January 4, 1859, Battle Creek, Michigan 1EGWLM 662.1
Letter to Identities: In her diary entry for January 4, 1859, Ellen White noted that she “wrote to Brother Hastings of New Ipswich, N.H,” doubtless a reference to this letter. Having given the address of “Brother Hastings,” it is safe to conclude that she is addressing Leonard W. Hastings, of New Ipswich, New Hampshire, the only person who fits the description. The style of the greeting and letter that follows suggests that “Amelia” and “Emma” are family members. At the time of writing, Leonard Hastings’ wife and oldest daughter had died. Two females remained in the family whose names are given as “Sarah A.” and “Emma A.” in the 1850 census, aged about 20 and 18, respectively. In the greeting “Emma” corresponds with the “Emma A.” of the census, but “Amelia” is more difficult to account for. Most likely the “A.” of “Sarah A.” stands for Amelia, and she was known by her middle name. Strengthening this conclusion is a letter by Joseph Bates written in 1858 in which he also lists “Emma” and “Amelia” among the Hastings family members. See: Ellen G. White, Ms 5, 1859 (Jan. 4 entry); 1850 U.S. Federal Census, “Leonard Hastings,” New Hampshire, Hillsborough County, New Ipswich, p. 273; Joseph Bates to Emma Hastings, Apr. 25, 1858.
Leonard W. Hastings, Sarah Amelia Hastings, and Emma A. Hastings.1
Previously unpublished.
Letter requesting the Hastings family to submit material for Ellen White's autobiography. 1EGWLM 662.3
Dear Brother Hastings, Amelia, and Emma:
I sit down to write a few lines and make a request of you to sit down together and talk over what you have witnessed of our experience. If there is anything of importance you can think of, write it all out, especially the events of our first visit to your place. 1EGWLM 662.4
The Lord's healing Sister Hastings [Elvira Hastings],2 Identity: See Elvira Hastings, “An Unfinished Letter … ,” Review, August 1850, p. 15. Ellen White's first major autobiographical account, My Christian Experience … , was published the following year, 1860. It included a testimony by Leonard Hastings of how his wife, Elvira, and infant son Frederick, were healed following the prayer of Ellen and James White during their first visit to the Hastings family in 1849. See: Ellen G. White, Spiritual Gifts [vol. 2], pp. 112, 113; obituary: “Frederick Hastings,” Review, June 6, 1918, p. 21. Identity: As with Leonard Hastings (see note above), Ellen White requests “Brother Nichols” to write down memories from the early pioneer days that could be incorporated into her autobiography. Subsequently in her book My Christian Experience … Ellen White includes a number of incidents involving Nichols from the mid-1840s and also includes a quotation from Nichols's own account. She also adds that “Brother Nichols” is “O. Nichols,” from Dorchester, Massachusetts. The Review and other sources confirm that only Otis Nichols matches this initial and address. See: Ellen G. White, Spiritual Gifts [vol. 2], pp. 68, 77-79; “Statement by Otis Nichols” (DF 105, EGWE-GC); search term “Nichols” in Words of the Pioneers.
In love, 1EGWLM 663.1
Ellen G. White
Write it all out, and send on as soon as possible. 1EGWLM 663.2