Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1882-06-17
USEFUL INDUSTRY CONSIDERED As A
MORAL DUTY.
BY REV. J. W. SMITH.

no lOurIn COMMANDMENT III Cne
sacred decalogue lays upon us two
distinct obligations: it imposes la
Dor no less expressly than in enjoins
a holy rest. SSH days shalt thou
labor and do all thy york." Hence,
it is just and fair inference, that a
life of voluntary idleness is a life Of
Idisobedience to the law and will of
Heaven. If of your own choice,
you spend the six working days idly
you are as verify q transgressor of
the moral law as you would be in
disregarding the day that is conse-
Grated. And besides, we are the
better fitted for the duties of the
sabbath by means of our industry
in providing things honest" during
the rest of the week i; while on the
other hand, he that idles away the
six days of labor, is very i'll pre-
pared for the sacred day of rest.
The idle body, who, nevertheless,
appears occasionally devout, sepa-
rates what God hath joined together;
for he that said, Remember the
day to keep it holy" hath also said,
"Six days shalt thou labor" Well
directed industry is a moral and
christian duty, a scriptaral duty,
which none that are capable of it
can dispense with and be guiltless.
Neither wealth, nor rank, nor sex,
can excuse person in good health,
and Of competent faculties, from all
and every kind Of useful labor,
either of body or mind, or both.
Mere amusement is for little chill
dren. Employment, useful employ
ment, is for men and women. And,
indeed, as little is there granted us
the liberty Of doing no good with
our faculties, as Of employing them
! in doing evil and mischief Labor
is either mental, OF bodily, or mixed.
There are none whose labor is q
greater "weariness of the flesh," as
well as of the nobler part of human
| ity, than men Of close and remitless
study; and there are none whose
industry is more useful to mankind.
The man of talent, who in solitude,
and perhaps in neglected poverty,
employs discreetly the faculties of
his mind, to enlighten and instruct
his fellow beings in their immortal,
or even their mortal interests, is q
benefactor to a community rath-
or than a burden. Nevertheless,
even he errs woefully, if he neg
lects to exercise his body. 1t is
lamentable to see how many men of
study, how many promising youths
waste away their strength, impair
lsseir constitutions, and bring upon
themselves incurable diseases and
premature death, soleiy for want OF
a proper mixture Of bodily exercise
with the strenuous labors Of their
minds. In the proud and fastidious
times in which we live, manual la
Dor of the useful kind is accounted
a thing too vulgar for those Of the
better sort. Many young gentle
man would feel himself dishOAOred
by doing anything called work and
many young lady would blush to
be found employed in an occupation
really useful; even though in cir
cumstances imperatively demanding
their industry. In this respect, the
manners of society have suffered .
deplorable change. The time has
been when labor was held in honor
among even the rich and the noble ;
when even ladies Of the highest fol-.
tune and rank thought it not be-
meath them to work occasionally
with their hands. Queen Mary, Of
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