The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-11-14

In Choosing an Occupation Be Sure
That Yours Is Useful Work.
The Man Who Labors Is More
Likely to Become Great Than the
Man Who Loiters-Success May
Depend Largely on Endeavor the
Man Puts Into His Work.
Rev. W. +. Gibbons. pastor of the
Dunmore Presbyterian church, has
been delivering Il series of brilliant
sermons on "Lifes Choices and Temp
tations," the fourth of which on
Choosing an Occupation" was last ev-
ening's subject. The text was from
Col. Iii, H. And Whatsoever We DO
in Word. or Deed, DO All in the Name
of the Lord Jesus. Giving Thanks to
God and the Father by Him"
BY way of Introduction the speaker
said that labor had been called the
curse and the necessity of man. The
necessity To labor has been regarded
as the greatest curse laid on the hu-
man race as the penalty of sin. on
the other hand the privilege TO labor
is called the greatest blessing of God
to his children on earth. Both views
are correct. Hard and hopeless labor
would blight the soul. Happy. useful.
successful toll may be termed a form
of worship.
The necessities are laid upon every
person. What shall it be? The theme
of last night Choosing an Orcupa-
as to young men. The first injunc-
tiOn would be To choose an oCcupa-
tion that is liked, which suits the
capacity and the temperament. The
world is full of men who are failures
because of unsuitable occupations. The
speaker then said: In finding out the
capa liabilities it is not wise To depend
too much on the judgment of friends.
Choose for yourself. In the old world
ii is the custom for the son to follow
in the footsteps of his father, oven
if he has neither taste nor physical
strength to carry out the design. In
this land where a young man has the
liberty of choosing his own career he
enjoys the great advantage of an en-
thusiasm for his pursuit in life which
he would fail To find in a chaice al
ready made to his hand. | believe
men are called of God and by him
fitted for success to work in the spirit.
CAN SEE no REASON.
Il see no reason why the carpenter
of Nazareth does not call men to
be carpenters and 'shoemakers by the
grace Of God---tO quote from Hiram
Colts relgiOn--as we'll as to be mis-
sionaries or ministers. Ync young man
says: "Supposing after having chosen
! find | have made mistake. what
shall / do?" There may still be time
to repair the error; if not, make the
best of it and do what you are called
to do i'm the name Of the Lord Jesus
Again, in choosing an occupation
be sure that yours is a useful work.
The temptation to most young men is
to find an easy berth, light task
Ia their hand. Let the work be such
that the world will be the better for
your having done it. Not such as
serve only the frivolous or minister
to the baser side of the human nature,
| to pervert others from the right or
to exercise a Vitiating influence upon
society. as does the gambling house
and saloon. Yet this does not crush
the ambition of the artist. Obstruct
the mission of the poet or silence the
strain of the musician or even hush
the good cheer of the professional hu-
mOrist.
THAT which elcVateS the thought of
man. or gives him innocent lightncss
of heart to gladden. his journey through
life is not ignoble or unbetitting the
earnest purpose of Il worker
Again, i'm choosing. select an ocCupa-
tion that calls for hard work. The
man who works really rules the world.
The day is past when the laborer can
be deSpisGd because he is Il laborer.
DIGNIFIED Toll.
Lincoln with shirt sleeves for his
coat of arms has helped to dignity
| toll. Henry Wilson gave clever re-
buke to the snob who SneerinGlY re-
called having worn boots of his man
ufaCture when he reDled: Weren't
they goods hoots?" and at the same
time touched the vital part of the
whole matter. The man. who labors
is more likely 10 become great than
the man who loiters. You should guard
against the idea that the only hard
| labor is hard labor such as pounding
Cobblc stones. Emerson said: The
hardest work is to think" Doubtless
| many subjects envy the Emperor Will
by the biographers' tales none of ms
! liam IL, Of Germany, but to judge
subjects toll more assiduously than
| does he. as in The Ladder of ST.
! Augustine
The heights By great men reached and
kept
Were not attained 10y sudden girht.
| But they. while their companions slept
Went toiling upward in the night"
Chief of all choose that Kind of
| occupation by which you can best serve
| God. This may he done in the com
monplace lot "all To the glory Of God"
| for not every man has genius, al
! though the faculty for hard work FUR
| nishes an excellent substitute. The
man who succeeds is intent upun his
work lie should make his business
his religion and his religion his bus
mess.
Success may depend largely on en-
| deavor. but the man whose life work
| is done to the glory of God has moth
| ing to do with its results. If he fails
| in spite of his endcaYur what then
| Submit the work To God saying: 4
| have made the best of the material
| thou givest me- ana then fail il need
/ he giving God the nlpru ,f Nnpr