Evening journal., 1914-04-27
New News Of Yesterday
How Henry Ward Reecher
Found a Text for a Sermon
By Holland.

Il was recently in Boston upon a bus
iness matter connected with my rail-
road system said the late Vice Pres
ident Reed on the New York. New
Haven and Hartford Railroad Company
TO me. and while there ! heard a very
interesting anecdote about Henry Ward
Beecher
MIR. Reed was for many years esteem
ca as one of the most efficient railroad
managers in New England. He was fre-
quently brought into close touch with
the management of the Boston and Al
bany Railroad Company and for the
reason that his railroad connected with
the Boston and Albany railroad at
Springfield. That association made it
necessary for him frequently TO visit
Boston.
II was told this anecdo5e Icy one of
the executive officers of the Boston and
Albany under whose authority the sig
nal system ON that line had been re-
Gently established" continued Mr.. Reed.
"Ihis man said i found il necessary
10 make a trip to Boston and Spring
field over our line and il was important
that | should study the signal system
while the train was moving. For that
reason took seat in the last car and
at the rear end so that | could look
out of the window. in that way max
ing as good an inspection of the signals
as possible.
Il should say that we were about
half way between Boston and Worces-
ter when D man spoke to me. | had
casually noticed that somebody was
standing in such position that he
could look out Of the window OF my
car, but / did not pay any attention to
him. for passengers frequently did that.
"He said to me that he inferred that
/ was a railroad man, for he had no
ticed that / had been taking careful
heed of something either ON the tracks
or beside the tracks as the train moved
rapidly along / told him that l was
a railroad man and that / was inspect
ing the signals.
May / sit beside you.' he asked. /
would like TO see how you do it. l
would like TO talk TO you if ! can do
that without interfering with your bus
mess
81 knew the man instantly, although
I had never seen him before. He was
Henry Ward Beecher. 1 did not tell him
that 7 knew who he was and / tried SO
TO talk with him as 10 lead him TO in
Afi ANNN itAA ANt AtAN HiAN'"N AH-'N'ft
edge of his identity.
II was amazed at the character OF
his questions. lie wanted TO know how
the signals operated. lie said that it
was wonderful that men many feet dis
tant from the signal were able 60 COM
mmicate their Intelligence to that in
animate object. He told me that this
was true of many phases Of human life.
He said hat il was quiet, unobserved
influences which controlled the actions
Of men. He delivered to me a little ser
mon and when he saw that ] had be-
come greatly interested he said; 4 won
der if you know who / am When l
told him that ! knew that he was Mr..
Beecher he said; You have given me
the text or at least the leading thought
for sermon. Some day / shall preach
sermon making use OF my expert
ence today TO illustrate the leading
thought which will be in the sermon
namely, the great power of unseen in
fuence.'
Copyright, 1914, by T.. y. Edwards.
All rights reservedl.
Tomorrow Mr.. Edwards will tell OF
"The Senator Who Did Not Profit by
Being Frugal