Letter
Dublin Core
Title
1840.11.30 – Elizabeth Huntington to Frederic Dan Huntington, Nov. 30th, 1840
Creator
Elizabeth Whiting Phelps Huntington
Source
Porter-Phelps-Huntington Family Papers (Box 12 Folder 8)
University of Massachusetts Special Collections and University Archives
Date
1840-11-30
Rights
public domain
Type
Correspondence
Transcription
Elm Valley, November 30, 1840- Monday afternoon
My Dear
Frederic,
Thanksgiving, the season which in childhood and youth is anticipated with such thrilling interest, has passed away. My own feelings, then and by long ago, by disappointed hopes, by affliction, by the experience of the unsatisfying nature of every worldly enjoyment and by the infirmities and weaknesses of old age have long since ceased to be excited by their occasions. My chief and most earnest desire is that I may finish my course, if not with joy, yet at least in peace; and the things of time appear as nothing in comparison of the well-being of the soul in the future life. Our gathering at this festival commenced on the afternoon of Wednesday.
Charles and his family (excepting Tammy who had been here several days) came about 4 o’clock, and
Theophilus and Eliza and Edward very soon after. At the usual time the chicken pie was introduced, with its lesser companions, which furnished employment for a dozen or more. The evening passed away very agreeably. Many interesting topics were introduced; among others the property of a minister attending whist1 parties was discussed. It was mentioned that Mr. Dwight2 had lately accepted an invitation of this kind and played himself. I believe it was the unanimous opinion of all present that it is not proper nor agreeable to the ideas we have formed of the clerical character. It came that Mr. Edward has become a constant attendant in Mr. Dwight’s ministry, and possesses a severe attachment to him. Now the question is whether Mr. Dwight by his fondness for [music], his relish for worldly amusements, and his public teaching which encourage all of these things, has really elevated the Christian character of Mr. Edward, or whether he has brought down the requirements of religion to suit the taste of those who are quite willing to be conformed to this world.
For myself I sincerely wish that Mr. Dwight had some other employment, more compatible with his strange notions than preaching the glorious prophet of Jesus Christ which enjoins indifference to the world, and a heavenly conversation.
Yesterday we worshipped at Northampton, had the pleasure of hearing your friend Clapp had two sermons of Dort3– Blessings and prayers by Mr. Furress. It was really a time of refreshing for me. Mr. Clapp is a very good reader as you know, and his appearance in the pulpit is very respectable. Friday and Saturday Edward was very busy in adjusting his pecuniary affairs- and by the help of some unexpected arrangement he finds himself in much better circumstances than three months ago, he could have expected. he left us in the afternoon of Saturday and went to Northampton, drank tea with Edward lodged at Charles’s and breakfasted, after which he went on intending to hear Mr. Candit in the morning and attend at Chicopee in the afternoon.
Do you know what a commotion there is in the north part of our house? Tearing down and building up. Its seems the old bedroom, which you took no much comfort in last summer as a study and wardrobe, is to be transformed into a sort of keeping room, sitting room, dining room, parlour4, or whatever you choose to call it. Mr. O’Lorn began his operations this morning. The closets are taken away, the old entry door closed up, and the closet door used as the entrance into the room. Theodore intends to make quick work of this business. What strange things happen! Everything passes away, nothing is enduring but the forever of God- goodness, purity, is the only inheritance which will be lasting and satisfying.
Friday morning 10 o’clock- Wednesday I went with
Bethia to Northampton- called at Charles’s; carried Tammy home, got home between one and two without freezing- saw some ice in the [Connecticut] River which seems to foretell the building of the heretic’s5 bridge. I forgot to tell you, what perhaps you know before the time, that Mr. Dwight left last Friday expecting to be gone [for] three Sabbaths.6 Another blunder – after having passed a pleasant evening with Charles and his family you might have thought they stayed all night and so they did; the snow was falling quite fast in the evening and they concluded to stay- they left us after breakfast. This addition to their visit was a great addition to our enjoyment, as we were able to unite both morning and evening in our supplications and acknowledgements to God, and in saying his praise. I hope you will regard with kindness the incoherencies this scrawl- my thoughts are confused, a heaviness oppresses my head, and occasions sorrow of heart. I endeavor to rise above it, but my strength is weakening. The Savior of sinners who knew temptation, and was acquainted with grief said to Peter “I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not”.7 It is well for his mourning followers that he is still as ever a prevailing intercession- you will think and justify that this letter has been long enough in cooking- long enough to be a good one. Perhaps you will consent to wait till your return home, or till you receive another letter for a satisfactory report.
Since I began this letter,
Theodore’s room has gone on prosperous by- the plastering is nearly done, and he is painting the adjoining bedroom- after all his quarters will be rather rough- and his accommodations not very good. They may answer the purpose till he is able to build Saturday morning.
Your father and mother drank tea at brother’s that evening- Mr. and Mrs. Thurston of Amherst were there- they [inquire] very kindly after you. Elisa said she had waiting for a private opportunity to send you a letter, but was afraid she should not have the time to write as she had so much to do. I told her that as you were coming home so soon it would be of little consequence. Bear with me my dear Frederic, while I entreat you to drop this useless, if not mischievous correspondence. It gives me pain and will if continued, involve you in trouble and regret, if it has not already- your only life concern is to deceit entirely from her writing to her. Your sister wishes you to cut the pattern of a square collar which many made for you before commencement, and enclose it in a letter soon. Theodore wishes you to write him without delay. I most earnestly desire for him of God on house not made with hand eternal in the heavens- may we all at length be permitted to occupy some humble place among the redeemed, where finding our remembered and beloved ones, we may [be with them forever] with the Lord.
Truly your affectionate mother,
Elizabeth
- Whist was a very popular trick-taking card game in the 18th and 19th century. Participating in a trick card game does not seem like a big deal; however, New England at the time was still extremely concerned with religion and did not want its ministers to focus on anything other than religion. ↩︎
- Mr. Timothy Dwight is the most concerned about religion among New England ministers. As mentioned in this letter, he takes enjoyment in playing card games and listening to music. These are not the most religious routed activities that he could be doing. Moreover, in a letter regarding the successful development of Northampton, Massachusetts, he writes as though he is a governor or city planner rather than a minister. Mr. Dwight’s rather secular lifestyle for a minister shows how Western Massachusetts has departed from its deeply religious, Puritan views a couple of centuries ago. Dwight, Timothy. “Letter XXXIII – Northampton.” In Travels in New England and New York, edited by Barbara Miller Solomon, 238-247. Cambridge: Belknap Press, 1969. ↩︎
- The Canons of Dort are among the most famous deliverances of Reformed churches. http://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/canons-dordt/ ↩︎
- A parlour (or parlor) is a room for the reception and entertainment of visitors to one’s home; a living room.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/parlor ↩︎ - A heretic is an individual who maintains religious opinions contrary to those accepted by the majority of his or her community church. As a result, this analogy with the ice in the Connecticut River and the heretic’s bridge is very perplexing. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/heretic ↩︎
- Three Sabbaths means three weeks. There is one Sabbath day per week (Sunday) ↩︎
- From Luke 22:3 http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Luke-22-32/ ↩︎