George Wood (1736-1761)

Title

George Wood (1736-1761)

Creator

Wood, George, 1736-1761

Publisher

Moravian Lives Project

Date

1761

Type

Text

Format

image/jpg

Description

Written in English, this document is an autobiographical spiritual memoir of George Wood (1735–1761), a member of the Moravian Single Brethren. The narrative recounts his impoverished childhood near Leeds, early attraction to Moravian meetings, apprenticeship as a clothier, and deepening spiritual life through prayer, fellowship, and participation in Moravian choir and congregational life. George reflects on struggles with sin, shame, doubt, and spiritual darkness before finding comfort, forgiveness, and a close personal relationship with Christ. The memoir also describes his joyful admission into the Choir House and congregation, devotion to Holy Communion, prolonged illness from ulcers and consumption, and his peaceful, faith-filled death in 1761 while surrounded by singing and members of the Moravian community.

Subject

Wood, George, 1736-1761
Moravians--Biography
Autobiographies

Identifier

Ful/3/52

Place

Fulneck, England

Language

eng

Extent

4 pages

Rights Holder

Fulneck Moravian Archives, Fulneck, England

transcript of

Departed Feb 3, 1761 Personalia of the single Br George Wood, who in his sick room
left the following Acct of himself.

I was born at Holbeck in the Parish of LeedsAugust 25th 1735.
My Father was a native of Ireland & my Mother a Yorkshire Woman.
When I was about 2 years old my Father left my Mother to Care
for herself & Children & went into Ireland. My Mother brought
me up as well as she could, but on Account of Poverly was not
able to give me any Schooling, the Loss of which I have experienced
the most since I come amongst the Brn ; for as I had not learn’d to
read, I was deprived of that Opportunity which my Brn have, of
entertaining themselves, with reading something agreeable about
our Savr, in their sabbatic Hours: But this Loss has been suffic
ciently restored by our Savr in granting me his precious
Nearness, whenever I wept for him!

In my Youngest Years, I was a Child of a quiet Disposition,
and liked best to be alone because when I happened to come into
the Company of other Children, something generally occurred
about which my Mind was uneasy afterwards, I therefore kept
chiefly by to myself & often took a Walk alone, feeling my Mind
most easy and chearful in this Course.

In my 12th Year, I was put apprentice to my Uncle Stancliff
who was then amongst the Brn, to be a Clothier & the first Sunday
he took me with him to Grace Hall, on which Day I felt something
powerful in my Heart from our Savr ; What I heard & felt had such an Effect that I could not miss one Meeting afterwards
to which I was allowed the Priviledge of going. I soon got acquainted with dear Br Held, who gave me Leave to go to all the
Childrens Meetings, Bands & Classes, which proved a real Blessing
to my Heart. “When I was about 14 Years oldI was recd amongst
the great Boys by Br Charlesworth from which Time I attended
the Boys Meetings diligently & with Pleasure not obtaining any
Thing particular in Mind or Body to what I had done in my
Childrens Years, but felt our Savr near my Heart, & was well
in the Meetings of the Boys; yet during all this time tho’ I felt
very well, I had not a real & solid Connexion & Conversation
with our Savr as a Sinner, which afterwards was made clear to me.

