PARTVIII
RELIGIOUSDEVELOPMENT
CHAPTERLVIII
EARLYIMPRESSIONS——1832—1851
WhenthecolonistsfromNewEnglandcameintocentralandwesternNewYork，attheendoftheeighteenthcentury，theywrotetheirmainideaslargeuponthetownstheyfounded。EspeciallywasthisevidentatmybirthplaceontheheadwatersoftheSusquehanna。
Intheheartofthelittlevillagetheylaidout，largelyandliberally，\"theGreen\";acrossthemiddleofthistheregraduallyrosealineofwoodenstructuresasstatelyastheyknewhowtomakethem，——theorthodoxCongregationalchurchstandingatthecenter;closebesidethischurchstoodthe\"academy\";andthen，oneitherside，thechurchesoftheBaptists，Methodists，andEpiscopalians。Thuswererepresentedreligion，education，andchurchequality。
TheEpiscopalchurch，asbelongingtotheleastnumerouscongregation，wasattheextremeleft，andthesmallestbuildingofall。Itwaseasilyrecognized。Alltheotherswereinasortofquasi—Italianstyleoftheseventeenthcentury，likethosecommonlyfoundinNewEngland;butthiswasinakindof\"carpenter’sGothic\"whichhadgrownoutofvaguerecollectionsofthemother—country。TothisbuildingIwastakenforbaptism，andwithitareconnectedmyfirstrecollectionsofpublicworship。MyparentswereverydevotedmembersoftheProtestantEpiscopalChurch。Withasmallnumberofothersoflikemind，theyhadtakenrefugeinitfromthestormsoffanaticismwhichsweptthroughwesternNewYorkduringtheearlyyearsofthenineteenthcentury。Forthatwasthetimeofgreat\"revivals。\"
ThetremendousassertionsofJonathanEdwardsregardingthetyrannyofGod，havingbeentakenupbyamultitudeofmenwhowereinfinitelyEdwards’sinferiorsineverythingsavelung—power，werespreadwithmuchdinthroughmanychurches:
picturesofanangryMolochholdingovertheinfernalfiresthecreatureswhomhehadpredestinedtorebel，andthestatementthat\"hellisfilledwithinfantsnotaspanlong，\"wereamongthechoiceoratoricaloutgrowthsofthisperiod。Withtheseloudandluridutteranceswentstrivingsaftersacerdotalrule。Thepresbyter——\"oldpriestwritlarge\"——tookhighgroundinallthesevillages:thesimplestandmostharmlessamusementsweredenounced，andchurchmembersguiltyoftakingpartinthemwereobligedtostandinthebroadaisleandbepubliclyreprimandedfromthepulpit。
Mymotherwasthoughtful，gentle，andkindly;inthemidstofallthisfrothandfurysomeonelentheraprayer—book;thisledhertojoininthedevotionsofalittleknotofpeoplewhohadbeenbroughtuptouseit;andamongtheseshefoundpeace。Myfather，whowasamanofgreatenergyandvigor，wasattractedtothislittlecompany;andnotlongafterwardrosethelittlechurchontheGreen，servedatfirstbysuchclergymenaschancedtobeinthatpartoftheState。
AmongthesewasarecentgraduateoftheEpiscopalCollegeatGenevaonSenecaLake——HenryGregory。Hisseemedtobeasoulwhichbysomemistakehadescapedoutofthethirteenthcenturyintothenineteenth。Hewasslightinbuild，delicateinhealth，andasceticinhabits，hisoneinterestintheworldbeingtheupbuildingofthekingdomofGod——asheunderstoodit。ItwasthetimewhenPusey，Newman，Keble，andtheircompeerswererevivingmediaevalChristianity;theirideastookstrongholduponmanyearnestmeninthewesternworld，andamongthesenooneabsorbedthemmorefullythanthisyoungmissionary。Hewashonest，fearless，self—sacrificing，andthesequalitiessoongavehimastrongholduponhisflock，——theholdofamediaevalsaintuponpilgrimsseekingrefugefromaworldcruelandperverse。
Seeingthis，sundryclergymenandinfluentiallaymenofwhatwereknownasthe\"evangelicaldenominations\"attemptedtorefutehisargumentsanddiscredithispractices。Thatwastheverythingwhichheandhiscongregationmostneeded:underthisoppositionhisfervordeepened，hismediaevalcharacteristicsdeveloped，hislittlebandofthefaithfulincreased，andmoreandmoretheyadoredhim;butthisadorationdidnotintheleastinjurehim:
