Robert Goodbody Journal

recollect, both went and came in a chaise, and the first Inn I ever was at was in the town of Nass. I staid near two years at Ballintore school, leaving it sooner perhaps in 2nd month 1796, on account of illness. My father and mother came with a hack chaise and brought me home, my brother being with us, but he staid at the school another year.

The quarterly meeting in Mountmellick in 3rd mo. 1796was uncommonly large, perhaps none since so large. Thomas Scattergood with his companion was at traveller. Alexander Wilson was with him. There was also a number of ministers there. William Cratch from England, a powerful minister. But Thomas Scattergood was an extraordinary man, (a small thin man) a large minister, and something peculiar in his loving addresses, and his countenance also was indicative of his being of the right stamp. He dined at my father's after the meeting. Being a tanner he inspected my father's tanyard. Mary Ridgeway was also with him at dinner, as she often was with us. I recollect that Mary Ridgeway had a scruple to drink out of silver. We had a mug for her to take her beer, in which there was always put a bit of hot toast for her. She also had a dislike to see a great display of glasses and wine at the table after the cloth was removed, but still she used to take one glass of wine. What would she say now to be told that it was wrong to take any fomented liquor? I hope she would not have found fault with anything for which there is scripture authority for. I think it is a very dangerous thing to set up one's judgement over scripture, if once there is no end t the errors it brings in.

Copyright © 2004 Mr Tony Lynch All rights reserved.