Name/Title
AU Harris, Joseph Hastings - 1896-02-18 letter to Bertha Elizabeth LambertEntry/Object ID
1990.1.84Context
[Ada, OH, to Miss Bertha Lambert, Westerville, Ohio, “Franklin Co.”]
Ada, Ohio. Feb 18, 1896.
Miss Lambert,
Westerville, Ohio.
My Darling Bertha: Another wk has passed and we come once more to share our delights and sorrows etc with one another. This has been a very pleasant wk to me because I have been so busy and at the same time have learned quite a lesson from a little editorial in the young Men's Era entitled “Leave it with Him,” the thought was that we need be concerned about only one thing and that is the actual, organic, complete connection with the vine, Jesus Christ.
Another thought that has strengthened me very much is “Aiming high and persistent application,” in what we may choose to follow. I received an excellent letter from Mr. Mayne last wk. It seems that a number of people are interested in my welfare. I also heard from Howard. He says the folks seem very natural to him and that Arthur and Nellie are nice children. He is having a nice visit and expects to leave sometime this wk., thinks of going on to California if he can get good R.R. rate. A letter from father states that Uncle Amos Dille died Jan. 21 having been sick only four days, pneumonia and heart trouble in connection with blood-poison from the wound received while in the Army. He died in the triumphs of faith exclaiming in a letter written to father a few days before, “Christ is all in all.” They are having a good meeting at Hermon. Alice is growing worse and as you of course have already heard Walter Embree is dead. So they pass on one by one and we are spared. I used to dread to think of death, but with quite a different view do I see it now. I think we ought to take the best of care of ourselves and prolong our life as long as possible, because there is so much work to be done. I used to think that if a person should be cut off in the midst of his preparation his work was lost, but now it seems to me that I could not ask any better time than just when a person is starting with a determined effort to accomplish some noble end in life. The result of our election Sunday resulted as follows: Pres. Wm McGin, V. Pres. H. E. Lloyd, Sect. S. R. Brown, Cor. Sec. A. A. Crawford, Treas. T. B. Sweringen. I think we have a strong and energetic corps of officers and will do the work in order. We had an excellent missionary program Sunday.
I must say that there has been a great increase in missionary interest in this institution this yr. I had quite a talk with Rev. Campbell Sunday afternoon on school work, mission work, life work in general and my work for this coming summer.
He says if I go to Col. he can do me good in the way of securing employment. Twelve of us expect to go to Mansfield and if Ira is there I shall try to send you a couple of books on missions if you do not have them already. The New Acts of the Apostles and Primer of Med. Missions. I believe we ought to fan every spark of missionary zeal in our nature and feed on the facts as they so forcibly present themselves. It seems strange to me sometimes that our ministers do not preach more practical sermons on this subject.
I wish I might have been taught from childhood the real nature of this work, but why need I say this when I falter and hesitate with all the light about me there is now. I look upon the next few months as fraught with decisions that means destiny in my individual life. And I see that God has been very graciously leading you. O I believe he has a special work for us, humble though it may be, and I believe that we will soon know what it may be. What a comfort it would be to sit by your side this evening and talk all this over with God. I think too as you say that we must know soon as to whether we shall be permitted to labor together or not. O I think our preparation and work in the near future depends so much on the decision as to our working together or not.
Your letter brought its usual inspiration and found me preparing to go to Mansfield. I was pleased to know that Ira has the Y.M.C.A. work for next yr. and I trust that you may be placed where you will have such work also. I am looking forward to seeing you go to one of the Summer schools this summer. I don't want you to sit up too late to write of course it is not so bad to talk late(?) I have had three letters from Seth. He is in school at Berea Ken. and says he is paying his expenses nicely by working. He works two hrs per day school days and all day Sat. at 10¢ per hr. Board is $1.25 per wk. and there is no tuition. I am glad to know that he is taking such a step although I do not know why he left home.
I shall make an effort to get outside work in some way wherever I may be next year. I think it is much better for a person's health and purse both. I think you did an excellent thing in visiting as you say. I believe if we had more of that kind of work mingled with our intellectual training it would be much better. I assure you that you never weary me in speaking of your meetings or anything else. You are very kind to allow me to arrange the date of our meeting and I am looking forward to a long and excellent visit.
Of course you have not decided where you will spend the Summer. That is a difficult question for many students now, but somehow I think I never looked forward to [a] year more hopefully than I do this and my mind is made up that if foiled in one direction I shall start in another where I can be doing something for the Master.
I enjoy “Aurora Leigh” very much. I just had to hallo right out when I read the last chapter. I think it is fine and teaches some grand lessons. They keep teasing me about “Democratic rallies” and Col. visits, but that is all right just so I get to visit. You might tell Ira if you have those books I mentioned and then I will give them to him if you do not have them. I would like to look into those tender eyes and press those pure lips, surely it would be an inspiration, but I shall have to ask my “Love” to sacrifice again as I know she has done so much in the past. May God bless her and continue to lead her by His Spirit.
Your Lover,
J. H. Harris.
