Her impressions may be accounted for by the influence of Sarah’s feelings regarding herself, and as there was then no other field of public usefulness open to women, especially among the Quakers, than the ministry, her mind naturally settled upon that as her prospective work.  But, unlike Sarah, the anticipation inspired her with no dread, no doubt even of her ability to perform the duties, or of her entire acceptance in them.  It is true she craved of the Lord guidance and help, but she was confident she would receive all she needed, and in this state of mind she was better fitted, perhaps, to wait patiently for her summons than Sarah was.

She gives a minute and very interesting account of the successive steps by which she was led to feel that she could no longer worship in the Presbyterian Church, and we see the workings of Sarah’s influence through it all.  But it was not until after Sarah left for Philadelphia that Angelina took any decided measures to release herself from the old bonds.  All winter it had grieved her to think of leaving a church which she had called the cradle of her soul, and where she had enjoyed so many privileges.  She loved everything connected with it; the pastor to whom she had looked up as her spiritual guide; the members with whom she had been so intimately associated, and the Sunday-school in which she was much beloved, and where she felt she was doing a good work.  Again and again she asked herself:  “How can I give them up?”

Her friends all noticed the decline of her interest in the church work and services, and commented upon it.  But she shrank for a long time from any open avowal of her change of views, preferring to let her conduct tell the story.  And in this she was straightforward and open enough, not hesitating to act at once upon each new light as it was given to her.  First came the putting away of everything like ornament about her dress.  “Even the bows on my shoes,” she says, “must go,” and then continues:—­

“My friends tell me that I render myself ridiculous, and expose the cause of Jesus to reproach, on account of my plain dressing.  They tell me it is wrong to make myself so conspicuous.  But the more I ponder on the subject, the more I feel that I am called with a high and holy calling, and that I ought to be peculiar, and cannot be too zealous.  I rejoice to look forward to the time when Christians will follow the apostolical injunction to ’keep their garments unspotted from the world;’ and is not every conformity to it a spot on the believer’s character?  I think it is, and I bless the Lord that He has been pleased to bring my mind to a contemplation of this subject.  I pray that He may strengthen me to keep the resolution to dress always in the following style:  A hat over the face, without any bows of ribbon or lace; no frills or trimmings on any part of my dress, and materials not the finest.”

This simplicity in dress, and the sinfulness of every self-indulgence, she also taught to her Sunday-school scholars with more or less success, as one example out of several of a similar character will show.