The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-05-30

But why 40 we nave the recOru VI
these sins? Would it not have been
kinder to pass over them in silence?
In the Assembly Hall Of the Military
Academy at West Point you may see
the portraits Of the various captains
who have commanded there. One place.
however, is left blank: it is the place
that should have been occupied by Ben
edict Arnold, the traitor. The picture
of Jeroboam might in like n have
been turned to the wall. but for the
fact that the reiteration of his sin car
ries n great lesson with it. namely. the
perpetuity of influence. "No man liv-
eth unto himself and no man dieth unto
himself" There are three kinds Of in
1uence which every maj eXerts; and
we may wisely consider them.
The first is voluntary. The sins OF
Jeroboam were not inadvertant; he
meant to have the people worship the
golden calves. He did wrong deliber-
ately. There are others who do like
wise; thieves, rum sellers. dive keep
ers. managers of Sunday theatres. pur-
veyors of unclean literature and au-
thors of inidel books: these do evil
with malice aforethought. Not content
with running themselves. they plan to
ruin others. To all such the word Of
the Master applies: ut must needs be
that offenses come; hut woe to that
man by whom the offense cometh. 1t
were better for him that a milestone
were hanged about his neck and that
he were drowned in the depth Of the
sea-"
But there are multitudes who do good
and intend to do it. The world is full
of them: teachers Of truth, sisters of
mercy" life savers and philanthropists;
who speak the seasonable word (which
is like apples of gold in baskets Of
silver" and who eagerly stretch forth
the helping hand. To such the word Of
the Master applies. "Inasmuch as We
have done it unto n Of the least OF
these, ye have done it unto Me-"
The second kind of influence is auto
matte. And this is by far the largest
force in life. For influence does not
wait to be exerted. it exerts itself
whether we will or not. I used to go
fishing for trout in a clear stream
among the Pocono Hills; but when l
was last there the waters were dull
and dark, and my errand was vain.
The nan who had built a paper mill
up above did not mean to kill the fish;
nevertheless. the refuse had efectually
ACCOMPLISHED it. John Mills. who
translated Chambers Encyclopedia into
French in 1743. was moved by nothing
worse than the thought Of personal
gain. But when, with that end in
view, he enlisted the services Of Vol
taire, Rousseau. Diderot and others OF
that inidel group. he set in operation
forces which fifty years later brought
on the Reign of Terror. 1t is thus that
men do evil without intending 1t.
The third kind Of influence is pos
thumous. A man who bad lived an
evil life said on his deathbed, II wish
you could gather up my influence and
bury it with me-" Alas! that could not
be. His body might lie in the sepul-
cher and his name be forgotten, but
'the evil q man does lives after him."
Of all the things that followed Jero-
boam not one was so alive as Jero-
boam himself. though he had been
gathered unto his fathers" for
through Nadab and Baasha and Ella
and Zimri and the others he was still
making Israel to SIM"
And the influence of right-living men
Is likewise immortal; "they do rest
from their labors. but their works do
follow them" The odor Of the spike
nard, with which an unknown woman
okee anointed the feet Of Jesus, has
-, l1-. {hronnh tho nnnf11ri0C hpr
deed being told "as a memorial Of her"
So the dead are really the living. We
are guided by the memory of those
whom we have loved and lost
awhile" Goodness is proof against
the tooth of time and the raisure of
oblivion" If q fixed star were to be
extinguished in the distant heavens, it
would be a million years before the
people of this world would discover it
its light would still be shining on,
So when a good man dies,
For years beyond our ken
The light he leaves behind him Lies
Upon the paths of men.
The lesson is plain. Let us look to
our influence! But how? The secret
of doing good is being good. Can men
gather grapes Of thorns or figs OF
thistles? "a good man out of the
trea of his heart bringeth forth
good fruit" Our influence is never
better than our character, and charac-
ter has its seat and GENRE in the heart.
If we would set ourselves right in the
matter, the first thing to do is to come
to Christ, that we may rid ourselves of
sin; and all the rest Is following Him
that is. to believe His teaching, to do
His work and to be like Him. Light
cannot help shining. 1t sounds no
trumpets, waves no banners, makes
no announcement of its coming, but
just comes. Let your light so shine
before men that they may see your
good works and glorify God"
o may I join the choir invisible
| OF those immortal dead who live again
In minds made better by their presence;
live
In pulses stirred to generosity,
In deeds of daring rectitude, in scorn
For miserable aims that end with self,
In thoughts sublime that piece the night
like stars,
And with their mild persistence urge mans
search
To vaster issues.
Application.
BY J.. R. MILLER.
Christ read new meanings into the
commandments. Anybody would say