The Lincoln County herald., 1871-11-23


(Of Troy Christian Institute)
Before the L:ncola CosnIy Teachers
Institute. ~
Fello,o Teachers: 1t was Sir Walter
Scott, We believe, who peuned the follow
ing: From the moment the mother
first binds the tender form Of the infant,
until the hour that the hand Of some kind
friend wipes the death damp from the
brow Of the dying, we canaot exist with.
out mutual help" 1t was peuned in the
realization Of tho dependence we have
upon each other. Though possessing q
genius second only, perhaps, to the great
bard Of Avon, no one realized, perhaps.
more than the author Of Waverly, the
dependence Of creature upon creature.
Indeed, human nature is such that
though We may be "Mouarch of oil We
survey" yet sympathy Is 90 interwoven
10 our organization, that
rev arc tho heal, whonvu tUucu
Bids the sweet fountain fow."
This thought OF mutual dependence and
necessity Of association comes up as We
stand before you this evening, aud think
Of the feeling and the common wants that
have brought you, the educators Of
the youth Of the county, into consulta
ton and association. Thus feeling aud
knowing the objects and aims OF your
coming together, 1t may not be amiss in
the few minutes We spend With you this
evening to consider tho growth and
power Of Teachers Institutes, and to add
few words on the work of the teacher.
About eighteen or twenty years ago,
if we recoIlect Alright, in one Of the coun
ties Of the state Of New York, . little
band Of teachers, full Of enthusiasm aud
hope for their noble calling, met to con
suit each other about the welfare and
interests Of their schools, and to exchange
opinions about their profession and the
best mode Of imparting instruction. The
result was p permanent organization,
small in its beginning, though wholly
voluntary. 1t was a labor of love, a
free will effort Of true and noble hearts,
before etate and local laws thought of
throwing their coercive power around the
teachers calling, and compelling its fol.
lowers to meet and mingle for their own
improve and for the b. ncfit Of those
entrusted to their care. That orgauiza-
ton, small in its beginning and circum i,
scribed in its immediate results, was des'
tined, under tho guiding hand Of the
All wise and Omnipotcnt, 10 be the most
important, and | might say world wide
in its influence aud its results.
Those men, or at least some Of them
have perhaps passel away from the
scenes of their earthly labors. They
left their ;mp-ess upon the minds they
handled as you and I do ours. They
did their duty as they knew it. But in
their humble efforts they did not see
perhaps, the mighty influence they were
sending forth to tone the moral and
educational forces Of all this broad land
Daniel, in his vision of the Kingdom
Of the coming age, saw little stone Gu
out Of the mountain without hands, ant
it continued to roll until its glory fllet
all tho earth. So the influence Of tha
small gathering, silently, and almost un
known as to the place Of its origin, ha
reached beyond tho county lines tina
gave it birth. 1t has established ;
county Institute in almost every count.
of the Northern and Western states
County Institutes have given birth t
State Associations. and State Associs
tions to National ones, until the who'll
educational system Of our country is IN
vigorated with new life. casting it's bless
ings with free aud muni6ccnt hand to al
its citizens. And beyo the limits of ou
own land, down the Andes. the iufuenc
of that little band is vending its way
until the sister Republics Of South Ame,
lea have caught tho spirit Of cducstiona
progress, and are beginning to breathe
ireer life and to rise to higher destin
BY providing o better education for thei
heterogeneous population. Aud tha
influence is destiued still to spread unit
, the monarchial powers Of the n.tions be
yond tho sea learn lessons Of Peace, o
Love and of Liberty from the Republi
of the West, whea the whole world sha
rejoice iu q perfect freedom, learned fro,
Columbia, then in fact as we'll as in son
"Ths Queen Of the world and the child Of ii
skies"
Your association, though now in II
Infancy, is an offspring Of that same in
Aueuce. The aims aud aspiration tha
have brought you together are similar
those that inspired tho hearts OF the fri
organized band Of teachers. Your orgar
ization stands to that in . measure q
fleet to cause, but as an effect 10 its tur
may be cause, SO wo pray that the re
suits Of your work may be the awakenin
to higher thought among yourself Ives,
stimulation to q greater exertion and to
higher excellence, and q greater prof
b cheney 10 your profession, until throug
you and your labors your county stan
forth FIRST 10 the rank Of intellectual an
moral excellence. Whatever pleasure
of association, Of personal friendships.
intellectual or spiritual feasts you ma
, experience, they will be but the foretasts
{ of the larger and richer draughts 20
will ouaff as YOU meet in after years an