[Sidenote:  Danger of Reaction]

Therefore, although the religious excitability of adolescence must not be thwarted lest it be turned into less helpful channels, and lest religion lose all the beauty and compelling power lent to it by the glow of youthful feelings, yet it must be so balanced and ordered by a clear reason, and especially by the habit of putting each enthusiasm to the test of conduct, that the young mind may remain true to its law of growth, developing harmoniously on all three sides at once.

The danger of permitting a young boy or girl while under the influence of this emotional instability to enter into any special form of religious service is the danger of reaction.  He will discover that all is not as his early vision led him to suppose—­because that early vision was of things too high and holy for any earthly realization—­and he may turn against what seems to him to be hypocrisy and pretense with a bitterness proportioned to his former love.  Many honest, faithful men and women remain in this state of reaction for the rest of their lives.

[Sidenote:  A Difficult Period]

Nevertheless, it will not do to thwart these young beginnings.  They must neither be nipped in the bud nor forced to a premature ripening.  Above all they must not be suffered to endure the killing frost of ridicule.  The period is a difficult one, but, as Dr. Stanley Hall points out, it is supremely the mother’s opportunity.  If she can hold her boy’s or her girl’s confidence now, can ease their eager young hearts with an intelligent sympathy, she can probably keep them from any public commitment.  Perhaps they may desire to confide in the minister; if so, let the mother confide in him first.  Perhaps they have bosom friends, passing through the same stirring experience; then let the mother win over these friends.

Her object should be to shelter this beautiful sentiment; to keep it safe from exposure; above all, to utilize it as a motive-power—­as an incentive to noble action.  The Kindergarten rule is a good one:  as quick as a love springs in a child’s breast, give it something to do.  When the love of God awakes there, give it much to do.  Usually, the only way open is to join the church, to make a public profession.  The wise mother will see to it that there are other ways, urging the young knight to serve his King by going forth into the world immediately about him and fighting against all forms of evil, giving him a practical, definite quest.  The result of such restriction of public speech, and stimulation of private deed, will be a sincere, lowly-minded religion, so inwoven with the truest activities as to be inseparable from them.  Such a religion knows no reaction.

[Sidenote:  Bible Study]