The Rev. B.F. Holingsworth was the Congregational minister in Roseland, but he used to come out every Sunday afternoon to Orangeville and hold preaching service in the only church there. One Thursday he received word that his sister, in Oakland, was very sick, and wanted him to come and see her, and he would have to be away over the Sabbath; so he wished to get a supply for the two churches, but could not find any one to fill his place. In talking to the deacons of his Roseland church about the matter, they told him they would conduct the services at their church if he could find some one to fill his place at Orangeville.

It was customary for the Rev. B.F. Holingsworth to spend one day in the week in visiting the good people of Orangeville. Among the pastoral calls, he visited the home of Penloe and his mother. He was very much impressed with the spiritual thought and talk of both, and while neither were members of his congregation he well understood their position. He saw that for a man like Penloe to come and listen to the sermons he gave to the people of Orangeville would be like expecting a student in Harvard College to attend a kindergarten school, with the expectation of receiving instruction. The minister was broad-minded enough to perceive that the spiritual food he gave to his flock was kindergarten talk to Penloe; it was only milk, it was not meat; not the strong spiritual meat that Penloe lived on. It was all right for babies, but it was not fit for men who had attained divine realization in the universal Christ. The Rev. B.F. Holingsworth was too liberal and charitable to think less of Penloe for not attending his church. He was glad he had the courage of his convictions instead of masquerading, as some do, with the appearance of assent to all that is said and taught; but, being at the same time, within, at variance and holding views entirely different; but for policy, business interest, family peace, social position and standing, love of name and fame or salary, acting the hypocrite because they are arrant cowards.

When thinking of some suitable person to fill the Orangeville pulpit on the Sunday afternoon of his absence, he could find no one so well adapted by natural talents, education, experience, and deep spiritual insight, combined with an irreproachable life, as Penloe. So he went out to Orangeville to see him. Finding Penloe at home, he made known the object of his visit. Penloe did not answer him at once, but was silent for a few minutes; he was thinking that this was a call to a work which was not of his own seeking, and, as the call to the work had come to him, he decided to accept it and told the Rev. B.F. Holingsworth so.

The minister then went to Deacon Allen, of Orangeville, and explained matters to him, telling him that Penloe would select one of the hymns to sing before the sermon, but Penloe wished Deacon Allen to conduct all the other parts of the service, including the reading of the hymns. The minister desired the Deacon not to tell any one who was going to preach next Sunday, but to explain to the congregation why he was absent, and then to introduce Penloe. Deacon Allen had only seen Penloe once or twice, and while he liked the appearance of the man yet he knew very little about him. But, under the circumstances, he thought the minister had done the best he could.

It so happened it was the time of year when there was a number of visitors in Orangeville, which brought out an unusually large audience, for it included not only the regular attendants and the visitors, but those who seldom went to church but did so to-day because they had company. Mr. and Mrs. Herne, who seldom went, attended to-day, and took the baby with them, this being the first Sunday of the child being in short clothes. Of course, some of Herne's hired men had to go, to see how the baby behaved.

Stella was another irregular attendant at church, but young Mrs. Sexton, whose husband was away, came round in her buggy and wanted Stella to go for company's sake.

Stella, through being away at school so much and having gone to Roseland for a while, had only heard about there being such a young man as Penloe in Orangeville, but had never seen him; neither had her parents.

Penloe was about the first person at church that Sunday afternoon, and took a seat in the front pew, next to the pulpit with his back to the congregation, so, as the people assembled, they saw the back of some one but did not know who it was. When it was time for the service to commence the church was about full, but the people all seemed surprised not to see the minister present. Deacon Allen came forward, and opened service by giving out a hymn, which was followed by prayer. Then the choir sang, sweetly, "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Then reading from the Scriptures, which was followed by the singing of a hymn that Penloe had selected, and Deacon Allen gave out. The hymn was as follows:

After singing the hymn, Deacon Allen explained to the congregation the cause of the minister's absence, and introduced Penloe, to the great surprise of those present. Penloe, in a simple, unassuming manner, stepped up to the desk and faced the audience. Casting his eyes over the mass of upturned faces, he said, in a very pleasant, musical voice:

"Dear friends, I will speak to you from the following words, 'Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven.'"

The sermon was a most remarkable and original discourse. It held the close attention of every one present, and at its end the congregation sang:

Penloe's sermon we will give, as told to her mother by Stella, and also the version published in the Roseland Weekly Gazette.

