Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1886-10-01

An Address delivered by PrOf. Nj. IL. VENA-
BILE, formerly Of this county, before the
Teachers Convention at Landrums, S.
G., on August Goth, 1886.
Mr.. President and fellow teachers of
the convention: One might say am u
stranger, amongst strangers, in strange
place, but such are not my feelings to-
day. Though have been but short
time in your State, yet have been re-
ceived with that kindly welcome and
open-hcarted hospitality so characteris-
tic of the people of the Sunny South.
Though | have been n sojourner for
nearly seventeen years in "My Mary
land" yet | have never lost sympathy
for my native land of the South 10 hor
passage through the dark waters of af-
Fiction. Though we may mourn "lost
cause" yet the principles by which we
were then actuated will never die, but
will last till "tho sun, fair transitory
creature of day, shall have closed his
golden eye, and forget his wonted jour
ney through the skies" But thanks be
to Heaven tho banner of peace now
waves over a united nation, May the
demon Of war never more unfurl his
bloody flag over this once prosperous
people. May our peace henceforth flow
as II river, and may our efforts ever be
united to uphold the best government
the world has ever known. The sub
ject allotted TO this occasion is "Female
Education" Had | the choice Of sub
jet | would have found mono more
agreeable to my taste, nor one in which
| feel a deeper interest ut the present
time. | was, as II were, Graded ia a
Female Seminary and reared up among
joyous school girls aud il there is any
thing comweadable in my character or
attractive in my disposition it may in
great measure be attributed TO those
refined and gentle influences which we're
thrown around me in my youthful days
among the girls. Education is sub
ject so vast in extent, so boundless in
its resources, that it is difficult to bring
u treatise on the subject within the pre-
scribed limit adopted by the convention
| shall not endeavor to cover the whole
ground, for space aud time would not
permit it, But will first consider In
what docs correct education consist.
I'd its Importance, and Bird its applica-
ton to the female portion Of society. If
We search tho records from the begin
ming of creation down 10 the present
time, we find that the inferior animals
have changed as little as the grass upon
which they feed, or the trees under
which they seek shelter and comfort.
All the perfection of which their nature
is susceptible is acquired in one genera
tion--that Being without whose notice
not sparrow falls to the ground, has
granted TO them an instinct which has
been found adequate to their necessities.
With man it is not 80. He comes into
the world tho most helpless and depend
ent of living beings. History exhibits
man in his primcval condition in state
Of ignorance and barharsm.
But countries formerly occupied by
struggling hordos Of miserable savageS,
warning among themselves aud destroy
ing each other with every species Of
barbarous aud even cannibal cruelty,
are now become tho peaceful abodes Of
civilized and enlightened nations, the
wild desert and the impcnetrablc forest
are changed into cultivated fields, rich
gardens and magnificent cities. What
has worked this wonderful change IL
is tho strong intellect Of man developed
by education and tempered by Chris
tianity. We might here show in detail
how the arts Of civilization have ad-
vanced 10 accordance with the gradual
increase of mans knowledge Of the uni
verse, but it would lead too far from the
main subject. From the scriptures we
learn the origin and history Of man. He
was created in the image Of his Maker.
lie was placed in charge of the beauti-
ful Garden Of Eden, and dwelt there in
innoccncy and happiness. Ere long he
tfansgressed and bis subsequent career
became miserable and wretched. He
then found himself beset with tempta-
tons on every side to deepen and per-
petuate his degradation. But light
has shiDcd upon his dark pathway,
pointing him to brighter country and
showing him the way Of true happiness
1t is tho duty therefore Of the educator TO
unfold the opening energies of bis youth
ful charges; to mold their plastic char
acter, and to assist their efforts in the
recovery Of that which was lost, and in
the attainment Of Immortality and eter-
nal life. Education includes all those
influences and disciplines by which the
faculties Of man are unfolded and per-
fected. II is that agency that takes the
helpless and pleading infant from the
hands Of its Creator and molds il at last
into the image Of perfect man. The
body, nature aud life are its instruments
and materials Savior is its worthiest
ideal--Christianity its purcst organ--the
Gospel its fullest text books.geniu
its, Holiness, its law--temperance its dis
cipline, aud immortality its reward. Edu-