Unknown Author

The owner of the famous Wedgewood potteries, at the beginning of the last century, was a man who was not only skilled in his craft, but a sincere believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.

On one occasion, one of the country’s lords was being shown around the famous works by Mr. Wedgewood himself and a young apprentice to the trade. The lord, although high in rank by the country’s standards, was a man who lived a godless life and was completely uninhibited in his talk and manners. He soon found opportunity to blaspheme and ridicule the things of Christ, and the young boy, who had been reared up in a godly home and had never before encountered anything but reverence for the Name of Jesus, registered amazement at the lord’s words. The amazement soon developed into an amused interest, however, and soon the young lad was jeering and laughing along with the man of noble birth.

Mr. Wedgewood made no comment until the party arrived at the final processing of a very fine Wedgewood vase. He began to explain the whole working of the vase and tell how the clay had been carefully treated and then moulded by skillful and dedicated hands into the shape that they now saw it in; how the glazing had been carried out and the fine paint work executed. The nobleman was thrilled at what he saw and stretched out his hand to take the vase from the owner’s hands. Just as his fingers tipped the vase, however, Mr. Wedgewood took it and smashed it to the ground, shattering it into a thousand pieces.

The visitor was furious. “That was unpardonable carelessness,” he told the owner of the factory; “I wished to take that cup home for my collection! Nothing can restore it again.” “Just like that lad who has just left us,” said Mr. Wedgewood; “Don’t you know that his parents, and his friends, and all good influences have been at work in his life to make him a vessel fit for the Master’s use; but you, with your touch, have undone the work of years?”

The man of rank had never received a rebuke from an inferior before, and he was stunned into silence. When he did finally speak he had only one word to say: “You are an honest man,” he told his accuser; “I never thought of the effect of my words.”

(Adapted)

“Other sinners serve the devil for pay; but cursers
and swearers are volunteers, who get nothing for
their pains.” —Thomas Boston.

Unknown Author, courtesy of Wicket Gate.