"What does a person have to do to become a Friend as you call it?"
"They apply for membership to the Meeting. Then a couple of people from the Meeting talk to them. If they are of like mind with the Friends beliefs, they are accepted as members."
"But people like me can still attend worship without being a Friend?"
"Sure. Thee and all other seekers are welcome."
"Seekers? What am I seeking?"
"I think only thee can answer that question," he said more seriously. "And when thee does, thee will then know where to look for it."
"Such serious weighty talk," Lydia said with her warm smile. "Let's go inside where it's warmer." We all rose and entered the house, heading for the kitchen to try the cake Lisbeth had made the previous day.
"Did thee find Betsy?" Andrew asked as we entered the kitchen.
"No, the family was gone for the day, I guess," Paul answered.
"I thought she was going to marry thee in the spring," his father went on.
"Yes, as far as I know, she is."
"Isn't this rather strange behavior for a woman who loves thee?"
"Rather unusual," Paul agreed. "But there must be a reason."
"And I think I know what it is," Jeremy's voice came from the sitting-room. He had just come back from a visit to the Spencer family.
"What is it?" His older brother asked.
"Sean Murphy."
"What about Sean Murphy?"
"He just inherited that big piece of land his grandfather had on the other side of the village."
"What has that to do with Bets?"
"Her father is making some sort of agreement with Sean about Betsy and the land." "I don't see that one has anything to do with the other."
"I'm afraid I do." Andrew said sadly. "Betsy's father asked me last month if thee was going to inherit this farm."
"And thee told him no."
"I told him I hadn't made that decision yet."
"So he's looking for a husband for his daughter who can provide a large, prosperous farm as well." Paul's deep blue eyes were flashing with anger.
"It looks like that's the case."
"Never mind that Betsy and I love one another." "I guess that doesn't matter to Daniel Olsen."
"But it matters to Betsy," Lydia said to Paul, putting a hand on his arm and looking up at him pleadingly. "Thee must remember that. Betsy loves thee, not Sean Murphy." "Yes, Lyddy, she loves me, but she also loves her father and she'll do anything he tells her to do."
"Thee doesn't think she'll marry Sean does thee?" Amy was horrified. "He's not even sober most of the time! How could a father want someone like that to marry his daughter?"
"I don't believe she'll marry him," Andrew said firmly. "Thee must go and talk to her, son."
"I'll go when I'm calmer," Paul seated himself shakily in a chair. "I'm much too angry now to be rational about all this."
"Perhaps she should see thee like this," Lisbeth suggested.
"Perhaps so, but if Murphy is there, I don't think I could handle it very well."
"Thee wouldn't raise a hand against him, would thee, Paul?" Amy gave her son a probing look.
"I'd do my very best to keep from it, Mother, but sometimes it becomes very difficult to follow Christ's teachings."
"But thee would."
"I would if He gives me the grace to do so." Was his honest reply.
Mike and Lydia remained for supper, then went to their respective homes, telling Paul they wished him well. Lydia would still go and talk to Betsy the following day. He thanked them for their help and came back from the door to join the family in the sitting-room.
"I hope it all works out all right," I said as he seated himself on the settee beside Lisbeth.
"Thank thee. It will work out for the best, I imagine."
"Let's have some worship time," Andrew said. "I think we need to pray about this situation with Betsy."
We all joined him in prayer. When an hour of worship had passed, we broke Meeting and all went to get a good night's rest before the beginning of a new work week.
* * *
The next day, Lydia, true to her promise, went to talk to Betsy Olsen after her chores were finished at home. She found Betsy in the kitchen, finishing the dinner dishes.
"I figured one of thee would show up today," Betsy said hesitantly as Lydia entered. "Paul's pretty upset and confused, Bets, What's going on?" Lydia's directness was well-known in Fair Hill. Betsy wasn't sure she was up to it just then.
"I couldn't go to the Becker farm yesterday. Father said no. I told them I would come if he said it was all right. But he didn't. It's that simple."
