The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-05-30

improved, 80 did the schools advance.
Mr.. Mann took the ground that peda-
gogy should be made profession; as
much so as law, or medicine, and
hence, no one should enter upon it
without special preparation. Hither-
to the education of the girls had not
been equal to that of the boys. No
college, as yet, had been established
by the State for women, but as the
high schools fourished, college doors
were opened to women as we'll as to
men.
His efforts were untiring so long as
he continued his secretaryship. He
could see the necessity of general
education in our country. He fully
understood that republic could not
exist long, unless sustained by an in
telligent and enlightened people.
After having achieved signal results
from his long and onerous efforts he
resigned his secretaryship to accept
the presidency of Antioch College,
Ohio. In this new field he achieved
grand outcomes in behalf of educa-
ton. Here, however, he was tram
melted by religious bigotry. His
Christianity was founded upon the
statement of Christ, "Do unto others
as ye would that they should do unto
you" In his teachings he enforced
the doctrine, Gas man sows so shall
he reap" He taught that there is no
possibility of evading this law in the
present or future life. But certain
fanatics who had sinned and wanted
to sin, and wished to find some means
of escaping their just deserts, opposed
him to the bitter end. The institu
ton was financially embarrassed and
this with the rampant bigotry, laid
heavy burdens upon the noble man
of God, causing him to toll beyond
his strength, which in the course OF
decade forced him to lay off his NOR
tai and grid on his immortal armor.
He devoutly felt that the real hope of
our country consisted in raising up
the lower classes through education
and Christianity. The class-idea, 80
prevalent in foreign countries, he de-
nounced, striking heavy blows against
it. He felt that really there could be
but two classes in this country, the
enlightened and ignorant, and that
if the illiterate should become edu-
Gated, then all would stand on van
tage ground, helping one another as
best they could. The noblest men
and women, as rule, he observed,
had sprung from the common ranks
of society; therefore, he wrought to
the end that the commonality, as we'll
as the aristocracy should have, SO far
as the State was concerned, equal
opportunities for an education. At
this period of his life, it would seem
that he had no peer in this country,
as an educator, an honest lawyer,
statesman and philanthropist.
His name is worthy to live and will
live as one of the truly great men of
the nineteenth century. Every school
boy and schoolgirl should be taught
to reverence his character, and will,
if the teachers imbibe his spirit and
come to know his life, imparting the
same in the schoolroom.
His lectures on Education" his
"School Reports" his Thoughts for
a Young Man," his "Powers and
Duties of Women" his lectures on the
Poor and Ignorant, Rich and Educ
ated," should be in every school and
teachers library.
Horace Mann was selfmade man,
ripe scholar, a gifted teacher,
moral hero in battling for the right,
bequeathing to America character
without spot or blemish S. H. NC.