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Excerpts from Souvenir Submitted by David M. Waid |
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1888.
August 23, 1888--In looking over ray youngest son's album
to-day I found some excellent advice written by my wife to her son, and I
copy it here, for I wish to show how fully I appreciate her memory and
sayings, and the advice she gave our children.
On one page occurs this: A
good name is rather to be chosen than great riches; and on another: "True happiness, if understood, Consists alone in doing good."
I cannot refrain from copying the following lines written by my
wife's only sister, Aunt Jane, as she is
called. She deserves many
thanks for the sentiment set forth in the verse. She is nearer to us now than any of our kindred.
The lines are as follows: "Within this book so pure and
white, Let none but friends presume to write And may each word in friendship given Direct the reader's thoughts to
heaven." M. J. Cutshall.
Forest Grove Methodist Episcopal Church,
situated four miles east of Guy's Mills, was dedicated to-day.
It is a plain, neat, country church, erected where a house of
worship was much needed. It
rained in the morning, and I was undecided whether to go to our own church
or to the dedication, but I finally decided in favor of the latter.
Orlando Waid, my nephew, drove to the
church, a distance of eleven miles, with me, and we arrived rather late,
the services being well advanced. I
pushed my way to the stove, for I was wet and cold, and sat down.
Dr. Flood, who was conducting the
services, stopped the proceedings, gave out the text and announced the
state of the collections. The
church cost $1,100, $600 had been previously collected, leaving $500 to be
subscribed on the day of dedication.
Dr. Flood having explained the situation, I said:
"I will give my check for $100."
I afterward added 10 per cent for the family of
Rev. J. W. Crouche, and $20 for my own family, making a sum total
of $130. It brings true
happiness to do a deed of this kind.
On January 11, 1889, I gave my check for the amount pledged.
I afterward met my friend Dr. Flood in the depot, as he was on his
way to dedicate the Methodist Episcopal (Hites) Chapel, at Jamestown, N.
Y. "Dear brother,"
said he, after cordially shaking my hand, "can you give me $10 for
this good work?" I said
"yes," and handed him the money.
October 8 to 21, 1888--[My brother-in-law, G.
W. Cutshall and I make a trip to Kansas, an account of which will
be found at page 83.]
My cousin, Leander Simmons, died
December 16, 1888, at his home in Harmony, Chautauqua County, N. Y., at
the age of sixty-five years and four months.
His funeral was held in Harmony Methodist Episcopal Church, the
pastor Rev. Mr. Burns, officiating, and his
text was: What I do now ye
know not, but ye shall know hereafter.
The text and sermon were very appropriate as Mr. Simmons, like my
wife, had been afflicted nearly a year, and we often wonder at the trials
of our loved ones and their afflictions, and seek a reason; but the Bible
comes to our relief and tells us we shall know all in good time, and what
is now seemingly so mysterious in our Lord's doings will one day be made
clear. I believe this, and it
brings rest and comfort to us here amid our deepest distress.
Leander was interred in Lake View Cemetery, Jamestown, N. Y., eight
miles from Harmony. It was
cold but pleasant, and we had carriages and buggies instead of sleighs;
nevertheless I was reminded as we neared the cemetery of the cold weather
and deep snows that prevailed when his father, Philander
Simmons, was interred in December, 1882, a funeral that; my wife
and I attended. Ira Simmons
died in 1867 and is buried in Lake View Cemetery.
There are at present; four sons and four daughters left with an
aged mother to mourn with the afflicted family, the death of Leander.
The family left consists of his widow, two sons and two daughters,
of which children three are married.
As the four brothers of the deceased gently bore the casket and
lowered it into its resting place, I was touchingly reminded of the last
tribute of myself and three sons as we tearfully placed the form of wife
and mother under its covering of flowers and dew. CHRISTMAS, 1888. "Stronger than oak, in apparel
so green, And trappings so fair to see, With its precious freight for small
or great Is the beautiful Christmas
tree."
Preparations had been made for an entertainment and Christmas tree
at State Road Methodist Episcopal Church for the Sunday-school, Miss
R. Hempson and myself having been chosen to buy the presents.
We sometimes get a position by being generous, but I will not say I
got this one in that way. I
was like a child that was hungry. I
asked for it, and ;vas honored by our school with the appointment.
Now the planning and arranging were our part of the program,
raising the funds wherewith to buy presents was quite another, and
certainly not the least in importance.
My intention as expressed at the meeting was that each scholar
should have a gift, no one to be passed by, and I had told the school that
I would warrant the tree to have at any rate $5 worth of presents.
