The whole affair, together with Howard Douglass's plan and its reception by so many prominent people, called attention to Freetown as it had never been called during the history of the city. For several days it was the absorbing topic of conversation. People all over the city discussed the situation. One of the most interesting discussions was held by the Christian Endeavor society of the Emmanuel Church a week after the suicide.
It was a regular business session, and after the reports had been received, the president rose and said he wanted to present the case of Freetown to the society.
"Mr. Douglass will be here before we finish, but it seemed to me it would be a good thing if we could let him know something definite that we can pledge to do to help the work. Some of us have been talking over the work for several weeks, and I think we are ready to submit a line of suggestions which the society can follow out if it thinks best."
"I make a motion," said one of the members who was a college student and always wanted business to proceed in accordance with Cushing's "Manual of Parliamentary Practice," "that we pledge ourselves as a society to help in the work at Freetown in every way we can. We can discuss plans in detail before passing the motion."
The motion was seconded by half a dozen eager voices.
"Now for suggestions," said the president.
The chairman of the Christian-citizenship committee rose.
"Our committee has held several meetings within the past month, and we have agreed that we might do some good work in the settlement house by having meetings to instruct the voters in Freetown along the line of municipal politics. We could have classes in the history of political movements, take up the city government, discuss the best plans for electing the best men, etc. This plan has already been tried in several social settlements with great success. Our committee pledges itself to help in this way."
He sat down, and some one started a little applause. It swept through the room, and ceased only when the chairman of the good-literature committee rose.
"Our committee is ready to fit up the new reading-room in the social settlement with magazines, papers, and books. Besides that, we believe we can carry good papers to the different houses in Freetown, and direct the reading by means of reading-circles, especially in the winter. Our main object, however, will be to help make the new reading-room attractive, and to serve as librarians or attendants different evenings during the week, if Mr. Douglass says that is the best way to serve."