The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-03-12
ECCLESIASTICAL COLUMN.
Rev. S. NJ. Engle. pastor Presbyterian church,
Editor,
Personal Influence.

There is upon reflection some
thing surprisingly beautiful in the
thought that persons have been
associated for matual helpfulness
in life's business, IN society and in
the home. Human beings arc gre
garious-naturally predisposed to
association. Hence we have the
home growing out of the principle
long since established by Him who
said, at is not good for man to be
alone" Thus also grounded in
principle and predisposition, we
have business relations established,
and society properly bound together
only by the mutual recogni ton of
dependence and by mutual care of
our personal influence. 1t is by no
means insignificant that upon a
steady effort to determine for cor
rect ends our personal influence
upon others, largely depends our
own deepest pleasure and highest
good. This rule applies most per-
fectly, of course, in the normal
condition: i. e., where the con-
science has not been too greatly
scared, or where its voice is unhearG
by reason of too habitual disregard
of It's warnings and suggestions.
That person, therefore, has made
a discovery equal IN value to the
Kohinoor diamond, who has lear
ned well the divine truth that in
the same proportion as energy is
put forth by acts of kindly encour-
agement, and sympathetic help, IN
just the same proportion comes
similar good to the author. In
making glad the lives of others, we
gladden. our own. In tightening
the cares of others we lose our own.
Blessed fact, that the more of bless
ing we impart to others the more
we have ourselves. Therefore,
Jesus says, "Bless, and curse not. /"
Notice the implication here that
this rule applies as well in the op-
posite direction also. Wrong to
others in many cases, be it intended
or otherwise, rebounds upon the
author. che that diggeth pit for
his neighbor shall fall therein HIM
self, and he that rolleth stone it
shall return upon him." Such the
divine order of things. He that
imparts evil influence gets in return
hurt to his own soul. Ponder
deeply and be convinced. Now
since everyone living has personal
influence upon others to a greater
or less extent. it is we'll to examine,
with the foregoing truths in view,
the character of that influence.
Varying in accordance with your
circumstances, reader, what is the
character of your personal influence
upon your associates? Christ Jesus
has declared, and He ought TO know,
that everyone shall, on a tremend-
ousday coming, stand before Him
to give an account of our personal
influence, and that upon that day
He will say to each one - "lnas.
much as you did it or you did 1t not
to one of the least of these, you did
it or you did 1t not to me-" 1t is
well, therefore, to transfer ourselves
in Imagination to that day, and to
try to bring before our minds eve
some of the scenes then to be wit
messed by us all. Jesus seated
upon His throne, around Him are
gathered the myriads Of the great
Judgment Day. The Judgment is
just ended and the two great COM
panies are about to 60 to their re-
spectlve places. Here comes a
person meeting his former friend
and crying, "Oh, Pm lost-lost
forever! You were kind to me in
the world, as you thought then,
and how flattered | was when you
invited me to your champagne
party. | tasted champagne at your
home that night for the first time
and liked it much. When it no
longer satisfied me l took brandy
and whisky. 1t finally ruined me
body and soul, and trace my lost
soul back to your personal influ