The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-06-07

~
passing along the streets Of Jerusalem,
the sun shone upon him. and. all un-
consciously to him, the shadow he cast.
first on this couch and then on that,
and at once mourning was turned to
rejoicing. groans ceased and the bed
ridden were again strong. This may
seem little strange to us, and Yet
not so strange when realize that
III y true sense the same thing is hap
pcnine nearly every day. y real might
streams forth from every one OF us.
Steadily we each one WELD the sccptre
OF an ever unconscious energy, which
must prove either Il blessing or n
blight
Every one cXerts an influence. quiet.
but real, unconscious. hut certain
every one casts Il shadow of some kind.
The poisoned garment of Hercules
clung no closer to him than does the
shadow OF influence TO every one OF
us. wherever we go. In certain Gene
terry upon a little white stone. which
marked the resting place OF young
girl. may be seen this inscription; ~
child, OF whom her plaYmatcs said;
1t was easier 10 he good when she
was with us" Think what a shadow
of blessing her ever prescnt influence
must have been! After all, it is not
what we have. but what we are, that
gives force TO character. We think
entirely too much OF what are
going 10 do and entirely too little
of what we are going 10 be. out Of
the abundance of the heart the mouth
speakcth." What we arc within governs
largely what we are without. The
hidden essence Of character We carry
with us, will always reveal Itself in
some way, and others must feel its in
nuencc to Il greater OF less degree.
IMPORTANCE OF SILENT,
UNCONSCIOUS INFLUENCE
l. ni,.l. ,.,1t
about influence. but In our thinking
and talking. nearly always leave
out our silent, unconscious influence,
which. after all, is the most important
and mighty we exert. There are two
good reasons for making this state
mcnt, viz: It Is constant and 1t is also
amending. y man may speak but once
in u day; he lives every moment OF
the day. The little things VIC say and
do, tell more widely and radically on
the souls OF men than some OF our
more dcmonStrative actions. \ young
conscious influence of his older
brother was largely responsible for
his desire 10 become Il Christian and
live tho Christian life. The clock
strikes at intervals. but the ticking
is momcntary-wc hear the one, we
do not notice the other. and vet tho
hour-strokc comes not If the ticking
quietly passing moments and not the
sudden strikes!
The smallest bark on Mes tumultuous
Will leave a track behind forever
more:
The liGhtest wave OF influence set in
Extends and widcns To the eternal
shore"
"Oh.. that my influence could be
gathered up and buried with me-" said
man. who had misspent his life; but
1t could not be II will continue 10
1.-Two long after he Is dead and gone.
RESPONSIBILITY FOR
ErFEcT on OTHERS
Another thoucht-and most solemn
and serious one ii Is. too. We are re-
sponsible to God for our unconscious
influence, II our character and in
nucnce are bad. they arc bad from
choice. aye Will not come unto Me
that We may have life" My friend.
any will not" leave us responsible for
what after that we are. We cannot
he zeros and count for nothing in this
life. 'iic that knoweth to do good
and do@th it not. to that man it is
sn.' To 90 nothing is to do evil.
oh. how many "do-nothinCs" there are
in this world and the world is poorer
because OF their existence, too!
"rd rather he could-be.
IF | could not be an arc:
For could-bc is n maybe.
With chance Of touching par.
I'd rather he Il has-bccn
Than a might have been. by far:
For a might have been has never been.
Hut has was once an are
II man could perish alone in his
iniQuity. then this moral suicide OF un-
ppulinpSS ,p
his influence could he gathered up and
buried with him" his wicltcdness would
perhaps. not seem quite so bad. But
alas Moral suicide is never with an
umsharcd poison cup, NO man liveth
unto himself and no man dicth unto
himself" 1t is also Just as true that
no man sinneth unto himself AS an
absolute proof of this, visit the home
of drunkard, a thief murderer!
iNFLt ENCE DEPENDS
ON KIND OF LIFE LIVED
Now. for a personal application.
Ny friend what kind of an Influence
are YOU cNcrtinr in the world? The
answer viii largely depend upon what
Kind of life YOU are living Are
YOU Tor christ or against Him? Is
your Influence being cXcr,ed for the
upl!ft of humanity and the advance
mcnt OF christianity, or for the cy-
tension of Satan's kingdom on earth?
You may not be able. like the APOSTLE
Peter. 10 heal the sick in the temple.
hu' Nou can most assurcdly east heal
ihS shadows IN the street. ON what
ever heart or home. the shadow of =
real Christian may fall: in ,.hatcver
company he may move. his very com
ing should bring Il smile OF pleasure
- manifest blessing should beam In his
face. From every such life there goes
out an unconscious influence. which Is
Il SAVIOR OF life unto life to diving men.
The world has been made better nv
his having lived in ~
Why not live such life before men
tba; this could he truly said of YOU
after YOU have answered the final sum
mons? You can do 1t if you really
want to. BE assured of this. God has
promised TO give YOU tho strenpth thu