In my 18th Year I begun to perceive my natural Depravity and

Corruption pretty strongly, promting me to things which I know very
well were against the Mind, of & Heart of our Savr, but has not sufficient
acquaintance with Him & Foundation in my own Heart to make the
right Use of him in these new Circumstances, & was therefore brought
into Darkness & great Perplexity of Mind, so that I was sometimes
very dubious how it would at last End with me, yet thein the
bottom of my Heart I had a real desire to be helped into a happy
clear Track but my greatest Misfortune was a false shame, which
caused me to conceal the my true Condition & the Cause of my Differences
from my labourers, but being frequently visited by at that time
by Br Renatus, he perceived I was not so clear & lively as usual &
wanted to know the cause, but which I avoided telling, till I could
hold out no longer, being compelled by the great Miseryof my Heart
to disclose every thing wherewith I was bound & entangled, & which
indeed proved very happy for me in its Consequences. I then could
& did speak with our Savr in a sinnerlike, confident Manner, & often
times fell on my Face before him & wept bitterly, till He melted my
Heart with his Nearness & rich Forgiveness, & cheared me with his
friendly look. I then resolved to devote my Soul & Body just as
it was to him, & to speak quite openheartedly with my Labourers
about all my Circumstances for I felt the sweets of it, & since I
made that Resolution it has been my constant practice to my
surprisingease & Blessing. From this time, I have had a happy Con:
nexion with our Savr, I went every Night into the Fields after I
had done work to speak with the Friend of my Soul, whom incom
parable Nearness & presence always met me, so that my Eyes & Heart
were often overflowing with gratitude, on Account of what he had
done for & manifested to me. My concern about the Preservation
of my Soul & body was often the Subject of my Conversation with Him
& therefore I pray’d him with Tears to make a Way for me to the Choir House
for I felt no place else in all the world could satisfy me. Some Weeks,
after I was loose of my Apprenticeship, I had the Joyfull
News brought me that our Savrhad given me Leave to come & live
in the Choir House which Grace I accepted of with thousand thanks
to my dear Savr, who thus graciously heard & granted my Request
& soon after I came with Joy & gratitudeof heart into my beloved

Choir house in my 20th year July the 8th 1756, and Novr: the 22d the
same year had the Grace to be rec’d into the Congn to my inexpressible
Joy, and went the first Fine to the holy Communion with my clear Single
Brn at a Choir Communion June 11th 1757 whereby my highest Wish
next to that of seeing & embracing him bodily was granted me, &
which I shall never forgot.

About Easter in the Year 1759 a gatheredHumour camefell into
one of my Feet & broke out in a running Ulcer whereby I was
incapable of earning my bread for a long Time. I made Use of
many things & also by Advice went to the how, not without long
Effect, tho’ a real Care was not wrought by any thing I tried or
did for tho it healed one quarter it broke out the next & now a Con
sumption cameadded thereto, so that I have a near Prospect of soon
kissing the Points in Hands and feet for my Grace Election
I wait in my Savrs Hands & Friendship with ardentDesire
the happy End of all Complaint when I shall grow pallid
in Jesus Arms & Lap.”

So far his own account.

To which we will only add, that his course amongst us from
first to last has been as a youth of God, solid, steady & annointed.
and his Heart past has has lived in a tender uninterrupted connexion
with the Man of Sorrows, so that it was always a pleasure to keep Band
with him. We kept his Hearts object constantly in View & suffered
nothing to disturb him in the Enjoyment thereof, so that we have
had no Grief, but always Joy over him, & some Years since when the
situation ofit looked precarious with many of our young Single Brn seemed very precarious he was
not in the least disturbed thereby in his happy Track, but cleaved
the more closely to our Savr & was heartilyglad of & thankful
for his election.

After the above mentionedHisSickness would not From the time that permit him to weave
work any longerat he busied himself with such little
Matters as he could do in the House & which he did with Faithfulness
& Pleasure as long as he could, & till he betook himself entering
to the Sick Room. Here he enjoyd a perfect Sabbath in the Nearness
of his bleeding Savr. It was a Pleasure to visit him & speak with
him abt. our Savr.. He never liked to hear any thing about his reco-
very but wish’dthat his happy Hour might soon strike. He was patient in his Sickness
to Admonition for said he, our Savr’s Nearness makes my Sickness tolerable & Happy.

& wasthankful to his Brn, as also to to his Sick Waiters for every Thing he
enjoyed. At the last time he was spoken withSpeaking before the Communion he said I think
this will be the last Time I shallenjoy His Corpse Blood here & when
it was brought to him he enjoyd it with great Devotion & a particular
aweful Feeling attended it.

