Autobiography of Z. S. Hastings Part 4

C H A P T E R T W E L V E

South Cedar. An aged Methodist. A quick Irishman. Webster's blue back spelling book. The world was not turned upside down, but the door turned on its hinges.

The school board at Pardee Station was not ready to give me an answer about school, so I left them, promising the Johnsons that I would return in the fall. I had a call to go to South Cedar in Jackson County and teach and preach. This I did during the spring and summer and after the close of my school in July and August I called Evangelist J. H. Bauserman to come and help in a protracted meeting.

He came and the meeting started off nicely, but on the second or third day, Brother Bauserman was called home on account of his wife's severe sickness. He could not return, but I went on with the meeting and it proved to be one of the best meetings I ever held. Quite a number believed and were baptized. The meeting was held in a large natural grove near where there was much water, and was lighted with great torch lights. At nearly every service people would come forward and make the good confession, and often were baptized the same hour, even the same hour of the night.

One day an old man, seventy two years old, and six feet four inches tall, a Christian in the Methodist church for many years, came to me and asked me if I would baptize (immerse) him and let him remain in the Methodist church. I said, "Certainly, I will baptize any man who wants to be if he believes in the divinity of Christ." He was baptized (immersed) and was a happy man.

At another time when I had baptized some, and was coming up out of the water, I said, "If anyone else is ready to obey his Master I will gladly bury him with his Lord in Baptism."

An Irishman, who had been faithfully attending the preaching pulled off his coat, and came down into the water, meeting me, he took me by the hand and lead me back into the deeper water. When I asked him if he believed with all his heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of G.o.d, he answered, "Yes, for--today." I dipped him, and he came up out of the water a happy man.

My school here was very pleasant in almost every respect. Only one incident occurred that was otherwise, and that turned out well. A family of one brother and two grown sisters had only one speller between them. I complained and sent word several times to their father that he ought to get a speller for each of his children. So one day at noon he came over to school and took up a book and sat down by me with the open book and said, "One book is enough for three. I can see and so can you so could another on the other side of me. One book is enough for three, I shall buy no more books." "I see," I said. "Goodbye" he said, and off he went. After that I had the brother sit between the two sisters and all study from the same book. Now at this time McGuffey's spellers were the only spellers used in all the schools. Webster's had been out of use for almost a generation, but, in about a week after this father had called at school, as stated above, he went at Atchison City and somehow and somewhere he found and procured three new Webster's old blue back spelling books, and his children brought them to school to use. When I saw them I said, "Sure, these are the best books ever made,--the very kind I studied when I was a boy. Maybe your father can secure enough for the whole school. And since one is enough for three, it would not take so many." "There is only this trouble. Until we can make the change, you three will have to be in a cla.s.s by yourselves."

So I kept the brother and two sisters in a cla.s.s, with their blue back spellers, to themselves. But, listen, in about a week more the cla.s.s of three came to school each with McGuffey's speller.

Sometimes the best way to overcome an adversary is to agree with him.

One Sat.u.r.day evening I went across to North Cedar to preach and when I got to the school house, while there was a large crowd in the yard waiting to hear me, the door to the school house was locked and the trustees said, it should not be opened for me to preach. An old disciple of Christ, who lived nearby, said that I was welcome to preach in his house. I said to the crowd, "If you will follow me over there, I will preach." Nearly everyone followed. I simply preached the truth, Christ, and in my sermon referred to that text which says something about "These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also."

Well, the next morning the world had the same side up as before only that school house door had turned on its hinges and was wide open for me to come in and preach. Which I did, morning and evening, and was invited back again and again.

---0---

C H A P T E R T H I R T E E N

Holton. Netawaka. All said, "Amen." Farmington. Married.

Our home. Little Wiley Warren.

While teaching and preaching here on South Cedar I began preaching on Sundays at Holton. I preached in the school house, court house, or any empty room that might be found that was suitable. I found suitable headquarters for my stay in the hospitable home of an old disciple of Quaker origin whom everybody called Uncle Tommy Adamson.

He was a true lover of G.o.d.

The Presbyterians kindly offered me their house to occupy when they were not using it. My recollection is, that theirs was the only church in the town at that time. The Methodist, who like we had been preaching in the school house about this time, possibly a little earlier, had erected a new, brick church building. Well, the gospel was preached and a number seemed interested and brother J. H.

