The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1892-01-16
ADDRESS OF WELCOME

ADDRESS OF WELCOME
by Miss Martha BiddIe at the Twenty first
Anniversary OF the Organization OF the
Teachers Association, AT Port
Deposit Dec. l, 1891.
Members Of tile 7cachers' 1ssoctaiion md
friends:
1t degclves upon me to extend a
greeting to those who are gathered here
from various places. and to extend to
you a word OF welcome. | wish this
service might have fallen to more
competent hands. But can assure you
the pleasant privilege could not have
been coniided 10 one who has a deeper
interest i'll this Reunion or who has a
more hearty sympathy with its spirit
and object. | would therefore extend to
one and all, on behalf of these whom |
represent a most cordial welcome, and
my best wishes for the profit ana enjoy
ment of this meeting. We naturally at
such IA time indulge in little retrospect
ton. Some Of MS viviilN lScall the day,
the l2Gh of Nov. 1870, when a little
band Of six persons met together for
organizing an association in the interest
of our schools and for the mutual culture
and benefit of those engaged in the
profession of lea ching. 1t was a venture,
the tate of which no one could foretel!
But it ha, continued from year to year
doing its work and exertiug its influence
and now can rejoice in the celebration
Of its twenty first anniversary. In fact
it has attained to it's majority, and is of
full age. 1t has therefore by these
years Of experience and service learned
a right to be heard. We congratulate
you upon its continued existence, and
upon whatever work in it's appropriate
sphere it has been permitted to do. My
mind however, even amid these con-
gratuiatiors and pleasant associations
must revert TO the changes that have
come in this score of years. The band
of teachers who in that earlier time,
represented our public school system
has undergone an impressive transfer
nation a few Of the veterans still re-
main to participate i'll the Reunion that
brings us together, but changes of
various kinds have thinned the original
ranks. Some have passed on to the
higher life that awaits lis all. Some
have exchanged the symbol of the
T.; e.,
feruIe or the bicch-for the gentler
emblem OF the home, and preside as
faithful and dutiful wives at the house.
hold shriues. Others, have sought other
fields Of usefulness. But the vacant
places have been filed and the work of
| teaching the youthful mind still goes on.
| And we rejoice in avery Improvements in
spirit and in method Of the profession TO
which We have devoted our lives. We
can nor hut recognize also the long and
faithful services u! these who IL their
! official positions have been i'll IA sense
the foster fathers of all the children in
cur public schools They have made
this interest, which if We may except
the interest of the Christian Church
with which it stands most inIim ttely
| connected matter Of personal concern,
and have attended to il, as il it were
| their own personal business. l. will
not see m iu7diouS if we mention one :.
citizen of this community the Rev.
| JOhG Squier who for nearly a quarter Of
a century has been officially and etlici-
| emily connected with our schools. And
in naming him, because of his oxaep
| tionally long service, we by no means
| overlook others, who have brought to
| like positions the same devotion aud
| conscientiousuess. When teachers, eff
| GERS and parents cooperate in this work
OF improving our educational system, we
shall all make an advancement in school
| work, that will awaken cur gratitude
and admiration. We set a very high APP
probation upon the facilities that we
now enjoy in the work Of promoting
mental training among the young. The
privilege nov obtained by the children
and youth Of our communities are the
result Of patient and persistent labor.
They did not come without effort and
struggle. The older of those who now
hear me, will recall, an attempt made
many years ago for the establishment of
free school system in this county but
which failed for lack OF support. But
| IL L.,
and the friends of popular education won
the victory, which rsfulted in our pres
eut system Of education. It is a won
derful advance upon the.meth GdSsOi the
past, the features OF when | need not
recall. have been myself engaged IN
this work for nearly forty years. | have
esteemed it great privilege to know so
many children of this cuu"ty, 10 note
their progress in lsunwIedge, and to
watch many Of them III Il. eiul and hon
ora5la careers THIS after all is the
chief rewarl otEthe teachers toll. 1t us
also been y pleasure ana \ poll TO be
brought ia contact with so naay teachers
pursuing the same high calling and to
co operate with the officers and friends
of our public scbe;1, wao have at heart
the highestes of coche people. But
-oiio I'd higher pp, we s'au ga 70 with
n ~, each orr N'Se from ibitions Of
| DO 'Sore OF e,a,s faces Nrength
no 3" back to o paoh o,b Others 49, and ,ooRed
.oa al, with ma l Posts Of sa' aadthe
fs &C.,. :: ss, -i.ssn soa