Category Archive1880-1889
1880-1889 & 1881 & Friends & Letters & Religious & Years Wabler on 30 Dec 2006
A letter to Alice - December the 20 1881
Letter:
Sphere: Related ContentDecember the 20 1881
Dear Alice
I received your welcome letter last night - and it made me feel so sad to hear of you feeling so bad. I hope your dark hour has past by this time. I knw how to sympathize with you, for no one knows the many dark hours I have had in my younger dats and of course I do not know what is awairting me in the future, but for the present my sky is clear, I cannot think tonight of one cloud that hovers on my sould. Alice I do not say it boastingly, or to brag, but I say it because it is true.
I think I am so happy as any woman can be in this world, I have every thing to make on happy, of course I have not riches. we have to work hard and do without many things we would like to have, in order to assure us a home, but I have a good kind husband, two sweet little girls, and what is worth more than all, I have the love of Jesus in my soul. I know that he has brought one through
many a trying hour, and nothing can shake my trust in him, and Allie if you will only go to him. put your trust in him at all times, he will turn your darkness into light. you know he says, “come unto me all ye that are weasy and heavy laden and I will give you rest.” he has promised never to forsake those that put their trust in him, you say sometimes you think you do not live as though you ought to, there is “none of us perfect no not one” we are all sinners, but you know Jesus died for ???? sinners, and the bible says there is more rejoicing over one sinner that reporteth. Than over ninety-nine just persons that goeth not atray, I know you have a hard time, I have traveled over that same road, but what ever your trouble may be, ask God to help you, and I will assure you there will be better days in store for you. Allie you say what a blue Christmas for you.I hope it will not be as blue as you anticipate, you will get my letter before then, oh if I could only say something that would cheer you, but I do not know what your trouble is. I wish I did and then perhaps I could tell you something that would do you good. dont be afraid to tell me anything for I would so love to help you if I could. you always seem more like a sister then anyone else to me. ????? Grandmother ever speak of me at all. Oh how I would love to see her once more, and all the rest of you, I would love to see your mother as much give my love to all of they know you get this letter, perhaps you had better not let them see it, I must close as it is bed time please write soon and tell me all no matter what may trouble you let me know it, I wish you was here and I could have a good talk with you. but I hope to see you sometime before long,
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I hope you will cast all your care upon the savior he is the only one that can do you good. All I can do is pray for you, that his choicest blessings may rest upon you in the prayers of of your ever loving cousin.
?? in ?? ???? is your little sister what is the babies name, give my love to Charlie tell him to be a good boy, ????? is wirring you some nonsense he is as lively as ever, kiss all the children for me and tell them I would love to se them.
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excuse ?????’ letter haha
1880-1889 & 1890-1899 & 1900-1909 & 1910-1919 & 1920-1929 & Letters & Religious & Strange & Years Wabler on 30 Dec 2006
From the Order of the Eastern Star - found with letters from between 1881 and 1926
(Note: the images above overlap a little, because they dont fit in the scanner!)
Paper:
1- The Condictress leads the canidate to the west side of the Alter, by
entering the Labyrinth from the east,between Adah and Electa, leaving theAlter to the right;causing her to kneel,and places a small Bible in her hands,in the following manner; Both hands clasp the book, with thumbs across the front edge.
2. In the presence of xxx Almighty God and of these witnesses, I
xxxxxxxx solemnly and sincerely promise, that I will never unlawfully reveal to any person the secret work of the Order of the Eastern Star.
That I will always maintain a discret silence respecting the transactions of the chapter of which I may be a member or visitor, when in the presence of those who are not members of the order;
That I will obey the Constitution and laws of the Grand Chapter within whose jurisdiction I may be, and the bylaws of the Chapter of which I may be a member;
That I will so far as in my power, give to my sisters and brothers advice in their troubles, sympathy in their sorrows, and aid in their misfortunes;
That I will not speak evil of a sister or brother,or preform any act of injustice or xxxxxx unkindness towards them.
That I will cherish and defend the character of all members of the Order, so far as truth,honor and justice will warrant;
That I will consider this obligation binding upon me, although my membership in the Order may cease;
To this Solemn obligation I promise faithful obediance, under the xx penalty off suspension or expulsion from the Order;
3. W.P.Raising the veil as high as the eyes twice,raising it a third X
time,throwing it up over the head , retaining hold of the ends, and casting the eyes upward.
4. Cond. - Alas my daughter!
5. W.P. - Being Jepthah’aexclamation when his daughter came out to
meet him on his return to Mizpeh.
6. W.P. Extending the hands forward from the elbows, closed, as
though holding clums of barley, then drawing them to the breasts, casting the eyes upward.
7.- Cond. Who is this?
8. - W.P. -Being Boaz’sinquiry concerning Ruth.
9. - W.P. With the right hand first touching the crown of the head
then the left shoulder, then extending it foward, palm downward, as though touching the scepter.
10. Cond. - What wilt thou.
11. W.P. -Being the Kings inquiry of her.
12. W.P. -Forming a triangle with the thumb and forefinger of each
hand, then raising them above the head, and casting the eyes upward.
13. Cond. - Believest thou this?
14. W.P. Being the inquiry of which Jesus made of Martha, when he
had declared, “I am the Resurrection and the Life.”
15. W.P.Crossingthe arms over the breast , the left over the right and
casting the eye upward.
16. Cond. –Love one another.
17. W.P. - Are you a member of the Eastern Star?
Cond– I have seen his^ star in the East.W.P. - Why have you come here?
Cond. I have come here to worship Him.
W.P. Have you the Cabilistic word?
Cond. — I have .
W.P. - Will you give it to me ?
Cond. I will, with your assistance.W.P. . Begin
Cond. F.
W.P. - A.
Cond. -T.
W.P. -A.
Cond. -L. fatal.
W.P. -What signification has the word?
Cond. First that it would be fatal to the character of any one for truth
to divulge the secret work of the Order unlawfully. Second, xxxx each letter stands for a word, and these words compose the Cabalistic Motto?W.P. -Have you the Cabalistic Motto?
Cond. - I have.
W.P. Will you give it to me?
Cond.- I will with your assistance.
W.P. -Begin
Cond. - Fairest.
W.P. -Among
Cond. Thousands
W.P. Altogether
Cond. Lovely.
18.W.P. Fairest among thousands, altogether lovely.
19. W.P. Facing the east, placing their hands in the position they were when
holding the book at the Alter, and, with a slight bow, retire or be seated, as the case may me. The response from the chair to this sign is made by placing the right hand upon the ceter of the left breast, them moving it slowly palm xxxxxxxx upward, and forward to the full length of the forearm.
20. W.P. Taking the hand in the ordinary manner, and passing the thrumb to the
fleshy part ofthe hand, between the thumb and forefinger, with a slight pressure.
21. W.P. Cabalistic Word.
Notes:
(from wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_the_Eastern_Star)
W.P. - Worthy Matron - “a Master Mason who provides general supervision”
Conductress - “Leads visitors and Initiations” (misspelled above and in the original letter as Condictress)
(From wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabal)
Cabalistic - From Cabal - “The term cabal derives from Kabbalah (a word that has numerous spelling variations), the mystical interpretation of the Hebrew scripture, and originally meant either an occult doctrine or a secret. It was introduced into English in the publication of Cabala a curious medley of letters and papers of the reigns of James and Charles I that appeared in 1654.”
More information: http://www.saintsalive.com/freemasonry/estar.htm
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