New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-01-27
MEETING IN AID OF BEREA COLLEGE


eight miles from the railroad leading from Louisville to
Richmond Va It's location supon elevated plateau at
the edge OF what Is termed the hill country OF Kentucky
and overlooking celebrated Blue Region the rich
PROPORTION Of slaves were held The i4stitWflo, SSss
founded In 1853 by the Rev. John g. Fee and has gradu
ally grown to its present scope and dimensions Ii was
designed to afford the OF affordng rudmentary
education TO young In humble circumstances with
would place the advantages of the institution within the
reach Of the poorest. At first the plan the favor
OF the inhabitants Of the surrounding and the
school became quite popular but the ideas OF liberty and
equality which II incucaed were so radical that the
| IL exered and complaints were made against II
Institution dangerous to the peace Of the community
Taking advantage Of the excitement created by the John
Brown raid, the enemies OF tho school succeeded
so sGen e ~ ea ar be Hs at dnS 9
the school was, for a time abandoned AZ the
since that time has enjoyed career Of most gratifying
success. The College now possesses PRIMARY, an
Quoted by six teachers tho whole being under the
agement Of Board Of Trustees Last year the College
white and its popularity steadily increasing 1t offers
to the youth OF both sexes without regard race color
or circumstances tho opportunity to achieve good edu
cation at very tufng expense. Its terms and vaca
tons arranged 10 allow the pupils to occupy
some weeks or months OF each year In teach
ing for their own support The College possesses
charter and 400 of land, but the buildings now
upon It were intended only to serve temporary purpose
aud they are sadly inadequate to its necessities Fifteen
proper buildings and for this the teachers and friends
Of the College now appeal TO the people Of New, York
it undoubtedly would have been had the people OF this
city been better acquainted with the history and Pur-
J.. Thompson, the Rev Henry Ward BeeGher, the Eoy
the popular President Of 6berim College who will soon
assume the charge Of the institution at Berea the Rev
Berea College is due and others The Rev Dr. Thomp-
SON. in opening the meeting said that the object which
had called them together was one not political not sec
tonal sectaran but that appealed to every ind
vidua and class throughout our land. The Rev Mr. Fee
and was followed by the Rev Henry Tard Beechcr.
Mr. Beeeher, being introduced TO the audience com
menced by saving that this Cooper Union Hall had pc
part OF our American history and would IN aiter
years be referred TO aud remembered with as much In
terest as kaneul Hail. Cooper cnon Han had Deeh as
intimately connected with the late revolution as
have been here, said the speaker, during scenes
Of great excitement have seen tins hall literally packed
relating to national nfe and yet never stood on this
platform when 1t seemed TO me there was subject more
vitality important than the one which commands
attention tonight. Though this Is not matter
so exciting and urgent as some that have gone
ally Important than this. II It does not excite rs
the better if it only beds itself deeply in your hearts
and breeds Thoughts. fruitful and enduring impellng
whole country We are to consider tonight tie great
American doctrine Of Education. There Is distinction
between the American idea OF educatlon ana th enof
tanned In other countries, We ON this side the Atlantic
think that education OF the whole people Indispensable
organization OF society We see now why nations have
Wsrc nnt ecoed oScS nations had fallen into ae
fatal mistake OF educating only their best material
lnose most easily euuCac-tnlH
were left entirely without the blessing, and not only So
tempt because they were ignorant. Until the
days OF Cowper even the Christian element was nov
otons IL tot tgy attenpted To- educate M the top only
while fathers Introduced plan just tho reverse
They began by educating at Tho bottom h1st
Of brush.heap, 1t might burn downward,
but it was very liable to go ro out ho,, B9t
Il was sure to burn upward. Whatever boiled the
bottom Of the eauldron, Is snre TO Dol we Top;
when Jesus to save the world he humGled himself
TO the lowest position In sociey and having SUD
eeied himself to hgmstoo ana even agaee ms sa as
nothing left below him, and, rising from his humili,
foiio% this example and educating tho pco
PIE o Sc 70 70 stSt,s %bont @ impartial education
1t has been held that education for tho common
they are animals; all are safe when they are ce-
waited above the animal by proper education Liberty IS
given them. ApGIauseI i is not only the American
each individual is better on, ana the "holo
is made stronger IL Is far easier 10 govern men
who know how to govern themselves IL IS hard to gov
ern men VINO VIII not govern themselves. han lhot-
oughly educated. Is law unto himself. and needs no
make them tell the truth such Is not honest, be-
cause the law stands tbreatcnngas II does not IN New
because IS has learned that it is right to DO So
What IS true OF an individual is true OF nation ana OF
the world Eighteen hundred years have elapsed since
nSst MO, f and act po6 Them Ths common pe6ple
governed the world should do In The family the
little ones arc the masters The strong takes o the
weak When that law, 90 beautiful IN the family be-
comes the law OF the land, when the strong |
hear the infrmities OF the weak VIII |
fulfill the law Christ and human liberty viii be secured
The American system OF education, while 1t believes IN
tho necessity OF education for oVury human being. he
leves common schools There Is difference between
FREQ education In this country and IN Europe There
81 Is bestowed charity, but here u Is rlght-
fully demanded by the great common people
this right This, you Will say, good speerh for the
lower schools, but what Of colleges Are they not FOR
the nch say colleges are pfeemnehty the lnsttn
tOns Of learning for the common people seventy hye
per cent the pupils that graduate there from the
the point intended to make throw that IN for nothing
Intended to say that the colleges belonged TO tie con
mon people they tho nurseries OF teachers for
the schools They are manufacturers OF school
masters These are just tho lhsttutOhs We heeh from
which send men and women, properly educated down
among the common schools The colleges are the breasts
from which the common schools drew thcir sustenance
Especially would advocate the establishments ana sup
port colleges at the South and this college at Beea pre-
eminenty. But would say inc same ioI washington
College where President Lee is teaching the young men
OF Virginia. l think Lee is pursuing much more
ing In Canada. II Lee had never done anything |
would have no complaint TO make about MIN ne
may have been wrong once but no is Ignt noW I'M al
these Southern Colleges should receive support There
arc colleges In all the states except Maryland she
SICK, but her stomach cannot raise anything lhuShter
That the trouble with Kentucky ana she had only
vomited she would have felt better ieD9ilon eh9rned
tho fGcal matter OF the other southern States;
but Kentucky couldn't raise Renewed and app
plead for Southern Colleges because think education
Is proper equivalent for the Institution OF slavery OF
which they have been deprived The interests OF com
vitality concerned IN TINS thing on education
The moro people educated the more Injuries they
need As approaches the angelic ne De. |
scale Of intelligence, he becomes cheaper used
this argument 10 touch the heart OF New YORK EduCa
argument for New-York, not for myself would be
ashamed 20 10 for myself lApplause.I We cannot
put oa state ana % r hG ia well deny
with equity too. No part OF the nation can be neglected.
bIT Beechcr closed by touching picture OF what the
South had suffered IN the war IL was our duty now 10