"It's not simple at all," Lydia went on, taking a chair. "Thee and Paul have gone before Meeting and announced thy coming marriage. Thy father shouldn't be keeping thee from seeing one another. There's nothing simple about that."
"I know it sounds strange but it's not really. Father's having second thoughts about my marrying Paul, that's all."
"What about what thee and Paul want, Betsy?"
"I want very much to marry him. He's a wonderful man and I love him. But my father doesn't think it's a good idea."
"So thee will do as thy father says without even telling Paul?"
"I haven't decided yet what I'll do,"
"I think thee should talk to Paul about this."
"Yes, perhaps that would be best but father doesn't want me to see him."
"Thee owes him an explanation, Bets,"
"I tried to explain that to Father yesterday but he says I owe him nothing."
"Where did thee go yesterday? Paul came to see thee and thee wasn't here."
"We were at the Murphy farm."
"So thee is thinking of marrying Sean then?"
"My father thinks I should."
"Thee knows what kind of man he is, does thee want a husband like that?"
"No, but there's something about land involved here. I don't know exactly what it is." "Thee should find out," Lydia warned. "Thee should not leave Paul for Sean Murphy. Thee'll regret doing it very soon."
"I have to obey my father, Lyddy,"
"Not at thy own expense thee doesn't,"
"I'll do as he asks." Was Betsy's simple reply.
Lydia rose from her chair slowly. "I'm going to tell Paul what thee has said. Don't be surprised if he comes to see thee this evening."
"I don't want him to come here, Lyddy, Sean might be here and they might have words. They might even come to blows over this. It's not good to put Paul in that situation."
"I'm not the one who's doing it, thee is. Tell Sean not to come tonight. Talk to Paul." "I can't tell him when to come and when not to."
"Then thee will have to face the consequences." Lydia said She left the farm. Lydia went directly to the Becker farm, fearing what Paul's reaction might be. She found Amy, Lisbeth and me in the sitting-room.
* * *
"Everyone else is out in the barn," Amy told her as she greeted us. "What brings thee here, Lyddy, thee looks distressed."
"I just came from seeing Bets."
"Oh, and what did she say?"
"I'll tell thee when Paul's here. Libby will thee go and get him?" Lisbeth put on her cloak and went quickly to get her brother, fearing that the news was not good.
"Lyddy's here," she said as she entered the barn. "She's just come from the Olsens." "Did she see Bets?"
"Yes. She said she wants to tell thee about it."
"We'll all come with thee," Andrew said. They followed her to the house. Amy gave them all hot tea and they seated themselves around the fire.
"It's not good, is it?" Paul asked seeing Lydia's face.
"It's not good. She's going to marry Murphy."
"Why?" Andrew asked.
Paul looked as if he had been hit with an icy blast of wind. He sat silent for a moment, looking into the fire.
"It seems her father did make some sort of agreement with Sean Murphy," Lydia explained. "She doesn't want thee t
o come and see her because Sean might be there." "What does she expect me to do, just sit by and watch her marry him?"
"I think that's exactly what she wants thee to do."
"Then she's decided she doesn't love Paul," Amy asked.
"No, she says she loves him very much, but she must obey her father."
"She's going to be miserable with him, Lyddy, thee knows that," Paul said desperately.
"I not only know it, I told her so."
"She said she still had to obey her father?" Andrew asked.
"Yes."
"I think this needs to go before the elders, son," Andrew suggested. "If thee doesn't want to take it to them, I will."
"No, I'll talk to Jared Johnson," Paul said slowly. "I'll go to him right now, if thee doesn't mind."
"Not at all," Andrew agreed. "Take Lyddy with thee, she talked to Betsy."
"Will thee come?" Paul asked his friend.
"I'd do anything I could to help," she told him with a hug. "I'm very worried too." Jared Johnson lived alone on a farm not too far from that of the Beckers. He had been an elder in the Meeting for many years and was very respected by its members. He was a stooped, white haired, elderly man of about seventy. He greeted the two young people warmly when he opened his door and saw them there.
