Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-01-10
Unconscious Influence.

One taper may light thousand one wave
lifts another; one influence may run through
unnumbered lives. Our influences mingle
and commingle and our characters are
largely the result of all the influences we
have met. All lead a lite of unconscious
influence. Our very faces and expressions
of countenance which are reflections of our
true character, are silent but perpetual inhu-
ences. 1t is generally our unconscious inhu-
ence that produces the greater effect upon
others. 1t is not so much when we assert
that we are conscientious, as when we are
accidentally discovered doing some conscien-
tious act that the force of our character is
felt. A man may talk virtuously, but if he
lives in secret an impure life, his unconscious
influence for evil will destroy the effect of
his words. Character influences independ-
emily of its professions, and this influence
of character is the heaviest weight in the
scale of life. A good life will preach under
circumstances when no word is uttered and
will stimulate good in others when silently
pursuing its own purpose. All have heard
of John Angel James, one of England's
choicest ministers. Thousands were con-
verted under his preaching, and tens of thou
sands have left the influence of this writ
ings. He was converted under somewhat
peculiar circumstances, and he owed the be-
ginning of his religious life largely to the
influence that was exerted upon him by the
silent but conscientious performance of an
act of religious duty by roommate and a
fellow apprentice. Mr.. James boyhood and
early years were such as to produce a very
unquiet conscience, but the claims of re.
ligion continued to assert themselves in his
a. iost h, ,aoa -, 49, ~ oonuuo. Wv.
ter i;fa SoSat;mes on 'oS Sndsn M h ,ro,',J u
W. a,,,o,, b., b;,,soIf oI Ie "oait
20 ho Co. ), ha sa;d "b,t Ino. 80, "anse t ;,
H. p, -, n.,i;I, NV NV,
send Pin, d1,ija "I nrorod, S "oG, s";S
:. that tha "a ,ronIa ra;sp ~, ne 'a'u
the bomse rSbere be was I;v;po1 tn ba ,a,
gn;Ja am snra I was sincero n th;s ana
nov, camo a tnrnirr ,o;rt in nv, b;s,,r' ,,
NJ n" mo cont;nnao h;s ou,1 narrot;,,o
Of tb;s s,,;rr;trol nr;s;sN g .,;tb ,rhor, i'll
heing in want Of monav tool, anotbar on
nrant;ca for tbe s.ta "a tba nre,nirn,
vonth was angaoed who had baen rel;o,;orsi,
soduoatod ,fhe annront;oas ali slont II, ~
same room ,rba 6rst fine tl;s yon,b
Iodaed n;,h ne be lnoit down h, =; - Lad
s;de ord ,,royad il, s;Ia,,oa rta th1,o.h.
;nstantlv dccnrrad n me no Iooked ,y?th
onrnr;so ,,on tba ynntb hand;na, 49,
Cod . See there is the answer 10 your
prayer-there is some one to lead Won into
the ways of religionl' This made me
thoupbtful and uneasv." Yielding 10 the
influence of the good examnle set before
him, he began TO pray. too, after awhile /"
he saws. =" observed that nv new friend as
soon as the sbon was shut used frennentIv
To 90 ont for an bour. I nj length dig.
covered that his visits we're maid to a Mons
shoemaker nreva;led unnn INV fr;epd N
allow me IN accomnanv him IN the n;ons
cobbler's. The bouse was small mean and
ilI.furnisbed and in n low situation The
shoemaker himself was not nrenossess;na IN
appearance but both he and his wifes re-.
ceived me kindly. / found that their soc;etv
was inst what / needed. Tbev were botb
Mons neonle and there was a softness in
their manners which was above thar rank ;,
The cobbler's name was Jobn poole liz
began 10 nrav with the lads and at lengtb
induced them to pray with him. " In order
To take off ali fears from NV mind - saws
Mr. lanes :. he reonested me- ibe 6rst fine
| praved 70 90 and stand in n small nlace
tbot uas hoardad of In ,,b;oh ooal al