MATERNAL IMPRESSIONS. 247 



of cases similar to the foregoing, the validity of 

 which is unquestionable. The objections fre- 

 quently urged against such cases are ( i ) that the 

 sons of all devout mothers do not manifest these 

 religious tendencies, and (2) that preachers' boys 

 are generally worse than other people's. This 

 latter proposition is not true. It is true that many 

 ministers' boys go astray, but careful comparison 

 of the sons of ministers with the sons of business 

 and professional men will show that the former 

 are, as a class, much above the average in intellect 

 and moral tendencies. 



In considering the first objection it is only 

 necessary to bear in mind that maternal impres- 

 sions are only one factor operative in the forma- 

 tion of a soul, and therefore even the most devout, 

 earnest Christian mother may not be able to over- 

 come irreligious tendencies in her offspring ar is- Opposing 

 ing from other factors. She can modify them Factors * 

 and in most cases, if earnest in spirit and wholly 

 consecrated, she can greatly improve and control 

 the moral and religious tendencies of her child. 



Doubtless the seeming exceptions to the relig- 

 ious life of parents affecting in any very marked 

 degree the moral tone of offspring is due to the 

 sad fact, that many Christians and church mem- 

 bers are but nominally so. They are contented 

 with being good, honest people, going to church, Christians, 

 paying the preacher, looking a little after the 

 sick, and living in accordance with the Discipline. 

 All this, of course, is right and proper, but it is 

 largely mechanical and exoteric. It springs mainly 

 from the sense of duty, or from less worthy im- 

 pulses, and does not necessarily prove that the 



