Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1871-10-12
LFron the Wilmington Republican,
An Address Delivered at the Ded-
icatiOn OF Public School Build
ing, at Sabina, Ohio.
By REV. w. KIDDER.

stand before you on so auspicious al
occasion. / cast my eyes upon tn
beauties of nature. Every thing abou
US tells Of the Divine goodness anC
mercy in the season just terminated
It is one of the most enhancing sea
sons of the year. The torrid heat o
the midsummer sun has yielded to the
balmier influences of September; flow.
ers and fruits are set about US in rict
profusion; the good Father has per
mitted blessing upon the toll of the
| husbandman, and his granaries are fill
ed with the products of an abundant
harvest. Sunshine and shower have
| performed their task, each in its sea
son, ana the perfected corn and fruit
stand upon the board to satisfy the
necessities and please the palate of the
physical man.
But in our assembling here to-day,
and in the scenes portrayed to my fancy,
l rejoice to say there are brighter pic
lures, more pleasurable expectations,
more valuable harvests. l see before
me the friends of the youth. who ded-
icate, to day, to the purpose of edu-
cation, beautiful edifce, the result OF
| their contributions and their tolls. You
done this, perhaps, in some degree,
from the pride of the citizen. Salts
fed that Sabina should not be behind
her sister villages, you resolved to con
struct such building as would attract
attention, and demonstrate to the pass
ing traveller your interest in such mat
ters But, in a greater degree, you've
been prompted 70 this course by your
affection for the rising generation.
Though the youth of this vicinity
may not be any worse than the lads
and lasses from other sections, vet,
you realize that by nature they are no
better, and that to make of them valu-
able members of society, you must Sc
cure to them the guidance that first
class education gives, to "bring them
up in the fear of the Lord
And. now, see in Imagination this
ambition realized. I watch the youth,
laes and maidens, as year after year,
in the sunny Junes, the graduating
classes emerge from these halls Of
learning, never to re-enter again in q
student capacity. 1 see them going
farther into the arena of life. Their
physical developement has not been
neglected they possess the nature and
bearing of men and women0-the mus
cular and sinewy frames, the cheerful
robust faces, the courage and determi
nation impressed upon their brows, as.
sure me that their undergraduate course
has not made them dyspeptics or mis-
anthropic; but that they start out tc
fight life's battles, clearly understand.
ing the task before them, and muster
ing the energy necessary to fulfill it. ]
look deeper yet, and I see in the opeI
countenance, lustrous eyes, and digni
fed mien, evidences of intelligence
and truth, of moral heroism and deter
mination to maintain the right. I SEE
these successive classes becoming the
fathers and mothers in the community
carrying the refinement and intelli
gence acquired in the schoolroom into
the social and business relations of life
/ see them making industrious citizens
fearing God and eschewing evil; lab
oring to extend the cause of the grea
Master, and making the church of Je
sus the object of their noblest efforts
AS discover these fruits Of liberia
and enlightened education, I exclaim
'<These are the harvests of which We
may well be proud these results of oul
care compensate US thousand fold
The school house is as necessary t.
the prosperity of community as the
church edifce. A well appointed ant
properly graded district school will
achieve as lasting results as any agen
cy entrusted to human efforts. Justly
therefore, it is a matter of satisfaction
that we assemble to-day to witness thu
completion of this preliminary work
to Welcome teachers and scholars
to their future home, and bid then
God speed as they start afresh the in
tellectual race.
This day, with the Divine blessing
shall commemorate new era in Sabi
ma. To-day are movements inaugur
ated of vital Importance for they vii
insure the happiness of thousands
But are we equally sensible of the re
sponsibility that is thus ushered upol
rs, in the selection of teachers, the eX
animation of text books, the grea
questions of government, and system
and religion, vitality associated wit
education Do we recognize the fac
that none but the very best guides ar
capable of plotting these little barks-
none but those whose principles an
practice render it safe to make ther
: models for the young? Theateacher
how grand the calling! how worth
the best faculties of mind and hear
Who shall over-estimate the respons
bility of developing the thoughts an
feelings, of inculcating right motive
and directing the affections of thes
scores of youth. Oh! worker in Tn
sphere of first Importance, go to til
great Teacher for wisdom. May h
, Spirit fill your soul, so that duly weigl
ing this dread esponsibility, you ma
wish His grace and sufficiency and fu
J fill your mission.
And now, dear friends, may we vel
ture to ask you what you intend to d
It is not enough to vaguely affirm tn
t. you intend to have a school-to ha1
certain instructors and invite the chi
dren to bring their text books for spe
fled recitations. We must have de
mite conceptions of our duty, in ord
\ either to do it, or to know when
) is faithfully performed
Let us suggest some results of pu
in lie instruction, which, when thoroug
n ly impaired, bears not only upon t
Juvenile years of the scholar, but h
2 an intimate connection with his we
= being for time and eternity. If, und
God, this work is accomplished, yo
nd efforts will not be in vain.
dd ild5 There are great many effects of
nd uyaTl ord oroH 1sstrioE zahOrSl ~