. I want to say right here that I shall pray as I like, when
I like, and where I like. I have prayed in this heavenly way for fifty
years before that gal was born, and she can't dictate to me now!"

By this time the whole congregation was aroused, and cries of "Sit
down!" "Sit down!" came from every side of the church. It was a hard
moment, but I was able to rise with some show of dignity. I was hurt
through and through, but my fighting blood was stirring.

"No," I said, "Captain Sears has the floor. Let him say now all he
wishes to say, for it is the last time he will ever speak at one of our
meetings."

Captain Sears, whose exertions had already made him apoplectic, turned a
darker purple. "What's that?" he shouted. "What d'ye mean?"

"I mean," I replied, "that I do not intend to allow you or anybody else
to interfere with my meetings. You are a sea-captain. What would you do
to me if I came on board your ship and started a mutiny in your crew, or
tried to give you orders?"

Captain Sears did not reply. He stood still, with his legs far apart and
braced, as he always stood when talking, but his eyes shifted a little.
I answered my own question.

"You would put me ashore or in irons," I reminded him. "Now, Captain
Sears, I intend to put you ashore. I am the master of this ship. I have
set my course, and I mean to follow it. If you rebel, either you will
get out or I will. But until the board asks for my resignation, I am in
command."

As it happened, I had put my ultimatum in the one form the old man could
understand. He sat down without a word and stared at me. We sang the
Doxology, and I dismissed the meeting. Again we had omitted prayers.
The next day Captain Sears sent me a letter recalling his subscription
toward the support of the church; and for weeks he remained away from
our services, returning under conditions I will mention later. Even at
the time, however, his attack helped rather than hurt me. At the
regular meeting the following Thursday night no personal criticisms were
included in the prayers, and eventually we had peace. But many battles
were lost and won before that happy day arrived.

Captain Sears's vacant place among us was promptly taken by another
captain in East Dennis, whose name was also Sears. A few days after my
encounter with the first captain I met the second on the street. He had
never come to church, and I stopped and invited him to do so. He replied
with simple candor.

"I ai