第7章
conytoseewhereitcamefrom。Whatshesawdoubtlesstouchedthemother—heartinher。Shecaughttheeyeofthetatteredurchinclingingtothepillar，andradiantlysmiledonhim。Then，prob—
ablythinkingthattheKingwasabsorbingtheat—
tentionofthegreatassemblage，sheindulgedinalittlediversion。Leaningfarforward，shekissedthetipofherlacehandkerchiefandsweptitcaressinglyacrosstheboy’sbrowncheek，smilingdownathimasunconsciouslyasifsheandtheenrapturedyoung—
sterwerealonetogetherintheworld。Thenextinstantshehadstraightenedupandflushed，forthewatchfulcrowdhadseentheepisodeandwaswildwithenthusiasm。FortenminutesthepeoplecheeredtheQueenwithoutceasing，andforthenextfewdaystheytalkedoflittlebutthespontaneous，girlishactionwhichhaddelightedthemall。
Onemoresentimentalrecord，andIshallhavereachedanothermile—stone。AsIhavesaid，myfriendMrs。AddyleftmeinherwillfifteenhundreddollarsformyvisittoEurope，andbeforeIsailedherfather，whowasoneofthebestfriendsIhaveeverhad，madeacharacteristicallykindpropositioninconnectionwiththelittlefund。Insteadofgivingmethemoney，hegavemetworailroadbonds，oneforonethousanddollars，theotherforfivehundreddollars，andeachdrawingsevenpercent。interest。
HesuggestedthatIdepositthesebondsinthebankofwhichhewaspresident，andborrowfromthebankthemoneytogoabroad。Then，whenIre—
turnedandwentintomynewparish，Icouldusesomeofmysalaryeverymonthtowardrepayingtheloan。Thesemonthlypayments，heexplained，couldbeassmallasIwished，buteachmonththeinterestontheamountIpaidwouldcease。Iglad—
lytookhisadviceandborrowedsevenhundreddollars。AfterIreturnedfromEuropeIrepaidtheloaninmonthlyinstalments，andeventuallygotmybonds，whichIstillown。Theywillmaturein1916。
Ihavehadonehundredandfivedollarsayearfromthem，ininterest，eversinceIreceivedthemin1878
——morethantwiceasmuchinterestastheirfacevalue——andeverytimeIhavegoneabroadIhaveusedthisinteresttowardpayingmypassage。ThusmyfriendhashadashareineachofthemanyvisitsIhavemadetoEurope，andinallofthemhermemoryhasbeenvividlywithme。
WithmyreturnfromEuropemyrealcareerasaministerbegan。TheyearinthepulpitatHing—
hamhadbeenmerelytentative，andthoughIhadsucceededinbuildingupthechurchmembershiptofourtimeswhatithadbeenwhenItookcharge，I
wasnotreappointed。Ihadpaidoffasmallchurchdebt，andhadhadthebuildingrepaired，painted，andcarpeted。Nowthatitwasoutofitsdifficultiesitofferedsomeadvantagestotheoccupantofitspul—
pit，andofthesemysuccessor，aman，receivedthebenefit。I，however，hadsmallgroundforcom—
plaint，forIwasatonceofferedandacceptedthepastorateofachurchatEastDennis，CapeCod。
HereIwentinOctober，1878，andhereIspentsevenofthemostinterestingyearsofmylife。
V
SHEPHERDOFADIVIDEDFLOCK
OnmyreturnfromEurope，asIhavesaid，I
tookupimmediatelyandmostbuoyantlytheworkofmynewparish。Mypreviousoccupationofvariouspulpits，whetherlongorshort，hadalwaysbeenintheroleofasubstitute。Now，forthefirsttime，Ihadachurchofmyown，andwastostandorfallbytherecordmadeinit。TheinkwasbarelydryonmydiplomafromtheBostonTheologicalSchool，and，asithappened，thelittlechurchtowhichIwascalledwasinthehandsoftwowarringfactions，whosebattlesfurnishedthemostfervidinterestoftheCapeCodcommunity。Butmyin—
