The Natchitoches enterprise. (Natchitoches, La.) 1888-1965, 1897-06-03
Tie Cemnauatnan Sermon.

5 The auditorium of the Normal wa
l thronged with a large and Fashionable
: audience last Sunday to hear the sermon
: preached b. Dr. \. W. Eyerestc, o
Illinois.
, Dr.. Evereste' is the distinguished
: president of the Southern Illinois State
Normal University and his selection to
) deliver the sermon was peculiarly ap-
PIRATE to the occasion. The reverend
gentlemen possesses marked ability,
vast learning and rich fund of humor
and pathos. 1t is Scarcely necessaEs&
therefore. to say that his hearers were
charmed. He took for his theme 1.-The
! PROCESS of E1ucation," and his treat,
ment of the subject was pleasing ana
thoughtful. and he was happiest when
he liaked the cause with that of. Christ 5
- the greatest of all teachers.
TIE ENTERPRISES takes pleasure Ia
presenting the following brief synopsis
of the gentleman's eloquent and mas
terry address,
The value and rank of man in life
and the ideas of mans value are con-
ditiOned on mans work Mans value.
argued from long ages required for mis-
development is derived from the splen-
dO' of his abode, the forces employed
in his evolution. the possibilities in him,
the achievements of his genius and from
what heauen has done TO save him. It'll
follows from these premises that the
education Of man should be his chief
wOrk--that education which eliminates |
in his moral character. That ed;lsa-
tiOnal progress is subject to great I'M |
prOvement is shown in the progress |
made in lower woLk. But what of |
higher educational progress?" he asked. I
8" hat progress have we made in the |
past. what are the tendencies of the |
present and what steps ought we to
take for the future?
1.-The progress of the past may be traced
along several lines. Here are three:
Il. In the improvement of school
architecture and the progressive aims
of education.
In widening the course of study and
the tendency of free schools 10 cast off
false systems of education.
''3. In the improvement of methods
and the evolution of the teacher.
The tendencies of the present are in
two directions. for the better and for ;
worse. The four Creates tendencies
toward better things 1t the present time :
are the unWonted activity and zeal of
the educational world. the effort to as
certain the laws of Development and to
follow them, the desire to spend time
and energy on the most useful know
ledge and skill, and the doctrine that
D Il tIn to oil I 4
lite in moral character
The tendency for worse is seen in the /
of Christian and religious t
in the public schools Every -,
hing is taught in the course of study.
)ut the Bible is practically excluded. to
he detriment of that moral training Z
which is the foundation of mans char I
Cter and value in life. Among the a
teps of educational progress which the I
utuTe demands may be stated the cor
ection OF this retrOgrade tendency; the j.,
more liberal supply OF funds from pub "
lc and private sources; better teachers
which tsthe aim OF normal schools: and =
n enrichment of the course of study by ;,
eaving out great deal that is useless
nd introducing better subjects; the =
orrelation of different grades of G
chOols: the simpliTicatiOn of our meth
DIS, IN which the analyses have become i
D cumbrOus as to to be worse than use
IS; and finally, the improvement of n
hose other schools upon which attend
nee is so constant and steady, viz: The II
ONE, the school of business and social =
fe, the press and the church,
A report of this occasion would be s
lcOnplete without some mention of ~
lie magnificent chorus rendered by the -
loir composed of the Normal students. /
nder the direction of Miss Lucie Bates, -
le talented instructor of music, The II
.ndition of this chorus exceeded any IL
ing in IFS line ever heard here and we Y
approve the occasion to congratulate
ISIS Bates and her pupils for this really W
ljoyable treat. ot
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