The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-03-24

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being obscure and apparently 'passed
by" has value, and that every value
has its influence in the sum total: that
even the ciphers appear the final aggre-
cation. Nature knew and practiced as
she knew and hence an ocean and an
earth, for
Little drops of water,
Little grains of sand"
have been and are the material for an
ocean as for puddle; for solid earth
as for seabeach. 1t is only man who
cries, 81 an so small that none see me;
so little that none know me; so insig-
niicant that L have no influence. My
sympathy is yours, your success my
chief desire; would that 1 could help
you plan, organize and build,-but am
so small, so unthought of and unknown,
that no one may be moved by me, MOI
L becomea helper in your joy" Friend,
are you such one2 Not cloud, how
ever small, drifts as shallop across
the overarching field of blue, but
shows an influence in the shadow which
it casts on meadow or on upland; not
drop of dew distilled and sent forth
from the secret places of natures lab
Oratory, but comes with an influence
for blessing; not a zephyr fans, not a
trill of song breaks forth, that do not
make their presence felt throughout
the universe; not flower blooms, be it
e'er so small and far removed from
haunt of man, but influences and moves
the face of mother earth toward beauty;
not brook tinkles on its pebbled way,
but has its portion in the music of the
spheres. Are you so much less than
these, that influence doth not abide in
you, nor word or work find value in thy
hand9 The entire universe, will you
but listen, will teach you far different
than this!
Friend, you do yourself injustice, and
of still greater do you accuse him who
made you, and who has not made many
thing so small that it could fail to be "a
spectacle to the world, to angels and to
men" any less than to his own eye, and
who likewise hath made nothing COM
mon" An English collierin The mines of
Wales would seem as far removed from
being "a spectacle" as any man can be;
yet, when being hoisted to the surface
the rope holding the bucket in which
he rides, breaks; then, when forgetting
his own destruction, he leans over the
edge as it shoots down the shaft to call
to the endangered underneath, "Stand
from UNDER" instantly the eyes of a
world are upon him and he becomes an
influence amidst men forevermore. Is
it the officer in gay trappings who is
the spectacle" the observed of OBJ
servers? So it seems until private
lies upon the surgeons table waiting
his knife, and says, mo, save your
ether for those worse wounded, then
seen of all. You may not be your ideal,
as to that do not, cannot say,-but
not too small to be "a spectacle" not
too insignificant TO hold an influence, for
God has made nothing either small or
insignificant; like Patrick's letter to
his deaf mother, he has writ it large"
Aud no man knows what moment,
what word or work of his life shall be
brought pre-eminently to view, by
which he shall be known forever. Ben
edict Arnold as little thought Of being
made spectacle through the doorway
of treason to his country, as Judas Is
CARROT for betraying his Lord. But so
it is; an evil springing from an un-
thought of source, conceived and born
in moment, lies embalmed in the
presence of the ages, whilst he who
gave birth to the unclean thing is lifted
up as serpent in the wilderness; but,
and here is the other half of the truth,
it is just the same with goodness, and
with deeds that lift stumbling blocks
out of the way Of the people. The pill
grims doubtless thought it a dreary
landing-place and deemed old Plymouth
rock only convenience in getting
ashore, little dreaming that the dust
ground from its surface by the friction
of their shoes would be blown by the
free winds to all quarters of the earth
and that in every resting place an atom
found, there would spring up an inspir
alton for freedom, equality and frater'
nifty, and that to them and the rocl
they made historic, all eyes would turn
as to an ensign set up by the hand o.
God for his people, unto which the ma
lions flock. They were only seeking {
free place for their mind, room suffi
Gent for their heart beats. So with ;
widow of long gone past who went tt
her synagogue, and after the name
of her people and requirement of TIT
law, gave her portion of the collection
only two mites, of less value thai
the button some latter day church-go
ers put into the basket of offerings
1t was all she possessed, she knew /
and others did not care, save one, ant
he, not knowing her name it may be
for he gave her none and he seems t.
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