2023-03-08-Keepapitchinin-I feel so good in mine heart

I feel so good in mine heart

[Keepapitchinin, 8 March 2023| http://www.keepapitchinin.org/2023/03/08/i-feel-so-good-in-mine-heart/]

By: Ardis E. Parshall - March 08, 2023 James H. Hart of Idaho was our emigration agent in New York in the 1880s, negotiating rail fares and routes, and meeting immigrants from the ships and transferring them to the trains. Because there was no organized mission at that date, he traveled throughout New York and New England in response to missionary calls, teaching and baptizing as he had opportunity. From one letter:

I baptized Mr. H. Rogers, of Brooklyn, yesterday, and Mr. Robert Lawvitch of Harlem; I have arranged to baptize Mr. A. Rosenstar of New York City next Tuesday, and Mr. and Mrs. Trenchard of Greenfield Mass. as soon as I have time to go to Boston. Mr. Rogers and Trenchard wrote you during the winter, and their address was given me by Bro. Geo. Reynolds.

Mr. Lawvitch, a German, connected prominently with a Baptist Church in New York, will, I think, be a very zealous and useful man. He is Foreman in a large bookbindery – He drinks no strong drinks, and has abandoned tobacco since he learned they were not good.

It rained all day yesterday but having made the appointment to baptize there was no disposition to retreat on a/c of the rain. He said it was happiest day of his life – ‘I feel so good in mine heart’ – I baptized them near Fort Hamilton.

Some day I want to identify and publicly remember these converts, as well as their missionary.

Comments (5)  5 Comments » I am always excited when my 2nd Great Grandpa James H Hart is mentioned! Usually he is a nameless “emigration agent” for the Church. He’s one of the hundreds, if not thousands, of people that worked hard and sacrificed a lot to build the Church.

In George Q Cannon’s journal he wrote the following about his visit to New York:

“Wednesday Octr 24, 1883. Left Continental Hotel and took train at 7.30 A.M. to New York. Spent day writing letter to Pres. Taylor and “Topics of the Times” for Juvenile Instructor. Went with Bro. Hart in the evening to see Joe Jefferson at Union Square Theatre in “The Cricket on the Hearth” and “Lend me five Shillings”. Performance very good and humorous.”

My wife’ s 2nd Great Grandfather is George Q Cannon. I like to let my son’s know that two of their Third Great Grandfathers enjoyed a couple comedies together in New York in 1883.

Comment by Jeffrey Laurence — March 8, 2023 @ 6:18 pm

That’s really cool, Jeffrey! I have transcribed a number of letters written by James H. Hart — give me a few days, and I’ll send them to you for your family history.

Comment by Ardis E. Parshall — March 8, 2023 @ 6:34 pm

Thank you! That is very kind!

Comment by Jeffrey Laurence — March 8, 2023 @ 6:39 pm

Like cousin Jeffrey, I am also thrilled to see my great-great grandfather mentioned in any article. Thanks for sharing this tidbit!

Comment by Paul Roberts — March 9, 2023 @ 8:54 am

Jeffrey, Paul, did you know that the Church History Library has scanned and posted many of your grandpa’s papers? You can see his handwritten letters and read through them if you like, here (but don’t spend your time typing — these are the letters I have transcribed and will pull out for you when I get that far).

Comment by Ardis E. Parshall — March 9, 2023 @ 9:10 am