heremainedthesamegentle，fearless，narrow，uncompromisingmanthroughouthislonglifeMyfirstrecollectionsofreligiousworshipinthelittleoldchurchtakemebacktomyfourthyear;andIcanrememberwell，attheageoffive，standingbetweenmyfatherandmother，readingthePsalterwiththemasbestIcould，joininginthechantsandlookingwithgreataweontheserviceasitwentonbeforemyadmiringeyes。SomuchdiditimpressmethatfrommysixthtomytwelfthyearIalwayslookedforwardtoSundaymorningwithlonging。Theprayers，thechants，thehymns，allhadagreatattractionforme，——andthisalthoughIwassomewhatseverelyheldtotheproperobservanceofworship。Irememberwellthatattheageofsixyears，ifIfalteredinthepublicreadingofthePsalter，agentleraponthesideofmyheadfrommyfather’sknucklesremindedmeofmyduty。
AtvarioustimessinceIhavebeenpresentatthemostgorgeousservicesoftheAnglican，Latin，Russian，andOrientalchurches;
haveheardthePope，surroundedbyhiscardinals，singmassatthehighaltarofSt。Peter’s;haveseentheMetropolitanArchbishopofMoscow，surroundedbyprelatesoftheRussianEmpire，conducttheburialofaczar;haveseenthehighestLutherandignitariessolemnizethemarriageofaGermankaiser;
havesatundertheministrationsofsundryarchbishopsofCanterbury;havebeenpresentathighmassperformedbytheArchbishopofAthensundertheshadowofMarsHillandtheParthenon;and，thoughIamsingularlysusceptibletotheinfluenceofsuchpageants，especiallyiftheyareaccompaniedbynoblemusic，nooneofthesehasevermadesogreatanimpressionuponmeasthatsimpleAnglo—Americanserviceperformedbyasurplicedclergymanwithacountrychoiranddevoutassemblageinthislittlevillagechurch。Curiouslyenough，onecustom，whichhigh—churchmenlongagodiscardedasbeneaththeproperdignityoftheservice，wasperhapsthethingwhichimpressedmemost，andIhavesincelearnedthatitgenerallythusimpressednew—comerstotheEpiscopalChurch:thiswastheretirementoftheclergyman，atthecloseoftheregularmorningprayer，tothevestry，wherehelefthissurplice，andwhenceheemergedinablackGenevagown，inwhichhethenpreachedthesermon。Thissimplefeatureintheceremonialgreatlyimpressedme，andledmetoaskthereasonforit:atwhichanswerwasmadethattheclergymanworehiswhitesurpliceaslongashewasusingGod’swords，butthatheworehisblackgownwheneverheusedhisown。
ThoughcomparativelylittlewassaidbyEpiscopaliansregardingreligiousexperiencesorpiousstatesofmind，therewasanatmosphereoforderlydecencyduringthewholeservicewhichcouldhardlyfailtomakeanimpressiononallthinkingchildrenbroughtintoit。Irememberthatwhen，ononeortwooccasions，I
wastakentotheCongregationalchurchbymygrandmother，Iwasmuchshockedatwhatseemedtometheunfitdressandconductoftheclergyman，——inacutawaycoat，lounginguponasofa，——andattheirreverentwaysofthesturdyfarmers，whomadereadytoleavethechurchduringthefinalprayer，andevenwhiletheyshouldhavebeenreceivingthebenediction。
Ithusbecameadevotee。OfthesermonsIretainedlittle，exceptafewstrikingassertionsorlargewords;oneofmyamusements，onreturninghome，wasconductingasortofservice，onmyownaccount，withthoseofthehouseholdwhowerewillingtotakepartinit;and，fromsometraditionspreservedinthefamilyregardingmyutterancesonsuchoccasions，adrollsortofserviceitmusthavebeen。
InmyseventhyearthefamilyremovedtoSyracuse，the\"CentralCity\"oftheState，alreadybeginningawonderfulcareer，althoughatthattimeoflessthansixthousandinhabitants。Myexperienceinthenewcitywasprefacedbyanexcursion，withmyfatherandmotherandyoungerbrother，toBuffaloandNiagara;
andastherailwaysthroughcentralNewYorkwerethenunfinished，——and，indeed，butfewofthembegun，——wemadethejourneyalmostentirelyonacanal—packet。PerhapsmymostvividremembranceofthisvoyageisthatofthefervidprayersIthenputupagainstshipwreck。
