Letter from Katharine Hooker to John Muir, [1911] Apr [24 ?].

[1]The GarretLos Angeles, April [24?]. 1911My dear Mr MuirThe morning after you left us I went away bright and early to Balboa to join Ellie and Maude for a week. It was a happy week, a [pinetree?]-like rest!But today I came back, and where are you? I can\u27t tell you how empty the house seems without you. Your room is swept and ungarnished, the garret hollow and bleak, and there is no John Muir to sit beside me at the table and give me the sensation of a friendly, affectionate presence in this discord09996 [2][illegible].Only think! that old camera with which I tried to make likeness of you Sunday afternoon was out of order and fogged the plates. I am so disappointed, for the little figure of you would have been good. Out of the blur I cut the postage stamp above, you can send it to Helen.My list of books from you grows and grows. I thought I would send it to you as far as it has gone.I have been having a pleasant sort of orgie--just buying whatever I wanted most--which was what I thought you would want [me?] to do. I feel rich, [and?] the best of it is that[3]2they will always be held the dearer for being your gift. I like my books to have associations.I am sending you a letter from Mariam. Parts of it will be of no interest to you, but others you will like to read. It is so like her to apologize for having any recognition of her hard work given here! Once when she had taken honors in something in college and I was pleased at it she said Mother, if I had been properly examined I should not have taken honors at all. (!!) She says I am not to let [the?]09996 [4]letter be seen by the family, and I have\u27nt. You alas no longer belong to it, and anyway, I know you will like to see it.Good night. I hope you are having a happy journey eastward.Affectionately yoursKatharine Hooke

Letter from David G. Muir to John Muir, 1860 Oct 14

[1] Hickory Dale. Oct. 14th 1860Dear Brother John Having received your third letter last night , and knowing now where to direct your letters, I gladly embrace this first opportunity of letting you know that we are all enjoying our usual health and are glad to learn that you are so well, and have prospered with your machinery. We were very anxious to know where you was going, and are surprised to think that you have gone further west, when from the bottom of our hearts we thought you certainly would have inclined toward civilization. I hear that they have some yarns in in the newspapers about you but I have not seen any of them yet. Henry Cripps told me more about the fair and yourself than you have yet. For a while after you left home the house looked rather empty, especially on Sundays but now we began to get used to it. The neighbors wherever we go, ask about you. I wish I had been at the fair, and I would have helped you to tell the folks about the things, etc Things about home begin to look like winter, we are busy making corn, and Jamie Sanderson is digging out stumps. I suppose you begin to feel as though you was a man now,(standing on your own bottom): when you have produced the greatest curiosity. and invention of the whole State. Please to hear the advice of a little boy. Don\u27t let the State fair prove to be \u27Vanity Fair\u27, neither let the flattery and praise of men lead you to think that you are more than a man, but remember where you came from, and where you are going Dust thou art and to dust thou shall return. Prayer meetings have commenced here again. We had the first last Sunday over at Midland. do pray God to send down the Holy Spirit to convince and convert our neighbors [2]As we have not been at Portage City lately we have not got your books but expect to get them this week. In you second letter you [merely?] mentioned Mrs Mitchell\u27s name, saying that you had told me about her before, while you did not tell us a thing about her, so I think you must have forgot. Andrew and Charly Reid are to be examined tomorrow night for teach by Mr Birdsall, and if they get their certificates Andrew is going to teach at McMahon\u27s School-house and Charlie at Russel\u27s. William Ennis is going to teach at Grahm\u27s again. Now I guess my pile of news is exhausted so I will have to stop and make room for the others. I want you to direct a letter very soon to David G. Muir himself. So Good Bye your brother JJM _ _____________________________________________________________ Hickory Dale Oct 14My Dear Brother I came over here yesterday. I thought I would put in a few lines too the main thing is to tell you to be sure and write me often if you can spare time, I shall always be very much interested in anything that concerns you tell me all the news mind I hear there has been great excitement about your clocks and I am very glad you are prospering so well and are so comfortable where you are I heard your letter last night and was glad to hear you are so well in such a bustle I will not write any more just now but I will give you a long letter after I hear from you good Bye John from your very affectionate Sister SarahDear John I too am glad to hear of your prosperity but especially that you are so well John I dreamed the other night you and your mills was come back but ah no twas only a dream but John I would not be so selfish I hope as wish you back when it is better for you to be away [3]and have often thought of the way I hurried you to bed that night but maybe you will forgive May God bless you my dear dear brother and prosper you and keep you from the evils of this world and meeten you for glory I do not forget you at a throne of grace will you too pray for me and perhaps when you get time you will write me a letter from your Sis MuirDear John I [pray you?] are well in [illegible] [I shall like?] [illegible] of good Spiritual health [king?] good. do not let the vanities of this life p[illegible] your Soul. do all to the glory of god & he will prosper you in that which is good Keep the faith pray Sincearly always aim at the glory of God & good of man. Keep humble do not let the praise of man puff you up. nothing but Christ can keep you from Sinking take his counsel then strive to please god in all things. be always ready to give in your account if you always look to Jesus as your all & follow his Spirit you will be Safe. I am glad that god has provided a lodging for you. Strive always to love your neighbor as yourself practically. in order to have friends we must be friendly. love byeteth love be mercifull that you may have mercy look not at high things but can descend to man of low estate practice economy in all you do in order to be great be Servant of all. avoid pride & the Lord will lift you up. do not think that god will aid you in anything that is not good but the fruits of the Spirit is in all goodness. See that all that you do is founded upon Scripture Show to all around you that you are a man of honesty & truth. you have much need to watch & pray for all eyes are upon you being a Stranger your present character will be made appear according as you think Speak & do in the eyes of the public I am praying for you hoping you will use the grace & live pray for me dear John that we may meet at gods right hand without Spot & rejoice for ever together with all the Santified I will Send a trunk with your things by railway as directed to the care of your master Mr. Wirad from your Father [4] Dear Brother John I never thought you wanted to go west but seeing you have gone I hope you will write to me tell me what kind of a shop you have got into what they make what you do and how you like it if you have found any lenses yet if you know how an artesian well getts its powr if you have invented any thing yet how long you mean to stay there and all other news you can find we are very busy at present I have no time to make anything I have had a hard time with Lumbago this morning bit I have about got [illegible] [illegible] your letter from Philadelphia they just said they had no situation to offer you at present Mother says she will write to you as soon as she gets time Joanna sends her love to you and so does Mary and Anna time is scarce Good bye from your Brother Daniel 0024

Letter from Annie Hay to [John Muir], 1896 Feb 12.

