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Since but a short time previous, the Congregationalist society had so large an association they had been obliged to solicit the hospitalities of other denominations, and as I had called upon our Universalist neighbors to accommodate us, I instinctively felt that it was only a just acknowledgment of civility, to extend to ministers of their denomination the same hospitality.

Therefore, as I passed down the aisle by my husband's side I whispered to him that I could accommodate two. "Shall I give in our names for two?" He paid no attention to me or my inquiry, but passed on by the stand without speaking to any one.

Seeing it devolved upon me to make the offer, if made at all, I stepped up and gave in my name for two and passed on and overtook Mr. Packard a few steps from the door, and taking his arm said:

"I have offered to take two, and I must now hasten home and prepare for them." He made no reply whatever, but his silence said:

"I don't approve of it."

Therefore I reasoned in defence of the act as one of justice, etc.; and besides, as all the labor of serving the tables, as well as the services of the maid of all work devolved upon me, I felt that if I was willing to do all this extra work, no one could reasonably object.

But fortunately for me, I had hardly commenced my preparations when the chairman called and informed me that their friends were all provided for, so that my services were not needed; and after kindly thanking me for my hospitable offer he left me, with the feeling on my part of having done my duty, and here the subject was dropped.

But years after, to my surprise and horror, Mr. Packard brought this act up as evidence of my insanity! and his argument against me was, that if they had come, he might, in courtesy, have been obliged to have asked a Universalist minister to ask a blessing at his table, or even to lead in family prayers! and, only think! this too, in the presence of his children! Another evidence of insanity, as he claims is, that I asked for a letter of dismission from our church, and recommendation to the Methodist church in Manteno.

As our church refused me a letter, my request for admission into the Methodist church was granted, by receiving me as a candidate on six months probation. Within two weeks from this time I was kidnapped, and as my six months probation expired during my incarceration, I, of course, could not be received into full fellowship while there.

And when after three years I returned to Manteno and found my family dispersed, and satisfied it was to be no longer a home for me, I decided not to present myself to the Methodist church as a probationary candidate, and having never been dismissed from my own church, remained, of course, still a member of the Congregational church. The church in Manteno was Congregational when I pined it, and became Presbyterian after I left it. Therefore I claim to be a member of the Congregational church at the present time, since to my knowledge my membership has never been suspended or removed.

Another evidence of insanity he alleged against me, was, that I gave a dollar towards building a Catholic church in Manteno.

I plead guilty to this charge also. We had a very kind Christian neighbor in Mr. La Brie, who was a Catholic from principle, in the same sense that Mr. Packard was a Presbyterian from principle; that is, both had been educated to feel that their own was the true church, and therefore both were conscientious in sustaining them. Mr. Packard was trying to build up Presbyterianism by his efforts, and he, of course, expected to be paid for doing this work; but the society was new and feeble, and therefore in their struggles to raise his salary, the collector, Deacon Smith, called on Mr. La Brie to help them, and he with true Christian charity, contributed yearly to Mr. Packard's support.

One evening I called on Mr. La Brie, to ask his opinion respecting my article on "Spiritual Gifts," which our Bible-class had refused to hear, and he very patiently listened and commented upon it. He expressed his opinion that it was a sound logical, and invincible argument in favor of what the Catholics had always considered the true view.

This assertion very much surprised me, as I had always been taught to believe that the Catholics were a deluded people, believing nothing but absurdities; but now, when I found that I had alone studied out a view of truth which they had always endorsed, and one to which our church would not so much as listen, lest it might be found to be heretical, I began to ask where religious toleration is to be found, in the Presbyterian or the Catholic church? I had here found the Christian spirit of charity and religious toleration manifested to a far higher degree in Mr. La Brie, the Catholic, than in Deacon Smith, the Presbyterian.

I therefore came to the conclusion that there were not only truths in the Catholic church, but good Christians also.

As the scales of bigotry thus fell from my own eyes, I could see that the Catholics were just as conscientious in sustaining their church, as we were in sustaining ours; and finding what struggles they were making to pay their debts, I felt moved to manifest my new feeling of toleration, by giving him one dollar towards helping them liquidate their debt. And now, for this act of toleration I am called insane! for Mr. Packard argues that I should not thus be building up this "mother of all abominations," this "seat of bigotry and intolerance," unless I had lost my reason.