"It seems to me the A. U. A. tracts, and the books, papers, etc., sent with them, have produced good results; have made deep, earnest thinkers. It is through these very things our own ministers have been made to think, and they have gone beyond these same things; and so will our correspondents in time. But at present few of them have access to books, or come in contact with people who can converse on all these points with them; therefore it is well to intersperse with our tracts on doctrines, good practical sermons, and the newer tracts occasionally, leading them up gradually to Unitarian ideas, and showing them especially that while we have doctrines in our church, character is the most important to us. There is no one book that has done more effective work than Rev. J. F. Clarke's 'Orthodoxy,' etc., which proves that we need good, clear, strong doctrine. [The Post Office Mission, she adds] is only a larger church, and we want to bring these people into vital connection with us,—making not Unitarians of them, or merely intellectual men and women, but practical Christians working with us and for humanity. Rev. —— is the prophet of his age. We shall all grow up to his ideal some day, and bring our Post Office Mission members with us. Hope he will be willing to wait. 'It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait' (Lam. iii. 26)."
A bit from another letter to Miss Roberts is interesting as showing the untiring industry which enabled Miss Ellis to accomplish so much:—
... "Next week we hold our fair, and I shall be very busy all the week. Have had so many orders for mittens, that I am a perfect knitting machine. I can knit and read, however, and therefore have looked over many sermons for distribution in the mean time. Am tired, and thankful for the blessed Saturday night followed by the quiet of Sunday."
In answer to a letter of inquiry from Miss F. Le Baron when that lady first entered on her work as Secretary of the Western Women's Unitarian Conference at Chicago, Dec. 2, 1884, Miss Ellis wrote:—
"'How much time do you give to all this work?' Doing it at home, I cannot calculate exactly, for there are many moments thrown in that I cannot well count; but this much I can say. I begin about 9 A. M. Monday to collect my materials about me, and usually by dinner-time (1 P. M.) I have put away all papers, etc., and have ready my week's papers, etc., for the postman to take. Nearly every evening I write an hour or more, excepting Sunday, when I won't write business letters. This is all the work I can calculate; but there are many moments spent reading my letters, assorting papers, tying up books, setting down items, making purchases, etc., besides the time spent Sunday and on Wednesday at the church, over the library, etc. However, I am very systematic in everything, and accomplish more in that way.... Of course, new applicants I reply to at once; but every new applicant is then added to my Monday list. Being at an office, you have more interruptions; and then deafness has its reward, and one can pursue her work in peace many times, whereas another would be disturbed."
In answer to another letter from Miss Le Baron, full of warm congratulations on her success, she writes, Dec. 11, 1884:—
"I am very much obliged for your high opinion of me. I read it to a dear friend, who always sends me to the Conference at Chicago, and she said, 'It's all true, but I hope you won't get so far above me in the next world.' I never have stopped to 'understand' what I am doing, or the 'name' I am making. To do the good comes from my heart, and I leave the results to the Good Father, and know if I merit a reward it will be given me. It is a pleasure in this world, to feel I am giving satisfaction to so many in the denomination. I am a thorough Unitarian, and have read our denominational works more than anything else, which has prepared me for this very work. I am an ignoramus in literature outside of Unitarianism, only that you cannot be a Unitarian and not come, more or less, in contact with general literature.... By the way, I always read tracts, and M. J. Savage's and Chadwick's and Clarke's weekly sermons, going to and from the city [Miss Ellis was living at this time in Avondale, three miles from the city], and carry big packages of papers home on Sunday. Think the conductors must know I am a missionary."
Rev. Joseph May, Rev. Charles Allen, and Rev. F. L. Hosmer sent Miss Ellis many of their printed sermons for distribution, which did good service. Rev. William C. Gannett early saw the possibilities of this work, and has done much to systematize and further it in many ways. He christened it the "Post Office Mission," and, seeing the need of more fresh material for distribution, devised and edited the "Church Door Pulpit" series of sermons, and has also been the chief promoter of the "Unity Mission" series of tracts. The following extracts are from Miss Ellis's letters to him.
September 12, 1882.
Received to-day, from ——, your letter of September 5, asking about our "Missionary Work by Letter." ... I will very gladly afford you my assistance in that respect. However, I am rather more conservative than yourself,—rather of the E. S. Gannett type,—still have visited Omaha, where I have had brothers settled, and know some little of the style of religion which is requisite in the Northwest.... Will give you a list of the tracts I have used most profitably. Most people state, when they ask for literature, "Want something that teaches the doctrines of the Unitarian Church." Thereupon I have forwarded, from time to time, "Unitarian Doctrines and Principles" (Brigham); "Word of God" and "The Rising Star of the Liberal Faith" (W. P. Tilden); "New Hampshire Statement of Belief;" "Unitarian Belief in Bible Language;" "Why Am I a Unitarian?" "Inspiration of New Testament," "Revivals" (Clarke); "Our Common Christianity" (A. P. Stanley); "Mission of Unitarianism" (Heber Newton); "Spiritual Christianity." (Starr King); and "What Do Unitarians Believe?" (C. W. Wendte).... The serial sermons of Chadwick, Clarke, Hale, and Savage always gladly received.... But do not be afraid of a little doctrine, Mr. Gannett, for there are some people in Orthodox churches who are hungering and thirsting for just our doctrines. They cannot do without doctrine just yet, but want something better than they have known, and think it a great blessing to find it. I try my congregation to see what each requires, and lead them on and up. My church is composed of a very mixed set.... I am deeply interested in this work, and know we have done much good.... We keep books to loan, and also recommend books from time to time, and ask our correspondents to subscribe to the periodicals.... Dr. Dewey's sermons on "Human Nature" and "Human Life," and his "Two Great Commandments" benefit some people very much.