Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1886-08-26
Greed Of ]. G. Whittier.

The annual festival given by laymen of
Boston and the vicinity TO clergymen of the
Unitarian denomination and their wives was
held at the skating rink, Clarendon street,
last week. Almost the entire floor capacity
of the hall was utilized, and probably 1000
persons were present. All the exercises
were interesting. but the most notable event
oe the evening was the Introduction of the
following note from John &. Whittier -
OAK KNOLL, 5,h no., 10, 1886.
Henry II. Edes:
Dear Friend-Your festival occurs on the
same day as the Friends quarterly meeting
at Amesbury, which hope to attend but
thank you for the kind invitation.
Attached as am to the principles and
testimonies of my own society, | have. |
trust, quite outgrown the narrowness Of sect
and opinion. 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. unselfsh benevoenoe which gives
freely without first inquiring into the specu-
lauve opinion of the needy, your society
has a claim upon the good will of all others.
If some Of us think you sadly need the
crutches Of dogma, we may all rejoice at
such examples Of practical righteousness as
many of your members have given us. One
Of these, the late Henry Z. kidder, will be
be greatly missed in your annual assembly.
am very truly thy friend,
JoHN G. WHITTIER.
To this letter the President was directed
to send the following reply -
To John G. Whittier:
The CnItarians at their annual festival
greet The Friends at Amesbury in fellow
ship with all who seek and follow one com
mon Master.
The second annual festival of the Univer-
sails, Social Union, took place at Berkeley
Hall, Boston, las, Friday evening.
Mr.. Whi,tier's letter in reply TO an invi-
tation was as follows
OAK KNOLL, DANvERs, ONO, 10, 1886.
Dear Friend thank thee for thy kind
invitation. The quarterly meeting OF
Friends at Amesbury takes place on the day
Of your festival, and, with none but kind
feelings towards other denominations, nat
urally am inclined TO be with mime own
people, recognize the importance of the
revolt OF your religious society from the aw =
ful dogma of predestlned happiness for the
few and damnatlon for the many, though, in
the outset, that revolt brought with it some
thing Of the old fatalistc belief in the arbl-
trary will and power of the Almighty AS
suming that favored few can be saved by
divine decree, irrespective Of any merit on
their part, it was logical at least to suppose
that all might be saved in the same way. II
| mistake not, this view has been greatly
modified by the consideration that the nat
ural circumstance OF death cannot make auy
real change OF character that no one can
be compelled TO be good or evil that free
dom Of choice belongs TO both worlds, and
that sin i, by its very nature, inseparab.e
from suffering. | am not accustomed to at
tach very great importance to speculative
opinions, and am not disposed 10 quarrel
with any creed wtich avoids the danger, on
one hand, Of atdl5uting Implacable ven
geance and cruelty 10 the heavenly Father,
and on the other Of undertaking the Tex
ceeding rintuiness Of sin" and It's baIetul
consequences.
Slowly but surely the dreadful burden Of
The old belief in the predetermined eternity
Of evil is being lifted from The heart of hu-
manity, and the goodness of God which
leadeth to repentance, IS taking the place of
the Infinite scorn which made love well nigh
impossible. The emphasis Of your denial
that the divine economy is alike conserva-
tive of evil and good, misery and happiness,
gives your organization clam on the good
feeling Of other sects, which, while fully
realizing the solemn truth Of the connection,
here and hereafter, OF sin and suffering, are
looking upon the problem Of human destiny
with the hope inspired by clearer view OF
the revelation. made by letter and spisit OF
Him whose 'mercv endureth forever"
am truly thy friend,
IlrIA- L Nrrr,..-,.r..r.