Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1878-06-27
OUR COLLEGES.

with credit to students and professors. The
plan OF written examinations was followed in
the collegiate department Of both institutions,
and the character of the questions propounded
indicated n thorough course Of instruction. ,
Wo wero present for q short whilo at the
Female College and heard the examination of
the little girls in tho lower departments and
tho promptness of thoir answers to the many
questions asked, showed thorough training.
This young institution, founded by DR..
Smeltzer, deserves the patronage and en-
couragement of our entire population.
Women are tho formers aud fashioners of
generation for the first twelve years of life,
and ut oil times exercising q powerful inlu-
once over men and nations. 1t cannot be
disputed that children owe their genius and
disposition more to thoir mothers than to all
others, and the higher education of our
daughters benefits them and their offspring.
An educated mother instills into her children
correct speaking and useful information from
infancy, and at the same timo develops tho
noble impulses aud cffections of the heart.
Collegiate education of women is an export
mcnt of the present century, and with us Of
the present year, but it is a matter now at
tracting general attention. We can conceive
of no greater moral or intellectual force to
purify social life and elevate the masses than
the higher education of woman. Dr.. Smeltzer
has hazarded his private means in this enter
prise and possesses the energy, iatelligence
and Christian character to mako is a success.
if our people will only appreciate tho advan-
tagos thus offered them, and stand by his
efforts with the interest tho cause merits No
one can shut his eyes to the intellectual and
moral elevation of tho people OF our town
and county during the past ten years, nor can
there bo any difference Of opinion as to the
source from which this desirable change took
it's rise. The presence of college here for
ton years, though weak ir money and patron
age, has exposed ignorance and created
desire for education. 1t was this which
opened the pockets and hearts of our people
to subscribe twenty thousand dollars for the
endowment of a college here, when Newberry
College was removed, and it is this, too, which
has originated the desire for and establish
ment of q female college in Walhalla. If
any one had predicted twelve years ago that
to day tn ere would be two 1ourishing literary
colleges in Wnlhnlla ho would have been re,
garded fit subject for Bedlam. Still it is
true and no man can estimate tho future
benefits of these institutions on tho charac-
ter of our people, the value of our property
and the development Of the native resources
of our county, not to mention their influence
on tho morals and government Of the country
ut large. We have natural advantages on.
joyed by few sections and with Western
connection by railroad, which will be surely
mado in time, tho little sesd of learning
planted hero may become great tree, under
whose branches the children Of remote secs
tions will sit and gather the rich fruits Of
their hearts to cherish these infant institutions
as the true source of real wealth and pross
perity, for all tho patronage and help ex-
tended to them will be repaid with compound
interest.
SUNDAY EXERCISES.
On Sunday at IL O'Clock A. M. tho Bacca-
laureate serman of Adger College was
preached by DR.. j. B. Adger, from the last
clause Of tile 2lst verse Of the lst chapter Of
Romans: "But became vain in their imagina.
tions, and their foolish heart was darkened."
In his Introductory remarks tho doctor spoke
briefly of tho auspicous opening Of the
college, tho reasonable expectation of it's
future career Of honor and usefulness and
the great credit duo to those who had founded
and put it in operation. In a delicate manner
he alluded to its name and expressed his
thanks for the same, though no claimed no
personal honor in this but ascribed it to the
religious creed to which it had been rendered.
The Fundamental idea Of his discourse was
the refutation of the maxim that it matters
not what man believes so he is sincere in
that belief, or that sincerity and not truth is
the test of responsibility. The question was
asked, is man responsible for his belief, and
with much learning the speaker showed
that no greater misfortune could befall moral
ityand religion than to mako sincerity tho
test of responsibility. Belief IL the conolu-
sion of our Judgment in a matter after hear-
ing evidence and argument upon 1t, and if
il, Q evidence be clear and wholly credible, tho
result must be truth in O fair and unbiased
mind In tho arrival at belief in religious
matters man sits as judge and God occupies
tho witness stand, testifying in the nature Of
nun and in his word spoken by the mouths
of the prophets and apostles. Correct belief
becomes therefore possible o,tbosa who seek