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26 The audience laughed. The atmosphere was clearly that of the lecture-hall rather than of the Church.

“ There’s just one more thing I want to say before I sit down. I’m not here to talk. I’m here to hold this chair down and I mean to do it. It’s a hard thing I ask. I want Spiritualists to keep away on Sunday nights. They take up the room that inquirers should have. You can have the morning service. But its better for the cause that there should be room for the stranger. You’ve had it. Thank God for it. Give the other man a chance.” The president plumped back into his chair.

Mr. Peeble sprang to his feet. He was clearly the general utility man who emerges in every society and probably becomes its autocrat. With his thin, eager face and darting hands he was more than a live wire — he was a whole bundle of live wires. Electricity seemed to crackle from his finger-tips.

“ Hymn One! ” he shrieked.

A harmonium droned and the audience rose. It was a fine hymn and lustily sung:

“The world hath felt a quickening breath

From Heaven’s eternal shore.

And souls triumphant over death

Return to earth once more. ”

There was a ring of exultation in the voices as the refrain rolled out:

“ For this we hold our Jubilee

For this with joy we sing,

'Oh Grave, where is thy victory,

Oh Death, where is thy sting ? ’ ”

Yes, they were in earnest, these people. And they did not appear to be mentally weaker than their fellows. And yet both Enid and Malone felt a sen¬ sation of great pity as they looked at them. How sad