Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1877-01-18
Personal Influence.

Personal Influence.
When aud how to address individual, on
vital moral subjects requires a nice COM
prehension of moods and circumstances.
Would you talk TO man that was half crazy
under the influence OF Intoxicating liquors,
about the evils of intemperance? Would
you take him when he was in the very
midst OF exciting causes which tend TO
drown his moral consciousness and be-
numb his reflective faculties. or when i'm
portant business was goading him on TO
desperation. aud his mind vas engaged in
some tough problem of life: Or would
you address him wherf his mind was COM
paratvely free. and his heart open to CON
vlction.
You might AS well drop seed In the
ground in midwnter, and expect 1t to take
root and flourish. As to expect moral truth
10 germinate if the heart at some periods.
Isere are golden moments when evcy soul
is ripe for The reception of moral truths,
and then it Is easy 70 cnlightcn the under
standing and impress the heart. The soil
Is sometimes most pliable and porous and
susceptible after refreshing shower. so
the heart after a sudden aud searching sor-
row has purified the atmo sphere OF the
s9ui and Quickeued the vital currents of
feeling sometimes after the commission
of n fragrant sin has excited the nerves and
tested tie moral faculties. Take drum
kard after a nights debauch inst when he
is emerging into real life with the memory
OF his hileous dreams fresh upon his mind,
plead with him in tender impressive Ian
guage. aud his better spirit viii rcproach
him, his conscience will reveal his guilt with
lightning flashes. and conviction will prey
upon his soul. y person may have the
heart OF an angel but he needs the wisdom
OF solomon who has declared that there
are seasons FOR all things to lead the er-
ring into paths OF rectitude and da,v.
Many a. good. man has seen his sage
counsels spurned simply because they were
impaired IN aseeminely imperiOus manuor
II we would win msn we cannot do 1t from
lofty heights OF seli.cons cTous goAins, tut
as wise as serpeut> and srtless akthsdrcu,
We must approach tAerh'in gentleness and
humility, aud with thelutmost self-abandou
aud weave about them light a warm
and gentle As the sunshine. And here let
me say that all egotism and invidious com
parsons Of their. own; conduct and life
with others only tenls TO inda spirit
of pride. which repeis ~. unsightly rcycl-
alton of ONES self One Of the most diii-
cult and delicate social duties of this lie
is TO tell one his fault w.hout giving ofense
especially where those faults are partially
tolerated by Ihorbi1- sensibity Every
man who is downright sinner, knows II
and VIII stahd considerable sharp usage.
But there are Others who live in semi
conscious state Of purity, who have their
pet vices nestled in their hearts as a hen
gathers her chickens under hcr wing, AID
40 effort TO separate them is mt with a
repulsive attack. This is the hardest class
TO reform. well as the most numerous.
our very attitude IN approaching them
10 advise aud reason with them implies
sense of moral superiority. and we should
seek 10 hide the fact, rather than give It
unpleasant prominence. All the better
feelings OF our nature should be thrown in
Ia the work. y sincere unsel.ish interest
in their wy.44sy. I.s.a- ..... !. lie. Tor the
time, aud hiding all un.eemly thoughts and
feelings that lie upon the shore Of our eX-
prOs zion, should well uu from the heart
Who ever proposes 10 be fisher OF men
should study men in all the varied and com
peS relations aud conditions of life. II il
not enough to be well Vcrsed in mental
philosophy, TO understand phrenology, or
the physical laws Of human life, but We
must become familiar with the lives Of in
dyiduals, and address ourselves 10 their
particular cases. a physician who would
prescribe a remedy for il patient upon a
descriptive know ledge of the symptoms Of
his disease, aud upon general laws OF ply
sizes, without seeing and studying his pa
tent, his constitution, temperament. gener
ale ondition. and surroundings, would ignore
important factors in the make up OF sue
cesstul praetitoutr How much less then,
should mss.h teacher expect TO cure the
manifold moral diseases which afilict the
human family by the application of gener-
al rules Of ethics j. ~. II.