"What are the two of thee doing out on such a blustery day?" He asked, drawing them inside his cozy house. "It's going to start snowing soon, I fear."
"Yes, I think so too," Paul agreed seeing the clouds moving down from the north. "It's getting colder too."
"Then, what is it that brings thee out?"
"We have a concern that we feel should be brought before the Meeting," Lydia began.
"Or at least before Ministry and Oversight." Paul added.
"Since thee is a recorded minister, Paul, thee could do that," the older man said, seating himself. "Sit and get warm."
"I could do it, Friend Jared, but it involves me directly so I thought it might be better if someone else spoke to them."
"And thee wants Lydia to do it?"
"She can if she likes, but I wanted thee to know about it too."
"Well, tell me then. What is this weighty problem?"
Lydia explained about Betsy's not coming to the farm yesterday. She told him about Betsy's absence when Paul went to see her and about the conversation between herself and Betsy. She also told him what Jeremy had learned from the Spencers.
"It sounds as if Betsy is being forced to do something that may not be in her best interest," Jared said pondering what Lydia had said.
"I fear that's the case," Paul said, his concern and love for Betsy evident in his face. "If she wasn't supposed to marry thee, would thee still feel that she shouldn't marry Sean Murphy?" Jared asked after a pause.
"Yes, I believe I would still feel that it was wrong. She has not said she loved him or even liked him. The only reason she's doing it is to obey her father. Also, I know that Sean Murphy drinks large amounts of alcohol. He's not sober very much of the time. I've seen him attend Meeting in a less than sober condition."
"Why didn't thee bring this to my attention sooner?" Jared wanted to know.
"I thought thee knew.
"I'll go and talk to Betsy. Has thee done that yet, Paul?"
"No, she's asked me not to come. She fears I'll meet Sean there."
The old man looked at him piercingly. "And what would thee do if thee did?" He asked. "Could we rely on thee to keep from acting violently? "
"I'd hope thee could, but I don't know," Paul admitted, unable to meet Jared's steady gaze.
"At least thee is honest," Jared said. "But thee must not raise a hand against him, Paul, not now or ever."
"I pray for the grace to keep from doing that," Paul answered.
"That's good, but thee also must keep from putting thyself in temptation's way."
"I'm doing my best," was all Paul could say.
"I'll go and talk to the Olsens and take matters from there," Jared promised. "Now, get this young woman home before the snow flies."
Paul thanked him and they left the farm. "I'll see thee back," he said to Lydia as they shut the gate behind them. "It's the least I can do after all thee has done for me today." "I'll be glad for thy company," Lydia said squeezing his hand. "I'm so sorry about all this, Paul."
"I know, Lyddy, but thee has done all thee can. The rest is up to Bets and her father." After he had seen her home, he returned to the Becker farm, to see what course things would take once the situation was brought before the Meeting.
The weeks passed quickly. My life fell into a pleasant routine. I divided my time between helping with the work about the farm and the house and pursuing other interests. I was reading the writings of George Fox and other early Friends. I found the more I read, the more I wanted to know. There was something about these writings that aroused a hunger in me. I realized, one blustery afternoon, that this hunger was for the Scripture to which these writings pointed. I needed to know where these ideas and truths were found. I decided to go to Paul and ask. I had spent the afternoon in my room, in front of a roaring fire. It was wonderful to curl up in my comfortable chair and feel the heat of the fire on my face and hands as I read. I rose from my place and went in search of Paul. I found Amy in the sitting-room, also enjoying a fire and doing some of her usual mending. "Where has thee been since dinner?" She asked as I entered the room.
"I've been up in my room reading."
"Thee must like reading."
"I've always been interested in books," I admitted. "I like learning new things."
"And thee is doing well in school, I hear."
"I enjoy it very much."
"I imagine there won't be any school tomorrow either if this snow keeps up." Amy said unhappily. "Jeremy gets very bored when there isn't any school."
"He's a good student though," I commented, taking a place on a nearby sofa.
"Yes, when he wants to be. Did thee need something?"
