Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1874-05-30
EDUCATIONAL apyANrAeEs.

/ The foundation stone Of the Patrons /
of Husbandryis education Upon this |
solid basis it proposes to build its SUI
perstructure. 1t has not a single hope
of success upon any other foundation. !
Its mystic rites, Its social features and
it's financial benefits are nothing in the
absence of the elevation of the mind.
Mind-educated minds everything.
lit is Alpha and Omega-the beginning
aud the end. Its counterpart is igno-
rance. That degrades. 1t debases the
man. 1t curtails his mental vision. Lit
iutereepts him In his laudab BILE pursuits.
1t drives him into forbidden paths
Indeed there is 10 greater curse to a
people than that of ignorance.
Compromising the matter in this
light. the founders of our Order sa-
gaciously laid broad and deep the foun-
dations of liberal system of educa-
ton for the farmers sons and daugh-
tiers. Hence we assume no equivocal
attitude upon the subject, and put forth
no uncertain sound This vital senti-
ment will be found running through
our literature and forming an essential
part of our ceremonial performances.
The master of every grange is instruct
ed to look to the educational advance
ment of all the children within his ju-
risdietion and TO see to it that they are
not banished at the tender age of
childhood from the schoOllo of early in
struction to the labors of the fields,
before the mind has received that gen.
tle care and training which enlivens,
explains and digui6es labor.
The fact is at once recognized and
Its claims urged and proposed that the
work of agriculture can never take its
appropriate rank and command the
respect it deserves unless the tillers of
the soil appreciate the necessity and
importance of intelligence in their
calling. This is the first great lesson
10 impart Ii is the foundation and
source Of all agricultural advancement,
and the only means by which labor can
be dignifed and made honorable Ii
farming is not respectable; if it is
looked upon as degrading, it is because
its votaries have, all the while, paid too
little attention to scholastic attain
ment. 1t is because their sons and
daughters could not take rank in edu-
Gated circles, and on this account have
been snubbed and showed aside.
The object of our organization is to
break this terrible spell to arouse the
farmers from their lethargy and to
stimulate them to press on TO higher
plan of educational advancement
Nor is there simple doubt but that it
will be successful in the end. The
task is too mighty to be accomplished
in day. The whole ground work has
10 be laid. Old chronic. habits and
prejudices have to be removed, and a
system inaugurated that will effectu-
ally uproOt the fossilized systems and
ideas of the past. 1t will take time to
do all this, but it will be done. Light
is already breaking. The agricultural
mind, throughout the range of our Or
der, is waking up and deeper interest
upon the subject is manifesting itself
Inc cry has gone forth that we mus;
have agricultural colleges for the spec
ial purpose of qualifying our sons for
agricultural life. We are demanding
that ourcommOn schools shall embrace
q system looking to the same end. We
are even clamorous for better class
of text books, and that they shall be
uniform throughout the land. And
the time is not distant when the farm
ers will not allow an educator to take
up school in their midst who can not
at least, give the elementary principles
of agricultural science.
Now when the country sees the Pat.
rons of Husbandry making such laud.
able exertiOns to elevate and improve
mentally, one of the largest and most
formidable classes in the world, why
should it not give the strongest en-
couragement to the undertaking and
assist, by every possible means, to car.
ry it forward ?-Grdnge Outlook.