Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1869-06-10
Fer the Fayetteville Observer.
Notes on DR.. McFerTin's
Lecture.
BY MALCOLM.

Lecture.
BY MALCOLM.
Week before last was a great
occasion at Oak Hill. Never be-
fore perhaps had those gray old
rocks and verdant hills been AMI
mated by such crowds of people /;
old and young, male and female,
gay and grave, farmers, lawyers,
merchants, ministers and mechan-
les all eager to hear DR.. Nc
Ferrin's address on education
No wonder they felt interested,
for of all temporal concerns edu-
cation is surely the most impor-
tant. On it depends not only the
prosperity and happiness but the
existence of nation. owe must
educate or we must perish"
On Friday, at an early hour, the
large lecture-room of the Institute
was filled to OVERLOOKING: indeed
the house was nearly filed with
ladies.
At eleven o'clock, Rev. DR.. j.
B. McFerrin was introduced. He
began his address by adverting to
the fact that history is divided in
to eras, ages and dispensations !;
and that each of these is marked
by some distinguishing peculiari-
| ties wherein it differs from all 9TH
ers. In ancient times when soci-
ETY. was in a ruder state than now,
ambitious kings built colossal mon
uments, erected statues of marble
or brass and constructed towering
pyramids, in the vain hope of per-
petuating their names. The orna-
mental arts, such as sculpture,
painting and poetry were carried
to a degree of perfection that has
never been surpassed. But the
useful arts were suffered to remain
uncultivated, and it was reserved
for us of modern times to bring
them into being and rear them in
to beautiful proportions. The
soul of the ancient civilization was
ornament, that of the modern is
Iutility. OF all useful inventions
and improvements, a system OF
education adapted to the people,
is the greatest good. The solution
| of this problem is the grandest a
chievement of modern civilization.
1t liberates the minds of men
from the tyranny of priest-craft and
from the domination of wealth and
aristocracy. The artificial dis
tinctions Of rank dependant on ex-
ternal circumstances are being
done away, and there is now no
true nobility but that of~mind.
The true nature Of education is
not yet fully understood, 1t does
not consist in stuh6ng the mind
with ideas, it is not going through
books and it is not learning accom-
plishments. The object of true
education is to draw out, to devel-
| OPP and strengthen all the powers
of mans nature-physical, mental
and moral. The Importance of
physical education is not apprecia-
ted. The body is the casket of
an immortal spirit, and is worthy
of our care. Every thing that
causes it to dwindle and become
efeminate ought to be done away,
and some system should be adopt
ed which will cause it to grow up
strong and active. Labor, physi-
cal labor is noble and dignifed.-
Some of our greatest men have
been plow-boys. l may add that
the doctor himself furnished a
strong illustration of what he was
saying, for one could but admire
his strong and vigorous frame.
What is a woman made for 2
To be a butterfly of fashion Z? To
display the skill of her dress-ma-
ker? tits we'll enough to be &C,
complished and to dress neatly,
but there is something beyond and
above all this. 1t is the glory of
woman's life to be a good wife and
mother; to gladden. our homes by
her presence and our hearts by
her love. You send your daugh-
tiers to dancing schools. What
for? To teach them to be grace
full. 1t is well enough for them to
be graceful, but DR.. McF. would
prefer that his daughter should go
into a neat, we'll furnished kitch-
en- and learn to cook. Every lady
ought to superintend the economy
of her own household. Have a
tidy and clean kitchen. Keep