Reference
X955/1/170
Title
To Mrs Sarah Colenutt
Date free text
13th July 1907
Production date
From: 1907 To: 1907
Scope and Content
The Cottage, Groombridge, Tunbridge Wells
My dear friend,
I should be glad of a word or two to say how you are. Of ourselves I have hardly any news to tell you.
Molly has just come back after a fortnight in a house-boat on one of the Broads in Norfolk, and is much the better for the change and the out-of-door life. The weather in Norfolk has not been so cold, dark and damp
as it has been with us. I had thought of going away but could not face it when the time came, and have been obliged to content myself with mooning over my books and paying visits of a day to friends. At the house of one of them, by the way, I met a daughter of Mrs. Gaskill. She, the daughter, is a very intelligent, interesting woman. Not long before I had read, and almost cried over, that wonderful story of the Moorland Cottage , which I suppose you know. I had not looked at it for a long while, and had almost forgotten it.
What has become of Jane Chignell and who has succeeded William at Exeter? (1) It makes me sad sometimes to think that the result of his life was not what might have been expected of his gifts. I doubt if his congregation was permanently influenced by him. But on the other hand we always demand too much. If he helped two or three, can we say that the effect was not proportionate to the cause, not knowing how deep the effect was or where it will cease. Besides he acted out his own convictions and we ought to be satisfied. For consequences we are not responsible. I feel this very strongly now that I am nearing the end of life. The children grow up and we foolishly would have them like ourselves. Mine have gone their own way, very different from their father’s but it is useless and absurd to repine. Some two years ago Molly
joined the Church. I am bound to say that the parson who had much to do with her conversion is a singularly Broad., but it was a shock at the time, and, although to me she is just what she always was, it does make a difference. I am no friend to priests of any sect and I have to be on my guard lest I should offend. It is strange to hear that a clergyman has called and “that he did not ask for you, Sir; he wanted to see Miss White”. I believe Molly is happier now that she is a member of a religious community. Very few are able to stand alone and to live without a solution of ecclesiastical problems which they are told are of
eternal importance. Besides, Molly now has friends, pleasant creatures most of them, and she feels she is not isolated. So I submit and try to make the best of it. Much love from your old friend.
W.Hale White
(1) CHIGNELL Thomas William. Homerton College. (Cong.) Min 1862-1906, all at Exeter. D 30 Dec
1906 at Exeter from Transactions of the Unitarian Historical Society Obituaries of Unitarian Ministers 1900 – 2004
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