Much of the religion in beautiful churches was an empty form without power. But these two uncompromising women preached righteousness, shunned the world, and, at all costs, avoidedmodern dress. In a day of short skirts, short sleeves, and short hair, they consistently dressed like someone in an 18th-century photo. Their necks were encased in high lace collars, circled with black velvet ribbon, and beneath their long skirts peeped high-buttoned shoes. From their vantage point of two straight-backed chairs on the platform of the dull little city mission, they yearned over each wanderer who entered. They loved Christ supremely; therefore, their love for people was well mixed with courage to be true. In the course of sermons it was quite in keeping to give pointed counsel. Once Miss Van Dyke pointed her finger directly at Mrs. Brown, seated in the second row, and firmly pronounced: “If you stayed home more with your children, Sister Brown, instead of gadding to every street and mission meeting, you’d be a better testimony.” The young Bollbacks had a rigorous church diet, year in and year out, at the mission: Tuesday night - Prayer meeting Wednesday night - Children’s service Thursday night - Young people’s group Saturday night - Open-air meeting Sunday afternoon - Sunday School Sunday night - Evangelistic service Sometimes the children rebelled, but Father was not a weak character. As Mother Bollback once declared: “If Father says that a
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