Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1914-11-20
THE FAIR WORKMAN
"a Workman That Needs Not to be
Ashamed Words of Roman
Citizen Addressed to Young
Man Whom He Had Met on One of
His JOurneys-He had seen in Him
Certain Qualities which Were Com
mendable. e.i
BY Rev. w. T. Williams.

II AOOhiuR DdCh dCIOoo uidily CCii-
turies, we find that the words of our
heading were spoken first of all by
a Roman citizen, who was at the time
a wearied, sick prisoner in one of the
dungeons of the city of Rome. They
were addressed to a young man, a
noble young man, whom he had met
on one of his long and perilous journ-
eys. For, during the days of his free
dom he had been an indefatigable
traveller, as well as an exceedingly
brave one. He could not be intimi-
dated by anything. His will was un-
conquerable. Dangers that appalled,
his companions, he faced without a
tremor. Mobs, thieves, and murder
ers were confronted without consult
ing in any manner with flesh and
blood. He was marvellous man. His
energy bordered on being super-hum-
an, and his indomitable purpose had
the faculty of subduing everything
on all sides. He had seen in this young
fellow certain qualities which were
commendable. and he was determined
to develop them. Fortunate young
fellow.
By looking little under the sur
without fail the characteristics of the
one who gave them utterance. His
makeup will be discovered, because
they speak louder and clearer than we
are likely to think att first. To be
a workman that needs not to be
ashamed, implies the following:
Ceaseless toll, serious demeanor,
earnest zeal-truthful, hearty, honest
towards all concerned, God and man.
Could any young man have better
advice? In these days of ours, can
any young man do anything better
than to take it to himself? Can any
one imagine anything that shall reap
to him better and more lasting re-
suits? Is it not true that it is the
counsel we need in these days Of con-
troversy and stormy alterations At
least, it might be worth while for us
to sit down some evening after sup
per and give the matter its due at
tention The avenues in which we
find men are varied, and sometimes
trying. We are frequently placed in
positions that tax our skill and judg
ment to their utmost. We are sub
jected to severe strains. But, to be
effective we must be steady and fair
in our pursuits. 1t means all of this
to be workman that needs not to be
ashamed, and this is the grandest
reward that can come into any mans
lot. ~
Now, the aged prisoner of Rome
wanted his young friend to learn a
difficult lesson, a lesson that would
test the moral excellencies of his
character to their very limits, and this
1T is: He wanted him to be dilligent
without being fanatical. These are
rare virtues, exceedingly hard to
master, nevertheless they compose
the lesson which he desired his
young companion to learn. He knew
by varied and. sore experiences that
all people are tried and proved in the
same fashion as precious metals are
tried and proved before they are ac-
cepted as genuine, and nobody knew
an iota better than he did that in
fluence is the fruit of this test. In
fuence flies too high to be. reached by
a gun. 1t can not be shot down. It
is created in the fiery furnace of ex-
perience. 1t can not be melted into
shape only as we learn to live a
meaning into our lives, and since it
was his desire for this young dis
ciple of his to be influential among
those with whom he had to labor, he
took upon himself, in the strength of
his intense love, to warn him against
extravagances of every nature. He
had been young himself. He had gone
through the best schools of his age.
He had sat at the feet of the most
learned of his day and generation,
and he had reasons to believe that it
was an easy matter for young man
to be fussy and fanatical. He had
taken part in the debates of his time,
and he was pretty well aware of the
fact that clouds of dust could be rais-
ed with sound and fury, signifying
nothing. Filling the heavens with
smoke without accomplishments was
to him unmixed foolishness.
To be fair is great asset in ones
life. 1t is reliable balance in our
careers, and already, it has kept its
millions in paths of which posterity