New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-25
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE
A FORCING PROCESS IN RELIGION.
THE EXPERIENCE or YOUNG CONVERT AND BACK
SLIDER.

FORCING PROCESS IN RELIGION.
THE EXPERIENCE or YOUNG CONVERT AND BACK
SLIDER.
TO the Editor OF The Tribune.
SIR: / was very much interested in your
correspondents letter "a Religious Lfe not only Tor
is cleverness and humor but also for Its truthfuness
did not know but an experience Of mine, somewhat
unlike his might be interesting and perhaps Instructive
as illustrative Of the forcing process In religion
In the Sunday school with which was connected chill
ren were not supposed DO eligible for conversion until
their 18th 14th year, but after some such age were
piled pretty vigorously with exhortatons ana admon
tons. used to regard revival at that time as sort
of mill, into which an assorted batch OF sun
day school scholars was put, and, after the
necessary processes gone through WITH
each was turned out with q passport for Heaven
When was about IS the teachers began to talk to me on
the subject Of religion. did not feel that was at all
wicked but at the critical period OF LIE, ana
had certainly not been converted, understood It, Ii
was not converted must be wicked; consequently
tried to get up artificial conviction of sim did not
intend to DO hypocre but believed conviction to be
necessary preliminary to conversion as to warrant
means Of gengit had heard about people lying awake
all night in great trouble and praying but in the midst OF
what was intended to be ervent and desparng petition
truth was regarded it as matter Of bargain and sale
cOnscienously wanted toperform my part and have all
s snS to s 5oT you'll give me n an
apple I'll have the toothache;" but when
the time had OOthache; conscientious boy that
was, did the only thing that could do. tied up my
Jaw and tried to feel II did have the toothachc.
Well went to revival determined to go up to the altar
If felt moved they used to After the meeting
had been in progress time and several had gone
forward saw old gentleman coming down the aisle
evidently intending to speak to me. was Immediately
with sort of scare, stepped out of the pew
and went up tried to realize the situation was in but
had satisfactory feelings OF any kind when was re-
leased for could not help feeling to ne release.
found myself the object Of much attention Several
young ladies came up and SHOOK namaS win me
out saying anything. They evidently regarded me
as being in u very interesting and peculiar
state 1 went forward for several nights until
began to imagine that felt better when arose and
took a seat among the brethren. After this joined
young peoples prayeTmceting took part in the services
and did everything that newfcdgcd convert was sup
posed to As the whole thing was for the most part
meaningless to me soon began 10 tire Of H. also
much shaken in my allegiance by the discovery that
leader, a young who sang and prayed with great
fcrvency, anything bat an exemplary character.
From this time held merely mechanical connection
with the church, and became what was called back
slider Now have no doubt revivals have done much
good but why can't people learn that to force children
in such matters only makes them bypocritieal and per-
haps destroys their belief entirely. B.K.P.
k0rristOtcn ". j. May %, 1879.