[4]interesting and if there waas any means of making a livelihood you would tell us an dalso if there might be an opening, & I promised to write to you. Willie is twenty one - and our James celebrated their majority at the end of last year. He is not much to look at but is a smart business fellow and has a strong sense of duty and fidelity.Now I have told you what I want to say about that and if you write in your kindness of heart try and spare a little time to tell us what you think we shall be so very glad.[1]Mersey View House92 Bridge St.Birkenhead12th Feb. 1896My dear CousinFather has been speaking ever since Christmas of writing to you and I have no doubt his intentions are honourable but he has been unusually busy and so as I want to ask you somthing I wont wait but must write while the spirit moves me. We have had staying with us for eighteen months a young lad whose father and mother were my oldest and dearest friends they are both dead and as he had no relatives he came to live with us. His father was for many years a much esteemed Doctor in L\u27pool. Educated 02067. [2]in Edinburgh where I knew him as a student. He was one of the most charming characters I have ever met and it has been a great job to us to be able to share our home with his son His mother also was a clever and remarkable woman.Willie Howie has never been very strong but is now fairly healthy and has been for about four years engaged in a wholesale ships stores concern and as he has no capitoal he seens no prospect before him but to settle down as a clerk in an office. He has lately been thinking whether it would be better for him to go to Canada with a friend who has been learning[3]farming there as he says all he wishes or can espect is to make a living to keep himself.When thinking about him I remembered your telling us about your wine growing and that you can always find work for young men. and Maria also had been thinking about our John Muir and telling Willie that it might be possible that something might be found to suit him if we consulted you So down comes Willie to father and me who were asleep in our bed to hear what we thought, father thought the climate would be fine and the work [5]We often often speak about you and wonder if you have been away [stravaging?] on the mountains again. & when we look at the photo of your beautiful little Lassies we wonder if we are ever to see them or their mother. Uncle Hardie has been wonderfully well this winter but is this week rather poorly with cold and dear Aunt Polly is very very fraid, her sight has become so very bad too and althogether you would know a great change upon her. Mrs. Jeffrey is pretty well & it is a mercy for she has to take care of the others. Father has been kept very busy over the02067 [6]Restoration of Danbar Parish church - sometimes I think he is to be worried beyond endurance with the bother however the estimates are all signed now, and when you come again you will not know the interior of the \u27Auld Kirk. Auntie [Lunam?] & Maggie are well but you will likely be hearing from them now & then. Our boys and girls are all well and happy. John has still gone on successfully took last summer the holt Scholarship 100 pounds - but he finds he has to work hard for it in the [illegible]room. He has got Dr. to his name but is not finished another exam wants for Mr. B. He is working very hard and looks white I tell him. Jamie is still devoted to Art painting[7]pictures and attending the Art school. Maria is housekeeper for the last year since my health failed and baby - \u27Peggie\u27 is now at school Oh how nice if you were not so far away and we could meet (our families) sometimes. I am wanted to take a little walk while the sun shines and so I must close.There is one to whom distance is as nothing, and in His love we rest and trust. Give my love to Mrs. Muir and the dear bairns and believe me your affectional counsinAnnie Ha

Letter from Annie K[ennedy] Bidwell to John Muir, 1878 Jan 21.

[3]attach your autograph. Did you know I accompanied my sister as far as Battle Mountain on her journey home. Well I did, and we stopped at Lake Tahoe, and sailed over these wonderful wa- ters from nine A.M. until four P.M. ever amazed at the varied beauties thereof. Beautiful gems seemed to sparkle in the sunlight as the spray was strown up by the boat. Even saphires of exquisite brilliancy, and emeralds, & innumerable gems. I sit now and closing my eyes see it all, and look down into the wondrous beauty of the water; silver, pearl, blue, green, [underlined: black], and [underlined: purple], and in all their varied shades. Is there else where such won- drous water? It passed any concept- tion of water I had ever had, and is to me a constant wonder & enjoyment. I had thought the water of the big Spring at Big Meadows must sur- pass all other waters, so wondrous clear & beautiful it is; but Lake Tahoe surpasses it immeasurably. I did768 [1] Rancho Chico Jan 27th 1878My Dear Mr Muir. I had set apart this evening for you, but as on similar oc- casions, have been interrupted by visit- ors, until now it is almost too late to move than commence a letter; but com- mence one I must, having really worried over my delay in responding to your very welcome received last month. General thought it so instruct- tive and interesting that he enclosed it to my sister to read; who reports that she also enjoyed it, and asks me to say to you that you will receive a pamphet, containing engraving of Sir Joseph Hooker, which will be rather out of date as she was not able to get it under six weeks from the time she[Page 2][2]ordered it, and it was a month old when she saw the copy. I am to have one also, she tells me. Recently I received a very kind letter from Sir Joseph, enclosing an excellent photograph of himself and wife. He said Dr Gray had communicated news of your sail down the Sacramento river, received from me, and that he was very anxious to learn how the expedi- tion terminated, and added “I want to hear from Muir, am writing him now.” So ere this you doubtless have re- ceived & answered his letter, but, lest you might not be able to write immediately, I ventured in my acknowledgemen of his favors to give him a few items regarding your expe- ditions. I hope you will tell him about our trip from Mt Shata, & what you saw at cinder cone, and of the [illegible] inch high tree of which I have the cone! I told Dr Gray, or rather asked Mrs Gray to, but I fear they will think me mis- taken. If you repeat it they will have assurance. I also told of the grand “Williamsonii” on Sassen. Do tell them all you can, for Mrs & Dr Gray say they are anxious to hear from you; & Dr Gray says he feels that he only had a taste where he wished a good meal & time to digest it. Mrs Gray recently sent me views of their camp on Abeyta Pass, taken by Prof. Hayden. Also a group taken while out here, of herself, Dr Gray and Sir Joseph. In the Abeyta Pass photographs the entire party is taken as it was in Colorado, including Prof. Hayden Dr Lamboon & others unknown to me, and is sufficiently large to frame and hang on the wall. Now I want [underlined: yours]. A real good one of you, too, and I want it [underlined: very] soon, for you see the collection is not complete until I have it. Also please[Page 3][6]that it was so in other countries, that in Africa certain white animals were dying out and the black surviving; that the white ate a poisonous weed the odor of which they seemed unable to discover while the black discovered it, avoided it, and lived. As the Professor was continually claiming our descent [ route?] & relationship to animals, I remarked here, [deleted: that] “Then it is different with man, for it is claimed the black is giving way before the white”. His answer was that “all circumstances being equal- ly favorable the black would survive the white. That the improved surround- ings of the white made them the stronger where as the black naturally were the stronger.” Did you ever hear such ar- guments.” How did the white get their superior surroundings? If Prof. Gunning is really a wise man I want you to tell me so I could not resist comparing the benefit derived from our intercourse with Dr Gray. Sir Joseph & yourself, to that derived from our several days with Prof. Gunning. He did not teach us one new00768 2 [4]not enjoy the surrounding scenery of Lake Tahoe as I do that of Big Meadows, and thought I could understand your compare- ison bet the two. Lake Tahoe’s scenery was sad and oppressive to me, while that of Big Meadows always is so cheerful, harmonious, and exalting. There is a gladness combined with its grandeur which impresses me with a sense of its perfection. I love to sit, and gaze, and drink it in; and each succeeding visit renders it more attractive to me. We also stopped at Virginia City and after studying to science of mining as ex- hitited above ground, descended into the Ophir mine nineteen hundred feet! I confess to being very [illegible] to descend into the blackness & depth, but the per- suasions of the party conquered, and the result was that I saw more than I had ever expected to, of mining. It was a most interesting and in- structive experience, and while thank- ful for having enjoyed the [underlined: benefit], con-[Page 4][5]fess to a joy experienced in again breathing the free air of heaven, and beholding the light of the sun. We went through the Ophir & Consolidated Virginia, and I presume you know what we saw as well as I could tell you; There were seven of us, Prof. Gun- ning being of the party. And here I want to ask you your opin- ion of that gentleman. I promise not to betray confidence, for I am really anxious to know something about him. He had letters to General and myself, and expects to visit Chico ere returning east. Is merry and amusing, but I do not believe a word he says, scientifically, and I will tell you why. First, because he con- fessed to having deceived persons rather than confess his ignor- ance. Second – because he always evaded, or deliberately im- povised answers which I knew incorrect – when cornered. An instance – He insisted that “the whole scientific world with- out exception, admits that man is evolved out of a lower ani- mal”. I replied that Dr Gray does not, [underlined: for he had so told] me. (Prof Gunning at first declared Dr Gray does, but when I added “he told me he does not”, then Prof. Gunning replied “ Well Gray does not, but he is the only one”.) To prove his theory he would constantly twist everything [underlined: twistable] into harmony with his theory. A passing drove of hogs was turned to the same account, but seemingly un- intentionally. “I notice that in California and Nevada the white hogs are giving way to the black, the black are evolved from the white: (you can see it in these hogs, they have mostly become black”. I replied “yes, but in the cause you are mistaken: The Chester white is too delicate a hog for this country’s mode of treatment, requiring great care; while the Essex & Berkshire, both black hogs naturally, [deleted: would] thrive under the hearding system and grow fat on grass, & can bear exposure to the weather, hence are the only hogs which our people can afford to keep.” This annoyed Prof. Gunning and he replied[Page 5][9]But I must say good night, pray- ing that you may be kept in safe- ty and happiness, and remain Very Sincerely Your friend Anne K. BidwellMr John Muir. 00763[second part cut off when photographed][Page 6]3 [7]thing. He assured as that the Bible is a fraud, yet quoted it to prove Adam & Eve were “people all covered with hair like ani- mals”, which he assured us the origin- al of the term “naked” signified. At Lake Tahoe, when viewing the “fish culture” establishment he announced that in the trout we could see development illustrated. That often a trout is hatched with two heads. I assured him I could not see such in the water before us, and his answer was that the two headed die. I replied that to me the argument was against his theory in as much as the monsters fail to survive. He also said all botanists, Dr Gray included, teach that plants change from one to another “Your do not mean that lily becomes a rose or a similar change occurs” I replied. He answered “yes I do, & Dr Gray will tell you so too.” I have seen a statement by “Dr Carrathers the Keeper of the botanical department of the British museum” to the [Page 7][8]effect that he has carefully studied this question but fails to find any facts to prove it, but rather the contrary. And I have an extract from his address before the geological Association on this subject, delivered last year. Also a statement by Prof. Davidson regard- ing another point on which Prof Gunning said [underlined: all] scientists agree; evolution in animal life. In this article Prof. Davidson says that after 15 years of careful study, at Prof. Darwin’s request, of the Brachiopoda, he has been unable to “produce a single actual fact in support of the theory”. Please tell me who is nearest right & in what you think Prof. G. right or wrong. Will you please tell me the name of the plant on which we spread our blankets, under those grand Abies Williamisonii, on Lassen. “Also the plant which you pronounced one of your favorites, and for which you named our camp”. I have forgotten both, and wish to know them. We congratulate you on the grand success of your recent explorations, and are truly thankful you were preserved through every danger, and arrived safely among the haunts of man. Against this last clause you may rebel, but we are none the less glad that it is true. I trust your life may long be spared to gather these stores of knowledge whereby the world is made wiser and better, and from which you derive such pure joy. We shall always be so glad to hear from you when you feel like writing and shall hope ere long to have our promis- ed visit. Just now the rain is copiously visiting us, and soon the flowers will [ show?] their pretty faces and we do hope you will be here to enjoy their beauty with us

