The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1895-07-11

the Christian life. These are the same
in all creeds. Here the mind is left
free to choose its own form of worship.
But it is trained to morality, reverence,
faith in God and belief in His revealed
Word as recorded in the Bible. Less
than this would not meet the demands
of the noble order having this Asylum
in charge, and beyond this it would
not for moment permit its officers to
60.
The charge OF UNCONVENTIONAL bias,
of sectarian administration, may sue
ceed for an hour in drawing some
support from here, but it will not deter
the Grand Lodge of North Carolina
and true Christian and charitable
people from giving the cup of cold
water here, because they do it "in His
name"
The intellectual training here is
much the same as is obtained in our
best public schools. The branches
taught are those which experience
has demonstrated best serve the ordi-
nary purposes of life. Up to now the
history of education in North Caroli-
ma has taken no account of the life
here. The Neys and Observer, of
Raleigh, will soon publish a man.
mouth edition of that progressive
journal devoted to the educational in
stitutions of the State, commencing
with the common schools and ending
with the University. The name OF
the Oxford Orphan Asylum does not
appear in the prospectus. This is no
accidental omission. As now consti-
tuted, and upon the present intellec-
tual plane it has no place in such an
enumeration of schools. Life here is
estimated in casting up the accounts
of the State as so much spent in caring
for the criminal and insane. The
work here is found tabulated with the
criminal statistics and in our penalogy.
No list of schools in North Carolina
contains the name of this institution.
And while it is not classed with the
jails and prisons, it has stood aloof,
and educators have rather looked upon
the institution as place OF refuge and
safety. They have but followed the
general opinion. The future must tell
a different story. I ask in the name
of the fatherless broader curriculum.
1 ask that the institution be enrolled
in the column of intellectual statistics.
l ask that the institution become
part and parcel of the intellectual
forces at work in North Carolina.
Among those forces it should occupy
a necessary as we'll as prominent
place. 1t should be the stepping stone
from our public schools to our great
institutions of learning for men and
women. This should be the States
classical schools for preparing orphan
boys for the Agricultural College, the
Normal and Industrial School and the
University.
We boast of our system of educa-
ton. The chain, so far as the orphan
is concerned, has missing link. The
meagre learning of the public school
does Nc. equip him for the higher in
stitution. That link can be forged
here. And this, like the equipment
for physical::development, can be had
at cost price.
And where, do you ask, is the
money to come from7 l reply, from
you and from me. First, in the shape
of voluntary donations. The needs ol
the institution will always appeal to
the charitable and generous. 1t has
done so in the past, and we do honor
to-day to distinguished philanthro-
pist, born in North Carolina, who
disburses his charities upon bushes:
principles prompted by the teaching:
of divine Writ, and who, ever ready tc
help those who help themselves do
mates $4,000 here when the Mason:
give like sum.
Masonry owes debt of gratitude
to B. N. Duke, the Christian philan
thropist.
Second, every Mason in North Car
olina should give one dollar yearly te
the support of this Asylum. l shall
propose such a measure in the coming
Grand Lodge meeting. There art
nearly ten thousand Masons in the
State, and we have no right to call or
others until we raise $4,000 in addi
ton to what we have raised.
Third, in donations from the State
And here, fellow citizens, comes tht
rub. We are met with the cry that i
is beyond the power of the State tt
engage in such work. 1 do not an
swer or attempt to answer, so much o
that cry as is prompted by interest
whether temporal or spiritual.
never argue with man who under
takes simply to protect his own busi
ness. l do undertake to say that th'
functions of government have broad
ened and are broadening. 1t is ;
mistake to think of the State as al
ideal. The State is real. The peo
pie are the State. Over no othe
question is the struggle between th'
old spirit and the new likely to b
more severe and prolonged than owe
the question of State interference
The rivalry between the old spirit Q
no State interference and the ne1
spirit of State guidance and aid, ha
it the past checked progress in ever
form of development. 1t is now mos
aggressive in the matter Of education
There is no more lasting and natu
raj distinction between the educate'
and uneducated classes Of which "
hear SO much, than has been betwee.
other classes in the past. The eyolu
ton of society tends to the equalit
Of all men, and to the breaking dow
of barriers between all classes; not t
Il