Miss Ellis's MissionSmith, Mary P. Wells (Mary Prudence Wells)
Religion
Miss Ellis's Mission
Smith, Mary P. Wells (Mary Prudence Wells)
Ellis, Sarah, 1835-1885; Home missions -- United States -- Unitarian Church
"I wish I could come and see you, but I cannot afford to go up and
down on the Trains. I have to send by someone, now Miss Ellis you
have been a sending me good Papers to read and now you must not
think I mean to beg but you sent me a New years Card it was a Rose
now I would not take anything for it I am as Foolish as Littel
Children is about Pictures the Rose I have is in my Album and if
you got any one by you to part With Will you send it to me for this
New year I feel more than thankful for the Papers you have sent
me.... Well I will close Write to me soon I am alone day and night
So goodbye from a Dear Friend to one I Love."
A young man in a State Normal School in Indiana long corresponded with
Miss Ellis. He has been an enthusiastic distributor of our literature,
and instrumental in procuring Unitarian preaching in his city. Extracts
from his letters are here given.
"The papers received are read by myself and others. There are few
here who know anything of what Unitarians believe."
A second letter says:--
"The matter sent to me is read by several persons. I think of one
young man now who asked me to send you his name. He said he would
like to read literature made by persons who are independent of
creeds. I gave him Wendte's 'Statement' and Chadwick's 'Art of
Life.'
"I am grateful to you for your kindness, and shall be glad to
receive what you may send. I read the sermons by Savage with
interest. They were the only ones of his I ever saw. I have given
and shall continue to give the matter sent me wider circulation.
[Mentioning a rebuff recently received, he continues:] This little
experience, while not pleasant, is valuable to me. I see that the
spirit of the Middle Ages is not entirely dead yet, and that one
better not be too hasty. My convictions are just as strong as
before."
Another letter says:--
"I know something of what it costs to break away from old
associations. I was brought up in the Baptist Church. All my family
were of that faith.... My relatives all look upon me as one lost to
all true belief, because I cannot see my way clear to go with them
in the traditions of the fathers. Still, I feel that to be true to
the light I have is better than to have the sanction of those who
are simply following what their creed teaches, asking no questions.
I do not care to argue with them, and so follow that life that
gives me the greatest comfort and satisfaction."
Feb. 11, 1886, he wrote Mrs. Hunert:--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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