some another; and wise men on both sides did utter foolishness; for the heart of man forgetteth good counsel when anger lodgeth therein but for an hour. Then the enemies of Israe rejoiced and their hearts were glad within them and they said: "Now is their house divided against itself; surely their habitation shall be desolate, and their counsels, like the builders of Babel, shall come to nought for their speech is confounded."

Then arose Nathaniel, an old man with a beard that came down to his girdle. The same was the son of Jehuchaner from the hill country about Jordan. And he opened his mouth and spake-Men and brethren, sons of Jacob and daughters of Israel! Who knoweth the spirit of man but Heaven that fashioneth the heart? Peradventure this man is not a son of Belial though evil companions and much strong drink have made his footsteps to wander. Truly, his speech is not with soberness, nor his walk like the sons of consolation, and doubtless also he hath sinned with his lips, making our ears to tingle with his words. But peradventure his tongue, only went astray, while he meant not evil in his heart. For an old man knoweth by his own follies that wickedness is sometimes wrought when evil is not with the worker, but with the work only. Or, if Satan hath tempted him, perhaps the man that was a sinner hath repented already in his heart and will do so no more. Nay, who knoweth that our forbearance may not convert him from the evil of his ways and save a soul from death? Let us err often by the abundance of our charity, rather than once only through excess of our haughtiness and haste to take vengeance. Did not Abraham our father lie, unto the king of Egypt, and David, also, sin a great sin unto the Lord, in the matter of Uriah the Hittite? Yet our God did not utterly forsake them. Peradventure he will open the eyes of this son of Adam and bless us likewise with his love if we also love those who trespass against us. Let us forgive him, seven times, nay seventy times seven."

and wept;

And when he sat down the multitude rose up and the man who was a sinner fell upon his face, weeping, and said: "Lo, here are five shekels more; the Lord be merciful

to me a sinner!" And they put the money into the treasury of the Lord and said, "Surely, brotherly love is better than much fine gold. It is this which shall repair the breaches of the Temple and build up the tabernacle of David which is fallen down. Is it not with our charity that the Lord will build up Zion?"

And the multitude was again of one heart and mind, and the Lord blessed them, and the love of them came upon all the people round about who saw their good works, and they glorified God who gave such gifts unto men.

The waves were calmed. The vote for and against receiving the money was taken. The affirmative carried; and the subdued man "laid his gift upon the altar," tossing a few tears from his eyes as he walked up the aisle to the desk, with it. He made one more short speech in that meeting. The next year he came on the first day, but made no public remarks and was never heard here afterwards.

Of a quite different type,-an especially interesting and pathetic character, who early appealed to the Progressive Friends on several occasions, for sympathy in his undertakings,-was one Bernardus Andreas Schmollnecker. He was a German; born, reared and educated in the Fatherland. He, in early life, had taken holy orders; he had written learned books; and for many years he had been profoundly impressed with the sacredness of his "mission," from the Most High, so he believed,-which was, to go forth to the care of souls, in the full faith that ere long all people would be united in one church.”

In Longfellow's "Hyperion," part II, chapter vi., vii., we are introduced to him. There he tells Paul Flemming: "I am chosen by Heaven to go forth as Minister Extraordinary of Christ, to unite all nations and people in one church." "I am certain of it; and if Saint Peter and Saint Paul should come down from Heaven to assure me of it, my faith would be no stronger than it now is. It has been declared to me by many signs and wonders. I can no longer doubt nor hesitate. I have already heard the voice of the Spirit speaking to me in the night, and I know that I am an Apostle, chosen for this work."

Thus impressed, he had come to America and for years, with this purpose at heart, he travelled up and down the land, ever hoping, hoping, hoping. Truly a devout, prophetic soul, but so unworldly and recluse in his training and habits of life, with his enthusiastic temperament, that his sense of perspective as to time was sadly at fault, and he could not realize how slowly -to our child-like perceptions, "the Mills of God" do grind. A committe examined his manuscript with reference to its being read in the yearly meeting, but they had to tell him it was too long and not adapted to such an occasion. He accepted their judgment with gratitude for their respectful attention and with a degree of content, although rather sadly, and went his way. He had done what he could.. Who dare say that his burning enthusiasm, his absolute sincerity of heart and steady persistence in declaring his "mission," have not affected the thought of the world beneficently?

