the erection of a large school house.

Here in the low, long hall I held forth on the following Sabbath. The
position was an awkward one. The table stood in the middle of the hall,
reaching from one end to the other. The congregation was seated on each
side in long rows. The preacher stood at the head of the table and threw
his message along the narrow defile, greatly to his own annoyance, if
not the discomfort of the people. To me the task was exceedingly
disagreeable. My thin, feminine voice seemed to spend its volume before
it had reached the middle of the line. Then, my rapid manner of speaking
seemed to send the words in wild confusion into the distant part of the
hall. But I soon learned to gauge my voice to the place, and,
thereafter, I enjoyed unusual freedom of speech.

At the close of the services, the table was spread for dinner. I was
assigned the head of the table, with the President of the Association at
my right, and the Vice President at my left. Both of these gentlemen
were decidedly Infidel in their views, and have since become somewhat
distinguished as champions of Unbelief. They always treated me with
courtesy, however, and sought to make my visits agreeable.

It was their custom to bring up some item in the sermon as the subject
of discussion at the table. These discussions often became animated.
But, having been somewhat schooled in that line of things, I always
required a definite statement of position on both sides before any
discussion could be had on the point assailed. This precaution kept the
coast clear, and made these table conversations profitable. The
President repeatedly expressed his gratification with the conversations,
and also with the religious services of the day. And on one occasion he
took the freedom to say, "Though I am not a believer in Christianity,