| Description | In this particularly poignant letter George Newman thanks Taylor Cadbury for her recent correspondence and refers to the death of her younger sister Janet Taylor who died at the Manor House in September 1908 after a long illness. Newman reflects on Janet's death with reference to his own experience of losing his mother, describing death 'like a thief in the night', writing that his mother's funeral had been 'the bitterest thing that has come to me & made a terrible claim on all my resources'. Newman describes his close relationship with his mother and the deep affection which had existed between them, remarking that the death of a loved one 'leaves life very grey'.
Newman refers to the letter which he had recently received from Elizabeth Taylor Cadbury which had contained 'questions' about death and religious faith. Writing that his heart was only beginning to move past 'its broken state', Newman attempts to answer Taylor Cadbury's questions by describing his faith in God and Jesus Christ. He provides a long account of his thoughts revealing that Taylor Cadbury has asked him why Janet had become ill and whether prayer could have prevented her illness. Newman emphasises the divide which he recognised between religious faith and natural law, writing 'in my experience prayer never touches natural law'. With reference to his own experience of grief, Newman includes a quotation from 'The Diary of an Old Soul' which he hoped would bring comfort to Elizabeth. He concludes his letter commemorating Janet Taylor, writing that he 'goodness' came from her faith in God. He tells Elizabeth to 'wait patiently' for God, adding 'if we wait light will arise'. |