AtSyracusewasamuchlargerandmoreinfluentialProtestantEpiscopalchurchthanthatwhichwehadleft，——next，indeed，inimportancetothePresbyterianbody。Thatchurch——St。Paul’s——hassincebecomethemotherofalargenumberofothers，andhasbeenmadethecathedralofanewdiocese。Inthismyfather，byvirtueofhisvigorineverythingheundertook，wassoonmadeavestryman，andfinallyseniorwarden;and，therectoratehappeningtofallvacant，herecommendedfortheplaceourformerclergyman，HenryGregory。Hecame，andhisworkinthenewplacewassoonevenmoreeffectivethanintheold。
Hisfirstinfluencemademeamostdeterminedlittlebigot，andI
rememberwellmybattlesinbehalfofhigh—churchideaswithvariousPresbyterianboys，andespeciallywiththesonofthePresbyterianpastor。InthosedayswentonafamouscontroversyprovokedbyaspeechataNewEnglanddinnerinthecityofNewYorkwhichhadsetbytheearstwoeminentdivines——theRev。Dr。
Wainwright，Episcopalian，andtheRev。Dr。Potts;Presbyterian。
Dr。PottshadinsistedthatthePuritanshadfoundeda\"churchwithoutabishopandastatewithoutaking\";Dr。Wainwrightinsistedthattherecouldbenochurchwithoutabishop;andonthisthetwochampionsjoinedissue。Armedwiththeweaponsfurnishedmeinthechurchcatechism，insundrysermons，andinpiousreading，Itookupthecudgels，andthebattlesthenwagedweremanyandsevere。
Onelittleoutgrowthofmyreligiousintolerancewasquicklynippedinthebud。AsIwasreturninghomeoneeveningwithagroupofscampishboys，oneofthempointedoutthe\"Jewstore，\"——inthosedaysanewthing，——andremindedusthattheproprietorworshipedonSaturdayand，doubtless，committedotherabominations。Atthis，withoneaccord，wedidwhatwecouldtometeouttheOldTestamentpunishmentforblasphemy——wethrewstonesathisdoor。Myfather，hearingofthis，dealtwithmesharplyandshortly，andtaughtmemosteffectuallytoleavedealingwiththeJewishreligiontotheAlmighty。Ihaveneversincebeentemptedtojoininanyanti—Semiticmovementwhatever。
MeanwhileMr。Gregory——or，asheafterwardbecame，Dr。
Gregory——wasfightingthebattlesofthechurchinmanyways，andsomeofhissermonsmadeagreatimpressionuponme。Oftheseonewasentitled\"TheChurchnotaSect，\"thetextbeing，\"Forastothissect，weknowthatitiseverywherespokenagainst。\"Anothersermonshowed，especially，hisuncompromisingspiritandtookyetstrongerholduponme;itwasgivenonanoccasionwhenPresbyterians，Methodists，andBaptistsweredrawninlargenumberstohischurch;but，disdainingalleffortstopropitiatethem，hetookashissubject\"TheSinofKorah，\"whosethimselfupagainsttheregularlyordainedpriesthood，andwas，withallhisadherents，fearfullypunished。Theconclusionwaseasilydrawnbyallthe\"dissenters\"present。Onanotheroccasionofthesamesort，whenhischurchwasfilledwithpeoplefromothercongregations，hetookashissubjectthestoryofNaamantheSyrian，histextbeing，\"ArenotAbanaandPharphar，riversofDamascus，betterthanalltheriversofIsrael？MayInotwashinthemandbeclean？\"Thegoodrector’sanswerwas，ineffect，\"No，youmaynot。TheAlmightydesignatedtheriverJordanasthemeansforsecuringhealthandsafety;andsointhesetimeshehasdesignatedforasimilarpurposethechurch——whichistheProtestantEpiscopalChurch:outsideofthat——astheoneappointedbyhim——youhavenohope。\"
Butgraduallytherecameinmymindareaction，andcuriously，itstartedfrommyloveformygrandmother——mymother’smother。
AmongallthewomenwhomIrememberinmyearlylife，shewasthekindestandmostlovely。Shehadbeenbroughtasayounggirl，byherparents，fromOldGuilfordinConnecticut;andinherlaterlifesheoftentoldmecheerilyofthedaysofprivationandtoil，ofwolveshowlingaboutthecottagesofthelittleNewYorksettlementinwinter，ofjourneystwentymilestochurch，ofridingonhorsebackfromearlymorninguntillateintheevening，throughtheforests，tobringflourfromthemill。Shewasquietlyreligious，readingeverydayfromherNewTestament，butremainingintheoldCongregationalChurchwhichmymotherhadleft。IrememberonceaskingherwhyshedidnotgowiththerestofustotheEpiscopalChurch。Heranswerwas，\"Well，dearchild，theEpiscopalChurchisjustthechurchforyourfatherandmotherandforyouchildren;youareallyoungandactive，butI
