The morning call., 1891-03-09
CHOOSING A CAREER.
DR.. Siebbins DiscOurses ON the
Way to Earn a Living.
Young Men Should Find Their Proper Place
and Calling-They Must Have Enthusi-
asm and Poetic Feeling.

Rev. Or. Stebbins took as the subject Of
his sermon at the First Unitarian Church
last night The Choice OF Vocation; or,
The Chance to Earn Living"
Every young man." said the preacher,
ought to find his proper place and calling.
How is man to find his proper calling
This is difficult question. The subdivis-
ion OF labor which has taken place during
the last century has led to there being ten
different vocatops where there was formerly
one. Farming, formerly the most c0nselva-
tive of occupations, has changed its position,
owing to the intelligence brought to bear
upon it. 1t now offers scope for mans
highest powers. There is pleasant sentl-
ment associated with land. There are few
men that have not wished to own land.
POETIC FEELING WANTED.
Happy is the young man who has enthu-
siasm, poetic feeling concerning his VEGA
ton. People tell us that the poetic feeling Is
driven out by the dusty, everyday routine.
Young men, preserve your poetic feeling in
regard to life. A good deal has been said
about a mans bent or fitness for his calling.
1t is only now and then that mans occu-
patton is marked out by his constitution and
temperament. Most Of us have TO find out
what we can do and to fit ourselves for it.
The real liking for a calling is an after
growth. A calling taken up in the proper
spirit, with an earnest determination to
master it, will call out new powers.
1.-THE liking of child or youth is no indi-
cation of fitness for a particular calling.
Promising children do not always fulfil the
promises OF childhood. Successes of scholar
ship are signs of ability, but the qualities re-
quired for college successes are no practical
qualities
choosing a calling is a mans own moral
needs. Men are educated by their business.
A young man will not deliberately give up
his integrity. but lie may slowly be drawn
under influences which will undermine his
Integrity. The moral collapses OF men in
business are more terrible than shipwrecks,
fires and tragedies Of all kinds.
FORMING CHARACTER.
"a mans character is formed BY his call
ing After all that has been said that the
drtiest business is business itself, this is
true. / have known ministers who have
owed their dignity, their character, their
moral worth to the calling.
'There is no virtue in choosing one call
ing rather than another. but there is much
virtue in the consequences | have known
men who have been moral successes and
others who have been moral failures in con-
sequence of their calling. Where one man
ldllS LOT want Oh aDiIlLy lGll ldlt LOT WANT VI
moral strength to meet the peculiar tempta-
tions of his calling In choosing a calling
the important consideration is, Are the
temptations greater than we can resistp
"Where there is bent let it be followed.
1t is not uncommon for man to suppose
that he has a bent when he has nothing of
the sort. Men, for instance, think them
selves metaphyslcians, when they have no
aptitude except for knocking about among
hard facts.
FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD.
An important principle in the choice of
vocation is to choose a business which
does nobody any hurt. but brings comfort to
the people around one. A saloon keeper
told the preacher that he regarded himself
as a public benefactor because he sold
LIQUOR that was good Al men like to have
it said that their business is for the public
good. Life insurance companies advertise
that their business promotes public virtue,
and publish Endorsements to this effect by
popular preachers.
''There are 90, coo, 900 workers for wages
in this country. There are $4,000 vacancies
every year and 100000 people that want
places. There is the same waste through
out the natural world. One apple-boom in
ten comes to fruit.
81 would advise any young man not to re-
fuse to enter any calling because it is
crowded The man that has never been
among his equals, that has never found his
superior, is distinguished man.
Among the professions there is redund-
ancy in law and medicine. One-half of ad-
mitted lawyers, one-third of the doctors
give up their profession in five years.
CROWDED PROFESSIONS.
"But considering the numbar of legal and
medical schools and the number of young
lawyers and doctors admitted to practice
this waste is not excessive. Teaching is
a crowded profession. There are fifteen ap-
plicants for every position, but good teachers
are rare. The same is true for chemists,
engineers, architects, for every calling that
requires technical training.
"Whatever is your calling, stick toit The
strong arm, the quick eye and the fixed
purpose bring men to the top. Let no de-
sire for notoriety divert you. Steady work
will lead to reputation, not notoriety.
1.-THE reputation among few who know
you that you are a man that knows his bust
ness is better than fiashy notoriety. A call
ing thus pursued will never grow dull.
When the end shall come. the deepest salts
faction will be that you have been an honest
man."