Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1919-12-25
v ORDS

The following contribution is from
Rev. r. NJ Webster, formerly a pas
tor of the Congregational church in
Grand Rapids, but now of Pasadena,
California.
1t is said there are more than one
hundred thousand words in the big
dictionaries, but that most people get
along with the use of not more than
about three thousand and very large
number of people use still fewer words.
Poets, authors, editors, teachers,
and scientific people use a few thou
sand more. And there may be few
who use as many as ten thousand
words, but they are very few.
Very different sets of words may be
used to express the same idea, for ex-
ample: He is very wise man, or he
is person of uncommon wisdom, or
he is one who uses knowledge aright.
or he is famous for adopting the best
means to the best ends, or he knows
how to be a happiness maker, or he
sees the safety and blessedness of
loving his neighbor as himself. Here
are six sets of words all expressing the
same thought. One may have there
fore a choice among a variety of
words for saying practically the same
thing.
But the idea, the thought, is the
more important thing. The words
used to express it may be more or less
forceful, more or less elegant, more
or less exact. But, he thinketh in
his heart, so is he" SO the thought
is the vital thing.
Which fact makes the Book say.
"keep thy heart (thy thoughts) with
all diligence for out of it are the is
sues of Life" And it made Jesus say.
"For every idle word that men shall
speak they shall give account in the
day of Judgment"
But the day of Judgment is any day
IN which the natural results of the
words we have spoken are made mani !
fest. 1t may be the same day they are
spoken or a long time later Jesus adds; |
"For by thy words thou shalt be JUS
titled and by thy words thou shalt be |
condemned" That is, you will be /
justified or condemned, not by the |
Lord or by any of his faithful ones. |
but by thost natural effects of your
words which show you to be a wise
man or a fool, clean and generous
and trustworthy man, or otherwise. |
In view of the truth just stated
club has been formed with headquar-
ters in Kansas City, Mo-, called the |
Good Words Club" Any one may be !
a member by simply promising to "a
void unclean, unkind or useless words, |
and to speak only words of the oppo- |
site sort. Many are finding how easy
it has been to use idle or injurious
words and are striving to act upon the |
suggestions of Jesus and of the A
postle James who said, eff man of
fend not in word, the same is a perfect |
man and able also to bride the whole |
body"
A few things that are certainly we'll !
known as to Words, it were we'll to re-
member.
l. Ones words are a revelation of |
ones character. They advertise what
is kept within. They show what one
thinks and "as he thinketh in his
heart SO is he"
2. Words react to deepen and fix
the thoughts which they express
Since, "Out of the abundance of the
heart the mouth speaketh" The
speaking reacts to further increase
that abundance. Everything produces
after its kind. Words are no excep-
tion to that law.
3. One should never affirm as. truth
what he does not honestly wish to have
true. For example, am sick. am
poor. | am unlucky. Fate is against