Three Old Letters

THREE OLD LETTERS.>5 York. A few years later John D. Wing, a former pupil, bought the school property. The building was at length moved to a neighboring hill top, where it has become a part of a beautiful residence. The Academy at Union Springs in 1876 became known as Oakwood Seminary. Despite many obstacles in these latter days of school competition, Oakwood has held its own. It has numbered among its graduates successful teachers, preachers and foreign missionaries, not to speak of a good-sized army of noble Christian men and women. In July, 1920, Oakwood was moved back once more to Nine Partners Quarterly Meeting. About twenty miles from its original site and three miles South of the City of Poughkeepsie, its campus commands an extensive view of the Hudson River and the Catskill Mountains. Amid such inspiring surroundings the successor to Nine Partners School looks forward to a future big with possibility and worthy of its historic background. Esther L. S. McGonegal. Millbrook, New York. THREE OLD LETTERS. "A Letter Wrote by John Locke to Rebecca Collier."1 The following letter was sent to Rebecca Collier, after a meeting in London, with a paper of sweetmeats, and another for her companion, Rachel Bracton : the great John Locke was at meeting , and took particular notice of them. 'Tis also said that King William the third was there incognito. My sweet Friends: A paper of sweetmeats by the bearer to attend your journey comes to testify the sweetness I found in your society—I admire no converse like that of Christian freedom; and fear no bondage like that of pride and prejudice. I now see acquaintance' by sight cannot reach that height of enjoyment which acquaintance by knowledge arrives unto. Outward hearing may misguide, but 1 From an old copy. Cf. Life of John Locke, H. F. Bourne, 2, 453. ?6BULLETIN OF FRIENDS' HISTORICAL SOCIETY. internal knowledge cannot err. We have something here of what we shall have hereafter, " to know as we are known " ; and this we, with other friends, were at the first view partakers of ; and the more there is of that in this life, the less we need enquire of what nation, country, party, or persuasion our friends are; for our own knowledge is more sure to us than another's; thus we know when we have believed. Now the God of all grace grant that you may hold fast that rare grace of Charity ; that unbiased and unbounded love, which if it decay not, will spring up mightily as the waters of the sanctuary, higher and higher, till you, with the universal Church, swim together in the Ocean of divine love. Women indeed had the honor first to publish the resurrection of the Lord of Love, why not again the resurrection of Spirit of Love, and let all the disciples of Christ rejoice herein, as doth Your partner John Locke. Grays Inn, Nov. 21st, 1696. Nathanael Greene to Abel Thomas and Others.2 Camp before Ninety six, June 7, 1781. Gentlemen. Your Letter of the 6th is before me; from the good opinion I have of the people of your profession, being bred and educated among them, I am persuaded your visit is purely religious, and in this persuasion have granted you a pass, and I shall be happy if your ministry shall contribute to the establishing morality and brotherly kindness among the people, which no country ever wanted it more. I am sensible your principles and profession are opposed to war, but I know you are fond of both political and religious liberty; this is what we are contending for, and by the Blessing of God we hope to establish them upon such a broad basis as to put it out of the power of our enemeys to shake their foundation ; in this laudable endeavour I expect at least to have the good wishes of your people, as well for their own sakes as 2 From the original. THREE OLD LETTERS.17 for ours, who wishes to serve them up on all occations not inconsistant with the publick good. I am Gentlemen Your most obedient humble serv* Nath. Green. Endorsed " General Green's...