Evening journal., 1912-06-25
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
The Letter That Phillips
Brooks Valued Most OfAll
By Holland


For many years after Oliver Wen
dali Holmes gained a national and
even International literary reputa-
ton, there was a great deal of dis
cussion, both public and private. re-
specting his religious faith Many
persons thought they detected in his
writings q tendency toward panthe-
ISM others we're certain that DR.
Holmes was a Unitarian. and there
we're frequently quotations from his
writings in Justification of that view
At one time shortly after the publi-
cation of his novel, Elsie Venner," :"
he was accused Of being a fatalist
There was no question about the
deeply-religious nature of DR..
Holmes. but the discussion usually
centered upon his denominational be-
lief.
or course, DR.. Holmes heard that
he was the object of discussion Of
this kind But he thought 1t mex
pedient TO make any statement for
publication setting forth what his
! denomination or his views were
THE time will come" he said.
when can appropriately make ex-
position Of what my religious views
are"
That time came early in the month
of May. 1885, when. after Or Holmes
had been asked many times to at
tend service at Trinity Church in
Boston. he was able TO accept the In
vitation one beautiful Sunday morn
ing
After the service DR.. Holmes said
TO members of his family: "I think
the time has come when | can say.
at least to Phillips Brooks, what my
religious views are | am going TO
write DR.. Brooks a letter"
That evening Dr. Holmes wrote 10
Phillips Brooks. then rector of Trim
ity Church. a letter which afterward
had some private circulation and of
which l was fortunate enough to Sc
cure a copy from an intimate friend
of DR.. Brooks. The letter reads as
follows:
my dear Mr. Brooks: I had the
privilege Of listening to your sermon
| last Sunday morning was great
ly moved and impressed by it, !
came away very thankful that so di-
vine a gift Of thought and feeling
and utterance had been bestowed
upon one who was horn and who
moves among us.
MY daughter would be glad to
have me as her constant companion
al your church II would be. a de-
light to listen to such persuasive and
inspiring exhortations as those
which held your great audience last
| Sunday
But my natural Sunday home is
Kings chapel, where a good preach
er tries to make us better He Is a
man OF purity and sincerity whom
we admire. In that church have
worshipped for half century There
I have listened to holy and wise men
who have served us from time TO
time There I was married There
my children we're all christened
From that church the dear companion
Of so many blessed years was bur.
led In her seat ! must sit and
through its door I hope to be car.
ried TO my resting place II is not
any difference of creed which would
keep me from following my beloved
daughter have been at times a
regular attendant on the Episcopal
service. At my summer home at
tend a Baptist church at Beverly
not rarely with edihcation. for my
temple is a hypaethral one that is to
say. open to the sky or roohess, and
my church doors open very very
widely (Signed) Oliver Wendell
Holmes"
Phillips Brooks used to say that
although he had much correspond.
ence which he really cherished, vel
none had affected him more deeply
than this beautiful letter from Oliver
Wendell Holmes
copyright. 1912. by F. J Edwards
All rights reserved }