Manual Training
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It is essential for parents to find useful employment for their chil-
dren, which will involve the bearing of responsibilities as their age and
strength will permit. The children should be given something to do
that will not only keep them busy, but interest them. The active hands
and brains must be employed from the earliest years. If parents neglect
to turn their children’s energies into useful channels, they do them
great injury; for Satan is ready to find them something to do. Shall not
the doing be chosen for them, the parents being the instructors?
When the child is old enough to be sent to school, the teacher
should co-operate with the parents, and manual training should be
continued as a part of his school duties. There are many students
who object to this kind of work in the schools. They think useful em-
ployments, like learning a trade, degrading; but such persons have an
incorrect idea of what constitutes true dignity. Our Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ, who is one with the Father, the Commander in the heav-
enly courts, was the personal instructor and guide of the children of
Israel; and among them it was required that every youth should learn
how to work. All were to be educated in some business line, that
they might possess a knowledge of practical life, and be not only self-
sustaining, but useful. This was the instruction which God gave to His
people.
In His earth-life, Christ was an example to all the human family,
and He was obedient and helpful in the home. He learned the car-
penter’s trade, and worked with His own hands in the little shop at
Nazareth. He had lived amid the glories of heaven; but He clothed His
divinity with humanity, that He might associate with humanity, and
reach hearts through the common avenue of sympathy. When found in
fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and worked for the recovery
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of the human soul by adapting Himself to the situation in which He
found humanity.
The Bible says of Jesus, “And the child grew, and waxed strong in
spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon Him.” As
He worked in childhood and youth, mind and body were developed.
He did not use his physical powers recklessly, but gave them such
exercise as would keep them in health, that He might do the best work
in every line. He was not willing to be defective, even in the handling
of tools. He was perfect as a workman, as He was perfect in character.
By precept and example, Christ has dignified useful labor.