After my first
sermon I was waited upon by a committee, that
warmly advised me to ``let East Dennis alone'' and
confine my criticisms ``to saloons in Boston and
other big towns.'' As I had nothing to do with
Boston, and much to do with East Dennis, I preached
on that place three Sundays in succession, and
feeling became so intense that I handed in my resig-
nation and prepared to depart. Then my friends
rallied and the resort was suppressed.
That was my last big struggle. During the re-
maining five years of my pastorate on Cape Cod
the relations between my people and myself were
wholly harmonious and beautiful. If I have seemed
to dwell too much on these small victories, it must
be remembered that I find in them such comfort as
I can. I have not yet won the great and vital fight
of my life, to which I have given myself, heart and
soul, for the past thirty years--the campaign for
woman suffrage. I have seen victories here and
there, and shall see more. But when the ultimate
triumph comes--when American women in every
state cast their ballots as naturally as their husbands
do--I may not be in this world to rejoice over it.
It is interesting to remember that during the
strenuous period of the first few months in East
Dennis, and notwithstanding the division in the
congregation, we women of the church got together
and repainted and refurnished the building, raising
all the money and doing much of the work ourselves,
as the expense of having it done was prohibitive.
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