BOOKS.RESEAU.ORG - English-French Library

- 85 -

As on their former visit, they held frequent intercourse with pious
persons, several of them well known in the Christian world; such as
Gaussen, Bost, and L'Huillier. Of Theodore L'Huillier. minister of the New
Church, John Yeardley says:--


Though a moderate Calvinist, he embraced us at once on the broad principle
of Christianity. We became acquainted with him two years ago, but think
him now much deeper in the root of real religion.

11 mo. 19.--We called yesterday evening on our dear friend Owen,
and met there a pious lady, Fanny Passavant. We had much serious
conversation, I hope to profit, at least to our own minds; for we were
given to see a little the importance of the situation in which we stand,
and the necessity of being, in our intercourse with these religious
persons, wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

1828. 1 mo. 13.--We have had much satisfaction in becoming acquainted with
Ami Bost. He was one of the first who bore testimony to the light which
broke forth in the corrupt church of Geneva, and he suffered much in
defending the doctrines of the New Church. In Germany he was, with his
wife and six or seven children, driven from town to town by the police,
for holding religious meetings in his house, and for refusing to have his
children baptised. His sentiments in the office of the ministry and the
appointment of preachers, are in perfect unison with those of Friends;
also on the ordinances of the Supper, &c.

1 mo. 20.--During the greater part of our stay at this place I have felt
my mind extremely poor, but a secret desire and prayer has been maintained
to be preserved in patience, believing it to be as necessary to learn to
suffer as to do. And although it is apparently little we can do here, we
have felt repeatedly the assurance that it is the ordering of Best Wisdom,
and as such we are well satisfied.

After our little morning meeting we went to dine with dear Captain Owen,
and spent the remainder of the day with a few religious friends there.
When the evening reading was finished, we had a solemn time under the
seasoning influence of divine love. Our hearts were too full for any
religious communication, except supplication, which was offered both by my
dear M.Y. and myself.


Martha Yeardley also gives an account of this meeting, and of a visit they
paid to the Female Prison.


Before our departure for Lausanne and Neufchâtel, a relation of Mary Ann
Vernet's kindly attended us to the female prison, and introduced us to
others of the committee; and in the evening we had a religious opportunity
with the few confined there, during which they evinced much feeling. Our
interesting companion told us the next morning that she trusted the
circumstance would be blessed to them. We had also a very interesting
opportunity at Charles Owen's the evening before we left, at which was
present, as often before, a very precious friend of ours, of the name of
Fanny Passavant, a single woman, very rich, yet who lives in great
self-denial, and gives almost all she has to feed the poor. She is what
they call in this country a very interior character; which means
one that cherishes the inward life. In her company we often felt baptized
together, and she gave us strong recommendations to some of the same class
at Neufchâtel, who are desiring to learn in the school of
Christ.--(Letter to Elizabeth Dudley.)


At the expiration of their sojourn in Geneva, they did not, as they had
expected to do, proceed to the valleys of Piedmont, but, as the last
extract intimates, turned their steps towards Neufchâtel. The motives
which influenced them in this change of purpose are described by John
Yeardley, in a letter to his brother, of the 11th of the Second Month,
1828.

- 85 -