amgettingoldandratherstout，andthereisalittletoomuchgettingupandsittingdowninyourchurchforme。\"TotheharshCalvinismofhercreedsheseemedtopaynoattention，and，ifhardpressedbyme，usedtosay，\"Well，sonny，thereis，ofcourse，somemercifulwayoutofitall。\"Herreligiontookeverykindlyform。Shelovedeverypersonworthloving，——andsomenotworthloving，——andherbenefactionswereextendedtopeopleofeverycreed;especiallywassheasortofProvidencetothepoorCatholicIrishofthelowerpartofthetown。Touschildrenshewasespeciallydevoted——reconcilingusinourquarrels，soothingusinoursorrows，comfortingusinourdisappointments，andcarryingusthroughoursicknesses。Sheusedgreatcommonsenseinhercareofus;kindlyandgentletothelastdegree，therewasonethingshewouldneverallow，andthiswasthatthechildren，evenwhentheybecamequitelarge，shouldbeoutofthehouse，inthestreetsorpublicplaces，afterdark，withoutanelderlyandtrustycompanion。ThoughmybrotherandIusedtoregardthisasheronefault，itwasreallyagreatservicetous;for，assoonasduskcameon，ifweweretemptedtolingerinthestreetsorinpublicplaces，wereturnedhome，sinceweknewthatifwedidnotweshouldsoonseehercomingtoremindus，andthiswas，ofcourse，aseriousblowtoourpride。
When，then，Isatinchurchandheardourmediaevalsaintpreachwithardorandunction，SundayafterSunday，thatthepromisesweremadetothechurchalone;thatthoseoutsideithadvirtuallynopartinGod’sgoodness;thattheywereprobablylost，——Ithoughtofthisdear，sweetoldlady，andmyheartroseinrebellion。ShewascertainlythebestChristianIknew，andtheideathatsheshouldbepunishedforsayingherprayersinthePresbyterianChurchwasabhorrenttome。Imadeupmymindthat，ifshewastobelost，Iwouldbelostwithher;andsoon，undertheinfluenceofthoughtslikethese，Ibecameareligiousrebel。
Thematterwaslittlehelpedwhenourgoodrectorpreacheduponretributionforsin。Heheldthemostextremeviewsregardingfuturepunishment;andthemorehedevelopedthem，themoremymindrejectedtheideathatsomanygoodpeopleaboutme，especiallytheonewhomIlovedsomuch，couldbesubjectedtosuchtortures，——andthemoremyheartrebelledagainsttheMolochwhohadestablishedandwasadministeringsohorribleasystem。I
musthavebeenabouttwelveyearsoldwhenitthusoccurredtometoquestionthewholesacredtheory;andthisquestioningwasstartedintovigorouslifeaftervisiting，withsomeotherschool—boys，thePresbyterianchurchwhena\"revival\"wasgoingon。AsIentered，averyunspiritual—lookingpreacherwaslayingdownthemostseveredoctrinesofdivineretribution。Infrontofhimwereseveralofourneighbors’daughters，manyofthemmyschoolmates，whomIregardedasthoroughlysweetandgood;andtheywereintears，apparentlybroken—heartedunderthestormofwrathwhichpouredoverthemfromthemouthoftherevivalpreacher。AtthisIrevoltedentirely，andfromthatmomentI
disbelievedinthewholedoctrine，utterlyandtotally。Ifeltthatthesekindlygirls，towhomIhadlookedwithsomuchadmirationintheclassesatschoolandinourvariouslittlegatherings，wereinfinitelymoreworthyofthedivinefavorthanwasthebig，fleshlycreaturestormingandragingandclaimingtoannounceadivinemessage。
Someinfluenceonmyyouthfulthinkinghadalsobeenexercisedbysundryoccurrencesinourownparish。Ourgoodrectorwasespeciallyfondofpreachingupon\"baptismalregeneration\";
takingtheextremehigh—churchviewandtherebydrivingoutsomeofthebest\"evangelicals\"fromhiscongregation。OneoftheseI
