The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-03-04
'es His 2nnipo,enoe szerted iP Hi. OF

mantv. There are other spheres OF use
fulness than the field and the shop, the
office or the counting room. The church
asks for thousands who are willing 10 TO-
low the example of splendid heroes who
have withdrawn from the haunts OF trade
and from the hope OF gain IN order 10 de-
vote themselves exclusively 10 the ministry
of Christian laymen. Everywhere are char
ities calling loudly for encouragement and
service. Politics presents WIDE range Tor
the activities of patriotism and OF the very
highest religion. There is something for
everybody 20 do, aud no one is justified in
living for himself in seQuestered and at
traCtiye nook away from the demands that
sound from every quarter. Each individ-
ual should have some occupation, a place
IN the worlds vast factories, a work OF
some sort which shall tel for the happiness
OF others.
The Lord has strong word for labor
He Is the fellow and the champion OF all
toIleTs. He has a meaning for all those
who work with their brain or with their
hands Tor al such are workingmcn. He
has forever ConseCrated the eyerydayneSs
of lie He adopts the workaday world.
The Light Of ASIA which states beauti-
iully certain features of the Buddhist reh-
glon, represents the incarnate Buddha as a
wandering beggar, asking food. Jesus
Christ was 10 beggar. The meadicant, any
moIe't than the pauper, receives not the ap-
proval of Els own practice, by which tie
saHctIhed labor until the end OF the world.
The Gaii.ean Carpenter was no less the
inCarnate Son of God during the years
which he spent at Nazareth than He was
on the mountain OF the TRANSPORTATION or
on the first Easter Day. There are many
reasons why work Is honorable, but IT re-
celyes its CTownlng glory from the eXper-
renee Of the divine Christ during the long
period of which we know nothing save that
He was a mechanic. He has endured all
occupations with dignity that nothing short
OF our own disloyaity can possibly take
away. IL matters not what ones daily
tolls are, they are worthy OF fidelity and
energy. and they arc as much a part of
Gods service as the saving OF prayers and
the receiving OF religious rites. The en-
peror and has humblest subject, the prime
minister and the street sweeper, the mil
lIOnaire and has valet, all are included IN
the spirit Of industry and devotion whch
Jesus manifested at the bench which stood
IN a shop or, perhaps, at times under a
huge tree at Nazareth. He has halowed
all vocatons by the conservation OF His
personal industry, and they should be in
terpIeted and accepted as a sacred part OF
the life which now is
The Nazareth Carpenter teaches that
worldly place of itself is nothing worth. a
man may be a man wherever he IS, and
labor II honorable whatever IT may be.
Station or the lack of II does not make
the man or his life. The people OF lowly
degree may likewise learn precious lessons
of the Gallean artisan. They become dis
couraged because they fancy themselves to
be of no account, and they too often cher
lsh an unhappy contempt for their daily
tolls They despIse the factory or the
office as necessary evils. Jesus has a lesson
for them which He pronounces from the
Nazareth shop. Long years He spent IN
ohscurlty. No murmurs escape HIM, no
signs of imuatience, no evidences of a
restless longing 10 be otherwise, no vulgar
and goddess disposition to try 10 improve
upon the plans of divine providence, Quiet
~ day after DAY He was concerned with
the unlmpressive and unlnteresting mat
ters OF His business. and His only aim was
To be true 20 the state where He was des-
tined 10 nve until the time came for be-
ginning the public ministry. Wherever the
Heavenly Father has placed us we, the
sons of men. can be the sons of God. The
real things of life are not earthly and TEN.
poral. and the true estimate of ourselves ~
not the place-be II lofty or lowly-whlch
we hold among men. The divine Carpen-
ter Is a comfort and an inspiration to all.
Amid the employment OF His trade did
Jesus prepare Himself for His pubic life.
There He was made ready, at least IN part,
to exercise all those transcendentlv great
qualities of mind and heart which marked
HIS ministry. For rlree years lie gave
Himself up 10 His work as the worlds Re.
deemer, bat for fifteen years and more, as
was probably the case, He was only car
penter Surely He did not spend all HIS
time and energy upon His daily tolls. Oi'
ten did He devote Himself TO cody exeT-
cises of prayer and contemplation, without
which no one can develop the traits OF
highest character. But He was no recluse.
He settled the truth once for all that the
place for strong-minded, stout folk
10 serve God is in the world the arena for
donc the Gathers will Is right here. where
we have abundant opportunities for the
culture Of holy graces and the practice OF
holy living We need the benefits oi occa-
sional solitude, but we are bound TO think
so seriously cf life and of Gods cause az
TO give no place TO the mawkish sentimcn-
talism which adores perpetual secluslon
and calls IT the noblest type OF religion.
The divine Carpenter hestated not &c
spend the years upon which His future
work was founded amid the activities Incl.
dent 20 the daily Interests OF mankind. lie
was a bread-wnner, wageearner.
Work is Gods ordinance. Ii 1t was n
curse in the beginning, 1t Is a blessing now.
IL Is one OF the Dest tonics. 1t Is scarcely
less than a sacrament. Ii may be debased,
even as may the sacrament OF the altar III
which one may eat and drink damnatIon
TO his soul but it is something of sacra.
ment which is intended, if used Alright TO
strengthen and uplift, and to further the
divine plans. II is a sacred duty. IL is the
privilege and the prerogative Of taking
part IN the vast activities of humanity. Ii
is an invitation to the market place TO dis
pense comforts, to nave a share IN the
worida progress and the making of his
tory 1t proclaims independence, il dlsci.
pines character, it schools the affections.
We are only holy ground and are dong
holy things when we 60 with Christs spirit
10 the daily round and the common task.
The founder OF Christianity, the incarnate
Son of God. the universal Man, was a Vii.
L. ,arrpuffr