The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-06-21
4 Sfts .lta : tlsst ~ ~
COOPERATION.

Essay by 4. w. Gentry, read before
the end Quarterly Meeting of Deer
Greek, Harper, Sandy Springs and
Town Greek Oranges. Convened at
~ Harper Grange Hall, on 10th May.
1917, and Published by request OF the
Meeting. :.se.;lss ...s-.., :. ..3.a.a -y.sl
This is a subject embracing a large
field of thought, and as extensive in i'm:
portance as it is in magnitude. Its
literal signifcation is suorkasg together,
and,we have only to give it our earnest
thought to see. the advantages reaped
from it on every hand. Although We
may fail to recognize the benefits accru-
ing from it, yet we-do actually realize
them every day. Without cooperation
what benefits could we reasonably ex-
pect from Church or State? |? from social
or domestic life? Marx you its signi6-
cation: working together, united efforts,
an union of energies st3i4 E'jt
"Where two or three are gathered
together in my name. there will 7 be
with then, emit to own and bless them, 2 is q
divine promise with which we are famil-
lar; and the condition of the promise is,
that there be 9 perfect union in this one
good work of service to him who created
all things, and by whose power all things
ara preserved. ss.
n state are we not now in thu, midst
Of: the. most striking and cheering Illus
trations of the power Of weH-conducted
cooperation; aud d do Ne not each one Of
us confidently hope that the blessings
which once crowned sonrt people, but
which the past has torn from us, will
soon be seen returning to us through the.
apenev Of wise and 'w,elI.directed CO.
8 ofnerat;on : If Is powerful I'VE agency. 1t
is powersitself The. mind has only to
penetrate its signi6cation, and then fol-
low along in the track Of its operations,
in the various directions in which it
demonstrates itself, to perceive at once
that the word Inherently carries with it
the idea of power <,y. q. ~
It's a power for good or evil, accord,
ing as the prompting motive is good or
evil. |sss u M. s-a, ..;es;
BY its power, as manifested in the;
Temperance cause, the tide; Of intoSica-;
ton, bearing upon its bosom all manner
of evil, has been caused to ebb from
man MANY family and many community,
leaving them to- enjoy the comforts for
which they were designed quiet instead
of clamor, peace instead Of strife, aud
happiness instead Of misery.
q BY the united efforts of pions men and
women, in various praiseworthy organi-
zations, christian inluencelhas been ex-.
tended far and wide; heathen minds
have been made to become radiant with
intelligence, and useful in disseminating
knowledge. The Sabbath School is an
other instance of the power, certainly SO
wellunderstcod and generally admitted
as to make it needless to halt here
The whole matter Of education in our
country stands mainly upon this basis
for Its dissemination. We have no COM
pulsory law requiring a child to attend
school, or compelling the parent to send
it. 1t is by the combined energies of
communities that teachers are secured,
schools kept in operation, and general
opening thus made for the education OF
the children of our country. Let q COM
munity lose the advantage of co-opera-
ton in this particular, let them refuse to
unite their interests and efforts in this
one object of supplying q school, and
they thus, blindly or wilfully, thrust the
means Of education beyond their reach,
and close the doorsof instruction against
their own children and so long as they
continue in; this course will ignorance
- III
and superstition gain the ascendancy,
trailing after them their multitudinous
host ofattendant evils, for ignorance and
vice go hand .il in hand. band
Without cooperation success will be
sought in vain, even within the small
circle of a single family; even by him
who attempts to run only a one-horse
farm without or by her who would keep
her house in order within.
Cooperation lies at the foundation Of
almost every enterprise Of public utility.
By it railroads are constructed, and many
other channels of Importance opened up
to facilitate the transaction of business
in which nearly all Of us are concerned.