Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1905-02-11
LEAGUE OFTHE GOLDEN PEN
Rev. e. ii. Byington, Its Founder, Ex-
plains Its Object.

Rev. e. II. Byington, It's Founder, Ex-
plains Its Object.
The object of the League Of the Gold
en- Pen, as explained by its founder,
Rev. f. II. Byington Of Beverly, Mass,
is the writing of letters, not the busi-
ness, social and personal correspond
ence sustained for our own advantage,
but letters written in the spirit OF
Christ, to give gladness, comfort, coun-
sci, inspiration, to others. When such
are written the spirit Of the writer
transmutes the steel Of the pen into
gold.
Rev. Mr. Byington says: "a letter is
the only approach to people that is sure
Of q welcome. A call may be an inter-
ruption a friendly letter, never. You
may not listen to all the sermon, you
may skip part Of the book or skim the
newspaper, but the personal letter you
never fail to read to the end, deyouring
eagerly the crisscrossed and illegible
postscripts. 1t is the cup Of cold water
often to the thirsty soul, and blessed is
he who gives it.
write to any one who has served
you we'll. Have you been enjoying
some beautiful music or work Of art,
some suggestive address, some choice
contribution or stirring editorial In a
paper? Take down your pen and write
a note of thanksgiving. If we thanked
our rulers more for their brave acts
and criticised them less for their er-
rors, If in writing to them we used the
golden pen more often than the porcu-
pine quill, it would be better all around.
"Still broader is the privilege in writ
ing letters Of praise to friends, first
and most frequently to the nearest and
dearest but, then, the whole world
is before us. We may need an introduc-
ton to speak to people, but we need
none to write them letters of praise.
Take any morning the daily paper, Sc
lect some person whose noble or COM
| mendable deed or whose wise words
are there recorded and write him an
expression of appreciation, whether he
be ruler, a millionaire, a pauper or
criminal, whether in this land or some
other. Such a daily letter would make
you a fountain of joy and an inspira-
ton, for nothing so uplifts to a higher
and holer life, so quickens the desire
to repeat worthy act, as some appre-
| citation Of 1t.
Indulge, If you choose, in anony-
nous letters. It is possible sometimes
to write more freely If the name is not
to be signed. Often, too, an anonymous
letter written with a golden pen thrills
and sustains more than one whose au-
thorship is known. / have splendid
antidote for depression in an anony-
nous letter of appreciation written to
me by some member Of my congrega-
ton. Every member Of this league
ought to write some Of these no name
letters to pastor and other friends.
They are sweeter than honey and the
honeycomb when written with the gold
en- pen.
"And the love letters. How long since
you have written a real love letter to
ABOUT fbeirs' but feiiins T as best you
can Of that love down deep in your
heart that does not ordinarily flow to
the surface and your appreciation OF
all that they have done for you? But
you say that you live at home. All the
better. Write your love letter, put
stamp on it, mail 1t and keep out OF
sight when it is delivered and read.
Then note that new radiance n your
mothers eye and feel in the gentle
pressure Of her hand and the touch OF
the good night kiss an unspeakable
gladness.
Husbands and wives, what or you!
In former days those love missives'
laden with endearing expressions, were
frequent. Are there any at all In these
days? When you are apart your epis-
Ties are all about the children and other
common interests. Once in awhile skip
these and slip in a real love letter.
"Paurs greatest service to the cause
| of Christ was with his letters. So would
it be with many Of you who never tried
it. It is time to take your golden pen
out of the napkin and some of you
have two and even five there infolded.
These things should not be. The pow
er Of the spoken word, the value OF
printers ink, have been much empha-
sized. 1t is time to realize the mfiu-
ence of the golden pen.
"The League Of the Golden Pen mas
no officers, no committees, no bylaws
no dues, only members. You initiate
yourself into membership when you
write your first letter with the golden
pen, and you continue in good and reg
ular standing as long as you write at
least one such letter a month. Let the
shut ms and the silent and the timid,
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