The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1869-01-07
Letters Frohe People.

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Letters Frehe People. :, Vi
Mr.. EDITOR, Ora CouRuER: g
DEAR SIR &
AS the Teache,stitute Of this y
county will, in at time convene,
permit me, thro the columns Of :
your animated aighly apprecia- :
ted journal, to ass the Teachers {
of the county, up subject, that l
should like to hsitigated during
the session Of sanstitute. Itna !.
subject, I think should interest
every patron, as as every teach-
er. It Is the ex,of Christian du.
ty the teacher o to his scholars. i
When about take any import
tant step in life, sdom would lead
one to sit downnd CONSIDER the
magnitude Of Undertaking, cafe.
fully to consider cost, and reflect
upon the probabhances of success
or failure. Anda choice is to be
made which shalovern the whole
future of his life, tn what anxious
solicitude does ponder upon il,
trembling lest tdccision may be
the wreck of all hopes. Teachers,
how many of ussve entered upon
the work in VIII; we are engaged,
choosing it abovll others as the
calling nearest ouearts, and appre-
ciating, in its fut extent, its inn
portance and table responsible
ties? How maDf US regard it as
a profession to web, when we have
chosen it, we ust solemnly and
prayerfully dedite ourselves, our
time and our tails? Let me say
that we stand co.laborers with
God, in tho wx of enlightening
the world, and, zee our labor en-
braces so much tthe service OF the
ministry, can wdare we say that
the minister is aghor, or moro re-
sponsible servanshan we? Sure it
is that if we neect our work, and
fail to impressae heart Of child
hood with what aould be the chief
end Of its beinghe finds it almost
an impossibility , move the soul OF
the man to seek salvation. Such
being the magnitae and Importance
of our work, let ! anxiously inquire
what are the Necessary qualification
which shall fit ! for its right per-
formance. To tach as we ought
needs something more than ready
tact united to anntelligent, we'll die
ciplined mind; itroquires powers o
heart and soul, which make tn
teacher, in the rue acceptation Q
the term, the nolest Of all huma
beings. Before entering upon thi
God gwen work he must have . sp'
cial calling to it, pme innate desir
implanted by Goo himself, which VI
ges him on to ltsacceptance, so thu
it may be said, tie profession chool
es him, rather th.n he the profession
Genuine love to God is the spring I
right feeling, and right action, al
nothing really good can germina
| without it. The heart of the teacl
err must be in tune with the gre
heart of his master and colabort
and every chord should vibrate
sweetest sympathy and union, 70
mony, unless they be agreed2 Ser
ing our master, is loving the wo'
he has given us to do, and feeliI
that in this sphere lies our usefulne'
and all our energies should be be
in this direction, and, with fixed pu
pose Of heart, and concentrated Q
fort, must we, with constant Cal
direct this object. Esteeming it
| great privilege to be called into &
vineyard of the lord, willingly al
cheerfully should his services be re
dered. Again, he must love his p1
pills, not collectively, but each or
individually, and look upon them
a company of immortal spirits, f
the salvation of whose s0uls.he
in great measure, responsible. II
period of a child's life which
spends in school is that in which b
character is forming, and how niece
sary it is that the teacher, who
nearer to him at that time than al
other friends, should exert his mo
watchful care that his character ms
be formed upon truth and right
His duty is not complete when he
structs him in a few methods of ca
culation and mere forms of languaq
How often is it the case that /
where else does he receive any NOR
instruction, then, how does it becon
the teacher to be alive in this respet
Ifhe fails in this higher sense, !
may effect only portion Of his ca
ing, by producing a mental prodie
and finely cultivated intillee
which the world may call a wi
man, but oh! what q reflection!
wise man who is ignorant Of Il
very beginning OF wisdom! II
weapons with which the teacher '
GEES his warfare are truth and Low
the mightiest in the universe. A
branches of knowledge are radi,
tions from the one great centre, al
all teaching is too low, save tn
which continually approaches the
two attributes of God. 10 lead Il
pupil to this contemplation is Il
teachers Office, and to sum up