CORRESPONDENCE.

The letters of Miss Ellis's correspondents here given are selected from an immense number of like purport and interest. She had kept all the significant letters neatly filed in bundles, each correspondent by himself. It has been a disappointment to receive so few, comparatively, of her own letters. Our busy age is not given to saving its letters. It is therefore all the more touching to know that so many of her correspondents have treasured even every postal card from her hand. Her letters given here, however, well illustrate her spirit and ideas on many topics, also her method of work, and reveal something of the secret of her success.

Literary style and fine effects were the last things aimed at in her letters. Their characteristics are plainness, directness, intense earnestness to convince and impress, and a warm sympathy with people of all kinds and degrees. Strongly conservative in her own theology, she yet did not set up her views as a fixed standard for others, or assume to hold all truth. Some of her warmest friends were among our younger, more radical ministers, whose purity and sincerity of life and faith quite offset in her eyes their theological vagaries.

The letters first given are to fellow-workers who had asked about her methods, materials, etc. In an article which Mr. Gannett had asked her to write, and which appeared in "Unity," March 1, 1884, she wrote:—

"We keep a standing weekly advertisement in two of our chief daily papers,—those which have the widest circulation, one Saturday morning, and the other Sunday, under the head of 'Religious Notices.' One of these papers advertises free for us.[4]

"On receiving an application we respond, being guided somewhat by the style and character of the application, by sending one or two tracts, with a copy of the 'Christian Register' or 'Unity.' [Many people of the church, after reading their religious papers, handed them to Miss Ellis for distribution.] After sending the papers and various tracts for several weeks, we write a postal of inquiry as to whether Unitarian literature is satisfactory; and if the person cares to subscribe to either of the papers, which he or she prefers; which tracts have given the most satisfaction; and whether they care to borrow any books by mail, paying the postage on them. Frequently we receive no reply [in which case the name was dropped], but mostly the answer is gratifying. If the person cannot subscribe for the papers, but enjoys them, we continue to send them.... In sending tracts, we begin with 'Unitarian Principles and Doctrines,' by Rev. C. A. Brigham, the 'New Hampshire Statement of Belief,' and 'What Do Unitarians Believe?' by Rev. C. W. Wendte,—because we wish to show what our faith has grown from, and what it is now. These we think fairly represent the denomination; and we have found that they all give general satisfaction. Next, 'Why Am I a Unitarian?' by James F. Clarke, D.D., which is also well liked, and 'Discourse on Distinguishing Opinions of Unitarians,' by William E. Channing, D.D., as creating a thirst for his 'Works.' Then we branch off from this into whatever we think best.... Promptness in replying and regularity in sending papers, etc., will do more towards showing our deep interest in the work, and bring the individual seeking into vital connection with the church sending the literature. A little at a time frequently, to insure careful and thorough reading. Recommend books extensively.... We believe in loaning the books of the early ministers of our denomination as a good stepping-stone to the Unitarianism now taught in our pulpits."

In a letter to Miss F. L. Roberts, of Chicago, then Secretary of Western Women's Unitarian Conference, March 14, 1884, she wrote:—

"I agree with you that no one tract or sermon will satisfy the questions of inquirers. They have to 'grow into the light,' as we all have done and still are doing. Did any one thing settle our doubts or questionings? I think not.

"'What is our aim in the Post Office Mission Work?' It occurs to me it should be to give inquirers the fairest statement of our teachings, from Channing up to the present time. Not the thought of any one man or woman, but that of the greatest number of our best minds in the several eras of our denomination. In many cases ... people have not the slightest idea what Unitarianism is, farther than that we do not believe Christ was God. They not only do not know what we believe, but think us a kind of 'outcasts.' It almost seems like being in the Dark Ages of the world to hear of such ignorance as we know exists with regard to our doctrines. Therefore we are talking, as it were, to children. Let us then begin at first principles, and send fair, clear statements."

After alluding to several of her correspondents who were thinking of entering the Unitarian ministry, she adds:—

"It seems to me the A. U. A. tracts, and the books, papers, etc., sent with them, have produced good results; have made deep, earnest thinkers. It is through these very things our own ministers have been made to think, and they have gone beyond these same things; and so will our correspondents in time. But at present few of them have access to books, or come in contact with people who can converse on all these points with them; therefore it is well to intersperse with our tracts on doctrines, good practical sermons, and the newer tracts occasionally, leading them up gradually to Unitarian ideas, and showing them especially that while we have doctrines in our church, character is the most important to us. There is no one book that has done more effective work than Rev. J. F. Clarke's 'Orthodoxy,' etc., which proves that we need good, clear, strong doctrine. [The Post Office Mission, she adds] is only a larger church, and we want to bring these people into vital connection with us,—making not Unitarians of them, or merely intellectual men and women, but practical Christians working with us and for humanity. Rev. —— is the prophet of his age. We shall all grow up to his ideal some day, and bring our Post Office Mission members with us. Hope he will be willing to wait. 'It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait' (Lam. iii. 26)."

A bit from another letter to Miss Roberts is interesting as showing the untiring industry which enabled Miss Ellis to accomplish so much:—

... "Next week we hold our fair, and I shall be very busy all the week. Have had so many orders for mittens, that I am a perfect knitting machine. I can knit and read, however, and therefore have looked over many sermons for distribution in the mean time. Am tired, and thankful for the blessed Saturday night followed by the quiet of Sunday."

In answer to a letter of inquiry from Miss F. Le Baron when that lady first entered on her work as Secretary of the Western Women's Unitarian Conference at Chicago, Dec. 2, 1884, Miss Ellis wrote:—

"'How much time do you give to all this work?' Doing it at home, I cannot calculate exactly, for there are many moments thrown in that I cannot well count; but this much I can say. I begin about 9 A. M. Monday to collect my materials about me, and usually by dinner-time (1 P. M.) I have put away all papers, etc., and have ready my week's papers, etc., for the postman to take. Nearly every evening I write an hour or more, excepting Sunday, when I won't write business letters. This is all the work I can calculate; but there are many moments spent reading my letters, assorting papers, tying up books, setting down items, making purchases, etc., besides the time spent Sunday and on Wednesday at the church, over the library, etc. However, I am very systematic in everything, and accomplish more in that way.... Of course, new applicants I reply to at once; but every new applicant is then added to my Monday list. Being at an office, you have more interruptions; and then deafness has its reward, and one can pursue her work in peace many times, whereas another would be disturbed."

In answer to another letter from Miss Le Baron, full of warm congratulations on her success, she writes, Dec. 11, 1884:—

"I am very much obliged for your high opinion of me. I read it to a dear friend, who always sends me to the Conference at Chicago, and she said, 'It's all true, but I hope you won't get so far above me in the next world.' I never have stopped to 'understand' what I am doing, or the 'name' I am making. To do the good comes from my heart, and I leave the results to the Good Father, and know if I merit a reward it will be given me. It is a pleasure in this world, to feel I am giving satisfaction to so many in the denomination. I am a thorough Unitarian, and have read our denominational works more than anything else, which has prepared me for this very work. I am an ignoramus in literature outside of Unitarianism, only that you cannot be a Unitarian and not come, more or less, in contact with general literature.... By the way, I always read tracts, and M. J. Savage's and Chadwick's and Clarke's weekly sermons, going to and from the city [Miss Ellis was living at this time in Avondale, three miles from the city], and carry big packages of papers home on Sunday. Think the conductors must know I am a missionary."

Rev. Joseph May, Rev. Charles Allen, and Rev. F. L. Hosmer sent Miss Ellis many of their printed sermons for distribution, which did good service. Rev. William C. Gannett early saw the possibilities of this work, and has done much to systematize and further it in many ways. He christened it the "Post Office Mission," and, seeing the need of more fresh material for distribution, devised and edited the "Church Door Pulpit" series of sermons, and has also been the chief promoter of the "Unity Mission" series of tracts. The following extracts are from Miss Ellis's letters to him.

September 12, 1882.

