The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-10-27
ANNIVERSARY BANQUET.
The Teachers of Rhode Island Dine
at the TrOcadero.

Rhode Island educators had a jubilee
last evening at the Trocadero where,
in celebration of the 50th anniversary of
the States Institute of instruction, there
was eating and singing and speech
making.
There were 250 active teachers In the
company, and or tine 56 more present iH
the capicity OF guests there were none but
that are doing good work in the interest
Of public education.
AT 6 O'Clock there was reception to the
founders ana past presidents of the Insti-
tute, and an hour later the company ad-
iourned to the banquet hall, where the
blessing was asked by Rev. DR.. Kaufman.
The toastmaster of the evening was Mr..
Joseph Il. Mowry, president of the Insti-
tute. He first called upon His Fxcellency
ID. Russell Brown, who, IN behalf OF the
State and as an expression of his person
al sympathy with the work of the Insti-
tute, made the following remarks:
Tonight we pause TO look back upon full
fifty years OF seif-sacrificing work in the
cause of education, which is the cause of
the children, W hich is the cause of our
common country.
And we meet TO celebrate golden
anniversary bright with the jewels OF
opportunities we'll used and of success
achieved.
l almost envy those who on the wings
OF personal experience can travel back
half century, who have trod the way by
which public education in this State has
emerged from the crude, chaotic condi-
tion of those days 10 the happier plane Of
the present.
What keen satisfaction there must be
in comparing Al and '94, and in realising
that one has contributed TO the glorious
result. Now we have our graded schools,
our high, manual training normal schools,
our teachers schools, our agricultural coli
lege and our advanced Brown University,
and most modern OF all, our woman's coll
lege. And too, he State has made wonder
ful progress in providing education for
her wayward and afflicted, yet
there Is more to be done,
While results in our cities and larger COM
munities are equal to any in New Eng
land, where the district system still pre-
walls, this standard is not attained.
The teachers vocation is a science, and
noIe but those properly trained should
be permitted TO engage in it..
The district school system il directly
opposed To such proposition, and
with its abolition must come a standard
OF qualification for teac hers remuneration
more in accord with the duties and re-
sponsibilities OF that noble vocation.
am glad TO have had this opportunity
to meet with you. 1t is eminently proper
that the State should be represented at
such gathering. The public school sys-
tenn untainted by political or religious
prejudice is the most glorious her
itage we have to leave to future
generations. IL becomes patriotic duty,
then, for us TO develop il TO he fullest ex-
tent in our power. Aud ] am sure that
the thoughtful, earnest people OF this
State are with me tonight when | utter
a benediction on your fiity years, and
utter prayer that your days OF strength
and usefulness may he without number.
Hon. Thomas b. Stockwel, commits
sioner OF the public schools Of Rhode
Island, read a carefully prepared
and comprehensive revitw OF the public
school movement in tho state and the
splendid results which had come from the
associated efforts OF he teachers.
Hon. Henry Barnard, IL. d., was the
houorgd guest OF the evening. The old
gentleman Is over 90 years old and the
beginning of his work in behalf OF