The examiner., 1849-11-17
Closing Address of Hon. Horace Mann ~
she National Cammon School Convenason.
Philadelphia, after she vote Of thanks.


GisrIEMEN OF THE CosvENTIos:-The clock
is nsw striking the hour-the air in this hall IS
nowwavlng with its vibrations-at which IL has
beendeeided to bring the labors Of this Conven-
tion,o close. III had been decided to close
the Convention at 10 o'clock, and Just as the
cheering which followed the vote Of thanks
ceased, the clock struck ten. We have been |
looking for the last three days upon the bright |
side Of the tapestry; the dark side is now turned
towards rs. The pleasing scquaintances which |
have bsgn here formed, and which can have
been &c none more pleasing than TO myself, |
must be broken; and we must go away carrying |
such geod as we, can from the deliberations OF
this assembly.
In parting with you, cannot forbear to ex-
press nv warmest acknowledgements for the !
continual kindness with which you have been |
pleased to regard the performance OF the duties |
,f the Chair You have made all its labors |
Rght and all It's difficulties nominal. In part
Ing with you, gentlemen, II is impossible for me
TO express the feelings Of hope, mingled with
anxiety. with which look forward TO the con-
sequences of this meeting. We shall separate.
We shall go away to move in different and dis
tant spheres; from these narrow walls which
| now enclose us, we shall find ourselves, at the
| end of week, In a dozen different States, east,
west, north, and south. Shall the influences
| which have been here concentrated and brought
| 10 focus, be dissipated and lost, when our To-
cal pro ximity to each other Is gone; or shall the
moral Influences which have been here genera
ted, expand themselves over the vast spaces
where We shall soon be found, keep themselves
yivs, and animate and make the common air
electric with their fulness Of life. | trust the
latter; and that our zeal will not be of the
fsshy kind that will evaporate. as soon as
the exciting cause is withdrawn; but that il will
4 be like the heat Of the sun, which, being once
kindled, glows on forever Of itself.
Gentlemen, this occasion has brought togeth-
er two classes Of men, sufficiently dlstingus sh-
ed from each other TO be the subjects Of dvis-
: on. May | be permitted to address few words
b each We have before US the practical teach
Iss-men who devote themselves to the business
d the schoolroom, who do not exercise very
effusive influence in broad sphere, but an in
a tnse influence in narrow sphere;-points OF
D srong light thrown upon small space, rather
han wider rsdistions Of flame that is weaken
Il by its expansion. What are the duties Of
he school teacher7 have not time TO enume-
: nte or define them. cannot mention even the
1 ames in the long catalogue; but will call your
attention to one which comes very near 10 en-
hacing all. By this one, | mean thoTOughnesS
Il every thing you teach. Thoroughness,
A horOughness, and again say, rHoRoUGHsEss, is
: te secret Of success. You heard some admira-
$ fpm Massachusetts,, MIR. Sears,) In which he
!, ted that a child in learning a single lesson,
A night get not only an idea Of the subject mat
ts of that lesson, but an idea how all lessons
: should be learned--a general idea, not only how
n that subject should be studied but how all sub
!, leas should be studied. A child, In compassi ng
= tn simplest subject, may get an idea of perfect.
- nss, which is the type and arohetype OF all
!, excellence, and this idea may modify the action
n ofhis mind through his whole course Of life
Behorough, therefore, be complete in every
. thlg you do. Leave no enemy in ambush be
- him you as you march on, TO rise up in tn,
- rea and assail you. Leave no unbroken linl
ss in he chain you are daily forging. Perfec
YOU work, so that when IL is subjected 10 tn,
trias and the experiences Of life, it will not b,
found waning.
n, was within the past year that saw an &C
r count in the public papers, of terrible gale il
oneof the harbors Of the Chinese seas. ltwa
oasof those typhoOns, as they are called, which
1T lay Irostrate not only the productions of nstur
N but tae structures Of men. In this haIbo
4. wen lying at anchor the vessels Of all nations
" andamong them the United States soop of wa
Il Plymouth. Every vessel broke it's cabe-bu
n one. The tornado tossed them about, and dash
/, ed them against each other, and broke then
liksegg- shells. But amidst this terrific seen
W. ofSestructOn, our government vessel held fas
C. 10 its moorings, and escaped unharmed. VIII
ne made the links OF that cable, that the strengi
of the tempest could not rendl Yes. Wa
made the liHls Of that cable that the tempest eOuL
no n0 rsnd7 Who was the workman that porke
al Hnier Odti, and whose work saved property an
n, human life from ruin otherwise inevitable ?
Could that workman have beheld the spectacl,
i. and heard the raging of the elements, and see
OF the other vessels as they were dashed TO piece
re and scattered abroad, while the violence Of th
.. tempest wrecked itself upon his own work /
vain, would he not have had the amplest an
he iurest reEard for the fidelity OF his labors1
So, In the after periods Of your existenct
whether it may be in this world, OF IL anothe
y world from which you may be permitted I
No look back, you may see the consequences G
m your instruction upon the children whom yo
=, have trsined. In the crises of business life
" where intellectual accuracy leads to immens
IT. good, and intellectual mistakes TO immens
OF loss, you may see your pupils distnguishn
l. between error and truth, between false reason
n. Ing and sound reasoning; leading all who rel
upon them TO correct results, establishing tn
u highest reputation for themselves, and for yo
E. as vel as for themselves, and conferring incal
DR. culaHe good upon the whole community.
Soif you have been successful in your mora
10 tralring, you will have prepared them to stan
n mistaken and unseduced amidst temptations
L
,e wheIe others are depraved; unconsumed wher
o-he's are blasted and perish. You may be abb
F" to say, that by the blessing Of God you hav
ir helec to do this thing. And will not such
= day be day Of more exaltsd and sublime ioy
than IL you could have looked upon the storn
Ia the eastern seas. aud known that Il was YOU
y handivork that saved the vessel unharmed ami
l. the wrecks that loated around itl Would no
= such sight be reward great and grand enou q
TO satisfy and fill any heart, mortal or immor
" tall
l. There is another class of men in this meet
l. ing-those who hold important official situa
IS tons nnder the State governments, and who ar
charged with the superintendence Of public in
stitutions. Peculiar duties devolve upon them
a. They, in common with the teachers. have take
10 upon themselves great responsibility. When
l. in the course Of yesterdays proceedings, a re
>. solution was introduced, proposing to make thi
National Convention, with permanent or
n ganizstion, l confess that as l sat here in m
= chair, felt my joints trembling with emotio
at the idea of the responsibility you were -abou
tn assume. Shall this body establish itself as
~ National Convention7 Shall we hold ourselye
Is out to this great country, as a source of infor
j. nation and a centre Of influence on one of IN
a most important subjects that can be submitte
- TO the human facultes7 Shall we hold our
selves mp here in full sunlight, and virtually sa
'e to the whole country, come here and fill you
% urns from our fountains Of wisdom? Thes
a views came over me with such force as almos
;" TO make me forget where was, and the dutie
10 hadto discharge; for experience has led me
70 know something Of the difficulties of the work
!. Yet it was the pleasure Of the Convention 1
. adopt the resolution; and, through the sigma
y lures of your officers, you will severally sub
Mt rs,a