Franklin County: E. to Edward McPherson, October 1,
1859
Summary:
E. expresses concern about the Presbyterian church in Gettysburg due to the
disruptive presence of Mr. Van Wycke and defends Christianity. In addition, E.
urges Edward McPherson to get married.
October 1st, 1859
Thorndale
My Dear Edward-
I received your last letter a few days ago. It was my intention last week to
write an apology for the rather trifling letter I had sent you, for so it seemed
to me, after reading yours, but for a week past I have been suffering with a
boil [deleted: i]on my head, behind the left ear & did not, of
course, feel very comfortable. Miss Ellen's remedies have proved effective, & I hope it will entirely
disappear in a day or two. I am really heart sick at the state of things in your
church, yet, cannot but hope, that the great Head of the Church will overrule
even all these discouraging & disheartening circumstances
[page 2]
for
his own Glory, for the ultimate peace & spiritual welfare of that
portion of his vineyard. I grieve over it the more, because of the pernicious
influence it must exert, over the young, & those who are not professors
of religion, yourself especially, but it must be remembered that the
inconsistencies & unholy tempers of professed Christians, [deleted: is] are not to be charged to religion, but either to their entire want
of it, or [added: to] a lamentable declension, into
which they have fallen. Yet it is to these, the world will look in forming their
judgement, forgetting, the one only perfect example set forth to us in the
Gospel, who will judge us, not by what others have done or failed to do, but by
that law, which requires us to "repent & believe" each for himself. I do
believe that one of the greatest stumbling blocks in the way of the salvation of
men is, the inconsistencies of professing Christians, & it is this
thought that affects my heart so deeply, & I should sink in utter
depair, were it not for the blessed truth that the "Lord reigns" & will
fulfill all his glorious promises concerning his
Church,
[page 3]
against which, all the powers of Earth & Hell cannot
eventually prevail. I trust you know many, who by their walk &
conversation, recommend the Religion of the Lord Jesus to you -- you must not
expect them to be perfect, but wherever you see a habitual aim to live as
becomes the gospel, follow them, [deleted: in as] so far as they
follow Christ & manifest his spirit.
My letters from home this week say, it is not probable now, that we shall leave
Frederick this winter, the house will be completed but, [deleted: has]
plastering not dry enough to render it safe for us to venture in. I regret it
chiefly because we will not have you with us as we hoped. And I do think it will
be crying shame if you do not pay us a visit before going to Washington-- You
never stayed away so long before. I was thinking last
week you might ride over here to see me during my visit & even yet, the
ladies will be very happy to see you & for fear you may be bashful, we propose that you bring with you that
mysterious one, who knows them better than you do, to
introduce you -- perhaps it may be an old acquaintance of mine
[page 4]
and
then I shall be doubly pleased. I expect to leave here next Monday week for
Baltimore & go with the wedding party as
far as the Junction-- then Reverend Mr Peck &
myself go on to Baltimore & they proceed to Niagara Falls. I almost envy
them that delightful trip, at this glorious season of the year. I hope when you
go under such interesting circumstances, you will choose the Fall or Spring
& take me to matronize the party. I want to go now [added: more] than before. It gratifies me much to hear of the
favorable opinions given of your address All
here felt just so about it, but we could not express it in such flattering
language. Now do lay politics aside for a day at least, & ride over
here; I want to see you & introduce you to my Thorndale friends. But I
must stop or I shall tire you out, although I have not taken up all the points
in your last letter -- yet I must make one assertion before closing, that
bachelorism is your sin & not your misfortune,
for you lords of the Creation are prime movers in the
affair, while we poor maidens dare only wait & wait
to be asked. My love to all friends-
Yours ever affectionately
E
The borders will all leave early next week & we will have a quiet house -- I forgot to tell you, Nannie had gone to Louisiana.
