The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1889-05-22
(From the Columbia Daily Register.)

(From the Columbia Daily Register)
In accordance with the admirable Gus
tom which has been established of cele-
brating the Winthrop Training School
for teachers and commemorating the
grand philanthropy of George Peabody,
which has so greatly aided it, yesterday
was set apart for the purpose, and in all
respects the exercises were equal in in
terest to those of any anniversary which
has precededit.
At the Winthrop School yesterday
morning the exercises exemplifed the
work of the school admirably. DR..
Curry was present and made appropri-
ate remarks, expressing himself as highly
pleased with what he had seen.
At the Opera House last night fair
sized audience, in which the ladies were
largely in the majority, gathered to
listen to the anniversary address from
the Hon. J. L. NJ. Curry, late Minister
to Spain, and now general agent of the
Peabody Fund.
Upon the stage we're Governor Rich
ardson. Ex-Governor Manning, Secretary
of State Marshall, Comptroller General
Werner, Mayor Rhett, Col. F. W. Nc
Master, Prof. E. S. Joynes, Superintend-
ent of Education James H. Rice, Lieut..
Edwards, W. H. Lyles, Esq , John p.
Thomas, Jr.. Dr. Scheib, Rev. ". c.
Lindsay, Rev. Dr. O. A. Darby, Col. J.
". r. Pope, and others.
The exercises were opened with
PRAYER by the Rev. Dr. O. A. Darby,
President of the Columbia Female Col
lege.
Professor johnson said this occasion
was intended to commemorate the found
ing of the Winthrop Training School,
and he referred in appropriate terms to
Mr.. Robert c. Winthrop, and detailed
some of his recent bcnefactions to the
school, in which he has always taken a
great interest.
By request of Professor Johnson
Colonel F. W McMaster read poem on
Washing on written by Mr.. Winthrop
on the occasion of the recent centennial
celebration.
Hon. James H. Rice, State Superin-
tendent of Education, introduced IN ap-
propriate words the orator of the exc
! niug, making special aITusion to the i'm
kportance of the Peabody Fund, stating
Shst as a result of his bene6cence some
sim. 900 has been given to South Caro-
Ina ;Tsiissi;ab-now received more from this
charity every year than af55 -olheE State
in the South.
DIR. CURRY'S ADDRESS
was in all respects an admirable one,
able and scholarly throughout, and at
times most eloquent. No synopsis such
as it is possible to present in the narrow
limits available here can do it justice,
and as it is to be published in full by
those interested in the conduct of the
Winthrop School, it is not necessary to
more than give some giimpses of its trend
of thought and the remarkable facts
shown.
Mr.. Curry, in opening, alluded to the
fact of having received his earliest
schooling in Abbevtlle District, this
State, and to having met on the plat
form Ex-Governor Manning, with whose
son he. had served on the staff of Gel
eIal Johnston. -s-s.75z-s7zz7:77..' ~
In, 1882, 71ss5csssaSsing in the presence of
Mr.. Peabody, Mr. Winthrop had said
that he considered his association With
the Peabody Education Fund the
greatest honor of his life. If he so
thought in 1867, what mustnoWebe his self
satisfaction in 1889, as President of the
Trustees of the Fund, the very life and
inspiration thereof?
Nothing could have been more appro-
pirate, the speaker said: than to give
the name of this grand man to the
school, and nothing more just than to
connect the memorial celebration with
the anniversary of his birth. By name
and inheritance he was connecting
link between the past and present of our
country, and more truly than any other
American embodies the spirit and pa.
triotism and fraternity of the days
when Massachusetts, and South Carolina
stood shoulder 10 shoulder in the reat
and decisive struggle for freedom.
DR.. Curry said in order to appreciate
the gift of Mr.. Peabody it was necessary
to consider the condition of the South at
the time when that great heart was
moved to make his munifcent benefac-
ton. He proceeded with wonderful
power to depict the condition of the
Southern States Immediately after the
conclusion of the war.
In this sad hour of gloom, poverty and
dependency, when the South lay pros
trate and suffering, a Northern man,
and he was especially glad to say a
Massachusetts, man, did not pass by on
the other side, but had compassion, and
devised, acted and relieved.
The speaker then related in detail
Mr.. Peabody's munifcent gifts and en-
larged upon the sentiments which
prompted them, and the delicacy of
feeling that characterized him in be-
slowing the same.
The difficulties which confronted the
trustees at the outset in administering
their trust and carrying out the lnten-
tions of the donor were touched on.
There were two great objects held stead
lily in view:
1. To create an advanced and abiding
sentiment as to the obligation and bene
fit of universal education. Education
as universal right and civil duty had
not been recognized in the Southern
States.
2. To stimulate the establishment and
maintenance of free school systems for
all the children and exalt as an agency
of civilization and as preservatlTe OF
representative institutions.
The speaker said there was much mis-
apprehension and much ignorance as to
the prevalence of education in the South
prior to 1861. Academies and colleges
abounded. By the census of 1860 the
population of the North was 1S,00e,O 900,
and of the South about 100000.
| AT that time the North had ,05 col