The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-08-20

General Howard gave little history, in brief
of his own connection with this work of educa-
tion, commencing with the spring of 1865,
when, during delay in the movements of Sher-
mans army, near Savannah, he visited a school
on st. Helena Island established by three Mas
sachusetts ladies to educate the chill
dren of the freedmen there.
He had believed all along that slavery
would, in the providence of God, be destroyed,
and he was glad to see this work in its incipi-
ency in the extreme Southern country. On his
arrival Mt Washington he was rendered the posi-
tion of Commissioner of the Freedmen's Bureau
in accordance with the newly framed law; and
sympathizing heartily with that good work, he
accepted the duties. Then he felt the pressing
necessity of re-establishing general system of
schools for the freedmen's children; many citi-
zens and associations urged him to
follow out such n course; and he finally
obtained permission to appoint
superintendent. The work steadily grew until
now we have upwards of three thousand schools
and more than two hundred and fifty thousand
pupils, mainly the children of the late slaves.
The act contains the word refugee" and this
was literally construed to embrace the Unionists
driven from their homes; and thus, for example,
on Lookout Mountain school-houseis is placedup
'among the clouds" The aid of the Govern
inert has been literally rendered, principally
through the transportation of teachers from their
homes to the fields of labor, and also by the
rental repair, or construction of buildings for
school purposes.
At one time, in Virginia, mobs surrounded the
houses of the poor teachers, stoned them, beat
them, reviled them; but these sentiments of
opposition have died out. He had never seen
on the globe other such examples of Christian
constancy. There are no practical examples of
the religion of the Lord Jesus Christ that will
compare with its identification in this work
These teachers have the sympathy of the Chris
tian people of this land; they have lived down
opposition by their blameless lives, and now the
people of the South are soliciting the extension
of the schools He had heard to-day that the
Legislature of Tennessee was pleased to repeal
the school law of that State. He would say
Gentlemen, consider, every one of you, your in
divdual responsibility to God, and break such
an infamous pledge Repeal the school law
and 30 back to the days of darkness and
death Woe woe be to them if that is their
determination But they must think better of
that, and pause before such an act. That school
system needed university at Washington to
serve as Il great yitalizing institution, teaching
the highest branches, and providing the teachers
needed for the schools established.
He would have the teachers ask-each one
himself or herself-"What is the ultimate object
of all educaton?" 1t is Christian training, Chris
tian education. ''What do we mean by Chris
tian education?" We make n difference between
emotional religion and the purposes of the
heart. If a man has it in his heart to love the
Lord his God with all his soul, and his neighbor
us himself no matter what his feelings may be
though his feelings may be up to-day and down
tomorrow, he cannot guage it by his feelings
then he is all right, and is fitted to teach pure
impressible children. In closing, he would say,
Teachers, remember your responsibility to Cod
and that the souls of your scholars are to live
throughout the ages"
Francis j. King, of Baltimore S. S. Ashley
State Superintendent, North Carolina; B. G.
Northrop, Mass; NJ. H. Wygant Superintendent
Arkansas, detailed the status of educational in
stitutions in their respective States.
The hymn. "My country, It's of thee was
sung by the entire audience, standing.
Superintendent Hobbs, of Indiana, offered the
following resolutions
Whereas, Many of the Southern States have
during the late rebellion lost in various de-
! grees, their public school funds; and whereas,
| the happiness, prosperity, peace, and perma-
| nence OF our nation depend on the scientific,
| literary, and moral instruction of the whole
|
! ern States who have thus been deprived of the
means provided by the paternal bounty and
wisdom of the nation for their education, are, in
| common with those OF other States, objects of
national solicitude and hope; therefore
ReSOLced, That this Association requests Con-
! gress to take such action as they may deem best
calculated to give substantial aid by grants of
lands, or otherwise, to the educational interests
of those States, in order that systems of popular
| education may be put into efficient operation as
! speedily possible.
| ResOlUed, That a committee of three be ap-
| pointed to present this expression of the senti-
| ment of this association to the Senate and House
| of Representatives of the United States.
General Howard seconded the resolutions and
| they were unanimously adopted.
series of resolutions were presented by
Superintendent Ogden, of Tennessee expressing
confidence in General Howard and his associates
and thanking them for the services conferred
and they were referred.
Adjourned at 1890 p. NJ. LAIRD.