore was there too and they have not been to see you

dont it beat every thing? says he wanted to go but Mary Post and Mary Wood

(Page 4)

were not willing to go or let him go – I do like to see people do

as they wish sometimes – It has been a very cool summer with the exception

of three or 4 days this week and last it is now cool again had a beautiful rain

last night and now all nature is rejoicing in the timely blessing it seems

like Spring so fresh and green Joseph talk’s of commencing to make hay

next week the season is backward – I beleive [sic] I told you sometime ago that

Emma Grimshaw had left here to teach a school in Vermont well she went in

great expectation of doing great things of making double the money there that she

could here and she is most grievoussly [sic] disappointed has been teribbly [sic] homesick for

L.I and is now expecting to come back the 1^st of 8 month says she has learned the

truth of the adage “a bud in the hand is worth two in the bush” Esther Post is teach in

that school now she will leave after this week and take Caroline’s place in the

other house I hear some of the orthodox friends cannot under any circumstance send

their children to our school and wish their children select I cannot understand

it at all why they should wish other children than their own members to attend

their school I cannot see what difference there is in houses I hate to encourage

such illiberality in any way – they use all their influence to get all they can

George Truman has a minute to go to the East on quite an extensive [seall?] probabl [sic]

be absent about two months so I hear Rachel continues to speak to the people

and very frequently not to our entire satisfaction Timothy too sometimes but

[Text upside-down, in margins of original text, starting at bottom of page]

in a very efficient way he almost speaks on the wickedness of this government

holding one sixth of the population in abject slavery and now carrying on a war

for the extension of it he speaks so plainly some can scarcely bear it he say’s

we hear a great deal of preaching and I have wondered that ‘we [sear woshing?] said

on the subject of slavery and war’ two of the greatest testimonys [sic] the society has to bear

especially as there is need of our making it known for there is now one of the dread [files?]

horrible wais [sic] ever known and yet friends say nothing against it and still wish

to be thought to be pioneers in all that is good he said he had but his mind drawn

to this society in younger life and the principle he fully beleived [sic] in but he had had a pretty

trying time of it I thought it was true enough altho [sic] many laugh at the remark

well I have made quite a long story about the preacher’s and left some things I

had better said Rebecca Hawxhursts daughter Esther who has been sick so long has

entered her higher life suffered much during her illness & uncle Robert has his

fits quite frequently has had a number in meeting but not as hard as some

What a treat you will have ere long how I should like to share it with you I mean

Garrison and company I never looked on him with feelings of greater love and

reverance [sic] than I did this spring and how very few comparatively there are who

are willing to aid him in his labor’s or indeed to do anything for their bretheren [sic]

and sister in bonds It seems so strange to me that friends cannot throw away

their sectarian feelings and unite in doing battle against the slave system

probably you may remember some remarks Garrison made on the use of free produce (he had better

not made any it seemed to me) than such) well they were copied into the Non Slaveholder cousin

Maria Willets see there and of course condemned the author and cannot see his

other virtues she cannot se how we can take a paper edited by one who holds

such views – how few are consistent in all things I fear we should all be found ^wanting^

[Text sideways in right margin]

Give my love to all the household Edmund William Mary

and all the rest when may we begin to look for a letter

our chances are just getting good I wish you were here to

partake of them when may we look for you – Elizabeth

Mott is at Jericho making a long visit I sometimes wish

I could do so too but I like my confinement better than

too much liberty E made us a very pleasant visit lately

Mary

[Text sideways, center of page]

North Hempstead 10

July 4^th

Isaac Post

Rochester

New York

Tags

Abolitionism; Education; Family; Quakers

Collection

D.93 Isaac and Amy Post Family Papers

Citation

Post, Mary Robbins, “Post, Mary Robbins. Letter to Isaac Post.,” RBSCP Exhibits, accessed November 23, 2024, https://rbscpexhibits.lib.rochester.edu/items/show/2972.

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