Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-04-26

Ole cukk6StlOns anu tuo WOEoAhp was AdI rom
being the grossest. most sensuous of the day.
They worshiped the emblem of power. They
werea warlike people and all they knew OF DOW
er, the only kind of power Of which they knew
anything was found in the sword. We know Of
something better. With us cultivated, edu-
Gated, consecrated mind is power, and while we
would not worship il, we would exalt it, This
is the power that wars with ignorance and evil
mans direst enenies-power that brightens his
eye, and clears his vision. and nerves his arm,
and directs Alright his mighty energies, that re-
fines his nature, and cOrrects his tastes and
guides his affections; power which lifts him
above the filthy pools into which men plunge
to satisfy their lower appetites above the
smoke and dust by which selfish ambition
and sordid gains obscure the nobler ends
OF life; above the mists and fogs
which the conceit OF knowledge and the cold
chill Of goddess philosophy have created;
higher higher still, till light from above falls
on bis brow, till the world is all beneath his
feet, till God himself saws thework is done.
that thai which was lost is gained, that which
was wreck is recreated, till from above
there is the cry Come up higher" Boys. boys,
God has given you minds; He has made you
i'm mortal!
And to-day I bow before the presence
of the sainted dead who founded and
fostered the institution whose anniversary
we celebrate. with a sincere loyalty of SOU, with
an admiration which could not, if / would.
repress. They planned wisely-they purposed
well. when they mace the care of youth the
objective point Of the society's work great
philosopher has declared that he is the true
philanthropist who makes two blades Of grass
to grow where only one grew before; but what
would the reclamation of continent itself,
from marsh and mud, be compared with
the rescue from vice and sin Of human soul,
the building of an elevated character, the aid
ing in the formation of a noble and useful life?
What other charity could compare with this
in OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. in considerateness in
fruitfulneSs? Even the beautiful charities which
minister to the aged and infirm, when the
aged stands as the decay ing monarch of the
forest, whose companions have all fallen a
prey to the woodman's axe, or the whirl-
winds wrath, or the slow waste of time and
which is at last without one tender vine to
twiAe about it and protect it from the winters
storm-even these charities suffer by COM
parison with that which takes untutored un-
tried youth in its helplessness and shields it
from temptation, and saves its tender years
from trials too great for it, gives direction to
its aspirations develops its powers points out
to it the path of duty and leads it mp
to glorious elevated, sublime manhood. The
greatest work which any man can do in the
world, the work before which all others pale in
significance. is that which man does on man,
for mantle work which aims at his highest
good, bis most perfect development. If were
large hearted capitalist, and wished to invest
ia that which would bring the surest reward
and the largest and most permanent results, l
would invest in brain. IT, a patriot, l
wished to do well by my nation and race, I
would invest in youthful mind for among the
best gifts OF Providence to nation ar the great
and good men who act as its leaders and guides,
who leave their mark upon the ages. who give
new direction to affairs, who introduce a
course OF events which go on and on blessing
men long after thew have passed away. If
wished for myself a fame which all men
might envy, should know no surer way to Sc
cure it than by linking my name with that of
Whitfield and his coadjutors as l aided in the
endowment and permanent establishment of
this schoOl-for il ought not to be left to the
uncertainties of adVentitious circumstances
so that it should remain perpetually
hn evil ENr nHn h.
help of the orphans, and the stream
of it's influence should be like our own beauti-
full river which, watering all lands through
which it flows. and bearing ON its bosom the
moves responsive to the tides of ocean, and is
lost in the great image Of eternity
Bulwer concludes one of his works with a
picture like this: A father and son stand on
Wes' minister bridge Near them is the nations
legislative palace and the superb mansions of
the great; near also the vice and want and
squalid novels of a GRO wded populace while not
very distant is Westm nster Abbey, the nations
Walhalla. There is everything in that view
that could stir TO pity. move to earnestness or
I'LL with high and noble ambition. The great
world is before youth for youth to conquer and
to bless. And as the father stands there he
whispers in the sons ear England's battle cry,
the cry that made Nelson immortal, the cry
that to-day fires the heart of all the youth of
England-"Victory or Westminster Abbey" a
glorious success or an honorable grave. Aud
so may this society long stand as a parent
who. while pointing to the grand possibilities
of life and the worlds great needs, is ever
echoing in the ears of all its children to stimu-
late and animate them: "An earnest, manly
struggle, or noble fall; a true life and immor-
tality.''
As the speaker closed his eloquent ad-
dress he was greeted with the plaudits Of
his sppreciative hearers, on the subsistence
of which Colonel Charles H. Olmstead arose
and offered the following resolution, which
was unanimously adopted.
ReSoloed, That the thanks of this society
are due and are hereby rendered to Rev. j.
E. L. Holmes for his able and interesting
address, and that be be requested to furnish
a copy of the same for publication.
The exercises were then closed with the
benedicion, pronounced by Rev. R. P. Kerr.
Among those present on the stand was
Rev. Thos. NJ Boyd, pastor of the First
Presbyterian Church, OF this city.
After the assemblage had dispersed, the
Stewards marshaled the Bethesda bows in
line and conducted them to the dining
room, where sumptuous anniversary din
ner awaited their consideration, and to
which, It were needless to say, they were
prepared to do ample Justice 1t was fine
feast, and the boys showed their hearty ap-
probation of their kind friends in providing
1t by attacking it with vim and vigor.
The visitors separated into groups, brought |
forth their well filed baskets, and cosy
spots were selected for the enjoyment Of
the lunch in the open air.
After luncheon the young folks enjoyed
themselves in dancing, the children in
romping and playing, and the more sedate
in strolls about the beautiful grounds. Al
together, the day wore away very pleas
sntly and agreeably, and the sun set on one
of The most enjoyable of the numerous
at Bethesda, the visitors all
being landed in the city by dusk without
accident or delay.