Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-09-09

cal interest to the public. Writers
viii of course be responsible for theif
Httcrances. IA guarantee Of good
rsi,h the name and address. of the
writer of any article submitted FOL
nublication will be required in each
instance. Editor Gazette.
Editor Gazette:
Those who have heard the Evange-
list, Rev. Gypsy Smith, have been
impressed with. the fact that it is
|tae real man and woman that counts
lin religion, and it is the individual,
who, when unconscious of self, is the
real individual.
We are more or less given to dis
play, generally more than less.
Sometimes we almost imagine, or
think from our observations, that
life is getting to be one vast parade,
and the saddest part of all, to my
mind, is that often display is made
iwhen there is no truth in it. This
tholds good in material as well as in
religious things. For instance, some
folk try to appear wealthy, when in
fact they possess little, consequent
lily the display is lie. "Paste dia-
monds" came into use for this pur-
pose, simply to tell lie. Then there
lis often a show of worth. Humility
/ is not altogether a lost virtue, but 1t
lis we'll nigh forgotten art.
When we come to the question Of
morality, for instance, we lind the
world is not lacking in those who
make a display Of it-a long list OF
supposed virtues are placarded on the
backs of individual characters. We
i'iefer to them as Mr.. or Mrs, I'M
iselfsh and liberal, hence Kind and
good, and the world is supposed to
Hook and read and believe. These peo-
pie are net hypocrites, for the n.y.
pocrite is one who makes a false
parade of his religion, claiming. to
have it when he knows he has it not.
For, as Gypsy Smith so stated, it is
t. in the realm of religion that hypo-
critics are born and bred.
It is very easy matter for some
of s2us to dc things when somebody
lis looking on, but the greatest heroes
and heroines in all the relations of
life are those whose praises have
never been sung, because their deeds
have not been known. With self as
spectator it is little harder to act
and think when no one on the out
side is watching, and it is harder to
play before ones self than before the
world. Yet we are not on the ground
of unconscious influence even in this.
When 1 look alone at my own deed
there is compelling and restrain
ing force in it all. The world may
not see what / am going to do to-
morrow, but God knows do not want
to lose my own self-respect, for when
II lose that I lose well nigh all. I'm
conscious influence does not mean,
simply that the one yielding it is un-
conscious of the extent of it, but that
he is unconscious of the fact that IT
IS an influence at all. In unconscious
Influence there is no effort made; it
is like the beating of the heart, in
voluntary; just can't be helped. You
can't guard against it, nor can you
force it, for it is you; there is no
| show about it, absolutely no display,
for YOU are unconscious of it your
self, for mans real self is his un-
conscious influence. 1t may be iden-
titled with personality, but it is the
biggest thing we have; it is almost
like the unspoken Word, the undone
deed, the unsought thought, is this
unconscious influence; it is the store
house of our worth and like the un-
sconscious mind in which are hid away
many treasures upon which we now
and then draw. of the violet knew Of
its sweetness I wonder if it would
be content with it's lowly place hid
den beneath the leaves, or if the gold
knew it's value would it. be content
to lie hidden under the crust of the
earth, or the rainbow knew its glory
would it ever hide it's face, yet it is
the humility of the violet, which
makes it sweetest; it is the fact that
gold is hidden that makes it valuable;
lit is the coming and going OF the
rainbow that challenges attention"
! In all this would not cast reproach
upon the conscious efforts, but sim
] ly cxalt the worth of unconscious eff
fort. How do we exert this uncon-
scious influence? We WELD it by just
the. same means that we WELD the
conscious Influences. we WELD it by