never before felt them, to be the true expression of millions of mortals
who have sung, are singing, and shall continue to sing them.

When the hymn was ended another preacher arose and opened the service
with a few remarks, then asked all to kneel in prayer.

Every one--men, women, children--turned and knelt upon the bare floor
while the preacher's voice rose in a simple prayer. As the Amen fell
from his lips Miss Lee started to rise, but Phoebe laid a restraining
hand upon her and whispered, "There's yet one."

For a moment there was silence in the meeting-house. Then the voice of
another preacher rose in the universal prayer, "Our Father, which art in
heaven." Every extemporaneous prayer in the Church of the Brethren is
complemented by the model prayer the Master taught His disciples.

There was another hymn, reading of the Scriptures, and then the sermon
proper was preached.

Aunt Maria nodded approvingly as the preacher read, "Whose adorning let
it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of
gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the
heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and
quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price."

"You listen good now to what the preacher says," the woman whispered to
Phoebe.

The child looked Up solemnly at her aunt, about her at the many
white-capped women, then up at Miss Lee's pretty hat with its white
Mercury wings--she was endeavoring to justify the pleasure and beauty
her aunt pronounced vanity. Was Miss Lee really wicked when she wore
clothes like that? Surely, no! After a few moments the child sighed,
folded her hands and looked steadfastly at the tall bearded man who was
preaching.

The clergy among these plain sects receive no remuneration for their
preaching. With them the mercenary and the pecuniary are ever distinct
from the religious. Six days in the week the preacher follows the plow
or works at some other worthy occupation; upon the seventh day he
preaches the Gospel. There is, therefore, no elaborate preparation for
the sermon; the preacher has abundant faith in the old admonition, "Take
no thought how or what ye shall speak, for it shall be given you in that
same hour what ye shall speak, for it is not ye that speak but the
spirit of the Father that speaketh in you." Thus it is that, while the
sermons usually lack the blandishments of fine rhetoric and the rhythmic
ea