Greatly moved by the evil things that had befallen London, and stung in some measure by the trenchant attacks appearing in the _Epoch_, a small band of London clergy who had recognised in this grave crisis a challenge to the Church, set themselves earnestly to alleviate the growing sufferings of their people. Among the most active and unconventional of this little band was Father Francis. His church--St Stephen’s--was the first that was made available for the definite purpose of checking the spread of the Dancing Mania by special prayer and meditation. The unhappy subjects of this repellent affliction were invited to seek the calm of the sacred buildings, and find in the contemplation of the sanctuary rest for their perturbed spirits, peace from the contagious excitement of the stifling streets. Strange scenes were sometimes witnessed in these churches--frequented as they came to be not merely by those who, already, had been drawn into the whirlpool of the mania, and vehemently desired to be preserved from a relapse, but thronged also by girls and women who, though hitherto unaffected, felt and feared they, too, could not long escape. Outside, in the glare of day or in the shadow of night, tumultuous sounds would reach the ears of priests and suppliants. Nearer and nearer came the clangour of crude instruments of music; broken cries and bursts of hysterical laughter filled the outer air; the scuffling of the Dancers’ feet became more and more audible. Perhaps the direful medley came and passed without any of the Dancers entering the church. At other times they crowded in with loud discordant noises. But almost always these were soon subdued by the solemn stillness of the building, and the unmoved calm of kneeling men and women, already earnestly engaged in intercessory prayer. No set services were attempted after the first few experiments. It was found that sermons or addresses often stimulated feelings already over-excited, and that hymns produced uncontrollable emotion. But the church organs were put to constant use when it was discovered that music, especially music of a certain type, was marvellously potent in stilling the overwrought nerves of the Dancers and allaying the tendency to hysterical outbreaks.