The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-05-12
COOPERATION.

In address giUen at the Opening Of the
Ffnh Term Of the Laurence linton
School Lyceun', 6v >. q. Burked.
published by request Of Patrons and others J
MEMBERS OF THE LYCEUM, PATRONS
AND FRIENDS Il have not called you
together this evening, for the purpose
of reading to you learned lecture, or
anything of the kind. Had 1 the de.
sire, and the ability, to treat you with
an instructive and formal discourse, |
have not had the time to prepare one.
Attending the State Teachers Associa.
tion, visiting home, etc., occupied our
short vacation; and the first week of
school has been very busy one, fraught
with its usual cares and hard labor so
l have had no fitting moment for con-
tinued thought or writing. The frag,
mentary bits that | have written, have
been written in fragmentary bits of time,
snatched between the hours of labor !;
and, in times when, perhaps, l would
have done better to sleep. As our Con-
stitution provides for an inaugural At
the commencement of each term Of the
Lyceum, and as e.r-oficio, the duty of
delivering one falls to the lot Of your
humble servant this time, / have simply
desired to improve the opportunity, by
having friendly talk with the parents
and patrons of the school, as well as the
members of the Lyceum. Having ad-
dressed the Lyceum several times, l
thought would deviatc a little this
time from the general practice, and [
have been 30 presumptuous as to solicit
hearers outside of our own membership.
1t is very seldom that l call you out
expressly to hear me, and hope you
will not consider yourselves bored but
will bear with me while l shall present
a few thoughts which, though crudely
expressed in wo,ds, ought to be, and
are, think, of common interest to U.s.
So closely connected are the interests of
the school and of the Lyceum, that they
may be said to be inseperably united
At least, we consider the Lyceum an
invaluable adjunct of the school and
we find the most prominent members of
the Lyceum doing the best work in
school.
Our Lyceum is no longer simply an
experiment. 1t has proved a success
even beyond the most sanguine expecta.
tions of its founders and friends. 1 re-
joice at it, and congratulate its members
in view of its glorious future. Four
terms of successful labor, fraught with
its own rich reward, make us stronger,
and we assume the duties of this, the
fifth term. with greater confidence.-
Very few schools of the size of this
sustain so large Lyceup throughout
the entire school year. When we first
talked of attempting it here, many, no
doubt thoug,tt that we were foolish, and
that it could not be done; that as soon
as tine first excitement consequent upon
organizing should die away, the interest
in the work would subside, and the So
ciety would die natural death. But l
am thankful that it has passed that or.
deal, and is beyond danger. And in
stead of retrograding in any way, it is
growing in interest and accommodating
strength in its onward march. 1t has
thus far afforded us the means of much
enjoyment, as well as hard labor and
consequent Improvement, and if l mis-
take not, our young people have become
much attached to it, and would be very
10th indeed to have it sicken and die
| do not think there can be any danger
as long as we have so much youthful
fire and energy to keep it alive. Bu'
there is much work-hard work-yet tC
be done. We must labor, and labor
with will to rise. There is no suct
thing as standing still. Progress Oh
retrogradation is the inevitable law. L
we do not set our mark high, and s.riv,
with laudable ambition to attain it, W,
shall fall by the natural laws of gravi
tation; chance circumstances will no
protect us and uphold US as individual
or as a society. We must labor Non,
of us have the right to desert it now
because we have held all the importan
, Offices of the society. Those who hav,
, enjoyed its favors in the past are unde
obligations for those favors, and thougl
it may be under good headway, the
ought not even now to /" fold their arm
in lazy lock . and say we have done
let others work. Nor ought any mem
bers to leave because they have reape,
all the honors, and can now devot
. themselves entirely to their own selfs
purposes, not giving any time for tn
enjoyment and Improvement of Others
Narrow, indeed, is the view of that per
J son who can see nothing but self.
Officers and meubers have done wei
in the past, but that will not suffice fo
the future. We must labor on and OF
5 continually cooperating in order t
reach the highest attainment of ou
n object. But this brings us to ou
[ special subject for consideration thl
!, evening In the first place, purpos
to use this word Cooperation IN il