1 843.] "PROXIES." 61 



This year ended on a Sunday, and the next day he wrote to 

 his sister Mary : " Yesterday was rather a long day of nine- 

 teen and a half hours, including about thirteen of tongue- work. 

 My morning sermon was on ' proxies/ from Acts xvi. 37. I 

 showed first how people did bad things by proxy, and tried to 

 shift off responsibility ; instancing hanging and war, which I 

 called murdering by proxy, to Mr. P.'s astonishment, who 

 seemed rather fidgety at the sermon ; cheating by proxy, e.g. 

 . . . ; and also the tricks of trade, which seemed to astonish 

 the people very much : they don't like those things to be 

 known. Also getting drunk, and telling lies, and defaming 

 people's character by proxy. I showed that people do not 

 do nice things by proxy — eat, live in fine houses, spend money, 

 etc., by proxy. I then had up those that try to do good things 

 by proxy . . . concluding by showing how people try to 

 save their souls by proxy — and drew a picture of all the proxies 

 of the year, sending back their responsibilities on the persons 

 who sent them.* In the afternoon I preached Henry Ware's 

 ' Duty of Improvement ; 7 the people were very attentive. At 

 the teachers' meeting I concluded with an address, in which I 

 felt much myself, and made them do the same. We agreed 

 henceforth to carry on the school on the voluntary principle,! 

 and I think we begin the year with good prospects. I then 

 went down to R. T.'s, and then to the F.'s, where was J. H. 

 from Rawtenstall. They are going on well there, and several 

 have signed since I was there. We talked much about prayer 

 meetings, and then they had their usual service, after which 

 J. H. and I offered prayer, which seemed a refreshment to all 

 our spirits. I then went to the ' watch night,' for the purpose 

 of spending the five minutes before twelve in Quaker worship 

 [stillness] and singing 4 Come, let us anew.' The rest, including 

 the groanings that were uttered, but cannot be described, 



* He enters in his journal, " Had my doubts on the expediency of 

 preaching it ; but believe it was right and true, and felt great comfort in 

 the delivery." 



t The superintendent had previously been paid : the sum thus saved 

 was devoted to the Building Fund. 



