The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1913-08-05
THE POWER
- OF
PERSONALLY


mysterious thing we call influence.
There have been meetings of only
moment which have left impress
sions for life. We read of the heal.
ing Of the woman who only touched
the hem Of Christ's garment, and
again, when the people pressed
around Him trying to touch Him,
how virtue went out from Him and
healed them all. OF course no one
has such power as He had, but each
has an influence for good or evil on
every one with whom ne comes in
contact. We are all the time either
helping or hindering, perhaps uncon.
sciously, those about us.
No one can tel how far this I'M
conscious influence reaches. Often
those whom we do not know are
watching us to see how we live, where
we stand in regard to public ques-
tons of right or wrong and whether
our life and our profession correspond
and often are shaping their lives by
ours.
He toiled on the stree, for his daily
bread,
Jostled and pushed by the mighty
throng.
mo one has time to watch" he said
Whether | choose the right or
wrong.
No one can be misled."
He chose the wrong and thought no
one cared;
But a child lost that day his ideal
Of strength.
A young man halted, faltered, at
length
Followed him into the sin he dared.
When enc discovers that he has
formed or is forming companion
ship whose influence cannot but be
hurtful to him it must instantly be
given up. A rabbits foot was caught
in a steel trap, and, with a bravery
we cannot but admire, it gnawed OH
it'll its own teeth, getting
itself free. Who will say it was
not wiser to thus escape death than
to have kept the foot and died?
A good and true character also he
its influence. Good companions are
a blessing and a benediction. You
will recall those words of Len.
fellow:
As ships that pass in the night, and
speak one another in passing,
Only signal shown and distant
voice in the darkness,
So on the ocean of life we pass and
speak one another,
Only look and voice, then dark
ness again and a silence.
And how often the look and the voice
go with us through life and are wo-
ven into our golden yesterdays.
There is wonderful restraining
power over us in the life of one we
love. We dare not do wrong in the
presence of pure, gentle friend.
Words, thoughts, kindly deeds, the
power of example, the inspiration OF
noble things drop out of the heaven
of pure friendship into the depths OF
the heart, and, falling, are folded
there and become beautiful gems and
holy adornments In the life. Who
can tell the power OF a close and
long continued friendship, running
through happy years, sharing the
deepest experiences, heart and heart
knit together, life and life woven as
II were into one web?
What Is the best friena can be
To any soul, to you or me?
Not only shelter, comfort, rest
Inmost refreshment unexpressed;
Not only beloved guide
To thread life's labyrinth at our
side,
Or with loves torch lead on before;
Though these be much, there yet is
more.
Can friend lose friend? Believe 1t
not!
The tissue whereof life Is wrought,
Weaving the separate into one,
Nor end hath, nor beginning; spun
From subtle threads of destiny,
Finer than thought OF man can see.
God takes not back His gifts divine,
While thy soul lives thy friend is
thine.
TALMAGE TALKS
AT CONFERENCE