PROFESSIONS AND TRADES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1848, 23 May 1888, Page 3

PROFESSIONS AND TRADES

■ ■♦ In the inaugural lecture of the Literary and Debating Club m connection with the University of Melbourne, given by the Rev W. A. Quiok, he said : • ' Now, where , llos tho difference between a profession and a trade 1 It is surely this — that a man who enters into trade does bo avowedly to make money (I am speaking not of what ought to be, but of what 1b); thatia what he Aims at ; it ia by reference to that that hia oonduot m business is ■ regu'a'ed ; tho trade is a means — money Is the end. But, with the professional mr>n the ezaot contrary holds ; his profession is his end; the mousy it may bring him is only an incident, necessary inasmuch aa food and clothing and hooka moat be bought ; but 00 primary, for he would rather loose all than betray bis profession. To the lawyer justice, to the phyeican health, to the preacher truth, are the ends at which they aim ; and not for any sum of mocey can they be Bet aside, even for a moment That there are I exceptions on both Bides Is perfectly true — trado&men who love their trade better i than their profits and professional men 1 who love their profita more than their profc-Balon. But this distinction m the main holds good at present It is this professional spirit, the love of work rather than wages, of truth rather than life, that the university has a right to expect from all her graduates.