The 2 last times his Class was kept he decided it might be in his
Sick Room, which was granted. he told his Class Brn that his longing
to be with our Savr was the only Concern he now had and entreated
them to beg our Savr to hear him soon. Feb 2d he was so very
weak that we expected him soon to go Home. His Heart’s Situation and
Longing to go home was charming and pretty: Love verses were sung
for him & tho he could speak no more yet he gave signs with a
most lovely childlike Aspect & said at the end of every Verse, moor.
Feb the 3d betwixt 3 & 4 in the Morning he called to his Sick Waiter
& wanted to get up. Upon being ask’d Why? he answered, “I am not
yet at Home, I want to go home to our Savr.” He was told that
our Savr would soon come & take him to himself which he
was much pleased to be assured of, & thus he continued quite unfit
to his last Moment when about 8 o’Clock his Friend beckon’d
to him, & he grew pale in Arms & Legs with the Blessing
of his Choir during the singing the Word “And now his
Mouth expiring on thy dear Breast recline &c and with
these fine Tents, The Sparrow hath found an House, and
the Swallow a Nest. lit: Tent. With my Spirit within me
I seek thee early. My Saviour, Ah! was I with Thee.
The Feeling attending his Separture was inexpressible, &
caused the Eyes of the Brn presant to overflow, our Savr
was indeed there tho our Eyes could not see Him yet the
Feeling testified it sufficiently.

Departed February 3, 1761.

Personalia of the Single Brother George Wood, who in his sick room left the following Account of himself.

“I was born at Holbeck, in the Parish of Leeds on August 25th 1735.
My father was a native of Ireland and my mother a Yorkshire woman. When I was about 2 years old my father left my mother to care for herself and children and went to Ireland. My mother brought me up as well as she could, but on account of poverty, was not able to give me any schooling, the loss of which I have experienced the most since I come amongst the Brethren; for as I had not learned to read, I was deprived of that opportunity which my Brethren have, of entertaining themselves, with reading something agreeable about our Savior, in their sabbatic Hours: But this loss has been sufficiently restored by our Savior in granting me his precious nearness, whenever I wept for him.

In my youngest years, I was a child of a quiet disposition, and liked best to be alone, because when I happened to come into the company of other children, something generally occurred about which my mind was uneasy afterwards: I therefore kept chiefly to myself and often took a walk alone, feeling my mind most easy and cheerful in this course.

In my 12th year, I was put apprentice to my Uncle Stancliff, who was then amongst the Brethren, to be a clothier. The first Sunday he took me with him to Grace Hall, on which day I felt something powerful in my heart from our Savior. What I heard and felt had such an effect, that I could not miss one meeting afterwards to which I was allowed the privilege of going: I soon got acquainted with dear Brother Held, who gave me leave to go to all the Childrens Meetings, bands & classes, which proved a real blessing to my heart.

When I was about 14 years old I was received amongst the Greater Boys, by Brother Charlesworth, from which time I attended the boys’ meetings diligently, and with pleasure, not obtaining anything particular in mind or body to what I had done in my children’s years, but felt our Savior near my heart and was well in the meetings of the boys; yet during all this time, though I felt very well, I had not a real and solid connection and conversation with our Savior as a sinner, which afterwards was made clear to me.

In my 18th year I begun to perceive my natural depravity and (2) corruption pretty strongly, prompting me to things which I know very well were against the mind and of the heart of our Savior, but had not sufficient acquaintance with Him and foundation in my own heart to make the right use of him in these new circumstances, and was therefore brought into darkness and great perplexity of mind, so that I was sometimes very dubious how it would at last end with me. Yet, in the bottom of my heart, I had a real desire to be helped into a happy clear track, but my greatest misfortune was a false shame, which caused me to conceal the my true condition and the cause of my differences from my labourers. But being frequently visited by at that time by Brother Renatus, he perceived I was not so clear and lively as usual and wanted to know the cause, but which I avoided telling, until I could hold out no longer, being compelled by the great misery of my heart to disclose every thing wherewith I was bound and entangled, which indeed proved very happy for me in its consequences. I then could and did speak with our Savior in a sinnerlike, confident manner, and often times fell on my face before him and wept bitterly until he melted my heart with his nearness and rich forgiveness and cheered me with his friendly look. I then resolved to devote my soul and body just as it was to him, and to speak quite openheartedly with my labourers about all my circumstances, for I felt the sweets of it, and since I made that resolution, it has been my constant practice to my surprising ease and blessing.