Letter from Sarah [Muir Galloway] to [John Muir], 1871 Nov 19.

I will send the seeds in this letter the specimens I will send in a newspaper [4] have been passed around, [&?] a part will be absent again, but I assure you there will be much loving remembrance and fond wishes accompanied by earnest prayers for the best of Heavens blessings to rest on the head of our dear Brother in Cal- we have many many blessing to be thankful for and I am sure one of them is, that though scatered in the world we can ex- change words of love and sympathy with each other, which wonderfully shortens the distance. Father & Mother were here a few days ago. they seem well and happy. Anna & Joanna were well also Mother said that Father had sent money and an invitation to Mary to meet with us on christmas I trust she will be able to come if the weather is good I should not wonder if Maggie & John also David & Kattie with their families were there. Now I must again say good bye with many warm wishes for your true happiness and prosperity. Affectionately (I wish you a happy Christmas Sarah and many happy return\u27s of it if I am ahead of the time.) 00553David spoke to the Ennis Boys about the Fountain Lake forty and [illegible] their knowing [that?] you were willing to give they do not think of selling it for less than $10 per acre. David gives it as his opinion that cattle & Hogs could hardly be kept out and so thought of doing nothing untill he heard from you Sarah Nov 19th /71 [1]My Dear Brother Once more I have gathered my writing material together to write a few lines to my wandering brother far away among the rocks and mountains in and around the Yo Semite how often I imagine I can see you seated amid the wonderful scenery, admiring, studing, and writing. This has seemed to me one of the busiest summers I ever passed through, whither it has been so, or whither it has only seemed so I cannot tell, but when worn and sick and weary at the close of it how I longed for a ramble with you whose words and thoughts were always as fresh as the woods themselves. How are you succeeding with the work you have engaged in. I am already looking forward to reading of it with plesant anticipation I assure you. You told [2]me in one of your last letters you would like some seeds of the Fringed Gentian, the Harebell and water Lily, of the first two I have succeeded in procuring a few seeds but as I could not get the Lily seed myself I selected Frank [En. Brunt?] and Guy Whitney as boys that are oftener on the river than any other boys I know, but neither have brought me any seed Guy W. says the seed stalks are under water in the Fall but thought he could get some in the spring. tell me how it is, as I do not know how they mature their seed. I will send what I have, and perhaps I may get the others another time. What kind of a season have you had in California? I think the past summer has been none of the most remarkable that has been experien- ced in a long time, the heat and drouth in the early spring, and the hail storms later has made sad work of the crops in this part of the country generaly we never saw such hail and the wind [3]blowing a perfect hurricane threw down fences unroofed houses &, Barn\u27s and O the windows that were broken, while in the woods trees and branches were broken and scattered but in some places much worse that others, but all this can bear no com- parison to the terrible loss of life and property caused by the fires that have desolated such a large portion of the country surely nothing could show us more forcibly the utter insecurity of all earthly possessions may we my dear Brother be enabled to lay up our treasure in heaven where it will be perfectly secure. Decr 17th I find that nearly a month has passed since I commenced this letter I am sure I did want to send it off long ago but I find so much to hurry me along day after day that my letter writing goes on slowly. It will soon be Christmas again, another year will soon have passed over our heads since a part of our little band gathered around the long table, at the old home. again the invitation

Letter from John Muir to Louie [Strentzel Muir], 1893 Aug 28.

