The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-01-08
Use Your Influence For Good.


| Doubtless in The great day when the
books are opened VIC shall be amazed to
learn that the weight of our influence did
| not lie IN the direction VIC had fanced. and
| perhaps prided ourselves it did. but in an
altogether different direction. If we could
but get this clearly into our consciousness
II would seem as though we would take
more pains with what we are than with
what we say or secm
The little careless word when we arc of
guard may undo a lifetime of earnest
would-be heip,ulness. The men who think
more OF the forms and ceremonies of life.
rs did the disciples who hushcd back Bar
tlmaeus, than OF bringing a soul near to its
Master: the people who think more of
their own danger in the battle than of win
nlng the promised land for themselves aud
their children. may write volumes on the
subject Of mission worl; for Christ. may
speak knowingly OF courage in general. but
Il they fail at the unobtrusivc test moment
they might as we'll have kept still.
At certain places in the Alps travellers
are warned to keep absolute silence as they
pass the great belts OF ice and snow are
so evenly balanced on the mountain heights
above that a shout. the report of gun, or
even sometimes. in that unbroken solitude,
quiet as death. a word trembling out into
the AIR will cause sufficient jar to set in
motion an avalanche. So, about us all the
while are. souls trembling in the balance,
waveripg between life and death. A word,
touch. will turn the current toward heav.
en- or on the downward wav. "
sometimes IL is but q spirit OF light and
subtle .mockerv that keeps soul back
from the Masters side where is healing
and sight: sometimes it is but lazy indii,
terence that cares not to speak the little
word OF encouragement. or to take the
side with the brave Calebs who stand
alone and are willing to go on with the
Lords work, and at our hesitation Others
who were ready to join them fall back
and arc afraid.
1t is & principle of eternal and universal
application that men. in their occupation,
their speech. their manner their very in.
nermost thoughts, do not live unto them.
selves.
We are built of two sets OF nerves-af.
ferent and efercnt. One is receiving and
one distributing. Now, only as both work
perfectly is there life. Let the giving be
lost-what is it? Paralysis-death. So if
an man be trying TO refuse his influence
to the world or his fellow men, let him be.
ware; it cannot be done; it. is death. AZ
long as one lives ont from his life goes an
influence. and that influence is either help.
ing on or discouraging Others
Ii was striking remark of man on
his death bed, "Oh. that my influence
could be gathered up and buried with
me- 1t could not be. 1t still survives
hln. working, and will work for centuries
TO come. He could not put forth his dying
Rand and arrest it. 1t was too late. He
bad put in motion an agency he could not
control.
Hugh Black says: ut must always be n
solemn things for man to ask what he
has done with this dread power of influ.
enee. For what has our friend to be in.
debted to us-for good or for evil? Have
we put on his armor and sent him out
,rNH 81, l.. Al. - .
or nave we dragged him down from the
heights to which he once aspired! We
are face to face here with the tragic possi.
Dihties OF human intercourse"
a ship in voyage under Sunny skies
and with tavoring winds for days was sud.
denly plunged into wall of fog, dense as
smoke or steam. The wind grew chill and
piercing in an hour. The mercury in the
thermometer shranli in the tube. The
commander paced the bridge with anxious
eyes. A lookout keen and quick was kent
What did it all mean? Was it only the
log! EVERY few minutes sailor swung a
leather bucket over the ships side. and as
" came up the officer on deck plunged q
thermometer into it and earnestly scanned
ls reading, An iceberg lay off The wealth.
er bow, The most dreadful of all the
dreadful dangers of the sea- Now that
iceberg. 1t It had been OF the thinking
sort. may have said TO himself. '1'll have
W du WIN Il uOn & care
what people think of me. / don't bother
anybodv. and | won't let anybody bother
me, III keep to myself" All. but there
was the trouble. 1t couldn't keep to il.
sell And no more can one of these moral
or social icebergs who drift to and fro
npon the tide Of everyday life. Silent. sci.
hsh, nnapproaehable, thev pride them.
se'ves upon keeping aloof from every one.
They do business. it is true, they 90 into
company, hut they are determined 70 live
to themselves. And vet they do not
Every one feels it when they enter room.
You can, tell instinctvely when YOU come
within the range OF influence of such So
e,al iceberg. The air is chill all about
them. The frost of their selfishness nips
in. its bud The expression on the part Of
otner peopie OF many kindly word, and
makes and keeps the other lives, that are
compelled by force Of circumstances, 10 be
2s barren and fritless as their own.-New