Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-09-16
THE METHODIST CONFERENCE.
A Session Devoted to the Educa.
ti0nRl VnteFeRt.

At the Methodist Conference now in
session at Pasadena, Thursday evening
was set aside to the celebration of the
anniversary of the Conference Educa-
tional Society. Rev. NJ. NJ. Bovard,
President of the University, said that the
educational work of this conference was
very dear to his heart and should be to
every member of the conference, as we'll
as every Methodist in Southern Califor-
MIA. President Bovard spoke of the
great need of the church along these
lines, and proceeded to give an outline
of the work they wished to accomplish
and to explain the systems of institutions
of learning they desired to perfect. He
held that the schools of the conference
depended upon the efforts of those within
the bounds of the conference for their
success, and hoped that God would
settle that responsibility firmly upon
every heart. They proposed in these
institutions of learning to furnish oppor-
tunities for a complete education in any
line of study, second to none. But that
their chief aim was to impart to each
student a grand Christian character, by
virtue of having an institution builded
upon the Lord Jesus Christ rs the chief
corner stone. He wanted it understood
that above all Christ was the great center
of the system.
Dean Maclay of the San Francisco
Theological School said that education Is
one of the most important subjects that
can engage our attention. 1t is identi-
fed with the highest interests OF every
race, nation, government, community
and individual.
The word has many shades OF mean
ing. Etymologically considered it signi-
fies to lead out, to develop; hence to
train the mental faculties; education is
not so much the communication OF
knowledge as the training of the mind,
the regulation of the heart and the
establishment of principles.
In its most comprehensive scope and
aim, the mission of education is one OF
the grandest of which the mind of man
can conceive. 1t seeks by incul-
eating and disseminating the truths
of revelation and science to
reduce to a minimum the total sum of
human disease, suffering and sorrow
and to steadily augment the supply OF
human happiness. 1t purposes to take
an imperfect, depraved race, and by
judicious means of instruction, raise it to
the highest degree of excellence. 1t aims,
by teaching reverence for moral distinc-
tions and law to diminish crime; by
showing the nature and functions of gov
ernments, to foster patriotism; by pro-
claiming the truth to confound error by
inculcating the principles of virtue to
arrest the incoming flood of vice, and by
cultivating the moral sense in man to re-
move the necessity for the harsher re-
formatory and appliances OF modern civ
ilization. Its advance will reduce the
military ornaments and financial ex-
penditures of the world; will, to great
extent, relegate penitentiaries and pris-
ons to desuetude, or transform them to
higher uses; will shorten the lists o1
criminal cases in our courts. OF justice
will elevate to the class OF product.
citizens the tramps and hoodlums
that disgrace and may lmperll our lnstl.
tutions will give dignity to labor, and
tighten the burdens OF the sons OF toll
will introduce into agriculture, commerce
and all the industrial arts the principles
and discoveries OF science; Will destroy
many sources of want and crime; VII
lead to higher plane OF living ana Z
nobler employments the ingenious mlnd'
and deft hands of transfgured human
ity, and will powerfully aid the gospel II
the accomplishments Of it's glorious mis-
sion.
After calling the attention of the con
ference to the fact that the most progress
sive of modern nations were the mos
Christian, and that improvement il
modes of live and convenience was sur
to follow in the footsteps Of religion, tn
dean brought his address to close, an
the meeting was adjourned after singin
the doxology.