Hotel Metropole, London,August 28, 1893.Dear Louie,I arrived before six o\u27clock this morning after a continuous journey of 20 hours from Basle, Switzerland,-crossing the channel in the night was impressive, but the .journey altogether was wearisome and of course with want of sleep I feel rather stupid. I went to bed at six this morning, and slept till ten. Then after a cup of coffee went to the bank and found two good long telling letters from Wanda and one from Maggie dated July 25 and Aug. 4. The one you were to write next day has not yet arrived, but I hope to receive it and others by a later mail. One of the first things I did this morning was to purchase a ticket for New York, so I shall soon be once more at home, I hope, and beneath the stars and stripes after what seems a long range of travel in Norway, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, France, and Britain. I sail [September] (August) 16 th from Liverpool on the Campania. Tomorrow I am going to Kew to see Joseph Hooker if I can find him. Then to Edinburgh and the North of Scotland, and Melrose, Scott\u27s country. Then to Dunbar again. Then with Maggie Lunam I mean to go to Liverpool to visit my cousins, the two Hays, architects, who live near there and are anxious to see the great man, as they call me. Then of course to New York and home, stopping, as I suppose I must, a day or two in New York, also a day or two with Mother. Will be home probably by the middle of October.I was surprised to hear that Keith was home so soon. I think he went on the trip mostly because Scott wanted him to go and paid a considerable part of his traveling expenses, besides buying his pictures and giving him that reception. More than ever I see it would not have done for me to have traveled with him, our a ims, are so different.It was lonesome on the Continent, not being able to speak the languages, but everybody used me well, and I found my way by means of maps, and scraps of bad French,without much trouble. The weather has been very hot, but is now cool.I am delighted with my Swiss trip. Have been over nearly all Switzerland, and have gained a good general knowledge of its mountains, glaciers, forests, and flora. By my long minute studies elsewhere I was able to read the main features easily. Just as I foresaw, Norway and Switzerland were the main objects of my long trip, and I feel that I have learned more by far than I could have hoped to do in so short a time. The Swiss mountains and valleys are glorious and truly sublime, the forests and glaciers not to be compared to our own. The lakes, also, are very beautiful, those of Lucerne, Zurick, Neuchatel, Thun, Briens, Geneva, [and] Constance in particular. I also saw much to interest me in the formation of the broad plains of Belgium and northern France. The people, too, were interesting and the old towns and castles. I\u27ll tell you about them when I get home.This afternoon I spent an hour in Westminster Abby. Heavens! what a place! Before leaving for the north I mean to see the Tower also, around which so much of the history of England centres. I keep fretting and wondering about your trouble with your eyes. Wanda keeps telling about the pain they give you. Do try and find the cause and take the necessary steps, no matter what, to get rid of it. Maggie, too, I learn, is suffering with prostration from the heat, as I feared she would. Tell her to go to the Coast and never mind the expense, as I will gladly attend to that when I get back. I\u27m glad, however, to hear that Helen, sweet Helen, darling Helen, keeps well and that you have a good teacher for her and Wanda. Tell Wanda she is a capital letter writer and that she has boon my mainstay and comfort in keeping me within touch of home while on my long lonely journeys. From what I can make out. Grandma is about the same as when I left. I trust you will all be better with the cooler weather of autumn. Anyhow you will soon again have me with you to tease you, if nothing else. How you and Grandma would enjoy Westminster Abbey. I sent you all letters from the Continent, which I hope you received.With love, goodnight.Ever yours,JOHN MUIRThe leaves are from an island in the midst of the falls of the Rhine at Schauffasn, where I had a wonderful view

Letter from S. Hall Young to [John Muir], 1897 Jan 26.