experiencedisturbedmenotatall，andIwasbliss—
fullyignorantofthedivisioninthecongregation。
SoIenteredmynewfieldastrustfullyasachildentersagarden；andthoughIwasintroublefromthebeginning，andresignedthreetimesinstartlingsuccession，Iendedbyremainingsevenyears。
Myappointmentdidnotcauseevenalullinthewarfareamongmyparishioners。BeforeIhadcrossedthethresholdofmychurchIwasmadetorealizethatIwasshepherdofadividedflock。
ExactlywhathadcausedtheoriginalbreachIneverlearned；butithadwidenedwithtime，untilitseemedthatnopeacemakercouldbuildabridgelargeenoughtospanit。AssoonasIarrivedinEastDenniseachfactiontriedtopourintomyearsitsbittercriticismsoftheother，butImadeandconsistentlyfollowedthesaferuleofrefusingtolistentoeitherside，IannouncedpubliclythatI
wouldhearnoverbalchargeswhatever，butthatifmytwoflockswouldstatetheirtroublesinwritingIwouldcallaboardmeetingtodiscussandpassuponthem。Thistheybothresolutelyrefusedtodo（itwasapparentlythefirsttimetheyhadeveragreedonanypoint）；andasIsteadilydeclinedtolistentocomplaints，theydevisedanoriginalmethodofputtingthembeforeme。
DuringtheregularThursday—nightprayer—meet—
ing，heldabouttwoweeksaftermyarrival，andatwhich，ofcourse，Ipresided，theyvoicedtheirdiffi—
cultiesinpublicprayer，loudlyandurgentlycallingupontheLordtopardonsuchandsuchaliar，men—
tioningthegentlemanbyname，andsuchandsuchaslanderer，whosenamewasalsosubmitted。Bythetimetheprayerswereendedtherewerefewun—
tarnishedreputationsinthecongregation，andI
knew，perforce，whatbothsideshadtosay。
ThefollowingThursdaynighttheydidthesamething，fillingtheirprayerswithintimateandsur—
prisingdetailsofoneanother’shistory，andIen—
duredthesituationsolelybecauseIdidnotknowhowtomeetit。Iwasstillyoung，andmytheo—
logicalcoursehadsetnoguide—postsonroadsasnewasthese。Tointerferewithsoulsintheircom—
munionwithGodseemedimpossible；toletthemcontinuetoutterpersonalattacksinchurch，undercoverofprayer，wasequallyimpossible。AnycourseI
couldfollowseemedtoleadawayfrommynewparish，yetbothdutyandpridemadepromptactionneces—
sary。Bythetimewegatheredforthethirdprayer—
meetingIhaddecidedwhattodo，andbeforetheservicesbeganIroseandaddressedmyerringchil—
dren。Iexplainedthatthecharacteroftheprayersatourrecentmeetingswasmakingusthelaughing—
stockofthecommunity，thatunbelieverswereridiculingourreligion，andthatthedisciplineofthechurchwasbeingwrecked；andIendedwiththesewords，eachofwhichIhadcarefullyweighed：
``Nowoneoftwothingsmusthappen。Eitheryouwillstopthiskindofpraying，oryouwillre—
mainawayfromourmeetings。Wewillholdprayer—
meetingsonanothernight，andIshallrefusead—
missiontoanyamongyouwhobringpersonalcriti—
cismsintoyourpublicprayers。’’
AsIhadexpectedittodo，theannouncementcreatedanimmediateuproar。Bothfactionssprangtotheirfeet，tryingtotalkatonce。ThestormrageduntilIdismissedthecongregation，tellingthemembersthattheirconductwasaninsulttotheLord，andthatIwouldnotlistentoeithertheirprotestsortheirprayers。Theywentunwillingly，buttheywent；andtheexcitementthenextdayraisedthesickfromtheirbedstotalkofit，andsweptthelengthandbreadthofCapeCod。ThefollowingSundaythelittlechurchheldthelargestattendanceinitshistory。Seemingly，everymanandwomanintownhadcometohearwhatmoreIwouldsayaboutthetrouble，butIignoredthewholematter。IpreachedthesermonIhadpre—
