The　meeting　opened　with　the　singing　of　a　popular　hymn　which　carried　a　refrain　catchy　enough　but　running　to　doggerel。　　Another　hymn　followed　and　another。　　Then　abruptly　the　evangelist　announced；
  〃Now　we　shall　have　a　truly　GREAT　hymn；　a　hymn　you　must　sing　in　a　truly　great　way；　in　what　we　call　the　grand　style；　number　three　hundred　and　sixty…seven。〃
  Then　in　a　voice；　deep；　thrilling；　vibrant　with　a　noble　emotion；　he　read　the　words：
  〃When　I　survey　the　wondrous　cross　　　　　　　　　On　which　the　Prince　of　Glory　died；　　　　　　　My　richest　gain　I　count　but　loss；　　　　　　　　　And　pour　contempt　on　all　my　pride。〃
  They　sang　the　verse；　and　when　they　had　finished　he　stood　looking　at　them　in　silence　for　a　moment　or　two；　then　announced　solemnly：
  〃Friends；　that　will　not　do　for　this　hymn。　　Sing　it　with　your　hearts。　　Listen　to　me。〃
  Then　he　sang　a　verse　in　a　deep；　strong　baritone。
  〃Now　try。〃
  Timidly　they　obeyed　him。
  〃No；　no；　not　at　all；〃　he　shouted　at　them。　　〃Listen。〃
  Again　with　exquisitely　distinct　articulation　and　in　a　tone　rich　in　emotion　and　carrying　in　it　the　noble；　penetrating　pathos　of　the　great　words　in　which　is　embodied　the　passion　of　that　heart　subduing　world　tragedy。　　He　would　not　let　them　try　it　again；　but　alone　sang　the　hymn　to　the　end。　　By　the　spell　of　his　voice　he　had　gripped　them　by　the　heart。　　The　giggling　girls　in　the　front　seat　sat　gazing　at　him　with　open　mouths　and　lifted　eyes。　　From　every　corner　of　the　room　faces　once　dull　were　filled　with　a　great　expectant　look。
  〃You　will　never　sing　those　words　as　you　should；〃　he　cried；　〃until　you　know　and　feel　the　glory　of　that　wondrous　cross。　　Never；　never；　never。〃　　His　voice　rose　in　a　passionate　crescendo。
  After　he　had　finished　singing　the　last　great　verse；　he　let　his　eyes　wander　over　the　benches　until　they　rested　upon　the　face　of　the　lad　on　the　side　bench　near　him。
  〃Aha；　boy；〃　he　cried。　　〃You　can　sing　those　words。　　Try　that　last　verse。〃
  The　boy　stared；　fascinated；　at　him。
  〃Sing　the　last　verse；　boy；〃　commanded　the　evangelist；　〃sing。〃
  As　if　impelled　by　another　will　than　his　own；　the　boy　slowly；　with　his　eyes　still　fastened　on　the　man's　face；　threw　back　his　head　and　began　to　sing。　　His　voice　rose；　full；　strong；　in　a　quaint　imitation　in　method　of　articulation　and　in　voice　production　of　the　evangelist　himself。　　At　the　third　line　of　the　verse　the　evangelist　joined　in　great　massive　tones；　beating　time　vigorously　in　a　rallentando。
  〃Love　so　amazing；　so　divine；　　　　　　　Demands　my　soul；　my　life；　my　all。〃
  The　effect　was　a　great　emotional　climax；　the　spiritual　atmosphere　was　charged　with　fervour。　　The　people　sat　rigid；　fixed　in　their　places；　incapable　of　motion；　until　released　by　the　invitation　of　the　leader；　〃Let　us　pray。〃　　The　boy　seemed　to　wake　as　from　a　sleep；　glanced　at　his　mother；　then　at　the　faces　of　the　people　in　the　room；　sat　down；　and　quickly　covered　his　face　with　his　hands　and　so　remained　during　the　prayer。
