St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-07-22
DIGXIT , OF LABOR.
Rev. William Wilkinson Efo-
qUentIy Defends.


Rev William Wilkinson preached on
Friday night last to a large number of
working men in front Of the Northern
hotel at Sandstone. He said:
1t is the business of every minister
to be interested in the life which must
Of necessity be lived by those who must
earn their bread in the sweat OF their
brow. The clergyman who does not
take a deep interest in true and honest
labor, and in all who do il, is recreant
to his high duty, and he is a disgrace
TO the cause he pretends to represent.
As for me, I have had to earn my liv-
ing ever since I was child, and am, I
trust, the better for it. In me there
is no sympathy for any view of life
which despises or in any way under
values toll. You ought, each and
every one, 10 say am engaged in labor
which is rich in service to men, in this
house which I am building some family
will find comfort, rest and pleasure
when I am with the silent dead. On this
railway I am helping TO make men will
travel on their lawful pursuits. and by
ii the progress of the world will be
helped. In my head, in my hand, in
nay heart are powers God gave me for
the good Of men, though I have TO use
d shovel, pick, also l am a child of
God made in His image, by His will,
10 live in His world, do His work, help
His other children and one day sit
down in His eternal home. Such a
view Of work and of duty is not only
alluring 10 a thoughtful mind. it is di-
vine, and hence real and uplifting, and
is for the best interest Of the man who
sees il and holds securely to it. 1t is
the solemn duty of every one of you to
make the best of yourselves. to do
your very best TO rise in life, to get the
highest pay you can, TO become expert
In whatever you have to do, to fit your
self for higher labor than that in which
you are now engaged in, and to this
end to make the best of every moment
Of time you can put into improvements:
for, depend upon it, the day of the su-
premacy Of the rule of Thumb has gone
by, the man who has to guess will have
to give place TO the man who can meas
IRE, TO the man who knows.
This is an age Of progress. The man
Who will not rise with the rising tide
viii be engulfed by it. I want you all
TO nave the best wages the market will
afford. to do the best work of its class
that can he done TO think we'll of your
own gifts and to cultivate them q heSr
Zou can, and prosperity must be yours
To this special work. which ali mer.
Who have set themselves to do have
found hard but often pleasant, or in
cite you by the lives of all men, who
are anybody or who have done any>
thing worth the name. Men in every
walk OF life. and particularly by the
life Of Jesus Christ. the special patron
of work. He came to save the souls
Of men by the sacrifice of His own
life, TO be a Savior of sinners. but He
did not forget to speak to men about
the life. that now is, its cares, tolls
hopes, fears, duties; He was a work
ing man. did His work well. had no
time for or sympathy with the oilers.
He said. my Father worked hithetc
must work: HG did not waste time or
material, or influence. or opportunity.
Like the Son of Man He was He glori-
lied work by the way He did il and set
an example worthy OF all mems notice
and emulation. My fellow working men.
hail YOU as friends and companions
in toll, be good, be religious. be sober,
honest, true and brave. set a stout
heart against a stiff hill. make even tho
desert places of life bloom with the
conquest you gain, and for you God
and destiny waits