Bauserman State Evangelist was called to help in a meeting and the results was, as usual, some hearing, believed and were baptized. At the close of the meeting the converts were left pledged to meet on the Lord's Day to wors.h.i.+p G.o.d. And I promised to meet with them every two weeks to preach to them and wors.h.i.+p with them. This I did for a year or two, going afterwards on the Central Branch as far as Netawaka and then across on a public hack. For I soon returned to Pardee Station (Farmington).

Speaking of Netawaka, reminds me of being called there in later life to marry a young Methodist gentleman to a young Mormon lady. And this reminds me that I have married people of nearly all creeds, colors and nationalities. So of funerals. The Mormon preacher was at the Netawaka wedding, but I did not know it until the wedding was over. To this day I do not know why I was called to this wedding. I was never treated more kindly and hospitably at any other wedding.

And here let me say that the money I have received for weddings and funerals, I think is more than I ever received for preaching.

In Netawaka on that day, in the afternoon, I attended the Mormon public wors.h.i.+p. There were about sixty present, and they, except the groom and his bride, were old people and foreigners. Although the preacher was present there was no preaching. It was a social, song and prayer service, and every man and woman took a part except the newly married couple.

When all had had their turn, an elder, (the father of the bride) looked at me and said, "Brother you have plenty of time, if you have anything to say, say it." This was very unexpected to me, but I stood up and said, "Brethren, if you will allow me to call you brethren, this is the first time I ever attended your services, and I must confess that the service, as it seems to me, is much like the old fas.h.i.+on services of the Methodist and disciples that I attended when a little boy with my mother, and I feel very comfortable and much at home. They all said "Amen."

From South Cedar I returned to Farmington and found a nine month's school waiting for me at fifty dollars per month. So I accepted the work and continued it for five years at an advanced salary of sixty-five dollars per month. In the meantime, June the 28th, 1870, I was married to Miss Rosetta Butler who still lives to bless my life, and is still a true helpmeet in my old age. Shortly after our marriage we begin the erection of a new, farm home for ourselves about one-half mile west of the station. It was not long until we had a home, not a palace, but a home though humble, yet tidy, convenient and good enough for a queen, as in fact, it was occupied by a queen. Nor do I think, boys, could anything but compliments be placed by our old neighbors upon the way things were kept all about our farm when you were there. Do you remember the old Farm? And let me say just here that while G.o.d has always been good to me and comparatively my whole life has been a happy one no period of it was more happy, more hopeful and sweet than the few years in our old home where I was the head, your mother the queen and you children were about our knees.

For just twenty-five years we (wife and I) lived at Farmington. This is just half of the life of my man-hood days. Here all our children were born. By us no threshold was ever crossed more than this one.

No paths were ever trodden more frequently than the paths to the well, the barn and the post-office, and the church. No neighbors were ever so long ours in kindness and love. No birds ever sang so much and sweetly as those in the very trees that had been planted by our own hands. And no home was ever more truly dedicated day by day to Almighty G.o.d upon bended knee and in the reading of His word.

Do you remember the old home, boys? But life is not always sweetness. It cannot be, under the present sin-curst environments.

The first bitter experience and great sorrow that came to us, was when death came our way on the 21st day of July 1877, and took away our fourth little boy whom we had called Wiley Warren. He was only 1 year, 6 months and 17 days old.

I had preached the funerals of many little children before the death of our little boy, and had thought that I knew how to sympathize with parents who had to bury their children, but I did not. If I were not an old preacher I would like to say now what I have said often when younger, that everything else being equal, an old preacher is better to preach, and do pastoral work for a congregation than a young one.

---0---

C H A P T E R F O U R T E E N

110 years. 28th of June, 1884. 4 and 3.

Closing school at Farmington in 1873, I quit teaching and took up farming and preaching, as I had teaching and preaching until the year 1907 when I retired at the age of 70. So then I attended school off and on 10 years, taught 15 years, farmed 35 years, preached 50 years, working in the aggregate 110 years in a life of 70. The explanation is that some people can do two things or more at one and the same time.

On the 28th of June, 1884, indicating just exactly fourteen years of our (wife's and my) married life, our youngest child was born. In the meantime during these fourteen years to us (wife and me) were born seven children viz: Harry H. April 3rd, 1871. Paul P. October 22nd, 1872. Otho O. April 8, 1874. Wiley W. January 4th, 1876.

Clara C. September 24th, 1877. Edith E. January 31st. 1881, Milo M.

June 28th 1884. Do you notice that the above children each has double initials. This happened so with the two first, with the others it was purposed so. All of these children were born in the same home, Farmington, Atchison County, Kansas. But now the parents are together, alone and lonesome. Not a child near, only in memory.