  The　dramatic　effect　of　the　singing　was　gradually　dispelled　in　the　prayer　and　in　a　Scripture　reading　which　followed。　　By　the　time　the　leader　was　about　to　begin　his　address；　the　people　had　almost　relapsed　into　their　normal　mental　and　spiritual　condition　of　benevolent　neutrality。　　A　second　time　a　text　was　announced；　when　abruptly　the　door　opened　and　up　the　aisle；　with　portentous　impressiveness　as　of　a　stately　ocean　liner　coming　to　berth；　a　man　advanced　whose　presence　seemed　to　fill　the　room　and　give　it　the　feeling　of　being　unpleasantly　crowded。　　A　buzz　went　through　the　seats。　　〃The　Rector！　　The　Rector！〃　　The　evangelist　gazed　upon　the　approaching　form　and　stood　as　if　incapable　of　proceeding　until　this　impressive　personage　should　come　to　rest。　　Deliberately　the　Rector　advanced　to　the　side　bench　upon　which　Larry　and　his　mother　were　seated；　and　slowly　swinging　into　position　calmly　viewed　the　man　upon　the　platform；　the　woman　at　the　organ；　the　audience　filling　the　room　and　then　definitely　came　to　anchor　upon　the　bench。
  The　preacher　waited　until　this　manoeuvre　had　been　successfully　accomplished；　coughed　nervously；　made　as　if　to　move　in　the　direction　of　the　important　personage　on　the　side　bench；　hesitated；　and　finally　with　an　air　of　embarrassment　once　more　announced　his　text。　　At　once　the　Rector　was　upon　his　feet。
  〃Will　you　pardon　me；　sir；〃　he　began　with　elaborate　politeness。　　〃Do　I　understand　you're　a　clergyman？〃
  〃Oh；　no；　sir；〃　replied　the　evangelist；　〃just　a　plain　preacher。〃
  〃You　are　not　in　any　Holy　Orders　then？〃
  〃Oh；　no；　sir。〃
  〃Are　you　an　ordained　or　accredited　minister　of　any　of　theah　dissenting　bodies？〃
  〃Not　exactly；　sir。〃
  〃Then；　sir；〃　demanded　the　Rector；　〃may　I　ask　by　what　authority　you　presume　to　exercise　the　functions　of　the　holy　ministry　and　in　my　parish？〃
  〃Wellreallysir；　I　do　not　know　why　I〃
  〃Then；　sir；　let　me　tell　you　this　will　not　be　permitted；〃　said　the　Rector　sternly。　　〃There　are　regularly　ordained　and　accredited　ministers　of　the　Church　and　of　all　religious　bodies　represented　in　this　neighbourhood；　and　your　ministrations　are　not　required。〃
  〃But　surely；　sir；〃　said　the　evangelist　hurriedly　as　if　anxious　to　get　in　a　word；　〃I　may　be　permitted　in　this　free　country　to　preach　the　Gospel。〃
  〃Sir；　there　are　regularly　ordained　and　approved　ministers　of　the　Gospel　who　are　quite　capable　of　performing　this　duty。　　I　won't　have　it；　sir。　　I　must　protect　these　people　from　unlicensed；　unregulated　ahpersons；　of　whose　character　and　antecedents　we　have　no　knowledge。　　Pray；　sir；〃　cried　the　Rector；　taking　a　step　toward　the　man　on　the　platform；　〃whom　do　you　represent？〃
  The　evangelist　drew　himself　up　quietly　and　said；　〃My　Lord　and　Master；　sir。　　May　I　ask　whom　do　you　represent？〃
  It　was　a　deadly　thrust。　　For　the　first　time　during　the　encounter　the　Rector　palpably　gave　ground。
  〃Eh？　　AhsirIahahemmy　standing　in　this　community　is　perfectly　assured　as　an　ordained　clergyman　of　the　Church　of　England　in　Canada。　　Have　you　any　organisation　or　church；　any　organised　Christian　body　to　which　you　adhere　and　to　which　you　are　responsible？〃
  〃Yes。〃
  〃What　is　that　body？〃
  〃The　Church　of　Christthe　body　of　believers。〃
  〃Is　that　an　organised　body　with　ordained　ministers　and　holy　sacraments？〃