pared，thesubjectofwhichwasasremotefromchurchquarrelsasouratmospherewasremotefrompeace，andmycongregationdispersedwithexpres—
sionsofsuchartlessdisappointmentthatitwasallIcoulddotopreserveadignifiedgravity。
Thatnight，however，thewarwasbroughtintomycamp。Attheeveningmeetingtheleaderofoneofthefactionsrosetohisfeetwiththeobviouspur—
poseofstartingtrouble。Hewasaretiredsea—cap—
tain，oftheruthlesstypethatknocksamandownwithabelaying—pin，andhemadehisattackonmeinacharacteristically``straightfromtheshoulder’’
fashion。Hebeganwiththepropositionthatmymorningsermonhadbeen``entirelycontrarytotheScriptures，’’andfortenminuteshequotedandmis—
quotedme，hammeringinhispoints。Ilethimgoonwithoutinterruption。Thenheadded：
``Andthisgalcomestothischurchandunder—
takestotellushowweshallpray。That’sahigh—
handedmeasure，andI，forone，ain’tgoin’tostandit。IwanttosayrightherethatIshallprayasI
like，whenIlike，andwhereIlike。Ihaveprayedinthisheavenlywayforfiftyyearsbeforethatgalwasborn，andshecan’tdictatetomenow！’’
Bythistimethewholecongregationwasaroused，andcriesof``Sitdown！’’``Sitdown！’’camefromeverysideofthechurch。Itwasahardmoment，butIwasabletorisewithsomeshowofdignity。
Iwashurtthroughandthrough，butmyfightingbloodwasstirring。
``No，’’Isaid，``CaptainSearshasthefloor。Lethimsaynowallhewishestosay，foritisthelasttimehewilleverspeakatoneofourmeetings。’’
CaptainSears，whoseexertionshadalreadymadehimapoplectic，turnedadarkerpurple。``What’sthat？’’heshouted。``Whatd’yemean？’’
``Imean，’’Ireplied，``thatIdonotintendtoallowyouoranybodyelsetointerferewithmymeetings。Youareasea—captain。WhatwouldyoudotomeifIcameonboardyourshipandstartedamutinyinyourcrew，ortriedtogiveyouorders？’’
CaptainSearsdidnotreply。Hestoodstill，withhislegsfarapartandbraced，ashealwaysstoodwhentalking，buthiseyesshiftedalittle。Iansweredmyownquestion。
``Youwouldputmeashoreorinirons，’’Ire—
mindedhim。``Now，CaptainSears，Iintendtoputyouashore。Iamthemasterofthisship。I
havesetmycourse，andImeantofollowit。Ifyourebel，eitheryouwillgetoutorIwill。Butuntiltheboardasksformyresignation，Iamincommand。’’
Asithappened，Ihadputmyultimatumintheoneformtheoldmancouldunderstand。Hesatdownwithoutawordandstaredatme。WesangtheDoxology，andIdismissedthemeeting。Againwehadomittedprayers。ThenextdayCaptainSearssentmealetterrecallinghissubscriptiontow—
ardthesupportofthechurch；andforweeksheremainedawayfromourservices，returningunderconditionsIwillmentionlater。Evenatthetime，however，hisattackhelpedratherthanhurtme。
AttheregularmeetingthefollowingThursdaynightnopersonalcriticismswereincludedintheprayers，andeventuallywehadpeace。Butmanybattleswerelostandwonbeforethathappydayarrived。
CaptainSears’svacantplaceamonguswaspromptlytakenbyanothercaptaininEastDennis，whosenamewasalsoSears。AfewdaysaftermyencounterwiththefirstcaptainImetthesecondonthestreet。Hehadnevercometochurch，andI
