d rather just slip into the congregation
beside you, Father, and sing to God when my heart sings, and keep still
when it doesn't."

So her father yielded the point to her conscience.

"God bless you, Winnie," he said with glistening eyes, as he stroked
her chestnut locks. "It may be I have been a bit of an idolater,
myself."

Poor Mrs. Gray sighed, and quite gave up trying to understand
Winifred's strange position. She hoped she would be able to give some
suitable reason for withdrawing, and not set the whole church talking
about her peculiar views. She remembered hopefully that her daughter
had suffered from laryngitis not long ago, and she mentally nursed the
almost vanished trouble into proportions that would forbid her singing
much. She was sure Dr. Lansing would give an opinion to that effect
now. But, dear me! as for herself, she did not know how she should
ever sit in that church and hear anyone else sing in Winifred's place!

It was to be feared that there were many others who would find it
difficult to sit in that church if their own natural wishes and tastes
were not gratified there. What it was to be gathered "in My name," as
the Lord Jesus had said,--into the name of Him whose flesh with its
longing and loves had been carried pitilessly to the cross, that from
its death there might spring forth for all His own life in the Spirit
unto God--what this was, few at New Laodicea knew; nor what it was, so
gathered, to behold Him in the midst. Oh, lonely heart without the
door of His own house! He knocks patiently, not in the hope that the
whole household will hear Him, but for "any man" who has ears to hear
and will open to Him.

Winifred had another task before her that day, and she did it promptly.
She did not know how really in her ready obedience she was walking in
the steps of "the father of all them that believe," who, when Isaac was
to be offered, rose early in the morning to go about the sacrifice.
She went straight to Mr. Mercer, the leader of the choir, and told him
of her withdrawal. She told her story with simplicity and dignity, and
it commanded his respect.

"I honor your convictions, Miss Gray," he said. "We shall find it hard
to fill your place, and I am very sorry you are going. But I would not
for a moment urge you to remain. As I say, I honor your convictions.
I only wish I had the courage of them myself."

His face grew heavy. He knew well the deity that led him to that
p