Received to-day, from ——, your letter of September 5, asking about our "Missionary Work by Letter." ... I will very gladly afford you my assistance in that respect. However, I am rather more conservative than yourself,—rather of the E. S. Gannett type,—still have visited Omaha, where I have had brothers settled, and know some little of the style of religion which is requisite in the Northwest.... Will give you a list of the tracts I have used most profitably. Most people state, when they ask for literature, "Want something that teaches the doctrines of the Unitarian Church." Thereupon I have forwarded, from time to time, "Unitarian Doctrines and Principles" (Brigham); "Word of God" and "The Rising Star of the Liberal Faith" (W. P. Tilden); "New Hampshire Statement of Belief;" "Unitarian Belief in Bible Language;" "Why Am I a Unitarian?" "Inspiration of New Testament," "Revivals" (Clarke); "Our Common Christianity" (A. P. Stanley); "Mission of Unitarianism" (Heber Newton); "Spiritual Christianity." (Starr King); and "What Do Unitarians Believe?" (C. W. Wendte).... The serial sermons of Chadwick, Clarke, Hale, and Savage always gladly received.... But do not be afraid of a little doctrine, Mr. Gannett, for there are some people in Orthodox churches who are hungering and thirsting for just our doctrines. They cannot do without doctrine just yet, but want something better than they have known, and think it a great blessing to find it. I try my congregation to see what each requires, and lead them on and up. My church is composed of a very mixed set.... I am deeply interested in this work, and know we have done much good.... We keep books to loan, and also recommend books from time to time, and ask our correspondents to subscribe to the periodicals.... Dr. Dewey's sermons on "Human Nature" and "Human Life," and his "Two Great Commandments" benefit some people very much.

March 11, 1883.

I never omit the "Pulpit" column [of the Register], and read "Wrestling and Blessing" with much interest.... I set each difficulty down as just suited for some one, or two, or three of my correspondents. Of course, I don't apply sermons to myself any more. It is a beautiful sermon; and this brings me to the point we are all so interested in,—the wider circulation of the fresh thoughts of all the pulpits. I surely think, with you, that it will help the work to "give it name." Am glad you are stirring them all up. I do not, as you say, feel the need of it so much, but occasionally do.... A new case in Tennessee, who never knew anything of the Liberal Church, till we sent him papers. Is much pleased, and wants to read till he knows still more about us. He writes, "Not one per cent of the people here know there is such a church. Tell me, do the majority of Unitarian ministers believe in the resurrection of Jesus; that he healed the leper, cast out devils, and raised Lazarus? I ask for information, and hope you will reply at some future time." He is evidently in a benighted region. Says he has "heard nothing outside the Cumberland Presbyterian, Baptist, and Methodist Churches, and am none of these;" and I presume is very little of anything yet, and is longing for a nobler life than he has known, or sees about him. The longer I go on, the more need I see of getting this work fully and well organized. It will be brought about ere long. Even reading over papers is beneficial. The publication of our hymns, the most inspiring, will do a great deal of good. In several cases I have copied them, and to good purpose.

Jan. 20, 1885, in answer to the question, what twenty names she would prefer in the "Church Door Pulpit" series the coming year, she wrote:—

"Revs. Grindall Reynolds, Rush R. Shippen, J. F. Clarke, E. E. Hale, Joseph May, Dr. William Furness, H. W. Bellows, T. Starr King, J. Ll. Jones, J. T. Sunderland, George Bachelor, William C. Gannett, F. L. Hosmer, David Utter, George A. Thayer, C. W. Wendte, S. J. Barrows, Albert Walkley, J. C. Learned, James Martineau. Am afraid I haven't left any room for those who do not bear the 'Unitarian' name, but feel that Unitarianism is so little known, that I would first make our own best writers known, and then branch out and take in others. All of the above names I should like to see in 'Church Door Pulpit' for 1885-1886.... I think generally people wish to become acquainted with the Unitarian pulpit. 'What do Unitarians preach?' is the cry. 'I want to hear a Unitarian;' 'those who have been educated in that denomination.'"

February 20, 1885.

Your article in "Unity," February 16, on "A Blessing on the Day," pleased me very much.... We haven't quite the right book yet, and with you I say, "about twelve verses from the Bible well knitted around some central thought," as we principally want to become acquainted with the Bible as the "Book of man." Think something more like "Daily Praise and Prayer," with different Scripture selections, perhaps, and omitting most of the prayers. I would only have a prayer to lead to a prayer of one's own,—that is, to inspire one to pray in their own words. Have often thought I should like to compile a book of "Daily Worship" from the Scriptures, our Hymn Books, "Daily Praise and Prayer," "Day unto Day," "Helps to Devout Living," and the "Responsive Service," and now, from "Daily Strength for Daily Needs," "Aspirations of the World," and "Spiritual Life" in the "Register," but principally Scripture selections.... "Daily Praise and Prayer" is doing much good in a very troublesome family of one of my correspondents. I remembered to have sent the lady "Wrestling and Blessing," and wrote a short time since to call her attention to the "Inherited Burden," asking if she still had the tract. This morning received a reply, in which she wrote, "Yes! I still have 'Wrestling and Blessing,' for it did me so much good when I first read it that I felt as if I could not part with it." Many, many homes need "A Blessing on the Day" to create the true feeling.

To Miss Holmes, of the Davenport, Iowa, Post Office Mission, Miss Ellis wrote:—

August 20, 1884.

... Yes, I do use the A. U. A. tracts freely, and more than any others, those marked on our list herein enclosed, and also "Word of God," "The Doctrine of Prayer," and "Wrestling and Blessing,"—the latter to those who need encouragement particularly. I find generally that people want to get at the first principles,—the A B C of Unitarianism. We do not use Higginson's "Sympathy of Religion" at all. Our aim is to make practical Unitarians, and let doctrines and theory gradually fall into the secondary place. Therefore I object to Mr. ——'s list of books, because they are more historical and theoretical. They do well where one wants to study religion; but where one wants a Christianity to live by, I think something that comes down to practical life, or that is more simple, better adapted to the generality of people. As knowledge of Unitarianism spreads, they will naturally seek deeper works. But at present, something as clear and concise as possible, with the "Christian Register," "Unity," and the "Dayspring," which further illustrate our principles, we find very popular. The difficulty is to get a large enough supply and variety enough. The A. U. A. tracts only answer as an explanation, and we must have the sermons, and papers, and books enough in addition. As I have been at the work for three years, it is hard work to find sufficient supplies for between thirty and forty every week, and these extending the papers and tracts elsewhere.

I cannot think, with Mr. Judy, that it is the best method to divide the work. It seems to me that causes confusion. It seems a much better way that the person who sends the tracts and papers should distribute the books too, as being better able to advise the books to read; for he or she learns the "bent of mind" of the seeker. So many different persons at work causes confusion and mistakes. I mail papers, tracts, etc., attend to all the correspondence, to loaning and mailing the books, to all printed matter received, to all the advertising orders of every kind, to money received and expended,—consulting the President frequently, and the details are brought up before our monthly meetings. I do not believe the work can be so well done as by one person; but of course no one could devote so much time to it unless they have some compensation for it. I took up the work at first voluntarily, but soon found there was a great deal in it, and therefore wished to give it earnest attention, and the ladies felt me particularly fitted for it, and preferred to give me a small salary. It never is "irksome" to me, but a work of real love to me. I have always been a missionary,—distributing all the papers and tracts which contained anything of a practical nature or of a pure Christianity.

To Miss Holmes.

August 29, 1884.

Have just been re-reading "A Little Pilgrim." To tell you the plain truth, the ideas are beautiful, but I do not like prying into the next world. No one really knows anything concerning it. I am willing to rest where Jesus left us. He told us little of it, but enough for the "health of our souls." "In our Father's house are many mansions. I go to prepare a place for you;" and I believe when our friends leave us they go to another division of God's kingdom and "prepare a place for us," in that through their deaths we are naturally drawn heavenward, and our lives are different from ever before. I am not so much interested as to what the future world is. It is enough to me, to know that it is, and that I am doing the best I can while I am living here. The future world will be made plain to me when my time comes to go there; and if I have only lived rightly here, there will be nothing to fear.

I can trust in God. Still such books seem to be necessary to some persons, but I do not consider them healthy reading. When you have finished such a book the query comes, "Is it fact?" Who can say it is? I feel that my friends are in the hands of a loving Father as they were while on earth, and that he will still do for them what is best, and their spirit and affection remain with us to comfort and guide us. I never lose them. They are only "gone before."

Miss Ellis to Rev. A. A. Livermore.

June 2, 1880.

My dear Friend,—Many thanks for your kind letter of Mar. 29th, though I never saw the "P. S."—which, as usual with all postscripts, contained the best part of the letter—till a month afterwards, when in house-cleaning I was assorting letters received, I noticed the last page of your letter, which was like receiving a new letter, and came in very opportune; for we have had so much to depress us of late, that I was glad to have my attention called to Philippians, which contains so much that is cheering. There has been a good deal to occupy my time and thoughts since your very kind letter reached me; but I will not allow your college term to close without sending you my kind word, though I cannot be personally present at the Ohio Conference and Meadville exercises. May you have charming weather, and a satisfactory gathering, is my sincere wish. Rev. William H. Channing's visit here was highly appreciated by his old friends and the early members of the church, and we all particularly enjoyed the Communion. It was truly a communion with the departed, and very beautiful to us. I did not have the pleasure of meeting Mr. Channing excepting a few moments at Mrs. Ryland's, which I regretted exceedingly; but it was a disappointment I could not alter.

