If we can only make men feel their bodies are temples of the Holy
Spirit, which they have of God, and that they are not their own,
and that in sinning they disgrace this holy temple, it seems to me
that there would be less crime in the world. It is the divine in
their own souls they defile. There has been a tract of Unitarian
hymns published. I will send you a copy next week, hoping that some
of our beautiful hymns may cheer the poor benighted prisoners.... I
have had people say to me, "The Unitarian faith does very well to
live by daily; but when you are in trouble, or your friends die, if
you do not believe in the Trinity, what have you to comfort you?"
My reply is, "We have God, from whom Jesus received _his_ strength.
We have the faith _of_ Jesus, and not so much faith _in_ Jesus. We
can trust _God_ to help us in our hour of need; and if we have
sinned we know _He_ is ready and willing to pardon us. We know that
to live truly in this life will secure us happiness in the world to
come; and that while we are here there is time to repent and do
good, and we would not wish to feel that it was necessary for a
perfect being to die to spare us from our sins. We had rather
suffer on, if we have done the wrong, than see some one else suffer
for us."
On receiving the news of Mr. Beach's sudden death in July, 1885, Miss
Ellis wrote to his sister:
"... I was much shocked and very sorry to hear the news your
letter, which was received this morning, contained, but was much
obliged to you for speaking so plainly of your dear brother, for I
was much interested in him. Not only I, but _all_ of our little
Women's Auxiliary Conference, and also the ladies of the Auxiliary
Conference in Boston. He was a noble fellow, and doing much good
there in the Joliet prison. I hope to transfer my esteem and
respect for him to his family in remembrance of him. How little it
ever occurred to me, when I wrote the letter to him on the 20th,
that the dear fellow was safe in his heavenly home. I am sure he
deserved a high place with the dear ones above, in whatever faith
he died. He used to write us such good, interesting letters, both
here and to Boston. We were always glad to get them.... I never
have known to what church he and his family belong, but have
imagined the Presbyterian.... What church do you attend, and how
old was Andrew? I am old enough to be his mother, I suspect, and
looked upon him and some few other of my correspondents as 'my
boys,' as one of my converts styles himself. My hope was that
Andrew would study for the ministry some day.... I know what sorrow
is, but must say yours is one of the most trying ordeals to pass
through,--an only son, and such a noble one, to die among
strangers. My heart aches sorely for you, and I do not wonder it
seems like a 'dream' to you. We do not know and cannot tell why our
dear ones are taken. We can only trust in God's love to lighten the
burden for us after a time, and accept our present trial. The
spirit of the dear ones will help us to be kinder and more loving
to those who are left with us; and gradually a change comes over
us, and as days roll on we find our lives are very different from
what they were before,--purer and holier, and we have been drawn
nearer heaven and been with our dear one all the time. I will copy
a beautiful poem of Whittier's, 'The Angel of Patience,' at the
close of this letter. 'Our earthly loss is our heavenly gain.' ...
Bear as bravely as you can, and the good Father will send peace to
your souls as the years roll on. 'We must through much tribulation
enter the kingdom of heaven.' We shall be glad to send papers to
_you_ now. I think in the 'Register' you will find many things to
comfort you often; and from time to time I will select something
especial for you. Let me know, please, by postal, if you prefer not
to have them. Shall be very glad to hear from you any time."
This letter led to a correspondence continued until Miss Ellis's death,
and to the sending of much literature to the family. Further extracts
from this correspondence follow:--