New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-11-13
Nswalurk Daily Gtibn,te
VIEW PUBLICATIONS.
CONFESSIONS OF A CONVERT.

CONFESSIONS OF A CONVERT.
.osvrRr, o., LE.vts yson NY ExpEsESor. By o.
ssowssos 2ao pp ~" Edward pons'H D NJ.
Tss experience Of individual minds especially I"
uu.tra,ive Of the emotional principles in nuns"
nature. forms feature OF universal attraction ~
The rec, rds Of history. Whether in the sphere y,
religious aspiration, Of intellectual conn'c'' "
sa,,,orsl egerve,cepce, the frank pefsoo'i '0''''
.,o,s Of writers Ike Augustine, uoe.no I'D.
p.,..ssn no,,e.s Al interest FIR oil cissses o'
3D., uholI, apsr. from the moral "eoincance
vbicb they nsy b supposs d to enoooy. Even VIC
autobiography Of the bumolestipd'iduss' II rea'ed
With I, n,hfuress and nasete, en- chains the as'eh-
t;on Of per,ons, with whom the perussl Of books Is
\, no nesns q fsvoli.e occupation. The present
volume, although not purportiOg to be compese
autobiography, challenges an unusual interest,"
from tho peculiar intelectu, history of the writer
and the prominent place which he has neid ior
many years in the literary and religious oeVeioP
ments Of the country. Whsteser weight may De
attached TO the expression Of his opinions, BY
a,as,.nt minds. DO one can fail TO appreciate the
vast amount of mental labor which be has per-
formed; and the learning logical vgor, and natural
.,.ous,cs with which be has maintained his Pc
.;t;ou amid every variety of experience. He here
syes picture of his entire religious life, from his
earliest recollection to his admission into the
Catholic Church Connected with this, he presents
scots, schools and parties with which, from time to
time, he has come in contact, together with brief
PERSONAL sketches of their founders and Chiefs 90
far % they sxerted iLAaence on his opicioDs or
relations. This portion Of bis volume will attract
circle Of readers, who might be disposed to weary
Of his O, gumentative statements snd illustrations.
Mr.. Bro Tpson was born in the town Of Stock
bridge, Vermont, Sept. l6, 1903. At the age OF
six be was placed with an aged couple in the town
Of Roy alton to be brought up. He was here taught
the A,sembly's Casechsm, the postes Greed,
and the Lords Prayer beside the usual wholesome
les.ops in practical ethics His Childhood appears
10 have been without the cemm,n charms Of that
age Brought up with old people, and debarred
from all the spOrts, plays, and amusements of chill
drep, he had the ma,ners the tone, and the tastes
Of an old man before be was boy. He hal an
early fondness for ling, but bis supply of books
Was Of the scantiest hind. They consisted chiefly
Of afew religious publications, aud the Scriptures,
all Of which he had read through before he was
eight and great part of which he knew by heart
before he was fourteen years old. His thoughts
early took religious turn, and his greatest pleasure
vas in converspg or in hearing others converse on
- The subject Of religion. When about nine years
DID, he was permitted to accompany much older
boy to "the middle of the town." about four miles
dstsnt from bis residence, to witness muster, or
general training Of brigade Of miiSa. Ga bis
return home ne was asked what no had seen TO in.
torest him. His answer was that he had seen two
old men taking on religion. In fact, the young
me,apbysician took part in the debate, which was
On election and free will, and became 90 much ab.
soibed in the argument that be quite forgot the
soldiers, and almost forgot to eat his cake Of
gingerbread.
Bis earliest wish, with regard to his future life,
was that he might be minister Of religion. For
this, he longed to 60 TO school, to get Learning, to
srow up and to be man. He early looked upon
hm,ef a. one called and set apart to the service OF
religion. Hence, though of an irritable tempera.
msnt and subject to violent outbreaks of passion,
he tr ed bard TO control himsef nor till no was man
Krowp, did he ever auffey the hun to 60 down upon
his wrath.
At the spe of fourteen he left the kind old couple
who had thus far brought him up, and went
70, III into the world alone to make his way as well
az he could Hitherto he had seen little of religion
except in the form of New. England Congregation
ALIEN and other orthodox sects he now fell in with
Univers alists Dents Atheists and Nothingaraus or
persons processing no particular religion. He still
held fast 10 his belief in his need OF religion; but his
young head becsme confused with the contradictory
opinions which he heard advanced, aud for time
his mind was darkened, and he half persuaded him
self that all religion was delasion. At length,
when about nineteen years Of age, he happened to
20 into Presbyterian meeting house, which be
passed on journey, and received such deep impress
sions, that after cOnversns with the Presby terrain
minister Of the town where be was attending an
academy (BallstOn, N. Y }, he was baptized aud
became member Of the church. But the system
Of resti amt and espionage TO which he YVES subject
did not suit his mind, aud after trying for year or
two to stfe his discomfort he came to the coaclu.
sion that the Presbyterian authority was iuegiti
mate, and that no other church could assert suPe-
rior claims to divine commission, except the
Roman Catholic, which BY the general verdict Of
mankind had been pronounced erroneous and cor
rupt. He, accordingly denied the authority Of any
church 10 dictatein matters Of faith and conscience.
aid fell back on the Scriptures as interpreted by
private Judgment At the same time he did not I'D
Dt,he supremacy of the Scriptures over reason, but
made reason rule for them instead Of taking them