When Stella arrived home from church her mother noticed that her countenance was all animation, and her bright eyes seemed to glisten and sparkle brighter than ever; but she said nothing, knowing Stella would relate all she had seen and heard of any interest.

"Well, mother," said Stella, "I have had the greatest surprise and the greatest pleasure I ever had in my life."

"Why, Stella," said her mother, "I am very pleased to see and hear that something has delighted you so much."

"Who do you think I saw, and heard preach this afternoon?" said Stella.

"Why, I suppose the minister," said her mother, which was the same as saying, "I don't know, but want you to tell me."

"Well, mother," said Stella, "it was Penloe. I do wish you had been there to have seen and heard him. His face, when speaking, at times looked angelic. His eyes are so clear and bright, his voice sweet and musical, and he is so graceful in his movement, at the same time so simple and unassuming in his manner. He is symmetrical in his build, and as handsome as a picture."

"Is he really all that?" said her mother, with a smile.

"Yes," said Stella, "and there is something about him that is a thousand times more than all that; for there is an earnestness and sincerity of purpose and a power, such as I have never seen or felt before, in all he says and does. I don't know how to describe it, for he is so different to any man I ever met or saw; and, as for his subject, why, it was just grand. But I cannot help laughing when I think of the feelings of horror, and so much mocked modesty which I saw and heard expressed by many who were there this afternoon."

"Well, whatever could his subject have been about, to cause those feelings?" said her mother.

"It was this mother; he took for his text, 'Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven.'

"He said it was not his purpose this afternoon to describe in detail the circumstances which led Jesus to utter those words, nor to enter in full into the history of those people at that time, nor to describe the way in which they were raised by their parents in those days, nor how children were treated in general at the time Jesus walked on the earth, but to dwell on the thought more particularly about how to bring the children to Jesus now, and how to help them find the Kingdom of Heaven within. He said the subject was such a large one that he could only dwell for a short time on one method for bringing the children to Jesus, and that was how to bring them up pure and make pure men and pure women of them. For purity of life and thought was one of the first steps in coming to Jesus, and finding the Kingdom of Heaven within.

"Penloe said such an innovation introduced into our society would be a God-send to us all, for it would bring about a change in so many ways for the advancement of the race, as to make the mind almost bewildered in the contemplation of the giant strides that humanity would make. I cannot begin to tell you all he said, mother, and I don't think the congregation took in the full sweep of his great thought.

"I will tell you one thing Penloe has done for me. He has cut what few strings there were which kept me in bondage to my sexual nature. I am free." And here the beautiful and intellectually bright girl laughed, and shouted again, "I am free! Free from that awful superstition of sexual bondage. Bless Penloe for helping me to my freedom," said Stella.

Mrs. Wheelwright said: "Stella, there have been millions of women who have died deaths of untold agony through being in bondage to their sexual natures."

"Mother," said Stella, laughing again, "I give you notice that on and after this I shall speak and act just the same when members of the other sex are present as I would with my own sex, I don't care what they may think. I will not be negative to their ideas, for I am free;" and here she clapped her hands, and said, "I intend to have the courage of my convictions under all circumstances.

"I must tell you, mother, there were a number there who were perfectly disgusted that Penloe should have introduced such a subject. You just ought to have seen the faces on some of the congregation.

"The dressmaker, Mrs. Hopkins, and her daughter, said they would not have come to church if they had known the indecent talk that a strange man was going to make. The two May girls, with their beaux, were there, and after the service they acted as if they were afraid to speak to each other. They went out of the church with their heads down and seemed afraid to look anywhere; till they saw Deacon Tompkins' wife get in the buggy, and then the Deacon got in and took the reins and started the horse. But he had omitted untying the animal from the post, and they all had a laugh, and that broke the strain they were under, and they were seen talking to their beaux after that.

"After service I went up to the desk and gave Penloe my hand and thanked him for the help he had given me in breaking my bondage. I told him he had cut the last string of sex superstition for me. He smiled and pressed my hand and said he was glad to hear it.

"Mother, I did not know that Orangeville had such a young man as that. Why, just think of it! A fine Sanskrit scholar; he can read Bengali just as well as I can English, and by his reference to the Old and New Testament he shows he understood Hebrew and Greek. And think of it; he is only twenty-two years of age! He is a fine orator, very eloquent, and has such a command over himself and his audience.

"But, mother, great as his scholarship may be, he has a power that is greater; it is seen in his eyes and in every feature of his handsome countenance, and felt in the touch of his hand. Its source is not purely intellectual. I perceive it intuitively, but cannot explain it.

