The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-05-27
TALKS ON EDUCATION.
Sound Addresses at the Beach Insti-
tute Meeting Last Night.

Sound Addresses at the Beach Insti-
tute Meeting Last Night.
An educational rally was held at Beach
Institute last night. There were four
speakers The subject was .'Needs of the
hour" On the stage were Miss Holmes,
principal Of the institute, Prof. Holmes OF
Charleston, Mayor Schwarz, R. B. Rep
pard and DIR. Beard of New
York: Miss Holmes announced the
object or the meeting. It is an opportune
time, she said, to have expressions OF
| opinion from those interested in education.
She has sought 10 secure the presence OF
those from distance who were infested in
the cause. She first introduced her father.
After song by the school, Prof. Holmes
began by pointing out to the pupils before
him dangers to which they may be lured.
Bad books, he said, are the worst stumbling
blocks in the way Of the young. Vile
literature has ruined schools and homes and
has corrupted youth. A book, the speaker
said, is a potent agency of good or
| evil. To be the author of book is to be
greater than to be Master of Art The
present age. seid the speaker, is an age of
books. Thousands of volumes are
published every day. Some are
and they are placed within the reach of all
even the humblest laborer.
Many people judge book, the speaker
said, by the shock it gives. Evil books dis
cover the bad in character. What makes
them more inviting is that they ere real
istic. He asked: Are not the good
qualities as easily portrayedg Cannot the
virtues be interesting as well as the vicesl
| He cited a case in Western Massachusetts,
where several thousand bad books were
cremated by order of the officials of the
state, who prosecuted the publishers for
sending out impure literature. The
young have to avoid these books
| unless such steps as these
be taken. The virtues Of the good and pure
are Swallowed and hidden. Many bad books
are written by smart men and are the more
| dangerous.
Another class of books to be avoided is
skeptical books. They begin and end in
doubt. They find secondary causes con-
tinually, and they have no room
for the first causes. 1t is a
mistaken idea to think that the biggest
brains have become atheists. He quoted
Gladstone, who said that out of the sixty
gigantic intellects Of his acquaintance, but
three of them were averse to christianity.
There are enough good books, the speaker
said. What if all the time and study which
is lost on romance were devoted to sound
works; why the world would feel at once the
immense benefits.
Evil companions, the speaker said, are
another danger. Be careful of your asso-
ciates. Shun those who quote the Bible to
create a laugh. Shun the cynic, who finds
no good, but sees all the bad. Beware
OF them. Their words may be softer than
oil, but they are as drawn swords Avoid
gamblers also. They lure the innocent on
by holding up innocent games. Avoid
also those who have no settled convictions.
Heed the warnings of the scripture; study
and believe the Bible
Intoxicants are dangerous. Setting wine
for guests before children is deporable on
the part of some parents. If christians are
true to their faith they will Danish the
wine from their homes. Do not meddle,
| the speaker urged, with the edges of any
vice. The fangs of the viper are there,
though they may be hidden. He reioiced
that the class of the Beach Institute has
been taught in the proper way. He wanted
to see the youths go out of its halls fitted
for good work.
Mr.. Reppard said that he was pleased to
be before the audience. As he sat and
looked at the pupils he questioned il there
was such another one in this city. He saw
| an intelligent people in the audience. He
| thought the people should know what the
American Missionary Association doing for
| them, and 10000 teachers were sent out by
| them last year. and it means something
| He congratulated the institute upon its work.
He alluded to the plucky efforts of some of
the Beach Institute young men to secure an
| education by hard work. He commended it.
When MIR. leopard concluded the school
| sang a song, and Mayor Scawarz was intro
duced. He was received with applause and
cheering. He said that he was glad
to be able to speak to the Beach
| Institute people. He had always
| expressed himself in favor of education and
he stood up for it now. He would aid in
every way he could the schools of Savan-
nah. He said that he believed strongly in
compulsory education. He did not see the
| ing their children at home to earn
few cents for the parents to
squander. He believed if the children were
made to go to school better citizens and
more enlightened people would be found
! among the colored people. He alluded to
| the work of the missionary association in a
laudatory address. Parents, he said. should
look to the education of their children.
| Teachers should not be abused Theirs is q
! hard lot enough.
| When Maj. Schwarz finished speaking he
was uproariously applauded. The school
sang another song, and DR.. Beard of New
| York made short address. He felt in be-
| half of the missionary association which he
represented feeling of gratitude for the
representation which Savannah gave to
the meeting. He was delighted to hear the
mayors frank, open statement. He was
| glad to see another foremost citizen upon
the stage. He said that he had Travelled
pretty well over the south, and he thought
he knew a good deal about it. He loved
Savannah. 1t is a beautiful city. He said
| that he will carry the news of last nights
meeting to New York. The meeting w.
then closed by a song.