Once there came to a Yearly Meeting two women, advocates of dress-reform. Habited to illustrate their ideas. Their dress was tidy, neat, convenient, light of weight,-very odd, to be sure, in the presence of dust-mixing trains and flounces,-but well adapted to the requirements of active life. One of them read a reasonable paper on the subject; the other told her story verbally. She had been an invalid for years. Became convinced that her fashionable dress caused most of her disabilities, and on regaining health by discarding it for a better form she felt bound to carry the good tidings abroad among other

women.

Charles G. Ames, then Presiding Clerk of the Yearly Meeting, was that day invested by Eternal Goodness, with a crown jewel of purest ray, for his brotherly championship of those isolated standard bearers.

From his place on the platform he could read in many eyes before him, that an unseemly wave of ridicule was liable to break over the assembly, and tactfully turned it aside.

"Friends," he said, "We have heard these ladies; what do we think of their cause? They make a good case." He reminded them that the Society of Friends had a testimony against the

vanities and extravagance of the popular dress. That beside those reasons these women had asserted, what was of immediate, practical importance, that the fashionable dress was chargeable with a large proportion of the ill health among women. He asked for a vote by hands for and against this assertion. The affirmative carried by a full, general vote. So the meeting committed itself to the significance of the dress reform, and with gravity and dignity passed to other subjects.

It is with reverent, tender affection that we think of the pioneers in this work, our venerated progenitors, and of their faithful service to humanity. Yet we know they would not have us fall into extravagant eulogy about them. They were good home-makers and good citizens. The sort of material of which sound commonwealths are made. They never thought of themselves as martyrs, I am sure, and would have smiled at being mentioned as saints.

"Mortal, they softly say,

Peace to thy heart!

We too, yes mortal,

Have been as thou art,

Hope-lifted, doubt-depressed,
Seeing in part,

Tried, troubled, tempted,

Sustained, as thou art."

They were fortunate in having been trained to see it a duty to learn the truth and to live to it. And again, in being called to work for the general good in an unpopular cause in which they sincerely believed. Their own lives were enlarged thereby. They grew, intellectually as well as morally, by it, and their social life was te ricaer for it. Thomas Whitson said,and every one felt it,-"The reformer always gains more than he gives. He serves a good master who pays his wages as soon as it is earned."

Will there be to them "a succession," of sensible, sincere, just men and women, who, realizing the unity of the Human family, and the dependence for happiness of each on every other one, cannot rest in the enjoyment of prosperity while another lacks the opportunity to make the best of himself?

HENRY S. KENT read as follows:

I am one of the few and constantly diminishing number, still here, who were present at that first crowded and enthusiastic conference held on the 22nd day of 5th month, 1853, at the Friend's meeting house at Old Kennett. Well do I remember that great Sabbath, and call to mind the conviction I then felt, that an enterprise of great moment was on hand, a day of great beginnings, of heroic action, of boldly breaking and throwing off ecclesiastical fetters, and indeed fetters of every kind and entering as real freemen upon a great work for God and humanity. There was no question as to purpose.

Practical Religion and Dogmatic Theology were on trial, and were to be divorced. They were an ill mated pair. There was no harmony. They did not belong together. Religion could find a better mate in practical righteousness. Those were stirring times, and that a stirring occasion. The very air seemed permeated with moral enthusiasm. In imagination I can feel the force with which the spirit of revolt took hold of us.

On another memorable day two years later, when this house was dedicated to Liberty, Fraternity, Humanity, a question arose amongst the fathers and mothers on whom the management rested as to the proper construction of our platform of principles. How broad should it be? How democratic? How equal its privileges to all. Was it safe to leave it open and unfenced on every side,-to be truly hospitable, with an equa. welcome for all sades of thought. Could equal membership without condition be trusted. Would not Would not such liberty be abused? It was a grave question and one that in some measure challenged the soundness of the basic doctrine of Friends that every one should follow the beckonings of his own spirit; in Quaker parlance, "mind the light."

That the fears of cautious spirits were not wholly ungrounded later developments proved.

However, liberty or nothing was the cry of the bolder spirits and they prevailed. The invitation went out to men and women every where who were afflicted with that incurable malady, con