174 MORAL CONDITION OF THE CHII^D 



half the human race die before they attain seven 

 years, and these are by their situation shut out 

 from heaven forever, unless a future probation is 

 provided for them, which last supposition is gen- 

 erally unacceptable to those who stand for the 

 doctrine of conversion. Some try to relieve the 

 situation to a degree by indicating that children 

 may be converted when very young, suggesting 

 cases of conversion even at four years of age. 

 The Eev. E. P. Hammond, recently translated, 

 gives a number of instances of children converted 

 when four years of age, and one at the extremely 

 early age of two and a half. If these cases could 

 be multiplied manifold there would still remain a 

 great question in our minds concerning those not 

 thus reached. 



Many inquiries arise in our minds concerning 

 this question of child-conversion. They have such 

 life-interest to us all that no one will feel like 

 speaking lightly of the solution that another may 

 present. Psychologists have serious misgivings 

 concerning the procedure of these early conver- 

 sions. They seem to violate the very nature of 

 the child-mind. How can there be the conscious- 

 ness of sin which is involved in the process? 

 That the sense of sorrow may be brought about 

 by suggestion and sympathy is well known. May 

 there not be something artificial about the whole 

 procedure? That many children thus begin their 

 religious life is undoubted. One is tempted to 

 say, Better this method, even if involved in mis- 