stoppedandinvitedhimtodoso。Herepliedwithsimplecandor。
``Iain’tcomin’，’’hetoldme。``Thereain’tnogalthatcanteachmenothin’。’’
``Perhapsyouarewrong，CaptainSears，’’Ire—
plied。``Imightteachyousomething。’’
``What？’’demandedthecaptain，withchillingdistrust。
``Oh，’’Isaid，cheerfully，``letussaytolerance，foronething。’’
``Humph！’’mutteredtheoldman。``TheLorddon’twantnoneofyourtolerance，andneitherdoI。’’
Ilaughed。``Hedoesn’tobjecttotolerance，’’I
said。``Cometochurch。Youcantalk，too；andtheLordwilllistentousboth。’’
Tomysurprise，thecaptaincamethefollowingSunday，andduringthesevenyearsIremainedinthechurchhewasoneofmystrongestsupportersandfriends。Ineededfriends，formysecondbattlewasnotslowinfollowingmyfirst。Therewas，in—
deed，barelytimebetweeninwhichtocareforthewounded。
WehadinEastDenniswhatwasknownasthe``FreeReligiousGroup，’’andwhensomeofthemembersofmycongregationwerenotwranglingamongthemselves，theywereusuallylockinghornswiththisgroup。Foryears，Iwastold，oneoftheprimediversionsofthe``FreeReligious’’factionwastohaveadanceinourtownhallonthenightwhenwewereusingitforourannualchurchfair。
Therulesofthechurchpositivelyprohibiteddanc—
ing，sotheworldlygrouptookpeculiarpleasureinattendingthefair，andduringtheeveningingettingupadanceandwhirlingaboutamongus，tothehorrorofourmembers。Thentheyspentthere—
mainderoftheyearboastingoftheachievement。
ItcametomyearsthattheyhaddecidedtofollowthispleasingprogrammeatourChristmaschurchcelebration，soIcalledthechurchtrusteestogetherandputthesituationtothem。
``Wemusteitherenforceourdiscipline，’’Isaid，``orgiveitup。PersonallyIdonotobjecttodanc—
ing，but，asthechurchhasruledagainstit，Iintendtoupholdthechurch。Toallowthesepeopletomakeusridiculousyearafteryearisimpossible。
Letuseithertellthemthattheymaydanceorthattheymaynotdance；butwhateverwetellthem，letusmakethemobeyourruling。’’
Thetrusteeswereshockedatthemeresuggestionoflettingthemdance。
``Verywell，’’Iended。``Thentheyshallnotdance。Thatisunderstood。’’
CaptainCrowell，thefatherofmydeadfriendMrs。Addy，andhimselfmybestmanfriend，wasastrongsupporteroftheFreeReligiousGroup。
WhenitsmembersracedtohimwiththenewsthatIhadsaidtheycouldnotdanceatthechurch’sChristmasparty，CaptainCrowelllaughedgood—
humoredlyandtoldthemtodanceasmuchastheypleased，cheerfullyaddingthathewouldgetthemoutofanytroubletheygotinto。Knowingmyfriendshipforhim，andthatIevenowedmychurchappointmenttohim，theFreeReligiouspeoplewerecertainthatIwouldnevertakeissuewithhimondancingoronanyotherpoint。Theymadealltheirpreparationsforthedance，therefore，withentireconfidence，andboastedthattheaffairwouldbethegayesttheyhadeverarranged。Mypeoplebegantolookatmewithsympathy，andforatimeIfeltverysorryformyself。Itseemedsufficientlyclearthat``thegal’’wastohavemoretrouble。
Onthenightofthepartythingswentbadlyfromthefirst。TherewasanevidentintentionamongtheworstoftheFreeReligiousGrouptoembarrassusateveryturn。WeopenedtheexerciseswiththeLord’sPrayer，whichthiselementloudlyapplauded。
