They looked with horror-stricken eyes on the Danbridge theological coquetries . Bloom Valley church was over head and heels in debt and had no visible prospect of ever getting out . The moderator said under his breath that they did over-much praying and too little hoeing . He did not believe in faith without works . Tarrytown Road kept its head above water but never had a cent to spare for missions or the schemes of the church . In bright and shining contradistinction to these the Putney church had always paid its way and gave liberally to all departments of church work . If other springs of supply ran dry the Putneyites enthusiastically got up a `` tea '' or a `` social , '' and so raised the money . Naturally the `` heft '' of this work fell on the women , but they did not mind -- in very truth , they enjoyed it . The Putney women had the reputation of being `` great church workers , '' and they plumed themselves on it , putting on airs at conventions among the less energetic women of the other churches . They were especially strong on societies . There was the Church Aid Society , the Girls ' Flower Band , and the Sewing Circle . There was a Mission Band and a Helping Hand among the children . And finally there was the Women 's Foreign Mission Auxiliary , out of which the whole trouble grew which convulsed the church at Putney for a brief time and furnished a standing joke in presbyterial circles for years afterwards . To this day ministers and elders tell the story of the Putney church strike with sparkling eyes and subdued chuckles . It never grows old or stale . But the Putney elders are an exception . They never laugh at it . They never refer to it . It is not in the wicked , unregenerate heart of man to make a jest of his own bitter defeat . 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 XXXXX 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 .
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