—— and wife moved to Mt. Auburn to-day, there to make a bright, beautiful home for themselves, which is as it should be; but we who are left at home feel rather sad. The last of my dear mother's five little children has gone from me, and it is not so easy to enter into their homes and have my brothers and sisters what they were to me in our own family circle. Still all is right and best as it is; and though clouds gather over our heads, the sunshine will at length make itself seen, for "all things work together for good." I am going to be gay and spend the summer with —— in Philadelphia; and as we have not met for eight years, we shall enjoy a quiet summer together.

October 1, 1884.

... Thanks for your kind sympathy for us in our sorrow. Thanks to you for the solid foundation you laid when our dear mother died, which has given me a firm faith in the hour of trial. I firmly believe that "all things work together for good," and that dear C——'s long sickness prepared her family, herself, and all of us for her death. There was much in her sickness and death that was beautiful and comforting. It was pleasant after so many days of suffering to see her at rest; and we feel it must have been a happy release to her too, for her face in death bore no trace of the pain she had endured, of which we were glad, for she looked so natural and sweetly that we could allow her two youngest children to look at "mamma asleep, to wake up an angel in heaven." C—— never wanted her children to have a horror of death, and her desire has been granted. They have no other idea than that the Good Father released their dear mother from pain and she is an angel in heaven. An Episcopalian minister officiated at the funeral, as C—— always preferred that service. He was a personal friend of hers and my brother E——'s. My brother's widow came from ——to attend the funeral, and she requested that I select a piece to be read in case they found no one to lead in a hymn. I selected your hymn,—"A holy air is breathing round." It was read in the middle of the service, very impressively, and was particularly comforting to N——'s widow and myself, as you had officiated at our mother's funeral and had baptized C—— and N——. (Do you remember the day you baptized me and my three brothers and C—— at the Masonic Hall?) The children scattered flowers over the graves; A——, ten years old, said on returning from the cemetery, "Papa, it was all beautiful, no dread or gloom about it. It was just as mamma would have had it." And so it was. The children will always feel the life hereafter a reality. "More homelike is the vast unknown," since their mamma is there. The piece "At noontide," in last week's "Register," applies to dear C——'s death as well as if written for her. It is beautiful. I want it in a leaflet to distribute, as I have opportunity frequently for just such words. Yes! I help on "Unity," the "Register," and "Our Best Words."... Hope I am making Christians, and not merely Liberals or merely Unitarians. Think we are gaining ground with many; but the literature must be distributed with great care, I feel with you.... We are glad to have the Thayers home again, and will probably begin to work earnestly next week.

January 4, 1885.

... Thanksgiving and Christmas were rather sad days to us this year, without our dear C——, who always did so much to make the days bright for all about her. Pa, mother, and myself dined both days with C——'s family. Christmas was made a happy day for the children by all our kind friends, and we could but feel their mother was looking upon them, with a bright and happy face, in gratitude to all those who had endeavored to make her dear ones so happy. I have been very busy this winter, for the correspondents still claim my time. Young —— still appears interested, and I hope he may be able to enter college this year, for he appears to feel his isolation there much. No sympathetic person about him nearer than Mr. Barnes of Montreal.... Unity Club flourishes, so does the Day Nursery and Women's Auxiliary Conference. The fair was a pleasant occasion, and now we are all feeling cheered in having Mrs. T—— better again. I always see A—— at the window as I pass there on my way to church. He is a lovely little boy. He looks as if he wanted to know "Miss Ellis;" but I doubt if he does, without his mother to call attention to her. Hope you all passed pleasant holidays at Meadville. I must close to write to Aunt ——, who always looks for a Sunday letter from me. [This was an aged blind aunt.]

Miss Ellis's first Post Office Mission correspondent was a young man in Ravenna, Ohio, Mr. Julius Woodruff. His first letter to her said:

"Thank you for your kindness in sending me the 'Christian Register.' I am much pleased with the paper, and may become a subscriber at no distant day. I received copies of Mr. Wendte's sermon, 'What do Unitarians Believe?' I have distributed them where I thought they would do the most good, and have reason to think that good was accomplished. Before long I will send to you for more books; and if I can help you in obtaining subscribers to the 'Register' I will gladly do so. I am not a member of any church, and stand almost alone in the church I attend [Methodist], in my views. Our people seem to be almost entirely divided into three classes; namely, the strictly Orthodox, the wholly indifferent or non-thinking class, and the ultra Liberal. I am in sympathy with neither; and I know of only a few, all young boys like myself, who occupy middle ground. I can almost fully indorse the views expressed by Rev. C. W. Wendte in the sermon to which I have referred; and believing his views to be right, I take pleasure in giving them as wide a circulation as I can. In many respects I admire Ingersoll; but I have no sympathy with the so-called 'Liberal League' with which he is connected, and which has an auxiliary league in this county.

"... If I understand the theory and purpose of your church, I shall be glad to render the cause any service in my power; and if I can be of any service as an auxiliary to your Missionary Society, I have only to be instructed in the ways thereof."

As such auxiliary he acted, distributing tracts, papers, etc., with a zeal that might well shame some life-long Unitarians. In later letters he wrote:—

"Outside of all churches there is quite a number of men, mostly young, intelligent men, who have cultivated an intense hatred of certain doctrines and religious observances, and who have gradually come to denounce and seek the overthrow of our whole religious system. These are banded together as an auxiliary to the 'Liberal League' of America. In addition to these are a number of young men, sons of Orthodox parents, who dissent from the religious views and peculiar creeds which have satisfied their elders, and yet have no definite faith of their own. I think that with these two classes, as well as with those who have so far been indifferent to the claim of religion, we have an excellent prospect of success in introducing our views and extending the influence of Liberal Christianity. I am very friendly to the Orthodox Church, recognizing the noble purpose that animates them all, and the invaluable services that they have rendered to mankind; and I have less desire to draw upon their strength than I have to see the Unitarian Church built up from material that has formerly been identified with no church organization. I was a Unitarian in theory long before I knew anything of the Unitarian Church.... As a rule, the young men of my acquaintance who are, either in theory or practice, liberal Christians, are of the most intelligent order, ambitious, progressive young men; and of them what may we not hope?"

He went into business in Leadville, Colorado, and from there wrote Miss Ellis (in 1881):—

"Sunday is almost entirely ignored in the business portion of the city, very few men closing their places of business. Every saloon and theatre is open on Sunday, and brass bands fill the air with their inspiring music. I attended the Methodist Episcopal Church Sabbath School last Sunday, and found quite a respectable crowd in attendance. I thoroughly enjoyed that afternoon; and when I saw rough-bearded, grimy, slouchy-looking men and boys from the mines and workshops taking part in the exercises of the school, I thanked God for the influence his church and school had had upon the largest, hardest mining-camp in the world.... If you have any more of the documents referred to, I wish you would send me a dozen or more, and a few of the pamphlets on 'What Do Unitarians Believe?' It seems to me this would be a most fruitful field in which to plant Unitarian ideas and principles. It seems to me no other church would be so popular here. Of the party of ten young men who board with me, I do not think that any one of them has been in a church three times since he came to Leadville. In most respects, all of them are fine young men; but Orthodox doctrines would never gain any ground with them, while Liberal ideas might win the field if the boys could be made to consider them."

Miss Ellis, and all the ladies, indeed, of the Cincinnati Auxiliary, were greatly interested in Leadville, and hoped to do a good work there, aided by our enthusiastic young friend; but the above was destined to be our last letter from him. In September, 1881, came a postal card from a hotel clerk, saying, "Mr. Woodruff wishes me to inform you that he has been unable to answer your letter on account of sickness, but will write you as soon as able." A few days later came intelligence of his death. Tributes to his character in the Ravenna newspapers, and his photograph sent Miss Ellis by his sister, only confirmed our opinion of this young man's noble character, and our sincere grief at his loss. Miss Ellis at once wrote to his mother this letter:—

October 17, 1881.

I shall be compelled to address the envelope containing this note to your daughter, not knowing your husband's name. I presume you are aware that Miss —— informed me of your son's death, and she, I presume, sent me so kindly the paper last week containing the obituary on him which I read with much interest, as it was such an opinion as I and all of us had formed of your son, Julius, from his interesting letters. I assure you that our love and sympathy are with you in the affliction, and would that we could soften the severe loss to you; but that alone the good Father in time can render less bitter. True resignation consists in enduring it as God's will.

