Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-12-31
Starr TrIonrss Assoorlrrox-FIHs,

the Chamber OF commerce, the fresiuenT
Colonel W. Bosom, in the chair. The
proceedings we're opened by Rev. MT
Edmondsop, Of Franklin, Offering up q
very impressive prayer, praying the
Divine blessing on their deliberations
Rev. II. s. Bennett was then, on mo-
ton, appointed to act as Secretary pro
tenn.
On motion, the following were APP
pointed 10 act az the Executive Commit
lee pro Fem. Mr.. T. III. Pearne, General
John Eaton and Mr.. J. II. Barnum.
The following enrolled their names as
Of the association for the ensu-
ing year:
William Bosom, Murfreesboro Il. O..
Chattanooga j. A. Edmondson,
Franklin; d. ]. Robinson, Nashville !
Thos. II. Pearne, Knoxville; William Il.
Pearne, Memphis; T. Z. Bliss, Memphis;
John Eaton, IT,, Nashville; j. A. Critics,
Plains; G. b. Simonton, Por-
N, w. Baker, Strawberry
Plains; Fl. W. McQuiston, Portersville;
]. b. Cunningham, Dyersburg; Hamilton
Parks, Newbern; James G. Ferguson,
Friendship; ]. w. Gunter, Humboldt
W. w. Babbilt, Humboldt; @. II. Braun,
Memphis; Mrs. A. s. Tade. Chattanooga ;
@. Pattep, Chattanooga; r ]. Williams,
Gadsden N. A. Patterson, Winchester /;
b. G. Alden, Dover; III. s. Bennett,
Nashville; II. Andrews, Memphis W..
2. Mitchell, Memphis.
Rev. w. II. Pearne moved that the
programme Of the Committee of Ar
raneements be printed and published in
the newspapers. Carried.
Col. j. 4. Leath, President Of the
Board of School Visitors, Of this city,
rose and said that in the name Of the
teachers and the citizens Of Memphis
generally, he welcomed the members OF
the Association to this city. he well
coined them as teachers with most SIM
cere and cordial greeting. For one he
was glad to know that the schoolmaster
was abroad, for it was by him the world
was made TO move and advance. He
was glad TO find that the State Associa-
ton of Teachers had found their way TO
the banks of the Mississippi and to the
city of Memphis. This Convention was
the first Of the kind ever held in the city,
and he believed it was the first IN the
State ever held so far West. Let them,
therefore, hope that the march OF the
schoolm aster would be westward and
onward, until all the vast territory be.
tween the Atlantic and the Pacific would
be under the subsection of his official scep
ter. They had had many conventions o.
various kinds in this city. These had
however, been of an objective nature, 70
build up railroads, to open up the navi.,
CATION Of the great " father of waters,
or that great inland sea, as Mr.. Calhoun
had so we'll termed it. These conven-
tons had been received and heralded
with such newspaper ecldt, so much &c
that, mirable dictu, the merchant would
sometimes suspend the making OF dol
lars and cents, and leave his store to wit
ness the proceedings. The present con
yention, however, had no such object
They had not assembled to make arrange
ments for the building of any railroad
North, South, East or West, or to take
steus for clearing out the mouth OF the
Mississippi, Neither had they met tc
discuss the science Of agriculture, or how
to best improve the breed of that noble
animal the horse, or the OK or even the
pig. They had met for far greater OBJ
iect. They had assembled to discuss
how to imprave that notlest of all ami
mals-man. Therefore, in his opinion
ia this respect, and in itp purposes, il
was more important than any other con-
yention ever held in this city, because
thew went to the root, and the great
improvements he had referred to were
certain to follow, as man marched on
conquering and to conquer. The pro,
fession of teacher was the noblest Of
all professions. In this republic they
recognized two aristocreeies, that Of
wealth and of talent. He did not think
that any of those present had any
aspirations to be known among the
former; in fact, he had never known
apy teachers to have aspirations ~ thai
way. He did not, however, see how they
should not rank with them, tor they
only carried their wealth in theil
heads instead of their pockets; but
de oustibus non disputaadum. Perhaps
there were some who would take the
wealth of Ciesus instead OF the mental
wealth of Socrates, who wandered PENN
less through the streets of Athens. Ac
cording to Herodotus, however, when
CYRUS seized Crpesus, he stripped him Of
ali his wealth and then burned him a.
the stake, and when he was about to bt
burned, he remembered the Greek lesson
"Count no man happy until you see his
end" The teacher in his profession be
considered above all others, as he was an
tecedent to the physician, lawyer, and thu
clergy, as it was the teacher who piante.e
the germ from which sprung all the frui
which was followed By manufactures
and internal Improvements. Withon
me teacher, the world would relapse intt
harbarism, as Christianity was dependent
on ciyiIiz alton while civilization was de
nendent on education. With the cele
brated German author, Jean Pau
PITCHER, he was ready to exclaim, IA
honor TO those who spend their time II
school houses" Under. such cifcum
stances he welcomed them to Memphi'
more cordially than even II they hs'
come with royal crowns or sacred uara
on their heads. tApplause.
President Bosom responded as follows
For this mark of respect, this ofere'
welcome and generous hospitality to tn
members of the Tennessee State Teach
era Association, 10 their annua! meet
ing assembled, l thank you as their pre-
siding officer.
II may not be out Of place to say tina
this association was organized BY IN
| friends of education in July, 1850 IL
1 -----L.-.L:., 80 than limitad TO Dractl