RELIGIOUS VIEWS OF WHITTIER.
An over-zealous lecturer, in the effort to give weight to his opinions, publicly claimed Whittier as holding views in agreement with his own. Some comments having appeared in The Friend, the poet sent a letter to the editor, in which he says: "My ground of hope, for myself and for humanity, is in that divine fulness of love which was manifested in the life, teachings, and self-sacrifice of Christ—the Way, the Truth, and the Life. In the infinite mercy of God so revealed, and not in any work or merit of our nature, I reverently, humbly, yet very hopefully, trust. I regard Christianity as a life rather than a creed; and in judging of my fellow men, I can use no other standard than that which our Lord and Master has given us, 'By their fruits we shall know them.' On the awful and solemn theme of human destiny, I dare not dogmatize; but wait the unfolding of the great mystery, in the firm faith that, whatever may be our particular allotment, God will do the best that is possible for all."