Wooster (not Worcester) Ohio. Jan 26, \u2797.Friend of my Soul:Your letter has reached me this minute and I will answer it while it is hot. I acknowledge my culpable neglect of your much valued correspondence. (That sounds formal, but it is sincere.) But you surely got my note written last Spring, immediately after your first letter. If you did not, you must have left on your profound trip before it arrived. Not hearing any response to that, and the other being long delayed in the P.O. of Cedar Falls, Iowa, I did not send the account of Stickine which I had written & herewith enclose.But I feel that I have had no adequate excuse for not writing much & often to02227 2you the past five years.My life has been a hard struggle in some respects, pleasant & successful in others. I have had work always requiring very close attention, and filling my life with toil & care. I have been successful in my lectures, preaching and pastoral labors, having large congregations & constant encouraging additions to my churches. I have learned much, inproved much (I hope) in preaching power, and enjoyed much. Have been successful in everything but in making money. During the last two or three years the horror of proverty as Marion Crawford says has smitten me in the face . It has been a losing fight against debt and want. To owe money and not be able to pay it--that seems to me to be the very climax of human misery. And the added an-3guish of it that swells the heart to bursting is that others suffer in the same way. For I would not be in debt at all if I could collect what others owe me--but they cannot pay, & thus have added the bitter drops of broken promises, made in good faith, to my cup.I don\u27t know why I have told you this. I have never written it before to a soul. Perhaps in a vague feeling of self-justification for my long stupor of almost despair. The feeling has been so strong at times that only family ties have prevented me from breaking entirely away & fleeing back to my beautiful, fruitful wilderness --burying my body in the forest shades--laying my tired head on Mother Nature\u27s breast. But I have strong ties, strong love for my own, am much beloved by them, and am, in a sense, happy. I certainly have had in good meas-02227 4one of that highest pleasure which ever comes to mortal--for so I believe that of seeing souls born anew into the kingdom of God--lives rescued, ennobled, sweetened.I buried my noble old Father, as you know, in 1890; stayed in Butler, Pa. one year; was in Cabery Ill, another year; moved to Cedar Falls, Iowa, where I was pastor of a growing & working church for three years. But the hard times struck that town hard--closed down the manufacturies--broke two out of the three banks--and paralyzed the finances of the church. I was starved out.Then I received very unexpectly a call to my old Alma Mater, and here I have been for a year and a third, pastor of the University Church, ministering to one of the most intellectual and spiritual congregations in the U.S.5.I have an audience of five to seven hundred bright minds & noble souls - most of them retired ministers & missionaries & their families, men & women, who have come here to educate their children, retired business men, etc. Besides the Profs & the students It takes hard study and careful work to keep ahead of such a congregation. My study is in the U. & my house near by. I am reviewing many books for our Quarterly, deliverying a good many lectures throughout the state, studying hard along the lines of Sociology and biblical criticism, teaching four classes in the College, doing the pastoral work, etc, etc. But the U. is hard pushed for funds & I have been living on half salary swimming hard but still getting choked by the bitter water.I have improved my02227 6Alaska lectures. Have five of them. Have lectured to six Chatauquas, & have had great success. Although I have been negligent about writing to you, I have not neglected any opportunity of talking about you, and audiences all through these states have seen Glacier Bay with your eyes and shivered as I worked up my climax - your wonderful & heroic feat of strength & skill & love on the mountain, when you saved my life at such risk to your own. Indeed the wonder of that grows upon me more & more. and I believe I feel more lively, eyefilling gratitude to you ever time I recall it.Your splendid article in the June Century of 1895 has been read by me & my friends with great delight. How fresh the whole journey seemed to me. And the other7articles - wonder if I have missed any of them?Your book I have not seen. Who is the publisher?My own hangs fire. Impecuniosity is the chief difficulty; - I\u27ve actually not had sufficient money to buy the books, pictures & cuts needed; for I want to make it good. I have a great part of it written. Perhaps I will be able to publish it this summer.For now, I\u27m going to astonish you. & tell you a secret. I hope to go back to Alaska next Fall as its Governor. Of course it is uncertain as yet, but things are very hopeful. I have been introduced to Maj. McKinley by one of his closest friends, and have been sent for by him, and am to go to see him this week, in company with three of the strongest and best men of O, all warm, personal02227 8friends of his & mine. I have besides this the warm backing of the present Gov. of Alaska, and many other good men there & in Wash. & Or., including two U. S. judges, two senators & other grand men. Other influence from Iowa, Ill, Pa, Ky, Ohio, Min., N.Y., Mass. & W.VA. is gathering in--men whose character the Pres. elect will respect. The points are being urged in any favor that I was there, constituted the principle gov\u27t during the lawless times, explored, insituted schools & missions, put down witchcraft & slavery, worked for civil gov\u27t, drafted the first bill, acquired thorough knowledge of the country, its features, resources, peculiar conditions; expecially the natives & the whites; and had great influence with both, etc.Now you can do me a great favor. I am asked by Maj. McKinley to get together letters and9endorsements. What he wishes is not mere political endorsement, but letters from good men, who know me and my work in Alaska.Now if you will write him a concise letter, telling what you think are some reasons I should have the office, and send the letter to me, to forward with the others after the Fourth of March, it will have great influence with him.I think Alaska needs me, as I need the office. I believe I am going chiefly (if I go) to do good. I have stood up for the cause of both whites & natives against their traducers, and have been studying the questions that have arisen in the Ter.At the same time I am hungry for a sight of the mountains & glaciers again. One of the most joyful anticipations is that of doing some more exploration with you; for we will ex-02227 10pect you and all your family to be frequent visitors at the gubernatorial mansion at Sitka.Mrs. Y. is well, except that she is worn out by household cares. Our two bright girls are in the Prep. School of the College, studying Latin, Ger. etc. The second one, Alaska, has become quite a violinist, and will make her mark there. Should I get my appointment I would put them in some good school on the Pacif. Coast.But there\u27s many a slip - and I may not get it. If I do I hope we will yet take many trips together.I tingle in every nerve, whenever summer comes, to be gone to the woods & wilds. I have taken several enjoyable outings, but they do not compare with Alaska. The best I have had was a canoe ride, two summers ago, from Lake & Itasca to Aitkin in Minn - 500 miles of river & lake - a solid month11of camping & sport.Then I have run down several of the Iowa rivers in my canoe. I have a fine canoe, made by myself, in which my daughters & myself have had some fine outings.What is your family now? Tell me about them.Now my best old friend, write me a good long leter, & forgive my neglect.I don\u27t want you to think by what I said of poverty, etc, that I am lying down on my back & squealing. I am ready for a sturdier fight against the elements than ever. I feel far younger than when I went to Alaska. My troublesome shoulders haven\u27t been out of place since I left Alaska. Ho! for a glacier climb!Excuse the length of this epistle. I couldn\u27t stop. My terminal facilities are not good when I get to writing to you. Perhaps02227 12that is one reason I have not got at it before.Give my warm regards to Mrs. Muir and the daughters. How the girls do grow up! Abbie, the baby you used, in your conceit, to show me how to hold, is a young lady of 17 - and Alaska is nearly 16! Wanda must be over 16, is she not?I am still getting illustrations for my sermons from Alaska. Got some fine ones from your Glacier Bay article, especially from your gospel of the mountain flowers . That is one of the best paragraphs you ever wrote.Are you doing much literary work now? What was your special field of operations this summer in Alaska?Must stop. God bless you! Good bye.S.Hall Youn

Reminiscence of John Muir by Calkins, J.E.

