The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-10-10
REV. Mr.. HAINER'S ADDRESS.

Kew. Jonn stewart or TINS city.
REV. Mr.. HAlNER'S ADDRESS.
The first address Of the afternoon was
an eloquent and powerful one, and was
delivered by Rev E. A Halner OF New
ark. n. j., his theme being The Power
of Personality" He spoke as follows:
No fact will be more readily conceded
than the existence of this power referred
70 in my subejct For instance, as We
look back upon our school days. what is
IL that remains? Long since you have
forgotten how to solve that ma sthematical
question, or demonstrate that problem In
Euclid. The conjugation of Greek verb
is no longer play spell and II is much
easier TO read English than Hebrew.
But while so much that was of the
schoolroom has passed from us, what is
1t. ask, that remains so indeiibly stamp
ed upon our memories, and rooted and
grounded in our very being? What is
II that has verify become such a part Of
our lives that we may not be separated
from IL, nor shake il from us?
That which rensains above everything
else and leaves its impress upon us for all
time is the personality" of the individ-
uals with whom We have come into con-
tact.
1t is not the silent vocabplsries and the
inanlmate geometricsl igures that abide.
but the living. thinking, speaking and
acting personalities.
1t is not the cold utterances OF the sa-
cred page that makes 1t so potent in the
world, but II is because those holy truths
have been personihed by the Son OF God,
and are, therefore, fraught with life and
energy, and when that truth touches a
human heart IL feels the throb OF the
hot and loving heart OF the Son OF God
AS our eyes rest not so much upon any
mere declaration in the gospel but rather
upon the person, Christ, ss we see him
in Bethlehem, at Jordan, before his ac-
cusers. in Gethsemane and in the Shad-
ows of Calvary; even so IL IL in all the
walks Of our lives IL is the persons
whom we have met and whom We have
known that stand out in high relief upon
the great background OF our past Is
IL not true that a few persons with whom
We have been brought into close contact
somewhere along the highway of life are
the persons that are living before our
eyes, and speaking into our ears?
We look upon the myriads that have
preceded us IN llfes journey and we say
they are dead and buried. But that
statement is nos In all things correct, and
we do not quite believe II. You have
seen some die and have buried them out
of your sight, but 10 me they are Vet
living and have never Yet been buried.
They are still mighty forces in my life.
and they are speaking TO me with every
rising and setting sun. And I have
buried some that will never die TO you
Yes. let those whom the world calls dead
who are still living before and speaking to
US, arise and stand upright on that great
burial field of the past
You tell Of that dear one stricken from
your side who is still speaking TO you;
then let that one arise. Another speaks
of a dear one gone, and though gone yet
ever present Let him arise. And still
another hears the words and feels the in
fuence of the life that has passed so let
that one arise; and, 10! that great burial
ground gives up it's dead and those whom
we thought palsied and silent nash before
US their bright eyes, and speak their
messages by which our hearts are cheered
and we are thrilled with new life
OH beloved. It's very easy TO put poor
pale body under the ground. but it's hard
TO bury personality" Around Il gathers
potentlalities on ages telling. II sets
influences into operation that on the one
hand curse the lives and blight the hopes
OF the Sons OF Adam: or. on the other
hand, MI the sails OF humanity with kind
" breezes to help them into the port OF
Peace.
So we see what q power personality Is
In this world and how destined IL IL 10
live and speak and act.
have In mind a certain college profes-
sor who was much devoted 10 his task
Yet ] venture the assertion that few Of
his students can call To mind nr~eh of his
lengthy lectures But he did after all
communicate that which will ever rema IN
I'm the life and memory Of his students
on one occasion he was dissectlng be-
fore the class bug In separating II In
10 its various parts and turning the glass
upon ~. he became lost I'm the beauty and
wonder of It's formation. Great tears fell
from his eyes a. he looked up and said
What a wonderful God We have
Few. N any. of his students could tell
today the name ~ the bug or anything
else he said concerning a.. but they viii
never forget. nor cease 90 he blessed hy
the word and the act ~ him who gave
them such q magnificent view Of heart
action. The man himself was more than
all else The telling power of the man.
that which burned It's way into the lives
and memories cf those who knew him.