The son of a
New York merchant, I was schooled in the schooling of such; and was
steadfastly minded to know no life-purpose but the salvation of sinners.
But I was a little restive--felt that the limits of the Shorter
Catechism were too short and strait for me. The shadow of
Schleiermacher's readjustment of Christianity was upon me. I felt that
some old things were passing away. In common with so many others who
inclined toward the sacerdotal office, I was unconsciously turning my
back upon it, on account of the crudities contained in the only existing
creeds for which I had any respect. American Protestant youth have not
been alone in this regard. Says the London _Times_, 'The number of men
of education and social position who enter into orders is becoming less
and less every year.' Let then ancient, true, everlasting Christianity
be speedily adjusted to modern facts, lest it further lapse.
Free thoughted, earnestly disposed toward the acquirement and
dissemination of absolute spiritual truth, as was not unnatural, I
thoroughly investigated the 'Supernaturalism' of the day. I soon
assented to the general proposition that sociability with the invisibles
is practicable, if not profitable; but ever held at a cheap rate the
philosophies and religions, harmonious and other, which the full-blooded
ghost-mongers so zealously promulgated.
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