Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-10-04
Professions.
(The Dissertations OF a Philosophi'
Friend OF Ours)

tflenQ OF OuIS.)
Like the dyer's hand, subdued to mine
own art."-Shakespeare.
II IS very honorable thing to be
distinguished doctor, engineer. lawyer. or,
higher than all, a noted divine. And yet
1t is more or less OF a discredit TO be
spoken Of as a professional" No matter
how great the merit or celebrity, the mo-
ment man is spoken Of as a professional
that moment the flavor and sweetness OF
character seems to depart; he is a work
OF art-"a put-up job" Instead Of being
a good. useful, klnd-hearted, intelligent.
able, and accomplished man and large
hearted citizen, he is a common place;
and in social life half-breed and bore.
BY nature man is most honorable. This
world was made for him. and he was
made for its large and perfect enjoyment.
When the great Creator had finished His
work, He looked upon 1t all and saw
that it was good. 1t rejected His soul
and praised and glorffed Him And. SO
approved, He placed man In it as its
lord, for an enjoyment OF it like His own.
There were no doctors. lawyers. or dem
lists in Eden. They sprung I'D after
wards; were a consequence OF the fall
an appendix.
In his first estate man moved in chari-
ty, rested in Providence. and turned upon
the poles Of truth: consciously and con-
fidingly. lived and moved and had his
being in the communion and fellowship
OF God. When, by an act OF disloyalty
and ambition, he separated himself from
the Almighty, then his judgment was dis
ordered, his normal instincts were per-
yerted, the whole human organism was
disorganized, and he, poor and blind and
helpless, wanted all sorts of helps. His
beautiful nature, like the beautiful earth,
brought forth thorns and thistles, and
his Heaven-directed brow was believed
with the sweat Of care and labor and toll.
All these bespeak his fall. the trouble TO
which now he is born. Plainly we are
all born for specislties and fitted Tor our
divers duties in society, just as hands.
feet, eyes, ears, and various organs are
adjusted TO their offices I'm the body. All
are honorable and meant to work To-
gether and supplement one another. AS
things are now, all the various profess
sions seem to be cobblers Of humanity
members OF bad and broken souls. Sup
pose we were what we ought 10 be, ana
did not live merely TO furnish clients TO
lawyers, patients to doctors, and poor.
miserable sinners for the preachers. the
question IS, How would they employ
themselves and what would they do for a
living?
Nature is not one-ideaed, but myriad
minded, and her designs contemplate all
contingencies. In wreck or fire, a
battle or pestilence, the most splendid
and beautiful works of art are turned 10
the ugliest uses, TO resist to check, to
protect, or to mend. And So no doubt, II
is in this wreck OF humanity and pesti-
lence OF sin. The genius that relieves or
resists vice and villainy on normal and
true condition would find much higher
and larger exercise.
SO 1t is that may be the dishonor that
attaches TO this word professional has
something Of the "fall' about IL; some
thing may be of the sutler or camp
follower, or searcher OF battle-felds. The
battlefield OF life is full of spells for the
spokesman. And when the dignity OF the
profession is lost in the professional. the
professional readily passes into the
quack, the sheister. and the fakir.
1t is an old story Most OF mankind
throw away their lives IN their desperate
efforts to make a living or to have a
good time. They sacrifice their bodies
and souls, their honor, and self-respect in
trying to make a fortune or achieve
fame. And they sink their manhood ana
all that makes life worth living In their
struggle for livelihood. When a man
comes to be marked as a professional, IL
means that he has succeeded in his bust
ness at the cost OF his humanity. The
man. the gentleman. the social being. the
companion. the friend. the human being.
has been sunk in the calling. He has be-
come a doctor, a lawyer, a preacher. and
nothing more: or, at least all the higher
considerations and ideas Of life have been
subordinated to business. The great busi-
ness Of life is the cultivation OF the
strongest highest, largest. Invest, fresh
est, and most fruitful and enduring mar
hood. The tree planted by the water
side. fastened In the everlasting rocks
sending out its roots by the rivers
stretching out its branches toward
heaven, giving shelter and food TO ALL IL
the most beautiful figure OF man. A prac-
teal trader will hew 4; down. saw il into
logs and planks. make II into box or a
warehouse. wagon. a professional. And
daily life has a thousand figures for the
commonplace man.
The lesson OF all this Is that every art
pursuit, profession. and calling Is to be
subordinated to the great business Of
making ourselves good and wise men
In other words. our duty is TO seek. frst
the Kingdom OF God and His righteous
ness. assured that all necessary things
will be added: or. II you choose, TO b
acknowledged as men and gentlemen re-
| e.rfleSs of calling mr. couseoueuceS