Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1912-07-06
SATURDAY NIGHT
M SERMONS
,W--s BY
9 RySAnUEL
I" WpURvTSDl
THE SHADOW you CAST.

from the temple Folks knew when
to expect him coming from worship.
and when they saw him coming they
hurried out with their sick people on
beds and touches that NJ the least his
shadow passing by might fall on them.
and the MANNED and fever stricken.
the weak and helpless. were healed by
his shadow It's mighty mysterious.
that shadow Of influence. conscious
or unconscious. that we cast. II Is
sort OF atmosphere. As the sun
streams forth light. as coal throws of
heat violets their fragrance. spices
their odor. so man radlates his in
fuence. Bunyan. thinking OF evil
emanating from q bad man. made
Apollyon's nostrils emit flames. Ed
ward Everett insists that Webster's
eyes flashed sparks during his greatest
speech. If light il In us we shine, II
darkness we shade. II we are glowing
with love we warm. II frozen with sci.
fshness we chill. II pure hearted we
cleanse. IL corrupt we poison. Man Il
mysterious bundle of potent forces.
The Instinct OF Imitation.
There goes little girl of six walk
ing with her mother. II Is raining.
Both are carrying umbrellas. The
mother is holding up her skirts, and.
although the child's reaches but to her
knees. she. too. Is holding up her dress.
Imitation sat In kindergarten the
other day. legs crossed. arm over back
OF chair. watching n chart. Teacher
whispered TO me. "Notice little fellow
to your right?" There he sat. the little
mimic. legs crossed. arm over back OF
chair. gazing with quick glance from
me TO the chart.
Imitation. What Is Il? II Is the un-
conscious effort of child to understand
life and become adult-like. Why do we
initiate? Because we want to learn. A
city superintendent OF education tells
me that OF observations extending
through $4,000 children only 10 per
cent initiate other children. 90 per cent
initiate grown people. Mother instinct
and imitation make girl children play
with dolls. Lots OF boys learn to smoke
and swear because II ''looks big" and
sounds big" There Is no enjoyment
in the first cigar; It makes them sick.
The first oath hurts something within,
but imitation Is strong. Who is int.
tating you? Your child, your chum.
your playmate or shopmate? Who is
cursed or blessed by the shadow Of
your influence?
The contaeion OF influence.
When Harriet Beecher Stowe. author
OF Uncle Toms Cabin. visited the
White House. President Lincoln bent
over her hand as he said. lis this the
little woman who made this big war;"
The ear Of Russia told United States
diplomat that the freeing OF Russian
serfs was the result OF reading Mrs.
Stoves story. An English nobleman
visited for the first time village In
Cornwall Searched the village streets
for place 10 get some liquor. Stopped
an old man and said savagely. How Is
II cannot get drink Of liquor In this
villagef" The old mans eyes flashed
with pride something over hun.
dFei wears ago man named John
Wesley came TO these parts" Frances
Willard. commenting on this incident.
said. There's the shadow OF an infiu.
ence stretching across century,
Richard Gibbs wrote a tract entitled
"a Bruised Reed a tin pcdd.er gave
II 20 boy named Richard Baxter. who
was brought to Christ through II. Bax.
ter wrote "A Call TO the Cnconverted.
Among the thousands saved through II
was Philip Doddridge. who wrote THE
Rise and Progress OF Religion In the
Soul" II fell into the hands OF VII.
liam Wilberforce, the great emanclpa.
tor Of slaves In the British colonies.
and led him TO Christ. Wilberforce
wrote "A Practical View OF Christian
ity." which reached the heart OF Leigh
Richmond. who wrote the "Dairymans
Daughter" tract translated into tifty
languages and OF many millions edl.
lions. Not break In the chain!
The Projeetion Of Yourself.
Who can measure the influence OF q
theater. saloon. moving picture
drama. vicious book. nm evil com.
panlon or even a crowd when not a
word has been spoken to you: Water
is soft. stones are hard. but even water
falling drop by drop will wear n hole
In the hardest stone. The falling river
has worn out a Niagara gorge: the
quiet Potomac has worn It's way
through the mountain at Harpers
Ferry. Influence is Just as powerful
and as sileut Isn't necessary to say.
There Is no Cod" Just live as II there
wasn't. No need to cry. Cruelty him."
Just stay away. Don't bother burning
the Bible: just let II lie. dust covered.
Don't break through your neighbor's
garden to destroy IT.: Just throw a
handful OF thistle seeds In the air-the
wind will do the rest When you go to
.ed. Is your days influence done: II
has only begun! Your cross word Il
still at work. and your lie Is still poi
sonine some life. The kind smile T.