R B V WO ! S Y THE ERY R EV . M ONS I G NOR R OB ERT HU GH B ENSON B of i V EXI LLA RE G IS . A ook Dev ot ons and n c i n on f of A i i I ter ess o s behal all our uthor t es , our di and i A i M n and Sol ers Sa lors . our ll es , the our ers i and ff c d . i Dest tute, all a e te by the War W th a Pre fator N B ISHOP OF FOR D and y ote by the SAL , a i T. B I N ES ni Fc v i F n i c . 8 o ro t sp e e by A , Ju or ap , g lt 0 c n ne t . top . 5 e ts C ESSI S A C V ERT C w ONF ON OF ON . ro n ne 8 v0 , t . T E RI E S I P C RI ST . S m H F ND H OF H er ons . C v ne t wn 8 o . ro , T E ARA XES CAT LICI S M H P DO OF HO . c d i n m t 1 1 C wn m n . Ser o s prea he Ro e . Eas er . 9 3 ro ne 8 vo , t. - NON CATHOLI C DENOM I NATIONS . Crown o n et Westm i nster Li br a i . 8 v , . y ) A MYSTERY P LAY I N H ON O U R OF THE NATIVITY OF O U R LO R D . Wi th 1 4 Illustra G RIE PI PPET . C n 8 vo n ti n w . 0 c . o s by AB L ro , 9 e ts A cti n Edi ti on . c v 20 c n . g Paper o ers , e ts ’ THE U PPER ROOM : A Dram a of Ch rist s i n i i n G RIE PI PPET Pass o . W th Illustrat o s by AB L . C wn 8 vo . 80 c n ne t . ro , e ts A cti n Edi ti on . c v . 20 c n . g Paper o ers , e ts TH E COST OF A CROWN A Story of Douay n m A c d m i n A a d . c Durha Sa re Dra a Three ts. i n G ABRI EL PI PE C n With 9 Illustrat o s by P T. row 8 vo , ne t . T E MAI RLEA S : A Pl With H D OF O N ay. ' 1 i n G RIE PI PPET C wn 8 vo 4 Illustrat o s by AB L . ro , A cti n Edi ti on c v 20 c n g . Paper o ers e ts . ’ lu d A CH I LD S RU LE OF LI FE . I l strate b y G RIE PI PPET . c n net c v AB L 4to . 75 e ts ; paper o ers , 0 n n . 4 ce ts et M llu d b OLD TESTA ENT RHYMES . I strate y RIE ET c n ne v G PI PP to . t c AB L . 4 . 75 e ts ; paper o ers , 0 c n n 4 e ts et . LO NG MAN S G REE AN D C . , N O NEW Y OR! ON DON OM Y C CU TT AND M DR S , L . B BA , AL A , A A LETTERS o L. f U H R . H G BENSON O F HI S CONVE RTS V " P ITH A REFACE BY A . C . B ENSON WI TH SECON D IM PRESS ION N S R E N m NG M A , G E m 0 0 . SPI R ITUAL LETTERS o . f MONSIGNOR R HU GH BENSON . TO ONE O F HI S CONVE RTS W P IT A RE ACE A C . B E S H F B Y . N ON lVI TH P OR TRA I T SECOND IM PRESSION M A N S G R E N c o L O N G , E A N D . F U TH A E UE 3OTH ST EE NEW R! O R V N R T, YO L N N B M BA CALCU A AN MA A O DO , O Y, TT . D DR S 1 9 1 5 n 5 3 7 P INTED I T B I TAIN BY BALLAN 'I ‘ Y N E HANS R N G REA R , ON C0. ED I NB U RG H AND LO N DON PREFACE THE letters of whi ch thi s volume consists had ’ begun to appear in my brother s lifetime , with hi s l fu l consent and approval , as a series of s e criti articles . He had indeed him elf se n and e ci se d the earliest of them . The recipi nt of the letters consulted me as to their publication in - book form , and as my brother left me in his will the whole of his papers and manuscripts , I feel that he intended me to have the full responsibility of using my discretion as to publication . In the present case it is perfectly clear to me that it was his wish and intention that the letters should appear , while I have no doubt that he would have sanctioned their appearance in the form of a book . Moreover , on reading them , it seemed to me that they illustrate in a very peculiar way some ’ not of my brother s most marked characteristics , only his enthusiasm and swift expressiveness , but vi SPIRITUAL LETTERS TO A CONVERT his eager desire to respond to every call and claim for sympathy and interest , as well as his i grace of loyal and continuous kindness . He sa d once that he could not prop -that people came to him and passed on . This may sometimes have been true , but I think it was generally his ! consultants who passed on , and not himself I have been allowed to see more than one series of his letters , and there is never any Sign of his so care and sympathy failing , long as they were needed and desired . It is not here my concern to endorse all the Opinions my brother expressed ; but I was never hi m out of sympathy with , though I do not think and believe as he did . I do in any case most heartily desire the frankest expressions of faith and belief , and especially when anyone not only holds a creed , but translates it into daily life as - eagerly and single heartedly as my brother did . We ought to do all we can to understand and ’ appreciate another s point of view , and most of all when that corresponds to a faithful and beautiful handling and interpreting of life . That is our best and only chance of arriving at a substantial Christian unity and an active fellow i n ship noble aims . And thus I am glad that PREFACE this glimpse should be given of an inner life full ’ um both of fire and music , as my brother s life e e doubtedly was , and as thes lett rs most clearly testify . ARTHU R C . B ENSON . M GD E N E CO E G E C MB RI D G E A AL LL , A , Febr uar I I I 1 y , 9 5. EDITO R ’ S I NT RODU CTI ON MAY I explain very shortly how this book comes to be published About a year ago I was asked by the Editor ri Rosar M a azi ne of the Ame can y g , as an old and friend early convert of Monsignor Benson , to s write a paper about him for the Ro ary . It was a commission from whi ch I should certai nly have shrunk had it not occurred to me that it would — - be possible remembering a long ago perm i ssion — he had given me to let Monsign or Benson speak for himself in words far more effective than any of mine , by quoting certain ex tracts from the letters which it had been my l privi ege to receive from him , as friend and ! Spiritual Director, since the days when we were o b th Anglicans . The proofs of this article , Monsignor Benson ” - as a Letter Writer, were approved by him in New York in April 1 9 1 4 ; and when I sent him the si x a copy of magazine , some weeks later, he wrote (a nd I h 0pe -I almost dare to b e x SPIRITUAL LETTERS TO A CONVERT — lieve he would say the same of this book to-day) I think it is perfectly delightful a great deal : too kind and appreciative , of course but in excellent taste . I have no criticisms ; but only ” gratitude . After this , the Editor asked for more such 1v1n hi s articles ; and , in g g permission (at the 1 1 end of June 9 4) for me to compile several more , Monsignor Benson approved unreservedly of the i al lines which I had la d down , and on which one it was possible to proceed . The recipient of the letters must be anonymous , and entirely conceal ri all clues to identity . Nothing personal or p vate was ! to be published , but only such passages as might have been written to any convert , gener l a al y spe king .