The society raised $5 more, which with other subscriptions
increased the total contributions to $11.85.
My lady friend met me in Meadville on Monday, December 24, at 11 A.
M., the same hour that my brother met me to go on our business and
pleasure trip of which I have already written.
I remember when I was quite a youth I frequently prayed that the
Lord would grant me a useful and active life, and I am sure he has
answered my prayer. On the
present occasion, as on many others, I confess I had many errands to do
before leaving Meadville, but none more pleasant than selecting Christmas
gifts for our Sabbath-school children.
It had been reported to me that we had twenty-five or thirty
scholars during the winter, and as I considered I could buy no better
present than a neat Testament, I procured at the book-stores forty copies,
'thinking that would be sufficient; but on meeting my lady friend she
informed me the number of scholars was sixty-three instead of twenty-five
or thirty, so I bought twenty-five more, making in all sixty-five; and I
wish to say here that when a Sunday-school child (I remember going to
school barefooted and I have heard my wife, Eliza, say that she and
several others used to go several miles to Sunday-school and church at
Mead Corners, and that her sister and she would often carry their fine
shoes part of the way, putting them on again before reaching their
destination, so as to save them. That
is how we did years ago when going to Sunday-school; to-day the value
received is more than the sacrifice made or shame endured) gets a better
present than a New Testament, I want to hear of it.
I have carried a pocket Testament many a day, out of which I have
read the grandest truths and noblest words ever uttered or written--words
or life, ETERNAL LIFE, EVERLASTING LIFE.
This Book tells not only of this life but of the life beyond. The reading of the Bible, so useful to me all through life
makes it of such value to me that I wish every child in the Sunday-school
to profit in a similar way; and that is my reason for giving each a
Testament (I was asked by my lady friend to write down what I wished
placed on the fly-leaf of each Testament, so I jotted down the following: Presented to ---- by Methodist Episcopal Church State Road
Sunday-school, December 25, 1888). ADDRESS BY F. C. WAID. December 24, 1888.
To our Sabbath-school and especially to the children, I want to say
to you little boys and girls, although I can not be with you on this happy
occasion and share your pleasure and happiness, yet I repeat the words I
spoke to you last Sunday: I
LOVE YOU. And as I told you
if I could not be present I would give $5 to buy presents to put on the
Christmas tree. And then when
the committee on program put my name down for an address, they seemed to
call for something more than money. But
you who were present remember I promised to do the best I could; that if I
was absent I would write a letter, make some remarks and give some advice
to the children.
It is said in my biography there are three things I love.
But then there are more. Those
things spoken of are a BOOK, a NEWSPAPER and a FRIEND, and there is also
connected with this thought the idea, I love the SUNDAY-SCHOOL.
I have always loved the Sabbath-school, and allow me to say from my
early childhood, indeed I cannot go back in my recollections beyond the
time when I did not attend the Sunday-school at old State Road.
I do remember of my parents having my twin brother,
Franklin, and myself accompany them to Sunday-school and church,
when we were very small boys. And
I want to thank the Lord for his goodness to me, for I have had the
privilege and enjoyed the pleasure of coming to Sunday-school and church
up to last Sunday, December 23, 1888.
Children do you think it strange that I should love the
Sunday-school? I only wonder
why I do not love it more, and do more for it and for you whom I love so
well. Now let me speak of THE, BOOK, NEWSPAPER and FRIEND.
If you think I have had any success in life let me point from
whence I think it came. Children
this is for you just as much as these presents are for our school.
Of course we would be glad to give presents to everybody, but on
this Merry Christmas we want to remember you especially, and encourage you
both with advice and some token of our love accompanied by a present, The
Book out of which I have learned the great lessons of life is the BIBLE.
Study it, practice its teachings; it is the chart that will guide
you safe through the journey of life.
It teaches us to obey our parents and give our hearts to the Lord.
The Bible is dearer to me now.
I love it more than ever, because I have learned a little more of
it, and I have found so much knowledge in it, that has been useful to me.
I want you, dear children, to study it, and you will be glad in
after years that you attended Sunday-school, listened to the gospel and
obeyed the truth. I cannot
close without saving, give your hearts to the Lord, for it is written: Son, Daughter, give me thy heart. Written Monday morning in haste, December 24, 1888. F. C. Waid). P. S.--While you enjoy a merry Christmas, I wish you a
happy New Year.
December 24, 1888, to January 3, 1889--[My brother,
G. N., and I, visit Athens, N. Y., and other places.
See page 90.]
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