Columbia’s Little Sister

BISHOP EDWARD HUNTER. 703

As to his religious ideas, it may be said that he always de- sired of the Lord to know how he could worship him most acceptably. He attended different places of worship and sustained all sects in their right to worship God in their own way, but could not connect himself with any. His sister, who lived in his family, was a great reader of the scriptures, and would often remark to him: "Why can we not belong to some religion?" To which Edward would reply that the sects were hewn out cisterns that would not hold water; that the history of sectarianism was one scene of misery, bloodshed and strife, but that they would let them go on, not in- terfering with the rights of others, but respecting them in their worship of God, and see if anything else could be made out of it. At the age of thirty after farming in Delaware county for four or five years, Edward Hunter moved to Chester county, where he purchased about five hundred acres of farming land —thirty miles from Philadelphia. This he brought under the highest cul- tivation, and became noted as one of the best graziers in that sec- tion of country. During this time, he prospered wonderfully, and succeeded in his business to a great degree, and beyond his expectation. He was called upon to grant certain privileges for the erection, on his land, of a house for educational purposes, and for holding meet- ings. He agreed to give the land for ninety-nine years, and help build the house, if the parties interested would allow all persons and persuasions to meet in it to worship God, which was a special stipulation in the articles of agreement. The result was a good house, builtupon the site of an old schoolhouse, which had been burned down. The new house was called the West Nantmeal Sem- inary. The old schoolhouse was called the Wallace schoolhouse, and had been built long before he went to Chester county. The West Nantmeal Seminary was situated in a beautiful, quiet, shady place on one corner of his farm, well adapted for religious and school purposes. It was here that many traveling preachers called, of different denominations. They were all made welcome to hold meetings, and he entertained them at his home, since he felt to

respect every man according to his belief. He says: "My desire was to do justice, walk humbly, and love mercy." His family at this time was smallhe having lost two children, Amanda and George.