Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-20
Trndes and Publications..

Observations OF q Philosophical Fricn
OF Ours)
Mankind maintain a mighty dlfference
between trades and professions, allow
ing much honor to the one and very
little to the other. And yet the type
OF divine manhood on earth followed the
trade OF a carpenter. many OF the apos-
ties were fishermen. and the greatest
Of philosophers was a sailmaker. In
very truth we are all tradesmen. God
has made US all to live by the sweat
OF our brows; TO plant, to water, 10
prune, to build, to construct. TO repair.
TO improve 10 produce to gather to
transport, to exchange, to cultivate, and
supply our bodies and our souls. We
trade IN material and immaterial things,
The producer Of the highest, largest,
freshest ideas exchanges them for value;
sometimes for money, sometimes for the
better riches Of good name and
wealth Of love and respect from those
about him. The greatest public man
trades his speeches and services for APP
plause. for place, for emolument Our
most honored professions are cobblers or
wornout bodies, or estates or rebuildeIs
and repairers Of decayed and fallen souls.
All are apt to look into things that
might offend the sensibilities ct common
people. Giving and taking. exchanging
Of good things and values, as good
stewards Of the manifold grace OF God,
makes I'D the business Of life. So 1t Is In
all trading. For all the glory shall be
a defence. Honor and loyalty 10 Him
-. IN ftrr mn
tLal service IS the explanation and solu-
ton OF the problem OF llfe-the way Of
life.
The great idea Of Christianity Is the
identifying Of mankind on their own d.
vine history and merit, regardless OF
hereaity, Of estate and occupation. Gold
and Jewels wrought into the shape or
a mouse. or OF the most beautiful
flower, are alike an ornament for royalty.
The form and shape and use Is Sc
condary; the quality Of the ore deter
mines tho honor OF II.
When Queen Elizabeth, with her splen-
did suit was entering the Castle or
Keni!worth. poor player advanced
from the crowd, and most submiss!vely
asked OF the great Earl OF leicester the
fate OF a petition Of his for some favor.
The Cavalier responded: How, now;
WIN Shakespeare, &c. L VIII see TO that
matter of thine" The historian says:
"llhe magnate passed on with the
Queen; the poor player fell back into
the throng. Posterity would say: The
mortal went his way; the immortal re-
tired"
The world withholis honor from the
trades. or the mere trader. because OF
the lowness OF his ideas. The world
means well. but the world Is deceived.
II Judges after the sight OF the eyes,
and reproyes after the hearing OF the
ears. and Is still deceived with outward
shows and ornament Ii means to ap-
ply the measure OF manhood, which Is
the stature and quality OF the soul, and
"a cheated. The work OF Christianity
has been 20 sit up and apply right
standards: 10 anoint the eyes OF men
with eyesalve. that they may see; 10
give them true and honest weights and
measured that they may not labor In
vain. spend their strength for naught.
or lavish honor on fools.
The world is getting more and more
familiar with the fact that the lower
end OF the table may have the best
time at the feast. that out OF the chan
and ruin OF the time the brightest and
clearest honor may bo picked; that the