rememberespecially——aserene，dignifiedoldman，Mr。JohnDurnford。AfterheleftourchurchhetookhisplaceamongthePresbyterians，andIremember，despitemybroad—churchtendencies，thinkingthathewasincurringseriousdangerbysuchapostasy;butasInotedhim，yearafteryear，devotinghimselftothenewlyfoundedorphan—asylum，givingallhissparetimetothecareofthechildrengatheredthere，evengoingintothemarketandthencebearingprovisionstotheminabasket，Ibegantofeelthatperhapshissoulwassafe，afterall。Ibethoughtmyselfthat，withallmyreadingoftheBible，IhadneverfoundanytextwhichrequiredamantobelieveinthedoctrinesoftheProtestantEpiscopalChurch;butthatIhadfound，inthewordsofJesushimself，aswellasinthetextofStJamesregarding\"purereligionandundefiled，\"declarationswhichseemedtocommend，especially，laborsforthepoor，fatherless，andafflicted，likethoseofMr。Durnford。
Butstillmoremarkedwastheinfluenceonmythinkingofapainfulclashintheparish。Itcameonthiswise。Ourrectorwasonedaycalledtoattendthefuneralofalittlechildbutafewweeksold，thedaughterofneighborsofours。Thefatherwasabig—bodied，big—hearted，big—voiced，successfulmanofbusiness，welllikedforhisbluffcordialityandgenerosity，whowenttochurchbecausehiswifewent。Themotherwasasweet，kindly，delicatewoman，thedaughterofaclergyman，anddevotedtothechurch。
Ithappenedthat，forvariousreasons，andmoreespeciallyonaccountoftheabsenceofthefatherfromhomeonbusiness，thebaptismofthechildhadbeendelayeduntilitssuddendeathpreventedtheriteforever。
Thefamilyandneighborsbeingassembledatthehouse，andtheserviceabouttobegin，anoldmaidenlady，whohaddeeplyabsorbedtheteachingsofDr。Gregoryandwishedtoimpressthemonthosepresent，saidtothefather，audiblyandwithagroan，\"Oh，Mr。————，whatapitythatthebabywasnotbaptized！\"towhichtherectorresponded，withadeepsighandinamostplaintivevoice，\"Yes！\"Thereuponthemotherofthechildburstintoloudandpassionateweeping，andatthisthefather，bigandimpulsiveashewas，lostallcontrolofhimself。Risingfromhischair，hestrodetothesideoftherectorandsaid，\"ThatisaslanderontheAlmighty;nonebutadevilcould，formynegligence，punishthislovelylittlechildbyagesoftorture。
Takeitback——takeitback，sir;or，bytheGodthatmadeus，I
willtakeyoubytheneckandthrowyouintothestreet！\"AtthisthegentlerectorfalteredoutthathedidnotpresumetolimitthemercyofGod，andafteratimetheservicewenton;butsermonsonbaptismalregenerationfromourpulpitwereneverafterwardfrequentorcogent。
StartledasIwasatthisscene，Ifeltthatthedoctrinehadnotstoodthetest。MoreandmoretherewasdevelopedinmethatfeelingwhichLordBaconexpressedsoprofoundlyandpithily，inhisessayon\"Superstition，\"whenhesaid:
ItwerebettertohavenoopinionofGodatall，thansuchanopinionasisunworthyofHim;foriftheoneisunbelief，theotheriscontumely:andcertainlysuperstitionisthereproachoftheDeity。Plutarchsaithwelltothatpurpose:\"Surely，IhadratheragreatdealthatmenshouldsaytherewasnosuchmanatallasPlutarch，thanthattheyshouldsaythatPlutarchatehischildrenassoonastheywereborn;\"——asthepoetsspeakofSaturn:andasthecontumelyisgreatertowardsGod，sothedangerisgreatertowardsmen。
The\"danger\"ofwhichBaconspeakshasbeennotedbymeoften，bothbeforeandsinceIreadhisessays。Once，indeed，whenaveryorthodoxladyhaddeclaredtomeherconvictionthateverydisbelieverinthedivinityofthesecondpersonintheTrinitymustbelost，Iwarnedherofthisdangerandsaid，\"WelatelyhadPresidentGranthereontheuniversitygrounds。Supposeyourlittlegirl，havingmetthePresident，andhavingbeentoldthathewasthegreatgeneralofthewarandPresidentoftheUnitedStates，shouldassertherdisbelief，basingitonthefactthatshehadformedtheideaofamuchmoreshowyandgorgeouspersonthanthisquiet，modestlittleman;andsupposethatGeneralGrant，onhearingofthechild’smistake，shouldcruellypunishherforit;whatwouldyouthinkofhim？andwhatwouldhethinkofyou，werehetoknowthatyouassertedthathecouldbesocontemptiblyunjustandcruel？Thechild’sutterancewouldnotintheslightestoffendhim，butyourimputationtohimofsuchvilenesswouldmostcertainlyangerhim。\"
Acontributiontomyreligiousdevelopmentcamealsofromaverydifferentquarter。OurkitchenBridget，oneofthebestofherkind，lentmeherbookofdevotion——the\"UrsulineManual。\"ItinterestedmemuchuntilIfoundinitthereasonsverycogentlygivenwhysalvationwasconfinedtotheRomanCatholicChurch。