"Why, mother, I never thought Penloe was the kind of man he is. From what I had heard about him, I thought he was one of those quiet, goody-goody men, but instead of that he is a scholar of the most advanced school of thought."

Her mother said: "Stella, do you know why Penloe took the subject he did to-day and spoke from it? I think I know; it was this: not that he liked such subjects more than any others, and perhaps not so much; but he knew that if such ideas were presented to the public, it had to be done by those who were not in bondage to name and fame and salary. It had to be done by those bold, fearless thinkers who will speak the truth regardless of frowns and smiles. And Penloe did it because he knew there was no one else that would do it. It was pioneer work."

Stella said: "I think so, mother, and he certainly seems well qualified to do such noble pioneer work."

Mr. and Mrs. Herne, on their way home from church, talked the matter over. Mr. Herne said: "Penloe is the most remarkable man I have seen; so young and yet so gifted in every way. The secret of his power I do not know anything about, but he possesses a power such as no other man I have ever seen. I could not keep away from church if he was going to speak every Sunday."

Mrs. Herne said: "He has the clearest and brightest eyes I ever saw. I never get tired of looking into them. At times his face brightened so much during his speaking it looked angelic."

They were both very much impressed with the sincerity and earnestness of the man, but were not prepared to pass an opinion on the subject of his discourse. They thought well of his ideas, but did not know how they would work. It set them both to thinking, and it was their intention to try if possible to cultivate the acquaintance of Penloe.

The Roseland Gazette, which was published every Saturday, had the following:

"Last Monday and Tuesday strange stories began to be circulated through this city by persons coming in from Orangeville, concerning what was said in the Congregational Church there last Sunday. It seems that the Rev. B.F. Holingsworth, of this city, was called away to see a sick sister, and he got a man who goes by the name of Penloe to fill his place. The stories that were put in circulation are of a wild and varied character. Some started the rumor that Penloe preached that we all ought to go naked. Another story was, that he said we all ought to bathe together, regardless of sex, in a nude state. Then some said, he told the people that all families ought to sleep in one large room, to appear as much in a nude condition as possible, so as to satisfy all curiosity. These and other like stories aroused so much interest among the people of this city, that it has been the upper-most topic of conversation among them, and led to the inquiry whether it was so, and was the man a crazy crank or a fool, and how came such a man to be asked to preach.

"Our reporter went out to Orangeville to learn what he could concerning the matter. He first of all went to see Penloe to get a certified statement, but that gentleman could not be found anywhere. He had an interview with Mr. Saunders, the merchant of Orangeville, who said he was at church last Sunday and heard the sermon.

"When asked if the stories which were circulated in Roseland concerning Penloe's sermon were correct, he replied that in part they were, and in part they were not.

"When asked to state as near as he could remember just what was said:

"'Well,' said the merchant, 'I am not used to that kind of business, but, as near as I can remember it now, it was something like this:

"'In order for children to come to Jesus, they must be pure; that purity was the basis of all religious growth, and he thought the present mode of maintaining purity had the very opposite effect to what it was intended for.'

"Here Mr. Saunders stopped and told the reporter he had better go and see Deacon Allen, who would give him a better account than he could.

"'But I tell you,' continued Mr. Saunders, 'there has been more talk over this sermon this week in this store, by every one that has come in, than all other talk put together. This is the first time in the twelve years that I have kept store, that I ever heard any one talk about any sermon they heard.'

"'Well, Mr. Saunders,' said the reporter, 'what seems to be the judgment of the people about Penloe and the sermon? You have had an opportunity of hearing all kinds of opinions.'

"'Well,' said Mr. Saunders, 'I heard the old lady Eastman say, that the next time she sees her minister, she is going to lecture him for getting that low-down, vulgar man in the pulpit. Why, his talk was awful. Mrs. Reamy and Mrs. Roberts said they would have both got up in church and walked out, only it would cause so much disturbance. Two girls came in to get a spool of thread. While I was waiting on them one said to the other, "My mother said this morning that she would never again go to church, if that nasty talking man was going to preach." The other girl said, "My father says he is the smartest man that ever spoke in Orangeville or any other part of California. He wished he would preach every Sunday. Then, I saw Miss Stella Wheelwright go up to Penloe at the close of the service and give him her hand, and I was told she thanked him for helping her to cut the last cords of bondage to sex superstition. She seemed really delighted with his talk."

"'I cannot help laughing when I hear a number of persons who were not at church last Sunday, say, "I wish I had been to meeting last Sunday and heard the talk."

