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highest circles of American society, and culminating in Europe, has startled the world within a few years.

IMPRESSIONS AND "IMPERATIVE CONCEPTIONS"

Impressions are closely allied to presentiments, and many persons, both devout and undevout, yield to their influence. Baseball pitchers, prize-fighters, soldiers, and politicians are subject to them. The celebrated Dr. Nathan Bangs, a minister of great influence and strength of character, early in life was accustomed to believe in and follow impressions. The manner in which he was delivered from the fear of them is described in Stevens's "Life of Bangs," page 101:

On a certain occasion, when the weather was very cold and the snow deep, the mind of Dr. Bangs became more than usually impressed with the value of souls. As he rode along he came opposite a dwelling which stood quite a distance back in the field, and instantly he became impressed with the thought that he ought to go and talk and pray with that family. He was in a feeble condition, no path had been made to the house, and he knew it would be dangerous for him to wade that distance and expose himself to the cold. So he resisted the impression and passed on; but no sooner had he passed the house than it became doubly strong, and "he finally turned back, tied his horse to the fence, waded through the snow to the house, and not a soul was there!"

His friend and successor in Canada. Dr. Fitch Reed, who communicated these facts to Dr. Stevens, says, "From that time he resolved never to confide in mere impressions."

A ludicrous instance of an impression connected with a supposed answer to prayer was notorious in