"I wanted to talk to Paul. Do you know where I might find him?"
"No, not right off hand. He's around here somewhere. Did thee check his room?"
"I didn't think about that. I'll go and see if he's there if you don't think he'd mind." "No, he'd not mind,"
I rose again and climbed the stairs to Paul's room. I knocked on the door and was met with a brief silence before I heard him answer. "Come in," he said. I opened the door slowly. He was seated at his desk with a sketch pad before him on which he was drawing. "I'll not interrupt you," I said, turning away and reaching to close the door again.
"No, it's all right, come ahead. What did thee want?" He asked, rising and putting his work away. "I'm just doodling."
"You looked pretty serious for doodling."
"It was serious doodling." He said with a brief smile.
"I've just been reading the Epistles of George Fox." I began. "I guess I need your help."
"My help with what?"
I perched on the edge of a chair. "I've read many early Friends' writings," I continued. "I want to know the Biblical basis for what they're saying. Where do they get these ideas from?"
"Thee does agree that they are based on the Bible?"
"I know that's what they say. I want to know more."
"Can thee be more specific?"
I listed a few passages that had intrigued me. "For example," I began, hesitantly. "They don't seem to believe in taking Communion. And they don't believe in baptism in water. It doesn't seem to make any difference whether you're talking about sprinkling, or immersion. They don't believe in any of that. But then, that's not true now, is it?"
"Has thee ever seen anyone baptized in Meeting? And in the two months thee has been here, have we ever had a communion service with bread and wine?"
"No, I guess not." "Why?"
"Because that hasn't changed among Friends."
"All right, but why don't Friends believe in it in the first place?"
"As to baptism, we must look in the Gospel of Joh
n. Has thee a Bible?"
"I think there's one in my trunk," I said uncertainly.
"Go and get it, then come back and we'll talk.
"I will, but you have to understand one thing first. I was standing now and facing him, hands on hips, a look of resolution on my face.
"And what is that?" His face was full of merriment as he looked down at me. "That thee is still a Lutheran until the end?"
"Don't laugh about that," I said angrily. "I am not a Friend if that's what you mean. I'm interested. That's all."
"All right. I'm sorry. What am I to understand?"
"That this is purely a discussion for the sake of knowledge gained. I am not sure that there is a God. So it doesn't really matter to me who's right and who's not."
He looked a little surprised and spoke more seriously. "This is simply for the sake of philosophical discussion then? Thee is looking at Friends' beliefs just like thee would a non-Christian faith?"
"Since I'm not a Christian, Or I guess I'm not, that's not important."
"If thee isn't a Christian, then why does thee continue to come to Meeting and to family Meeting for Worship?"
"Because I thought it was a must, something I had to do to remain in Fair Hill. And I don't want to leave Fair Hill."
"Thee doesn't have to attend Meeting either here or at the Meetinghouse to remain in Fair Hill." He said firmly. "Thee has to be honest with thyself and with us. If thee doesn't believe there is a God then praying is sort of dishonest, doesn't thee think?"
"Yes, it is, I guess."
"It would be better for thee not to go than to go just because thee thinks thee must." "You're angry with me, aren't you?"
"No, I'm a little disappointed, but I'm not angry. Thee must be free to do what is best for thee."
"And you think that would be becoming a Friend."
"I think that would be accepting Christ as thy Savior whether thee remains a Lutheran or becomes a Friend. How can thee even say thee is a Lutheran and not a Christian?"
"I'm not saying I'm a Lutheran. I'm saying I'm not sure. There have been times, quite recently in fact, when I think I have felt this Holy Spirit you speak of. There was a time on one First Day when I thought I felt that ocean of Love and Light. But I'm not sure. Lyddy and Mike found this easy to understand. Why is it so hard for you? You're supposed to be a minister in the Meeting yet I find it easier to talk to them." I saw the hurt in his eyes before he masked it. That had been a cruel thing to say but it was the truth and I knew I should have said it.
The Secret of Fair Hill: A Refuge in Fair Hill Book 2 Page 7