The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1898-03-05
INFLUENCE..
Excellent Paper by Mrs. III. vii.
cox Read at the Sunday-SchOOl
Convention, February 10Th.

who hash some lnnuenccf L say
no. We all have some influence,
either for good or evil. no matter
what our position. in life. Now, l
am going to speak OF the good in
fuence only, because l think we all
see so much of the evil.
Who has the greatest influence?
think a mother. There are u great
many mothers in the world today
who fully realize this, and yet there
are thousands who do not. II all
mothers and fathers could only
realize what their good influence will
do to help form their little ones
characters, would they not do more
10 help along our Sunday school
work? Would they not use their
good influence .and sometimes come
to Sunday school with their little
ones and take an interest in the les
sons taught there? ] often think
about some of the stories told me
when child, by my mother. One
was the story of Moses; how his
mother made the little basket and
placed him therein, and put it in the
water, leaving his sister to watch
him so that no harm would befall
him; and how the kings daughter
found him there and had him taken
to her home; and when he had grown
TO manhood how he preferred to
have God $ blessing and go with the
Hebrew people, choosing them and
Gods blessing rather than the con
tinued splendors of the Egyptian
court Also the story of the three
men who were cast into the fiery
furnace because they would worship
none only the true God, and how
our Heavenly Father saved them.
When they came out not even the
hair on their heads was singed
Are we always ready to use this
good influence? Are there times
when it is an effort? Perhaps so.
But when we think. what "a kind
Heavenly Father we have taking
care of us, and how we are provided
with every need day by day, and
when we think Of our Saviour Civ
ing his life that we might be saved,
/ am sure we will all want to hear
that well done, good and faithful
servant" We say, How can we
do enough?" Let us use all the
good influence in our power. il more
people would only realize that the
short time we are here upon earth is
only just o beginning of life. That
we are only here TO prepare for the
great hereafter.
Our Saviour says, SIN My Father s
house are great many mansions.
If it were not so | would have told
you. | 90 to prepare place for
you, where we will meet all our
loved ones and friends who have
gone before. What joyful greetings
to meet them, never to be parted
againl
In the 21st Chap. of Revelations
Heaven is more fully described to
US. What are "a few years here com
pared with the vast space of eter-
nifty? If we could only get more to
realize this fully, then they would
say: II have been selfish so long;
am going to church myself and am
going to use all my influence in
bringing others; am going to help
pastors, superintendent and teach
ers in this great work. "
If they only would, how
soon our churches and Sab
bath schools would be filed,
and we would hear from all sides
what an influence we have; how
much influence we have. III they
would try this for one year and take
the interest they should, and no
matter who may be against us if we
keep His commandments and do that
which is pleasing in His sight He
will never forsake US.
My impression is that these stories
told in the right spirit by kind and
loving mother or father will do more
to help form child's character for
good, and have more lasting in
fluence than when told by any other
person. If all children could
be taught to know and love the Bible
and its stories And do we realize
what an influence we have as teach
ers? | think not fully. Yet when
We are talking to those eager up
turned faces we cannot help but
think we have an influence for good
with them. Certainly we cannot
have the influence which parents
have. We have them only one hour
out Of seven days, and the teacher
can devote only 20 minutes or half
an hour at the most during that
time to them. But we can impress
SO many Precious truths on their
minds during that time. l am sure
we have all been surprised on ask
ing them some questions, and per-
haps in six months afterwards learn
how distinctly they remember them
And then when they tell us how
we have taught them per-
haps the Sunday before has helped
them during the week and they in
turn have Influenced others, and
when we visit the parents to have
them tell us what good thing Sun
lay school is, how is helps their
surely we cannot help but
say Eyes, we have great influence.
they never would go back to the old
way and then what wonderful things