Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1871-06-10
rvr Rr1,1e1oN, OF BUSINESS.

OF UldllS. IL u SOuihhoii'J
while 1t is possible to attain a virtnous
character, and live a religious life II
the midst of life's tolls and pleasures,
it must be rather in spite Of them than
by means of them ; that they nave
nothing in their own nature calculated
to inspire the heart to spiritual good'
I'm, that their tendency on the con-
trary leads rather in all opposite direc-
ton. It is assumed that daily occu-
p%ations, excepting a very few, such as
those of the religious teacher or author,
must bring into exercise a set Of pow
ers and faculties wholly distinct from
those by which we cultivate the reliS-
ious principle ; and that we thus live
rs it were, two lives, one OF business
and one of religion, each Of which
prospers best by being kept apart from
the other. 1t is admitted that the
practical pursuits Of life are not only
necessary and useful, but are the
natural results of the laws by which
the world is governed, and yet with
singular Inconsistency they are thought
to have no bearing upon the noblest
designs Of Providence. The truth Is,
that every pursuit which Is rightftil
and honest Is also calculated to develop
the best human qualities, and Its tend
ency is rather to strengthen and eS-
pand the spirit Of religion than to
weaken or contract it. That this Is not
ALWAYS the case is due, not to the ma
tire Of the tasks themselves, but to
the violation of the laws which should
govern their exercise, and the spirit
which should enter into them. All
toll has its own grand meaning,
though it may be hidden below the
surface. We see the laborious effect,
the monotonous process, the weary
frame, but we cannot see the spirit OF
love that anlmates the toiler, rs he
thinks Of the wife and children that
will be sustained and gladdened by
the results of his patient labor ; We
cannot discern those sweet home atfec-
tions which, though they may be
mingled with much imperfection, are
at once the handspring and the reward
of much that might otherwise be I'M
meaning drudgery. Other occupa-
tons, united with this element, add
additional sources of improvement to
| the higher nature of man. The sclen-
tiic discoverer, who is constantly eX-
ploriug new wonders of nature, the
| physician who studies the ~intricacies
of the human frame, the philosopher
who deals with the profoundest depths
of the mind-these and many others,
from the special nature Of their en-
| ploymentS. rs far as they appreciate
and obey the true spirit OF their voca-
tons, will be led by them to the Guilt
walton Of those principles which lie at
the foundation of q religious charac-
ter. The business Of the lawyer IS
often considered especially calculated
to dull his moral sense. and to mar the
purity Of his mind. But rightly COIL
sidered, the great duty Of the legal
profession Is the establishment Of jus
tice in the world, and the maintenance
Of right between man and man. II
the lawyer does this he is contributing
to the Righteousness Of mankind and
| developing his own, aud while sitting
evidence, and aiding the law to form
Just conclusions, if his heart be OH the
side of equity and truth, he is so far
leading Il religious life rs surely rs
Justice and rectitude are a part of re-
ligion. The same Is true Of politics.
That many lawyers and politicians be-
come corrupt, Is not the fault Of their
vacations, but because they fail to
recognize the high and noble duties
which their positions require, and fall
below the true spirit Of their labors.
1t Is they who degrade their callings,
not their calling' that debase them.
Literature and art. the channels
through which, much of the genius of
tbe world is revealed, are in their own
nature pure and ennobling. The high
est spiritual idea of excellence that
any age possesses Is embodied in Its
paintings, It's sculpture, its books.
Even in their lighter forms, where
only innocent recreation Is sought,
there is nothing irreligiou', but much
that draws mel away from coarSer
pleasures to those more true and re-
timing. The moral defects that we
lament are foreign elements intro
duced, not native to the soil. What
ever teaches the beauty of goodness,
or touches the heart with pure emo
ton, is religious In Its tendency, and
and only needs embracing In Its true
spirit to be religious in its results.
Such views will not lead us to revere
religion less, but rather to, appreciate
its expansivoness. and to welcome
agencies in its development perhaps
hitherto unknown. Whatever in any
pursuit we find hostile to religion, that
let lis purge out, and thus purify and
ennoble 1t. But there Is so much that
is good and inspiring and elevating In
every honest calling, that 1t Is our own
fault If we do not find 1t ont, and let
it improve and develop our characters.
II matters less the employment we are
engaged in than the spirit we carry
into it. If we each study IL own
vocation we shall find in it elements OF
moral good, Of spiritual benefit, Of
religious tendency, which, If we but
recognize and are loyal to, will en-
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