The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-03-23
GSunday Sermon.
UNCONSCIOUS INFLUENCE.


man dietn to himself.-Romans, xiv, Z.
Somebody has said that thoughts are
things The phrase is unfortunate, be-
cause it is misleading and inaccurate.
This world is made up of things and
forces. Thoughts are more subtle than
mere things and far more potential. They
are forces which change a mans life for
better or for worse.
If you apply the principles of wireless
telegraphy to spiritual concerns you will
see the full scope of my statement We
may safely do this, for there is a spiritual
law running parallel to every physical
law, and no man can discover a physical
law without suggesting a corresponding
spiritual law. In this way all thinkers
stand shoulder TO shoulder lifting the
world out of the old into the new.
The wireless telegrapher tells us that
a word or its equivalent creates a vibra-
tion of the air, as a pebble creates a
ripple in the pond, and this vibration
speeds on dts way to the destined termi-
nus, however distinct and there makes
itself known and felt. We are living in
an age of miracles, or, in other words, an
age of discovery, and this is one of the
startling results.
In like manner word of scorn or of
praise hurled into the spiritual universe
from the heart that loves or hates be-
comes a living force, not lost in the
general confusion as a single note is lost
in the multitude of sounds, but going
straight to the man or woman against
whom or in favor of whom it is directed.
That other heart at the further end of
the line perhaps half broken by remorse
or timidly hoping for better days, is the
receiving station of this wireless teleg-
raphy. Your thought, critical, or gentle,
strikes that other heart with an impact
which either hurts or helps. You may
not know that your thought has taken
it's flight, that other person may not know
whence it comes, but all the same he is
uplfted or depressed by it.
This may seem strange and even incred-
ible, but while it is today a possible fact,
it may tomorrow become a demonstrated
truth, and the next day it may change
the whole outlook of the spiritual world
1t has the appearance of a miracle, but
profounder knowledge always seems mi
raculous, while in reality We only climb
from the lower to the higher realm OF
law, see further and understand God
better.
spoken thought is even now recog-
nized as force when speaker and nearer
are within earshOt of each other. An
oath, compliment, a bit of vocal fiat
terry go through the ear to the heart and
kindle a flame of resentment or of happi-
ness. What you say becomes part of an
other mans life and excites or stimulates
mr. C NhHy
quicker transit than the slow and dull
ear affords? Why may not the time come
when We can convey our thoughts without
the coarse medium of words? There are
no words between us and heaven. A
prayer is longing of the soul, uttered
| or uneXpressed." God speaks to hearts
The impression is instantaneous, as when
the sun makes its mark on the photog-
: rapher's plate. There are unseen beings
who walk the earth both when we wake
and when we sleep" but they use nc
words. They make us feel their presence
and we are as sure that they are close
by as though we heard trumpet call
What they would say steals into the
heart, for our poor ears cannot catch it
We hear nothing, but we know that they
are giving us a helping hand. Is there
any language in heaven except that OF
thoughts?
When the world grows older why may
we not speak to each other without this
cumbersome factor of spoken words
Progress is indefinite and infinite and we
are moving in that direction. We catcl
glimpses of the possible already look
a pressure of the hand, and sympathy oil
contempt are complete. Enlarge the cir
conference and you have a new truth
No one needed to tell the Christ what he
thought. He read the heart as an Oper
book. He looked at man and the mans
story was already told. Lips had moth
ing to 10 with it. The Master felt the
woes and shared the joys of humanity
subtler language than we can use was
at His command.
thought is the wireless message OF
soul to soul. Your neighbours welfare
is affected by your kind or unkind criti-
cism of him. When we deal with subtle
and far-reaching forces of this kind, theI
religion, which enjoins charity, is brought
to the forefront as the most important
factor in human life If you would be al
your best you must love your neighbor
for your thought of him will either lif
MIN up VI Trip MIN 10 IdII' Inc WnOlf
trend and swing of the universe bid {
man be honest, just and gentle, for we
are so bound together that nobility il
one kindles nobility in all, and one man;
hurt is an injury to all. Since we arr
marching. one great company, from time
to eternity, let us go as brothers, with
a kindly word and helping hand when
ever opportunity offers.
GEORGE H. HEPWORTH.