bled to hear him. His ministry being attended with heart-searching fervor, many were so reached by it that they embraced his views, and endeavored to conform their lives to the dictates of that holy princi])le which he inculcated, believing it would lead out of all error and into all truth. Such was the authority and unction with which he sometimes spoke, and the deep feeling that pervaded the audience, that some would cry out audibh', and even prostrate themselves in the meeting. He travelled as a minister through the districts on the eastern shore of Maryland, in some parts of the western shore, and in Pennsylvania and Delaware. In his meet- ings he sat in silence until he believed himself called and qualified to preach. Sometimes, feeling no such qualifi- cation, the meetings terminated in silence. When asked whether he would preach that day, his answer was, '• I mean to be obedient." His meetings were frequently held under the shade of trees, sometimes in private houses, and occasionally in the meeting-houses of Friends. As he continued to hold meetings for divine worship, a change in the habits and appearance of the people became conspicuous. He insisted on the doctrine of self-denial, and the subjugation of every appetite or desire that would lead the soul away from God. Hence the Nicholites were remarkably plain in their dress and in the fur- niture of their houses ; they bore a decided testimony against war, slavery, oaths, and a stipendiary ministry. On account of these testimonies, some of them suffered by distraint of their goods and imprisonment. William Dawson, for his testimony against a hireling ministry, was confined in Cambridge jail, thirty miles from his place of residence. He and James Harris were the first among them to set an example of justice towards the African race held in bondage. They liberated their slaves, and their example being soon followed by others, it became an established principle among the Nicholites that none of their members should hold slaves or even hire them of their masters. Some of them carried their zeal still further, among whom was James Homey, who refused to eat with slaveholders, or to partake of the produce raised by the labor of slaves. The Nicholites applied to the Legislature of Maryland and obtained an act authorizing them to solemnize their marriages ac- cording to their own order, and without the aid of a priest; also allowing them the privilege, in judicial cases, of affirming instead of taking an oath. In this act they were called " Nicholites, or New Quakers ;" but the appellation which they gave themselves was Friends. Joseph Nichols was not permitted long to continue with the flock he had gathered, being called away by death. He had given evidence of his sincere piety by the prac- tice of all the Christian virtues, and left a pure exani]}le that was encouraging to survivors. He had been re- markable for his liberality and kindness to the poor, in- somuch that it was reported of him that he took off his coat and gave it to a poor slave who attended meetings without one; thus literally fidfilling the precept, "he that hath two coats let him impart to him that haih none." Those who had been convinced and proselyted by his ministry, feeling the necessity of some organiza- tion, concluded to establish a regular order of Church discipline, which was effected about the year 1780. About this time several persons among them appeared in the ministry, and exercised their gifts to the edifica- tion and comfort of the members. Ground was purchased and held by trustees for the use of the society, and three meeting-houses, in Caroline Co., Maryland, were built, in which divine worship was held on First-days, and in the middle of the week. Their practice was to sit in silence in order to hold communion with the Father of Spirits, and wait for his aid to enlighten and strengthen them, without whicli they believed no acceptable worship could be performed. They also held meetings for dis- cipline once a month, and adopted rules for Church gov- ernment similar in principle to those established in the Society of Friends. After the Nicholites had continued as an independent association about twenty years, some
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