The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-06-13

Terse Comments on the Topic for
June 14th, Hive to Choose a Life
Work" 1 Kings 3:5-15.
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
There are two principal ways
whereby a person leaves his mark up
on the world; one is by the life he
lives, and the other is by the work he
does. The latter forms the topic
which a great company of young
people will consider in their meetings
this week. This consideration should
impart a new seriousness and dignity
to their conception of the work which
they are to do.
A persons touch upon his work is
not more potent than his works toucn
upon his own character. For, while
he is making a living he is also ines
capably, moulding his own lie.
Probably most persons regard their
daily employ as merely a means TO an
end; it is endured and performed SIM
ply for the wages it will bring In. one
OF the distressing facts of life Is that
SO few persons enjoy their work. Ev-
cry shop and office is full of ratings
against that particular calling.
Out of a full acquaintance with the
conditions which prevail among the
worlds workers, William motifs
wrote, "The curse of the world is joy
less labor" From Adams day down,
men have looked upon toll as an evil.
Yet the truth is apparent to any one
who pauses for an instant's thought
upon the subject, that labor is neces-
sary and dignified, and the means
whereby a person expresses himself
to his time. Labor interprets lire.
What a man does, tells what he Is.
All of us, unconsciously, render our
dreams and desires into our work. by
the effort of hand and brain We pay
dohf m
which we are parts, and which we call
life.
It is not the nature of a mans call
ing that renders him honorable or
dishonorable. but the nature OF the
work he does in it.
The first question young Canada
asks concerning a vocation Is VIII l.
paw" Our mines and our forests. and
our harvests and our fabulousy
money mad. The dollar standard is
the prevailing standard. The idea OBJ
tains widely that II one only secures
money, everything else will be Tor
dots and fools and rasca1s and beasts
tolerated by what is called good So
ciety," while the poor man, be he ever
SO wise or noble or good, is ruled out
because of his poverty. This Is OBJ.
viously pernicious and dangerous. A
society so constructed is bound, one
day, to become as rotten as Rome. Tine
saving salt of society must be found
in the young men and women OF
ideals, who are courageous enough to
hold themselves superior to this sor-
did conception of success. There is no
greater need in the nation To-Day than
the need for brave, daring spirits VINO
will devote themselves to the lofty
standards of altruism, brotherliness
and self sacrifice. Soldiers of the
Commonwear' are the recruits de-
manded by the twentieth century.
Such will give themselves, in simplici-
ty and modesty and patience, to life
purpose of human service, whatever
their particular calling.
The young person who drifts into
the first position that offers, and con-
tinues in it merely because he has not
the initiative or the purpose to select
the work in which he means to invest
his life, is like ship which chooses
TO drift with the nearest currents of
wind and water, rather than to use
rudder and sails.
The needs of the times have become
such that every Christian young man
of facts, when choosing life work, is
under obligation to consider the claims
of the ministry. This is pre-eminently
the calling which ministers to man.
kind in most essential ways. While IL
is worthy and honorable to provide
the world with bread and clothes, ana
houses and pictures and papers; and
while it is beautiful and oeneficent to
heal mems bodies and to enlighten
their minds; it is yet worthiest and
most beautiful and most beneficent to
make men strong in their souls, and
TO put within their spirits a vision of
eternity and of God. To teach the
undying verities to .mortals. and to be
to man an interpreter of God, Is surely
the highest of all callings and careers;
and sufficient to lure men from the
pursuit of mere worldly gain.
The collar of servitude in these days
for many youth Is the linen collar Of
fashion,! This foolish and vain desire
to wear linen and to have clean hands,
rather than to wear the oyeralls and
grimy hands of honest industry. l., re-
sponsible for the breaking down of the
economic efficiency and moral fabric
as well. OF great COMPANY o. young
men. Petty pride makes them starvei-
ing clerks. destined to discomfort when
they might be prosperous, happy me-
chanics- and farmers. Any youth who
finds in himself an aversion to the uni
form and signs of toll may well ones
ton whether the same is not sign of
Intellectual and moral weakness The
greatest of men was a carpenter.
ITO every man his work"-that is
the programme of the book which EN-
phasizes individuality. There is a con
genial suitable, useful work in the
world awaiting every one of us, If we
but seek 1t and make ready for II.
The humblest calling affords room fo,
the expansion of the largest powers