PISCATAQUIS CENTRAL SOCIETY. 3H 



in such language as I can readily command, upon such topics as I 

 may, from my point of observation think worthy to select from the 

 broad field into ^^•hioh I am invited. 



But allow me to say, that in my remarks I shall be more general 

 thati specific, and may say less that is suggested by a consideration 

 of the particular department of labor in which you are interested, 

 than of labor as a common duty and common interest. What I say 

 under this latter specification, may be comprised within a term which, 

 from my professional habits of thought is readily suggested, and which 

 I will designate. The Gospel of Laeor. 



A preacher of righteousness of old very pertinently said, "In all 

 labor there is profit." In that word labor dv/ells in secret sanctity 

 the explanation of the manner in which the universe was reared, 

 heaven's dome lit up with an infinitude of suns and worlds, the 

 fabric of creation endowed with those unceasing activities by which 

 countless globes retain their allotted spheres, roll on in their bounden 

 duty of harmony and order, and our earth is peopled with myriad 

 existences, and teems with life and animated being. That is the 

 secret of the mighty revolutions, evinced by geological developments, 

 that have been silently but irresistibly wrought in the earth, since 

 first the voice of omnific energy called it from chaos, moulded it 

 into shape and beauty, and bade it go its ceaseless round. Who, 

 indeed, can conceive the labor requisite to unfold this vast expanse, 

 the energy exerted in upholding worlds and systems in their appro- 

 priate orbits, and enforcing upon every particle of matter throughout 

 the limitless range of the universe, obedience to the omnipresent 

 will? When Solomon has declared, "All things are full of labor- 

 man cannot utter it," we may well despair of attaining, with our 

 present limited capacities, an adequate conception of it. 



Labor is a word familiar to prophets, and wise men and dignitaries 

 of old, however disagreeable it may sound to ears polite, and be con- 

 temptuously spurned as unnecessary to our modern vocabulary. 

 And one of the wisest of them all, who declared that in all labor 

 there is- profit, said, " Seest thou a man diligent in his business, he 

 shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men." 



I speak now of bodily labor. It is conducive to health. Indo- 

 lence is the exuberant source of many real and imaginary diseases; 

 and none enjoy better health than they who are earnestly engaged 



