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LETTER FROM W. E. HIRSHAWWho is in Prison for the Murder of His Wife.S«ys “Every Preacher Should Serve as Apprea tkeship la Prlsoa Before He Is Created a Licease to Preach.”Through the kindness of friends we are permitted to publish the following letter from Rev. Hinshaw, who the most of our readers have read of during his trial and conviction under a charge of murdering his wife:Affectionate Friends and Parents:—Just one year ago today, from my bedside and from my happy home was carried the cold, dead, but still dear form of my lovely wife. And as life went out of our home, light went out of my life; and alone, yes lonely I resumed my weary march. A year of unbroken sorrow; sorrow which grew heavier and heavier as the days rolled on. Thoughtless persons suggesting strong theories, and repeating cowardly rumors until they believed it all. Truest friends made to wander and merciless enemies, to laugh. Suspicion, born of falsehood, hovering in the air, afraid to settle anywhere until it was induced by avarice to light upon the one whose defense it determined not to hear. Having once alighted, it utilized every force to point and not only to point, but to make finger boards and point them at me, at the same time crying: “It is rumored! It is rumored!”I have been sad for a few days, I hardly know why. My health is very good. I have not lost any i. This prison is not an unbearable place. Not wholly void of pleasure. But I sit down and ask myself, “Is it I? Yes. Well, where am 1? In prison. What? Yes, in prison, and they say I must die here. You? Great God, what have you done? I do not know. Then why are you here ? Eternity will never reveal a reason, none exists. What if it is God’s will, that is all for my good and God’s glory ? God never willed sorrow upon any head and destruction to any home.” But Pm in no mood to write tonight and will finish tomorrow. Good Monday evening. Have had a very pleasant day. I feel somewhat raised in spirits from yesterday, but memory hangs with an unfaltering zeal upon the days that are no more. Though the cup of sorrow has all the time been full and sometimes running over, yet the year has been a short one. I look back over enough sleepless nights and enough heartaches, enough slander, enough battles fought, enough disappointments, enough loss, enough injustice and enough of everything which is distressing to mind and vexation of spirit to fill a whole life. But thanks to the God of power, they have come to a place where I can say as Christ said, “They can do no more.” And now here I stand with “grace abounding” and “faith upholding.” I have much more on earth to love yet, and many things I some day hope to enjoy. But I say unto you that of late I am becoming much weaned from this world. You see I am out of the whirl of society, out of the mad pursuit for pleasure, out of the procession which constantly moves along displaying its pride, out of the excited pursuits for honor. Compelled to stand aside and look on. I believe the wisest thing in the Bible is, “All is vanity.” But the soldier in the fight knows little of the battle. The unbiased, unprejudiced observer in the light of his own experience is best able to report of the successes or failures of the day. Now unbidden I rise to the dignity of an observer and assert, “Take away that reward for the final faithful, and it were better for any man if he had never been born.” I have of late seen a part of God's creation that I never knew existed. 1^ am not sure but what every man, before he be licensed to preach should serve an apprenticeship in a prison, and I am sure every judge and jury would be much better qualified to deal in mercy even when they have evidence to insure a reydict of “guilty”if they were compelled to serve an apprenticeship here.Now I must cease my theorizing and say what is in my heart. You know one can have one thing in mind and another in the heart. In my heart I still love you all very dearly. It seems to me that I owe you all a life of service and love. But for your many prayers I surely would have sunk beneath the dark rolling billows. But for His abundant grace I should not have been able to stand. But for my treasure in heaven I would be so poor. But I have an immence fortune and precious treasure over there. 0, when shall I sweep through the gates? I must leave you now, it is school time. Give me a place on memory’s wall, a spot in love’s bright realm. I thank everyone who has offered me a consoling word, and God supremely for you all. Please, do please write to me. Blessings to you.A Sweet Adieu,W. E. Hinshaw.Improved Train Service on the Wabash.No. 45 has palace reclining chair cars, Toledo to St. Louis, and buffet sleeping car, Toledo to Kansas City via St. Louis without change.No. 41 has choaches and free reclining chair cars, Toledo to Kansas City via St. Louis without change, and buffet parlor cars, Toledo to St. Louis.No. 47 has free reclining chair cars, Tolsdo to St. Louis without change.No. 46 has sleeping car, coaches and free reclining chair car, Kansas City to Toledo via St. Louis without change, connecting at Toledo with through sleeper for New York, and at Detroit with sleeper for Boston. 14-3Is This Right?It is disgusting to hear persons speak scornfully of girls who have to work for a living. No sensible man is dazzled by the glitter of a jeweled hand, a gold bracelet, or a watch bought on “tick” perhaps. All these have not so much fascination as a pleasant disposition, a happy, intelligent face, a well-cooked meal and a glistening, well-ironed shirt front. A dimpled chin and sunny face in the kitchen is worth a dozen “banged” millinery singers in the parlor pawing ivory, screeching “A Flower From My Angel Mother’s Grave,” when very likely the poor woman is hanging out clothes in the back yard. It is all right to know how to appear as a cultured, refined and entertaining lady, but to know how to be housekeeper, even if the work has to be superintended only, is far better than superficial airs.
Newspaper Details
Huntington Weekly News
Huntington, Indiana, US
Wed, Apr 15, 1896
Page 5
Full Page
Clipped by
Mark B.
IN, USA 25 Jun 2024
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