Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1899-07-02
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SUGGESTED
CHURCH SOCIAL.

while attending church social my
attention was directed to the heavy
tax 1t entailed on the strength and in
genuity of those In charge. A Ques-
tton as to whether or not the returns
justified the outlay arose in my mind.
The answer to this question depends
somewhat OF course on whether the
church itself is worth to humanity
what Il costs. Although its influence
cannot be measured, am sure that the
church more than compensates the
world for Its support.
Not very long ago became interest
ed watching little boy play with a
magnet and compass. When he held
one end OF the magnet near the COM
pass the needle was attracted toward
1t; but when he reversed the magni-
fed bar the needle was repealed. Why
that interesting phenomenon? Mag
nelte attraction and repulslon, you are
no doubt ready to answer. Yes, that
is true; but in answering thus, you
simply name the mystery without
giving any adequate explanation Of it.
The unseen power is Just as much a
mystery as ever.
AS l sat watching the little boy with
the magnet and compass that were
! Just then absorbing all Of his attention
my mind wandered beyond them.
asked myself if it might not be possi-
BILE that individuals and organizations
do sometimes exercise an unseen
but determining power in the life OF
the world. AS far as definite measure
ments or statistics are concerned, 1t is
not likely that this question that sug-
gestel itself to me will ever be salts
tactorily answered; but do believe
nevertheless, that it is worthy one Of the
most serious consideration.
In view of my own and the expert
ence OF Others, have come to believe
that there are unseen forces continual
ly being put in operation by thu
thoughts and actions Of men.
Some months ago some interesting
facts were indicated in Harper
Weekly by w. D. Howels. He simpl!
related what any one of us who ha
given the matter any consideration
whaever knows to be true That il
that whole communities at times be
come more or less wrought up con
corning the result of an inter-collegi
ate game, and that multitudes OF peo
pie will gather in front of newspape
offices on election night, when the re
suits of the voting are being flashed
in figures OF fire, even though ninety
nine hundredths have nothing to gail
or lose no matter what the results. L
is fact of frequent occurrence tina
people ordinarily thought to be posses
times become excessively demonstra
tive. They are, as 1t were, carriet
along on the crest of some unseel
wave into excesses that puzzle botl
themselves and their friends after tn
excitement has passed away, and the,
are once more in their normal state.
"A few years ago the question II
suicide a sln?" was raised and dis
cussed by eminent men through tn
columns OF one Of New York's grea
dailies. A friend OF mine who happen
ed to be spending some time on the sci
shore in the vicinity of New York a
that time, told me that one of the i'm
mediate and very noticeable results o
that discussion was an epidemic o
suicides in our metropolis. The let
ters were copied from the New
York dailies and commented upol
by many papers in different parts o
the country and finally they were col
lected and printed in book form. Thi
question was discussed everywhere
and curing the discussion it was {
matter Of almost daily occurrence IL
our large centers OF population to heal
Of one or more suicides whose self-des
truction could be traced directly t
that discussion.
A business man who employees {
large number of men, lately gave 1t a!
his opinion, based on careful observa
tion, that "distrust probably makes
NOR thieves" than any other one thing
"Often," he said, surrounding a mar
with all sorts Of devices and systems
to prevent him from stealing has thu
effect OF causing him to look out for {
way OF beating the bank. We are al
strangely susceptible to that mucl
talked of force, suggestion, more thar
we appreciate-and when the very en-
vironment in which we work suggests
dishonesty every minute, it is no
much wonder that it has very posi-
I've effect upon the mind causing 1t Il
think dishonesty"
In the practice OF medicine, the fac
that the thoughts and feelings OF thos'
in whose care the patient is, may op
crate as an important factor in tn,
matter OF effeeting a cure is quit
largely recognized by physicians. /
has been said with reference to thit
matter that "The one thing physi