My acquaintance with John Muir was an episode that I have been constrained to think revealed a phase of his psychological organization that was little known, even by his nearest friends, but that was, possibly, a major characteristic of his makeup. It really began with the pleadings of my mother that Mr. Muir\u27s writings, then occasionally appearing in the better magazines, be sought out and read by me. Every letter I had from her reiterated these persuasions, but I was busy, and none of Mr. Muir\u27s work happened to fall across my path, till one day I caught his name, in connection with a short story, as I was glancing over a copy of the Century Magazine. Thinking to merely scan this tale I was presently so gripped by it that I could not lay it down till I had finished it— A Story of A Man, A Dog, and A Glacier. With that reading, I found, I had also finished with all indifferent neglect of John Muir and his writings. From that day on I read, with an eager and growing appetite, everything of his work that I could lay hand on. I had an actual hunger for anything and all that he had written, or that he might write, and presently, along with that zest, another developed; I wanted to meet and know the man who could frame mere dead dry words into such vital glowing phrases, and before. My acquaintance with John Muir was not ordinary or casual. Though most of his admirers never knew it he was not only the master of narative and descriptive English, he was also strongly psychic, and, though I had no idea, at the time of our meeting, that he was remarkably receptive of telepathic influences, I am now fully convinced that our quite unusual friendship was based on that susceptibility. This friendship really long this desire to know the man himself had become a major impulse. I knew it was crying for the moon, for there was no smallest probability that this longing could ever be gratified, but still the longing persisted. Then, quite suddenly, I was in California, with my craving for acquaintance ungratified, but redoubled. In a presumptuous moment I wrote to Mr. Muir begging for the pleasure of calling upon him. I put all the persuasion I could muster into that letter. I wrote as one Nature-lover to another, but as I feared and expected, my appeal was not answered. It lacked even the dignity of being refused; it was simply ignored. Disappointed and chagrined, I turned back home and tried to forget the discomforting incident. Months passed, then, like the proverbial bolt from a blue sky, I had a letter from John Muir, at his home. It was comforting with its explanation and elating with its cordial warmth. He had been half-way around the world when my letter reached his home; his reply had been written among the first that disposed of a stack of accumulated correspondence; written as by one Nature-lover to another. Real Nature-lovers, he went on to say, were not so numerous, and so should know each other, and stand together. He continued, at the length of pages, to tell where he had been and what he had seen, and then to lament that he had not been at home to receive and entertain us, and, finally, to hope that we would come to California again, to make his home our home as long as we could stay, with other cordial and captivating things. As one Nature-lover to another that letter was all that could have been desired; as one stranger to another it wad exquisitely heart-wanning. I had never had a letter like it before, and I have never had one like it since. Of course there were more letters, bridging over many months; then, on an unforgetable day in October, 1907, we were being greeted by John Muir himself; bare-headed, out in front of the big white house; looking as we had been expecting he would look; smiling the welcome we had hoped he would give us. By every friendly token of countenance, and word and manner our welcome was as genuine, and our host as unaffectedly sincere and cordial as we had been hoping, but it was hard for me to believe that it was actually happening. All clear details of that afternoon and evening have been blurred by the attrition of 35 years, but I know they passed in the pleasant process of getting acquainted. Mrs. Muir had gone; only Mr. Muir and Helen were there, attempting to fill those spacious high-ceilinged rooms with the atmosphere of home. Bereft of that lovely presence it was not difficult to understand that they were lonesome enough to be glad of any friendly visitor; but with those plain, forthright persons it seemed to me that they were giving us something far beyond mere courtesy, as John Muir was somehow boyond all that I had been imagining. The dominant note of that interior, as I caught it in that first look about, was its dignified simplicity; or, perhaps, its simple dignity. There was no telephone, no electric light, no domestic gadget of all the myriad of inventions with which even that day was beginning to complicate the American standard of living. Candles, and the open fire, gave light by night, and it was by the grace of the horse and buggy that one went to town. That same simplicity pervaded all the house. Sizable oil paintings of noble Sierra scenery surmounted some of the stately white marble mantels, or adorned wide wall spaces, all of them, I surmised, from the brush and palette of William Keith, but there was nothing ostentatious about them or their hangings, The kitchen was an ample and adequate workshop, with sufficient equipment. It did not overwhelm one by the number and variety of the mechanized appliances of the more abundant life, but it was a pleasant place in which to provide a good, plain old-time meal. I cannot definitely picture the dining room, but I am sure there was no mounted deer\u27s head, and no stuffed fish to gaze goggle-eyed from its varnished plank, and I still remember that I felt refreshed by their absence but there was plenty of plain satisfying food, and no ado about it, and very little waste. And I have the happiest of memories of the cheerful table talk that made each meal there an event. I don\u27t remember what we talked about, except that Mr. Muir told us quite a lot about his tour around the world, and that, at other times, he told us quite a lot about the mountains, and that we were more than content to let him do the talking. The only scrap of all this chat that is still distinct was his admiring word about our globe— my, but this world is a big thing! Oh! I can recall in a general way things he told us, such as his search in Australia for a eucalyptus larger or taller than our California big trees—a search that was agreeably fruitless— or his trailing of the ghinko tree to its native heath, or the gratifying incident of being recognized and called by name by somebody on the other side of the world who had never seen him. He smiled his pleasure as he related such an incident as that, and there could be no doubt that it went far to warm his heart when he was a stranger in a strange land. These things, and others, all remote from politics or business, were told or talked over, but that was all so long ago that the details are not remembered; but I do remember that there was never a time when conversation lagged or halted for want of a topic, or the will to carry on. Always and unfailingly Mr. Muir had so much to say, and we were so pleased to sit by and let him say it, that there was never lack of entertainment. As he talked at table, where he was always at his best, he seemed to need the feel of bread in his hand in order to be provisioned for a long discourse. Anything in the way of bread would do, if only it was friable enough to crumble easily. There was only white bread then; all the other brands of bread that we have now had not been invented; but if he had been permitted to pick and choose among all the varieties we have today I am sure he would not have been particular. One day I asked what kind of bread he preferred, cut and dried, to carry in his bread bag when he went ranging through his beloved mountains. just bread, he said; I don\u27t see that one kind of bread is better than another. That indifference to small things that really did not matter was one of his great characteristics. How he came to fall into that bread-breaking habit I often wondered but never thought to ask him, but, however it happened, it seemed to give him some sort of mental stimulus when he was in the way of talking at length after a meal was over, and the others were all set to listen, but I could never see that there was either desire or design in it. It was an innocent habit, wasteful perhaps, but really inexpensive, and he seemed to be altogether unaware of it. I cannot remember a moment when our common talk ever did go lamely for the want of a topic. Mr. Muir had so much to tell us, and we were so pleased to be there and hear him say it, that we were both agreeably occupied. But, I must not neglect to say that we never had the feeling that he was monopolizing the conversation. even though he might be doing all the talking. We never had the impression that he was talking down to us. On occasion ran in a more or less serious groove, but often it was embroidered with pleasant levity and amusing anecdote. We were a really cheerful party, even after, a few hours of contact had brought us to the status of old friends, a relation as delightful as it was surprising. There were never any jokes at our expense, but Helen was a fair mark for her father\u27s jocundities, which she usually took with a pleased little laugh. As on the morning when her cereal was a little on the thin side. He gave it no caustic criticism, but he told us what it was called it a poor thin beverage, and after another spoonful added, and it is so invincibly fresh! All in the way of play. A minute or two of this good natured sarcasm, with every word fitted into place as perfectly as though it had been pondered for publication. When our first evening was over, and our host surmised that we were tired, and so should rest for the good long day we should have on the morrow, we were shown, candle in hand, to a roomy, airy upper chamber, without a fireplace, or a family portrait, or any other effort at interior decoration, but with simple comfortable furnishings, the chief of these being a huge, old, high-post bedstead, capped off with a Gargantuan feather bed that looked to be unscalable without a ladder. By all visible evidence it was one of the old corded beds that were in vogue a hundred years back; no springs; but we did not miss them. Mr. Muir, whose ever-preferred bed chamber was the starlit open air, went to his repose on a aot/ on the flat roof of a west side porch, or bay window, and Helen slept in a small tent that was guyed fast on some similar flat area above the front door. The sleeping arrangements of the family were elementally simple, like all the