The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-07-21
UNIVERSITY SUMMER SCHOOL.

Lectures by Supt Noble, Prof. Graham,
DIR. Battle, Prof Claxton, DR.. Vena-
BILE, DIR. Baskerville-Much Good and
Interesting Work Done.
Chapel Hill, N. c., July 20.-(SpeciaD
The work of the teacher becomes
more and more important as the world
moves forward. As State advances in
thought and life, so does the teacher
stand higher in the estimation of the
people. The teacher must forever be
the school, whether the school be pri-
mary school or a great University. 1t
is impossible to separate the President
of the University and the University it
self. One has but to visit the University
to see and know that the culture, the
Christian life, the spirit Of its President
has fashioned the thought and life
at our University. The educational life
of any community is but the index of
the teachers in that community. The
State has realized that a poor teacher
will never produce a good pupil; and
in the hands of an incompetent mas
ter the best of pupils become irredeem-
ably perverted. The holy purpose, the
moral aim of the State, is no where
better expressed than in preparing per-
sons to train its future citizens. 1t is
one of the States greatest means of
uplifting itself and the State that pro-
vides well for the training of its teach
ers is making itself more sacred tenn
pie. built of the souls of nobler men.
The University Summer School has
been exerting a strenuous effort to adj
vance the teaching profession in North
Carolina and no one can question but
that as a result of its present session,
many communities in our State will be
advanced in educational thought and
progress. 1t is hardly possible to esti-
mate the good done: the number of
children who will be better taught: the
higher life of teachers: the educational
revivals, as a result of the work. The
spirit of honest endeavor and self-im-
fprovement which characteriZes those
who attend. has been met not only by
class room work. but also evening lee
lures of the highest type.
The lecture a few evenings ago by
Superintendent NJ G. s. Noble, of Will
mington. on Fort Fisher and tie Cape
Fear" was one of the most instructive
vet delivered. Mr.. Noble illustrated his
lecture by drawings on the blackboard.
showing the location of great historic
places on the Cape Fear. Fort Fisher
was drawn and described in detail
The position of the feet, the guns on the
forts. the troops on both sides. the points
of attack were all described and Illus
trated. This lecture would be of intense
interest to any people, especially North
Carolina audience. Mr.. Noble. who has
heretofore confined himself to the teach
ing of arithmetic and algebra in the Sum-
mer School has shown strong powers as
nnhlic speaker. The fact is, that Mr..
Noble not only knows how to build up
the best Of CITY schools. but has power
and qualifications to direct any great
educational system. He has taught in
the Summer School for four sessions end
his method of teaching arithmetic has
been adopted in hundreds of schools.
The lecture by Prof. Alex. Graham,
whom the people Of Charlotte are pleas
ed to have as the Superintendent of
their schools, on the Mecklenburg De-
claration of independence was strong
and logical The speech removed many
erroneous impressions and will increase
the spirit of State pride in our schools.
Mr.. Graham spoke in his usually
charming manner and his large audience
were enthusiastic in their praise. He
said. that with DR.. George Graham, he
had studied this subject for six years.
There is no event of the American
Revolution about which more has
been written than the Mecklenburg
Declaration Of Independence Of May 20,
1915. After giving a history of the
adoption, publication and controversies
regarding his subject, the speaker drew
the following conclusions:
l. That the Mecklenburg Declaration
of Independence does not rely upon the
memory of John McKitt Alexander for
it's preservation. as the copy published
in Martins History of North Carolina
was taken from the records, magazines
and gazettes of the last century.
2. That the evidence of this declaration
antedates the publication of the "Davie
Copy" from ten more than forty years,
and consists of the "Mecklenburg Cen
sor," March Is, 1777, the revolutionary
deeds, the birth OF Benjamin Wilson
Davidson, May 20, 1887, Martins His
tory prepared during the period between
1901 and 1909, and the valedictory of
the scnool boy deiyered June /, 1SO9.
3. That there is no evidence of a meet
ing of the general committee at Charlotte
on May 81, 1775, except an unverified
publication in a Charleston newspaper;
on the contrary there is abundance of
testimony TO show that declaration OF
independence and bylaws were adopted
on May 20, aud this left nothing to be
done ON the last day Of that month.
a. That the Cape Fear Mercury, which
contained the proceedings of the Neck
lenburg convention when last heard of.
was in the possession of friend of Mr..
Jefferson who did not divulge its con-
tents, although he lived twenty years af-
ter finding the paper.
5. That North Carolinians will not
abandon their faith in the Mecklenburg
Declaration of independence of May 20,
1875, until the advocates of the so-called