stultified its own action as to send out circulars and speakers to defeat the measure, and yet, by her eloquent appeals, she had so educated public sentiment that the result showed more than one-third of the voting citizens in favor of the change. Olympia's pastoral connection with the church in Weymouth continued nearly six years. But, she said characteristically, the church was then on so admirable a footing she could safely trust it to a man's management and she desired for herself a larger field, involving harder toil. She accepted a call to the church in Bridgeport, Conn., then in a comatose condition. Immediately affairs assumed a new aspect, the church membership rapidly increased, the Sunday-school, which had had only a nominal existence, became one of the finest in the city, and the work of the church in all good causes was marked for its excellence and efficiency. She severed her connection with the church in April, 1876. She remained in New England, preaching in many States, as opportunity offered, till February, 1878. when she accepted a call to the pastorate of the Universalist Church in Racine, Wis. There she made for herself a home, which is the center of genial hospitality and the resort of the cultivated and intelligent. She faithfully continued her pastorate with the Racine church, toiling with brain and hand, with zeal unflagging, taxing her resources to the utmost to help the society meet its financial emergencies, till the time of her resignation, in February, 1887. Of her work there, a member of her parish writes: "When she came to Racine some of the parish were groping about in search of 'advanced thought;' some, for social and other causes, had become interested in other churches, and some were indifferent. Her sermons interested the indifferent called many of the wanderers back and furnished food for thought to the most advanced thinkers. Her addresses were always in point." It is noticeable that all the churches with which Olympia has been connected have continued to be active, working parishes, dating a new life from the time of her union with them, thus showing that her quickening is not the transient development of an abnormal excitment, but healthy growth from central, vital truth planting. Since her resignation of her pulpit in Racine, while still keeping the interest of Universalism near her heart, and losing no opportunity to extend its borders and expound its doctrines, and continuing actively in the ministry, Olympia has given the larger part of her time to the Wisconsin Woman Suffrage Association, of which she has been for several years the president and central inspiration. As vice-president of the National Woman Suffrage Association she has been able to raise an eloquent voice in behalf of progress and has done much to recommend that organization to the people. In the course of her public career she has many times been called to address the legislatures of the several States, and her incisive arguments have contributed much to those changes in the laws which have so greatly ameliorated the condition of women. Olympia has not confined her sympathies to womans rights or to Universalism. She has been and still is a persevering, faithful temperance agitator, working assiduously for almost a score of years in the orders of the Good Templars and the Sons of Temperance. In April, 1873, Olympia was married to John Henry Willis, a business man, entirely in sympathy with her ideas in regard to woman's position. It is by mutual agreement and with his full consent she retains the maiden name her toil has made historic, and continues her public work. Two children beautify the home, H. Parker Brown Willis and Gwendolen Brown Willis. Perhaps one could hardly answer the sophistries of those who claim that the enlargement of woman's sphere of action will destroy the home-life better than by pointing to its practical illustration in her well-ordered home. Perhaps her most prominent characteristic, and one that has been sometimes mistaken for aggressiveness, is her absolute fearlessness in espousing and defending the right.
BROWNE, Mrs. Mary Frank, philanthropist, born in Warsaw. Wyoming county, N. Y., 9th September, 1S35. She is the youngest daughter of Dr. Augustus Frank, who was born in Canaan,
MARY FRANK BROWNE.
Conn., and Jane Patterson, of Londonderry. N. H. Andrew Frank, father of Dr. Augustus and grand-father of Mrs. Browne, was a German, coming to America before the formation of the United States government. Professors and men of position in the schools and German universities were connected with the Frank families of the Old World. After the completion of Mrs. Browne's education she was engaged in teaching in Warsaw for a time, in the school established under the auspices of the Presbyterian Church. Her home remained in Warsaw until 1858, when she was married to Philo D. Browne, a banker of Montreal, Canada. Then began her life of regular, organized Christian activity. She was prominent in the organization of the Young Women's Christian Association of Montreal, and served as its president during its first years. She assisted in forming the Ladies' Canadian Foreign Missionary Society, and was one of its officers. Mrs. Browne aided in establishing and was one of the managers of the Infants' Home in Montreal, and was one of the founders and officers of the Canadian Board of Missions. She removed to California in 1876, where, with her husband and family, she made her home in San Francisco. There she found new fields of usefulness. She at once organized the San Francisco Young Women's
