Athaliah Voorhies spiritual journal

This spiritual diary and journal was kept by Athaliah Voorhies of Hamilton Square, New Jersey, from 1838-1844. Entries primarily are of a religious nature and feature meditations, biblical text, and comments on sermons delivered by a number of preachers. Brief entries also note community births, deaths, marriages, accidents, and events regarding family members.

Many of the entries made by Voorhies in her "journal of the mind" relate to sermons given by several preachers during Sunday church services. The predominant preacher from 1838-1840 was Henry Purkins, pastor of the united churches of Allentown and Hamilton Square, New Jersey. From 1840-1844 the majority of sermons were delivered by George Ely, "ordained pastor over Nottingham and Dutch Neck Church." Other preachers mentioned by Voorhies include Misters Stiles, Miclain, Henry, Deerewell, and Parker. The entries also are a set of religious meditations, often reflecting events and hardships faced by Voorhies and those around her. Spiritual teachings pervade Voorhies' entries and she frequently used religious language when relating events, especially deaths in the community, where she noted that individuals had "been lain in the cold and silent tomb there to remain until the morn of the resurrection."

Periodic entries were made regarding events such as visits from members of the Cubberly family, social calls with friends, society events (such as meetings of the Missionary Sewing Society), and other happenings in the community such as marriages, births, and extraordinary weather. Voorhies commented on her own health, both physical and emotional, as well as the status of her church, at one point listing the names of "sixty three persons added to the church."