Thisdisgustedme。Accordingtothis，evenourgoodrectorhadnomorechanceofsalvationthanaPresbyterianorBaptistorMethodistminister。Butthisseriousviewofthecasewasdisturbedbyahumorousanalogy。Therewerethenfightingvigorouslythroughtheadvertisementcolumnsofthenewspaperstworivaldoctors，eachclaimingtoproducetheonlysalutary\"sarsaparilla，\"andeachnamedTownsend。Atfirstoneclaimedtobe\"THEDr。Townsend，\"thentheotherclaimedtobe\"THEDr。
Townsend\";thefirstrejoinedthatHEwas\"Dr。JACOBTownsend，\"
whereupontheotherinsistedthatHEwas\"Dr。JacobTownsend\";tothisthefirstansweredthatHEwas\"theORIGINALDr。JacobTownsend，\"andtheotherthendeclaredthatHEwas\"theORIGINAL
Dr。JacobTownsend\";andsoon，throughissueafterissue，eachsupplyingstatements，certificates，arguments，rejoindersadnauseam。Moreandmore，then，thevariousdivinesinsistingontheexclusivepossessionoftheonlyremedyforsinremindedmeoftheseeminentsarsaparilla—makers，——eachdeclaringhisownconcoctiongenuineandallothersspurious，eachglorifyinghimselfaspossessingtheoriginalrecipeanddenouncinghisrivalsaspretenders。
AnothercontributiontomythoughtwasmadeonedayintheSunday—school。WhilereadingintheNewTestamentIhadnoticedthedifficultiesinvolvedinthetwogenealogiesofJesusofNazareth——thatinMatthewandthatinLuke。OnmyaskingtheSunday—schoolteacherforanexplanation，hegavetheoffhandanswerthatonewasthegenealogyofJosephandtheotherofMary。Ofcourseitdidnottakemelongtofindthisanswerinadequate;and，asaconsequence，Sunday—schoolteachinglostmuchofitseffectuponme。
Buttherewasstillonepowerfulinfluenceleftinbehalfoftheoldcreed。Fromtimetotimecamethevisitationbythebishop，Dr。DeLancey。HewasthemostIMPRESSIVEmanIhaveeverseen。I
havestoodinthepresenceofmanyprelatesinmyday，fromPopePiusIXdown;butnooneofthemhaseversoawedmeasthisBishopofWesternNewYork。Hisentryintoachurchchancelwasanevent;nomusiccouldbefinerthanhisreadingoftheservice;hisconfirmationprayerstilldwellsinmymemoryasthemostperfectpetitionIhaveeverheard;andhissimple，earnestsermonstookstrongholdofme。Hispersonalinfluencewasalsogreat。Goldsmith’slinesinthe\"DesertedVillage，\"
\"Evenchildrenfollow’dwithendearingwileAndpluck’dhisgown，tosharethegoodman’ssmile，\"
accuratelypicturedthefeelingsofmanyofusaswelingeredafterservicetoseehimgreetourfathersandmothers。
Astomybiblicalstudies，theywerecontinued，thoughnotperhapsassystematicallyastheymightwellhavebeen。TheProtestantEpiscopalChurchhasforayouthatleastoneadvantageinthisrespect，——thattheservicesincludingIntroits，Canticles，Psalter，Lessons，EpistlesGospels，andvariousquotations，familiarizehimwiththenoblestutterancesinoursacredbooks。MymotherhadreceivedinstructioninBibleclassandprizedScripturereading;thereforeitwasthat，whenIwasallowedtostayathomefromchurchonSundayafternoons，itwasalwaysonconditionthatIshouldreadacertainnumberofchaptersintheBibleandprovetoheruponherreturnthatIhadreadthemcarefully，——andthiswasnotwithoutitsuses。
HereIamremindedofasomewhatcuriousevent。Oneafternoon，whenIhadbeenpermittedtoremainathome，ontheusualconditions，mymother，returningfromservice，saidtomethatbystayingawayfromchurchIhadmissedsomethingveryinteresting:
thattherewasagoodsermonwellgiven，thatthepreacherwasoffineappearance，dignified，——andanIndian;butthatshewouldneverhavesuspectedhimtobeanIndianwereitnotforhiswordsattheconclusionofhissermon，whichwereasfollows:
