158 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



TECHNICAL TRAINING FOR PRACTICAL LIFE. 



By Dr. Geo. E. Fellows^ Orono. 



(Stenographic Copy.) 



In speaking on such a subject as this, it is necessary that we 

 define our terms. A great deal of effort is wasted in this world,, 

 in the way of public speeches, by talking on generalities, or upon 

 things with names which other people understand to mean some- 

 thing different from that which the speaker himself means. So 

 in the beginning let us ask ourselves two questions — What is 

 technical training? and what is practical life? If we understand 

 clearly our terms, we shall have no difficulty in reaching a com- 

 mon conclusion. 



What is technical training? It is training in the way of mate- 

 rials and tools as distinguished from general knowledge of the 

 subject. A simple illustration or two will bring it more clearly 

 before us. Suppose you wish to engage a preacher in your 

 community. You have a man who is learned in church history, 

 who is profound in his Christianity, who is an excellent pastor, 

 who has learned the dogmas of all theology, who has all of the 

 general training and depth of character which you desire in a 

 preacher, but if he lacks skill in argument, force in his delivery, 

 or practical use of logic, the mere technical points which put 

 together make a skilful sermon, he is not the preacher that you 

 want. Possibly you would prefer to have him in your commu- 

 nity to some man who is a better preacher, but, if a preacher is. 

 what you want, all of the breadth of learning or depth of char- 

 acter or knowledge of Christianity will not take the place of the 

 technical training. He needs all of these to be a proper pastor, 

 but he must have training in the definite exercises which bring 

 his knowledge before the people, or his knowledge, training and 

 character are of no value to the people whom he serves. Just 

 so there are men who are called doctors who have the theories 

 of medicine, who have been through the schools, and yet who 

 have never learned to use a surgeon's knife with such skill that 

 you would wish to trust the life of your child in their hands. 

 That is the difference between technical training and knowledge 

 of the subject. 



