Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-07-01
A FINE SERMON
a A.
By the Rev, VIM, G, Poor
Of Topstie|d, Mass,
At the Temple Street CongregTa-
tionaI Church on Sunday.
Mr.. Poor Is Candidate for Pastor.
ate Of the Church.

1T the Temple street COngre gatiOnal
church, Sunday morning. Rev. VIM. q.
Poor, Of Topsfiefd, Mass. occupied the
pulpit as q candidate for the pastorate
of the church On account of the dis
agreeable weather a1ly n small number
attended the services. but those who
were present were amply rewarded as
,fhe sermon was1ssmost eloquent one.
Rev. Mr.. Poor Is at present pastor of
church in 1opsfIeld. Mass, having
previously hel'. pastorates in Paola,
Kansas. Chcopee Falls. Mass. and at
First Church in iNecne. n. II. He is a
man aboN 5@ years IF age and has a
strong and sympathetic personality.
Htatcok for the text Yesterday, Acts
v:15z"They even carried out the sick
into The streets, and laid. them on beds
and couchcs. that. as Peter came by,
at least his shadow mieht overshadoW
some of them" He spoke in part as fol-
lows& =.
What would you think of man
who cast no shadow Il you did not
fear him. you would shun him. For
would you care to. deal with one on
WhorQssunlight has no effect?
Fit every man casts shadow. And
some primitive African tribes regard
TIC shadow SO much part Of the man
that they never let their shadow fall
near a crocodile lest the reptile seize
it and drag the Anan into the water.
1t is only in Chincse pictures that men
are without shadows: and this absence
of shade and perspective robs their
work of the napi claim to art, for that
sceks,to faithfully portray nature. For
to quote Ruskin. shadows are in real
ity, when the sun in shining, the most
conspicuous thing in landscape, next
to the highest lights
But the scene in our text is confined
to n narrow oriental street. The sunny
places are nearly blocked by the beds
and couches. of the sick. q And so
they wait and watch for the coming of
Peter, hoping to gain from his shadow
what. they dare not ask from that busy
apostle. blTdened with the woes of
others. What picture of the pathos
of lfe.' ~
The inquiry of the preacher was as
to. whether there is some reason to have
faith in 4 shadow. He referred to 4
noble oak that was one day cut down.
and Of how the tired travellers, and
The harvestcrs' lamented, when they
said "HOw we miss the shadow"
-"Many live oaks appear now and
then, and women like elms, in the
shadow of whose lives weary human
nature finds comfort. and even inspira-
ton. Airy .onc who has achieved char
80. l,-e col
terry, by toll for great principles, by
devotion to Christ. has an unconscious
influence for helpfulness."
The sneaker referred to the position
Lincoln took in his debates with Doug
lass. namely that "a houses divided
against itself canpot stand and
though defeated by his opponent. he
cast "a shadow in which truth and
yalor began To walk. B" Ard under
the shadow Of. Abraham Lincoln four
million shactIes were broken. and
race OF bondmen stood forth, free"
"Our text suggests that our subject
is not Peter, but his shadow, not what
he could do on occasion, but what he
was continually doing without know
ing it. in other words, the unconscious
influenc" of ones life.
Tho largest influence of character is
Of this type. AS NJ start resets or s"tS
without he operation of some inilu-
cnCr. 50 no life Is free from the work
ing Of this law for we are all bound to
each other as atoms of bar of steel.
= & We may call the individual in the
community an atom. Society is the
unit 4 rnrpn hii1s each tn the nt lrr
Our" nciChhnrs' movements affect us.
We readjust ourselves to them.
No matter how good YOU are. YOU feel
the efiluX of an unhuly life. No mat
ter now hardened 4 man is. he is some
what influenced by 4 life that is truer
and loftier than his own. /" So every
look and gesture tells tremendously in
this cca sclcss battle of life" >.
We may we'll inquire. then, as "to
the responsibility for it's USE" that is
this "unconscious influence
mo life is inconspcuous. Each one
casts n shadow. And every life is adding
to the hope and truth and righteousness
of manhood. or is subtracting from its
total of good. Over and over for many
decades after the death of King Jeroboam
the injury wrought to Il nation by thai
one man.
Business man. how is the silent influ-
ence of your life affecting the clerks and
employees under you? Is It honor, close
fistedness. or shrewd deception that they
are sending forth from your office. farther
than your goods or name can ever go?
..See that father. He is affectionate and
a good provider, but totally Indifferent to
Gods claim upon him. The children see
it. They become insensible to the plead
ings of Christ He puts his own soul in
danger and imperils all his loved ones
NV nearer. what is the effect in your
home of your life-shadow? Is it bane or
blessing? So far as your life counts Is
the shadow of this church alive with the
presence of the worlds Redeemer?'
The preacher made reference to the eX-
cuses offered for the doubtful influence
for good in ones life. ''Whatever your
temperament or surroundings, God wants
you in just that condition so that in your
amusements, or rest, or reading, In your
disappointments and bereavements, you
will no n helnfli friend. a winning wit