Talk:Charlotte Elliott

Window on Elliott’s private intellectual and personal world, from Baylor Library

The implication in the October 2017 version of this article is that Charlotte Elliott’s “inner struggles because of feeling useless” set her up emotionally to be deeply moved by the preacher Charles Malan’s invitation to, “Come [to Jesus] just as you are.”

The “Leaves From the Unpublished Journals, Letters and Poems of Charlotte Elliott” from the Baylor University Digital Collections suggest another factor in Elliott’s emotional state, a “sweet threefold cord” that tied her to Jesus and her “beloved E.” In a 24 March 1849, Elliot writes to her friend Miss J. Scott Moncrieff about an “Eleanor” – also called “E.” on the same page 85 of “Leaves...” -- who lives with Elliot and Elliot’s niece in the Mornay Lodge in Torquay, England. So, perhaps “E.” is Eleanor. Perhaps “E.B.” in the footnote on page 17 is also Eleanor? Also, the following quotations from “Leaves…” suggest that Eleanor is not Charlotte’s sibling.

Here is what the copy of “Leaves...” at Baylor Library says (typographical errors apparently come from the book scanning process at Baylor; some corrected by me):

Page 15, year 1837.

A dear brother-in-law accompanied my beloved E. and myself to beautiful Switzerland, where we passed months of rich enjoyment, and were, I trust, benefited both in body and in soul.

Page 16-18, year 1837.

... Then, our excursion to Chamounix with Dr. Malan, and five days there of exquisite happiness in the most splendid scenery I ever beheld, and with the rich enjoyment of constant intimate converse with one of the finest and most spiritual minds with which we have ever become acquainted, his daily prayers, expositions, conversation, intimacy, . . . . the magical effect of the mountain air on my whole frame.1

Then the sharing every joy with my beloved E.; a fortnight of quiet happiness in our beautiful cottage at Mornex, on the Saleve mountain; and lastly our delightful three weeks' tour with Dr. Gaussen and his daughter in the Oberland of Berne, and then to the lovely lake on which Lucerne stands, close to the Rigi, —all these links in the bright chain of my past year's mercies, which I have here so barely and briefly enumerated, do indeed call for grati¬tude and praise — for a life of gratitude and praise, and for a continual remembrance to cheer, to quicken, to strengthen me during the year on which I am now entering (1838); and for still more frequent prayer that I may not in vain have been permitted to associate with those who are indeed "the salt of the earth, the saints who excel in virtue," and in whom I observed so many holy feelings, and from whom I heard so many heavenly instructions. Assuredly, the privi¬leges and enjoyments of my Swiss tour will rise up in the judgment day to condemn me, if they are not made, by the grace and power of the Spirit

Footnote 1: So that she used to say, she seemed to have suddenly dropped the clog of the body.—E. B.

p. 25-27 year 1870

My own precious E., my companion and friend, my tender sympathiser in every sorrow and every joy! H o w thankful I feel that we are permitted to begin another year together ! H o w thankful I feel that the two beloved ones with w h o m my own life seems bound up are still spared to m e and to each other, are daily "fulfiling their course," are still bringing forth " more fruit in old age !" How can I be thankful enough for this great especial mercy !

And now, my own beloved one, come what may during the year on which we have now entered, I do firmly believe that " goodness and mercy," like two guardian angels, will follow us during every day and every hour; in every varying circumstance through which we may have to pass; in every time of trouble sustaining and comforting us,—" the

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angel of His presence" keeping ever by our side, and whispering, " Fear thou not, for I am with thee : be not dismayed, for I am thy God !" We may have to part for a short season with each other; but H e has promised "never, never to leave us; never, never to forsake us;" and our own one desire is, to be daily loosening our hold upon this poor vain world, and upon all that is therein, and to be weaned from all earthly love, and to set all our affections and desires on the things which are unseen and eternal.

Ask, then, for me, in your daily prayers, my beloved one, that even to your precious self I may not cling too closely. What you are to me, God only knows; and as He Himself has formed and entwined the cords of love which bind our hearts so strongly and sweetly together, He can gently disentangle them, and make me willing to leave you, should such be His holy will!

I feel that so great an age as mine requires three things : great faith, great patience, and great peace. And you will ask them for me, my beloved one; and I will ask for thee, that our blessed Saviour may become so increasingly precious to thy soul, and His Word so quickening, and His Spirit so com¬forting and satisfying, that you may let go every-

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thing else, even the closest, sweetest earthly ties, at His blessed welcome call; but in the meantime, while our sweet threefold cord is unbroken, may we all three " go on our way rejoicing," comforting, helping, edifying each other, and daily fixing by faith an unaverted eye on Him who alone can " satisfy the longing soul, and fill the hungry soul with goodness."

Ever thine in Him,

C E.

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I feel privileged to have this window on Elliott’s private intellectual and personal world from Baylor Library. Not sure what, if anything, belongs in the Elliott article.