stances altogether unique, and invited us to
join him in paying it a visit. The scene of his enterprise was a sunny
little village lying high among vineyarded hills, and bearing the name
of Notre Dame des Commiers. Owing to its remoteness and insignificance,
the Roman Catholic authorities had never replaced its last priest, who
withdrew during the turmoils of the Revolution. For all their
ecclesiastical needs the people were obliged to descend to the next
village, the cure of which gave them little pastoral care beyond the
thrifty collection of his dues. Learning these facts, our Grenoble
friend determined to take advantage of the situation. He presented
himself in the village and told the people he was willing to become
their pastor. He only asked them to acknowledge the validity of baptism
and marriage performed by him, and to pledge him their support in the
struggle with the priests that would probably ensue. Later, he said, he
hoped to convince them that he taught a better religion than that at the
hands of whose ministers they had suffered such neglect. A majority of
the villagers accepted his proposal, and by a formal act constituted
themselves a Protestant commune. By so doing they were able to secure
recognition by the government as belonging to the National Protestant
Church of France. It was not long before the parishioners grew warmly
attached to their new pastor. His position of assistant at Grenoble
enabled him to assume the sole charge of the enterprise. Week after week
he made the tedious stage-coach journey, walking up the two-mile hill at
the foot of which he had to quit the highway. Often in winter he toiled
for hours through deep snow and faced violent storms in making the
ascent. In the worst weather it sometimes happened that the whole
journey from Grenoble had to be made on foot. For two years he carried
on the work unaided, holding his services in such rude quarters as he
was able to secure. The village is now, after an interval of seven years
since the missionary's first visit, adorned with a pretty chapel and
school-house and provided with a resident minister.

In talking with the people we found abundant proof that their Protestant
faith is both intelligent and practical. Such of them as were not busy
in the fields surrounded their old pastor with greetings that touchingly
expressed their affection and gratitude, and we, as his friends, had a
share in the demonstration. One stalwart, clear-eyed