The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1916-07-20
Personal Influence.
Written for The Review

Influence brings power and pc"
er rightly used is an effective mean
in the destruction of wrong and IN
advancement of right. Whateve
dives YOU influence over other
gives YOU likewise an added poWe
to hold their attention, direct thel
thoughts and control their actor
and YOUR power to influence 10
good is largely determined by thF
love and respect you are able e
inspire in their hearts for you
Many a noble life has been won tc
God and to the service OF manklno
through the force of earnest entrea
tv and loves gentle persuasion. ,
The power of influence to bend
the unnamed will of man and turn
it from the contemplation and set
purpose of evil to the accomplish
ment of good is graphically por-
trayed in the beautiful Bible story
of Esther, the Jewish wife OF a
heather king.
Esther being left an orphan at an
early age was taken by Mordecal;
near kinsman and brought up as
his daughter.
She was no doubt carefully in
structed in the Jewish faith and
taught to love and worship the God
of Israel.
The years quickly pass and Es-
Their is now no longer child, but a
woman with all the response
bilities of life thrust upon her
Grown into beautiful and graceful
womanhcod she 1tcomes the wife of
Ahasuerus, king of all that country
from India unto Ethiopia, with all
the honor and glory attached to
that high station. But though sur
rounded by high court circles with
its idoIatry and sensual customs
blazoned upon its life, and wearing
the royal crown, she does not forget
her early training nor lose the sweet
influences received in her childhood |
home.
The Jews in that country and at
that time were despised and per-
secuted people, as they are today in
so many parts OF the world, and
hated bitterly by the race which had
rule over them. And now through
the secret intrigue of the jealous and
wicked Hannah, prince in high
favor with the king, and honored
above all others of the kings court.
King Ahasuerus caused to be is
sued|a decree that all Jews of his
kigdom, both young and old men,
women and children, not one of all
that unhappy race excepted should
be put to death, that the whole
country under his dominion must
be freed of the despicabIc Jews.
And we learn from the printed
word there was no delay in getting
ready to carry out the Kings order.
Letters bearing the Kings decree
to this effect with the kings seal on
them were sent pOst-haste through
out all the provinces of his kingdom
commanding the execution, specify
flying the time fer it to take place.
And now what hurrying to and
fro among the enemies of the
hated and prosecuted Jews making
ready for the great slaughter which
was planned so soon, to begin! With
what fendish joy, with what satan
lc glee they must have dashed their
fiery steeds into grta;er swiftness e.
as they fastened on from place to
place delivering the royal order to
the newly appointed executloners! /,
And how the heart of the good
Queen Esther must have grieved
and wept, how her whole being must
nave trembled as she thought of
ne awful condition anu fate of her
helpless people! Should this cruel
and wicked order be executed!
How she must have cried to the
God of Heaven in the hearts bitter
EST anguish and earnest application
or deliverance from so horrible
ate! Would the God of love, the
God of her fathers whom she had
Oeen brought to worship from in
ancy. the God of Justice leave her
helpless in this hour of sore need?
There was hope of rescue and her
leart takes courage! But she must
act, she was not without means of
lefense. She had one recourse of
help which would bring to her aid
with all the force of its power, to .
:hWart the evil intent of her enc
mics.
The time has now come for Es-
her to put to test the power of her
influence over the royal husband
4 test that is to bring into action all
he strength of her sweet gentle
spirit and Winsome personality. She