The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-06-09
TWO LETTERS FROM WHITTIER.
His Responses to the Unitarians and the
UDiVersalisis.

Mr. John G. Whittier wrote as follows in
reply to the invitation to attend the Uni
tartan festival in Boston recently:
OAK KNOLL, 5th mo-, 10 1886
Henry II. Edes
DEAR FRIEND-Your festival occurs on the same
day as the Friends Quarterly meeting at Ames
bury, which hope to attend; but thank you
for the kind invitation. Attached as | am to the
principles and testimonies OF my own society
sect and opinion. I have fellowship with all,
Whatever their name and label may be, who seek
to serve and follow our common Mas
ter In the matter of Christian charity and that
broad, unselish benevolence which gives freely
without first lnquiring into the speculative
opinions OF the needy, yo1r society has a claim
upon the good will CT all others. If some of Us
think you sadly need the clutches OF dogma, we
may all rejoice at su h examples of practical
Righteousness as many of our members have given
us One of these the late Henry Kidder win be
greatly missed in your annual assembly. am
very truly thy friend, JOHN q. WHITTIER
To similar invitation from the Universal
list body he wrote:
OAK Knoll, DANvERs, 5th mo, 10, 1885,
DEAR FRIEND-I thank thee for thy kind invita-
ton. The quarterly meeting OF Friends at AmeS-
bury takes place on the day of your festival, and
with none but kind feelings toward other demon
nations, naturally am inclined to he with mine
own people," ] recognize the importance of the
revolt of your religious society from the awful
dogma of predestined happiness for the few and
damnatiOn for the many though in the outset that
old fataistic belief in the arbitrary will and
power OF the Almighty. Assuming that
a favored few can be saved by divine decree ir-
respective OF any merit on their part, il was il0g
ical at least to suppose that all might be saved in
the same way. If / mistake not, this view has
been greatly modified 10y the consideration tlat
the natural circumstance of death can not make
any real change of character that no one can DC
compelled 10 be good or evil; that freedom of
choice belongs 10 both worlds and that sin is, "
its very nature. insepamble from suffering. am
not accustomed to attach very great importance to
speculative opinions, aud am nOtdisp0sed TO quar-
rel with any creed which avoids the danger on
hand of attributing impiacable vengea ice
and cruelty To the Heavenly Father and on the
other of undertaking the exceeding sinfulness OF
sin ana its baleful consequences.
slowly but surely the dreadful burden OF the
old belief in the predetermined eternity of evil is
being lifted from the heart of humanity, and the
goodness of God, which leadeth to repentance. is
taking the place of the infinite scOrn which m ide
love wen nigh impossible. The emphasis Of
your denial thet the divine economy is alike con
servative of evil and good misery and happiness,
gives your organization a claim on the good feei-
ing of other sets which, while fully ling the
solemn truth OF the connection, here and here
after. of sin and suffering. are looking upon the
problem of human destiny with the hope ms pired
by a clearer view of the revelation, made BY letter
and spirit. OF Him whose "mercy endureth for
ever am truly thy friend
JOHN G.. WHITTIER.