AlivekittenwashunghighontheChristmastree，whereitsqualledmournfullybeyondreachofrescue，andtheyoungmenoftheoutsidegroupthrewcakeatoneanotheracrossthehall。Finallytiringoftheseinnocentdiversions，theybegantopreparefortheirdance，andIprotested。Thespokesmanofthegroupwavedmetooneside。
``CaptainCrowellsaidwecould，’’heremarked，airily。
``CaptainCrowell，’’Ireplied，``hasnoauthoritywhateverinthismatter。Thechurchtrusteeshavedecidedthatyoucannotdancehere，andIintendtoenforcetheirruling。’’
Itwasinterestingtoobservehowrapidlythemenofmycongregationdisappearedfromthathall。
Likeshadowstheycreptalongthewallsandvanishedthroughthedoors。Butthepreparationsforthedancewentmerrilyon。Iwalkedtothemiddleoftheroomandraisedmyvoice。Iwasalwayslistenedto，formyhearersalwayshadthehope，usuallyrealized，thatIwasabouttogetintomoretrouble。
``Youaredeterminedtodance，’’Ibegan。``I
cannotkeepyoufromdoingso。ButIcanandwillmakeyouregretthatyouhavedoneso。ThelawoftheStateofMassachusettsisverydefiniteinre—
gardtoreligiousmeetingsandreligiousgatherings。
ThishallwasengagedandpaidforbytheWesleyanMethodistChurch，ofwhichIampastor，andwehavefullcontrolofitto—night。Everymanandwomanwhointerruptsourexercisesbyattemptingtodance，orbycreatingadisturbanceofanykind，willbearrestedto—morrowmorning。’’
Surpriseatfirst，thenconsternation，sweptthroughtheranksoftheFreeReligiousGroup。TheydeniedtheexistenceofsuchalawasIhadmentioned，andIpromptlyreaditaloudtothem。Theleaderswentoffintoacornerandconsulted。Bythistimenotonemaninmyparishwasleftinthehall。Asaresultoftheconsultationinthecorner，acommitteeofthewould—bedancerscametomeandsuggestedacompromise。
``Willyouagreetoarrestthemenonly？’’theywantedtoknow。
``No，’’Ideclared。``Onthecontrary，Ishallhavethewomenarrestedfirst！Forthewomenoughttobestandingwithmenowinthesupportoflawandorder，insteadofsidingwiththehoodlumelementyourepresent。’’
Thatsettledit。Nogirlorwomandaredtogoonthedancing—floor，andnomancaredtorevolvemerrilybyhimself。Awhisperwentround，how—
ever，thatthedancewouldbeginwhenIhadleft。
Whentheclockstrucktwelve，atwhichhour，ac—
cordingtothetownrule，thehallhadtobeclosed，Iwasthelastpersontoleaveit。ThenIlockedthedoormyself，andcarriedthekeyawaywithme。
TherehadbeennoFreeReligiousdancethatnight。
OnthefollowingSundaymorningtheattendanceatmychurchbrokeallpreviousrecords。Everyseatwasoccupiedandeveryaislewasfilled。Menandwomencamefromsurroundingtowns，andstrangehorsesweretiedtoallthefencesinEastDennis。Everypersoninthatchurchwaslookingforexcitement，andthistimemycongregationgotwhatitexpected。BeforeIbeganmysermonI
readmyresignation，totakeeffectatthediscretionofthetrustees。Then，asitwaspresumablymylastchancetotellthepeopleandtheplacewhatI
thoughtofthem，Ispentanhourandahalfinfer—
vidlydoingso。InmystudyofEnglishIhadac—
quiredafairlylargevocabulary。IthinkIuseditallthatmorning——certainlyItriedto。Ifeveranerringcongregationandcommunitysawthemselvesastheyreallywere，minedidonthatoccasion。I
washeartsick，discouraged，andfullofresentmentandindignation，whichuntilthenhadbeenpentup。Underthearraignmentmypeoplewrithedandsquirmed。Iended：