The ladies of our Missionary Society wish me to tell you how much all were interested in Julius's letters, and how deeply they feel with you, and at my request send you a book of consolation, "Light on the Cloud," as an expression of our real interest in your son. It seemed to me that nothing could be so appropriate as the literature he so learned to love. "He being dead yet speaketh" (Heb. xi. 4); and such we deem would be his words to those who were so dear to him. The President of our society marked one piece,—"He giveth his beloved sleep," and I have marked passages through the book, particularly under the head "Death a Blessing," and the last poem in the book. If words can cheer you, it is our hope that this little gift may serve the purpose. At least may it be a testimonial to you of our deep interest in your dear boy.... Our ladies are to hold the first meeting this season a week from to-morrow, when the obituary notice of Julius R. Woodruff's death will be read, and listened to with interest. He was my first correspondent, and his letter from Colorado was particularly enjoyable. It grieves me to think it was the last.... Hoping to hear farther from you, dear friend, through your daughter or Miss——, and to have the pleasure of becoming personally acquainted with you at some future day, with a God's blessing on you one and all, far and near,

Yours in common sorrow, S. Ellis.

The correspondence was continued with Mr. Woodruff's sister as follows:—

November 11, 1881.

... Yes, you may call me your "friend," for I truly feel that I have lost a dear and true friend in your brother, and consequently feel interested in all of his family, and do not wonder that your mother and the whole family are heart-broken to be called to give him up. Am sincerely glad that you felt free to express all your feelings to me, for now I can sympathize more deeply with you. You are just the age I was when my first sorrow came upon me,—the death of my dear mother. As you say, I felt that I must keep up, to cheer my father, who has ever been a domestic man, and the loss of my mother was very hard for him to bear, and the five little children to be cared for, I the oldest daughter at home, and had been my mother's "right-hand man" in the care of the children. But all our sorrows and trials are good for us to bear, and we need the crosses as well as the joys of life to fit us for the life here and for that which is to come.

It was hard to be reconciled to the death of one so young and so good and true as Julius; but we must not be selfish, but think what is our loss is the gain of those taken, many times. He may, through his spiritual influence, still care for and lead you all nearer to God. These "dark hours of life" bring us to know ourselves better; they call out our sympathy for our fellow-men; and, what is more than all, they bring us nearer to God, and thus they are not a mere cross of agony; therefore let us not murmur at our affliction, but still believe that God is good, and will so make our trials serve us that they may become good to us.... We must trust God, who doeth all things for the best, and pray for strength and light to be given us. Our prayers may not always be answered as we ask, but they are answered in another way.

The whole of Whittier's "Angels of Grief" and a poem by Ellerton are copied in addition.

The correspondence was continued, occasionally, during Miss Ellis's life. Aug. 11, 1882, she wrote:—

"Young women, Miss——, have great influence over young men, and I hope you struggle to improve all those whom you know. Have you ever come across Frances Power Cobbe's 'Duties of Women'? It is a remarkably sensible book, and I feel as if every young girl ought to read it. I think you would do your young friends a service by owning it and passing it around among them. You can get it in paper for twenty-five cents. It is not a doctrinal work at all. She delivered the lectures in London, to women. Neither is it a Woman's Rights book altogether, but what any girl or young man, come to that, ought to do and practise. Are you going to resume school after vacation again, or what do you intend to turn your attention to?

"I have not been very strong since I was sick last August, therefore have not done much this year. I go into the city every two weeks on Saturday A.M., to be at the church to loan books to any one who desires them. Was there last Saturday, and two strange ladies came in who proved very pleasant; one a young girl. She came after 'Helps to Devout Living,' for a sister who has gone out to Nebraska for her health, and is miles away from any church and has no companionable people about her. This young sister also selected for herself 'Day unto Day,' as a book of daily study in an upward path. It is such pleasant work to have it within my power to loan and to recommend so many good books to those who have not read them. They always enjoy them. Julius would have been so happy in it out at Leadville."

Mr. Woodruff's sister wrote, Feb. 15, 1886:

"Some one very kindly sent us the obituary of our dear friend Miss Ellis. We were surprised and deeply grieved to hear of her death, as we did not know that her health was poor even. She said so little about herself, that we never thought of her as otherwise than well and strong.... I enjoyed Miss Ellis's letters so much, and we appreciated her kindness in writing to us after my dear brother's death. He thought so much of Miss Ellis, and I know if he had lived you would not have been disappointed in him. I cannot thank you sufficiently for the little book you sent mother after J——'s death. Truly it was a 'Light on the Cloud,' and it comforted mother more than I can tell you. It is so full of comforting words.

"Though Miss Ellis is gone from us, she has left behind the influence of a life so pure, so noble, and so grand, that we will all be the better for having known her. As my brother once wrote in a friend's album, 'God wisely wills that we may not know the number of our years, and in view of the uncertainty which enshrouds each to-morrow, let us so live that be our lives long or short, the little home-world that surrounds us will be the better for our having lived in it.' Can we not say that these two did not live in vain? My brother had a great influence over young people and also over some who were much older than he, and had he been spared, I feel sure that he would have done a grand work for the cause of Christianity. But their life work is ended only too soon; and why they should be taken when they were doing so much good, and others who are a burden to themselves and others are left, I suppose we shall know sometime; and until that time we must believe that 'He doeth all things well.'"

Miss Ellis's letters frequently express her joy in a young man who had become a Unitarian minister through her efforts. He was a Methodist minister in Ohio, but had grown unable longer to accept the creed of his church. Unhappy, unsettled, and adrift, not knowing where to turn for help, by the merest "chance" he picked up on a railroad car a Cincinnati paper, and his eye fell on the Women's Auxiliary Conference advertisement. He wrote Miss Ellis a postal card, saying:—

"I have seen your notice in the 'Commercial,' offering Unitarian papers and tracts free to persons who may desire to read them. I must confess to more ignorance in regard to Unitarian doctrines than is seemly in a minister of the gospel, and will be thankful indeed if you will kindly favor me with such papers and tracts as may enlighten me ever so little."

Later he wrote:—

"You have helped me not a little in my search for truth. Before I first wrote you for tracts, etc., I knew absolutely nothing of Unitarianism beyond the term, and the fact that Unitarians did not believe Christ to have been God."

Miss Ellis corresponded with him from that time on, loaning many books, etc. It was never her wish or aim to unsettle persons of a fixed faith. She sought rather to reach and help those who, by reading and thinking, had become dissatisfied with the only forms of religious faith known to them, and were consequently drifting into scepticism. Mr. ——'s own letters best tell the story. After Miss Ellis's death, he wrote Feb. 3,1886:

"I had long been wondering why I did not hear from her, but supposed that she found her time so engrossed with her chosen work that she must defer writing until some more convenient season. She had, it is true, hinted at her failing health, but I never dreamed it was so bad. My first intimation of the real state of affairs was the notice of her death. I need not say that I was startled, that I regret our common loss; these are but feeble expressions.

"Through all my life here at Cambridge I have been anticipating the day when, returning West, I should meet her, and in some degree thank her for the help and comfort she brought me in life. This has become such a fixed idea with me, that it is hard to believe, as I write this, that it can never be in this world. It seems very strange that the one friend who did me such a supreme kindness in life I shall never meet.

"She was the very messenger of God to me, and is inseparably associated with the most trying period of my life. The only conceptions of religion I had ever had were proving unreal and worthless, and no one offered anything as a substitute. As I look back, the peril of my situation seems much greater than it did at the time. I fear I should have become insincere, or, what is perhaps almost as bad, should have fallen into a sort of despairing scepticism. Heaven in mercy saved me from it; but I shall not forget that even Heaven might not have found a way to do this, had there been no Miss Ellis. It was but a little thing, a trifle, a brief notice in a daily paper, that in some way caught a careless reader's eye. But my whole life is changed in consequence.

"And so, while you miss her in her place and in your work, in your church and social life, I, too, here in New England miss her. I feel as if something is gone out of my life and I have really one less reason for returning West when my school work is done. But I have if possible an additional incentive to a good life. I trust I shall hear that your work is still going on successfully. I assure you I shall never lose interest in your Mission, and shall never cease to regard it as in some sense a home into which I was adopted. I sincerely hope I shall never do it any discredit."

In a letter to Mrs. Hunert, Miss Ellis's successor, he says:—

"Accept, please, my hearty congratulations, and my best wishes for your very abundant success. It is a great work indeed, one that cannot be easily over-estimated, and in which it seems to me you can accomplish a minister's work even, and a very successful minister's work at that. I wonder how large your congregation is now; that is, how many persons are in communication with you and your Mission.

