Creed, "I believe in the communion of saints." This is my text,
and my key-note--whatever else I may say to-day is but a carrying
out into details of the one question, How may you go to these poor
creatures as woman to woman?

Your next duties are to your husband's or father's servants and
workmen. It is said that a clergyman's wife ought to consider the
parish as HER flock as well as her husband's. It may be so: I
believe the dogma to be much overstated just now. But of a
landlord's, or employer's wife (I am inclined to say, too, of an
officer's wife), such a doctrine is absolutely true, and cannot be
overstated. A large proportion, therefore, of your parish work
will be to influence the men of your family to do their duty by
their dependants. You wish to cure the evils under which they
labour. The greater proportion of these are in the hands of your
men relatives. It is a mockery, for instance, in you to visit the
fever-stricken cottage, while your husband leaves it in a state
which breeds that fever. Your business is to go to him and say,
"HERE IS A WRONG; RIGHT IT!" This, as many a beautiful Middle Age
legend tells us, has been woman's function in all uncivilised
times; not merely to melt man's heart to pity, but to awaken it to
duty. But the man must see that the woman is in earnest: that if
he will not repair the wrong by justice, she will, if possible (as
in those old legends), by self-sacrifice. Be sure this method
will conquer. Do but say: "If you will not new-roof that
cottage, if you will not make that drain, I will. I will not buy
a new dress till it is done; I will sell the horse you gave me,
pawn the bracelet you gave me, but the thing shall be done." Let
him see, I say, that you are in earnest, and he will feel that
your message is a divine one, which he must obey for very shame