The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-07-19
Prom our Special Reporter.
Convention OF the Educstaonas Ass~'
citation Of Virginia.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, July ~ iooo'

rally throughout the State, the Convention
or the Educational Association of Virgin"
met tonight in the basement of the fres-
byterian Church. Owing to various causes
the number Of members present WAS "''
very large. ,.> ,ho ,,o
csed;nos Il would be as well to give
skctch of the organization of this asso-
cis,;on and its objects. In Decent
hcr lss3. a convention Of teachers from
Inherent parts of the State met in Pc
tersburg. with view 10 organizing
an association " for the purpose of securing
more intimate sympathy among each
other, and that closer union which was
necessary TO enable them TO meet the great
responsibilities dcvolved upon them y; and
by oil possible means to'promote the edu-
cational welfare of Virginia. The result
Of this convention was the organization Of
the Educational Association Of Virginia.
The meeting tonight was called to order
by the Rev. J. NJ. p. Atkinson, d. D., Prcsl-
dent Hampden Sidney College, and OF the
Association. The Rev. A. J. Leavenworth.
of Petersburg, Recording Secretary, was
not present, and Mr.. d. Leo Powell, OF
Richmond, acted as Recording Secretary.
After prayer by the Rev. Mr.. Page, ol
this place, formerly of Kentucky, DR.. AT
kinson addressed the Convention in expla-
| nation of the causes of the delay in hold
| ing this meeting, and of its purposes.
The regular meeting, DR.. A. said, should
have taken place the latter part OF 1864, but
| the great disquiet existing rendered 1t i'm
possible to meet at that time. 1t was also
deemed impracticable to meet after the iall
of the Confederacy, so thick was the
gloom which overcast tho land and SO oe-
numbing the dependency which seem
ed to have taken hold of our people.
At a subsequent meeting OF officers OF me-
rary institutions, held in Richmond, IL was
determined to hold the next meeting IL
this time. and at this place.
The purpose of the meeting was OF
transcendent Importance, in the fultilment
of which they could count upon the aid OF
the State. There never was time when
the education of the SONS OF Virginia APP
preached the Importance it does at
the present day. Foe generations past
there had been other causes that pro-
cured influence for Virginia. The purity
and excellence OF her statesmen, the
extent of her territory, the amount
of her capital, and the veneration
Of the illustrious men she produced in
every era, commanded vencration for the
State. How different her present condi-
ton. She was stripped of one-third of her
territory, and two-thirds of her capital
and names most highly vcneratcd in Vir-
GINA were most highly denounced in the
Union. We were excluded from the
councils OF the nation, and even II We
| should at any time be admitted, 1t would
| be with distrust. What influence would
restore the confidence and respect once en-
loved BY Virginia? The elevation of morals
and the advancement of science. " hat
small space Greece occupied, and yet that
small spot had done more for the advance
ment OF science, civilization, and education
than any other country in the world. And
next to her, the small island Of Great
Britain had welded an immense influence
in the civilized world.
II they could secure to the sons OF Viz
GINA the evoking of their moral powers
in their most healthful action, Virginia's
name would yet be as honored as 1t was
| i'm DAYS past. How WAS her territory to
be made to teen with the fruits OF the
earth? How were her riches to be dis
closed but through science! The ailec-
tionate love OF the sons of Virginia for her
soil, would urge them to disclose its
wealth, and bring il forth i'll alllts rlch-
| ness.
| The speaker then took another view of
the importance of the elevation OF the
standard of the literary institutionso of Viz
gnia. Millions had been secured to her
| by her literary institutions, and those re-
venues were to DC increased teniold.
There never was time when Virginia
| was regarded with more confidence i'll the
South and Southwest than at present. 1t
was looked upon as an honor to be Nir-
gilman, and in no State would the southern
youths rather be educated than in Viz
ginia. There was q time when Southern
youth sought education North; but this
had come to an end. The youth of the
South who sought an education at Cam
bridge or Yale exilcd himself, and sought
under foreign influences on education en-
tircly at variance with tho interests of his
own land. There never was greater con-
Sideration for the elevation of the standard
of education than now.
1t had been said that it was impossible
for the men of the South to gain as great
stores of learning in their enervating lati-
tude as those in the more invigorating lati-
tude of the North. BY an appeal to the
history of the past that idea could be re-
futed. Was Greece in the Arctic regions
Was Egypt, where science was founded,
within "the more inyigorating ATTITUDES OF
the Northa - The country from whence
came next the men Of science and arts
Italy-lay in the southern extremity Of
Europe. Had the Germans explored
science more vastly than Aristotle! Who
preserved science more faithfully than the
Saracens of Arabia, Barbary, and Spain
If the sons of Virginia did not equal any
men who ever lived, it would be from a
want Of will.
The speaker then briefly alluded to the
past neglect of the study of the science
of education, the nOblest OF all sciences.
In conclusion, he spoke Of the many i'm
portant questions that presented them
selves to the Association. Among them,
how far they should adopt the popular
educational system of the North. Should
the freedmen be taught the acquire
ment of letters; aud who should teach
them 7 He urged these questions with
many others upon the consideration OF the
members. ."..
After DR.. Atkinson's address, the follow
ing new members were elected: Profess
sors S. Maupin, J. l.. Cabell, NJ. Schale
De We're, George Fred. Holmes, Henry
Holmes, Francis ii. Smith, John 5.
Davis, Charles S. Venablc, b. l.. Glider
sleeve, John 7. l.. Preston, James W. Mas
sic, John L. Campbell, and John b. Minor,