rest of its equipment for living. But this elimination of the needless was not carried to absurd extremes; when light or fire was wanted matches were used, not flint and steel. John Muir had a fine sense of the practical. It was the very next morning — there had been only that first evening and then this first morning in which our measure could be taken— that I was conducted upstairs, to a large and relatively empty room, Mr. Muir\u27s workshop. Explicitly details are not remembered; only the impression that it was a grand, spacious, quiet place, ideal for the business of framing matchless phrases for the gratifying of mountain appetite in poor town-bound folk. It was roomy enough to house the gatherings and outgivings of a long and busy lifetime. Here, I opined, had been written those papers that had so captivated me, and I looked about me with something of awe and a full measure of reverence. I remember a few chairs, and a good sized fist top desk that stood against the west wall, between two windows. I think there must have been more pieces than these, but the thing that followed close upon ray entrance was so impressive that all details but these were blotted out. A devoted mountain student in long years of exploring peaks and camons, must inevitably come upon many interesting and curious things, worth retrieving for places in cabinets or museums, and I had supposed that John Muir would be the very properest of all persons to make great spoil of such finds, but here I was to learn that he was a student, not a collector. A few not so wonderful concretions lay along the wall on the floor, along with other odd-shaped rocks, but I saw nothing remarkable in any of them, and Mr. Muir did not notice them or mention them. I may have supposed that morning that he had lugged those specimens, with great labor, long miles from their sierra fastnesses, but now I think that these oddities were purely local; merely interesting bits picked up in the neighborhood, or on his own orchard acres. If there were any glassed cases, housing labelled fragments, or even open shelves, with their dusty omnium gatherum, I was not aware of them. After that marvellous morning I often wondered by what unwitting charm I had won so quiokly to the inner confidence of that man whose name is borne by a hundred schoolhouses scattered all over this land. It was only the afternoon before that I had come; there had not been time for any appraisal, yet here he was throwing open to me all the contents of that big over-loaded desk, to rummage through at my will. I had not asked that privilege; he had freely offered it, without condition. That desk had a solid bank of drawers on each side; they reached all the way down to the floor, and, as I remember them, they were all packed full of the notebooks in which his years of Sierra adventure, and observation and study had been recorded. All the harvest of his active life was concentrated in them. I did not comprehend it at first, for I had not imagined that I would ever be so privileged. I opened one of those books picked at random, with something of the reverent touch of the savant who has discovered a priceless ancient manuscript; then another, and then others. On every page I caught the glitter of those gems of speech that had already made such a treasure as this that made him famous. And pencil sketches, where he wanted to preserve a more accurate record than he could embalm in words. Book after book; every one of them a reliquary, full of unset jewels. Every one of them at my hand without limit or condition. It was almost intoxicating. When I had written to Mr. Muir, begging to be permitted to call on him, I had certainly not envisioned such an adventure as this. Ali Baba in the cache of the Forty Thieves had never freely opened to me without anjp form of open sesame. I would have supposed that so painstaking and precise a student as I had imagined Mr. Muir to be would have some such stock of field notes safely stowed in some fireproof storage, but I had not thought that even John Muir would have amassed so vast a treasure, and all exposed to the fire hazard of a frame ranch house lit with candles. I wanted to read them all, but that was beyond all possibility, for there seemed to be hundreds of them. I turned away from them reluctantly, but stirred by that unexpected show of confidence in me. It was natural that I should be made bold to go a step further, so I exclaimed why— Mr. Muir! Here is the stuff for the making of a whole five-foot shelf of books of the kind you write; the kind that a whole nation of readers are hoping you will write. Why, Mr. Muir— But Mr. Muir appeared not to be reproved, or even impressed. He tossed off my high tension appeal with a gesture of disclaimer and denial. Yes, of course, he admitted, one might, by searching, find out the material for a book or two, of a kind, but it would be a big job; and I am not sure that there are as many persons waiting for those books as you seem to think. You seem to have an extravagant idea of the demand for my books. From that starting point we went on with an argument such as I could not have believed possible a week before. I protested against his belittling of the interest in his writings; insisted that he was the only person who had such a mass of first hand material for such works; then that he was the only person living who had the art of telling about all this wildwood loveliness in a way that made mere cold type come alive and fairly glow in the telling, and, finally, that there were multitudes of poor town-bound folk who could never have any glimpse of all this wilderness beauty if he did not realize his duty to get about it and write books, and then more books. Also I had the temerity to tell him to his face that all this writing actually was a duty, and that I hoped, with thousands of others, that he would feel that obligation. Then he told me some things; first, that I was all wrong in thinking that a man could get the blessed flavor of the mountains by reading any book— the mountains would not come to him in any such weak left-handed way; he would have to go to the mountains; then he cited the authority of the psalmist — I will lift up mine eyes to the hills from whence my strength cometh; and after more of such negations he hit the nail on the head; beside, he said, it is such a tremendous task for me to write enough to make a book that shrink from it. I don\u27t want to undertake it again. Why! I cried out loud, astonished; you write so easily— O ho! he flung back at me, much you know about that! Let me tell you: writing is the very hardest kind of work I can lay my hand to. It is a if very slavery. I should dread to think of writing another book. I was quite taken aback. In my surprise at that statement I ceased to be in any degree impressive. I could manage only to murmur something about his writings being so easy to read, and that was no argument with him. Yes—easy to read! I hope they are; they cost enough hard labor. But you must have heard that anything that is easy to read has been hard to write. No. To write another book would be a tremendous job. We talked a little while about this writing business, and as we talked an idea took form with me. After all the liberties I had taken with him that morning one more impertinence might not matter, so I ventured: I think I understand. It is the mere mechanics of composition that seem to be such a heavy burden. If you could have that eased up the rest would not be so hard. You might even enjoy it. He shook his head; I don\u27t think I could ever have any help in composing. It wouldn\u27t be a help, but a hindrance. I made all haste to assure him that there should never be any such sacrilege as interference with his lone—hand composing. To keep the John Muir flavor, pure and unadulterated, with no admixture of any bungling efforts at assistance, must always be the first objective. As he had no rivals or competitors in his chosen field, so he could have no aid of that kind. It was the merely mechanical part that it had seemed possible to lighten. He sat looking at me, with that steady, long gray gaze of his, but without a question, so I had to go on without his bidding, for now that I had started I had to finish. It is very simple, I said. You sit there, or walk up and down if you prefer, and tell it, whatever it is, as you would tell A.C. Vroman, or any other good friend. Your assistant, man or woman, sits somewhere in range of your voice and catches what you say, and later puts it through the typewriter, with triple spacing and wide margins, so that you have room for the changes you may want to make, and two good carbon copies. Now you have a first draft of what you want to say, and my word for it, you will find that it is not a hard job to make the changes and corrections that you will think are needed. With that first unfinished form before you you will find that suggestions of betterment will come thronging, and the really laborious part of the job will be out of the way. He sat still, looking at me with that long, steady, studious gaze, but without a word. Where he had worn a sort of cynical suggestion of a smile he was now sober enough. Studying. Looking away abstractedly for a moment, then corning back to gaze at me again. At last his intent soberness broke up in a gentle little smile. I thought you might be meaning to lay out some such plan as Mr. Harriman had, he said. Mr. Harriman insisted that anything and everything I said was classic literature, and should be preserved, so he set his stenographer on me, to dog me around and catch every word, no matter how common, the muggins! As if anything could be made out of such stuff as that! It didn\u27t work. He had to give it up. At that it might not be easy to say whether Harriman, the railroad king, regarded John Muir the more, or John Muir regarded Harriman the more, but certainly Mr. Muir valued the friendship and regard of Mr. Harriman very highly. During the days we were together, as I seem to remember, he mentioned Mr. Harriman more frequently than any other man. I do not remember what further discussion we had. that rare October morning of my device for softening the hard lot of over-burdened authors, but I am sure we were at no loss for words. I do remember, however, that Mr. Muir acted as though he had been relieved of some burden or problem that had been giving him considerable thought; possibly even some anxiety. He was more outspokenly cheerful; more disposed to smile, which was a very eloquent circumstance, for he was not prodigal of his smiles. Probably he told us a thrifty Scotch story or two; certainly he was more generally just then, jocund. Nothing was said about my scheme for the relief of bowed-down A bookwrights, except one hopeful remark that a booft might be worked up on suc

