The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-07-11

| On Place of Nert Meehng.-J. b. blnlofu
Richmond; W. L. Davis, Petersburg, a.
Smith, WaIrenton. -, N:
On Finance L. Cooke, Hollln'
| Institute: William f. Fox, Richmond
Richard L. Carne, Alexandria.
| on Questions and General BUSINESS
| william r, Abbot, Bellevue High School:
professor B. l.. Gildersleeve, University Of
Virginia: Charles D. Walker, Fairfax.
The following new members, reported o!
the appropriate committee, were elected: j.
Fl. Binford, T. P. Crump. S. T. Pendleton
!. P. Thomas, Rev. r. H. McKim,: Rev. j
little. S. T. Beach, and james G. Clark, o.
Richmond; John S. Beach, of Alexandria ID
| r. Miller, of Culpeper /; Professor 5. w. AV
| erett. of Danville; George 81. Swarm, o
| Cumberland W. NJ. Chalmers, of Bedford
and D, Tucker Brooke, of Jefferson.
The Association then adjourned until II
| O'Clock Tomorrow. KIT. =.
SECOND DAYS PROCEEDINGS. So.
The Election Of New Members and O.
Oficers-Meports of Important, Com
mittees-lntercsting Discussions or
| the study Of History and Mathemat
| tcs. r,a.i. ~ Heie-r'. 10, !.
| The Association assembled at O'Clock, thu
| president, Professor Joynes, in the chair
| The opening prayer was made by the Kew
j. Little, of Alexandria.
| After the reading of the minutes the Presi
dent announced the Committee on the Ed,t
| cattonaI Overwhelmingly, Colonel r. E.
Withcrs and Messrs. Johu P. Mcclure, Jr.
and S. 7. Pendleton. 81.
| The reports of the Treasurer and Secreta
ries were next offered-that of the former
| officer, in his absence, being read by the Cor
responding Secretary. A balance of nearly
$500 remains to the credit of the Association
| The following new members were elected
j. X. Tay Tor, j. Arthur Otiey, and >. lsaat
Brown, Loudoun; j. u. Mrkenny, Ma
| rion Lindsay, and Il. T. Johnson, Rock
bridge ;'B. r. Janney, District of Columbia
William Hermann, Orange; Thomas G
Read. Sberundoah; Frank M. Dixon, Lex
inston; Professor N. B. Webster, Norfolk
james F.. Croker, Portsmouth; j. Black
we'll Smith, r. Emory Blackwell, and p. s.
| Blackwell, of Bethel Male Academy, Eau
quier W. n. Mcdonald and w. FL. Kablc,
| Jefferson. .Fr
| .- REPORTS OF COMMITTEES.
The committee appointed for that pur-
nose submitted nominations for the several
offices of the Association for the coming
year. Mr.. L. NJ. Blackford, principal of the
Episcopal High School, near this city, was
named for president, Mr.. BIackford said
| that, while highly approaching the compli-
ment, he felt constrained, ON personal
grounds, at present; Internationally to. de-
cline the office rendered. He regretted the
necessity of doing SO, and gave assurances OF
unchanged devotion to the Interests of the
Association 100 4ssl-l-7a = sfz'g n
r After some discussion the report was re-
committed with instructions to, the commit
tee to report later in the day. .''''
The reports of special committees being
next in order, that appointed ',to report,
with mention. Of appropriate textbooks, q
scheme OF historical study for schools to ex-
tend through three years" was called. This
committee consists of Messrs. L. III. Black.
ford, Of the Episcopal High School; w. 4.
Abbot, of Bellevue High. School; and John
II. Powell, of the Richmond Seminary. The
report was submitted through the chair
man. a..!' l-... -.,.~..r
i The committee assumed the value OF MIS-
tory as An element in education, but thougnt
the mode and measure of its teaching In our
schools often obnoxious to criticism. !.
Asked to recommend a scheme OF hIstorl.
cal course "to extend through three years,
the committee were not advised (When, I'D
wears or advancement, this course1s to begln.
In the absence of Instructions they selected
the age of fourteen as that most suitable;
doing so because our boys and girls, on an
average, leave school not later than seven
teen. and by this time such a course may
Have been completed. The report presup.
noses the study in earlier years OF elemen'
tarr treatfses on the history Of our own
coIintry and on that of Greece, Rome, and
England. with a fair share of knowledge OF
the Bible. I.3tI&lf - s=f q .E.is@.s
/ with this, by way of introduction, the
proposed schemeiis quoted from. the report:
~ SCHEME OF HISTORICAL STUDY. ).
The scheme we would recommend, stated
i'm the most general terms, embraces a.
Sacred, (2) Ancient, and 81 Modern History
"a full session being allowed to each. i.
The history, as distinct from the doctrines,
taught in the Old and New Testament Scrip
lures is not clearlysunderstood by one in ten
Of cultivated Christian adults much less by
the best-taught children. Yet it would be
hard to show that, irrespective of its reli-
gious bearing and matchless verify, the his
tory contained in the Bible Is less valuable
than what is drawn from Herodotus or
Livy. or less worthy to be studied. The
Bible itself does not, in our judgment, meet
the requirements of school textbook 10
history, and is not, therefore, named. The
narrative is often interrupted, much matter
is necessarily omitted, the style is antiquated
and sometimes obscure. and much elucida.
ton of other difficulties is indispensable.
While these and other reasons satisfy
us that the sacred volume Is unsuited
for such class instruction as is now in ques.
ton, it may be added that the study OF
such manuals rs those to be. named greatly
heightens the learners capacity to appreciate
the Scriptures, themselves, and thus, so far
from diminishing, tends Invariably to com
mend their perllsal, An observation, indeed,
of several years on the part of ono of the
committee satisfies him that in this way. ms
q general rule, have even stbe most intelii.
gent pupils gained their first accurate and
comprehensive knowledge of the sacred
narrative.
Ancient history, as here meant, includes
that OF the East, of Greece and Rome. ItS
beginning is lost In the renotest times; It's
latest limit is the accession Of Commodus,
A. d. $50. SO .ss5
Modern history, though dating commonly,
We believe, from the fall of the, W estern
Empire, is in our scheme less precisely
boupded--u series, of sketches, generally
With i thread of connection, from the con-
quest Of Jsrtisslsii, to the present dry, &C.