''SERMONS IN"— ANTS. 325 



exception. Just in front of the pulpit hangs a framed 

 card ou which the patron's wish is prhited, with tliis 

 proviso : that uo one who denies the proper divinity of 

 our Lord Jesus Clirist or the doctrine of the Atone- 

 ment shall ever be permitted to preach in the place. 

 The house was built at the time when the contiict was 

 at its height that divided the Society of Friends into 

 the so-called "Orthodox" and ''llicksite" camps. 

 The feelings awakened by that controversy are crystal- 

 ized in this proviso, and the "Townes Free Church " is 

 free only to orthodox preachers. However, as there are 

 very few persons of a difierent religious bent in the 

 whole country-side, the prohibition has not proved of 

 much practical disadvantage. 



The house is built of a blue limestone wliich, in 

 spite of the ill-fitting coat of whitewash that now 

 covers it, shows plainly enough the reason for its popu- 

 lar name, " The Blue Church." It is a plain rectan- 

 gular edifice, with a pitched roof, without spire or 

 belfry. There is a door at either gable, over one of 

 which is placed a rude water-shed. A plain porch 

 covers the front door, which is shaded by a horse- 

 chestnut, upon whose lower branches hangs a hornet's 

 nest. 



On either side of the door is a marble tombstone. 

 In the norlh tomb repose the ashes of the venerable 

 builder of the church. A plain slab rests upon low 

 marble walls, and bears the name, age, and fjUowing 

 insrriptiou : "Where lie was born, there he lived and 

 div^d. An honest man and a useful citizen." There is 



