Industrial Reform
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We should work the soil cheerfully, hopefully, gratefully, believing
that the earth holds in her bosom rich stores for the faithful worker to
garner, stores richer than gold or silver. The niggardliness laid to her
charge is false witness. With proper, intelligent cultivation the earth
will yield its treasures for the benefit of man. The mountains and hills
are changing; the earth is waxing old like a garment; but the blessing
of God, which spreads a table for His people in the wilderness, will
never cease.
Serious times are before us, and there is great need for families to
get out of the cities into the country, that the truth may be carried into
the byways as well as the highways of the earth. Much depends upon
laying our plans according to the word of the Lord and with persevering
energy carrying them out. More depends upon consecrated activity
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and perseverance than upon genius and book learning. All the talents
and ability given to human agents, if unused, are of little value.
A return to simpler methods will be appreciated by the children and
youth. Work in the garden and field will be an agreeable change from
the wearisome routine of abstract lessons, to which their young minds
should never be confined. To the nervous child, who finds lessons
from books exhausting and hard to remember, it will be especially
valuable. There is health and happiness for him in the study of nature;
and the impressions made will not fade out of his mind, for they will
be associated with objects that are continually before his eyes.
* * * * *
Working the soil is one of the best kinds of employment, calling the
muscles into action and resting the mind. Study in agricultural lines
should be the A, B, and C of the education given in our schools. This
is the very first work that should be entered upon. Our schools should
not depend upon imported produce, for grain and vegetables, and the
fruits so essential to health. Our youth need an education in felling
trees and tilling the soil as well as in literary lines. Different teachers
should be appointed to oversee a number of students in their work and
should work with them. Thus the teachers themselves will learn to
carry responsibilities as burden bearers. Proper students also should
in this way be educated to bear responsibilities and to be laborers