Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-07-18

j. NJ. Hall Providence, Rhode Island
ASSISTANT SECRETARY,
q. A. Lteheld Maiden, Massachusetts
TREASURER
George A. walton, weshed, Massachusetts
The committee on honorary members reported
that the time was not sufficient for the right per-
formance Of their duties, and they were allowed
to postpone their report until next year The
committee on neurology made mention of the de
ceased members as follows: Mr.. Warren Johnson
President Caswell, Rev. S. r. Hall, one Of the
founders OF the Institute, and Mr. Luther Robin
SON The chairman also reported the recent death
of Professor Sanborn Tenney Mr.. Rounds, Of
Maine, paid a brief tribute to the memory of Mr.
Johnson, OF Newton, Mass, and spoke of his life
and labors Mr.. Hammond proposed an increase
in the number Of the committee on neurology, and
Messrs. j. +. Celley of Vermont and Hiram Or
cutt of New Hampshire, were added to the com
mittee.
After the transaction of certain other business,
Superintendent A. T. Stone, of Springfield, Mass,
was introduced and read a poem on "The Educa-
tional Outlook" This paper took view of the rea-
tion Of the general government To the cause OF edu
cation, and replete with good points which were
duly appreciated by the audience. Following Mr.
Stones paper was an address on the Recent As
saults on Normal Schools" by Rev. A. d. Mayo,
Of Springfield, Mass He said it was now only
thirty-eight years since the first normal school
on American soil began its career with three scho
ars, under Cyrus Pierce. He believed that nor
NAL scholars were new instrumentality in the
would be shorn Of their strength. II the charac-
ter and qualifications of the teacher are allowed
To degenerate, our schools will become pauper
schools and produce pauper scholars. The speaker
traced the history Of the normal school from its
beginning to the present time, and told, in an
tertaining manner, what vast power for good
that institution is. The normal school enterprise
has weathered the storms that have heaten
against it, and now stands power in the land
AFTERNOON SESSION.
In the afternoon of Thursday, Professor Rug
giles, of Dartmouth college read an able paper ON
" The Place OF History in Education, and the
Method of Teaching it," The Professor handled
his subject slSfully, and advocated the idea Of
teaching history by topics and authors which
idea was well received by his hearers. Rev. II.
T. Fuller, Of st. Iohnshury, followed, with
paper on Honorary and Educational Titles.
lie said In this country II man has title he is
supposed to have earned 1t. lie spoke of the
universal misapplicaton of titles; told what con-
stituted mans right to certain titles, and thought
that Mr." was good enough for anybody. The
title, Professor" belongs only 10 one who has
| occupied chair in some Institution of learning
The Wholesale application of this and other titles
| deprives them of their honor and dignity. He
urged that teachers he careful in nstructing their
pupils in regard to this matter, that they may
come To make right use of these titles. MIR
Fuller's paper was rather brief, but was none the
| less enjoyed on that account.
President Hubert, of Middlebury, then read a
paper ON Life and Form" The limited time al
| fully as he had desired but he thought he could
say enough 10 suggest to the minds Of the teach
ers what he meant. His paper was able and re-
plete with food for reflection, and thoroughly
enjoyed
President Bcknell then spoke briefly of the
! growth of the Institute from the time when a
| party of gentlemen had assembled at its fu-
neral which turned out To be anything but u
funeral until the present time, when the lnsti-
| tute numbered some six hundred members He
then introduced Professor Butterfeld, who gave a
brief sketch OF the makeup Of the phonetic Ian
guage by Professor Bell, which had proven 50
wonderful an invention
The afternoon session was closed by Mrs H. NJ
Miller, who favored the audience with the reading
of several selections, and was heartily applauded
EVENING SESSION
The session Of Thursday evening was occupied
for the most part with lecture on the " NatiOna
Park" by Mr.. William l. Marshall The lecture
was most interesting and intrnctye one, ant
was listened TO by "A very large audience. View,
Of the attractive features Of the national parl
were thrown upon canvas, giving good idea o
the wonders OF that region, and adding great,
10 the interest Of the lecture Every one pfesen
was amply repaid for attending
After the lecture the unfinished business wa
taken up and transacted The propositions sub
mitted by the President were adopted, with Sigh
amendment by the Institute Resolutions Of heart,
thanks TO the people of Montpelier for their hos
pitalityi OF thanks to railroad officers and othen
who had aided in making the meetings success
OF thanks % the Officers OF the lnstfute, recon
mending the appointment by Congress OF n scien
thc commission to visit the National Park, wer'
unanimously adopted by the Institute The box
ology was sung, and the President, after a few
kindly words to the citizens of the town and mem
bers OF the Institute, declared the session closed
. The meetings of the Institute have certainl,
, been success, and no one can doubt that thu
town has been benefited by its visit here. Tn,
attendance Increased from the very beginning
Q reaching, on Thursday evening, close proNimit,
10 one thousand two hundred According to TN
statements OF the officers, this has been the larg
est gathering during the existence Of the Institute
Our people have shown themselves fully awake I,
the claims of the cause OF education. There wa
q spirit OF gO0d-nature manifested throughout tn
entire session, and the frequent sallies OF wit an'
pleasantly kept the audience in the best Of spirits