Parkstone,
Coombe Road,
New Malden,
Surrey.
November 14th 1908
Dear Dr Wallace,
On Monday last after sending the announcement of the Order of Merit conferred upon you, I felt strongly impressed to write the enclosed congratulation, but though afterwards not being a friend or an acquaintance, even, I ought not to thus intrude.
If, however I say that for the past seven years I have had your portrait hung in my bedroom, out of affectionate regard [2] for your great services of a religious, social and scientific character, and particularly for your splendid courage in regard to psychic matters, I think you wise perhaps not to disposed to resent the congratulations of a stranger.
I have had some remarkable experience of a psychical nature in regard to my inventions. an account of which I hope someday to give to the world.
In my leisure moments too, I have written over 200 poems, some of which have been illustrated by lantern slides.
I have had much useful guidance and evidence beyond all doubt of the existence of spirit friends.
Yours most sincerely | Wynford Brierley [signature]
Status: Draft transcription [Letter (WCP1338.1117)]
For more information about the transcriptions and metadata, see https://wallaceletters.myspecies.info/content/epsilon
[1]1
THE OLD, THE NEW, and THE TRUE THEOLOGY.
By Wynford Brierley.
The so-called "New Theology"
Must serve as my apology
For freely giving at this time
These views of mine in homely rhyme.
Theology may speculate,
or dictate, on the future state,
But one great truth is ever clear,
That God is love and heaven is near.
On every line of history's page,
Some saint, or psalmist, seer or sage,
This truth reveals, that man may see
Heaven's halo o'er humanity.
The soul of man, in song and story,
This wide world o'er, reflects this glory,
But clearest and divinest seen
Shining in the great Nazarene.
This light of heaven, this love divine,
Along time's track will ever shine,
A guiding and consoling light,
O'er life's rough sea in darkest night.
The "light that lighteth every man
That cometh in the world"2 began
Its inspiration and its mission,
In things divine, by dream and vision.
God changeth not His law nor plan,
In what concerns or governs man;
To-day and yesterday the same
Doth He His truth and love proclaim.
Only when we recede from Him,
Does this eternal light grow dim;
And, then, in some mysterious way,
It follows, changing night to day.
This world of toil, too, is the place
To fit for heaven the human race;
Is it not God's world? Did not He
Ordain its use and destiny?
And has He not the universe
Designed for better not for worse?
Who then, from His great love can be
Estranged and lost eternally?
Theology is like a maze,
so full of tantalizing ways,
That sometimes we begin to doubt
Whether, indeed, there's a way out.
And which is old, or which is new,
Or which is false or which is true,
Or where the old and new views blend,
A plain man scarce can comprehend.
One thing I hold, and none shall ban it,
As long as we live on this planet,
'Tis best to do the best we can
To help and serve our fellow-man;
And, when we leave it, we may still
Find loving service is God's will;
For, we are only happy when
We love and serve our fellow-men;
If heaven should have no room for this,
Then I'm afraid the promised bliss
Of harp and song will not avail,
And, as a real heaven, will fail.
We cannot know but what we learn
Have more of heaven than what we earn
By loving words and kindly deeds,
Which outshine all man's puny creeds.
Status: Draft transcription [Enclosure (WCP1338.6909)]
For more information about the transcriptions and metadata, see https://wallaceletters.myspecies.info/content/epsilon
[1]1
[No address]
November 9th. 1908.
Belief in Spirit Brings belated merit;
A Century hence, Science will have more sense.
With heartiest Congratulations
From Wynford Brierley,2
Parkstone, New Malden Surrey.
Inventor of Spiral Compass,
Railway Safety appliances, &c. &c. [2]
Life is a spiral with its Central Source sustaining and controlling all throughout Eternity. To all who upward climb, whatever stage be reached, the merit lies in upward climbing still. Yet, when a nation's heart prompts gratitude, voiced by the King, true merit is revealed. Progress in Knowledge and in Service is an endless spiral in Eternal Bliss. Order of Merit.3
Status: Draft transcription [Enclosure (WCP1338.8307)]
For more information about the transcriptions and metadata, see https://wallaceletters.myspecies.info/content/epsilon
Please cite as “WCP1338,” in Beccaloni, G. W. (ed.), Ɛpsilon: The Alfred Russel Wallace Collection accessed on 27 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/wallace/letters/WCP1338