``WhatIamsayinghurtsyou，butinyourheartsyouknowyoudeserveeverywordofit。Itishightimeyousawyourselvesasyouare——adisgracetothereligionyouprofessandtothecommunityyoulivein。’’
Iwasnotsurethecongregationwouldletmefinish，butitdid。Myhearersseemedtornbyconflictingsentiments，inwhichangerandcurios—
ityledopposingsides。Manyofthemleftthechurchinawhitefury，butothers——morethanIhadexpected——remainedtospeaktomeandassuremeoftheirsympathy。Onceonthestreets，differentgroupsformedandmingled，andalldaythelittletownrockedwithargumentsforandagainst``thegal。’’
Nightbroughtanothersurprisinglylargeattend—
ance。Iexpectedmoretrouble，andIfaceditwithdifficulty，forIwasverytired。JustasItookmyplaceinthepulpit，CaptainSearsenteredthechurchandwalkeddowntheaisle——theCaptainSearswhohadleftusatmyinvitationsomeweeksbeforeandhadnotsinceattendedachurchservice。IwassurehewastheretomakeanotherattackonmewhileIwasdown，and，expectingtheworst，I
wearilygavehimhisopportunity。Thebigoldfel—
lowstoodup，bracedhimselfonlegsfarapart，asifhewerestandingonaslipperydeckduringahighsea，andgavethecongregationitsbiggestsurpriseoftheyear。
Hesaidhehadcometomakeaconfession。Hehadbeenangrywith``thegal’’inthepast，astheyallknew。Buthehadheardaboutthesermonshehadpreachedthatmorning，andthistimeshewasright。Itwashightimequarrelingandbackbitingwerestopped。Theyhadbeengoingontoolong，andnogoodcouldcomeofthem。Moreover，inalltheyearshehadbeenamemberofthatcongre—
gationhehadneveruntilnowseenthepulpitoc—
cupiedbyaministerwithenoughbackbonetoup—
holdthedisciplineofthechurch。``I’vecomeheretosayI’mwiththegal，’’heended。``Putmedownformyoriginalsubscriptionandtendollarsextra！’’
Sowehadtheoldmanbackagain。Hewasatowerofstrength，andhestoodbymefaithfullyuntilhedied。Thetrusteeswouldnotacceptmyresignation（indeed，theyrefusedtoconsideritatall），andthecongregation，whenithadthoughtthingsover，apparentlydecidedthattheremightbeworsethingsinthepulpitthan``thegal。’’Itwasevenknowntobragofwhatitcalledmy``spunk，’’andperhapsitwasthisquality，ratherthananyother，whichImostneededinthatparticularparishatthattime。Asforme，whenthefightwasoverI
droppeditfrommymind，andithadnotenteredmythoughtsforyears，untilIbegantosummonthesememories。
AttheendofmyfirstsixmonthsinEastDennisIwasaskedtotakeon，also，thetemporarychargeoftheCongregationalChurchatDennis，twomilesandahalfaway。Iagreedtodothisuntilaper—
manentpastorcouldbefound，onconditionthatI
shouldpreachatDennisonSundayafternoons，usingthesamesermonIpreachedinmyownpulpitinthemorning。Thearrangementworkedsowellthatitlastedforsixandahalfyears——untilIresignedfrommyEastDennischurch。Duringthatperiod，more—
over，Inotonlycarriedthetwochurchesonmyshoulders，holdingthreemeetingseachSunday，butIentereduponandcompletedacourseintheBostonMedicalSchool，winningmyM。D。in1885，andIalsolecturedseveraltimesamonthduringthewinterseasons。Thesewere，therefore，amongthemoststrenuousaswellasthemostinterestingyearsofmyexistence，andImentionthestrainofthemonlytoprovemylife—longcontention，thatcongenialwork，nomatterhowmuchthereisofit，hasneveryetkilledanyone！