"Of Miss Ellis I shall always think as one of my greatest earthly benefactors, and it will be a life-long regret that I never met her.... I wish you would say to Mrs. Smith that I have by me here in New England only the letters received from Miss Ellis since coming to Harvard, and these I fear contain nothing she would like to make use of. The really helpful letters, those that were of most vital interest to me, were written while I was a Methodist preacher in Ohio, and these are back there still, packed up among odds and ends, and practically might almost as well be in the moon.... Again accept my best wishes for your success in the new calling,—a divine one in the truest sense of the word. I assure you I shall always be glad to hear of the growth and success of your Mission, all the more, perhaps, because I hold to it a sort of filial relation. You know that in the Methodist Church each young convert or young minister speaks of the minister under whose preaching he was converted, as a spiritual father. So I think of myself now as the spiritual child of your Women's Missionary Society in Cincinnati. Would that Heaven might help me to be worthy of the home, and justify in some sense their loving-kindness and help in time of need."

A gentleman in Kentucky, long a correspondent of Miss Ellis, who had taken papers, bought many books, etc., through her, and who has recently died, wrote of her, Jan. 22, 1886:—

"Many souls will miss the modest, unassuming, faithful secretary, but her silent labors will be followed by a rich reward. Her memorial is in the hearts and minds of those who were led through her efforts to freedom, fellowship, and character, in religion."

This correspondent was a farmer's wife in Ohio, who, after Miss Ellis's death, wrote:—

"I have had much trouble in the last two years, and would have given up to utter despair many times, if it had not been for her kind letters and sermons. I made a confidential friend of her; so, knowing my situation, she knew what sermons would serve most to strengthen me, and sometimes she would come across sermons in papers that she would cut out and send me. I have them yet, and intend to paste them in a scrapbook. I thought of calling upon her father to see if he had a picture that he would allow me to have a copy from, so I am very glad her portrait will be in the book.... I learned to love Miss Ellis, and shall never forget her."

There was a little family of step-children living on a remote Ohio farm, in whom Miss Ellis took a warm personal interest, advising as to their religious training, sending them children's papers and books. "Miss Ellis" came to be regarded as a dear friend by these children who never saw her. March 16, 1885, she wrote to the mother:—

"Your letter was received a week since, but I have been sick three weeks with a very severe cough and cold. Have been up and about, but could not accomplish much of anything, and especially writing, and still had much of it to do.... Wanted to advise you about the Sunday-school lessons. Order the lessons of 'Home Life' from Chicago at present, and then next, if you can, 'Corner-Stones of Character;' but do not get the 'Old Testament Chart,' for I have some very good lessons on the Old Testament that you will like and can have immediately.... Am so sorry you have so much sadness to contend against. However, you must feel that all your sacrifices are known by the good Father in heaven; so to him turn in your hour of need. There is a hymn Mr. Thayer often selects for our opening on Sunday. We sang it last Sunday,—'Daily Consecration,' by Caroline Mason.

"Let your first thoughts be turned to God in the morning, and in the day's struggles believe that you are in his presence; and even if your earthly life is not such as you may wish, you may rest assured that your tears are counted above.... My own life is much brighter than it was. My brother —— has an only child, three and a half years old, who is very cunning, and much company for us all. On Friday I passed my semi-centennial birthday, which a number of my friends kindly remembered.... I was not strong enough to enjoy the occasion fully; but still on the whole it was a bright day to me, and on Sunday I was glad Mr. Thayer selected the beautiful hymn, 'Daily Consecration.' I am too weak to write longer.... May God bless and strengthen you for your daily toils."

On the envelopes of all these letters was written, "From my friend Miss Ellis." To the oldest child, who was difficult to influence, Miss Ellis addressed this letter:—

My dear M——: I wonder if you ever had any one write a letter to you, and whether you can read a letter yourself. If not, your mamma will read it to you. She has told me that you are having a little Sunday-school of your own at home, and I feel quite interested in it, and am going to have two of the lessons sent to your mamma from Chicago, hoping you three children will feel interested in them. One is a very simple thing to learn,—"Rules to make Home Pleasant;" and I hope you will all try to learn them, and try to keep them in your daily life.... If children do not learn to keep such rules, they never can have happy homes, for they will grow up into ill-natured, lazy men and women. The other lesson is called "Corner-Stones of Character," because it gives us true ideas of what all children should learn in order to grow up into good, truthful men and women.... Now I know you are studying together Brown's "Life of Jesus," and these lessons I am to send you will help you to understand better what Jesus did to make himself, with God's help, become so good a man. I know, too, that you, M——, have a copy of "Daily Praise and Prayer," which is a very good book. It is pleasant to me as I read in mine to think that Mrs. —— and M—— are reading their lesson to-day, and I wonder if they are thinking how beautiful it is, and that "Miss Ellis" and many others are reading and asking God for the same goodness to-day. It is so pleasant,—do you not think so?—to feel that our good Father in heaven and all good, kind people are thinking of us each day. It helps us to be good, to know that others are trying in the same way,—do you not think so? You are the oldest of the three children, and I want to hear from you, that by studying our Sunday-school lessons, and reading in sensible books, and playing with well-behaved children, you are all becoming wiser and better, and helping mamma and each other. I will also send you some verses all the children in our Sunday-school learned one winter.... There are many things I could talk to you about, but I must leave the rest till another day. It will be sufficient for you to know that some one on earth feels interested in your life at home, with a kind mother to lead you so well.... I will say good-by now, and hope you will learn to write to me. With love to all of you, very kindly your friend.

Miss Ellis corresponded frequently with a young man in Canada (living in a city where, so far as known, he is the only Unitarian), beginning in 1882, and loaning him many books. He, too, was in a state of religious doubt and despair, when chance threw the little advertisement in his way. He intends to enter the Unitarian ministry, as is shown by the following extracts from the correspondence. Miss Ellis wrote him Oct. 21, 1882:—

Monday afternoon I mailed "Religion in Evolution" to you, and I have imagined you eagerly poring over the book this week in high ecstasies.... To me James F. Clarke's views and Dr. Furness's seem more just and reliable. But Dr. Clarke says, "What commends itself best to our reason, must be the truth;" therefore Mr. Savage may benefit you more. If he rouses you to a deep faith and makes you truly Christian, that is the point to be gained. Should like to have you compare James F. Clarke with Mr. Savage, on the Humanity of Jesus and the Miracles and the Resurrection, particularly. "Bible for Learners," Vol. III., takes the same view, about, of the Miracles and Resurrection,—"myths and legends," "not an external fact of history, but simply a form of belief assumed by the faith of his friends and earliest disciples." James F. Clarke, in "Truths and Errors of Orthodoxy," in the chapter Miracles, says, "The resurrection may have been an example of a universal law." Dr. Furness says: "Till men know all the laws of God it is rather presumptuous in them to set the resurrection aside as an impossibility." These are not his exact words; but the purport I have quoted from memory. To return to Dr. Clarke.... [Then follows a long extract from Clarke, which is omitted here.] Dr. Clarke's view is the most likely and rational to me; but all the more radical men take the view of the German critics, and look upon it rather as "myths and legends" arising from a simple faith of the disciples. The only way is to read for yourself and compare, forming an opinion of your own, while remembering that Christianity does not rest on a certain belief, but on the life. "What doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with thy God," are the words of the prophet Micah. James F. Clarke believes firmly in the simple, pure humanity of Jesus, best shown in "Steps of Belief," under the "Historical Christ." I have "Steps of Belief," "Truths and Errors of Orthodoxy," also "Bible for Learners" and "Talks about Jesus" (M. J. Savage), to loan you. You have only to say which you wish first.... I am tired, and must rise early to be in the city in time for Sunday-school, so I will tear off the paper here, or I shall go on writing all night. Have more good sermons to send you. Wish you could go to Boston, join the Young Men's Christian Union (Unitarian), and be helped into what God means you and all to be, by putting our faculties to the highest use we are capable of. Hoping to hear further from you,

Truly your friend, Sarah Ellis.

Sunday Evening. Our sermon to-day was on the "Effects of Modern Scientific Thought upon the Essentials of Religion." If it is published, will send you a copy of it.... I think the hymn will meet your views, therefore copy it. Do you know it?

