een called to the presidency of the college at Beirut
to take up the work as it was laid down by his aged father.

[Illustration: NEWELL DWIGHT HILLIS]

During Dr. Hillis' pastorate there have been two assistant pastors,
Revs. Willard P. Harmon and George J. Corey. Both have well sustained
the traditions of the church, have made themselves many friends, and
have done much to develop the newer life which under changed conditions
has become a necessity. Mr. Harmon left to enter the full pastorate.
Mr. Corey is the present assistant.

Comparatively few who are not themselves directly connected with the
business affairs of a church probably realise how much of the orderly
conduct of the church depends upon the sexton. To many people he is
simply the man who looks after funerals, sees that the furnace fires are
properly managed, the church swept, etc. In Plymouth Church the sexton
was always a man of considerable importance, and I feel it a duty which
I owe to the church, not less than to them, to speak of their faithful
work. Not only have they conducted the ordinary duties of a sexton, but
have acted in a clerical capacity to the board of trustees in collecting
pew rents, and in other business of the church. In this they have had a
most important share in the comfort of the congregation and the success
of the church.

Plymouth Church has been in charge of five different sextons during its
existence. Mr. McFarlane was its caretaker in its early years. Owing to
his bluff manner he was never very popular with the young people, and
one instance I shall never forget. One evening Charles Dickens was to
lecture in the church. As the price of the tickets was from one to two
dollars, there were not many of the boys at that time who could afford
to pay it. We were bound not to be left out, so a plan was devised to
overcome the difficulty. Accordingly we perched ourselves on a
window-sill outside, where by raising the sash slightly we could hear
and see the lecturer. All went well for a time and we were
congratulating ourselves, when the old sexton discovered us. Then there
was a scampering up Orange and down Henry to Fulton Street with
McFarlane close after. I was one of the unfortunate boys who were
caught, and the pounding which I received made such an impression upon
me that I can see and hear Charles Dickens to this day.

After Mr. McFarlane came Mr. Weld, who was the sexton for many years,
during the most exciting period o