"I have been greatly benefited by the papers, sermons, etc., you
have so kindly sent me. Hope to have them continued. Will try to
have some Unitarian volumes put in our public library. After
reading the papers I loan them out to others. Some sermons thus
pass into six or eight homes. They set people to thinking. I thank
you, and your good Society, for the broad Christian education you
are giving me. Will do all I can as your missionary here."
Rev. Samuel May, Leicester, Mass., having offered to send his "Register"
to some one, Miss Ellis arranged that it should go to the writer of the
above, who acknowledged it as follows:--
"Your postal received. I am very grateful for this kindness, and,
as I read the 'Register' this morning, I resolved to use it for
others also.... Can't your Association give the ball a push at this
place?"
The following extract is from the first letter of a new correspondent,
dated Dec. 8, 1885. To him was begun the last postal card, which she was
unable to finish. She was so eager about it, dictating faster than one
could write. "Tell him I think he will like us when he knows us better,"
she said.
"Your postal came all right, also copies of several tracts, and
specimens of 'Register' and 'Unity.' They are mainly in lines of
thought which I have been working on for some years. I am at one
with the authors in main points, but not prepared to accept all of
the so-called advanced or radical expressions. My own experience,
observation, and reflection seem to show that they have swung too
far from Orthodoxy, and the truth lies between; but I am not fit to
decide yet. From the pamphlet of selections of Channing's writings,
with which I am particularly pleased, I have derived some ideas
which inspire me for a greater activity, and I hope a more
effective activity, in my work of teaching.... I have a friend who
also feels dissatisfied with current Orthodoxy. If you see fit, I
wish you to send him some of those tracts. I wish to use my copies
here, or I would send them."
The estimation in which Miss Ellis was held by some of her
fellow-workers appears in the following extracts from letters and
papers.
At the conclusion of a letter, a part of which is given elsewhere, Rev.
A. A. Livermore, President of Meadville Theological School, says:--
"But though disinterested and devoted to family interests and
helpful to the growing households of her brothers and sisters, the
crowning interest that came to absorb and inspire her advanced
Christian life was the propagation of her own Unitarian faith,
early learned, later disciplined, and mellowed and sanctified by
trial and years. What had been a stay and staff to her own mind and
heart she was anxious to communicate to others. Hence she sought
the instrumentalities of the pen and press, and the Post Office
Mission sprang into being,--the invention of a Christian woman's
heart, bent on doing good spiritually. The zeal, fidelity,
sympathy, and adaptation with which she developed and pursued this
work have been told elsewhere. It is another lesson to teach us
that ever new means will arise, as time and opportunity serve, for
the faithful in heart and life to hasten the coming of the Master's
kingdom of righteousness and love. Miss Ellis infused a sweetness
and sympathy all her own into her mission. To her it was no task,
but a delight, as her letters show,--her meat and drink to help
struggling souls to light and Christian faith. Peace to her
beautiful and saintly memory!"
* * * * *
(From Rev. S. J. Barrows, editor "Christian Register.")