The hymn referred to is the one, "God Ever Near," by T. H. Gill, beginning:—

Miss Ellis copies it in full. In 1883 the young man wrote Miss Ellis:—

"A year ago I was in the dreariest stage of agnosticism. I was in despair at times, and sometimes my very soul seemed to be in agony. Through reading scientific literature I had been convinced that most of the religious teaching I had learned was false. The flippancy and shallowness of Ingersoll and his school disgusted me. I could not find rest in materialism; I considered it as far astray from the truth as Orthodoxy. I was nineteen years old, and found myself facing the most tremendous problems of existence. I tried to tell myself to wait for maturer years to solve them, and to a great extent that satisfied me. But I still yearned for something,—simply this: 'My soul cried out for the living God!' Alas! I could not find him. I looked around me for a little sympathy or a kind word even, but I looked in vain. Every Sunday I heard denunciations of such views as mine. I heard a great deal of 'blatant atheists,' 'infidel scientists,' etc., but no sympathy for a despairing agnostic,—only scorn and ridicule. It pained me intensely to be misunderstood by even those dearest to me on earth, but I determined to stand firm for what I took to be the truth. Oh for some men to preach a little charity for the views of others, and to consider a man as not being necessarily worse than a criminal because he cannot accept their own views! I owe you a large debt of gratitude for being the means of lifting me out of a state of misery and despair, in which I had no pleasure in life, into a state of cheerfulness, happiness, hope, and peace; not intellectual peace,—for I do not expect that,—but real 'soul peace,' a calm trust and a real faith in a living God. I have been surprised to see how largely Unitarian theology is based on science. I owe it to science that my life is something more than daily drudgery. The foundation of my scepticism was laid when I learned the rudiments of natural philosophy in school. I was astonished at what I read of Nature's wonders. Since leaving school I have been an ardent reader of all kinds of scientific literature. By means of the Mechanics' Institute I have the use of all the magazines, reviews, etc., besides a splendid library. I have read a great deal that I did not understand,—books which are beyond my years; but I have a good idea of what is occupying the minds of the world's thinkers in this nineteenth century. One of the best lessons I have learned from the literature you have sent me is faith,—a very different kind of faith from the mere credulity I once knew by that name. At times I am dazed and confounded when I think of the great mysteries surrounding us, especially of the mysteries of death; but I feel that a good God is over all, and the main thing is to do right, and all will be well. I cannot express how much I owe you for the great good you have done me. You have my heartfelt thanks."

In another letter he wrote:—

"To say that I am delighted with 'The Religion of Evolution' is but a poor way of expressing myself. You could not have sent me a more timely book. I would like to get all of Mr. Savage's books. You 'wish I could go to Boston,' etc. Ah! you do not know how I sometimes yearn for some such thing myself. I find my great pleasure and recreation in intellectual pursuits; and of course I have not nearly so great advantages in a small city as I would have in a large one. But for meditation and communion with the Infinite, communion with Nature and the incomprehensible God, I must have solitude. It was a favorite dream of my childhood that I would be a minister. But I have to work in another way. My father died when I was six years of age, and my mother therefore had a struggle to give us an education,—that inestimable blessing of a common-school education. I feel that the highest work for me is to support her to the best of my ability.... I value highly the sermons you send me. Most of our churches here offer one 'dry bones' instead of the living truth. Do you know of any low-priced publication which would give me a fair sketch of Theodore Parker's life and thought? I would like to know something of him. I am greatly pleased with the 'Register.' Mr. Savage's sermons are also a feast to me. The sermons of J. F. Clarke you sent me in June have a ring about them and a spirit in them that I find in few others."

Miss Ellis wrote him, Dec. 29, 1883:—

Am glad to hear you have gained something in the past year. Do not be discouraged if you are not perfection at once. It takes years of struggle to become so. Read the lessons on "Patience," in "Day unto Day," particularly "Jan. 9—Parsons." You are quite young, remember, and there are many years for you to improve in, "and room for improvement," as people always say.... I will not allow your want of time to keep me from writing you. It is my own lack of time, and troublesome eyes. Have been very busy this winter. Have a gentleman in Alabama who is becoming much interested in Unitarian theology, and also one in Kentucky. It keeps my mind at work to send just the right thing to each one. My eyes are troubling me much this evening. Must close, to make some last preparations for Sunday, as I have to start early in the morning to be in time, and must also write a postal to a young nephew in Philadelphia, who is very fond of me and remembered me Christmas and always. Wishing you a bright, happy, and successful New Year, in which all the ladies join me, with kind regards to your mother,

Truly your friend, S. Ellis.

April 15, 1883.

I must answer your question, "Why no denunciation of sin (by Unitarians)?" In the New Hampshire "Statement of Belief" I first sent you, if you still have it, you will find: "(4) In Human Nature, as not ruined, but incomplete. Man is not fallen from a primitive state of holiness, but is imperfectly developed. Being imperfect, he is liable to sin.... The essence of sin is the failure of the higher nature of man to rule his lower nature. Human nature is made sacred by the indwelling presence of God. Humanity is not tending downward, but is divinely guided from lower to higher forms of moral and spiritual life."

Starting from such a high ideal of man's nature,—that he is created in the "image of God," and as found in the first chapter of Genesis, I think, and in Psalms viii.: "Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with honor and glory,"—we feel him capable of so much, that our ministers are too busy talking concerning being and doing good to have any time left for denunciation of sin. Our great concern is to raise man in every way. Teach him to be cheerful, looking forward all the time, moving onward and upward, and to find no opportunity to spend in vain regrets,—only looking at his sins long enough to learn lessons from the past, that he may avoid them in the future. Our sins leave a deep stain that will affect us during our lifetime, but the only way to overcome them is to be so engaged in right doing that we rise above them. Now, do you not think this a far higher way of converting men than by dwelling on their weaknesses? Give the world something higher to do all the time, and they will naturally rise to that level. We start from a higher standpoint than the Orthodox, therefore our methods are very different. We denounce sin by avoiding it whenever we come in contact with it, or evil of any kind, and there is no more effectual way of overcoming it. Do you not see why it is we have ceased to speak of it in sermons? We are too busy with the good, the true, the beautiful, to pay attention to the wickedness. Dr. Dewey wrote some stirring sermons, on "Human Nature." The topic of one is, "On the Wrong which Sin does to Human Nature;"—text from Prov. viii. 36: "He that sinneth against me, wrongeth his own soul." That was the former way of dealing with and denouncing sin; but the later way is, to take care always to place the better in people's way, and the sins will fall behind. Think you not so?

January 6, 1883.

... We sometimes strain at words when in reality we agree with others. If we would only remember to strive to discover wherein we agree, and not always be looking for divergence of opinion, there would be more of practical piety in the world. Let us open our eyes to the fact that all denominations endeavor to make men better, though they differ in methods; and see to it that we ourselves are true to the highest and best as far as we know it, and the kingdom of God will be hastened in everywhere. Do right for its own sake, and not from fear or hope of punishment or reward. Let me give you a hymn we sang after the sermon last Sunday. The subject was, "This life: why we are in it, and what we have a right to expect of it." The hymn is one of Rev. Samuel Longfellow's, "Life's Mission:"—

[The whole hymn is copied] ... Methinks if one lives up to such a mission he will be none the less Christian than if he can accept the dogmas of churches.

He had consulted her about the propriety of his contributing to the support of the Methodist church when he no longer accepted its doctrines. She wrote in reply, Oct. 6, 1884:—

... "There are two precepts which come to my mind when I am perplexed as to what to do, which I will mention: 'What doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?' (Micah vi. 8). The other: 'If ye have not the spirit of Christ, ye are none of his,'— from the epistles, but can't recall it just now. If you conclude to contribute to the Methodist church, you could tell Mr. B—— what your intention had been, and how I reasoned upon the subject. However, act just as you come to the conclusion. The thing is to do as you believe to be just. I should think the church I attended had the first claim upon me. 'Duty before pleasure' is true in any church. Am glad you think so well of Unitarianism, and hope you may be able to work heartily with us some day. Only be patient."

June 7, 1884.

You speak of the "loneliness" of the position you are taking, and I felt glad to find you so firm in the step you are taking.... It will be a position full of self-denial many times, but on the other hand will bring its own rich rewards, known only to the true minister of God. To encourage you in the many hours of discouragement, I advise Dr. Furness's sermon on the "Solitude of Christ," in "Register" of May 8,1884, I think, which I believe has been sent you, but if not, will hunt it up and send it to you; and besides that, the words of Jesus: "He that hath put his hand to the plough and looketh back, is not worthy of me;" therefore have firmly fixed in your mind the glorious hymn by Rev. Samuel Johnson, "The Conflict of Life."

The whole five verses of this hymn are then copied, followed by the whole of Watts's

and Doddridge's

Miss Ellis saying, at the end, "I have copied these, for they have more weight when written by those we know."

July 5, 1884.

