Miss Ellis's Mission Part 5

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 Sat.u.r.day 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, a.s.sorting 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 a.s.sistance 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 G.o.d" and "The Rising Star of the Liberal Faith" (W. P. Tilden); "New Hamps.h.i.+re 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 c.u.mberland Presbyterian, Baptist, and Methodist Churches, and am none of these;" and I presume is very little of anything yet, and is longing for a n.o.bler 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. s.h.i.+ppen, 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 princ.i.p.ally 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 Wors.h.i.+p" 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 princ.i.p.ally 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 G.o.d," "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 ill.u.s.trate 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 G.o.d'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 G.o.d. 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 a.s.sorting 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 suns.h.i.+ne 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 grat.i.tude 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 pa.s.s 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 pa.s.sed 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 cla.s.ses; namely, the strictly Orthodox, the wholly indifferent or non-thinking cla.s.s, 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."