The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1867-10-05


meeting Of the teachers Of the eolored schools o.
the District wss held yesterday at Up. m, Al
the Freedmen's Library building, corner o.
Firth and X streets, Judiciary Square. Tho at
tendance was but moderate In consequence o.
the inelsmency Of the weather. Among thosC
who were present to listen to the exercises wer,
sayles J. Bowen, esq, Alderman Zenas Richards
Rev. Mr.. johnson, s. s. Baker, esq, o. s. Baker
esq, Rev. ]. d. Kimball, Superintendent OF the
Freedmen's Bureau Mr.. Newton, suporin
tcndent Of colored schools, and others.
The old Teachers Association expired with
this meeting, and there was a proposition Il
form new one under another title and different
rules.
Mr.. Newton rose and said that the old s.ocia
tion had now expired, and perhaps other ar,
rangements would be perfected under the new
organisation.
lie made few other remarks in reference to
the meeting and opened the exercises by read
ing q passage from the scriptures.
Rev. Mr.. johnson offered up prayer, after
which Mr.. Newton stated that they would now
proceed to the business Of the meeting which
was to adopt the new association, to be called,
perhaps, the Teachers Institute. lie wished to
introduce many new features 10 the new organ.
iIatiou. lie would like at the present time to
hear Of any new topics which might be beneficial
or interesting. The natural difhdonco Of
teachers In speaking he could sympathiEe with,
and he thought II better that they should place
their thoughts in writing The desire was to
bring the colored schools In the District Of Co.
lumbia up to tho highest standard practicable.
| This was a republican Government, and its per.
potuity depended upon the intellect and educa.
ton Of the inhabitants. Here In the city Of
Washington, the speaker thought, was the most
suitable place for an example. He trusted the
teachers would over be on the alert for inspection
| by strangers and others, and never relax their
efforts In their dutt,
The speaker regretted the Indictment weather,
as II prevented q large attendance, and no WIS
DESTROYS Of calling the attention Of the teachers
| to many little faults which could and should be
| corrected.
Tho speaker gave q few practical illustrations
| OF some of the faults he had reference to-in or.
| biography pronunciation, punctuation, &c. A
strict application by the teachers to the eorrec-
| tion Of these little faults would be Of incalcu
liable benefit to the little ones under their charge
Mr.. Newton gave advice to the teachers as to
the best method Of Instruction, and particularly
to the young pupil, Physical exercises were al.
ludod to by the speaker, and II was recommended
to the teachers to adopt a system Of exercise
| physically in connection with their studies for
the benefit Of tho pupils. Exercise with the
hands, arms, and legs would relieve the brain Of
the pupil when oppressed with blood consequent
| upon the mental duties.
mr. NeWNOu us IemhIhh Win IoW
words, earnest and sensible, aud took his seat.
Rev. Mr.. Kimbal rose and said that he was
glad to see so many Of the teachers present.
He suppo. ed that all the difficulties among them
wore not yet done away with cold rooms, poor
stoves, insufficient books, were some Of the diff
culties they had to encounter, but all this would
be overcome In time. There WIS constant i'm
provcment, and they could hope for better
things. He VIZ glad to see that the meeting
woa hnpnrad NTH tho If ~ ha
tchool trustees Of the District. lie hoped that
the superintendent would be called upon to
again deliver the address just repeated, for the
benefit Of the teachers
Mr. Zsuas Richards paid that he did not feel
prepared to say anything to-day, particularly to
the point 10 which he wished TO engage their at.
tention. lie noticed 10 tho address of Mr.. New
ton his calling attention to little things This
was We y proper. Great things arose from little
ones. Little defects were judge Of character.
The teachers could not give too much hc ID to
the remarks upon little things that had been
spoken by Mr. Newton. To hold meetings was
another essential requisite for the Advancement
Of teachers. Those who neglected to attend
these meetings, or had no interest In them, were
really unfit and incapable Of holding their posi-.
tions.
The speaker spoke Of an association of teachers
formed some seventeen years since, and Of the
benefits derived from II. He recommended to
the toichers their regular attendance at the
meeting, and with few moro remarks took his
seat.
Mr.. o. s. Baker raid that he was much inter.
ested In all that he had heard, and trusted that
they would soon have the benefits Of practical
experience. lie was glad to notice that there
was to DO a change and an improvement in the
manner of holding these meetings. His desire
was to assist them all be could In carrying out
the suggestions proposed lie thought that not
only the ter ihors ne. led stir..Iy up, but also
the people. Whom the people could see the
struggles of the teachers they would feel, per.
haps, a greater desire to help them along. With
all assisting, he did not doubt but that they
would soon have schools tina. they need not DO
ashamed of anywhere In the country.
Mr.. Newton made few other romarksj after
which the meeting adjourned.
DEDICATION AND ANNIvERsARY ny FRIEND
SHIP LoDGE, /. o. o. F.--0n Thursday even.
ing, Friendship Lodge, No. IL, I. o. o. f., moved
Pennsylvania avenue and Nineteenth street, to
the new hall, in the upper story Of Green's
building, Pennsylvania avenue, west Of Seven.
teenth street.
number of ladies and children were present
to witness the dedication Of the new hall. An
address was delivered by Past Grand Master
Charles Calvert, q charter member, in which he
BuNo u uiiot uibtoIy VI hVubo eihOo ibo VI
ganiEation, In 1912, under its present name, and
by the following. named charter members: Bros.
Levin Jones, Thos. G. Faiquhar, Henry Cation,
Samuel &. Douglass John Bryan, Henry l.
Gross, Thomas Jewell, James johnson, John
George Kraft, W. Knowles, A. r. Locke, VIM.
Pope, John X. Vernon, VIM. Cunningham, Abra'
ham Bowers, Alfred Pollard, Samuel G. Smoot,
f. II. Schenig, S NIL G, DIVISION, Hugh Hughes,
Henry Hurdle, Cyrus Cross Tram Gordon and
Chas Calvert.
Tho officers installed at the time were Thomas
@. Farquhar, N. O. Henry Cation, V. g s.
t. Douglass, secretary. The first has been dead
for some years, the second is believed to be living
In Virginia, but not now 4 member Of the Order,
and the latter Is present, and now known as Past
Grand Master Douglf1s. Tho first treasurer was
P. G, Levin Jones. Seven Of the original mem.
bers arc still with the lodge, having retained
their membership all that time; seven have died,
one been expelled, and the remaining nine, for
aught that Is known, are still living.
At the close Of tho above remarks Past Grand
Joseph Gawler and lady appeared before the n.
@. g chair, and their little son was christened
by the name Of Ferdinand, by Past Grand Sweet
Refreshments were hero supplied after which
addresses were made by Grand Master John 7
Given, Past Grand Masters +. D. Stuart. s, d,
Douglass, aud W. r Mclean, and Grand Repre-
sentative John F. Hayenner.
About 1880 p, IN, the exercises closed with
the usual ode Of the Order, all retiring we'll
pleased with the manner in which the evening