Myrtle Stitt-MacLaren letter

This blog is created for the family of  the MacLaren's and Stitt's.  The following is a letter Grandma Myrtle Stitt-MacLaren sent to Aunt Hazel Johnston, on Feb. 21,1962. At the time, she was living with her son, Douglas MacLaren in Elkhart, Indiana..

Dear Hazel,

I received both of your letters and were they ever interesting. The first one about when little Todd came & how well you are. Then my Valentine letter. Yes, Hazel, I know what you mean about our family prayer, and just see what God has done for me!
But what amazes me the most and makes me feel so humble and stand in wonder, is the beginning. How when I was only 1 1/2 years old, God directed Grandpa up to Cole Creek, when just nothing. Where I started to S.S.(Sunday School) when I was 7 or 8 yrs. old and from the day I got that card of invitation I never wanted to miss S.S. ever! The invitation was printed by David C. Cook. That Mrs. Tarn had bought and just signed it, put a 1 cent stamp on & mailed it to me. It probably was the first piece of mail I ever got. And I had it until the house burned in 1945. I probably got in in 1905-1906 or 1907. I was so excited and grandma said I could go so Aunt Rachel and I started the next Sun. You know if Grandpa had bought a farm 2 mile north, south, east or West of that there never would have been a S.S to go to. I started reading a testament and read about the 2nd coming of the Lord. And I thought he was coming then and I was scared and I don't know what or why but I never was so happy as in S.S and church, we didn't have church often, but when we did, it was right there.
I sometimes just walk the floor thanking God for what he has done, for how he started me so early, I thought then that no one in all the world had ever felt like I did. I used to fast because I saw in the bible Jesus said this cometh not but by fasting and prayer. But when I fasted the I never ate a thing from the time I got up until the next morning. It was always a whole day without food or drink. One time Grandma saw I wasn't at the table, I ran upstairs, then at supper I did the same, she called and called me. I never could tell her anything, and I heard her tell Grandpa "Well, if that girl don't get down here for her breakfast in the morning, something is going to be done"! Well, I just smiled and thought "That girl will be down for breakfast alright"!
When I got your letter I had got up late and I hadn't had my breakfast so I joined you folks in fasting till 3 p.m. I can't help but believe that much what has been done in our family has come from fasting and prayer. But I usually have a cup of coffee now as I don't have a sick headache. I have been thinking how much God has done for me. Just to think all my sisters except Aunt Eva are Christians now and all in our church, and it think how God has saved my children, I can't thank him enough. Now heading my prayer list are my son-in-laws. My children used to be first and almost only, now it's Jim, & Howard and Alvin. then there is Aunt Rachel's boys, Uncle John, Bert, Aunt Ruth's children, Aunt Blanche's children and I don't know why but I have had such a concern for Bobby Smith. I have had him in my prayer list ever since I came down here. Yes, Hazel, I just get so blessed over your little letter I could hardly wait for Doug to come so I could read it to him. But when you speak of family prayers I know. Do you remember the time where we lived when the twins were born. I was papering upstairs and Dorville was out at Mrs. Brady helping to cut wood. All at once I had the awfullest feeling that he was in danger &I thought I could kneel right there and pray, but I was impressed that wasn't enough, so I ran downstairs & said something's wrong with Dorville, let's pray. And you girls just fell on your knees crying. We had prayer & God came & we got up relieved. The next Sun. I told Mrs. Brady & she said; "Well, they had a gun out there". But I knew we had to pray & pray then! Then when Bryce ran away we prayed for him and I got the assurance that all would be alright. Yes, and how many prayers have been answered that we hardly expect could be.

 But I always think it all began back there at that little S.S. at the old North School!
I wrote to Blanch and told her their evangelist was our camp evangelist at Elkhart camp-meeting last summer. Be sure and tell Endel (Craig) as she and Harold were here and heard him several times.
Yes, I know how the devil begins to act up when revivals start, anything to keep people away or to get their minds off from the burden of the meetings. If he can just cause folks to stop praying, or to get to thinking of something that comes up unexpectedly, and they always say discouragement is his biggest tool.
But, if you will just ignore him and fast and pray, God is more powerful than all the imps around.  I have been so fearful at revivals, but through prayer and fasting how many prayers have been answered.
When I think as you spoke of our family prayer, I always think of the Brickyard. It seems to me that 6 1/2 years was the most important and wonderful in my life, more things happened there, Daddy was saved, Uncle Horace was saved, Uncle Percy used to come & talk about the Lord. I got the first real assurance that I was sure I was saved there. We were in the Methodist Church, but God was really working in our lives and home.

Well, I just can't tell you what that Valentine letter did for me. But it was wonderful. I wrote to Inez, so you can read each others letters. I didn't want to write the same things if I did I would have a newspaper for each of you. I even put 8 cents on Inez, it felt so heavy.
Write again soon, and tell me all the news.

Love,

Moma

*This is the last letter she would write to Hazel, her daughter, as she passed on to her reward shortly after.