Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-10-20
opento him, and through # he can

opento him, and through It he can
nightly affect the intellect.
The successful teacher takes a real
vital interest in his pupils. And as
they come to see that that interest is not
affected they give him their confidence
and regard. He has now a key to the
heart and the life. The workings Of
young minds are fully disclosed and
many a knotty problem solved. Hidden
forces and tendencies in character, hab-
it's and life come tolight, and upon these
the skillful teacher may play as the mu-
sician upon the keys Of a piano. 1t
now lies in the teachers power to de-
velop this tendency and repress that; to
change habits still in the gristle and
mould character. In this way many an
aimless life receives a mighty purpose,
many a dullard passes up'into a life Of
intense activity and high scholarship,
and many an ill-balanced, misdirected
life is set right.
The lawyer with this gift takes a
deeper interest in his client, and makes
court and jury feel that the latter's
cause is his own. He finds his way to
the heart till the wave of sympathy run
mountain-high, and his case is won.
So, too, the good physician, when he
enters the sick room, brings life and
hope. He gains his patient sympathy
and inspires fresh courage. He does
not carry a cold, u visage, or curt
words for anxious friends. He does not
take advantage of his position. But
with cheering words and looks and
tones uplifts the whole household.
There is as much tonic in his presence
as in his medicines.
So the orator feels the pulse of his
audience and acts accordingly. He
places himself in full sympathy with the
people that later he may lead them
whithersoever he will. And, yielding to
his influence and sympathy, they APP
plaud, perchance, the very sentiments
they have most loudly condemned. In
this way reforms are ~inaugurated, great
measures of State policy carried, patriot
ism melted or politics lheresies exploded.
Without sympathy and the power to ex-
cite sympathy how seldom would the
orator succeed in his most important
efforts.
And right here the power of not q few
successful clergymen appears. 1t is not
that they are more spiritually minded
or more learned, but they have this fac
ulty-a faculty which all may cultivate
to a degree-of entering into the hearts
of their hearers. After listening to q
discourse which fails to bind the
preacher to his audience, how pleas
ant to listen to another in which
the warm %throbbing heart ofthe speaker
touches responsive chords in the hearts
of all his hearers. Such sympathy
opens their hearts to the reception Of
truth. 1t rouses them to action. They
forget themselves. The burning truth
has set their souls on fire. They have
been fed. And now they are ready to
do something for Christ. When this is
the spirit manifest in a church it will be-
gin to grow. Christians will receive a
new baptism. Souls will be born into
the Kingdom. And a glorious day that
will be for any church. Do you wish
for such a revival in your church? Then
let the pastor preach out of a full heart,
full of love to God and sympathy for his
brethren. And let every nearer hold:
up his PASTORS hands and help him
Golden Rule.