following plan: if it answer,
continue it; if not, by no means feel bound to it. That our party,
in the first instance, should consist of no others than our
children, and such grandchildren as may be old enough to attend.
That our objects in meeting be for the strengthening of our faith,
for our advancement in a religious and holy life, and for the
promoting of Christian love and fellowship.

I propose that we read the Scriptures unitedly, in an easy,
familiar manner, each being perfectly at liberty to make any remark
or ask any questions. That it should be a time for religious
instruction, by seeking to understand the mind of the Lord, for
doctrine and practice, in searching the Scriptures, and bringing
ourselves and our deeds to the light.... That either before or
after the Scriptures are read we should consider how far we are
engaged for the good of our fellow-men, and what, as far as we can
judge, most conduces to this object. All the members of this little
community are advised to communicate anything they may have found
useful or interesting in religious books, and to bring forward
anything that is doing for the good of mankind in the world
generally.

I hope that thus meeting together may stimulate the family to more
devotion of heart to the service of their God; at home and abroad
to mind their different callings, however varied; and to be active
in helping others. It is proposed that this meeting should take
place once a month at each house in rotation. I now have drawn some
little outline of what I desire, and if any of you like to unite
with me in making the experiment, it would be very gratifying to
me; still I hope all will feel at liberty to do as they think best
themselves. Your dearly attached mother,

ELIZABETH FRY.

None but a parent whose spiritual life was pure, true, and deep, could
feel such a constant solicitude about the spiritual progress and
education of her family. Nor was this solicitude confined to the
membership of her own circle. All who in any way assisted in her special
department of philanthropy were councilled, wisely and kindly, to _act_
rather than _preach_ the gospel of Christ. In communications of this
sort we find the newly-appointed matrons to the convict-ships advised to
show their fait