  〃We　do　not　believe　in　a　paid　ministry　with　special　privileges　and　powers；〃　said　the　evangelist。　　〃We　believe　that　every　disciple　has　a　right　to　preach　the　glorious　Gospel。〃
  〃Ah；　then　you　receive　no　support　from　any　source　in　this　ministry　of　yours？〃
  The　evangelist　hesitated。　　〃I　receive　no　salary；　sir。〃
  〃No　support？〃
  〃I　receive　no　regular　salary；〃　reiterated　the　evangelist。
  〃Do　not　quibble；　sir；〃　said　the　Rector　sternly。　　〃Do　you　receive　any　financial　support　from　any　source　whatever　in　your　mission　about　the　country？〃
  〃I　receive〃　began　the　evangelist。
  〃Do　you　or　do　you　not？〃　thundered　the　Rector。
  〃I　was　about　to　say　that　my　expenses　are　paid　by　my　society。〃
  〃Thank　you；　no　more　need　be　said。　　These　people　can　judge　for　themselves。〃
  〃I　am　willing　that　they　should　judge；　but　I　remind　you　that　there　is　another　Judge。〃
  〃Yes；　sir；〃　replied　the　Rector　with　portentous　solemnity；　〃there　is；　before　whom　both　you　and　I　must　stand。〃
  〃And　now　then；〃　said　the　evangelist；　taking　up　the　Bible；　〃we　may　proceed　with　our　meeting。〃
  〃No；　sir；〃　replied　the　Rector；　stepping　upon　the　platform。　　〃I　will　not　permit　it。〃
  〃You　have　no　right　to〃
  〃I　have　every　right　to　protect　this　community　from　heretical　and　disingenuous；　not　to　say　dishonest；　persons。〃
  〃You　call　me　dishonest？〃
  〃I　said　disingenuous。〃
  The　evangelist　turned　toward　the　audience。　　〃I　protest　against　this　intrusion　upon　this　meeting。　　I　appeal　to　the　audience　for　British　fair　play。〃
  Murmurs　were　heard　from　the　audience　and　subdued　signs　of　approval。　The　Rector　glanced　upon　the　people。
  〃Fair　play；〃　he　cried；　〃you　will　get　as　will　any　man　who　appears　properly　accredited　and　properly　qualified　to　proclaim　the　Gospel；　but　in　the　name　of　this　Christian　community；　I　will　prevent　the　exploitation　of　an　unwary　and　trusting　people。〃
  〃Liberty　of　speech！〃　called　a　voice　from　a　dark　corner。
  〃Liberty　of　speech；〃　roared　the　Rector。　　〃Who　of　you　wants　liberty　of　speech？　　Let　him　stand　forth。〃
  There　followed　a　strained　and　breathless　silence。　　The　champion　of　free　speech　retreated　behind　his　discretion。
  〃Ah；　I　thought　so；〃　said　the　Rector　in　grim　contempt。
  But　even　as　he　spoke　a　quiet　voice　invaded　the　tense　silence　like　a　bell　in　a　quiet　night。　　It　was　Mrs。　Gwynne；　her　slight　girlish　figure　standing　quietly　erect；　her　face　glowing　as　with　an　inner　light；　her　eyes　resting　in　calm　fearlessness　upon　the　Rector's　heated　countenance。
  〃Sir；〃　she　said；　〃my　conscience　will　not　permit　me　to　sit　in　silence　in　the　presence　of　what　I　feel　to　be　an　infringement　of　the　rights　of　free　people。　　I　venture　very　humbly　to　protest　against　this　injustice；　and　to　say　that　this　gentleman　has　a　right　to　be　heard。〃
  An　even　more　intense　silence　fell　upon　the　people。　　The　Rector　stood　speechless；　gazing　upon　the　little　woman　who　had　thus　broken　every　tradition　of　the　community　in　lifting　her　voice　in　a　public　assembly　and　who　had　dared　to　challenge　the　authority　of　one　who　for　nearly　twenty　years　had　been　recognised　as　the　autocrat　of　the　village　and　of　the　whole　countrys