It was in June that the secretary of the Putney W.F.M. Auxiliary wrote to a noted returned missionary who was touring the country , asking her to give an address on mission work before their society . Mrs. Cotterell wrote back saying that her brief time was so taken up already that she found it hard to make any further engagements , but she could not refuse the Putney people who were so well and favourably known in mission circles for their perennial interest and liberality . So , although she could not come on the date requested , she would , if acceptable , come the following Sunday . This suited the Putney Auxiliary very well . On the Sunday referred to there was to be no evening service in the church owing to Mr. Sinclair 's absence . They therefore appointed the missionary meeting for that night , and made arrangements to hold it in the church itself , as the classroom was too small for the expected audience . Then the thunderbolt descended on the W.F.M.A. of Putney from a clear sky . The elders of the church rose up to a man and declared that no woman should occupy the pulpit of the Putney church . It was in direct contravention to the teachings of St. Paul . To make matters worse , Mr. Sinclair declared himself on the elders ' side . He said that he could not conscientiously give his consent to a woman occupying his pulpit , even when that woman was Mrs. Cotterell and her subject foreign missions . The members of the Auxiliary were aghast . They called a meeting extraordinary in the classroom and , discarding all forms and ceremonies in their wrath , talked their indignation out . Out of doors the world basked in June sunshine and preened itself in blossom . The birds sang and chirped in the lichened maples that cupped the little church in , and peace was over all the Putney valley . Inside the classroom disgusted women buzzed like angry bees . `` What on earth are we to do ? '' sighed the secretary plaintively . Mary Kilburn was always plaintive . She sat on the steps of the platform , being too wrought up in her mind to sit in her chair at the desk , and her thin , faded little face was twisted with anxiety .
`` All the arrangements are made and Mrs. Cotterell is coming XXXXX the tenth .
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