Yet the seven are. Four are here-- In St. Louis, Harry. In Prescott, Paul. In Independence, Otho. In New York, Milo. In Heaven three. Little Wiley went on the 21st day of July 1877. Jesus said of him, "Of such is the Kingdom of Heaven." Edith when on the 8th day of November, 1902. Elder H. E. Ballou said of her: "Fallen Asleep."

Miss Edith Hastings, daughter of Elder Z. S. Hastings, granddaughter of Pardee Butler, November 8th, 1902. Age twenty-one years. Was born of water and of the Spirit February 2, 1894. F. M. Hooton, minister of the house at Pardee, in which her father and grandfather preached and which services in memoriam were held. Dear old house, if thy walls could speak how many, how many things thou woulds't say.

Thou woulds't tell what we can feel, but cannot speak of or write of.

Dear, pure Edith. Ten days of unalarming illness--sudden death. A surprise to all but her. A great shock. Did the Lord tell her "tonsillitis" is something fatal?

"May heaven's blessings rest on the family, n.o.ble, useful family.

Earthly home is sad now. Heavenly home still nearer and dearer. And on the church she loved, on the Senior C. E.--we will not forget her pure sweet talks there--on the Junior C. E. she organized and superintended until death. On her a.s.sistant superintendent and bosom friend, Miss Maude Tucker. On the school she taught, on students of county Normal at Effingham, who loved her, on one n.o.ble young student of Drake University who came to sit among the mourners as though he was already one of the family. All love her at Drake--Yes everywhere."

Clara went on the 23rd day of May, 1906. Mrs. Prof. J. W. Wilson said of her:

"A Beautiful Life"

Clara C. Hastings was born at Farmington, Kansas, Sept. 24, 1877.

Married June 28th 1905. Died May 20th, 1906. Graduated from the A.

C. H. S. in the cla.s.s of '98 and later completed the teachers' course in Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa. Taught nearly two years in primary grades at Maxwell, Iowa. Resigned during the second year to stay with her parents after the death of her sister Edith. Spent one year in Muscotah, Kansa, as primary teacher.

"On June the 28th, 1905 she married Charles G. Sp.r.o.ng, and their married life was one of happiness, with every prospect of happiness and usefulness before them. On May 12, 1906 twin daughters came to bless their home. Four days later little Edith died and on May 23, Clara closed her eyes on all things earthly and her Heavenly Father called he home. A bereaved husband, a father, mother, four brothers and numerous friends mourn her loss. Her life was short but well lived, for she spent it in doing good. A kind smile and a kind word for everyone was characteristic of her. Many evidences of her love and sympathy for others were shown at the funeral by the expressions of sympathy from the little children and aged alike.

When all hope of life was abandoned and it was thought best by friends to tell her the end was near, her husband gently reminded her of little Edith in heaven, and told her she would soon be with her.

Although a little surprised for she thought she was better, she said it was all right if it was G.o.d's will. Her last hours were spend in comforting those left behind and many loving messages she gave them that will be a comfort to them and a help to lessen the sting of death. Her bright mind was active to the last. She called for paper and pencil and named over many friends to whom she wished messages sent. Repeating with her father the Lord's Prayer, and telling them not to mourn for her, her bright pure life closed. She died as she had lived--a Christian. The funeral services were held at the Potter church, conducted by Rev. Hilton of Atchison. The floral tribute was beautiful. A large number of people were present, but owing to the distance a great many were unable to attend. Those from Effingham were Hiss Speer, Emma Ellis, Ollie Wilson, Mabel Weaver, Nellie Grable, Mrs. J. W. Wilson, Mollie Campbell, J. W. Campbell and Ertel Weaver.

Evangelist Frank Richard wrote of her: "The memory of such a life is as the lingering twilight after the golden sun has set. It is the precious memory of a life service. Service to her was a genuine pleasure. For her Master she served whose guiding hand she trusted.

Her life was genuine, sweet and gentle. A deep religious fervor characterized it throughout. Pious, consecrated and devout she was.

Her services in the church were highly appreciated. She loved the church. Her splendid counsel and example were of inestimable worth to the young people both in and out of the church. In her home the sweetness of her life was a constant pleasure to her friends and loved ones. To permeate the home with a Christian spirit was to her a high aim."

The weight of sorrow brought on us by the death of these two n.o.ble daughters is still so heavy as to bring tears to our eyes and sadness to our hearts. But we hope in G.o.d.

Little Ethel, one of the twins, still lives with her father and a kind step-mother. May the mantle of her dear mother's goodness fall upon her and she grow up to be good and happy.

---0---