It fell to Mr. Jordan's lot in early manhood to be brought into close association with members of the Religious Society of Friends, whose purity of life, quiet, gentle manners, and integrity of character won his love for their faith, as it did his heart for one of their number, who for more than half a century since has been his devoted wife. In the year 1833 he was received into membership, was married at the Friends' Meeting-House, Stroudsburg, Monroe County, 4mo. 3, 1834, to Jane, daughter of James and Susan Bell, of Experiment Mills, in the same county; and for the remainder of his life was a member of the Religious Society of Friends.

The line which separated these two religious bodies was not a broad nor impassable one. They were both characterized by plainness in their mode of worship, and by a common faith in a risen Lord. James Logan, writing March 30, 1742, says, "Last fall there came over a German Count of the title of Zensendorf, of a good estate as well as family and education, I suppose between forty and fifty years. He wears his own hair and is in all respects very plain, as making the propagation of the Gospel his whole purpose and business. He and his people are so much for universal charity that without binding themselves to any form they join themselves with all professions that profess to be inwardly guided by the Spirit of Christ, for [they say] if the heart be right, they dispense with all the rest as the exteriors in worship of a more indifferent nature."

Whitefield, for an Orphan House, but was purchased by the Moravians when Whitefield became financially involved.

In 1889 he erected a large annex, costing ten thousand dollars, to the Widows' House at Bethlehem. This house he some years before purchased, endowed, and deeded to the Church, for a home for the widows of clergymen of the Church forever.

This being "guided by the Spirit of Christ," though not exclusively the doctrine of "The Friends," was, in the beginning of their history, the one which was prominently put forward by them. William Penn calls it their characteristic doctrine. However flippantly other men might speak of being "moved by the spirit," to them this faith in the Divine presence in the heart was a solemn, actual reality.

"I saw," said Fox, "that Christ died for all men, and had enlightened all men and women with his divine and saving light." But this doctrine, and the results which follow its acceptance, found little favor in the voluptuous court of Charles, as its simplicity had little place in the cold formalities of the Commonwealth. But it was this which Fox and his coadjutors preached, and, as in the days of the early church, everywhere the common people heard them gladly.

Yet neither Fox nor Barclay ever claimed that the doctrine was a new one or peculiar to themselves. They understood the human heart too well not to know that this yearning for a Divine companionship had been the cry of that heart in all ages and among almost all peoples. The savage

finds it in the Great Spirit. The Hebrew psalmist recognizes it in the words, "Whither shall I flee from thy presence?" It was to dampóvtov-the Divine One of the wise Athenian. It was confirmed in the promise of the Holy Comforter; the apostles preached it; the early fathers of the church held and taught it," I sought Thee without me," says Augustin, "and lo! Thou wast within me!" It was this Divine presence which moulded the character of John Tauler and made him fearless amid pestilence and death. It led the Count Zinzendorf to renounce the luxuries of the German Court for the rude wigwam and the ruder life of the Indian. And now, in our time, so steady is the growth of this

belief of the Divine presence in the heart of all men, that a learned and good man, in a recent widely-read essay, proposes to call it "The New Theology," as opposed to "The No Theology" of the present day.1

In the full acceptance of this doctrine, John Jordan, Jr., was thoroughly a Friend. For the mere externals of religion, whether these be found in the peculiar garb of the Quaker, or in the ritual of the Churchman, he personally cared but little. With that largeness of heart which was characteristic of him, he was ever ready to believe that in obedience to apprehended duty the one might have greater peace of mind in wearing the Friendly dress, while he did not, for a moment, doubt that in the solemn rite of his Church the other might find a most comfortable sacrament. But, for himself, resting in simple faith in the Indwelling Christ, he sought, by His aid, to make his daily life conformable to the Divine pattern, and himself worthy of the Divine companionship. And so as the outcome of this were found in him those graces of character, gentleness, meekness, goodness, which are declared to be the fruit of the Spirit.

There comes to every one whose life is not prematurely cut off a time in that life to which most men look forward with anxiety, some with dread. It is well described in the memorable words addressed to the active, impulsive disciple, Simon Peter,-" When thou wast young thou girdedst thyself and walkedst whither thou wouldst; but when thou shalt be old thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee and carry thee whither thou wouldst not." This loss of individual liberty and strength, this dependence on others which sooner or later must come to every one of

1 "No Theology and New Theology," by Rev. Lyman Abbott.-The Forum, April, 1890.

us, is a condition which few men can contemplate with complacency. Happy is that man who finds in a son's strong arm or in a daughter's tender care the help which he then so much needs!

Mr. Jordan reached this time of life and recognized it. Eighty years had been passed, and he was now well on his ninth decade. In a letter written August 26, 1889, he writes from Nazareth, "I eat and sleep well, and that is all I can say reading does not go so well. I am obliged to discontinue writing, and often have my table covered with letters. I cannot walk out, and must depend on my horses, my knees are so stiff."

Coming home in the autumn, he says, "We came home safely on Saturday without ill effects, although I feel weak and cannot expect to be able to attend to anything this week, but will come to the hall very shortly for a time when the weather is favorable. All unfavorable symptoms have passed away, leaving only weakness."

"I am living on borrowed time," were words which now often fell from his lips, but they were not uttered complainingly.

Age, indeed, brought with it an increase of infirmities, but it brought with it also many blessings. Among these were the increased love of friends, the gratitude of individuals, the respect of the community. But choicest among these blessings was the spared life of her who for more than half a century had been the joy of his heart, as she was always the light of his home. With this, too, was the tender care of those who, though not his children, were so nearly allied to him by blood, and so closely bound to him by affection, that they left no place in his heart unfilled, as they left no want uncared for.

Words written at this time by one of his own faith and

of his own years appealed to his heart with especial force and appropriateness.

"What matter that it is not May,

That birds have flown, and trees are bare,
That darker grows the shortened day,

And colder blows the wintry air?

"Whatever perished with my ships,
I only know the best remains;
A song of praise is on my lips,

For losses which are now my gains.

"And life, no longer chance or fate,
Safe in the gracious Fatherhood,
I fold o'erwearied hands-and wait,
In calm reliance on the good."

But I must not longer encroach on this hour, and yet I well know how far short of what I should say have been my utterances.

I have indeed been amazed-I do not use too strong a term at the wealth of material which has flowed to my hands for the performance of the duty assigned me, but which I can only imperfectly make use of to-night.

I mention the name of John Jordan, Jr., to a friend, and he says, "Yes, he was a contributor to our School Fund;" to another, and he replies, "He gave to our Freedmen;" a third says, "He was a subscriber to our Bible Society;" while another writes, "He was a life-member of our Forestry Association; we shall much miss him." Private letters come, whose confidence I would not unduly betray, in which one writes, "When I was a helpless orphan, Mr. Jordan nobly came forward and took the place of a father to me;" another, "For years I was largely indebted to him