give a public lecture in the village where he resided, choosing that place instead of her own city, as it would relieve her of many of the embarrassments that would attend her where better known. It was almost an unheard of thing for a woman to speak in public at all, and that Amelia should propose such a thing seemed a most absurd delusion. Finding she was not to be dissuaded, he promised to consult his old friend, Mr. Brewster, who was an Orthodox deacon of high standing in the church, and also a selectman of great influence in the town. To his surprise he heartily approved of it and encouraged Amelia to go on, saying, "God only knows what great good may come of an insignificant beginning." Strangers are much more ready to trust a person in a new enterprise than well known friends, as it is not easy to get over early impressions, or forget known faults which seriously detract from admitted virtues.
Deacon Brewster, however, was no distrusting sort of man. He encouraged people by trusting them, not blindly, but with a great deal of discretion and sound judgment. Amelia's unyielding determination impressed him favorably, and he dared not, if he felt doubts, discourage the least attempt to stay the swelling tide of intemperance.
A firm adherent to the rituals of the church, he never considered his creed too sacred to be tested by deeds. No construction of Scripture texts ever deterred him from giving his heart and hand to every effort for the elevation of the human race.
If one quoted St. Paul against woman, he quoted Jesus against St. Paul. If he was cautioned against