"The reporter next called on Deacon Allen and found that gentleman ready to relate a portion of the sermon.

"In reply to a question put by the reporter, Deacon Allen said: 'Well, there is one thing I liked about Penloe's sermon, instead of talking about the sins of the wicked people in Chicago, New York, London or Paris, he talked straight and square to the people he was facing, about their own sins, which were keeping them out of the Kingdom of Heaven, for it acted like a curtain over the windows of the soul so that one could not see the Divine, and feel the sacred presence of his power within. They had polluted the Temple of the Living God, and their eyes became blinded so that they could not see that they were heirs to a rich spiritual inheritance.'

"The reporter asked the Deacon what Penloe said in regard to the best way of bringing about the new method of raising all children up, as if they were one sex.

"The Deacon replied, saying: 'He said: "Character and environments are so different that each must work from the plane he or she is on. Nothing but the best judgment and experience will be able to grapple successfully with the problem, but it can be done; it has been done. And it will be comparatively easy for the next generation to put into practice, if it is done by the present. Avoid all kinds of food and drinks that stimulate the passions. And, above all, keep the mind interested in pure, elevating thoughts and engage in hearty wholesome recreations, so that the love for the pure and good in time will predominate, and the angel rule the animal."

"'I shall never forget,' continued the Deacon, 'how Penloe's clear, musical voice rang out through the church, how his brilliant eyes seemed to penetrate through every one present as he looked them in the face and put this serious question to them, "What victories have you gained over yourselves?"

"The Deacon said: 'It makes me feel disgusted to hear some persons who were at church on Sunday last talk about Penloe being low and vulgar, when a purer or more spiritual man never walked in this country; while their own characters are tarnished by being connected with numerous scandals. While Penloe is not a member of the same church as I am, yet I know a good man when I meet him and hear him talk.'

"Our reporter left Orangeville greatly regretting he did not have the honor to meet so distinguished a man as Penloe."

Mrs. Trask, wife of Dr. Trask, of Roseland, called on Stella's aunt, Mrs. Marston, and after a little general conversation, Mrs. Trask said: "Mrs. Marston, have you heard or read anything about the horrid talk that some crank preacher made in Orangeville last Sunday?"

"Why, no," said Mrs. Marston, "I have not looked at the Gazette and I have been out but little the past few days, for I have not felt very well lately, having had a bilious attack."

Mrs. Trask said: "I know, Mrs. Marston, you will be perfectly shocked when I tell you. Why, it's all the talk of the town; just think of it; a man getting up in the pulpit and telling the people that boys and girls should appear before each other naked, and that they all should be brought up as if they were one sex."

Mrs. Marston said: "It's perfectly awful to think about such a thing. Why, it would be dreadful. The preacher must have come from Paris with French ideas. According to what my son writes me, I should say that is just about what they do over there."

Mrs. Trask said that her husband said, speaking as a medical man, he would consider it the greatest step towards the downfall of the human race. Every one would become so corrupt and depraved sexually that the race would become weak and puny, with no moral stamina.

After Mrs. Trask had gone, Mrs. Marston got the Roseland Gazette to see what it said about the matter. When she came to the part where it stated that her niece had gone up to the desk and given her hand to the preacher and thanked him for helping her out of sexual bondage, she was completely overcome and just felt like having a fit. She would rather have paid a thousand dollars than to have that appear in the paper. "What a disgrace this is to me, after all I have done for her, ungrateful hussy! She doesn't think about the shame she brings upon me by her bold actions, with that vulgar crank." While she was smarting from the effects of wounded pride, her door-bell rang and soon the servant came in and told Mrs. Marston that Mr. Barker was in the parlor. Mrs. Marston kept him waiting a few minutes, till she had composed herself. Soon she came in, bright, smiling and cordially greeted the rising young attorney who had manifested so much interest in Stella's hosiery.

Mr. Barker was a perfect Chesterfield in dress and manners, and knew exactly what part of Mrs. Marston's nature to touch to make her feel good, and to raise himself one hundred per cent. in her estimation.

Mr. Barker felt as if he had a little grudge against Stella, ever since the day his wish was not gratified, and now he thought this was his opportunity to pay her back.

In course of conversation Mr. Barker said: "Mrs. Marston, have you been to Orangeville lately?"

"No," said Mrs. Marston, "I have not been there since Stella returned home."

"How is your niece, Mrs. Marston?" said Mr. Barker.

"The last I heard from her she was very well," said Mrs. Marston.

