Indeed, Mr.Holbrook, while making a high bid for popularity with the female portion of his audience, was throwing an immense fire-brand into the family circle of a number of his hearers.
"My hearers, remember this," resumed this odd little man: "Manage a woman right, and you have a mighty power to carry out the greatest project the world ever saw." Disjointed and illogical as this sermon was, it was just what Chapman and Mrs.Chapman wanted to put the church of the new ideas firm on its legs.

It was popular with the women; and with their favor Holbrook could ride triumphantly over any number of quarrels.
Mrs.Chapman intimated to another admiring female that the little man they had just listened to was very like an oyster--looked better when opened.

In short, it was the general opinion of the women that Mr.
Holbrook had preached a very sensible sermon; and they were delighted, notwithstanding what their husbands said to the contrary.

"We have got a preacher now," said the women, "who will stick up for our rights.

You men have had it all your own way long enough." Some of the men, however, were not inclined to let these taunts pass quietly, declaring that they had never listened to such nonsense before.