72-01-07  Boone Co. Mo  Jan 7th 1872  Mr. A & Mrs E. Damrell from W H Powell

Dear Grandparents              
We recd your welcome mesage some days ago and was glad to hear from you and that you were 
all in usual health.
Myself & family are through the all abounding mercy of our great king and high priest 
permited to enjoy good health
I told you in my last letter that I expected to start to Texas but I have given out going 
and have located in this country near which I now live.  Brother James is in Texas but 
have not heard from him for some time, but hope to get a letter soon.  You requested me to 
tell you what my wife's name is.  it is Tillitha.  I suppose you have heard her name was 
Turner, a neice of Grand Pa. Powell's wife.  we have three very promising little children 
two girls & one boy.  I believe I gave you their names in my last letter.
In regard to my sisters & brothers.  I have not heard from them since I last wrote to you. 
 Sister Mary lost one of her little girls last fall.  it was the youngest.  Now in regard 
to my sisters & brothers.  Religiously I will tell you all that I know about it.  Mary 
belongs to the Camblesites also Bascom joined the same.  Annie belongs to the Methodists & 
James does not belong to any church & I forgot to tell you my wife does not belong to any 
church.                  
Grand Ma you seem to think it does not make any difference what church a person belongs to 
if the love of God is shed abroad in the heart.
I admit that this cannot unchristianize them but let us be with those we believe are right 
 in order that we may enjoy this life.  It is a very easy matter to look around and see 
the coruption that is afloat in the world.
You know that all of the principle organizations that are being carried on now in the 
world are carried on by money.
Money is the ruling princeple.  A preacher does not hesitate to tell his congragations 
that if they do not give him so much money they will not prech to them.  At the same time 
will tell them without the preacher without hearing the word that the whole world will be 
lost.  How can it be possible for one who has the love of God shed abroad in the heart by 
the Holy Ghost cen love this money the love of which is the root of all evil more than the 
souls of his felow men.  I believe that salvation is free and unmerited and that it can 
not be bought with silver & gold or any of the perishable things of this world.           
                     
Monday Morning Jan 8/72  As I am going to town today I will have to bring my letter to a 
close.            
I should like to have time to give you my views more fully if I had time & would like to 
be with you & talk about these things if we could betogether.
There is a Religious paper Edited in this county that sets forth the doctrine of the 
Primative Baptists.  I think you would like to read.
It is Edited by a man by the name of E. H. Burnam.  I think one of the true followers of 
the meek & lowly Lord & Saviour.  This paper is called the Regular Baptist Magazine.  I 
should be very glad if you would send for it & if you can get others of your neighbors to 
send for it.  It only costs $2,00 per year & comes twice a month which will be 24 copys in 
one year.  I know if you could read one number you would think you was almost paid for 
your money.          
If you will send me the money for yourself or any one else I will have the paper sent to 
you to whatever post office you want it there will be also 12 cts of postage per year.  I 
know that $2,00 is very cheap for the paper & you can get a great deal of information from 
it.  It is entirely devoted to Religion.  there is nothing else in it.
I would not insist so hard if I did not know the man and that I know the paper will give 
satisfaction to a lovers of truth & C
If you send for it send the money in a letter to me & I will attend to it immediately. 
please write soon from your affectionate grandson & family.  W. H. Powell.