\"Andnow，mybrethren，Ileaveyou。Weshallprobablynevermeetagaininthisworld，anddoubtlessmostofyouwillforgetallthecounselsIhavegivenyouandremembernothingsavethatyouhaveto—dayheardasermonfromanIndian。\"Thepointofinterestreallywasthatthispreacher，EleazarWilliams，thoughhegavenohintofitonthisoccasion，believedhimself，andwasbelievedbymany，tobethelostDauphinofFrance，LouisXVII，andthatdecidedlyskilfulargumentsinfavorofhisclaimswerepublishedbytheRev。Mr。Hansonandothers。OneofthemostintelligentwomenIhaveeverknownbelievestothishourthatEleazarWilliams，generallyknownasahalf—breedIndianborninCanada，wasthesonofLouisXVIandMarieAntoinette，andthathisportlyformandBourbonfacewereconvincingadditionstoothermorecogenttestimonies。
AtvarioustimesIsoughtlightfromnewsources，and，findingonthefamilyshelvesaseriesofbookscalledthe\"EvangelicalFamilyLibrary，\"IreadsundryrepliestoHume，Gibbon，andotherdeists;buttheargumentsofHumeandGibbonandthosewhothoughtwiththemseemedtome，tosaytheleast，quiteasforcibleasthoseinanswertothem。Theserepliessimplystrengthenedmytendencytodoubt，andwhatIheardatchurchratherincreasedthedifficulty;forthefavoritesubjectsofsermonsintheEpiscopalChurchofthosedays，afterthe\"ApostolicalSuccession\"and\"BaptismalRegeneration，\"weretheperfectionsofthechurchorder，thebeautyofitsservices，andthealmostdivinecharacterofthePrayer—book。Thesetopicsweredevelopedinallthemoodsandtenses;thebeautiesofourownservicewereconstantlycontrastedwiththecruditiesandabsurditiesoftheworshippractisedbyothers;andalthough，sincethosedays，lefttomyownobservation，Ihavefoundmuchtruthinthesecomparisons，theyproduceduponmeatthattimeanythingbutagoodeffect。Itwaslikeabeautifulwomancomingintoanassemblage;callingattentiontotheperfectionsofherownface，form，andgarments;claimingloudlytobethemostbeautifulpersonintheroom;andso，finally，becomingtheleastattractivepersonpresent。
Thisstateofmindwasdeepenedbymyfirstexperiencesatcollege。Ihad，frommyearlyboyhood，wishedtogotoYale;but，underpressurefromthebishop，IwassenttothelittlechurchcollegeatGenevainwesternNewYorkTherewereexcellentmenamongitsprofessors——menwhomIcametoloveandadmire;butitsfaculty，itsendowment，itsequipment，wereinsufficient，andforfearofdrivingawaythesonsofitswealthyandinfluentialpatronsitcouldnotaffordtoinsisteitheronhighscholarshiporgooddiscipline，sothattheworkdonewasmostunsatisfactory。AndhereImaymentionthattheespecialclaimputforthbythiscollege，asbysomanyotherslikeitthroughoutthecountry，wasthat，withsosmallabodyofstudentsdirectlyunderchurchcontrol，boththeintellectualandreligiousinterestsofthestudentswouldbebetterguardedthantheycouldbeinthelargerandcomparativelyunsectarianinstitutions。Theverycontrarywasthentrue;andvariousexperienceshaveshownmethat，asarule，littlesectariancolleges，iftoofeebletoexercisestrongdisciplineorinsistonthoroughwork，arethemoredangerous。Asitwas，Ifeltthatinthisparticularcaseawronghadbeendonemeandchargedthatwrongagainstthechurchsystem。
Ihavebeengladtolearnoflateyearsthatthecollegejustreferredtohas，sincemystudentdays，sharedtheupwardprogressofitssisterinstitutionsandthatwithmoremeansandbetterappliancesasuccessionofsuperiorinstructorshavebeenabletobringitsstudentsintosteadygoodworkandunderexcellentdiscipline。
Muchwasmadeinthosedaysofthe\"Christianevidences，\"andonestatementthenputforth，regardingthemiraculous，producedatemporaryeffectuponme。ThisstatementwasthattheclaimsofthereligionsopposedtoChristianitydidnotrestuponmiracles;
thattherewas，atanyrate，norealtestimonytoanyexceptChristianmiracles;andthat，asarule，otherreligionsdidnotpretendtoexhibitany。ButwhenI，shortlyafterward，readthelifeofMohammed，andsawwhatagreatpartwasplayedbyhismiracleatthebattleofBeder，duringwhich，onhisthrowingdustintotheair，therecametohisrescuelegionsofangels，whowereseenandtestifiedtobymanyonthefield，——bothbyhisfriendsandbyhisenemies;andwhenIfoundthatmiraculoustestimoniesplayaleadingpartinallreligions，eveninfavorofdoctrinesthemostcruelandabsurd，Ifeltthatthe\"evidences\"mustbeweakwhichbroughtforwardanargumentsoillgrounded。Moreover，inmyvariedreadingIcameacrossmultitudesofmiraclesattributedtosaintsoftheRomanCatholicChurch，——miraclesforwhichmyriadsofgoodmenandwomenwerereadytolaydowntheirlivesinattestationoftheirbelief，——andifwemustacceptoneclassofmiracles，Icouldnotseewhyweshouldnotaccepttheother。