From this time, I have had a happy connection with our Savior; I went every night into the fields after I had done my work to speak with the friend of my soul, whose incomparable nearness and presence always met me, so that my eyes and heart were often overflowing with gratitude, on account of what he had done for and manifested to me. My concern about the preservation of my soul and body was often the subject of my conversation with Him and, therefore, I prayed to him with tears to make a way for me to the Choir House, for I felt no place else in all the world could satisfy me. Some weeks, after I was loose of my apprenticeship, I had the joyful news brought me that our Savior had given me leave to come live in the Choir House, which with grace I accepted with a thousand thanks to my dear Savior, who thus graciously heard and granted my request and soon after I came with joy and gratitude of heart into my beloved Choir House in my 20th year, July 8th, 1756, and on November 22nd the same year, had the grace to be received into the congregation to my inexpressible joy, and went the first fine to the Holy Communion with my clear Single Brethren at a Choir Communion on June 11th, 1757, whereby my highest wish, next to that of seeing and embracing Him bodily, was granted to me, which I shall never forget.

About Easter in the year 1759, a humour fell into one of my feet and broke out in a running ulcer, whereby I was incapable of earning my bread for a long time. I made use of many things, and also by advice went to the fow, not without some effect, though a real cure was not wrought by any thing I tried or did, for though it healed one quarter it broke out the next, and now a consumption is added thereto, so that I have a near prospect of soon kissing the points in hands and feet for my Grace Election. I wait in my Savior’s hands and friendship with ardent desire, the happy end of all complaint, when I shall grow pallid in Jesus’s arms and lap.”

So far his own account.

To which we will only add, that his course amongst us from first to last has been as a youth of God, solid, steady and anointed, and his heart has lived in a tender, uninterrupted connection with the man of sorrows, so that it was always a pleasure to keep band with him. We kept his heart’s object constantly in view and suffered nothing to disturb him in the enjoyment thereof, so that we have had no grief, but always joy over him, and some years time when the situation of with many of our young Single Brethren seemed very precarious, he who hears not in the least disturbed thereby in his happy track, but cleaved the more closely to our Savior and was heartily glad of and thankful for his election. From the time that after his sickness would not permit him to receive work any longer at he busied himself with such little matters as he could do in the house and which he did with faithfulness and pleasure as long as he could, and till he betook himself entering to the Sick Room. Here he enjoyed a perfect Sabbath in the nearness of his bleeding Savior. It was a pleasure to visit him and speak with him about our Savior. He never liked to hear any thing about his recovery but wishing that his happy hour might soon awake. He was patient in his sickness to admonition for said he, our Savior’s nearness makes my sickness tolerable and happy.

(3) It was thankful to his Brethren, as also to his sick waiters, for everything he enjoyed. At the last time he was spoken with speaking before the communion, he said I think this will be the last time I shall enjoy his corpse blood here, and when it was brought to him he enjoyed it with great devotion and a particular aweful feeling attended it.

The 2 last times he class was kept he decided it might be in his Sick Room, which was granted. He told his Class Brethren that his longing to be with our Savior was the only concern he now had, and entreated them to beg our Savior to hear him soon. On February 2nd he was so very weak that we expected him soon to go home. His heart’s situation and longing to go home was charming and pretty: love verses were sung for him and though he could speak no more yet he gave signs with a most lovely childlike aspect and said at the end of every verse Moor. February the 3rd betwixt 3 and 4 in the morning he called to his sick waiter and wanted to get up. Upon being ask’d Why? he answered, “I am not yet at Home, I want to go home to our Savior.” He was told that our Savior would soon come and take him to himself which he was much pleased to be assured of, and thus he continued quite unfitto his last moment when about 8 o’clock his friend beckoned to him, and he grew pale in arms and legs with the blessing of his Choir during the singing the word “And now his mouth expiring on thy dear Breast recline he and with these fine Tents, The Sparrow hath found an house, and the Swallow a nest. lit: Tent. With my Spirit within me I seek thee early. My Saviour, Ah! was I with Thee.

The feeling attending his departure was inexpressible, and caused the eyes of the Brethren present to overflow, our Savior was indeed there though our Eyes could not see Him, yet the feeling testified it sufficiently.