The man went out of the world, but his
influence stayed behind him, its poison to work for ages in the lives
of others.
We need, therefore, to guard our influence with most conscientious
care. It is a crime to fling into the street an infected garment which
may carry contagion to men's homes. It is a worse crime to send out a
printed page bearing words infected with the virus of moral death. The
men who prepare and publish the vile literature which to-day goes
everywhere, polluting and defiling innocent lives, will have a fearful
account to render when they stand at God's bar to meet their influence.
If we would make our lives worthy of God, and a blessing to the world,
we must see to it that nothing we do shall influence others in the
slightest degree to evil.
In the early days of American art there went from this country to
London a young artist of genius and of a pure heart. He was poor, but
had an aspiration for noble living as well as for fine painting. Among
his pictures was one that in itself was pure, but that by a sensuous
mind might be interpreted in an evil way. A lover of art saw this
picture and purchased it. But when it was gone the young artist began
to think of its possible hurtful influence on the weak, and his
conscience troubled him. He went to his patron and said, "I have come
to buy back my picture." The purchaser could not understand him.
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