Mr. Barker said: "By the way, Mrs. Marston, is there another Miss Stella Wheelwright in Orangeville besides your niece?"

"I have not heard of any other young lady by that name," replied Mrs. Marston.

"Well," said Mr. Barker, "I was hoping there was, for I did not want to think it was your niece that the Gazette said went up and gave that vulgar preacher her hand."

"I think it must be," replied Mrs. Marston. Continuing, she said: "Of course, I am greatly shocked over the matter and feel that my niece has hurt me by her foolish conduct. I blame her mother more than I do her, for she has encouraged Stella in radical ideas."

Mr. Barker said: "I don't understand what the man can be thinking about to talk such vulgar nonsense. He ought to be sent to Stockton Insane Asylum."

Mrs. Marston said: "As for the subject he had under discussion, I could not think of talking about it to a gentleman. I intend to go to Orangeville to-morrow and see my sister about the matter. I do wish Stella would come and live with me; where she would be in the company of well-bred, well-behaved society people, who have common-sense ideas."

It was always customary for Mrs. Marston when she went to Orangeville to take a great variety of table dainties, and never mention the real purpose of her visit till after dinner. Mrs. Marston had been so well disciplined in the art of concealment through living so much in fashionable society, that she could put on a very pleasant exterior, when really she was very much disturbed within.

So to-day when she visited her sister Bertha, everything was exceedingly pleasant, and the topics under discussion were such that there was perfect harmony in all that was said. Mrs. Marston presented the bright side of everything in regard to Roseland when talking to Stella, telling her how certain young gentlemen were continually inquiring after her, and how her young lady friends were wishing she would return to Roseland soon, for they did want her to come and visit them so much.

Stella was interested to hear about her friends in Roseland, and enjoyed her Aunt Helen's talk.

After dinner was over and settled a little, Mrs. Marston took the opportunity to say to her sister Bertha (while Stella and her father were out for awhile): "Is it really true, Bertha, what the Roseland Gazette says in regard to Stella's going up to that crank preacher at the close of the service and giving him her hand and saying a lot of queer stuff about sexual bondage?"

"I was not there myself, Helen," said her sister, "but this I do know, that when Stella returned home she told me herself she did such a thing."

"Well," said Mrs. Marston, "I always knew Stella was a strange kind of girl, but I never thought she would disgrace herself and her relatives in that manner. Why," continued Mrs. Marston, "it's all the talk in Roseland and among Stella's friends, about the disgrace she has brought on me and herself in talking to such a vulgar man."

Stella's mother could not help smiling within herself at her sister calling Penloe a vulgar man, when she thought of what her daughter related to her in regard to her experience with some of the "upper ten" gentlemen.

Continuing, Mrs. Marston said: "It will never do for Stella to associate with such an indecent man, who preaches French ideas from the pulpit. Why, Bertha, it will never do. You had better let Stella come and stay with me till she is married. She is a great favorite with the young people in Roseland and there are some splendid catches for her there."

"Well," said Bertha, "I have no control over her; she can go to Roseland if she wishes."

"But," said Mrs. Marston, "it becomes your duty as her mother to show her the danger of speaking to a man like Penloe. You should keep her away from his influence and do what you can to encourage her to marry well."

Bertha looked her sister Helen in the face and said: "Helen, I have decided to let Stella choose her own path in life and select her own mate. If she asks my advice I will give it. She has her own life to lead, and it does not become me to mark it out for her. She must hew the way. And, supposing I wanted to, do you think it would do any good? Helen, you know better than that. Could you keep your son from getting that waiter girl in trouble? And now the poor girl is homeless and penniless, with a baby, in a hospital, without a friend to keep her, while your son is walking the streets of Paris as a well dressed gentleman." Here Mrs. Marston interrupted her and said: "Oh, my poor boy! It makes my blood boil when I think how that nasty, dirty hussy got my poor Henry into disgrace. Don't mention her, Bertha. It would have served her right to have died before the child was born."

Bertha said: "Helen, you can invite Stella to Roseland, and if she wishes to go it is just the same to me as if she stayed here, for I will not be in Stella's way of exercising her freedom."

So when Stella came into the house her aunt said: "Stella, I do wish you would come to Roseland and stay with me."

"Thank you, Aunt, you are very kind, but I have certain subjects I wish to study and I want to be where I can be quiet; but, Aunt, dear, I will return with you and stay a week, if you will bring me back home at the end of that time."

"All right, Stella, get yourself ready and we will leave right away."