The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-04
THE VOICE OF THE PULPIT
INFLUENCE, ITS MYSTERY, POWER
AND EvERLAsTINGNEss.
Sermon by Rev. Frank Woods Baker,
ID. D., Rector OF Trinity Episcopal
Church, New Haven, Conn.

for l have five brethren; that he may
testify unto them."-Luke xvi. 27-2S:
The picture of the parable from which
these words are taken is this: Regard
less of others, Dives, the rich man, who
in this world had enjoyed all that 1t
had to give at whose gate was laid the
sore-sick Lazarus, desiring to be fed
with the crumbs from the rich mans
table; Dives lifts up his eyes in hades.
the place of the departed spirits. and
sees afar off Abraham and Lazarus in
happy communion. While he suffers. they
are in peaceful enjoyment. Between them
is an impossible gulf. He cries out for one
drop of cold water, that is for but a
moments satisfaction of his earth-long-
ings. That being impossible. he prays that
at least Lazarus may be sent to his faith
ers house to warn his brethren.
Whatever were Divess faults, there was
this one redeeming trait, his deep love for
his brothers, and his earnest attempt to
counterfeit the effects upon them of his
selfishness and meanness. He wished to
annul the effects of bad example by
that Of a noble one.
Think of the lesson from this part of
the parable. the great power of example
and the wonderfulness Of influence.
How many live as If they were alone
in the world, as IL their life had no pos
sible connection with the lives about them.
They claim that they demand nothing
from others and see no reason why others
should demand anything from them. 1--WE
Will be responsible for our own acts, and
suffer the consequences of our own sins.
What right have others to interfere with
us?' they say. How selfish a question!
A question made possible only by the fail
n n q n
the independence of the brotherhood OF
man.
Not even disease is more contagious than
example. for the effects of disease, the
liability of its being taken, is confined
to a certain locality, is circumscribed,
while the power of example may leap all
bounds life like that Of the noble Han
nington or Livingstone, which goes forth
into the very depths OF Africa on mis-
sion of righteousness, may move the whole
world, and its power overlap the centur-
les.
EFFECT OF EXAMPLE.
The power to influence by example seems
to be an instinct of human nature Man
even has 1t in common with the brutes.
1t is the great guarantee of all advance.
1t is the great means by which we can
transmit the good results of our life and
know that others may be helped thereby.
A man like Wendell Phillips takes strong
stand on the side of right, sets up his
standard, ana men gather ABOUT
What a mystery attaches to our 1nfiu-
ence one over the otheri How wonderful
it's workingsi We cannot see 1T or handle
1t, and yet we know that it exists. 1t is
mysterious power which goes forth from
us and enters into another, almost as II
we ourselves lived and spoke in him..
Here are two men, who, through force
of circumstances are brought into the
closest and continual connection with one
another. The one is highly refined In all
his tastes, his aspirations are divided to-
ward the best things; character most
noble and lovable. In striking contrast is
his companion, a man of low tastes and
desires. Such they are as they first meet
Now years have passed and the veil which
hid them from our view is raised. How
great the change! What similarity. in
their characters The mean and low has
been lifted up almost to the plane or the
noble mans life. What is 1t that ou, has
caused such a change? The mysterious
power. of example, Is the answer.
Is not this puzzle for him who claims
that there Is nothing but matter In this
world of ours? No laws of matter can ex-
plain the influence of one character upon
another Yet it cannot be denied. No. 1t Is
an attribute to the SOUL and an eternal
testimony to the souls existence.
The working of this mysterious power is
very gradual, and we are often far too I'M
conscious of 1t. We pay too little attention
to the circumstances into which we thrust
ourselves, and the persons under whose in
fuence we put ourselves. We willingly put
ourselves under impure, irreligious infiu-
ences and then wonder why We are not as
pure and Christian as our neighbors. AS
well might the gardener wonder why the
plant which had been left exposed into late
autumn was nipped by frost.
POWER OF CIRCUMSTANCES.
The molding power of circumstances is
very great, but let us never forget that
we are to a large extent accountable for
submission to evil-working circumstances.
The holding power of personal influence
is still greater and we are more ac-
countable for submission to the in
fiuence of evil persons. because here our
possible freedom is greater You cannot
say that you were forced INTO compan-
ionship with any bad man, for you were
not Your life may have been brought into
continual contact with his life, but nothing
short of your own will could force you
into companionship with him.
Think of your influence What is the law
which underlies 1t? 1t is always in keep
ing with your own character. A bad man
cannot have a good influence in the COM
munity, any more than you can gather
grapes from thorns; and good man Will
always have beneficial influence, whether
ii be recognized or not You cannot shut
up your life within yourself. Its influence
will extend to others and help shape their
lives. Your quiet, everyday life is coloring
to some extent the lives of your friends,
your neighbors, the community in which
you live This it must do, as mems lives
are bound so closely together.
You stand upon the border of the lake.
You stoop and pick a pebble from its
shore and cast ii far out. II drops into
the water and Immediately sends out a
circle from itself, which multiples and
widens until 1t touches the shore on
every side. Every molecule of water in
the lakes surface is sooner or later af-
fected by the falling of the pebble So
1t is with human influence. The lake is
humanity; the pebble in your life and
mine affecting either for good or for evil
all about
Another point brought into clear light
by our text makes life full Of response
bilty. and adds ten-fold weight to every
act of ours. 1t is the everlastingness Of
influence. Our example is not something
which simply flashes for a moment and
then dies out. This is what the rich man
in our parable felt and he cried out in
the midst of his torment for relief He
wished to be released from the bad ex-
ample which he had left his brothers in
the world. How IL haunted his soul night
and day, the great overhanging shadow of
his life, Wherever he turned, there Ii was
from it,
SEPARATION NOT POSSIBLE.
As a when the morning is
shining brightly upon him can in no way
sever himself from the shadow which his
body casts; so man. the spiritual and i'm
mortal soul. can in no way sever himself
from the ever-clinging shadow of example
when the bright. pure and holy rays of
the Son of Righteousness are beating down
upon his life The influence OF his life must