Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-03-03
REV. A. ]. BLAIR
GAVE INTERESTING
TALK TO STUDENTS

Rev. a. j. Blair spoke to the high
school last Friday afternoon on the
subject Choice of "A Life Work" Mr..
Blair said in part: II esteem il "A
pleasure TO have a chance To speak 10
you on this occasion. always like TO
talk 10 young people. The subject as
signed me is this, Choice of Il Life
Work. | want TO say in the beginning
that 1 do not intend 10 preach a SER
mon nor will the address be religious.
while we may select a certain work
in life we should not do il until we
have gained some idea OF other things
neither should we neglect to keep in
formed in other lines. We should not
be like the farmer in Illinois. The
other day a farmer OF that state went
into store. The merchant remarked
That is "A terrible war they are having
isn't it, War! Where is any war
Why, didn't you know that all Europe
was in war, the worst war in history?
Then the farmer leisureiy remarked,
Well it is pretty fine day for it any
way. 1t does not seem possible that
anyone could be so ignorant.
"Now in making a choice of life
work there are many things TO con-
slider one of the essential things is the
age of deciding on the vocation ]
would say do not decide too early or
make the decision too rigid. You
should discover yourself one father
recently said that he knew his four
year old boy was going TO be q surgeon.
When asked the reason for his early
judgment he said Well he persists In
playing in the library and the other
day he took one OF my best books and
within a few seconds had cut out the
appendix lie was placing his iudg-
ment too early
THE boy may change his entire bent
before he becomes old enough TO take
up his life work. Barnum tried four
teen different occupations before he
found out that he was a natural show
man. other noted men have made
failures of as many occupations before
they found out their rightful place.
"A person should consider his whole
personality You are physically and
mentally fitted for some particular oc-
cupation. Your choice Of an occupa-
ton should not be based on the money
YOU can get out of it. You should
select the occupation which is suited
to your mind and heart. You should
seek 10 exert a benefcent influence II
you would obtain happiness or great
ness.
again, YOU should learn the import
ant lesson Of sticking 10 your job.
Don't be like a flee that constantly
Jumps from one job to another. DO
not be a quitter. There are rough
places i'm all vocations. You should
learn to be diligen,. Hard work and
diligence will accomplish much. Did
you know that Edison spent eighteen
hours day for eight months before he
could get his phonograph 10 sound the
letter 50 But persistence won and
now the phonograph is known every
where for its clear sweet tones.
Now | did not come here To advise
you to enter the ministry. If YOU are
after money YOU had better look Tor
some other Job than mine. But there
is a shortage Of students entering the
ministry In the United States there
are 65, 900 ministers whose annual
salary is less than 500. The average
for all of the ministers is a little less
than 500 per year. In the state of
Michigan the average salary of the
ministers in the congregational church
is about $1,000 per year,
Il say you should take plenty Of
time TO select your vocation and when /.
you have made your selection stick TO
your work until you conquer. Remem-
Der that Lincoln studied law while I
sitting on a stump. When asked why
he studied law and whether he expect
ed TO become president Of the United
States, he replied that he did not /
expect 70 become president but he did /
want TO become educated +"
Mr.. Blair's addrss was preceded by
"a vocal solo by Miss Beulah NJ Guild. +