I say of it, only my own convictions as to what it was at the time right to do. I have never ventured to interpret the motives of any of the persons with whom I was then associated.

As a matter of self-interpretation only; merely as making clear the way over which I went to the time whent I relinguished my office, I make the statement that here follows.

As all know, much prominence was given throughout the months of the building, and at the dedication of the new Washington Church, to the requirement of the American Unitarian Association that the edifice should be constructed and devoted to its uses, wholly free from debt.

This condition was, at the outset, embodied in the Saratoga Conference resolutions. I was entrusted by the Association, under this condition, with the first payment of its contribution to the Building Committee. Then, at the sale of the pews when the new Church was ready for use, the Chairman of the Committee announced that "the American Unitarian Association had contributed its liberal. sum on condition that 'there should not be a dollar of debt against the Church.' 'There will be none' said the Chairman.

Further, in an authoritative description of the dedicatory exercises was this declaration: "Unquestionably the most striking feature about the new Church is this, it is paid for; an advance having been made of the amount necessary to make up the sum total, the old Church property as yet unsold having been taken as security for the money, advanced." It was the jubilant satisfaction of us all that we took possession of All Souls

Church as our sanctuary entirely freed from any debt arising from its cost.

But, as time passed, a sequence of happenings, which no one I think would say are here incorrectly recounted, came to pass. There was a long, and wholly unexpected delay; and then a serious uncertainty, concerning a promised sale of the old Church property on D Street. Thereupon, a difference in judgment ere long arose between interested persons and myself as to what should be done in case the promise that had been made for the purchase of the old Church could not be kept by the proposed purchasers. The judgment favored by these friends was almost diametrically opposed to that which I felt compelled to make. I readily grant that they thought their opinion to be right; or, that at least it was, all things considered, justifiable. I could not agree with them. And moreover, because of a specific official responsibility, I felt compelled to put a series of partinent questions to the American Unitarian Association. whose interests were involved in the issue.

The matter came under serious discussion as early as the spring of 1879, not much more than a year after my installation. An answer from the Secretary of the Association, Rev. Rush R. Shippen, was received April 24th, 1879. It read ;

"Certainly you are right in assuming that the new Church is in no wise to be burdened with any affairs of the old one. Whoever managed matters and furnished the money for the new one took all that risk and responsibility. And the congregation and the present officers are not bound to know anything about it."

Throughout the year following, this difference between me and others who were immediately interested, all of whom had been closely related friends,-men whose

friendship I sincerely desired to keep, and always, at that time and afterwards, sought to keep,-continued. I said nothing of the disagreement, except in confidence to a very few intimate and prudent friends; altogether the facts were kept within the small group of persons directly interested.

By good fortune I was able to delay the proposed action, pending the public legal controversy then being carried on over the sale of the old Church. So, because, consequently, nothing decisive was done, the general life of our Church continued in its successful and peaceful growth. The Society was in no way disturbed by the question which troubled me and my friends.

What finally occurred is noted in my "Letter of Resignation." The sale of the old Church was finally, though with much difficulty, consummated, and thereby the conditions upon which the Unitarian Churches of America had made their contribution to the new building were finally and fully met, in accordance with their original intent.

I have now, I think, told all that is really essential for my friends to know of the series of events which preceded my resignation, in order that they may understand why I was prompted to the decision I made.

But why, it may be asked, did this difference in judgment with some friends, who were interested in the finances of the Church, bring about my resignation? The members of the Church, almost throughout, had no knowledge of the question at issue; and my personal and official relations with the Society were thoroughly harmonious.

I can best reply that, in all probability, it would have been well,-if bygones could have been made bygones all

around,-for me to have laid hold of the new opportunities which had come with the delivery of the Church from the possible encumbrance that had threatened it;-to "thank God; take courage, and go forward" in the way that had been made clear. At the time, however, I believed it would be better, all things considered for me to close my ministry there. I had "stood by " from "a day of very small things," to that of an assured success; and I could, with an easy conscience, transfer my office to another whose ministry would be free from any embarrassment that might possibly remain because of unhappy memories, persisting among some of those to whom my services had been given. Besides, it was fact then that I was not well. My experiences with a serious illness during the next three years showed that I needed the mental and emotional relaxation I thereafter secured.

But whether my resignation was wisely made or not, is not a matter of consequence now. I acted then as my best judgment led me; deciding to continue my life work in new relations and elsewhere.

CHAPTER SECOND

OF THE DECADE, 1880-1889.

1.

With the Bureau of Ethnology, Smithsonian Institution, 1880-1884.

After the closing of the Washington pastorate my commanding need, under the circumstances, was to recover normal health of both body and mind.

Some friends, thinking that travel with an interesting occupation apart from my profession, would bring about the desired restoration arranged to have me undertake special service for the Bureau of Ethnology of the Smithsonian Institution. I was given, also, supervision of the pending Census of the Indians living east of the Mississippi River, and directed to enquire particularly into the condition, manners and customs, and other interests of the Florida Seminole. In the autumn of 1880, I undertook this pleasant travelling commission, beginning with the Indians on the Minnesota and Wisconsin Reservations; spending some time with the Cherokee living among the mountains of North Carolina; ending my service in the winter and spring of 1881, after a long "camping out" among the Seminole, who were known to be settled somewhere on the borders of the Everglades and in the Big Cypress Swamp, and the Kissimmee Valley of Lower Florida.

a. Visit to the Menomenee of Wisconsin.-Throughout