The Investment of Influence

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The Investment of Influence

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Title: The Investment of Influence A Study of Social Sympathy and Service
Author: Newell Dwight Hillis
Release Date: December 10, 2005 [EBook #17274]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
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The Investment of Influence
A Study of Social Sympathy and Service

Newell Dwight Hillis

Author of "A Man's Value to Society," "Foretokens of Immortality," Etc.

NEW YORK CHICAGO TORONTO
Fleming H. Revell Company
LONDON AND EDINBURGH
MCMXII

Copyright 1897
By Fleming H. Revell Company.

New York: 158 Fifth Avenue Chicago: 125 North Wabash Ave. Toronto: 25 Richmond Street, W. London: 21 Paternoster Square Edinburgh: 100 Princes Street

DEDICATION
Many years have now passed since we first met. During all this time you have been an unfailing guide and helper. Your friendship has doubled life's joys and halved its sorrows. You have strengthened me where I was weak and weakened me where I was too strong. You have borne my burdens and lent me strength to bear my own.
Because I have learned from you in example, what I here teach in precept, I dedicate this book
TO YOU
--whether toiling in field or forum, in home or market place,
TO YOU--MY FRIEND

FOREWORD.
The glory of our fathers was their emphasis of the principle of self-care and self-culture. Finding that he who first made the most of himself was best fitted to make something of others, the teachers of yesterday unceasingly plied men with motives of personal responsibility. Influenced by the former generation, our age has organized the principle of individualism into its home, its school, its market-place and forum. By reason of the increase in gold, books, travel and personal luxuries, some now feel that selfness is beginning to degenerate into selfishness. The time, therefore, seems to have fully come when the principle of self-care should receive its complement through the principle of care for others. These chapters assert the debt of wealth to poverty, the debt of wisdom to ignorance, the debt of strength to weakness. If "A Man's Value to Society" affirms the duty of self-culture and character, these studies emphasize the law of social sympathy and social service.
Newell Dwight Hillis.

CONTENTS.
CHAP.
I Influence, and the Atmosphere Man Carries
II Life's Great Hearts, and the Helpfulness of the Higher Manhood
III The Investment of Talent and Its Return
IV Vicarious Lives as Instruments of Social Progress
V Genius, and the Debt of Strength
VI The Time Element in Individual Character and Social Growth
VII The Supremacy of Heart Over Brain
VIII Renown Through Self-Renunciation
IX The Gentleness of True Gianthood
X The Thunder of Silent Fidelity: a Study of the Influence of Little Things
XI Influence, and the Strategic Element in Opportunity
XII Influence, and the Principle of Reaction in Life and Character
XIII The Love that Perfects Life
XIV Hope's Harvest, and the Far-off Interest of Tears

INFLUENCE, AND THE ATMOSPHERE MAN CARRIES.

"I do not believe the world is dying for new ideas. A teacher has a high place amongst us, but someone is wanted here and abroad far more than a teacher. It is power we need, power that shall help us to solve our practical problems, power that shall help us to realize a high, individual, spiritual life, power that shall make us daring enough to act out all we have seen in vision, all we have learnt in principle from Jesus Christ."--_Charles A. Berry_.
"And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied. And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers and they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also. Then went Saul to Ramah, and he said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said, Behold they be at Naioth. And Saul went thither, and the Spirit of God came on him also and he prophesied. Wherefore man said: Is Saul also among the prophets?"--_I. Samuel, xix, 20-21_.
CHAPTER I.
INFLUENCE, AND THE ATMOSPHERE MAN CARRIES.
Nature's forces carry their atmosphere. The sun gushes forth light unquenchable; coals throw off heat; violets are larger in influence than bulb; pomegranates and spices crowd the house with sweet odors. Man also has his atmosphere. He is a force-bearer and a force-producer. He journeys forward, exhaling influences. Scientists speak of the magnetic circle. Artists express the same idea by the halo of light emanating from the divine head. Business men understand this principle, those skilled in promoting great enterprises bring the men to be impressed