GE to John Walter Cross, Blackbrook, [19 October 1873]
Title
GE to John Walter Cross, Blackbrook, [19 October 1873]
Title
GE to John Walter Cross, Blackbrook, [19 October 1873]
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
John Walter Cross
Date(s)
- 1873-10-19
Place
Blackbrook
Letter Content
GE to John Walter Cross, Blackbrook, [19 October 1873]
MS: Yale. Envelope: J. W. Cross, Esq. | 38 Cornhill | London | E.C. Postmarks: BROMLEY | C | OC 20 | 73 | KENT; 8z | LONDON C | OC 20 | 73. Published: Cross, III, 215-217, dated 20 October 1873.
Blackbrook Sunday.
My dear Nephew
The chances of conversation were against my being quite clear to you yesterday 859 as to the cases in which it seems to me that conformity is the higher rule. What happened to be said or not said is of no consequence in any other light than that of my anxiety not to appear what I should hate to be -- which is surely not an ignoble egoistic anxiety, but belongs to the worship of the Best.
All the great religions of the world historically considered, are rightly the objects of deep reverence and sympathy -- they are the record of spiritual struggles which are the types of our own. This is to me preeminently true of Hebrewism and Christianity, on which my own youth was nourished. And in this sense I have no antagonism towards any religiuos belief, but a strong outflow of sympathy. Every community met to worship the highest Good (which is understood to be expressed by God) carries me along in its main current, and if there were not reasons against my following such an inclination, I should go to church or chapel constantly for the sake of the delightful emotions of fellowship which come over me in religious assemblies -- the very nature of such assemblies being the recognition of a binding belief or spiritual law which is to lift us into willing obedience and save us from the slavery of unregulated passion or impulse.
And with regard to other people, it seems to me that those who have no definite conviction which constitutes a protesting faith, may often more beneficially cherish the good within them and be better members of society by a conformity based on the recognized good in the public belief, than by a non-conformity which has nothing but negatives to utter. Not, of course, if the conformity would be accompanied by a consciousness of hypocrisy. That is a question for the individual conscience to settle. But there is enough to be said on the different points of view from which conformity may be regarded, to hinder a ready judgment against those who continue to conform after ceasing to believe in the ordinary sense.
But with the utmost largeness of allowance for the difficulty of deciding in special cases, it must remain true that the highest lot is to have definite beliefs about which you feel that "necessity is laid upon you" to declare them, as something better which you are bound to try and give to those who have the worse.
Please put this in the fire. It is scribbled in explanation to you only, and not meant for other eyes.
Your affectionate Aunt
M. E. Lewes.
MS: Yale. Envelope: J. W. Cross, Esq. | 38 Cornhill | London | E.C. Postmarks: BROMLEY | C | OC 20 | 73 | KENT; 8z | LONDON C | OC 20 | 73. Published: Cross, III, 215-217, dated 20 October 1873.
Blackbrook Sunday.
My dear Nephew
The chances of conversation were against my being quite clear to you yesterday 859 as to the cases in which it seems to me that conformity is the higher rule. What happened to be said or not said is of no consequence in any other light than that of my anxiety not to appear what I should hate to be -- which is surely not an ignoble egoistic anxiety, but belongs to the worship of the Best.
All the great religions of the world historically considered, are rightly the objects of deep reverence and sympathy -- they are the record of spiritual struggles which are the types of our own. This is to me preeminently true of Hebrewism and Christianity, on which my own youth was nourished. And in this sense I have no antagonism towards any religiuos belief, but a strong outflow of sympathy. Every community met to worship the highest Good (which is understood to be expressed by God) carries me along in its main current, and if there were not reasons against my following such an inclination, I should go to church or chapel constantly for the sake of the delightful emotions of fellowship which come over me in religious assemblies -- the very nature of such assemblies being the recognition of a binding belief or spiritual law which is to lift us into willing obedience and save us from the slavery of unregulated passion or impulse.
And with regard to other people, it seems to me that those who have no definite conviction which constitutes a protesting faith, may often more beneficially cherish the good within them and be better members of society by a conformity based on the recognized good in the public belief, than by a non-conformity which has nothing but negatives to utter. Not, of course, if the conformity would be accompanied by a consciousness of hypocrisy. That is a question for the individual conscience to settle. But there is enough to be said on the different points of view from which conformity may be regarded, to hinder a ready judgment against those who continue to conform after ceasing to believe in the ordinary sense.
But with the utmost largeness of allowance for the difficulty of deciding in special cases, it must remain true that the highest lot is to have definite beliefs about which you feel that "necessity is laid upon you" to declare them, as something better which you are bound to try and give to those who have the worse.
Please put this in the fire. It is scribbled in explanation to you only, and not meant for other eyes.
Your affectionate Aunt
M. E. Lewes.
Signature
M. E. Lewes.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to John Walter Cross, Blackbrook, [19 October 1873], Complete George Eliot Letters(2026), George Eliot Archive, edited by Beverley Park Rilett. https://GeorgeEliotArchive.org, Accessed September 7, 2026. https://georgeeliotarchive.org/items/show/92820