Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1870-02-23

/ Did you ever think, kind reader, what
Il power is contained in the one word
Influence" Have you ever thought
how much good or evil YOU can do by
/ the exercise of this one individuality of
( yours? You can not doubt that you are
the pOsseSsOr in some degree, for it is pO-
sessed by all created things, both the an
imal and vegetable kingdom, and also,
to the heavenly bodies which move to
their etheral sphere through countless
ages, exercising such influence as their
Creator has allotted to them. But man
the nOblest work of God, is endowed
with a will of his own, to use this facUl-
ty for the advancement Of his fellow
mortal or cause him to walk that path
which will in the end be his ruin, and
which he has uncOnsciOusly taken by
the influence you may have over him,
thinking it will bring him happiness or
peace, but will find no content there, no
joy, but only sad disappointment, aud
he will then curse himself for his folly
and you for misUsed confidence. Let
all weigh we'll the words Of their mouths
and the acts of their lives ere they shall
be left alone to condemn themselves
for evils they see around them which
they will lament over and desire to cor
rect, but will find the Root Of Evil so
deeply planted that they have no NOR
tai power of sufficient force with which
to eradicate it.
Every Individual has not of course,
the same degree of influence, but all
classes of society possess it to a certain
extent, both the old and young, the rich
and poor, and in every circle Of society
there are individuals whose words and
acts carry many of their associates
ers with them and they theirs and so on
until good or evil is instilled into the
many from the few And as we are not
our own, but bought with price, we are |
forbidden to use this means toward the |
promotion of evil, but commanded to /
assist our fellow being in commanding /.
a high and noble sphere in the walks of
life. So, young friends, TemeTb ber that /
you are enjoying the ability to shed /
around you a light which may burn /
brighter and brighter until it shall in 4
one blaze Of glory cause you unbound |
ed Joy, and all your companions happy
hours of content
Do not talk lightly to, OF of one who .
may have turned his thoughts toward a .
nObler and higher aim in life, for YOU .
may by light remark place a barrier
between them and the high degree to .
which they are aiming which might (
bring to them a greater degree of happi-
ness and might give them power with
which to redeem many from the evils of
life but lend a word of cheer and encOUr-
agement to all and those who are sunk
deep in the vices of life, using not harsh
w0rds, or upbraiding them for fOllies
past, but with kind words and pleasant
smiles use your influence in persuading
them that there is q nObler and higher
poTpOse here below, and that they still
can become hOnOred and respected and
also themselves be the means Ofredeem-
ing some fellow mortal.
What high and noble state of sOcie-
ty would there exist i'm this little world
of ours, if every individual would place
himself on that high principle of honor
and endeavOr to make themselves -pe--t
feet in all that would make theEs iiOble.
And that our influence for good, and
thattuwarls the advancement of society.
many men would have if they would
ONLY live consistent and practice what
they know to be in accordance with
and beneficial in the elevation ]
of socicty-not allowing them to Use this q
power alone for their own advancement a
us many Of our highest order Of in
tcllcct do, holding forth that it is for the ]
great benefit of their fellow men they q
that seek this place of distinction as II
theirs to he used fOr thC good OF all. But d
how soon many forget these vows 4
and use their influence i'm building m In
for themselves a temporal kingdom. - In
Despise not, nor speak mkmd words of Z
hat Nuuug man who, though poor i'm O
his worlds goods, is struggling ON thyo' ID
life, daily and hourly striving to build !
up for himself a uamc which may be {
held in high respect by many and hou- Iy
lred by ALL and thus your words of en- j
may be the means of giv- q
ny % high position tu one who can WELD 10
I mighty influence towards assisting L