AftermybattlewiththeFreeReligiousGroupthingsmovedmuchmoresmoothlyintheparish。
CaptainCrowell，insteadofresentingmydefianceofhisruling，helpedtoreconcilethedividedfactionsinthechurch；andthough，asIhavesaid，twiceafterwardIsubmittedmyresignation，ineachcasethefightIwasmakingwasforacausewhichI
firmlybelievedinandeventuallywon。MysecondresignationwasbroughtaboutbytheunwillingnessofthechurchtohavemeexchangepulpitswiththeoneministeronCapeCodbroad—mindedenoughtoinvitemetopreachinhispulpit。Ihaddoneso，andhadthensenthimareturninvitation。Hewasagentlemanandascholar，buthewasalsoaUni—
tarian；andthoughmypeoplewerewillingtoletmepreachinhischurch，theywereloathtolethimpreachinmine。Afterasurprisingamountofdis—
cussionmyresignationputadifferentaspectonthematter；italsoledtothesatisfactoryrulingthatIcouldexchangepulpitsnotonlywiththisminister，butwithanyotheringoodstandinginhisownchurch。
MythirdresignationwentbeforethetrusteesinconsequenceofmyprotestfromthepulpitagainstasmalldrinkingandgamblingsalooninEastDennis；
whichwasrapidlydemoralizingourboys。Theo—
retically，only``softdrinks’’weresold，butthegamblingwasopen，andtheresortwasconstantlyfilledwithboysofallages。Therewereinfluencesbackofthisplacewhichtriedtoprotectit，anditsownerwasverypopularinthetown。AftermyfirstsermonIwaswaiteduponbyacommittee，thatwarmlyadvisedmeto``letEastDennisalone’’andconfinemycriticisms``tosaloonsinBostonandotherbigtowns。’’AsIhadnothingtodowithBoston，andmuchtodowithEastDennis，IpreachedonthatplacethreeSundaysinsuccession，andfeelingbecamesointensethatIhandedinmyresig—
nationandpreparedtodepart。Thenmyfriendsralliedandtheresortwassuppressed。
Thatwasmylastbigstruggle。Duringthere—
mainingfiveyearsofmypastorateonCapeCodtherelationsbetweenmypeopleandmyselfwerewhollyharmoniousandbeautiful。IfIhaveseemedtodwelltoomuchonthesesmallvictories，itmustberememberedthatIfindinthemsuchcomfortasIcan。Ihavenotyetwonthegreatandvitalfightofmylife，towhichIhavegivenmyself，heartandsoul，forthepastthirtyyears——thecampaignforwomansuffrage。Ihaveseenvictorieshereandthere，andshallseemore。Butwhentheultimatetriumphcomes——whenAmericanwomenineverystatecasttheirballotsasnaturallyastheirhusbandsdo——Imaynotbeinthisworldtorejoiceoverit。
ItisinterestingtorememberthatduringthestrenuousperiodofthefirstfewmonthsinEastDennis，andnotwithstandingthedivisioninthecongregation，wewomenofthechurchgottogetherandrepaintedandrefurnishedthebuilding，raisingallthemoneyanddoingmuchoftheworkourselves，astheexpenseofhavingitdonewasprohibitive。Wepaintedthechurch，andevencutdownandmod—
ernizedthepulpit。Thetotalcostofmaterialandfurniturewasnothalfsogreatastheoriginalesti—
matehadindicated，andwehadlearnedavaluablelesson。Afterthiswespentverylittlemoneyforlabor，butdidourowncleaning，carpet—laying，andthelike；andourlittlechurch，ifImaybeallowedtosayso，wasamodelofneatnessandgoodtaste。
Ihavesaidthatattheendoftwoyearsfromthetimeofmyappointmentthelong—continuedwar—
fareinthechurchwasended。Iwasnotimmediate—
lyallowed，however，tobaskinanatmosphereofharmony，forinOctober，1880，thecelebratedcon—