Norwich bulletin., 1916-02-10
FOUR LESSONS TAUGHT FROM HUMBLE OCCUPATIONS Topic For Rev. c. H. Ricketts at Shop
 Meeting.

The Value of Humble Occupations was the topic upon which Rev. Charles H. Ricketts spoke at the Y. M. c. A. shop talk at the plant of the Rich Wednesday. Rev. MT. Ricketts said that from the very earliest times there has been a disposition more or less to look with contempt on manual la Dor. At the outset of human history when everybody worked with his hands this feeling did not exist. As time passed men of ability in favor able positions for acquiring wealth and power began to look down upon the less favored. The next step was class distinction which built up an aristocracy.
 The great question concerning us is not whaat one class of society thinks of another but what God thinks of us both.
 Is it not something amusing how often in the course of history, God has come down to humble occu pattons for men to carry out his great purposes!
 God calls men to do things who aI- ready seem to have enough to do. We do the same. We never ask the eld- church work. It is only the busy man who is capable of doing more work Secondly, God somehow seems to pre- fer men in lowly occupations.
 The list of moderns honored by Jehover is appalling. Carey, called from a cobbler's bench to be one of the great names in the missionary life in India. David Livingstone from a cot ton mill to a great career in Africa: Israel Putnam from the blow in Wind ham county to a general.
 Why shoul man in his foolish pride ever look upon manual labor with con- tempt if God so honors it
 Have we not made mistakes in the past by dividing occupations in sacred and secular. Isn't every decent occupa- tton sacred? Is one any more so than the other? It is always the man back of the occupation that fixes its char acter. Just what do we mean by ''holy calling?" Doesn't God call men to be iron workers as well as ministers: and a good steam heater has more worth than poor sermon. My definition of a holy calling is this: Any occupation into which a man pours his very soul, and the human soul is the holiest thing on earth.
 Tn closing Rev. Mir. Ricletts said there are four ways in which the value of humble occupations are seen and they are as follows:
 l. They teach us humanity and we all need it. The most incurable of known diseases is pride. Quinine has no effect upon 1t. The doctors know how to treat swollen limbs. but only a swollen head. WAen sudden riches come men do not know how to use them, and when they go they do not know how to act We know what 1t Is to be humbied. but wo do not know how to be humble: 1t is easier to break than to mend
 2. Humble work Is better than idle ness. Satan has a cinch on idlers but it seems to puzzle the Almighty what to do with them. Men may go through the motions of work and stfIi be idlers. Today there are men fin the workshops, In business, scholars in the high school and some teachers. too, I imagine = who wouldn't bring more than five cents in the open mar ket because they are Invaders - not workers.
 3 Nothing is more enervating than having no useful occupation.
 4. Congeilial labor creates a. field favorable for the production of great thoughts and deeds.