Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1842-12-30

tOuu HdIuty uu WtuOut oouIe hlIu vi dSilCui'uio'
instrument. The second father of the human family |
was the patriarch Noah, and he was not only n
prencher of righteousness but skilled in mechanism,
ns his building of the immense Ark, in which his
family and himself endured the violence of the del
uge plainly testifes The next most distinguished of
the patriarcs was Abraham, and he had household
of 3ls persons who supplied all their wants,
their garments, tents tools and weap-
ons, digging their wells, building their affairs, and
practising all the mechanic arts essential to the COM
fort of an independent community.
From Abraham we may pass on to Moses, who is
said to have been learned in all the wisdom Of the
Egyptians, and was commissioned by the Almighty
to lead his chosen people out Of Egypt to the proms
ed land. And the skill of this eminent man in the
mechanic arts is plainly displayed by his laying out
all the work designed for the tabernacle TO say moth
ing of the art by which he ground the golden calf in
to DUST in order that the idolators nigh, be compe~
ed 10 drink it in the stream a distinct intimaon, by
the way, that he understood the mode of making
gold leaf, as pracsed in our own day, for you all
know that IN this form gold can be easily made to
float on water The mechanical knowledge of Aa-
rom too is manifest from the fact that he cast the
idol and fashioned it with craving tool degree of
ability in the art of the founder and the statuary
which is not little remarkable while, for the more
difficult parts of the splendid workmanship of the
tabernacle, the Spirit Of God is said to have called
Bezaleel the son of Uri and filled him with wisdom
another direct proof that skill in the mechanic arts
comes by the will of the Deity
We may next survey the condition of Isrrel in the
promised land. And here a nation of laborers.
Each family had its allotted farm and manual work
was honorable. The priesthood were expected TO
perform all the operations of the tabernacle in per-
son. They slew the sacrifices, they lighted the
lamps they prepared the offerings, and in the inter-
walls of their more sacred cupalion, they attended
to the fields which formed part of their allotment
Nay, so little refined or intellectual Incidence toll
Grated under that divine economy, that Solomon des.
crbes the vr;uous woman in the highest rank in so.
cety, one whose hands held the distaf, who car.
ried on species of domestic mandatory with her
maidens, and who was able even to purchase a field
with the grdles which she sold to the merchant the
product of her own labour
Wemny next cast glance on the school of the
prophets in the days ELISHA and here we behold them
with this celebrated worker of miracles at their head
going out with borrowed axe to Gu, down timber in
order to build an additional house for their own ac.
commodation.
The time would fail, however if were 10 notice all
the proofs of the honor placed on the mechanic arts
in the Scriptures. The highest testimony of the whole
may be gathered from the fact that Joseph the reput.
ed Their of the great Reieemer was carpenter and
that our Lord himself is believed to have wrouoht
with him, anterior TO the commencement of his pub.
lie ministry. Finally we see the eminent apostle,
ST. Paul. working at his trade of tent-maker, and
making 1t a SUBJECT OF boast amongst his Gentle
converts, commencing his example, in this respect,
to the elders Ephesus, worthy of express nta-
inn IDt'aaI vn n ,,ri, ,;,,io II
Jews that every man should learn n trade, no matter
what might be his rank OF learning: principle which,
fear, has no, been improved on, by our modern no.
tons Of literary cf'eminacy.
Whether it be contemplated therefore, in the light
of reason in the evidence of Scripture, the mechan-
&c has all imaginable right to be satisfied and even
lhahkiui Tor his position. And when consult the
testimony OF facts even in our own day, it must be
granted that we have no class of men who are more
important to the prosperityand good order of society
none who possess more solid respect, and none who
are more likely 10 be chosen to stations of public re-
! spon'ibily and honor, if endowed with the prone,
qualifications. A few examples in proof of the emf
hence which has attended Them may, perhaps, be o.
service to fix the subject in the memory
And first on the list, what American can fail tc
think of the printer, Benjamin franklin The sor
/
amongst seventeen children, his odvantagesi in educa
ton Were of the most ordinary kind, and his iono
rance was removed entirely by the vigorous and per
scverng Efforts Of his own solitary industry Bounc
apprentice to his brother, he learned the art of prn
ting, and supported himself for years both in Londor
and in Philadelphia, by his mechanical labour, devot
ing all his leisure hours, however to the acquisition o
useful knowledge bat giving his jealous attention I,
bis Il HE ebn .
course that he remarked for his strict bushes
habits, his economy, his temperance, and especially
for the cheeriuness with which he did the loves
drudgery with h own hands. The result was tina
he rose from absolute poverty into a respectable indie
pendence, without any eStraneous aid or patronage
Such was his application that he undertook to lear
the French, Italian and Spanish languages, at the az
of twenty and after he had made some progress
in them all, he began the study of the Latin In hi
zeal for the public good. he not only became III
founder of the University of Pennsylvania and of III
American Philosophical Society but he was mail
supporter ofthe Pennsylvania Hospital and of ever
other enterprise connected with the general welfare
while yet his attention to his trade continued undmn
ished by all his studies and his plans of usefulness
His invention of the Franklin stove for which he re
fused TO take patent, his discoveries in eectrict
and his variety Of useful publications concurred witt
all the rest to the respect and esteem of hi
countrymen and he was forced into public life by tn
choice Of his fellow citizens, where he dslinguishe
himself, at the capitals OF both England and Franc,
as well as in The councils of the American Congress
during long and brilliant course of fifty years. lea,
ing to the world a most instructive example of homo
and success, on the part of contented mechanic
who had achieved all this in the face of every seem
ing disadvantage, and, apparently, without seeking ia
t popularity or iame simply by an unremitling and we
directed course of useful industry united with publ
spirit.
Another honored, though less distinguished name.
e recorded along with that of Franklin amongst til
sgners of the declaration of independence. II is tha
of Roger Sherman who began life as a shoemaker
and the age OF nineteen, travelled with his tools az
# on his back cheerfully working to maintain his moth
: er and her children. The same qualities of frugalii,
temperance industry, and devotion of all his eisur
time to books raised him at length to one of the high
est stations in the country HI
J, Passing from our own land, we ma y next look Z
II the career Of Josiah Wedgewood whose name stand
al al 4 =