... I will permit you to "unburden yourself" with as many pages as you see fit, at any time you feel disposed to do so, and promise not to be "bored." I, in my deafness, understand what it is to feel so utterly alone, though surrounded by dear, old, and tried friends. This lack of one congenial person or thing no one can appreciate but those who have experienced.... Remember, opinions separate us, but kindly deeds and affection draw us close to one another; and so pursue your studies patiently, striving to make yourself the kind of man you think one ought to be, and in attending church do it in the spirit of Jesus,—with the feeling of worshipping God, and cast aside all other feeling, knowing that those around you are doing what they feel to be best. Leave it to the Good Father to judge them, and in time to help them to see differently. We are judged by living up to the highest and best we know, and if others have not been so far enlightened as we, or have not been moved by the Spirit to seek higher light and truth, we must work in patience and leave them in the hands of God.... Only be true to your own convictions, and you will lead them by example rather than precept, unconsciously to them. Work on patiently, and God's promises will not fail you. It is a slow process to overcome one's many failures; but we shall come out conquerors at the last if we only will, and are earnest in our endeavors.... After two weeks our churches will close for the summer, but my congregation will still be ministered to. I go to the church during vacation every two weeks to lend books to any who desire them.

November 16, 1884.

I feel for you greatly in your isolation; but comfort yourself in the thought that the generality of Unitarian ministers are cut off from all companionship with ministers of other denominations where they are settled, and are seldom permitted to enter into charities, where they are, with other ministers. It has been the case ever since the days of Jesus, that those who really hold his views are separated from others in the community. But as you say, and many more say, "if we have God alone, that is enough." I cannot consider myself a "theist" entirely, but might call myself a "Christian theist." I have come to know God as manifested through Jesus, but have as much respect for those who do as Jesus did, and who have as firm a trust in the Father as Jesus had. Think that is what Jesus taught, and labored to have no man worship him. "There is none good but One," he said; "why callest thou me good?" Though I value Jesus, I do not worship him, or feel that he is my support in life. I only look to him in difficulties and trials to show me the way to the Father. I ask to worship and to live in his spirit and so gain strength from the Father wherewith to do. You and others look more to men of later date, who have learned from others nearer to them; but if we trace it all back to the beginning, we will find it is Jesus' spirit working through them. So one and all, whoever they are, wherever found, who have the spirit of Christ, are the sons of God, whether they call themselves merely theists, or Christian theists, it seems to me. George Eliot was truly religious, though perhaps not a Christian in the common acceptation.

December 27, 1884.

I do not know as I "have ever realized the depths of absolute negations," but I have realized the depths of absolute solitude, and can sympathize with you in your loneliness, and "think it a good thing to keep the Eternal and Infinite always in view, and so love quiet, solitude, and meditation. They strengthen me to do my work in life." Do not despair, then, if you are despondent at times. Every one is, and it is good for us to some extent to be disgusted with ourselves; it makes us know ourselves. "The dark hours of life bring us nearer to our fellow-men, help us to know ourselves and bring us nearer to God." God has put these questionings into you for some wise purpose. Be true to your highest and best self, and work them out by degrees. But remember you are young yet, and there is time for you to solve all these mysteries in. Do not try to solve all the great questions of life at once. Be patient, and do not brood too much. Meditation and solitude are good, but try to mingle somewhat with those around you. See God in the world about you, as well as in the stars. I would like to dwell longer upon your letter, but perhaps I shall bring you out of doubt by giving you something to do. [She then proposes a bit of work for him to undertake.] ... Our doubts and mysteries are solved sometimes by setting to work on things we are pondering over.

He wrote Miss Ellis, Aug. 24, 1885:—

"A shadow has come across my way of late,—a great disappointment. I think I mentioned it to you before. A doctor, an acquaintance of mine, has often told me that I studied and read too much.... It is hard for me to realize this, but he insists on a year's rest from study. This will postpone my entrance to Meadville for two years, I fear. I confess to great disappointment over this. I will be past twenty-five when I get to Meadville; and yet there is another side. I have often questioned my fitness for this great work. I wish to be cautious. I do believe that I have a noble gospel to preach. 'To preach,'—but first to live it. And, in shame I confess it, I have not lived it. It will therefore be a good thing if in these two years I give myself to growth in manhood. But enough of this. These matters must be dealt with in the closet,—the soul's closet.... After my taste of Montreal fellowship I am sick with loneliness here. It is fearful, at times, this longing for one friend even, and finding none. But it must be borne without grumbling. And now I must stop. The doctor would object to even this light piece of writing. Thank you kindly for sending me the 'Register' and 'Unity.' It is very good of you to look after me so much. Be assured that your kindness is giving great encouragement to a lonely one who, amid much opposition and misunderstanding from his dearest ones, is making at least a little honest effort to be true to himself and God. I would that I were fully faithful; but it is not so. Still I think your seed will yet bear fruit, and spring up in a life devoted to the uplifting of mankind. My deepest prayer is for this. I trust your health will improve. Still more do I trust that you may continue to grow nearer God, and help others to do so, as you have helped me."

Miss Ellis replied, Aug. 30, 1885:—

"... I have neglected you of late, thinking you were soon to go to Meadville, and that you were busy. We are sorry to hear of your great disappointment. It is a disappointment to us as well, particularly to me. However, we need the reverses and crosses of life as much as the air we breathe, to strengthen our characters. You have pushed yourself so hard with business and studies the past two years, that you have not taken time to view the life around you in the right light. Let the next two years be given principally to building up your character individually and socially, and to improving your health, as one of the first requisites of a minister is a sound mind and a healthy body. Be social; take life cheerfully; make those about you better for your company; and mingle freely with your family and best friends, showing them you are practising Unitarianism. Yes; make these two coming years tell as a preparation for college in another way, and let them prove a blessing to you, though a disappointment at first. Did you read Rev. E. E. Hale's 'Methods,' in 'Register' a few weeks since? This week's 'Register' contains an excellent sermon by Rev. John Clifford on 'Spiritual Building.' Have a home worship of your own sometimes. During the vacation, every Sunday I have had a regular worship. For instance, to-day I read for sermon, 'Spiritual Building;' opening hymn, 'Come, Thou Almighty, help us to praise;' 'Scriptures Old and New' (a compilation by Mr. Forbush and Mr. Hosmer, from all religions, and an excellent thing to have), Lesson 27,—'The Kingdom within us;' prayer, followed by Scripture lesson, Galatians iii., from which is taken text; then Wesley's hymn, 'The whole armor of God;' sermon; closing hymn, Doddridge's 'Awake, my soul, stretch every nerve,' etc. Have been interested during the vacation in looking over Gannett's 'Childhood of Jesus' and Carpenter's 'Palestine when Jesus lived.' Also bought 'Selections from the Apocrypha,' compiled by Mrs. Tileston, who compiled 'Daily Strength.' Readings from the Apocrypha are so common in Unitarian pulpits now, that it is well to be familiar with the best portions. Am not able to do much reading now. Am physically too weak. Never was able to use my brain to its full extent,—feeble and nervous all my life, but active otherwise."

Miss Ellis's last letter to him was written but little more than a month before her death, when in the utmost weakness herself; but to this she makes no allusion. It was a letter of consolation in bereavement, from which this is an extract:—

November 18, 1885.

... The only way to reconcile ourselves to our sorrows is to think of those who are worse off than ourselves. It makes us less inclined to murmur in our own sadness. It is good for us to bear the cross. If things were always as we would have them, many virtues would never be developed. There are so many comforting pieces in "Sunshine in the Soul." Some I marked for a former correspondent. Mr. Thayer read for his Scripture lesson last Sunday, Job. iv. 5; and v. 6-11; 17 to end. I have no doubt your sister knows many comforting passages; but the real comfort is found in keeping ourselves busy for others, while at the same time we lean and trust in God to give us peace of soul. We find it in time as we go on patiently doing the duty just before us, and loving the blessings which remain to us.

One of Miss Ellis's last thoughts was for this correspondent. When hardly able to speak, she requested a special "Register" sent to him. It was sent, and a postal card informing him of her condition. He replied:—

December 25, 1885.

Your card came to me this morning. I am shocked at its sad message. I was not in the least prepared for it. It seems to hold out no hope. Though I have never seen Miss Ellis, she has been to me for over three years a close friend. And now I must lose her friendship, and her kind encouraging letters! But I am not intending to complain of loss, but rather to be thankful for the help I have received from her. I shall now have another motive to work on, to be more faithful in life. That motive shall be the memory of Miss Ellis's self-sacrificing life. I have a large package of her letters which will be more valued now than ever before. I do trust her work will go on; it ought to certainly. If I can help I will gladly do so.

