The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1882-02-03

opened by music from the choir, after which
Professor Howey addre ,sed the large audi
ence assembled, his address being principally
a laudation of the public school system. He
said the conception of universal education
did not dawn upon the minds Of men until
the sixteenth century. There were great
patrons of learning before that, but they
acted for the few and not for the many. Man
Is beginning to recognize all other men as
his equal; to see the brotherhood of man and
the fatherhood of God. The public schools
have gained such favor as to overcome all
obstacles. The speaker proceeded to give a
history of the establishment and growth of
the public schools and the oppoHItion they
had met with, and mass of statistics show
ing their cost, relation to crime, and so forth.
In speaking of the criticisms made against
the public schools, he admitted they were
not so thorough a. they should be; were not
perfect, but held that year by year they were
becoming better, and that 1t was the duty of
all classes to unite to make them what they
ought to be. They were the common prop
erty Of all, and therefore 1t was the duty Of
all to work for them. Much Of the critisism
was overdrawn; 1t was based on the idea
that the old days were better than these; it
was q hero-worship of the old schoolmaster
and his birch rod. To say that the pupils in
the old-time country schools learned as much
in three months al pupils in the finest grad
ed schools learn now in nine months, was
absurd. Many who make the criticism are
incompetent judges. Nothing less than the
co-equal, co-e Stensive education of men and
women will satisfy the spirit of progress
that characterizes the presenG age.
The address was greeted with much APP
plause at its close, and after music by the
choir, Miss May Hodges reci6ed Longfel-
lows "Bridge" for the pleasure of the audi
ence.
Mr.. Catlin stated that he had received a
letter from Professor w. Egbert Smith, ex-
pressing regret at his inability to attend and
wishing the institute the best of success in
its labors.
The committee on the Garfield Monument
Fund made the following report, which was
adopted:
We, your committee on Teachers and
Pupils Garfield Monument Fund, beg leave
| to submit the following:
We would recommend that tine Ierrltofla
| Superintendent submit the matter to the SUI
perintendents of the various counties, re-
| cuesting them to confer with the teachers
| and pupils of their respective counties, and
report the results Of said conference to the
| Territorial Superintendent.
| The Committee on Resolutions made the
following report, which was adopted:
| WHEREAS, Since our last annual meeting
| it has pleased Divine Providence to remove
| from our midst Thomas III. Irvine, ST., wht
| was one of our first members, and for severa
| years one Of our permanent officers; there
| fore be it
Resolued, That this institute recognizes tn,
| loss of faithful member and substantial
friend of education, and a man fully honoret
| by all who knew him.
| Resoiued, That we cherish the memory o
| Mr.. s. y. Carr, an active member of the las
session, who was called from his labors dur
ing the year.
RESOLVED, That our thanks are du
| to Miss Reed and other ladies and the gen
tlemeu who furnished the excellent musi
| on this occasion.
Resolued, That it has been matter for re
greet that Our friends and co-laborers, tn
teachers of Silver Bow county. could no
| make it convenient to meet with us at thi
session, but sincerely hope that we may hav
the pleasure of their presence and assjstanc
at our next meeting.
| Resotued, That we extend our thanks to tn
New NORTHWEST for the presence and a
sistance of a reporter, and request that on
proceedings, or so much of them as may b.
deemed worthy, be published.
On motion the institute adjourned sine di