“When,” said he,

“I first began to walk as a Christian, in my youthful zeal I made many resolutions that were well meant, but indiscreet.  Among others, I remember I resolved to pray, at least once, in some way, every hour that I was awake.  I tried faithfully to keep this resolution, but never having succeeded a single day, I suffered the pangs of self-reproach, until reflection satisfied me that the only wisdom possible, with regard to such a resolve, was to break it.  I remember, too, that I made a resolution to speak upon religion to every person with whom I conversed,—­on steamboats, in the streets, anywhere.  In this, also, I failed, as I ought; and I soon learned that, in the sowing of such seed, as in other sowings, times and seasons and methods must be considered and selected, or a man may defeat his own object, and make religion loathsome.”

In language like this he introduced the topic of the evening’s conversation, which was, How far, and on what occasions, and in what manner, one person may invade, so to speak, the personality of another, and speak to him upon his moral condition.  The pastor expressed his own opinion, always in the conversational tone, in a talk of ten minutes’ duration; in the course of which he applauded, not censured, the delicacy which causes most people to shrink from doing it.  He said that a man’s personality was not a macadamized road for every vehicle to drive upon at will; but rather a sacred enclosure, to be entered, if at all, with, the consent of the owner, and with deference to his feelings and tastes.  He maintained, however, that there were times and modes in which this might properly be done, and that every one had a duty to perform of this nature.  When he had finished his observations, he said the subject was open to the remarks of others; whereupon a brother instantly rose and made a very honest confession.

He said that he had never attempted to perform the duty in question without having a palpitation of the heart and a complete “turning over” of his inner man.  He had often reflected upon this curious fact, but was not able to account for it.  He had not allowed this repugnance to prevent his doing the duty; but he always had to rush at it and perform it by a sort of coup de main; for if he allowed himself to think about the matter, he could not do it at all.  He concluded by saying that he should be very much obliged to any one if he could explain this mystery.

The pastor said:  “May it not be the natural delicacy we feel, and ought to feel, in approaching the interior consciousness of another person?”

Another brother rose.  There was no hanging back at this meeting; there were no awkward pauses; every one seemed full of matter.  The new speaker was not inclined to admit the explanation suggested by the pastor.  “Suppose,” said he,