The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-11-30

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At the North street NJ. E. church last
evening, the services we're devoted to
education, especially on the line Of the
work Of the Freemen's Aid and South
ern Educational Society Of the NJ. T..
church. The pastor, the Rev. C. B. Gra-
ham, was In charge Of the service, who
spoke on the great work the church Is
doing In matter OF intellectual
us well as the spiritual ele-
walton OF the people OF the
south. The choir rendered a number OF
special selections, and the services on the
whole were interesting and instructive.
The principal address Of the evening was
by Governor-elect G. w. Atkinson. who
a given much OF his active life to edu-
cational matters.
instructive and eloquent. Among other
things he said.
The century which Is quietly, but
grandly rolling out, Is the greatest OF all
the centuries Of the past. Gibbon, in his
history OF the Roman empire, states that
the reign Of Marcus Aurelius In the Sec
ond century. was the grandest age OF the
world. This was perhaps true as applied
to that period OF the worlds history.
But great as 1t was, 1t cannot be, In any
respect, compared with the closing years
of the nineteenth century, because this
decade Is arched as never before by the
bows Of peace and progress. Our times,
unlike those OF Marcus Aurelius. are
great In achievements, great in develop
ment, great In conquest. great in loyalty
to principle, and great in patriotism
also. Some OF the old centuries. notably
the second. were wonderful In the physi-
cal progress OF many of the nations,
some In literature and poetry, some in
music and art, but all of them were de-
ficient In the higher and nobler aims and
objects of life.
when the nineteenth century opened
It's portals and let its light shine upon
the new continent, the old world was ar
rayed in arms. Blood was sprinkled
upon almost every doorway, and helpless
women and children were weeping
around their tiresides. But the new
century brought to us an era Of peace;
and We now bequeath 1t to the century
which is just dawning in the eastern
sky. Education. patriotism and peace
are now on the highest tide Of the worlds
history.
I'm these days of higher civilization,
we have broilS between nations. but we
have no vars. The brush between the
Chinese and japanese Is the single eX-
ception In twenty-five years; and that
was a war Of ignorance. There are up
rislngs, of course. like the n in Cuba,
caused by the iron hand OF oppression;
and tba ! &c riohf-fnrapar ripbf.. p,,t -
war like that is not a war of greed and
gain. Wars for greed and gain are
passing with the sweep of years. These
modern times have grown too good and
great and strong for the spread OF empire
by the sword. The watchword of the in
coming century will be peace, not war;
patriotism, not ~disloyalty: education,
not ignorance: work, not sbirklng; So
briefly, not drunkenness; honesty. not
greed, and lend a hand to all that Is wise
and gond and ennobling. This will bring
to all mankind a golden age such as the
world has not hitherto seen. and such
as Marcus Aurelius did not even dream
Of in the second century. and OF which
he had not the slightest conception.
THE hope Of the future Is the public
school of to-day. It Is the cornerstone
OF patriotism and the bulwark OF liberty.
L it oCSlC &c u LIZ vi ouk III
dren will guage the degree Of the civili-
cation OF the state. Educated masses
make peaceful masses. Education has
ever been the gauge of progress. HUI
mainly Is uplifted wholly by 1t. There
Is no growth in anything without It.
Every dollar spent by the state In edu-
eating its citizens Is two dollars saved In
actual outlay to keep the peace and
maintain the law. More education,
fewer police officers; more school houses,
fewer aims houses; more school tea cheers.
fewer convicts. Higher conceptions of
religion and duty follow the higher cdu-
cation OF all classes Of our people. Edn-
cation and religion move hand In hand,
and this Is why the state should foster
both. As American citizens VIC should
hold 1t as a first duty to stand by our
public schools. and all other educational
movements that have for their main
purpose the enlightenment of all our
people. and especially the young. The
public schools are schools of loyalty and
patriotism. Other schools should be the
same. The Educational Society of the
Methodist Episcopal Church has but one
main hbject. and that is to make better
citizens and nobler patriots. The Freed
mans Aid Society of this great church
has the same great purpose in view, and
Is pushing this same object through In
all that It does"
The speaker then submitted details of
the work that the Methodist church Is
doing along these lines. Large sums Of
money are collected each year from the
different churches. which goes into the
general fund, and facts were given show
Ing how this money Is applied. It shows
what a systematic effort will do when
applied In a regular channel.
The. distinguished speaker then pro-
ceeded to show what education is. He
said the day OF the ~raw-leather men had
gone by forever. The age demands edu-
Gated farmers and mechanics, as well as
educated men for the learned profess
sions. The demands nowadays are
such that only the specially gifted can
succeed without education, and a high
grade OF It.
He closed his discourse by showing
the two fold work of the church: First.
TO develop the social and the Intellectual
| Sides OF our nations; and. second, the
moral and spiritual natures of the peo-
pie. These points were plainly present.
ed, and the people were urged to higher
conceptions Of duty in life.
IAN UNREASONABLE CONSCIENCE Z
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