Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-03-02
and July, by ballot unless otherwise agreed

for holding meetings, procuring lecturers,
raising funds, and in general to take charge
OF the Interests OF the association.
Art. 8. All expenses incurred by this
association shall be betrayed by voluntary
contributions.
Art. G. These articles may be altered or
amended by two thirds vote at any regu-
lar meeting OF the association, or at a spe-
cial meeting called for the purpose.
Art. Z. Any person may become a MEM
her Of this association by subscribing TO
these articles.
The association, 1t is understood, is de-
signed to lie OF philosophical rather than
a strictly religious character, and to afford
an opportunity, not only for the "un-
churched" element, including spiritualists,
free-thinkers, etc., but for members OF ex-
listing organizations aud of all creeds and
opinions TO meet for the investigation and
discussion of questions pertaining to hu-
man welfare and happiness. Thirty-four
persons signed their names 10 the above
articles, and proceeded to elect officers, as
follows: President, J. A. Stevens vice
presidents, L. NJ. Howe, G. B. Kirwan,
Edward Crosby, L. j. Carpenter; secre-
tary, d. d. Siedman; treasurer, E. F.
Brooks. Meetings, for the present. will be
held every Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock,
in Harmony hall. Next Sunday there will
be discussion regarding the duty Of lib
erals to organize.
A TIMELY WORD Oh AN IMPORTANT Sun
JECT.
Only three weeks are now left before
the close of the current year of our Brat
tluboro public schools, and, as the brief
time which remains is being filled with
even more than the usual constant and I'M
renting efforts for advancement and i'm
provement on the part of both teachersand
pupils, the season Is one which offers I'M
usual advantages to parents and friends TO
become acquainted with the working of
tho schools, and to form n candid judgment
as to their merits or defects. Though the
duty is too often neglected, that il IS the
duty Of every good citizen to keep himself
informed as 10 what is being done in the
schools is beyond question, and there are
at this time some special reasons why the
people of this village should esteem it a
paramount obligation rs well as a happy
privilege to carefully acquaint themselves,
men and women alike, with the operation
VI Jul -Nuppl HlHttlAf anu ihbit tsIfSN hAi
with what il being attempted or accom-
plished in the higher grades. While we
do not for a moment believe that the vot-
srs Of this district are DESTROYS of, or will
permit, complete overturn OF the exist
ing order Of things, under which our
schools have taken a constantly advancing
rank, equal 10 that Of any others in the
State, and have yearly graduated classes Of
pupils as proficient and as carefully drilled
In all the branches attempted as the most
exacting critic could desire, we do believe
that the present is time when every we'll
wisher Of the schools should prepare him
self for intelligent action on any issue
which may arise. II our schools are TO
continue to prosper and to be proper nurs-
cries for the intellectual training of our
children it must be largely because the pa
rents take deep personal interest in them
and keep themselves prepared in any case
of dispute or emergency 10 speak and act
iatelligenty, on their own cont ictions, and
not as following the lead of any individual
or class of individuals. Should it at any
time happen that, owing to any partisan
feeling, or to any merely personal within or
caprice, there should be sudden overturn
OF an order OF things, which, If it has its
shortcomings, has also many aud we'll
known counterbalancing excellencies, de-
plorabe as the result might he, it would be
but the Legitimate outgrowth of GOODNESS,
Indifference aud inattentiOn on the part OF
those who, as parents and citizens, have the
final control Of the schools vested in their
han1s We do mot noW say that M cbanua
of any kind is desirable or should be made.
We simply aim TO enforce the principle that
i0hdteUcr is done should be done intelli-
gently, as the result of mature thought aud
conviction, and not hastily and blindly, or
possibly at some individual beck or call.
As we have already intimated the present
is more than any other favorable time of
year to bee ONE acquainted with what teach
ers and pupils are attempting. In the clos
ing weeks which are passing the results of
the labor Of tue whole school year are, as it
were sum med up and made tangible. Is
pecially is this the case in the High and
Grammar schools, aud we close, as we be-
gan, with urging every interested person
10 embrace the opportunity offered. An
occasional hour spent in the schools during
the next three weeks will give one far
better idea OF their system, methods and
results than can possibly be obtained from
the recitation on examination day, while
it will also tend TO promote and confirm
independent individual judgment on
the most important local subject which
now claims our attention. The principle
which we now wish to emphasize is that of
individual responsibility, but there are
other considerations in this connection of
which we may make note in future arti-
Gle.
OUR TOWN OFFICERS.
The annual March meeting for tho cleo
lion of officers for ihe towns in Vermont