Marriage Amendment (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015

Labor leader Bill Shorten introduced a marriage equality bill to Federal Parliament this week and in his address to the House of Representatives, asked that members \u27embrace a definition of marriage that respects, values and includes every Australian.\u27 __ MARRIAGE AMENDMENT (MARRIAGE EQUALITY) BILL 2015 BILL SHORTEN SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT, MONDAY, 1 JUNE 2015 I move that the bill be read a second time. The laws of our nation should give us hope. Our laws should tell our children what we believe. Our laws should tell strangers who Australians are. Our laws should be a mirror…reflecting our great and generous country and our free, inclusive society. And our Parliament should be a place where we make things happen rather than sit back and let them happen. On marriage equality, for too long we in this Parliament have been following, not leading. It is within our power to change this. This Parliament can change a law that no longer describes modern Australia…and pass a law of which we can all be proud. Let us delay no more. Let us embrace a definition of marriage that respects, values and includes every Australian. Let us declare, in the house of the Australian people – it is time. The right time to make marriage equality, a reality. This is a moment bigger than politics. This moment does not distract the nation – it complements our hopes for the future. I know all members of Parliament will engage in a respectful and considered debate, and I hope will be able to exercise a free vote. I pay tribute to the Member for Sydney, for offering her place on this bill to a member of the Government. Tanya, thank you. Your actions, the advocacy of Senator Penny Wong and the goodwill of many across the Parliament, prove that bipartisanship is not the problem here. What matters is the outcome, not who owns it. Madam Speaker For decades, the march to equality has been led by remarkable Australians from every part of our country and all walks of life. Governments from both sides of politics have delivered real progress too. The Fraser Government passed Whitlam law, decriminalising homosexuality in Commonwealth territories, following Don Dunstan’s lead in South Australia. Paul Keating lifted the ban on Australians who identified as gay serving in our military. The Rudd and Gillard governments removed discrimination against same-sex couples from more than 80 laws. In Victoria, the Napthine Government expunged the records of people who were charged under long-repealed homosexuality offences. Changing the Marriage Act is the next, overdue step in the path to true equality. Madam Speaker I’m a twin – it’s a special thing, growing up, an inseparable bond. But for other twins where one twin is gay and the other is not, the Marriage Act is the only Australian law that separates siblings. It’s a double standard which divides families, and our country. It’s not fair and it’s not who we are. And it should change. Currently, marriage is defined as: ‘the union of a man and a woman” Those eight words maintain a fiction that any other relationship is somehow inferior. Our legislation proposes a new definition: ‘the union of two people’ And it allows celebrants the choice of referring to ‘partners’, as well as husband and wife. To some, this may seem a small gesture. In truth, this means so much, to so many. To all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex Australians, we offer change that says: your relationship is equal under the law. To the parents, children, friends and families of same-sex partners, just as the people you love are equal and valuable in your eyes, their relationship should be equal and valuable in the eyes of our law. To same-sex couples, we offer the right to celebrate your love with the public measure of devotion: marriage. When someone has found not just another person they can live with, but a person they can’t live without, then they should have the same right to the true qualities of a bond that runs deeper than any law. The same joy and sacrifice. The same care and compassion. The same rights and responsibilities. And we say to all young gay people. We are proud of you, for who you are. You belong. We say to you, you have a right to the same hopes, dreams and opportunities as every other Australian including the right to marry the person you love. In removing discrimination from our country’s laws, we strive to eliminate prejudice from our people’s lives. Let’s be honest. Casual, unthinking discrimination and deliberate, malicious homophobia alike, are still far too common in our conversations. In our schoolyards, our workplaces and our sporting clubs…and even, occasionally, our Parliament too. This affects community, neighbourliness, harmony and mental health in our cities and especially our regions and the bush where physical remoteness can aggravate a sense of isolation. We know two out of five young Australians who are gay have thought about self-harm or suicide. Two out of every five. We know a young Australian who identifies as gay is six times more likely to consider taking their own life, compared to their sibling, classmate, colleague or teammate. Six times. When I was finishing school in the 1980s, youth suicide was still a taboo topic. I can remember hearing of the passing of young men, and no-one spoke of how they died. I can close my eyes and see their faces, forever young. And I wonder now, if for some, the stigma and the struggle of imagining a future, lonely, isolated, treated differently was too much to bear. Marriage equality says to young people who identify as gay, you are never alone. You belong. This is an act of fairness for all ages. On the weekend, I spoke with Sandra Yates, from Devonport in Tassie. Like hundreds of other Australian couples, she and her partner Lee Bransden have been forced to travel to New Zealand to marry. Sandra and Lee had hoped to marry at home surrounded by friends and family but Lee is terminally ill, and has been told she only has weeks to live. Their community raised money to fund their trip and fulfil their dream. They are thrilled to be married…and sad it couldn’t happen here, in the country they love. Lee’s voice should be heard in this place: “Please, help switch on the light for same-sex couples and take us out of the darkness.” Lee, Sandra, you, your friends and families should not have to wait one day longer for recognition. And this legislation will ensure that same-sex marriages, recognised in another country, are recognised here. A law that forces our citizens to travel overseas, or to the grounds of another nation’s embassy, to have their relationships recognised is a law not worth keeping. I have not made a habit of speaking publicly about my faith, and I do not seek to preach to others today. I do believe in God and I do believe in marriage equality. For me, there is nothing contradictory about extending love, compassion, charity and respect beyond heterosexual Australia. I understand, that for many people of different faiths, this is a complex question, I respect this. It is why I support a free vote. And why this legislation makes it clear that no minister of religion can be compelled, or is obliged, to conduct a particular marriage…including one where two people are of the same sex. AlI ask in return that this respect be mutual. Just as churches, mosques, temples and synagogues of all faiths and traditions will be free to choose if they consecrate same sex marriages. Let the same respect allow Australians to freely choose who they marry, without vilification or judgment. So often in our history, Australia has led the world in social and economic progress. The right to vote, pensions, the eight-hour day. Our healthcare and superannuation systems are among the best in the world. But on marriage equality, we have fallen behind. Like so many Australians, two Sunday mornings ago, when I first heard the result of the Irish referendum I thought: if the Irish can do it, why can’t we? How can Ireland, New Zealand, 37 US States, England, Scotland, South Africa and Canada and Brazil, Iceland and Uruguay be ahead of us? Twenty countries have already recognised the merit of marriage equality. I am confident Australia will. I don’t want us to wait, any longer. We cannot assume this change is inevitable. We cannot imagine it will just happen. We, the 44th Parliament, we have to step up, to rise to the moment. Today, is neither the beginning, nor the end, of the journey to marriage equality. But I hope…with goodwill on all sides, with co-operation, with respect for one another this can be a historic step forward. Given a free vote, I believe this Parliament is ready for a definition of marriage which reflects the modern, inclusive and egalitarian Australia we love. We are ready to be as generous and kind-hearted as the Australians who trust us. Millions of Australians have waited long enough for this act of justice and inclusion. The opportunity of a generation is before us now. The moment is here. Let this law reflect the nation we want to see in the mirror: generous, smart, modern, diverse, honest and, above all, equal. Let’s switch on the light. Let’s make 2015, the year when Australia embraces marriage equality. Let’s make it happen, together. It’s time