The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1885-02-15

who employed his abundant leisure in philo-
sophical speculations. and his brothsr.in- law.
Charles Honnell. was the author OF An In
Quiry Concerning the Origin Of Christianity."a
remarkable book which was translated into
German. Strauss contributing q preface to
the translation. There must have boon. as
Mr.. Cross suggests. 4 good deal OF unrocoenized
preparation beforehand. but It is certain that
the reading OF Mr.. Hennells book. In which
Miss Evans was presently absorbed. combined
with the fervent sympathy evinced by Mrs.
Bray and Miss Sarah Hennell in their brothers
critical and skeptical positions. signally
hastensd. II 1t did not determine. the revolu-
ton In George Ellot's attitude toward the dog
mas Of the Christian religion. A letter written
In November. 1841. nxes the date OF tho first
acknowledgment by herself that her opinions
were undergoing momentous change. My
whole soul has been engrossod." she writes to
an ardent professor Of evangelical beliefs. In
tho most interesting Of all inquiries for the
last Few days. and to what result my
thoughts may lead know not-possibly
to one that will startle you: but my only
desire 10 to know the truth my only fear
to cling to error" month later she had como
to look tho change souarely In tho face. and.
embracing her new opinions In tho same en-
thusiasm with which she had upheld the old.
her spirit revoltod against an eQuivocal posi-
ton. and she determined to give UP going to
church. This was. We learn. an unforgivable
offence In tho eyes OF hor father. who was q
Churchman OF the old school. and nearly led to
family rupture. He announced his intention
OF giving up his house and OF going to live with
his married daughter. and the alienation went
SO far that Miss Evans left Coventry to stay with
her brother at GriY where she re-
NAMED three weeks. But here, under tho i'm
pulse OF devoted Hlial affection. her
views OF the permissibility OF outward
conformity. and OF the right course to
be pursued under such distressing circunl-
stances underwent considerable notifications.
and she returned to her father. Whom she
never left again while he lived) and continued
to accompany him to church. In the last year
OF her life she told Mr.. Cross that few
things had occnsioned her more regret than
this temporary collision with her "a Their. which
might. she thought. have boon avoided with
little management" Her mature convlc-
tiohs regarding the measure OF respect which
may lawfully be shown toward the outward
forms Of religion by those who are unable to
subscribe to its dogmas. and her own ultimate
attitude toward Christianity. are 30 clear-
ly and forcibly set forth in a letter
to Mr.. Gross penned In 1873. that we
quote the relevant passages at length.
All the great religions Of the world. histori-
cally considered, are rightly the objects OF deep
reverence and sympathy-they are tho record
OF spiritual struggles which are the types OF
| our own. This Is to me presminenty true OF
Hebrewism and Christianity. on which my
own youth was nourished. And In this sense
have no antagonlsm toward any religious
belief but q strong outflow OF sympathy. Every
community. met to worship the highest Good
(which Is understood to be expressed by God),
orriaa aaia In x,,i,,
there were not reasons against my follow
ing such an inclination. should 60 to church
or chapel constantly for the sake Of the de-
lightful emotions Of fellowship which come
| over me in religious assembles-the very
nature OF such assemblies being tho recogni-
ton OF q binding belief or spiritual law which
is to lit US into willing obedience and save us
from the slavery OF unrogulated passion or i'm
pulse. And with regard to other people 1t
seems to me that those who have no definite
conviction. which constitutes protesting
faith. may often more bene0cially cherish tho
| good within them and DO better members OF
society. by q conformity based on the recog-
nized good in the public belief than by O nom
conformity which has nothing but mega
tives to utter. Not. OF course. II the con-
formty would DO accom- panied by q con scious-
ness Of hypocrisy. That Is a question for tho
individual conscience to settle. But there Is
enough to be said on the different points Of
view from which conformity may DO regarded
to hinder a ready judgment against those who
continue to conform. aftor ceasing to believe In
the ordinary sense. But with the utmost
largeness Of allowance for the din Guilty OF de-
Gliding In special cases. 1t must remain true
that the highest lot Is to have definite beliefs
about which you feel that necessity Is laid
upon you to declare them as something bet
ter which you are bound to try and give to
thoss who have the worse"
1t will be convenient to collate in this place
by anticipation some extracts from other letters
written In her later years. which will help US to
understand George Eliot's final view OF mans
relation to the universe and OF his duty to his
fellow beings Thus. in May. 1859. we find her
writing to Mrs. Stowe: Il believe that religion
has to be modified developed according to
the dominant phraso-and that religion more
perfect thun any yet prevalent must OK
press less care for personal consolation.
| and more deeply awning sense OF
responsibility to man. sprnging from
sympathy with that which OF all things is most
certainly known to us. the difficulty OF the hui
man lot. do not ind my temple In Pantheism,
which. whatever might be Its value specula-
lively. could not yield q practical religion since
1t is an attempt to look at the universe from
the outside OF our relations to It THAT universe)
I'D DoIuRS. he n6hltny, sane, human
beings. We must love and hate-love what Is
good for mankind. hate what is evil for man
kind" And under date Of December 1874.
she writes to Lady Ponsonby:" My books
have for their main bearing q conclusion
the opposite OF that In which your
studies seem to have painfully imprisoned
you-a conclusion without which could not
have cared to write any representation OF
human lifs-namely. that the fellowship be-
tween man and man which has been the prin-
cipls Of development. social and moral 10 not
dependent upon conceptions OF what Is not
man; and that the idea Of God. so far as 1t has
been high spiritual influence. Is tho ideal Of
goodness entirely human Il. e.. an exatation
OF the humanl Have you quite fairly repre-
sented Yourself In saying that you have ceased
to pity your suffering fellow men because you
can no longer think Of them As individ-
ualitles Of immortal duration In some
other state OF existence than this. OF which
you know the pains and the pleasures7 That