New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-10
DISCUSSING POPULAR EDUCA7IOA.

THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AT OCEAN GROVE.
PAPERS on PUBLIC EDUCATION ny COMMISSIONER
EATON AND J. p. wIcKERsHAM-2 sou PEOPLE
PRESENT.
fPgoM SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF TIE IRIDUSEl
OCEAN GROVE, Aug. 9.-Two thousand people
met In the large and breezy auditorium at 10 O'Clock
this morning. at the opening session OF the second
annual National Education Assembly. THE purpose
of these annual assemblies" officially explained, -
10 bring together upon the same platform prominent
representatives Of popular education aud TO awaken ana
direct public sentiment In favor OF enlarged Natonai
state aid Church efforts for the education aud elevation
Of the illiteras masses OF our country" Governor
Patson OF Pennsylvania, who TO have presided nc
the inaugural meeting phed his regrets. aad the
Rev Dr. T. Strictly, secretary OF the American Mis-
sionary Association occupied the chair Introductory
religious exercises conducted by the Rev DR. t. H.
Stokes president OF the Ocean Grove Association
welcome was extended BY the Rev. DIR. J. C. Hartzen.
under whose general supervision the assemblies arc con
Quoted. lie said:
There IS crisis In the history OF education IN the
Yanon TIE revelation made by the OF the hit
erey tue last census have led Tue Nation 70 see ina
matter quantity o. the education needed T. also
the EDUCATION oftne country must be met with uu,ed
aud powerful moye@ent q ot the CsrIsiiAa
ta o sns,,a,y,s ' ~ convection thai there
ought TO he plat where men OF all seets oreeds aud
aIIle
pa eInca,n from a Christian standpoint The fact
yroped tnis platform last year tnlt tue beneyoleuce
Of the Marta bad Contributed @I3OOOOoO Tor educauOhai
and church work the South si1ce end OF ihe
ecnoed through the country AMI mas done muca
missionary teachers and WORKERS from tue Sonth wno
Will tell exactly wat they are doing and what re-
mains 10 be accomplished
Encouraging letters were read by Mr. Hartzell from
Commissioner G. J. Orr. of Georgia; Governor II.
/. Thompson, OF South Carolina; and t. II.
Fay, Superintendent OF Education In Georgia.
The opening address delivered by General John
Eaton United states Commissioners OF Education. An
abstract OF the address. which entitled Eineatioa
a Measure Of Mans Improvement" is given below:
General Eaton first mentioned ths two courses open
avery human life, Improvement degradation nnd re-
arEe that the general tendency OF ho present period
WAS 10 hope for the best The tafes perish but
the grain for death The desire for better things
is not only Individual but social ethical national anu
ethnc at0ns; every art aud science shares
In this Impulse aud ts followers Iaud q as the pana-
i'm modern progress II Il evident the essential part
OF the movement the increased power VI human
s1aw and sedan TO phlosophc minds we're ne result
not merely OF superior leadership end war material but
petitions of international exhibitions snow another
way the same victory OF educated ignorant LABOR
Thus the dangers OF war and the profits OF peace have
been nations OF Europe tue value OF educa
ton practical power In human lie; Prussia and
then the States first made this discovery
German spvereigns educated their people for personal
aggrandizemen no doubt put the g rman rrorners
th better protection o themselves, OF scot
Vi
rs thoroughly rs IL has been done In North Germany
and neglect Austria has DONE and badowA the
Legitimate conflict when army containing
TWO and haf per cent Of illterates army OF
seventeen per cent. OF ignorance. Taught wisdom by
nestly for popular education without however giving
freedom OF regiol belief aud lately las Yielded to
its ardent acceptance OF new ideas might had an
entirely different and more eorous destiny II tue massa
ere of BsrsOlonew aud the revocation OF the Edot OF
Nantes had not exterminated expelled or suppressed
the reforming spirit. Tue culture OF the people
TIA NJ he finn nd M
First Empire additional postPonements or perver-
OF the National culture 80 that Ia spite OF Cousin
German met at Sedan the French Army. The Republic
has learned the lesson traace now aud for dozen
orally expended money for sohools OF every grade In
has been made compulsory; freed from all
control save that o. tle State tie better education OF
have been sednously trained civic and moral duties
are firmly inoulcated freedom OF conscience has been
given superior education has been fostered the apos
tie OF popular instruction, Jules Ferry, declaring pub
lciy and enphacaly that democracy possessing only
primary schools is poor society and poor democracy
Tnus a ne ideal becoming apparent IN France, and
through the school she Is tyngto organize regulate and
make efficient the freedom sue has gained.
Mr. Eaton then gave statistics 10 sno the progress OF
each nation Of the world IN education during inc last
modern idea have made the best even the
edyanced nations have vast necessities jet 10 meet
and kreat opportunities for Improvement that the
quality OF education determines mans Improvement,
aS tba The tax of bubble education IL too
the Church undertake. and that II Ia best her to
furnish high motives Tor human action, rather tnan at
tempt do the work OF other organizations, while yet
efficiency spiritual guide is often impaired by its
neglect OF vial precepL The Sunday schools OF .he
world said TO have than 900 900 pupils.
Tue final effort OF great moral movements like those OF
Luther and esey 10 be measured by their educating
power. The effort OF missionaries in heather and
rupted countries mentioned with statistics
OF recent and former conditions In various parts OF the
earth
The general conclusion 10 be drawn from ali the facts
and considerations presented that iucati0n
ery understood and used shoid be used 70 solve both
present and impending difficulties National
ad1
English language and would take
the progress OF education the increasing union be-
all parts OF civilization commercially, socially,
and even politically. and the immense influence among
social and moral forces OF the teacher.
At the afternoon session. waich opened nj o'clock
aud lasted about two hours the Rev. Dr. Strictly again
presided. report OF the years work was made by
Professor C. C. Painter OF Tennessee secretary " tho