TORONTO OP OLD. 571 



^OYince (Upper Canada), and after a few years became a member of the Society of the Quakers 

 at my own request, as I chose a spiritual people for my brethren and sisters in religion. But 

 after I had been a member thereof about seven years, I began to speak something of my know- 

 ledge of God or a Divine Being in the heart, soul or mind of man, all which signifies the same 

 to my understanding, — but my language was offensive, my spirit was abhorred, my person was 

 <lisdained, my company was forsaken by my brethren and sisters. After which I retired from 

 the society and was disowned by them for so doing ; but several retired with me and were dis- 

 owned also, because they would not unite in the disowning and condemning the fruits of my 

 spirit ; for, as I had been accounted a faithful member of the society for many years, they did 

 Eot like to be hasty in condemnation. Tlierefore we became a separate people, and assembled 

 ourselves together under a separate order which I immediately formed. After I retired from 

 my former meetings — as our discipline led to peace with all people more than any one in my 

 knowledge — we called ourselves Children of Peace, because we were but yo^^ng therein." 



The following account of the Temple erected by Willson at Sharon is by a visitor to the 

 village in 1835. " The building," says Mr. Patrick Shirreff in his " Tour through North 

 America," published in Edinburgh in 1835, " is of wood painted white externally, seventy feet 

 high ; and consists of three storeys. The first is sixty feet square, with a door in the centre of 

 each side and three large windows on each side of the door. On two sides there is a represen- 

 tation of the setting sun and the word ' Armageddon ' inscribed below. The second storey is 

 twenty-seven feet square with three windows on each side ; and the third storey nine feet 

 square with one window on each side." 



" The corners of each of the storeys are terminated by square lanterns, with gilded mountings ; 

 and the termination of the building is a gilded ball of considerable size. The interior was 

 filled with wooden chairs placed round sixteen pillars, in the centre of which is a square cabinet 

 of black walnut with a door and windows on each side. There was a table in the centre of the 

 cabinet covered with black velvet, hung with crimson merino and fringe, in which was deposited 

 a Bible. On the four central pillars were painted the words Faith, Hope, Charity, and Love ; 

 and on the twelve others, the names of the Apostles. The central pillars seemed to support 

 the second storey ; and at the foot of each was a table covered with green cloth. The house 

 was without ornament, being painted fawn, green and white ; and had not a pulpit or place for 

 addressing an audience. It is occuijied only once a month for collecting charity; and contains 

 2952 panes of glass, and is lighted once a year with 116 candles." 



The materials of the frame- work of the Temple were, as we have been told, prepared at a 

 distance from the site, and run rapidly up as far as possible without noise, in imitation of the 

 building of Solomon's Temple. By the side of the principal edifice stood a structure 100 feet 

 by 50 feet, used for ordinary meetings on Sundays. On the first Friday in September used to 

 be an annual feast, when the Temple was illuminated. In this was an organ built by Mr. 

 Coates of York. 



David was an illiterate mystic, as his writings shew, in which, when the drift of his maun- 

 dering is made out, there is nothing new or remarkable to be discerned. 



At the close of the war of 1312-13-14, he appears to have been under the impression that the 

 Government designed to banish him as a seditious person, under c. 1. 44 Geo. III. He 

 accordingly published a document deprecating such action. It was thus headed: "Address 

 to thy Crown, O England, and thy great name. I write as follows to all the inhabitants 

 thereof." In the course of it he says ; " After I have written, I will leave God to judge between 

 you and me ; and also to make judges of you, whether you will receive my ministry in your 



land in peace, yea or nay Ye are great indeed. I can't help that, neither do I want to ; 



but am willing ye should remain great in the sight of God, although I am but small therein, in 

 the things thereof. Now choose whether I should or might be }'our servant in these things, 

 yea or nay. As I think, it would be a shame for a minister to be banished from your nation for 

 preaching the gospel of peace therein- I am a man," he continues, "under the visitation of 

 God's power in your land ; and many scandalous reports are ia circulation against me. The 

 intent of the spirit of the thing is to put me to flight from your dominions, or that I should be 

 imprisoned therein. For which cause I, as a dutiful subject, make myself known hereby unto 

 you of great estate in the world, lest your minds should be affected and stirred up against 

 me without a cause by your inferiors, who seek to do evil to the works of God, whenever the 

 Almighty is trying to do you good." 



