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

These letters enable US to follow and compre-
bend tho radical Transformation In George Eli
OTIS opinions with reference to religion which
took place In the period OF some twenty years
intervening between her school days and the
application OF her talents and requirements to
the work for which thoy were best fitted. The
last teachers from whom she received system
ATTIC tuition. the Misses Franklin. were. as we
have said. the daughters Of Baptist minister,
and she adopted" we are told. their re-
liGious views with intense oagsrness and con-
viction. although she never formally joined the
Baptists or any other communion than the
Church Of England" While at their school
che became q leader Of prayer meet
ings among the girls" With nature OF
such intensity as hers she could not
rest satisfied with a mere profession
OF faith. without trying to shape her own life.
and. It may be added. the lives around her.
In accordance with her convictions" To her.
throughout the interval between her de parture
from school and the new conceptions OF life
and duty opened to her By the Hennell family
" the pursuit OF pleasure was o snare. dress
was vanity. society was . danger" Her first
visit 10 London took place In 1888. but she was
then 80 much under the influence Of religious
and ascetc ideas that she would not 70 to any
OF the theatres with her brother. but spent all
her evenings alone reading. 1t ls a character
tic rsminiscence that the chief thing
she wanted to buy was Josephus's His
tory OF the Jews" A letter written at
this period is deeply charged with the
spirit OF Standardization and evangelical
unworldliness. For my part. whom I hear
OF the marrying and giving in marriage
that Ia constantly being transacted. can only
Sigh for those who arc multiplying earthly ties.
which. though powerful enough to detach their
liable to be snapped assunder at every breeze
must believe that those are happiest
who are not fermenting themselves by engag-
ing in projects for earthly bliss. who are con-
sldering this life merely q pilgrimage q scene
calling for diligence and watchfulness not for
repose and amusement" When. again, we
call to mind the small esteem In which she az
terward held Hannah More. and how doubtful
ly she regarded the spiritual worth OF the poet
YounR's reflections In her Westminster Repieto
article. Worldliness and Other Worldliness
1t is interesting to read the following extracts
from the same letter. Il have highly enjoyed
Hannah More's letters; the contemplation OF
80 blessed character a. hers Is very salutary.
Oh. that We could live only for etsr-
nitvl that We could realize its nearnessl l
know you do not love quotations. so will not
give you one: hut II you do not distinctly re-
member 1t. do turn to the passage In Youugs
lnadel Reclaimed beginning Oh. vain. vain,
vain, all else eternityp and do love the lines
for my sake" About the same time she Quos-
tions the propriety Of attending an oratorio at
Coventry. and writes IL tho following com-
FUNCTIONS strain. the more significant be-
cause she was throughout her life passionately
fond OF music. and had. for an amateur. a re-
markabls mastery Of the piano. 1T would not
cost me any regrets II the only music heard In
our land wore that OF strict worship. nor can
think tho pleasure that involves tho devotion
OF all tho time and powers OF an immortal be-
ing to tho requirement Of an expsrtness In
so useless an accomplishment can be quite
pure or elevating In its tendency" Wo will
reproduce one other quotation from letters
written at this period. because to US. looking
back over her whole life. 1t seems to have the
force OF presentlment. and indicates the I'M
conscious working OF currents that were to
facilitate transition to her subsequent opin-
ions. remember" she tells a correspond
ent as dare say you do. very amiabls
Atheist depicted by Buwer in 'Dsvereux' and
for somo time after tho psrusal OF that book
] was considerably shaken by the impression
tn religion was not u requisite TO moral ex-
In lS41 Mr.. Evans moved to a house near
Coventry. and the friendships which his
daughter there formed with Mr.. and Mrs Bray
with Miss Sarah Honnoll. Ia sister OF Mrs Bray
and with other highly cultivated and LIBERAL
minded people rendered. as Mr.. Cross points
out, this change Of residence decisive factor
In George Eliot's Development Mr. Bray him.
SELF was man Of robust. sslf-rsliant mind.