New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-23

loving Saviour, inoculated into human soul IN
that way, is never lost no after doubt or phi
lOsopby or suffering can wear it out: A child is
taught tC reverence and love its God, Just as
healthy plant is made to grow, by keeping it in
the sunshine, in pure influences, by constant
care, moment after moment, year after year.
But no parent can make a child bear the fruit
of that reverence and love in its actions. Paul
may plant and ApOlos water, but God only can
give the increase.
There is another mode of dealing with
children, popular with many well-meaning
Christians. They are subjected to sudden,
tremendous, emotional influence, during which
their nervous systems undergo violent strain.
In the majority Of instances this is the sole
effect that is producedJ neither their reason,
Judgment, nor real affections are touched, and
when the nervous excitement is over, the effect
also is at an end. During the great camp-meet-
ings of last Summer, certain preachers, some or
them women, who ought to have known better,
were noted for their ability to get up revivals
among children. None Of these women, we be-
lieye and hope, were mothers. Their fervid
descriptions Of the terrOrs of hell and glories OF
heaven were listened to by q half frantic, cry
ing, shouting multitude Of boys and girls, who
were labOring under precisely the same kind OF
hysterical excitement and were just as ncapa-
bic of q rational, temperate Christian action as
the thousands of little ones who once started
through Europe on a crusade to Palestine, anu
died by the way. 1t was pitiable spectacle to
any one who believed in the goodness, the low
ing kindness of Christ. The number Of these con-
verts was triumphantly published, but 1t would
be curious to find the number of those who now,
after a years coolng-Of, retain any durable
effect from that vehement passion.
We would not be misunderstood 1t doubt
less may De possible for child to pass through
that inexplicable change technically called con-
versiOn-acute sorrow for wrOng-dOing, sur
render Of the life to God, and in consequence
q steady quiet, faithful obedience to Him. But
O careful distinction should be made between
this most enduring, solemn of all changes, and
that nervous, spasmodic frenzy which mob of
children catch from each other as readily as
they would any other contagious physical
disease. When they have caught it, it they
were left to themselves the effect might pass
off harmlessly but too often they are utilized
to affect others. We ali know the common his
tory of boy preachers" Of all forced, un-
natural prodigies their fate is the most pitiabe.
With the intellect and experience of children
they are thrust into the glare of public life and
forced to fill the place of teachers OF multi
tudes. Crowds follow them, as crowds follow
any show, to cape and wonder, not to learn.
They forget, in their qualification of curiosity,
the effect upon the lad who, with his few poor
ideas, his ignorance Of human nature, is given
task which exhausts the powers OF the wlsest
adult. 1t Is the pipin voice Of the child Choir
lister strained to render the awful pathOs of the
De PrOGtRdiS. One of these poor lads, who
drew great houses in this city year ago, find
ing that the public tired of the reiteratiOn OF
his borrowed sermons took to posing r1dlcu-
lousy in the asles and shreking to attract audi
enccs, and finally, as we understand, found
refuge in an insane asylum. Another died tho
other day in Philadelphia, and in his obituary
the story was told of his conversion at thirteen,
his career as preacher for three years, and his
sudden lapse into atheism Mt sixteen, in which
condition he remained until he was middle
aged man. The hysterical passion, the fever of
public applause, the forced, unnatural exertlOn,
the rank cOnceit engendered by the whole pro-
cess bore in bO.h cases their legitimate fruit.
In the last, happily, the victim went back, o few
days before he died, to the quiet faith he had
learned upon his mothers knee, and 80 rested
forever
The whole system of American training for
children or for men is to make teachers out of
us all, instead of learners. We read with pity
ing smile of old men, grown gray in the
clustered asles Of foreign universities, content
to be scholars and only scholars. With us, the
moment young man or woman originates an
idea which clitters in their partial sight, they
rush with it to the world. They crow over it as
the barn-yard fowl over tho bit of glass. They |
make an essay out Of it, and the public escapes |
easily if they do not make a book Nobody |
puts u clever saying OF bit of tender feeling |
into a letter nowadays; they save it 10 publish, |
Girls Of sixteen make up societies TO reform the |
world magazines have special department |
for the contributions of children who Lave |
hardly done teething. In short the whole ten
iency of American life Is to force each indi-
yidua to teach instead of to learn. The error
is harmful in any case, but in religion it is fatal.
Let us drive and drag our boys and girls III
feverlsh haste over superficial fields of Latin,
history and science if we will but for the sake
IF their souls health, for the sake of their lives in
his world and the world TO come, let lis not
ram them with Fictitious fcrmenting, evaporat-
ne picty. Let the love of God grow i'll them
Without parade or buster as the flower opens
md blooms and bears fruit in the full secure
unshine.
Audible nSurmurs of swift coming reaction
gainst tho third-tcrm forcing scheme are already