The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1897-05-27
Lecture by Superintendent Stetson.

W. W Stetson of Auburn, State Superin-
tendent of Schools, spoke at Seaside Grange
Hall last Thursday evening before an
audience which. on account OF insufficient
advertising, was small. The lecture was
preceded by piano solo by Mrs. E. S. Bow
ker and cornet solo by Ambrose Morrison.
Past Master Henry ]. Chaples introduced
the speaker. Prof. Stetson opened with a
well deserved compliment to Seaside Grange,
stating that it was perhaps unnecessary to-
say the words he was about to speak before
a society which showed such signs of enter
prise and progress as were to be seen in the
new hall. and in the reports of the work of
the Grange For 5000 years the human
race has been on the journey of progress. 1t
has gained i'll strength, wisdom, knowledge.
experlence-everything, but the greatest gain
III all these years has been in the last half
century. But there is yet much more pro-
gress to be made. We must take things as
we ind them. Some agencies have lost
some of their old-time power in the last half
century. The town meeting is not the
educator 1t was fifty years ago. The church
IS not eXerting the influence it did at that
time, and the schools are not keeping
abreast of their opportunities. We should
learn that selfishness and avarice and
hatred do not pay in the end, fraternity
that feeling which teaches that what is the
good of one is for the good of all-should be
taught. We are here for a great work, but
for only short time. One reason why the
speaker believes in the Grange is because
II is doing good in the fraternal upbuilding
of the people. The reason for the prominent
position which Maine holds everywhere-her
statesmen, business men, leaders in all de-
partments are to be found in every State, and
in every nation on the globe-is the training
these men got in their early days. But we
cannot live upon our past records. We
must not lose our feeling of responsibility
for the rising generation, The idea that a
boy must have an easier time than his father
did is wrong; so also is the opposite idea
that "what was good enough for me is good
enough for my boy" If you have any
strength it is because you had to struggle.
Let the children know that work is bless
ing. The boys and girls of Maine must now
meet people of all classes and from all parts !;
they must meet them as peers and equals,
and must be educated accordingly. The
people do not know enough about the
schools; do not visit them enough.
We should be careful that we give our
young men and women as good aeeommoda-
tions as we give our criminals or our dumb
animals. In many places IN Maine the jails
and many of the stables are in better condi-
tion than the school buildings. The parents
OF Name should take more interest in the
schools; they should be in sympathy with
the teachers. No man ever decries tire work
a trainer is doing with his horse Why stand
aloof and decry the work of the teachers
We have confidence in the people of this
State that they will come to the front and
do their full duty III this matter.
After the lecture Mrs. Ambrose Morri-
sen sang ''ln the Sta7li IT," accompanied
10y Mr.. Morrison and Mrs. Bowker, with
music arranged by Mr.. NJ.
Remarks We're made by l.. W Hammons,
W. P. Thompson, John r. Dunton and E.
L. Bryant.