Later, he wrote in reply to a letter announcing her death:—

January 1, 1886.

I was very glad to hear a little of our dear friend who spends this happy New Year's Day freed from all ills of the body. I can hardly realize that she is gone. She never gave me a hint that she was seriously ill, but always spoke cheerfully. It is such a short time ago that I wrote to her as usual, not having the remotest thought that she would never answer my letter. Her last letters to me are dated Nov. 6 and 18, and, singularly enough, are almost entirely taken up with remarks upon death and affliction. Not a word of herself, however....

Miss Ellis wrote me two letters full of kindness and sympathy, and sending cheering words to my sister; for she wrote, "Though I don't know her, I feel deeply for her." It really is hardly possible to estimate the influence, both direct and indirect, which Miss Ellis has had upon my life. It is a very long story, this of my inquiries in religious matters. I have always looked forward to the day when I should see our friend and speak to her of it, and make some expression of my gratitude to her. But it is not to be,—not in this life, at least. Hereafter her letters shall be a source of constant encouragement to me. I have them all, and glad I am of it, for through them she will yet speak to me. I often wished to have a photograph of her, and I am very sorry now that I too long hesitated to take the first step in making a mutual exchange. Often when weary through the day's work I have been cheered by her kind letters. But this is only one limited instance of her influence. For years I went to my daily work sad and heavy of heart because life was aimless, almost dead. By the printed page Miss Ellis showed me God,—God living, working, right here now, daily surrounding me and all men. And lo! life has an aim, is full of beauty and goodness and joy.... All this I owe to her.

In response to a request for letters, he wrote:

February 14, 1886.

In your card you speak of a book. I hope the pamphlet will grow into a book. I was delighted to hear that it will contain a portrait, for that will be just what I wish for. The letters I sent, I had to just pick out hurriedly, as I had very little time. If I had had more time, I might have made a better selection. I will vouch for their quality, however. I have post cards innumerable from her. Then again, once, when I was having a sore mental struggle over the philosophy of prayer, in answer to my inquiries Miss Ellis wrote out for me the greater part of Mr. Chadwick's sermon on "Prayer," in his "Faith of Reason." This I mention as one out of many instances of such work. She never tired of trying to aid me. I sent you the last letter I received from her, never having a thought, at the time I received it, of its being the last one. Perhaps Miss Ellis is aware of all this afterglow, as you so well call it. I hope so. I believe so. How it must gratify her to know what she accomplished!

In looking over these letters I am very forcibly reminded of the last few years.... As you may suppose, Miss Ellis is much in my thoughts. I looked forward to meeting her some day, and making grateful acknowledgment of her influence for good on me. I would not hide from you that I often regret that it is not to be so. But every other thought is swallowed up in gratitude for her life and for our meeting together.

The following is Miss Ellis's first letter from a farmer's wife a dozen miles out of Cincinnati, who has this winter become a member of the Women's Auxiliary Conference, and wishes, with her daughter, to join the church:—

"I have frequently seen the item in the Sunday's paper offering Unitarian reading to those who wish it, and have as often determined to avail myself of the opportunity, but have so far neglected it. I will say that I have been for a long time somewhat of a Unitarian, without being sufficiently informed in the belief openly to declare myself one. I would ask you to teach me from the beginning the doctrines, so that I can understand and feel a safety in embracing them. I have a daughter who will avail herself with me of your kind offer. You are to be our teacher in the matter of selecting the reading, and I will gladly pay postage on all books sent."

As such teacher Miss Ellis acted ever after. She wrote in reply, Jan. 1, 1884:—

Was very glad to receive your letter to-day, and hope I may prove a successful "teacher." Have always been a Unitarian, as my father was among the first subscribers to the church, when it was established in 1830.... Have sent you by this same mail three tracts pertaining to our doctrines. Shall be glad to give you and your daughter a weekly Sunday-school lesson for several weeks. Began with statements of doctrine and Channing's famous Discourse. On the list sent have numbered other tracts in the order in which I shall send them,—leading you from Channing to Brigham and J. F. Clarke, showing an advance in thought up to Mr. Wendte's tract, "What Do Unitarians Believe?" which represents Unitarianism as held by the young men of the present time; and after you read these tracts, if you wish more doctrine, will mention some books we can loan you by mail. With the tracts will also send the "Christian Register," where you will see our principles carried out. It is a very interesting, able paper. Perhaps after you have examined a few copies you may like to become a subscriber to it. I usually spend Mondays mailing papers to our correspondents, though they do not all get off till about Wednesday. They will be in time for a Sunday lesson, however, and I hope you may find some neighbors to join you in your study. Hoping this is a beginning of another good work for us, and to hear from you further,

Respectfully yours, Sarah Ellis.

January 26, 1884.

This leads me to your question, "What do you do with the Immaculate Conception? Why was that way employed to compel people to accept the divinity of Christ?" Ask as many questions as you please, and I will answer them in letter, or send some sermon or tract to throw light on the subject to you. Monday, will mail to you "The Incarnation," by Rev. J. W. Chadwick, wherein you will see that many of the doctrines of the early times were invented by the men of the day to suit some purpose of their own. Will shortly send you a lesson paper by Rev. William C. Gannett, of St. Paul, Minn., on "The Christmas Story and the Christmas Fact." These stories or "legends" concerning Jesus were written some time after his death. "Bible for Learners" says—[Here is copied a long extract.] I have said enough to let you know that we do not accept these "legends" as literal truth; and you will understand, from "The Incarnation," that Jesus was not miraculously born any more than we all are. Jesus never claimed it for himself, as you will find as you read what I send you from time to time. It was a doctrine created by the Church to suit later days. I was glad to have you speak freely of yourself, and hope that we may make religion, the Bible, and Jesus, natural, simple, true, and beautiful to you and your daughter,—something that you can take hold of and live out in your daily lives, and be thankful that you live. Hoping that you may have further questions to ask, and wish to borrow books on subjects of interest to you,

Very truly your friend, S. Ellis.

There is a book that will throw much light on your question concerning the early view of Christ, "Orthodoxy and Heresy," by Rev. E. H. Hall. We have it to loan.

March 13, 1884.

It is with pleasure I sit down to reply to your last letter, and it has only been from total inability that you have had to wait so long. I wanted to sit down immediately to send you a few sympathetic words, for your life must have been very similar to my own. The best comfort for us is, to say to ourselves, Are not many, many others carrying the same burdens, disappointments, and toils as we? How do they bear them, and where do they get their patience and strength from? Only from studying the words and lives of those who have had similar trials to bear; and no one bore the cross better than He to whom the whole world has looked as a guide. Therefore though you fall and fail often, be not in despair. All you need is some one to speak with you who sympathizes with you; and though they may not lighten your burden or change your circumstances, they will lighten your heart and make the whole world seem different to you, and full of work to be done, that will take your thoughts out from beyond your own home, and yet at the same time only make that all the more precious to you and just the place you ought to be in. Am not fond of the country myself. Have always lived in the city, and prefer to be surrounded by people and life rather than trees and quiet of the country; still, I love to visit in the country for a short time.... You ask how you can best prepare yourself to become a member of our church. I sent you the church programme, and Mr. Thayer says there, "Those who present themselves in an earnest spirit,"—an earnest spirit to do all the good you can, in every way, at home and to the world. It is character, and not belief, which makes the true Christian. And if our conscience is right before God, let man say what he will; if we are only sure ourselves we are doing our best according to our circumstances and our health; if our motives are pure and our conscience clear,—we shall feel a pleasure in joining in a Communion service, though one can be a member of our church if not a communicant. There are several books I wish to recommend to you. The first is a great help to inward strength, and is a gem of a book, "Day unto Day," which consists of a passage or two from the Scriptures, a selection from poetry, and one from writers, for every day in the year.... The whole book is full of selections which fit the needs of every day. I have two copies, and will loan you one copy with passages I have marked as read, and which has benefited several of my correspondents.... Another great help to a good life is Merriam's "Way of Life." "Theodore Parker's Prayers" I can loan you too. Since I wrote you, have had presented to our library Sunderland's "What is the Bible?" shorter than "Bible for Learners," and on the whole better to read first. I subscribed for the Sunday-school lessons on "The Life of Jesus," so any time you are welcome to it. You will understand from what I have written, that to strengthen the inner man is a good preparation for anything and anywhere; and you will find a great deal among our books, and in our papers, and in our religion, to help you and make life a blessing, though under unfavorable circumstances, and enable you to have the spirit and faith of Jesus, if not so much in Jesus, which the Orthodox make most emphatic.