Atthecloseofthisfirstyear，forreasonsgivenelsewhere，I
brokeawayfromthislittlecollegeandwenttoYale。
CHAPTERLIX
INTHENEWENGLANDATMOSPHERE——1851—1853
AtYaleIfoundmyselfinthemidstofNewEnglandCongregationalism;butIcannotsaythatithelpedmemuchreligiously。It，indeed，broadenedmyview，sinceIwasassociatedwithprofessorsandstudentsofvariousformsofChristianity，andcametorespectthem，notforwhattheyprofessed，butforwhattheyreallywere。
TherealsoIreadunderanexcellentprofessor——mydearfriendthelatePresidentPorter——Butler’s\"Analogy\";but，thoughitimpressedme，itleftonmymindtheeffectofastrongpieceofspecialpleading，——ofaseriesofargumentsequallyvaluableforanyreligionwhichhadonce\"gotitselfestablished。\"
Here，too，arepellentinfluencewasexerciseduponmebya\"revival。\"Whatwascalleda\"religiousinterest\"begantobeshowninsundrystudentmeetings，andsoonitcameinwithafulltide。Iwasinducedtogointooneortwooftheseassemblies，andwassomewhatimpressedbythepenitenceshownandthepledgesgivenbysomeofmycollegefriends。Butwithinayearthewholethingwasdead。SeveralofthemenwhohadbeenloudestintheirexpressionsofpenitenceanddeterminationtoacceptChristianitybecameworsethanever:theywerelikelogsstrandedhighanddryafterafreshet。
Butthisreligiousrevivalincollegewasinfinitelybetterthanonewhichranitscourseintheimmediateneighborhood。JustatthecornerofthecollegegroundswasaMethodistEpiscopalchurch，theprincipaloneinNewHaven，and，aprofessionalrevivalisthavingbegunhisworkthere，thechurchwassoonthronged。Blasphemyandribaldrywerethepreacher’sgreatattractions。Oneoftheprayersattributedtohimranasfollows:
\"Comedownamongus，OLord！Comestraightthroughtheroof;I’llpayfortheshingles！\"Nightafternightthegallerieswerecrowdedwithstudentslaughingatthisimpiousfarce;andamongthem，oneevening，came\"Charley\"ChotardofMississippi。Chotardwasaveryhandsomefellow:slender，wellformed，sixfeetthreeinchestall，andinanycrowdamanofmark，likeKingSaul。Inthemidstoftheproceedings，atsomegrotesqueutteranceoftherevivalist，thestudentsinthegalleriesburstintolaughter。
Thepreacher，angrilyturninghiseyesupontheoffenders，saw，firstofall，Chotard，andcalledouttohim:\"Youlightning—rodofhell，youflag—staffofdamnation，comedownfromthere！\"Ofcoursenosuchgrotesquesceneswereeverallowedinthecollegechapel:theservicesthere，thoughsimple，werealwaysdignified;
yeteveninthesetheresometimesappearedincongruousfeatures。
Accordingtotraditioninmytime，anageddivine，greatlyandjustlybeloved，fromaneighboringcity，hadbeenaskedtopreachbeforethestudents。ItwasatthetimewhenthewholeEnglish—speakingworldhadbeenthrilledbythestoryofthereliefofLucknow，andthecryoftheScotchlassiewhoheardthedefiantsloganandheart—stirringpibrochoftheHighlanderscomingtothereliefofthebesiegedhadechoedacrossalltheoceans。Towardthecloseofhissermonthedearolddoctorbecameveryimpressive。HerecitedthestoryofLucknow，andthenspokeinsubstanceasfollows:\"Soto—day，myyoungfriends，Isoundinyourearstheslo—o—o—brochofsalvation。\"Thealliterationevidentlypleasedhim，andherepeateditwithmoreandmoreemphasisinhisperoration。Whenhesatdownanotherclergymanwhowaswithhimatthesacreddeskremindedhimofhismistake，whereuponthegoodolddoctorroseandaddressedthestudentsasfollows:\"Myyoungfriends，youdoubtlessnoticedamistakeinmyfinalremarks。Isaid’slo—o—o—o—broch’;ofcourseImeant’pi—i—g—a—a—an。’\"