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
My health became very poor, and I went West thinking
it would be beneficial. I must say I succeeded, for I am not
compelled to stay now for my health, but business keeps me here....
My homestead is three miles from the town, and I go out quite often
and stay over Sunday. My house is a very small dug-out. I raised
about ten bushels of potatoes, some beans, and a few squashes; have
done work I never thought of doing,--that is, planting vegetables,
made my own bedstead, put a floor in the house, and lined it with
sacking. Some of my lady friends assisted me when they came to see
me, and gave me ideas about my new kind of work. Now last, but not
least, in regard to Miss Ellis. I wrote to her directly after
coming West, and told her I felt isolated from church attendance,
but was pleased to find so many people with whom I could converse
on Liberal thought. Since that time she had kindly furnished me
with reading matter which I have again sent on its errand of peace
and joy. I looked over a bundle of letters and can only find this
postal card from her.... This card I send you is one she sent me in
reference to Mr. Copeland. I wrote her for his address, which she
gave me, and I requested him to come to our town and speak to the
people here. He kindly consented to come, and spoke on 'Into the
Light.' The majority of the people that heard him were well
pleased, and he promised me that whenever he passed our town on his
way to or from Denver he would stop over and speak. Would like to
have the card returned, as I want it for a remembrance."
In her first letter written after Miss Ellis's death she said:--
"Imagine how I felt when I came to your letter, and read the sad
news of Miss Ellis's death. I feared the worst when I did not hear
from her, for a friend had written me of her decline; but Miss
Ellis herself never referred to her illness but once to me. She
certainly must have been a patient and uncomplaining invalid, and
I, with many others no doubt, feel as if I had lost a dear friend,
and would be pleased to receive one of the memorials as a
keepsake.... I can assure you that I do all I can towards building
up a religion that all could conscientiously embrace. ... All the
reading matter sent to me I distribute to the best of my ability,
and hope that as it goes on its mission good seed will be sown.
There are numbers of Liberal people here who do not belong to any
church; and then I find a number of Liberals belonging to Orthodox
churches. I will subscribe for Mr. Savage's sermons, for I like his
sermons best of all."
Miss Ellis numbered several physicians among her correspondents. One
living in Alabama writes:--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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